Special Order

Office of the Provost Marshall General
Department of the Mississippi,
St. Louis, June 17, 1862

Special Order, No. 300

Whilst in the State of Missouri, and especially in the city of St. Louis, there has never been any well founded expectation of success to the rebel cause, still the desperate though fruitless efforts of the rebels in this State have been productive of the greatest evils, the peace of the people has been destroyed, their lives constantly in danger, their industry paralyzed and its fruits ruthlessly seized and stolen. Whilst the interior of the State has been in a miserable condition, constant and effective aid, support and encouragement have been given to the outlaws in arms by a large number of the inhabitants of this city, who have been equally guilty with those who have taken up arms. These outlaws in spirit amongst us are, many of them, individually well known to the military authorities as active and efficient supporters of this rebellion. Forbearance has been extended to those people in the hope that they would cease their misconduct, but they continue their acts of hatred to the Government, deriding its power and constantly claiming and asserting that it has no rightful existence here, and that it rightfully should and would be overthrown by the rebel government. Their abuse of the Federal Government and all in authority under it, their obstinate support of the cause of the rebellion becomes a serious matter—it not only encourages and keeps alive the marauding guerrilla warfare in this State, but it has a great effect upon a large number of persons in this city and State whose disloyal tendencies would long since have been rooted out but for this continuing cause of support.

In view of the consequences of treating these people with leniency, and that to do so tends to keep up the insurrectionary spirit in this city and State, the time has come when they should be recognized in their true character, and dealt with as active and efficient enemies of the Government. The peace and welfare of this city and State suffer from the failure of the military authorities to take notice of the evils resulting from the conduct of these cunning traitors, who while plotting treason try to practice it in secret. It is therefore, ordered that the Provost Marshal of the City of St. Louis, will cause all persons in this city suspected of disloyal sympathies to take the oath of allegiance to the United States Government and the provisional Government of the State, and all persons well known by their conduct, bearing, conversation or companions, to be disloyal, shall be required to give bond for their observance of their oath, and the Provost Marshal of the city will cause arrest of all persons guilty, after the publication of this order, of any of the disloyal conduct hereinbefore mentioned, whether it consists in acts or language hostile to the Government.

Bernard G. Farrar,
P. M. General