USA > Missouri > Boone County > History of Boone County, Missouri. > Part 45
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110
Alfred Zimmerman,
Benj. Hargrove, Henry Keller, F. McClanahan, Wm. Norton, Jacob Reed, Emmet H. Selby, Jas. H. B. Waddell, Jas. Willis, Total, 56.
COMPANY G.
Sergt. David N. Dunn, Sergt. Jno. Donahoo, Sergt. Wm. Lair, Corp. Leander P. Bart, Corp. Jas. S. Gunby, Corp. Wm. Loar, Corp. L. D. Sherwood, Corp. Jacob R. Wexler,
Sergt. Geo. W. Miller, Corp. David Riggs,
Privates.
Geo. W. Adams,
Charles Bishop,
Samuel Bell,
Wm. Christman,
Oscar Collier,
John J. Cirstein,
Wm. Drennan,
Robt. P. Elston,
Sylvester H. Deen, Wm. G. Floor,
James S. Edwards, James Forsythe,
Philip Christman, Homer M. Dunbar, Eleazer Evans, Robt. Greenfield,
Sergt. M. B. Long, Corp. Canada Keller,.
Wm. H. Braden, J. L. Canada,
E. T. Miles,
Wm. H. Jeffers,
Daniel Lorton,
464
HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY.
Wm. P. Golay,
Henry T. Gooch,
Joseph S. Glahn,
John W. Hardin,
Elijah Hall,
Chas. M. Jenkins,
Wm. Knipper,
Anthony Labas,
Louis F. Marquette,
Chas. Matterson, John Moore,
Jno. C. Montgomery,
Wm. A. Ross,
Robt. E. Spires,
J. G. Sellers,
Edward Strachan,
James Stalcup,
Wm. T. Smith,
Peter Sunnoner,
J. W. Traswell,
Jonathan Wobdell,
COMPANY H.
Sergt. Henry F. Porter.
Privates.
Patrick Ballagher,
Samuel L. Dingle, Wm. Dingle, Wm. Dexhimer,
Wm. A. Denny, James M. Henry, Chas. Kline, Frederic Miller,
Robt. E. Montgomery, Conrad Pilgram,
Chas. E. Rendlen, Winfield Shuler,
Benj. Stephenson, Bennett Ford. Total, 15.
RECAPITULATION. - Field officers, 1; line officers, 1; Company A, non-commissioned officers and privates, 55; Company G, 51; Company H, 15. Total, 123.
The following are the names of some of Capt. Theiss's company (H.), who escaped : Capt. Adam Theiss, Lieut. John E. Stafford, Corp. John R. Sublett, Isaac ( ?) Howard, color-bearer, Louis Taylor, John Cummings, Ephriam J. Folen, Jack Calvert, Enoch Hunt, Frank Barns, wounded, and Wm. Parker,
The seventy-nine bodies buried at Centralia were disinterred De- cember 17, 1873, under direction of Capt. Nelson, and forwarded to Jefferson City, and reinterred in the national cemetery at that place. James A. Harris had the contract for taking them up, for which he re- ceived $150. A monument which had been placed over the grave was removed by C. A. Brown for $30. About fifty-six bodies were taken up the first day. The bones, clothing, cartridge boxes, belts, etc., were well preserved. The skeletons were small, indicating they were of young men. Those who buried them say they were young men, in most cases, with smooth faces and without even mustaches. Seventy-nine skulls were taken out of this grave, each with a bullet hole in it.
The prisoner, Sergt. Goodman, taken from the cars at Centralia and spared by Anderson, was in the charge of Anderson's company on Johnson's men in the field, and witnessed the fight,? and accompanied the command when it left. He was with the guerillas ten days, and escaped as they were crossing the Missouri River. After his return to his home, in Page County, Iowa, he published a pamphlet giving an account of his experiences. From this pamphlet much informa-
1 Now living in Centralia, and from whom this and other information have been obtained.
2 As did Mr. Yates, a citizen, who happened to be near the field with his team.
Geo. W. Van Osdale,
J. N. Vaden,
A. M. Vandiver,
Wm. T. Whitelock. Total, 51.
465
HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY.
tion has been derived for this article. Mr. Goodman now lives at Santa Rosa, California.
THE RETREAT AND PURSUIT OF THE GUERILLAS BY GEN. J. B. DOUG- LASS.
