A History of Northeast Missouri, Volume I, Part 9

Author: Williams, Walter, 1864-1935, editor
Publication date: 1913
Publisher: Chicago, New York, The Lewis Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 731

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John McAfee, an extreme pro-slavery Democrat of Shelby county, was elected speaker of the house. On January 4, 1861, Governor Claiborne F. Jackson of Howard county, although elected as a Douglas- Democrat, in his inaugural address said that Missouri's destiny was with the slave-holding states and that she should stand for the South. On January 6, the Committee on Federal Relations was instructed to report a bill to "call a convention" and on January 18th the bill calling a state convention passed. The tenth section of this bill was introduced by Charles H. Hardin, who was state senator from Boone and Callaway, and provided whereby the convention was not to sever relations with the Union except on a vote of the people of Missouri. This convention was to deter- mine the relations to be taken between Missouri and the Union.

The convention met February 28, 1861, and was composed of ninety- nine delegates. Ex-Governor Sterling Price of Chariton county was elected president almost unanimously. It soon became apparent that the delegates were decidedly Union in sentiment and Sterling Price later resigned the office of president. Events in other parts of the country soon brought matters to a crisis. On April 15, 1861, President Lincoln issued a proclamation for seventy-five thousand troops and a request was sent to Governor Jackson for Missouri's pro rata of four regiments. Governor Jackson not only ignored this request but sent a very inde- pendently worded refusal. The course of Governor Jackson, Sterling Price, and others high in authority in this state greatly unsettled the people in their political faith. All hoped for a compromise. It was on May 10, 1861, that war first broke out in Missouri. On that day the attack

HISTORY OF NORTHEAST MISSOURI

was made on Camp Jackson and this state was at once plunged into all the horrors of a civil war.

THE WAR IN NORTHEAST MISSOURI (1861)

Even before the attack on Fort Sumter in South Carolina and Camp Jackson in St. Louis, there had been many open exhibitions of northern and southern sentiment in Northeast Missouri. Naturally the first occa- sion that called forth these expressions of partisanship was the state con- vention that was to meet in February to consider Missouri's relation to the North and South. During the spring of 1861 all over this section not only were these meetings continued but troops were being raised and organized by both sides. The first southern flag to be raised in North- east Missouri was at Emerson in northwest Marion county on March 16, 1861, and just two weeks later the second southern flag was unfurled at Palmyra in the same county.

STERLING PRICE

The four counties of Lewis, Marion, Monroe and Ralls did much to keep alive the war in Northeast Missouri. They were the center of south- ern sentiment and owing largely to the topography of the country and the character of the inhabitants they were the recruiting grounds for the South in that section. The South was more active and really accom- plished more here than elsewhere in that section and this in spite of the overwhelming Union force arrayed against them. To the forest recesses of the southern recruiting camps of these counties flocked the southern men of the surrounding counties and on collecting in a body would strike for the Missouri to join Price and the Confederacy. By the end of June, 1861, both northern and southern troops were being raised. In some of the large slave counties the enlistment of southern men proceeded at a more rapid pace, although the Union sentiment even there placed thousands of recruits in the northern ranks. Wherever the German element was strong as in St. Charles, Warren and Montgomery, one nat- urally finds many recruits for the North. It seems very shortly to have been the plan of the northern generals in Missouri to send large detach- ments of troops into those counties where the southern sentiment was or might become strong. This scheme prevented many southern sympa- thizers from ever obtaining an opportunity to enlist in the cause of the

HISTORY OF NORTHEAST MISSOURI

South. Some very noticeable examples of this policy are found in St. Charles, Fulton, Columbia, Fayette, Edina, Mexico, Hudson, (later known as Macon City), Hannibal, Keytesville, and elsewhere in Northeast Missouri. This plan of the Union generals in Missouri went hand in hand with the one of patrolling the Missouri in order to prevent any enlistments in Northeast Missouri for the South from reaching Price.

Of equal importance in the eyes of the North was the protection of the two important railroads in this section-the Hannibal and St. Joseph and the North Missouri-as these enabled the Northern troops to keep in touch with each other and enabled reinforcements and supplies to be distributed quickly. These three plans were strictly adhered to and within less than two years had practically crushed the southern cause throughout the state. By cutting Missouri into two parts and by gar- risoning all important portions of the northern half including the rich slave district of Northeast Missouri, the organization of southern troops was made not only hazardous but many times impossible, in spite of the great ability of such men as Porter. Another point that helped spell success for the North in Northeast Missouri was the Union partisanship of the owners and controllers of the two railroads mentioned above. And it should be mentioned here that the personal interest at stake by these roads, especially the Hannibal and St. Joseph, did much to inform the Union generals of their (the Union) mistakes and again ameliorated conditions for the people along that line who were subject to over-zealous Federal commanders.

