USA > Kansas > Wyandotte County > History of Wyandotte County, Kansas, and its people, Vol. I > Part 26
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The second check, that turned him southward definitely and for- ever, was given him near Byrom's Ford, on the Big Blue, late in the afternoon of October 22, 1864. This check was given by a handful of men from Shawnee county; the Topeka Battery of Captain Ross Burns, one gun, and the mounted portion of the Second Regiment, Kansas State Militia, all under command of Colonel George W. Veale. The detachment, or battalion, numbered possibly three hundred men. The rebels were not routed; on the contrary, they were seemingly victorious; but their little victory was most dearly bought, and they were decidedly checked. They were given the idea that there was a company of fight- ing men ahead of them even, of whose existence and quality they had not been definitely informed. They pansed. It was late in the day. Night fell and they went into bivouac. All day they had been trying to cross the Blue. They had flanked the left of the line, up toward the Missouri river, and had again fallen back under the fire of the Kansas Sixteenth Cavalry and of a battalion of militia cavalry under Lieuten- ant Colonel Murdock, and the small command of Colonel Ford.
THE CROSSING AT BYROM'S FORD.
Colonel Jennison's command held Byrom's Ford. They commenced the attack on this point in the forenoon and did not succeed in crossing
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until 3 o'clock p. m. Jennison's force then fell baek toward Westport, fighting. During the day the head of Shelby's division came near en- tering Kansas just south of Westport, and there occurred a hot little battle in which the enemy again retired behind the Blue. It must be understood that during the day of the 22nd there were a series of com- plicated movements by different columns of the enemy, each one result- ing in a sharp fight. The enemy tried the main fords, such as the one between Independence and Kansas City, and Byrom's, defended by Jennison's little brigade, several miles below. Whenever they snc- ceeded in crossing they met with strong resistance and again retired. They crossed at cattle-fords, on no road, unknown to the militia and nn- guarded. There were not half men enough to eover affectively that long fifteen miles of the broken banks of the Big Blue. These repeated skirmishes, gronped into a single event, would properly be ealled the Battle of the Big Blue.
COLONEL VEALE'S HEROIC STAND.
On the general desultory engagement of that day the heroie strng- gle of the detachment under Colonel Veale was the most conspienons event. It occurred suddenly, on the outskirts of the then extreme right, almost alone, late in the afternoon. It came abont through a final strong effort of the Confederates to cross the stream that day. The incentive to this effort was not a caprice or a mere angry determination not to be beaten. There was no extra time then in the possession of
General Price. Pleasanton, MeNeil and Sanborn were elose behind him; Rosecrans and A. J. Smith were at Lexington. Already, on that same day, though the enemy did not know it, a man named Daniel W. Bontwell, a resident of Topeka and a Volunteer soldier, had erept down the Missouri in a skiff, waded and floundered in the night across the Blue, cireumvented the rebel pickets in the woods, and carried the message which was meant to hasten his movements from Deitzler, com- manding the militia, to Pleasanton in the rear. A way must immediate- ly be made to the westward or the raid must turn and with hastened steps go back almost the way it came, a failure.
AS A PARTICIPANT SAW IT.
The story of that famous stand is told by Mr. G. G. Gage, a mem- ber of the Topeka battery, from his own experiences. Mr. Gage says : "The land on the west side of the Big Blue is rolling. The enemy had succeeded in crossing at Byrom's Ford. Jennison's, Moonlight's, and other commands fell back toward the Kansas line, thus giving them a elear road. We of the battery were guarding Russell's Ford, on the Hiekman Mills road. A messenger came to this point and ordered
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us to go to Westport. Colonel Veale was at this time seouting with the remainder of the Shawnee county mounted men to the south and east, on the other side of the Blue. The messenger gave us orders to get to Westport as fast as possible, as the enemy was erossing the Blue behind our retiring forces. We instantly obeyed these orders, starting on the retreat with the battery and men only ; our regiment not being at hand, as stated.
