[Illustration: HILDEBRAND DRIVEN FROM HOME.] AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF SAMUEL S. HILDEBRAND, THE RENOWNED MISSOURI “BUSHWHACKER” AND UNCONQUERABLE ROB ROY OF AMERICA; BEING HIS COMPLETE CONFESSION RECENTLY MADE TO THE WRITERS, AND CAREFULLY COMPILED BY JAMES W. EVANS AND A. WENDELL KEITH, M. D., OF ST. FRANCOIS COUNTY, MO.; TOGETHER WITH ALL THE FACTS CONNECTED WITH HIS EARLY HISTORY. JEFFERSON CITY, MO.: STATE TIMES BOOK AND JOB PRINTING HOUSE, MADISON STREET. 1870. LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. SAM HILDEBRAND DRIVEN FROM HOME _Frontispiece._ FRANK HILDEBRAND HUNG BY THE MOB 45 SAM HILDEBRAND KILLING MCILVAINE 61 THE MURDER OF WASH. HILDEBRAND AND LANDUSKY 69 STAMPEDE OF FEDERAL SOLDIERS 139 SAM HILDEBRAND BETRAYED BY COOTS 179 SAM HILDEBRAND‘S LAST BATTLE 297 COL. BOWEN CAPTURES HILDEBRAND‘S CAVE 303 Entered according to act of Congress in the year 1870, by JAMES W. EVANS and A. WENDELL KEITH, M. D., in the Clerk‘s Office of the District Court of the United States for the Eastern District of Missouri. CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. Introduction.—Yankee fiction.—Reasons for making a full confession. 25 CHAPTER II. Early history of the Hildebrand family.—Their settlement in St. Francois county, Mo.—Sam Hildebrand born.—Troublesome neighbors.—Union sentiments. 29 CHAPTER III. Determination to take no part in the war.—Mr. Ringer killed by Rebels.—The cunning device of Allen Roan.—Vigilance Committee organized.—The baseness of Mobocracy.—Attacked by the mob.—Escape to Flat Woods. 35 CHAPTER IV. McIlvaine‘s Vigilance mob.—Treachery of Castleman.—Frank Hildebrand hung by the mob.—Organization of the mob into a Militia company. 42 CHAPTER V. His house at Flat Woods attacked by eighty soldiers.—Miraculous escape.—Capt. Bolin.—Flight to Green county, Arkansas. 48 CHAPTER VI. Interview with Gen. Jeff Thompson.—Receives a Major‘s Commission.—Interview with Capt. Bolin.—Joins the Bushwhacking Department. 54 CHAPTER VII. First trip to Missouri.—Killed George Cornecious for reporting him.—Killed Firman McIlvaine, captain of the mob.—Attempt to kill McGahan and House.—Return to Arkansas. 58 CHAPTER VIII. Vigilance mob drives his mother from home.—Three companies of troops sent to Big river.—Capt. Flanche murders Washington Hildebrand and Landusky.—Capt. Esroger murders John Roan.—Capt. Adolph burns the Hildebrand homestead and murders Henry Hildebrand. 66 CHAPTER IX. Trip with Burlap and Cato.—Killed a spy near Bloomfield.—Visits his mother on Dry Creek.—Interview with his uncle.—Sees the burning of the homestead at a distance. 75 CHAPTER X.