On June 12, 1861, Governor Jackson issued his call to the people of Missouri to defend their state. This call for state guards under Major- General Sterling Price was eagerly responded to by many of the southern sympathizers in Northeast Missouri.

As early as July, 1861, hostilities began in this section around Monroe City (July 14) and Palmyra, the Federal forces occupying both places. During this month Brigadier-General John Pope was assigned to the command of the Union forces in the north Missouri district. He at once issued orders whose purpose was to check secession, by requesting each section of that district to see that it protected all Union property therein. On July 29, 1861, Brigadier-General S. A. Hurlbut of the United States Army took up his headquarters at Macon City and pro- ceeded to distribute the Union forces with the view of protecting the property of the Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad from Quincy and Han- nibal to St. Joseph. Colonel U. S. Grant, later president of the United States, was stationed at Mexico; and Colonel L. F. Ross at Warrenton. If all the Union commanders who later came into Northeast Missouri had acted with the same business-like courtesy and consideration towards the inhabitants that Grant did on his short stay here, there would have been far less to write of the history of the Civil war in that section.

The engagement at Monroe City deserves a passing comment. It was the only cannon battle that was fought in Monroe county. T. A. Harris, state representative from Monroe county, was given the rank of Brig- adier-General July 5, 1861, with five hundred recruited southern troops under him. By the 14th Harris had over one thousand men at Monroe City where an engagement took place with the Federal troops. After the battle Harris advised retreat and set out with his command, which had been augmented to between one thousand two hundred and one thousand five hundred. The first actual service of U. S. Grant in the Civil war was against Harris on the latter's retreat from Hunnewell to Florida (Monroe county). Near Fulton, Harris was again engaged with some Union troops under Colonel McNeil in an affair known as the "Ful- ton Races" and the former's force was defeated and scattered.

HISTORY OF NORTHEAST MISSOURI

All during July the southern troops had been enlisting in and around Marion county. The Union official and soldiers acted so as to greatly incense the people in the places where they were stationed. Colonel Martin E. Green, brother of James S. Green of Lewis county, was the leader and organizer of the southern cause in Northeast Missouri during the summer of 1860. John McAfee and Marmaduke, of Shelby, T. A. Harris of Monroe, Colonel Martin E. Green and Colonel Porter, of Lewis, and Mr. Anderson, representative of Marion county, did more for the South in 1861, and in fact throughout 1861-1862, than any others in that section-this, of course, does not include General Sterling Price, who was south of the river during the war. The recruiting quarters of Colonel Green were near Monticello in Lewis county. From here about the first of August, he moved north into Clark county and on August 5th, was defeated in battle near the town of Athens (Clark county). This affair took place about twenty miles northwest of Keokuk. Colonel Green's force is estimated at between eight hundred and eighteen hun-

JAMES S. GREEN

dred, consisting mostly of cavalry and besides this having two cannons. The Union troops consisted of four hundred Home Guards of Clark county and two companies of United States Volunteers from Keokuk under Colonel David Moore of Clark county. Colonel Moore had no cannon. The fight lasted an hour and the southern forees were decidedly defeated.

After this engagement Colonel Green retreated with his force to Lewis, Knox and Marion counties to reorganize. Here also gathered Captain Kneisley of Marion county with his battery made famous at the battle of Lexington, September 10-20, 1861; and Gen. Tom Harris. commander of the State Guards of that section.