On the night after the massacre and battle Todd moved his com- mand down in the neighborhood of Frazier's Mill, and encamped on the northwest quarter of section 12, township 49, range 12. Pickets were posted and foraging parties sent out to procure provisions for the men. It was expected the Federals would soon be upon them, and Todd and Thrailkill were very uneasy. They were seeking to cross the Missouri River as soon as possible, and put themselves under the protection of Gen. Price.
On the evening of the 27th Gen. J. B. Douglass, of Columbia, then in command of the military district embracing Boone County, came across the country from Fayette to Columbia, escorted by two com- panies of the 1st Iowa Veteran Cavalry. At Columbia Gen. D. found Lieut .- Col. Austin A. King, of the 13th Mo. Cavalry, with three com- panies of his regiment, a detachment of Capt. James A. Adams's company (B), of the 9th M. S. M., and one piece of artillery, a six- pounder. Col. King had followed Todd and his command from Fay- ette to near Sturgeon, at which time, believing the guerillas would attempt to cross the Missouri in the southern part of Boone County, he marched across the country south to intercept them. Douglass and King heard the evening of the 27th of the massacre, but not of the battle and annihilation of Johnson and his command.
Early on the morning of September 28th, Gen. Douglass and Col. King started after Todd and Anderson, and about eight or nine o'clock came on them, near Frazier's Mill. Just before the pickets were fired on a woman of the neighborhood was captured on her way to the guerilla camp, with a handsomely embroidered velvet vest for Bill Anderson. The pickets were driven in and the piece of artillery moved to the front and fired twice, each time being loaded with shell. As soon as the sound of artillery was heard, Todd began mak- ing his preparations for a rapid retreat. He believed that the pur- suing force had been sent up from St. Louis, and that it was a strong and efficient one. He first went east, into the Cedar Creek timber, then south, across the Two-Mile Prairie, Douglass in pursuit. Two or three times Todd's rear guard formed as if to fight, but this was only done to gain time, for when Douglass would form, the rear guard . 30
,
466
HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY.
moved rapidly away. The opposing forces frequently exchanged shots, and across the Two-Mile Prairie there was a sort of running fight. Near noon Anderson passed Jas. Mckinney's, and the pickets. were then skirmishing. The guerillas were leading about fifty horses. They robbed Mr. Mckinney of his watch, two horses and $15 in money. They also robbed Maj. Brown of his watch and money. Near Phil. Gillaspy's, Anderson formed in line, but soon re- treated.
After Todd reached the Cedar Creek timber he was safe. Doug- lass could not get to him, unless at great disadvantage. His artillery could not be utilized and made effective, owing to the extreme un- evenness of the ground and denseness of the forest. The guerillas. crossed Cedar Creek and passed down south, on the east side, in Cal- laway County, going near Stephens's Store and Millersburg. Some of them, said to have been Tom Todd's company, kept down on the- west side. Crossing the Two-Mile Prairie, Todd's men threw away some Enfield muskets, which they had taken from the battle field at Centralia.
At the camp of the guerillas, near Frazier's Mill, two. young men of this county, who had been pressed into service as guides, were found by Gen. Douglass, and gave him the first information of the Centralia fight and of the destruction of Johnson's command. Here. he also found a citizen who had counted the guerillas as they marched along the road, and made their number to be 428. Gen. Douglass states, that a careful count of the soldiers under his (D.'s) command that day showed they numbered 360 ; but they were all veterans, well armed and eager for the fray. The Iowa Cavalry, and Company B, of the 9th M. S. M., had to be restrained in their impetuosity, or they would have' charged the guerillas at every hazard. They cursed Douglass because he would not permit them to go ; but the General states that he did not wish them to be caught in a trap, and did not wish to peril the lives of his command without a reasonable prospect of victory. This prospect was hopeless without the effective employment of his entire force, artillery as well as cavalry - a condition of affairs better understood by him than by his impatient soldiers.
On the evening of the 28th, after a hard day's march,. Douglass and his command went into camp in the southeastern part of Columbia township or in the northeastern part of Cedar. Todd was not more than two miles away, and both parties had out strong pickets. Early next morning the pursuit was resumed. Todd abandoned the purpose
1
467
HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY.
of crossing the river near Jefferson, and marched in a westerly direc- tion across the northern part of Cedar township, going south of the Rockbridge Mills, and near Providence. Gen. Douglass felt encumbered by his piece of artillery, and when south of Rockbridge Mills sent it to Columbia under an escort of the 9th M. S. M. The guerillas passed west along the river, crossing the Perche and going in the direction of Rocheport. During this day the line was formed for a fight two or three times. But Todd was not anxious for an engage- ment, and Douglass while seeking it did not intend to deliver battle unless under circumstances which assured him of victory.
