Hildebrand The Outlaw: Or, The Terror Of Missouri

COL CHRIS FOREST

Publication: Robert M DeWitt, Publisher, 1869, New York

First edition. 6 1/4" x 4" pictorial wrappers, 100 pp., on inside front wrapper is an advertisement for The Outlaw's Bride, a Sequel to Hildebrand the Outlaw, priced at 10 cents. “Sam Hildebrand and his brother, Frank, had gotten into some trouble over a horse swapping deal involving a horse that was stolen from Firmin McIlvaine. When the Civil War started in 1861 Frank went to Potosi in Washington County to enlist in the Union Army Home Guards. That is when Capt. Castleman turned Frank over to Firmin McIlvaine and his group of vigilantes. They eventually took Frank to Ste. Genevieve County and, without the benefit of a trial, hung him to a tree then threw his body into a sink hole where it was not found for more than a month. In June, 1862 Sam avenged his brother’s death when he shot and killed George Cornicius and Firmin McIlvaine. In July, 1862 the Federal Army took revenge of Sam’s family for his killing of Cornicius and McIlvaine. Sam’s widowed, aged mother was forced from her home & the Hildebrand homestead was burned. Sam’s brother & Sam’s sister’s fiance were literally shot to pieces by a whole company of Federals. Sam’s uncle was shot dead. Sam’s other brother, who was only 13 years old, was shot, his body found several days later by neighbors. When Sam joined the Confederate Army he became a rebel soldier/guerrilla who was greatly feared in southeast Missouri. He began a reign of killings & terror that continued throughout a& after the war until Sam’s death in 1872. He killed many people with his rifle, which he named “Kill Devil.” For every person that he killed with “Kill Devil” he carved a notch in the rifle stock. It is sad that “Kill Devil” had over 80 notches. Hildebrand’s depredations in Southeast Missouri rivaled the James Boys in Northern Missouri. In 1872 John H. Ragland killed Sam Hildebrand. Rear wrapper missing and front wrapper detached and with large piece missing front top and side edge (approx. 4" x 2"). Hunter & Co., Hinsdale stamp and with neat writing that this book must be returned "without faile." 2 1/2" x 2" piece missing from bottom on page 13/14 and well as chipping to last page but not effecting text. Lightly soiled, interior clean. A De Witt Ten Cent Romance novel in poor condition.