Guerrilla Warfare and Outrages

From Kentucky - We find the following choice collection of items in the Louisville Journal of September 3rd:

Jesse’s Operations.

A correspondent writes us that Jesse claims that he did not murder the negroes at Ghent — that none were killed only those that were shot in the attack. He further says that his men urged him to murder the entire party, but that he positively refused to allow the barbarous act to be committed. If these facts are true, we will place one word to the credit of Jesse, and, when he is caught, will use our influence to have the authorities grant him the privilege of having a word to say about the minor details of his execution — that is, whether the rope used shall be hemp or sea-grass.

On Tuesday night last some of the outlaw gang stole four fine horses from the stable of Sanford, on whose farm, at last accounts, the guerrillas were encamped. Jesse says that it is his intention, Providence kindly permitting, to remain in Henry county until after the draft takes place. He asserts that a large number of the citizens of Trimble, Owen and Carroll counties, who may be fortunate enough to draw a “prize” in the Federal lottery, have agreed to join his command in preference to going into the Union army. He is going to hold them to their promise, and be ready to receive them with open arms as soon as it may be officially announced that they have been drawn.

It remains with our military authorities to decide whether the robber chief shall “rule the roost” or not. The guerrillas are recruiting very fast, and the band is growing quite formidable. Colonel Buckley, of the Union army, has opened a recruiting rendezvous at Newcastle; but Jesse so thoroughly scouts the country and guards the roads, that Union men are prevented from making their way to the Federal camp and enrolling themselves in the service of the United States. The guerrillas are having their horses shod, and are preparing for an active campaign. On Thursday fifty of the band took possession of Ferguson's blacksmith shop, five miles from Newcastle. On the same day, seven of the gang were in Port Royal, and stated that they were on the lookout for a good camping-ground. If a company of veteran soldiers, well mounted and armed, was stationed at Newcastle, to act in concert with Colonel Buckley's recruits, it is thought that the marauders might be exterminated from the country.

Sacramento Daily News, October 13, 1864