Later in the day Todd began to scatter his forces, directing them to rendezvous at " Harker's," in Howard County.
A few miles northwest of the crossing of Perche Creek Company B, of the 9th M. S. M., came upon a squad of guerillas in a house. One of them rode up and asked for water, not thinking the men he saw were bushwhackers. " Where are you from?" queried the occupants of the house. "From St. Joe," replied the militiaman. Immediately he was fired on with a shot-gun. His comrades came up and, in a corn- field near the house, a skirmish ensued, in which one of the Ninth Missouri (Joseph Wheeler) was severely wounded. A man named Creed, reported to be one of Anderson's' guerillas, was killed in this skirmish. He lived in the vicinity, and his body was taken home for burial, but his wife, fearing the Federal soldiers, disowned him and pretended not to recognize his remains. As soon, however, as most of the soldiers left she recognized him, exclaiming, " That is my hus- band," and broke into vehement denunciations of the few Federals who were near, warning them that " Bill Anderson will make you pay for this."
That night Gen. Douglass marched to Cook's farm, on section 18, township 48, range 13, and encamped. Next morning he went to Rocheport, and sent out scouting parties in every direction, who found the guerillas, partly on account of hunger, and partly because of the presence of Douglass's command in the vicinity, disbanded and scat- tered over the country.
Learning this, Gen. Douglass thereupon started a citizen of Roche- port to Glasgow with dispatches for Gen. Fisk, but Anderson's men! captured him en route in Howard county, took his dispatches from him, and released him. After satisfying himself that the guerillas. had disbanded Gen. Douglass returned to Columbia.
468
HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY.
THE FEDERAL DRAFT - NAMES OF BOONE COUNTY CITIZENS DRAFTED.
On November 14, 1864, there was a draft at Provost Marshal Lovelace's headquarters in St. Charles, in which one hundred and sixty-four of the citizens of Boone county, some white, some black, drew prizes, and prizes which cost some of them several months' ser- vice in the Federal army, and a large number of them from $300 to $750 for substitutes. The apparent deficit of Boone county was 82. To meet this 164, or double the number were drawn. The num- ber to fill the quota of 82 was taken from the list in the order in which they were drawn, excluding of course those whom the exam- ining board might exempt for disabilities, and those who had died, or who since the enrollment, had enlisted in the United States army. The draft was for one year. The following is
THE LIST OF DRAFTED MEN.
1. John Adair,
32.
Clay Ballew,
2. Robert Henry,
33. Jacob Strawn,
3. James Pigg,
34. Riley Christian,
4. Peter Palmer,
36. Milton A. Wiggington.
5. Benj. Mead, Jr.,
37. James M. Smith,
6. Morgan Reams,
38. Asa C. Nichols,
7. Robert R. McBain,
39. Eli Lanham,
9. Henry N. Ess,
40. H. W. Richardson,
10. Henry Robinett,
11. John R. Boulton,
12. Daniel Phillips,
43. Anthony Clarkson (col'd),
14. John M. Samuel,
46. Lewis Vanhorn (col'd),
16. Andrew J. Bryson,
17.
Azariah Martin,
48. Isaac Lamme.
18. George H. Akeman,
49. Wm. Beazley (col'd),
19. Joel Kirtley (col'd),
50. R. C. Dyson,
20. Elias Elliott,
51. John M. Brown,
21. Lewis Ashbury (col'd),
52. Hiram Cowden,
22. Wm. Barnes,
54. Wm. D. Oliver,
24. Wm. Albright,
56. Peter Lyons,
25. Lewis M. Switzler,
57. Thomas Gibson,
26. Wm. H. Barnett,
58. Wm. A. Harris,
27. John F. Evans,
59. Robert T. Sapp,
28. Nathaniel Harris,
60. Charles Todd (col'd),
29. David Vivion,
61. Joseph E. Proctor,
.30. W. A. Darnally,
.31. Elijah G. Taylor,
62. Thomas L. Burdett,
8. John W. Asbury,
41. Stephen Todd (col'd),
42. Edward Mansfield,
13. Pollard W. Graves,
44. Samuel S. Hagan,
45. Alfred E. Grubbs,
15. Alfred Stephens,
47. Morrison Powell,
53. John E. Blakemore,
23. Frederick Wilcox (col'd),
55. James Petty,
35. Samuel M. Jones,
469
HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY.
