Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 6.
Frank Moore, Ed.

[250] and immediately left. You readily imagine the scene — all transpiring in the room where were a sister, a wife, and two children. The villains next went one and a half miles to the house of David Kilgore, who went with them as a pilot. Thence they went two miles to Henry Martin's, took one gun ; thence half a mile to the house of a widow, whose name is Skaggs; there they gathered blankets, quilts, one revolver, one gun, and one horse; thence four miles to Henry Bager's, where they took one gun. One mile further they came up to the house of Captain S. Mason, and attempted to rush in ; the door being fastened, they ordered it opened, and cursed the Captain and bade him surrender. The Captain retreated to a dark part of the house with a preparation of eight loaded barrels, including guns and pistols. He caused his children to make a light in the room and open the door, bidding them to “walk in.” Barnes ordered his men to “charge,” but it was no go. They all soon left without getting in range of the light. They continued in a southern direction, without committing other depredations worthy of mention. The negroes that were with them say that the militia could not get together and be ready to pursue them before ten o'clock of the following day, but they were mistaken; the citizens commenced collecting immediately after the shooting of Sanders, and started on the track, volunteers gathering and joining us on the way, until we numbered about thirty. We followed the trail in pursuit until about two P. M., when we came up within sight, upon the “dividing” ridge between the Current and Huzza Rivers, in Iron County.

When they saw us, they immediately threw down baggage, consisting of guns, blankets, etc. They soon also left the negroes and horses that they were leading. They scattered into the woods in several directions. Our company divided also in quick pursuit, firing upon them as they ran. Being upon fresh horses, three of them made their escape with a horse each. Another that was wounded in the shoulder, made his escape into a thicket by leaving his horse. We captured five horses, one holster-pistol, many guns, blankets, saddles, and saddle-bags, and succeeded in killing two of the band, one of whom was in Mr. Brickey's pants that they had taken the night previous. We take no pleasure in putting to death any one in human shape, but know of no other way of ridding our country of midnight assassins that have been our greatest annoyance connected with this inexcusable rebellion, but to hunt them down and kill them.