From Harper's Monthly magazine, February 1867, written by George Ward Nichols.

In order to give the reader a clearer understanding of the condition of this neighborhood which

could have permitted the duel, I will describe the situation at the time of which I am writing,

which was late in the summer of 1865, promising that this section of the country would not today be

selected as a model example of modern civilization. In Southwest Missouri, there were old scores to be

settled up. During the three days occupied by General Smith, who commanded the department and was on a

tour of inspection and crossing the country between Rala and Springfield, a distance of 120 miles,

five men were killed or wounded in the public road. Two were murdered a short distance from Rala,

by whom we could not ascertain. Another was instantly killed, and two were wounded at a meeting of

a band of regulators, who were in service of the state, but were paid by the United States government.

It should be said here that their method of regulation was slightly informal. Their war cry was a

swift bullet and a short rope for returned rebels. I was informed by General Smith that during the

six months preceding not less than 4,000 returned Confederates had been summarily disposed of by

shooting or hanging. This statement seems incredible, but there is the record and I have no doubt of

its truth. History shows few parallels to this relentless destruction of human life in a time of

peace. It can't be explained only upon the ground that before the war, this region was inhabited by

lawless people. At the outset of the rebellion, the merest suspicion of loyalty to the union

cost the Patriot his life, and thus large numbers fled the land, giving up home and every material

interest. As soon as the Federal armies occupied the country, these refugees returned.

Once securely fixed in their old homes, they resolved that their former persecutors should not

live in their midst. Revenge for the past and security for the future, not had many in

nerve and sped many a deadly bullet. Wild Bill did not belong to the regulators. Indeed, he was one

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