63. David Mead,
64. Ashby Crump,
65. Henry L. Cook.
116. Henry Grindstaff,
66. Horace W. Gold,
117. Joseph Roberts (col'd),
118. Samuel Simms,
68. John E. Woolfolk,
69. Wm. J. Simms,
120. Wm. H. Crane,
70. Harry C. Summers,
71. James E. Tucker,
122. Enoch C. Dooley,
72. Wm. T. Shock,
123. Squire Searcy (col'd),
73. Levi Hickam (col'd),
124. James Davis,
74. Thomas Milhollin,
125. Henry Colvin,
75. Frank Sappington (col'd),
76. Thomas Dunbar,
77. James R. Hagan,
129. John L. Hines,
78. Robert Melloway,
79. Robert B. Coleman,
130. Thomas Spillman,
80. John D. Patton.
131. Robert E. Smith,
81. Wallace Williams (col'd),
132. Henry F. Williams,
82. James A. McQuitty,
133. Liright Vandiver,
83. Robert P. Waters,
134. James M. Dinwiddie,
84. John Rogers,
85. Lawson G. Drury,
136. Stephen W. Pigg,
137. James M. Strode,
87. Jesse Claypole,
138.
Thomas H. Keene,
88. James Harris,
89. Jacob Smith (col'd),
140. Samuel Clinton,
90. Wm. Bestwick,
141. Matthew Evans,
92. Frank Thomas,
93. Creed Conley (col'd.)
94. Solomon Grindstaff,
95. Wm. F. Hall,
146. Silas Hudson (col'd),
147.
Jacob Palm,
.
97. James S. Yeager,
148.
Harvey Parker (col'd),
98. John N. Ward,
149.
Thomas Ballew (col'd),
99. Michael Speilman,
150. John M. Shock,
100. James J. Winscott,
151. Columbus Hunter,
101. James J. Arnott,
152. James R. Selby,
102. Wm. Allen, Sen.,
153. Lewis McAfee (col'd),
103. Samuel Street,
154. John H. Seymour,
104. Benjamin Jenkins,
156. Samuel Boyd,
157. John Conway (col'd),
158. Daniel Robinett,
159. James B. Stansbury,
109. Robert Gordon,
160. Sylvester Dines.
110. Joseph Hall,
161. John F. Cato,
111. Edward Bass (col'd),
162. Jesse G. Long,
112. Wm. Hunter,
163. Wm. Irvin,
164. Jeff. B. Ridgway.
113. James W. Singleton,
155. Wm. Fagg,
105. Sydney Hume,
106. Abraham Ewing,
107. John R. Garth,
108. L. W. Hendrix,
144. Silas Senior,
145. Joseph Sappington,
96. Carter Chandler,
139. James H. Turner,
91. Nathan Roberts,
142. Simeon Christian,
143. Alonzo Wright,
135. Ben. F. Williamson,
86. Augustus Levi,
126. Amos Bartley,
127. Benjamin F. Davis,
128. Isaac Henry (col'd),
121. Ambrose W. Hulen,
67. Pleasant R. Nicholson,
114. James Slate.
115. Andrew Peyton,
119. Robert H. Woolfolk,
470
HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY.
REMARKS.
