Captain Peevy ended his report by describing a quadruple murder allegedly committed by Union Lieutenant Robert H. Christian of the Missouri Enrolled Militia. Christian, known as ‘Old Grizzly,’ was one of the most “noted guerrillas in the country” and had been accused of numerous atrocities. One account, recounted years later, accused Christian of killing several men near Exeter, Missouri, in a very brutal fashion. “The men were all shot in the right eye and the top of their heads blown off. Their brains were taken out and put in their hats which were set beside their bodies.” When Christian was captured by Confederate soldiers, at the very end of the Newtonia battle in 1864, he was shot numerous times and then scalped in revenge for his grisly actions.
Peevy writes about Lieutenant Christian:
“On the border, both in Arkansas and Missouri, they are murdering every Southern man going north or coming south. West of Cassville, in Barry County, a first lieutenant (Robert H. Christian) of the Missouri militia committed one of the most diabolical, cold-blooded murders that I heard of during my trip. Four old citizens of that county had gone to the brush, fearing that by remaining at home they would be murdered. Their names were Asa Chilcutt (who was recruiting for the C.S. Army), Elias Price, Thomas Dilworth, and Lee Chilcutt. Asa Chilcutt was taken very sick, and sent for Dr. Harris, a Southern man. The doctor came as requested, and, while there, this man Christian and 17 other militia came suddenly upon their camp. Lee Chilcutt made his escape. The others were captured, and disposed of as follows: Asa Chilcutt, the sick man, was shot to death while lying on his pallet unable to move. He was shot some six or seven times by this leading murderer, Christian. They marched the others 150 yards to a ridge, and not heeding their age or prayers for mercy, which were heard by the citizens living nearby, they shot and killed the doctor and the others, all of them being shot two or three times through the head and as many more times through the body. They (the Federals) then left them, and, passing a house nearby, told the lady that they "had killed four old bucks out there, and if they had any friends they had better bury them…. I have given you the above narrative of Christian's acts at the request of the public living in that section. They look to you as the avenger of their wrongs.”