"We had gone about a mile, and were passing through a lane at what was called Mockabee farm. On the left hand of this lane there was a locust grove and an orchard. We had so far seen no enemy, but suddenly out of this grove they opened fire on us. Captain Burns in- stantly turned back to the gun and ordered us to unlimber and double- eanister, which was done very quickly. Ile sighted the gun himself and we gave them this, and repeated the same dose without losing a moment. Both charges were sent into the locust grove at short range. By this time the enemy had all fallen back over the rise, or knoll, on which the grove stood, out of sight. We loaded again and by this time Colonel Veale had come up with his men and formed on our right, in the field outside of the lane, the companies of Captains IIuntoon and Bush crossing over and occupying the grove. Everything was still for a few moments, and we waited.
THE REBEL YELL.
"Then we heard the peculiar vell, or scream, of the rebels when they begin a charge. They came over the knoll and about six abreast down the lane upon the gun, elosely massed; a cavalry charge by the men of Jaekman's brigade, of Shelby's division, as we knew afterwards; veterans who had done the same thing many times before. Our sup- port, Colonel Veale's men, began firing as soon as they came in range. We waited with the gun until they came within a hundred yards and then opened on them. When the smoke cleared away they had again fallen back over the knoll, and the lane in front of us was strewed thick with dead and wounded men and horses.
"We then began shelling them on the other side of the hill where they were, and kept this up for several minutes. I think there is a ravine there, and finally Captain Burns ordered us to double-canister again and wait for them to come and see ns. It was not long. The yell was heard again, and I think when they came the second time they were within a hundred yards of us before the captain gave the order to fire. They went baek again over the hill, this time also. Two charges had been repulsed and the lane looked worse than it did before. I remem- ber the scene vividly and distinetly, and I think that I have never read or heard of a greater slaughter of men in battle than I saw before me in that narrow lane. Our chances were desperate, but I believe that I
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would rather have been with that gun in the lane than a cavalryman on the charging side.
FIGHTING TO THE DEATH.
"After this second charge and repulse we began shelling them again, and kept it up until the final charge which closed in on our front and flanks. We could not get out, and could do nothing more. Many had by this time been killed or wounded. The remainder tried to escape, but could not get through and were taken prisoners. It is
s.I Reader
THE BATTLE OF THE BLUE. (From a painting by S. J. Reader.)
now known that Captain Burns stayed with his gun as the last man, using his revolver when he could do nothing more, and that he was beaten over the head with a carbine and captured where he stood. Some say that he was not shot because the balls seemed to miss him, as has often been the case with men in battle where the firing was heavy; others that the rebels did not want to kill him, and finally beat him, as stated, for the purpose of disabling him. At any rate, he kept his head until this occurred, for it has since transpired that he carried away the sight of the gun to keep them from using it after its capture, and that through all his adventures in their hands he somehow kept it. and his family have it now.
HISTORY OF WYANDOTTE COUNTY
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THIE TOPEKA BATTERY'S LOSS.
"The following are the names of the persons belonging to the battery who were in the fight; twenty-two in all.
"The killed : George Ginnold, Daniel Handley, Nicholas Brown, M. D. Race, McClure Martin, Ben Hughes, Lear Selkin, C. H. Budd.
"The wounded: Captain Ross Burns, John Branner, William P. Thompson and John Ward.
"Remaining men engaged : G. G. Gage, R. Fitzgerald, J. E. Follans- bee, John Links, Fred Mackey, James Anderson, A. II. Holman, Ed Pape, Jacob Kline and John Armstrong.
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YBATTLE BIG. BLUE
BATTLE OF THE BLUE.
"Fourteen widows and thirty-seven orphans were made by these casualties. The men of the battery all lived in Topeka, near neighbors to each other. The ten who were unhurt were all taken prisoners. John Armstrong escaped the first night. The remainder shared the march to the southward with Price's retreating army, having experiences which I have been asked to .relate. In doing so I can speak positively only of myself and my immediate companions.
"After the battle they gathered us prisoners together, and about that time General Shelby himself appeared in great haste, and ordered a guard from his veterans to take us to a little hill near by. The act was very significant of the danger we were in. Soon after that they marched us about two miles down the Blue to Price's headquarters; a place they
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ealled Boston Adam's. They had established their hospital there, and were bringing in the wounded from the battlefield we had just left. There was a yard with a high stone wall around it-a stone corral-and there the prisoners were guarded. Through this yard they had to pass to carry in their wounded and take ont their dead. Our wounded they left in the yard. In the course of the evening Captain Burns was bronght in. There was no comfort there and I held him on my knees until about two o'clock the following morning, when some one came out of the hospital and wanted to know where the captain of that gun was, and when Burns had been found they took him in. I did not see him again until I met him in Topeka, as one might say, 'after the war.' "
AS GENERAL DEITZLER TOLD IT.