Before beginning the relation of the maneuvering by Coloned Green and .his forces vs. the Union troops, it might be well to relate several happenings that took place at and around Palmyra immediately after the battle of Athens. On August 8, 1861, some Confederate recruits marched into Palmyra and raided that town. Brigadier-General Stephen A. Hurlbut, who was then at Hannibal, on learning of this raid issued a "Requisition" on August 11 on Marion county whereby that county was made to support his army. It was directed against Palmyra and was very obnoxious to both southern and northern residents of the town,

HISTORY OF NORTHEAST MISSOURI

especially since they had had nothing to do with the raiding of their city. There were other annoying things just then that caused the Union generals much worry. Southern bushwhackers had made it a custom to fire on passing trains thereby endangering the lives of not only soldiers but. passengers as well. The actions taken by the Union commanders were, however, severely criticized by even such ardent northern men as J. T. K. Haywood, superintendent of the Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad, who in his letters to John Wood Brooks of Boston, Massachu- setts, an official of the same line, relates ( August, 1861) many things that are valuable in throwing light on conditions in northeast Missouri at that time. He said that a large majority of Monroe and Ralls and a majority of Marion and Shelby were for the South and secession; that the southerners had from one to two thousand men in camp; and that they could bring two thousand troops in the field easily and were in fine communication with each other. Another act of General Hurlbut's that exasperated the people was his requesting them to find and deliver over to him all bushwhackers in their section.

After the battle of Wilson's Creek in south Missouri, General Price determined to march north, striking the Missouri near Lexington. His object was largely to get recruits so he accordingly ordered General Harris and his State Guards to join him. All the State Guards in North- east Missouri set out for points along the Missouri river as Glasgow, Brunswick, and Arrow Rock. Colonel Green was at Marshall's Mill, six to eight miles from Palmyra, with one thousand two hundred men. General Hurlbut knew of Green's force and at once set out to capture it. Colonel Green moved south, being pursued by an equal force of Fed- erals-four hundred of the latter mounted. From Marshall's Mill, Green struck Philadelphia, New Market, and on September 2, crossed the Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad near Monroe City, destroying the track. From Monroe City he passed near Paris and Florida, received reinforcements from both Ralls and Monroe, and then stopped to rest.

Col. David Moore with a Northeast Missouri regiment and Col. Smith with the Sixteenth Illinois, just from Kirksville, left Palmyra on September 5 for Hunnewell in pursuit of Green. General Pope and Colonel John M. Glover also took the field reinforced with four hundred Illinois troops. Colonel U. G. Williams of the Third Iowa Infantry and some Linn county Home Guards arrived at Hannibal on August 31, and on being joined by three hundred Kansas troops set out for Shel- bina-having a force of 620. From there Williams set out for Paris in pursuit of Green, but on learning of the latter's force retreated in haste back to Shelbina pursued by Green. The southern leader sur- rounded that place and on September 4th a battle took place. Williams owing to the defection of his Kansas troops was forced to take the train for Macon City. All of Williams' troops escaped, but Green captured all the camp supplies and then set out for Florida, prepared to march to the Missouri.

On September 6, Generals Pope and Hurlbut were at Hunnewell. Pope telegraphed General Fremont at St. Louis of the necessity of immediate action or Green would escape. Fremont after it was too late sent a large force to help Pope and sent orders for him to "line the railroad from Hannibal to Hudson (Macon City)." Fremont planned the annihilation of Green and sent Major-General Sturgis and others to help surround that commander.

During all this time Green had already crossed the Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad (see above), had received reinforcements from several counties, rested, won one battle, captured a town, and was pre- paring to set out on his march to join Price. On September 7, Green

HISTORY OF NORTHEAST MISSOURI

set out for Lexington-Fremont's plans totally miscarrying. Brigadier- General Sturgis left for Hudson over the North Missouri Railroad and arrived in Mexico in time to have stopped Green and Harris on their march to Glasgow, but having no cavalry the Union general was helpless. Green and Harris marched southwest, crossed the North Missouri Rail- road, at Renick (seven miles south of Moberly) on the 9th, continued on through Randolph and Howard, reached Glasgow and captured the steamboat "Sunshine," crosscd the Missouri river on the 12th and reached Lexington in safety.

On September 8, Pope reached Green's former camp and then returned to Hunnewell. On the 10th he telegraphed Fremont that Green had gone into Chariton county. Thus ended the march of Green and Harris and the pursuit of them by Pope and Hurlbut. It was really the first campaign of the war in Northeast Missouri and it had proven an un- doubted Confederate success. With the exception of the engagements at Athens and Fulton the Confederates had accomplished what they had intended, i. e., organizing recruits and getting them safely across the Missouri to Price. It was a preliminary of the more brilliant and spectacular campaign of Porter in 1862, though it is doubtful if in re- sults this was not the more successful of the two.

