Bob Lee

June 26 1868

Having no pen and ink Wilson made a
pen of a toothpick and ink of gunpowder and water mixing it in my brother’s hand.
(He came with me when arrested) Now after being arrested I thought to try the civil
law on these scoundrels, and to prevent me from doing so they have ever since tried
to kill me. One day about twelve after this occurred, I was in Pilot Grove and met
Jim Maddox, a friend of Peacock’s, and I told him that if he desired to fight me I
would loan him a pistol, but the coward said he did not want to hurt me and
proposed taking a drink, saying he was sorry he had done what he did. After
drinking with him I told him I wanted to be let alone and he said all right. However
he went out of the grocery store, borrowed a pistol from a friend, slipped up behind
me while I was making a contract with a Negro to do some work, and shot me in
the face. He then left me on the ground for dead and bragged that he shot Bob Lee’s
brainsout. I was in a very precarious condition for some time and would have perished
but for the timely aid and skill of the late Dr. Pierce. I may add here that the excellent
gentleman (soon after my recovery) was called to his gate and brutally murdered in the
presence of his family by one of the clan, Hugh Hudson. The Doctor’s death is
attributed to his kindness in taking care of me inhis house and nursing me. Still the
civil authorities take no notice of these things. I have done everything I could to
procure peace: I have even tried to buy it with money; and I have done every way in
my power to do right and be peaceable: stillI am hunted by a squad of U.S soldiers
assisted by a number of horse thieves who come to my house, throw fire in the beds,
drag my children by their feet over the floor and insult my wife.
Yet the U.S. troops stood by and said not a word. These “Good Union” men were
principally deserters from the Southern Army and lay in the bush during the war,
the lowest of God’s creation; and these good Union men, “truly Loil” are biasing
the judgment of the men (U.S. troops)who should protect us impartially. I further
wish to say that Elijah Clark, a young man, was taken from his horse, which he
had bought from one of these thieves,by the gang and was tied and murdered on
the prairie, the U.S. troops being present. Also William Dixon was followed some
twenty miles from his home, at Hog Eye, and taking refuge in a mill kept thirty men
at bay. After flirting with death and firing many times at Dixon, the party told him
if he would surrender they would not hurt him. When Dixon came to the door of the
mill and threw down his pistol they riddled himwith bullets, the U.S. Soldiers
being present at the time. They robbed his pockets at the time, turning theminside
out, and even took the dead man’s spurs.