The rest of the story of the battle of the Blue is told in the official report of General Deitzler.
HEADQUARTERS KANSAS STATE MILITIA. TOPEKA, December 15, 1864.
Major :- In compliance with general field orders from your headquarters, dated Camp Arkansas, November 8, 1864, 1 have the honor to report the part taken by the troops under my command in the recent campaign against the rebel army under Major General Price.
On the 9th day of October, 1864, in pursuance of instructions from His Excelleney the Governor of Kansas, I issued orders to the militia to prepare them- selves for active service for thirty days, and to concentrate immediately at the points indicated in said order, a copy of which is herewith enclosed.
So prompt were the militia in responding to this call, and such was the alae- rity and enthusiam manifested in concentrating at the points indicated, that upon my arrival at Olathe on the evening of the 12th, I found several regiments in camp there.
On the morning of the 13th, having received verbal instructions from Major General Curtis to order all troops to concentrate at Olathe to move to Shawner- town, I proceeded to that point, formed an eneampment, and gave directions to thoroughly arm and equip the troops. During the three succeeding days, the First, Second, Third, Fourth, Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Twentieth Regiments of militia arrived in camp at Shawneetown. The regiments of Kansas State Militia, which had been ordered to rendezvous at the city of Wyandotte and Kansas City.
Orders from your headquarters, designating the troops in the field as the "Army of the Border" and dividing it into two wings. the right under Major General Blunt, and assigning me to the command of the left, required several regiments of the militia of southern Kausas to report to General Blunt, who will doubtless include their action in his report.
The fact that the citizen soldiery of Kansas, who responded as promptly to the call of the governor, were compelled to leave their homes and business to the care of women, the old and the decrepit, thereby incurring heavy losses and great inconvenience, caused much anxiety and great uneasiness, and a strong desire to end the campaign as soon as possible. This feeling was largely increased by the
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mystery surrounding the movements of the enemy, and the uncertain and con- flicting information furnished by the officers belonging to the army of General Rosecrans in search of Price.
The impression became general that the rebel forces had moved south through General Rosecrans's lines, and we were puzzled prodigiously to account for, or to understand how, a hostile army of twenty thousand could remain in Boonville and the vicinity "foraging wide" for some two weeks, "pursued by General Sanborn's Cavalry with all possible dispatch," without molestation.
No satisfactory explanation has yet been given of this singular effort to find Price and to "draw him into a trap."
In my judgment it was one of the most extraordinary circumstances in the history of campaigning, and it ereated so great a distrust among the militia that many became discouraged and returned to their homes.
The first development of the rebel army was made by Major General Blunt, who discovered them at Lexington, Missouri, on the 19th of October, and being overpowered by superior numbers was obliged to retreat to Independence. Several days prior to this I had, by direction of Major General Curtis, sent to Independence two regiments of the Kansas State Militia-the Twelfth and Nineteenth-and on the 19th repaired thither in person.
On the morning of the 21st, in obedience to orders, I moved with the Nine- teenth Regiment to the Big Blue, and began to fortify the several erossings of that stream.
At this place I found Colonel Blair in command of the Fifth, Sixth and Tenth Regiments, K. S. M., and Captain MeClain's Colorado Battery. 1 immediately gave the necessary orders to erect fortifications and place the troops in position, and also ordered Brigadier General M. S. Grant, who was left in charge of the troops at Shawneetown, to proceed with two regiments of cavalry and two pieces of artillery to Hickman Mills, with instructions to fortify and defend the cross- ings of the Blue at that point, and to open communication with our forces on the left.
The remainder of the cavalry and infantry were ordered from Shawneetown to the crossing of the Big Blue on the Independence road, to which place the troops under General Blunt also retreated during the night of the 21st.
The entire Army of the Border was now in position on and along the west side of the Big Blue, occupying every possible erossing of that stream from its month to Ilickman Mills, a distance of about fifteen miles, and presenting a formidable appearance.