CLOSE OF 1861

On November 2, 1861, General David Hunter superseded Fremont in 'command of the Western Department and a few days later Major General Henry Wager Halleck superseded Hunter. Towards the end of November, General Price issued his proclamation "To the People of Central and Northern Missouri" appealing for fifty thousand men. This proclamation was earnest in tone and big inducements were offered. Many southern sympathizers responded to this call. Price ordered the Confederates to burn the Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad bridges and to attack the Federals so that these new recruits could get through. Gen- eral John Pope was ordered to the west of Jefferson City to prevent the Confederates from crossing the Missouri on their way to join Price. Gen- eral B. M. Prentiss was appointed to the command of Northeast Missouri with headquarters at Palmyra. Many Union troops were stationed at Hannibal, Hudson and Palmyra-Glover's cavalry being at the latter place. Price said he expected at least six hundred men from each of the counties of St. Charles, Lincoln and Pike and five hundred apiece from Boone and Howard. According to Price's orders many bridges were burned in this section and for this the people of Confederate sympathies in Marion county alone were forced to pay $14,045 by order of the Federal commanders. On the burning of these bridges the Federal troops began pouring into this section in great numbers. Some of these bridge-burners were caught and eight found guilty at a court-martial trial held in Palmyra December 27, 1861, the sentence of death was commuted to imprisonment at Alton.

The last engagement of the year was the fight at Mt. Zion church on December 28, 1861, in northern Boone county, where Colonel John M. Glover under General Prentiss, with nine hundred Union men de- feated Col. Caleb Dorsey with three hundred and fifty Confederates.

From Camp Jackson in May, to the fight at Mt. Zion church in De. cember, sixty skirmishes and battles were fought in Missouri. More than half of these were south of the Missouri and all the big affairs had taken place south of the river. The Confederates were unwilling to risk troops north of that stream so that all they did was to harass the Union troops in that section and push forward the enlisting of men for Price's

HISTORY OF NORTHEAST MISSOURI

army. The Confederates had accomplished these two things but the Federal commanders were literally garrisoning practically all North- east Missouri and tightening the lines so as to make harder and harder the realization of southern enlisting. The Federals had maintained the two railroads in a fair condition and were patrolling the Missouri with greater and greater diligence.

THE WAR IN 1862

During the winter of 1862 many Federal troops left Northeast Mis- souri. In March, 1862, northern Missouri was divided into three mili- tary districts. Early in the spring bushwhackers became very active in this section and there was also witnessed quite a. Confederate uprising. The Union cavalry known as "Merrill's Horse" was stationed at Colum- bia from January to July. This cavalry fought in every part of this state from Scotland to Stoddard county. Also stationed at this place

GEORGE-C. BINGHAM

was Colonel Odon Guitar's force. Colonel John M. Glover who was appointed in March to take command of Northeast Missouri was super- seded in June by Colonel John McNeil at Palmyra. Colonel Glover's force scouted through Adair. Scotland, Clark, Lewis, Knox and Shelby counties during the spring and summer of 1862.

During this year took place the last great campaign of the Confed- eracy in Northeast Missouri-the campaign of Col. Jo Porter. In fact after the fall of 1862, the war in this section ended except for the depredations of such guerrillas as were a source of trouble to both northern and southern sympathizers.

In the spring and summer of this year many Missouri Confederate officers in Arkansas and Mississippi obtained leave to enlist recruits in Missouri under the inducement that they were to have the command of all that they enlisted. Captain Jo O. Shelby thus became a colonel and raised a regiment in Saline and Lafayette. Others were Hays. Coffee, Thompson, Hughes, Cockrell. Boyd, Poindexter and Porter. After the battle of Pea Ridge. Colonel Porter, who had been selected by Price to find recruits in this section, reached home in April and began open work June 17.

Colonel Joseph Chrisman Porter and Judge Martin E. Green were

HISTORY OF NORTHEAST MISSOURI

both from Lewis county. Porter was a farmer living a little east of Newark in Knox county. In 1861 he was lieutenant colonel under Green and had seen service at Athens, Shelbina, Lexington and Pea Ridge. Through his efforts it has been estimated that over five thousand Con- federate soldiers were drawn from Northeast Missouri in a little over a half year .* His force was never large and in numbers, arms and disci- pline was far surpassed by the Union troops arrayed against him. All Northeast Missouri was covered by his agents who were stationed from one to five miles apart in all sections except in part of St. Charles and all of Lincoln and Warren counties. He rarely had over one thousand men with him and frequently his force was very small. His plan was to recruit men and get them across the Missouri as quickly as possible. He rarely drilled his men as there was little chance for it. His lines of communication or relays knew every inch of northern Missouri and he always had a guide. These things account for his wonderful success in spite of such overwhelming odds.

