Jessie Scouts

The Jessie Scouts were irregular soldiers during the American Civil War on the side of the Union who frequently operated in the territory of the Confederate States of America.[1][2]

The unit was created by John C. Frémont and named in honor of his wife, rather than of a Colonel Jessie, who was himself a myth.[3] The initial Jessie Scout unit was formed in St. Louis, Missouri early in the war as the plan to develop independent scouts was implemented. The first man to command the scouts was Captain Charles C. Carpenter.[4][5] During insurgency missions the Jessie Scouts wore Confederate uniforms with a white handkerchief over their shoulders to signify their allegiance to friendly troops, and numbered around 58 for much of the war. They were commanded by Major Henry Young from November 1864 until the end of the war.[6] In February 1865 they captured Harry Gilmor and killed Guerilla leader Captain George W Stump.[7]

  1. ^ "The Jessie Scouts - Homepage". Retrieved 15 May 2009.
  2. ^ Bakeless, p. 314-315.
  3. ^ Bakeless, p. 212.
  4. ^ David L. Phillips: The Jessie Scouts, http://www.jessiescouts.com/JS_Overview.html, 1997, accessed 9 December 2011.
  5. ^ Frank Moore: Exploits of Capt. Carpenter of "The Jessie Scouts", in: The Civil War in Song and Story, 1860-1865, New York: P. F. Collier, Publisher, 1889, pp. 45-47, accessed at "Exploits of Capt. Carpenter of "The Jessie Scouts." « Anecdotes & Images". Archived from the original on 2011-07-08. Retrieved 2008-07-30., 9 December 2011.
  6. ^ John Bakeless: Spies of the Confederacy, Mineola, N.Y.: Courier Dover Publications, 1997, p. 315.
  7. ^ History of the 17th Pennsylvania Cavalry pp.225-228