Priee's army entered Independence on the 20th, and on the morning of the 21st his cavalry made demonstration at several points in front of my position (the left wing), in several instances driving the piekets in under cover of our artillery.
About noon, having received reliable information that a heavy column of the enemy was moving against the right of our line, I ordered Lieutenant Colonel Walker, commanding the Sixteenth Kansas Volunteer Cavalry, with two pieces of artillery, to re-enforce that position. Subsequently the Twelfth K. S. M. and Captain McClain's Battery were also withdrawn from my line to re-enforce the right and General Blunt.
The enemy having forced a passage of the Blue at Byrom's Ford about 3 o'clock P. M., and my position being threatened from the rear, I quietly withdrew my command in perfect order and retreated to Kansas City, in obedience to in- structions from Major General Curtis.
Just as the troops commenced moving from our works on the Blue a detach- ment of rebel cavalry made a furious dash upon the left center to my line, occupied by the Nineteenth Regiment, K. S. M., under Colonel Hogan, who received the
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charge with the greatest coolness and gallantry, completely routing the enemy, killing twelve and capturing ten, without loss to our side.
If my information is correct, Price commenced moving his train south from Independence about ten o'clock on the night of the 21st, under a strong escort, and on the morning of the 22nd he moved with his cavalry and some artillery towards Westport, crossing the Blue at Byrom's Ford, with the avowed intention of going into Kansas. He drove Colonel Jennison's command to the edge of the timber about two miles from Westport, when he (Jennison) was re-enforeed by a portion of the militia which had become detached from General Grant's command at Hickman Mills.
A strong detachment of the enemy moved up the Blue under cover of the timber and attacked General Grant, throwing his command into some confusion, killing thirty-six, wounding forty-three, taking about one hundred prisoners, capturing one piece of artillery, and compelling General Grant to retire to Olathe. The loss of the enemy in this engagement is not known, but it must have been considerable.
General Grant speaks in the highest terms of the militia under his eommand. and expresses the opinion that he could have succeeded in repulsing the enemy had . it not been for the disgraceful conduct of Major Laing.
In the report of the affair near Hickman Mills, General Grant says: "Major Laing, Fifteenth Kansas Volunteer Cavalry, with four squadrons of bis regiment, was but a short distance in my rear when the fight commenced. I expected he would support me, and sent him word to do so, but he would not, and did not, al- though urged to do so by every officer in his command. He withdrew his command from the field, which had the effect of destroying the courage of the men under Colonel Lowe (Twenty-first K. S. M.), who also failed to support me. Major Laing is responsible for most of my loss, and showed cowardice in the face of the enemy."
The enemy having forced Brigadier General Grant to retire during the night to Olathe, and the commands of Colonels Moonlight and Jennison, with several detachments of militia, to Westport. encamped on the night of the 22nd on the south side of Brush creek, about two miles from Westport; his line extending into Kansas near the Shawnee Mission.
On the morning of the 23rd 1 received instructions from the Commanding General to remain in Kansas City, and to place the artillery and infantry in proper position in the entrenchments, and to hurry to the front all the mounted men.
About nine o'clock A. M. I directed Brigadier General Sherry, K. S. M., to assume command of the works in Kansas City, and proceeded to Westport. There had been severe fighting all morning in the vicinity of Westport, and some brilliant charges of the Fifteenth and Sixteenth Regiments of Kansas Volunteer Cavalry which were resisted with great stubbornness and resulted in heavy loss to the „enemy, but no ground was gained by our side.
The enemy's left, in attempting to advance into Kansas, had been successfully turned and driven back by the brigades under the gallant Colonels Moonlight and Jennison, who occupied a position near the Shawnee Mission. When I arrived at the front the firing had ceased. I found the forces forming on the bluffs on the north side of Brush creek, the left resting on the road leading from Westport to lliekman Mills, and the enemy on the south side of said ereek beyond the woods. The Kansas Militia were dismounted and the horses sent to the rear, and as soon as the formation was complete, our forces were ordered by Major General Curtis to advanee, with General Blunt on the left and myself on the right.