It cannot be definitely stated when Porter began his recruiting. The first important intelligence of his whereabouts was June 17. on which date he was near New Market in north Marion county, where he cap- tured forty-three men. The news is said to have been spread among the people that "Porter's coming" and this was sufficient to secure many enlistments. From New Market Porter moved north through western Marion, eastern Knox, and western Lewis counties. He recruited about two hundred and rested at Sulphur Springs in Knox county. From here he moved north, threatening Memphis, and gathered recruits in Scot- land and Schuyler counties. About four hundred and fifty Federal troops (state militia) under Colonel H. S. Lipscomb, followed and at Cherry Grove (northeast Schuyler) towards the end of June Porter was defeated. His loss was slight but he at once retreated to a place about ten miles west of Newark, being pursued by Lipscomb. Here Porter scattered his force, keeping only about seventy-five men, and with these as a nucleus went on recruiting. .

In July, Porter's brother captured Newark and then Monticello fell. The Confederates had become masters of all the western part of Lewis county and were rapidly gaining recruits. The Federals at Canton, LaGrange, Palmyra and even at Hannibal trembled. Porter left New- ark, went north into Scotland, and on July 12, captured Memphis which had been occupied with Federal troops. Before this the forces of Colonel McNeil had started in pursuit of Porter, and on July 9, were at Newark. At Pierce's Mill on the south side of the Middle Fabius, Scotland county, Porter was discovered in ambush on July 18, by Major John Y. Clop- per with a part of "Merrill's Horse." After three unsuccessful at- tempts made to dislodge him Clopper was reinforced by Major Rogers and their united force finally accomplished this after a desperate re- sistance by Porter. Porter was really victorious here but retreated south. The Federal loss was heavy, while the Confederates' loss was light. Porter in less than twenty-four hours after this affair was at Novelty, Knox county. This was quite a record march for within that time he had fought a battle and retreated sixty-five miles through a sec- tion that had been drenched with rain a week before. McNeil followed Porter to Newark and then returned to Palmyra acknowledging being baffled by the southern commander. It was at this time that McNeil is reported to have said of Porter: "He runs like a deer, and doubles like a fox."

* This is not the author's estimate but taken from "With Porter in North Missouri" by Joseph A. Mudd. This work was of invaluable assistance in the preparation of th's paper, especially the part relating to 1862.

HISTORY OF NORTHEAST MISSOURI

On July 20, Porter was at Whaley's Mill, six miles east of Newark, and from there he marched south past Warren (sixteen miles west of Palmyra) with two hundred men, crossed the Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad near Monroe Station and rested in Monroe county. On July 22, Porter surprised and defeated a small force of Federal troops near Florida which were under Major H. C. Caldwell of the Third Iowa. From here Porter marched south and on the 23d crossed the North Missouri Railroad and entered Callaway county where his force was increased. He dashed to the heavy timber near Brown's Spring, ten miles north of Fulton.

Colonel Odon Guitar left Jefferson City on July 27, with two hun- dred men and two pieces of artillery to attack Porter who was known to be heading for the river with his new recruits. On July 26, Lieuten- ant Colonel W. F. Shaffer of "Merrill's Horse" left Columbia with one hundred men and taking Sturgeon joined Major Clopper with one hun- dred. Major Caldwell, with part of the Third Iowa and part of Colonel J. M. Glover's regiment, left Mexico and these two columns marched to Mt. Zion church. Not finding Porter they entered Callaway on the 28th, and at 2 P. M. heard Guitar's cannon four or five miles away at Moore's Mill. Guitar had found Porter first and these two able commanders were engaging in a doubtful battle when the Union reinforcements from Mt. Zion church gave the victory to Guitar. Porter lost many in both killed and wounded here and was very fortunate in not having his entire force captured.

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A History of Northeast Missouri, Volume I, Part 9

Author: Williams, Walter, 1864-1935, editor Publication date: 1913 Publisher: Chicago, New York, The Lewis Publishing Company Number of Pages: 731

Author: Williams, Walter, 1864-1935, editor
Publication date: 1913
Publisher: Chicago, New York, The Lewis Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 731