Of those drafted 144 were white and twenty colored. Nos. 9 and 35 were tutors in the State University. No. 25, Lewis M. Switzler, then assistant editor of the Statesman. No. 42, a former foreman in the Statesman office, but then in St. Louis or Memphis. Furnished substitutes for one year : Nos. 1, 7, 9, 11, 18, 25, 27, 51, 64, 68, 71, 72, 85, 96, 99, 105, 132, 136, 138, 139, 142, 143 and 152. Total, 23. Furnished substitutes for three years : Nos. 13, 14, 29. 33, 38, 58, 59, 61 (Furnished February 18, 1863), 83, 107, 119, 122, 133, 134, 137 and 150. Total, 16. Held to personal service : Nos. 19, 46, 54, 60, 73, 75, 92, 94, 101, 108, 118, 128, 140, 144, 148, 151, 153, 155, 157 and 158. Total, 20. Exempted from draft : Nos. 2, 6, 35, 43, 49, 50, 95, 111, 112, 114 (now in U. S. ar- my), 116, 120 (the sixth of our Union Cranes), 130, 131, 141, 146, 147 and 149. Total, 18. Did not report : Nos. 3 (bush- whacker), 4, 5, 8, 10, 12, 15, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 28, 30, 31, 32, 34, 36, 37, 39, (in Confederate army), 40, 41 (now in U. S. army ), 42, 44, 45 (in Confederate army ), 47, 48, 52, 53, 55, 56, 57, 62, 63 (in Confederate army), 65 (in Confederate army or in the bushes), 66, 67, 69, 70, 74, (in Gratiot Prison), 76, 77, 78, 79 (in Confederate army ), 80, 81 (in U. S. army), 82, 84, 86, 87, 88 (in Con- federate army ), 89, 90, 91, 93 (in U. S. army), 97, 98, 100, 102 (re- ported by letter ; very sick at home), 103, 104, 106, 109, 110, 113, 115, 117, 121, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127 (at medical school, Jefferson college, Phila. ), 129, 135 (in Confederate army ), 145, 154, 156, 159, 160, 161 (in California ), 162 and 163 (near Quincy, Ills. ) Total, 86. Dead, No. 164.
HORRIBLE MASSACRE OF NEGROES.
On Friday, November 18, there was reported a horrid massacre of negroes in the vicinity of Sturgeon. It appears a negro woman, the slave of Edward Graves, living eight miles from Sturgeon, on the Rocheport road, had left home sometime since and taken up her abode in Sturgeon. On Friday she returned for the purpose of taking off other negroes from her former home. She started back to Stur- geon in a wagon with five more negroes taken from the premises, con- sisting of a woman, a girl, a boy, and two small children. After proceeding about two miles the party were overtaken by three men disguised in Federal uniforms. The negroes were then taken by them a distance into the woods, and all shot dead except the two children,
471
HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY.
who were returned to their homes. One woman was hung before being shot. Who the perpetrators of this horrible butchery were is unknown.
A FIGHTING FLOCK OF CRANES.
The Columbia Statesman, of December 2, 1864, flushed in Cedar township, near Providence, a flock of Cranes, who, ever since the war commenced, had been pecking away at the head of the rebellion ; viz : Allen, James, Darius, Tinsley and John Crane, all sons of Wm. W. Crane. Allen died in the service, a member of " Merrill's Horse." James was in Company F, Ninth Cavalry, M. S. M., and Darius, Tinsley and John were in the Fourteenth Missouri Volun- teers. What county can scare up a bigger flock of Union Cranes than this ?
Capt. William Colbert, of Troy, Mo., assumed command of the post of Columbia, in January, 1865, headquarters in the court house ; and Capt. H. N. Cook, Company F, Ninth Cavalry, M. S. M., on February 24, for the purpose of recruiting a company to defend the town and county against robbers and plunderers, and to bring about peace and good order. A bounty of $50 was offered by the Boone County Court to each man who would enlist.
CAPT. COOK'S FIGHT WITH CARTER'S BUSHWHACKERS.
On Saturday evening, February 11, 1865, Capt. Henry N. Cook and Lieut. Marshall H. Harris, and eighteen men of Company F, Ninth M. S. M., left camp at Rocheport, in this county, on a recon- noitering expedition in the Perche Hills, and about 1 o'clock, on Sun- day morning, discovered unmistakable signs of bushwhackers. Dis- mounting his company he left his horses, boots and shoes, and moved forward, when a dim light was soon observed, whereupon Capt. Cook and his dashing platoon rushed pell mell into the den- which was a ten-by-twelve shanty, constructed by their own hands, with one end open and a large log lying in front with a fire between the log and entry, and was situated about three hundred yards from the west bank of Perche Creek, about one mile below Old Town Ford, and about seven miles north of Columbia. One of the bushwhackers fired his pistol, instantly killing Sergeant Thomas J. Hern and slightly wounding private J. F. Tudor. Now the battle raged with the greatest fury ; shooting, knocking down and dragging out was the order in which things were conducted for about five minutes. Some of the soldiers broke their rifles into atoms over the heads of the foe. Sev-
472
HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY.
eral of the desperadoes were left for dead, whilst the others were breaking through the lines and running through the brush, each pur- sued by a soldier, who kept up a continual stream of fire upon the rear of his fleeing adversary, until the last load was discharged from rifle and revolver. James Carter and - Thompson, the latter known as " Dink Robinson," both inmates of the den, were killed at the den, and - Cavanaugh about 300 yards from it. Harvey Rucker was shot in the abdomen and escaped.
