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Military Prison Jeff City Mo.    March 15th 1864
Majr. Genl Rosecrans
Comdg Deptartment of the Mo.

Dr. Sir
     I hope you will pardon my presumption in making a direct address or aplication to you, and give my plea a concideration. I apply to you for information and redress, which I have repeatedly tried in vain to get elsewhere. I will make a brief statement of my case and the circumstances conected with it. I am a Union man I belong to the party known as the Radical emancipatian party. My loyalty is not questioned and if it is ever, I am able to show up my record. In the year 1862 and in the month of March, I enlisted in a Batalion of Mounted Rangers recruited by John W. Richardson. I served as a 1st Sergt in one Company of said Battalion about four months, after which the said Battalion was transformed into and assumed the name of the 14th M.S.M. Cav. against the will of all the enlisted men. The 1st of March 1863, the said Battalion then Compassing a part of the 14th M.S.M. Cav. was consolidated with the 4th M.S.M. Cav. after the issue of an order from the war department, relative to disbanding the excess number of M.S.M. then over and above the contract agreed upon by the President and the Govnor of the State of Mo. I beleived this last consolidation to be in violation of the order refered to from the war department. The men were forced into this consolidation at the point of the bayonet after having give up their arms, and as I understood legaly disbanded. Myself and several others never did acquiesce in this, (which I supposed) unlawful proceeding. I did not concider that according to law I could be concidered any longer an enlisted man in the Service of the M.S.M. I did not hide myself from the othoritys, but went about my lawful business unmolested till about four months ago. When I was arrested at my home, and have ever since been held, (I believe) as a deserter. No charges have ever been prefered against me to the best of my knolledge, and there is no liklihood of me getting a trial though I have repeatedly called for it and urged it. I have applied to most all the othorites both Civil and Military for a reliece, or for an investigation of my case, and information in relation to it, but have, (after being refered from one to another) entirely failed to get any satisfaction. None knows how to dispose of me, in consequence of which I mus lay for months in the guard house loosing my time, suffering in dirt and rags myself, while my poor family (who have been striped by the Rebs) must suffer for the want of my support. If I am guilty of any violation of law I am willing to obide the consequences but if not, I want to be relieved. I hope you will have this matter investigated for I donot believe it is your intention to tolerate such injustice upon the loyal men of the Country, it is not less inexpidians than unjust.
     The statements in my case are facts which can be substantiated by many witnesses.

     Ever praying +c
     I remain your obediant servt,
     John S. Poindexter

Editor's note: Charges are found written up against him dated two days later. Notes indicate he was offered a trial date March 20, but then requested postponement to procure witnesses. Evidently his trial occured in April, and he was subsequently ordered to Myrtle Street Prison, St. Louis on May 2, 1864, with six-month sentence.)