The personal presence of Major General Curtis inspired the men with confi- dence, and the whole command moved forward in perfect order through the densest underbrush, and, as they emerged from the woods, on the south side of
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Brush creek, they encountered the enemy in strong force, and after a severe struggle, in which our troops showed the greatest bravery, drove him from his chosen position. Taking advantage of the confusion which occurred in the enemy's ranks at this time, our victorious forces advanced rapidly into the open field, firing volley after volley into the flying rebels, killing and wounding large numbers, who were left in our hands.
Both armies were now in full view of each other on the open prairie, present- ing one of the most magnificent spectacles in nature.
The enemy made several attempts to stand, but such was the dashing bravery of our troops that they never succeeded in rallying and forming their men to offer any considerable resistance.
A running fight was then kept up for ahout four miles, the enemy slowly re- treating in a southerly direction parallel with and abont a mile from the state line. in Missouri, when General Rosecrans's advance, under Major General Pleasanton, made its appearance some distance from the right of the enemy, and opened upon them with artillery. At this point the retreat became a perfect rout, and the enemy running in great confusion southward were soon out of sight. Their course was indicated by dense volumes of smoke from burning prairie, hay and grain stacks, etc.
I accompanied the pursuit a short distance beyond the Blue, where we were joined by Major General Pleasanton and staff. After consultation with that officer it was decided that the United States forces under Generals Curtis and Pleasan- ton were sufficient to follow the rebel horde and drive them beyond the state of Missouri and Kansas, whereupon I requested and obtained leave from the General Commanding to order the militia to their several counties, except the Fifth, Sixth and Tenth Regiments, all from southern Kansas, who continued the pursuit to Fort Scott, whence they were sent to their homes.
Not having received reports from the several brigade commanders, I am not prepared to make accurate statements respecting the number of the militia in the field, of men killed, wounded and taken prisoners, nor of the particular acts of gallantry and daring of the members, of the militia which deserve honorable mention. In my report to the governor of Kansas I will endeavor to do full justice to all. Suffice it to say here that our casualties were comparatively slight, and that the conduct and bravery of both officers and men were highly satisfactory, reflecting great credit and honor upon themselves and the state, and entitling them to the thanks of the whole country.
I cannot close my report without expressing in behalf of the people of Kansas my grateful acknowledgments for the distinguished services rendered in the cam- paign against Price's pInndering and murdering army by that noble patriot and gallant chieftain, Major General S. R. Curtis. Always at his post and ever watchful of the interests entrusted to his care, he saw the threatened danger even before the invaders appeared at Pilot Knob, and was the first to sound the tocsin of alarm. With characteristic energy he made every possible preparation to meet the enemy, and entered the field in person at an early day, he remained, scarcely leaving his saddle until he saw the rebel horde driven beyond the limits of the department, and only gave up the chase when both his men and horses were com- pletely exhausted. Turning a deaf ear to the schemes of politicians and office seekers who followed the army, he manifested a singleness of purpose and a de- votion to duty rarely witnessed.
To the knowledge and ripe experience in military affairs, the vigilance and energy, of Major General Curtis and his kind co-operation in furnishing arms and ammunition and the necessary supplies to the militia, Kansas owes in a great
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measure her preservation from the devastating hands of a ruthless foe, and to him we tender our sincere thanks.
I have the honor to be, Major, Very respectfully your obedient servant, GEORGE W. DEITZLER, Major General, K. S. M.
MAJOR C. S. CHARLOT,
Assistant Adjutant General Department of Kansas.
The eight soldiers of the celebrated Topeka battery who were killed were buried in a trench near Westport. Their bodies, however, were taken up and buried in Huron Cemetery in Wyandotte, and later they were again disinterred and buried in the Topeka cemetery. So it came about that these eight brave Kansas soldiers had three graves. A beau- tiful monument to them now stands in Topeka cemetery.
CHAPTER XXI.
"UNDERGROUND" AND WAR STORIES.
"SILENCE AND NO QUESTIONS ASKED"-SOME VALUABLE FREIGHT- THE KIDNAPPERS OF LAWRENCE-STORIES OF WAR-TIME DAYS-A NIGHT · OF TERROR-THE NEGRO EXODUS-WIIEN COLONEL MOONLIGHT GUARDED THE TOWN-SOLDIERS GUARDED A STEAMBOAT CAPTAIN.
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