Twenty splendid new navy revolvers, six blue and two gray over- coats, eight or ten pairs of boots, one U. S. infantry coat, one single- barreled shot gun, several likenesses of ladies who are known in Howard County, enough blankets and bed quilts to make eleven men comfortable in an open house in dead of winter, eight horses with full equipments, eight barrels of corn, a lot of hay, bacon, flour, sugar, coffee, cooking utensils, and divers and sundry other household arti- cles too tedious to mention, as well as some financial appliances such as pocket books, belts, etc., etc., were the trophies gained by the victors.
Lieut. Harris had his glove, which was on his hand, cut by a ball from one of his foes' pistols, and in fact he was in such close prox- imity to the weapon that his hand was powder-burnt.
PEACE - GLAD TIDINGS OF GREAT JOY -THE WAR OVER.
On April 9, 1865, the Army of Northern Virginia, under command of Gen. R. E. Lee, surrendered at Appomattox Court House to Gen. U. S. Grant, namely : Gen. Lee, eight lieutenant-generals, seventeen major-generals, sixty-one brigadier-generals, and about 20,000 sol- diers. From that day forth the civil war was practically at an end.
SECOND FEDERAL DRAFT.
On April 5, 1865, pursuant to orders from Gen. Fry, Provost Mar- shal General of the United States, a second draft was had in the Ninth District. The quota of Boone County being one hundred and twenty, two hundred and forty names (double the number required) were drawn.
Quite a number of these persons were held to service and furnished substitutes, but as the surrender of Gen. Lee practically ended the rebellion, neither the substitutes nor the men drafted were mustered.
473
HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY.
ASSASSINATION OF PRESIDENT LINCOLN - PUBLIC MEETING.
The assassination of President Lincoln by John Wilkes Booth, at Ford's Theatre in Washington, D. C., at eleven o'clock on Friday night, April 14, 1865, startled the country. To give expression to the sentiments of our people a large meeting was held at the court- house in Columbia, on the 22d April, 1865. On motion of Hon. James S. Rollins, Prof J. H. Lathrop, LL. D., was elected president, and Rev. Isaac Jones and Gen. Jos. B. Douglass, vice-presidents ; John F. Baker and Robt. L. Todd, secretaries.
On motion a committee consisting of Hon. Jas. S. Rollins, Elder T. M. Allen, Dr. M. R. Arnold, Judge David Gordon, and Col. James R. Shields, was appointed to submit resolutions for the action of the meeting.
During the retirement of the committee the meeting was addressed by Col. Switzler, at the conclusion of whose remarks Maj. Rollins, on behalf of the committee, submitted the following - accompanying the same with an earnest, eloquent, feeling tribute to the memory and worth of Mr. Lincoln - after which the preamble and resolutions were unanimously adopted. (The resolutions are the best and the most appropriate offered to any meeting in the country on the same sub- ject, and were written by President John H. Lathrop) :
WHEREAS, Abraham Lincoln, the President of the United States, on the night of the 14th instant, was stricken down by the hand of an assassin, and removed by a violent death, from his exalted position of usefulness and honor; and whereas, the simultaneous attempt to take the lives of other eminent public men, indicates concert of action, with a traitorous as well as a murderous intent; and whereas, it becomes a great people, whom God has set up as an example to the nations of the earth, to purge themselves from the taint of sympathy with this crime against civilization, and also to give utterance to their sense of the national be- reavement, therefore,
Resolved, That we, in common with our fellow citizens throughout the country, hold up to present execration and perpetual infamy, as enemies of the human race, the procurers and the perpetrators or the savage and revolting murder of the Chief Magistrate of the American Republic and other like crimes, simultaneously attempted but mercifully averted.
Resolved, That our gratitude is due to Almighty God for the leadership of the distinguished dead, in the period of our country's peril ; for the exemplary purity of his private and public life ; for his just appreciation of the national crisis ; for the admirable temper with which he met its exigences, in defeat as well as in victory; for his heroic faith in the exalted destiny of the American people; for his self-devotion to the cause of human liberty, even unto death ; and for the consolation which we cherish that now, in the triumphant moment of his emi- nent public service, the hand of the assassin has failed to impair the value of his official work; and has been only able to commit to the historic page the name of Abraham Lincoln as the second founder of the great Republic.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.