USA > Missouri > Livingston County > History of Caldwell and Livingston counties, Missouri, written and compiled from the most authentic official and private sources, including a history of their townships, towns and villages, together with a condensed history of Missouri; a reliable and detailed history of Caldwell and Livingston counties--their pioneer record, resources, biographical sketches of prominent citizens; general and local statistics of great value; incidents and reminiscences > Part 80
USA > Missouri > Caldwell County > History of Caldwell and Livingston counties, Missouri, written and compiled from the most authentic official and private sources, including a history of their townships, towns and villages, together with a condensed history of Missouri; a reliable and detailed history of Caldwell and Livingston counties--their pioneer record, resources, biographical sketches of prominent citizens; general and local statistics of great value; incidents and reminiscences > Part 80
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The inaugural of the new Governor, Claiborne Fox Jackson, indorsed the doctrine of his famous resolutions of 1849 - " that the interests and destiny of the slaveholding States were the same ; that the State was in favor of remaining in the Union so long as there was any hope of maintaining the guarantees of the constitution ; but that in the event of a failure to reconcile the differences which then threat- ened the disruption of the Union, it would be the duty of the State to stand by the South," and that he was utterly opposed to the doctrine of coercion in any event. Gov. Jackson concluded by recommend- ing the immediate call of a State convention, in order that " the will of the people may be ascertained and effectuated."
In accordance with the Governor's recommendation, the Legisla-
(751)
752
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
ture, on January 17, passed a bill calling a convention, to be com- posed of three times as many members as in the aggregate each Senatorial district was entitled to State Senators - that is, three dele- gates from each Senatorial district in the State - and appointing Feb- ruary 18, as the day on which they were to be elected, and February 28, the day on which the convention would assemble. The tenth section of this bill was as follows : -
No act, ordinance, or resolution of said convention shall be deemed to be valid to change or dissolve the political relations of this State to the Government of the United States, or any other State, until a ma- jority of the qualified voters of the State, voting upon the question, shall ratify the same.
The author of this section was Hon. Charles H. Hardin, then a Sen- ator from the Boone and Callaway district, and Governor of Missouri in 1874-76. Thus the secession of the State was made an impossi- bility without the consent of the majority of the voters. After a much disturbed and very turbulent session, the Legislature adjourned March 28.
Hon. A. J. Austin, the representative from this county, and Hon. Wesley Halliburton, of Linn, the Senator from this district, both voted for the Hardin amendment, although both were known to be favorable to secession. Mr. Halliburton voted for the Hyer resolu- tions, which passed the Senate, but were never introduced into the House, instructing the Missouri delegation in Congress to "retire from the halls of Congress " if any act or bill should be passed grant- ing supplies of men or money to coerce the seceded States."
ELECTION OF DELEGATES TO THE STATE CONVENTION.
Pursuant to the act of the Legislature the election of delegates to the State Convention was held Monday, February 18, 1861. The candidates in the Eighth Senatorial District, to which Livingston then belonged, were Jacob Smith, of Linn ; Wm. Jackson, of Putnam, and Alex. Woolfolk, of Livingston, who were regarded as the " uncondi- tional Union" candidates ; the " conditional Union," or secession candidates were Charles J. Rackliffe, of Livingston ; B. F. Canterbury, of Sullivan, and C. G. Fields, of Linn. All of the candidates were announced through the newspapers, none regularly nominated by conventions. There was not much time for a canvass of the district, and so but few speeches were made. ' The matter was thoroughly discussed and considered by the people, however, and the voting was intelligently done. The result was that the " unconditional Union"
753
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
candidates carried this county by a vote of nearly two to one, and the district by a large majority. Following was the vote in Livingston .-
UNCONDITIONAL UNION.
CONDITIONAL UNION.
TOWNSHIPS.
A. M. Woolfolk.
Jacob Smith.
Wm. Jackson.
C. J. Racklife.
B. F. Canterbury.
C. G. Fields.
Chillicothe
245
231
240
198
187
180
Cream Ridge
23
23
23
15
14
14
Greene
120
122
121
57
56
55
Monroe
46
46
46
16
16
16
Grand River
105
105
103
28
29
28
Jackson.
172
174
167
82
77
86
Blue Mound
72
71
71
16
16
15
Total
783
772
771
412
395
394
UP TO THE FIRING ON FORT SUMTER.
During the months of January, February and March, 1861, there was extraordinary interest manifested in public affairs by the people of this county. The prospect of war was fully and freely discussed, and many prepared for it. Many men resolved to take a hand when hostilities should begin, upon the side with which their sympathies were, while many others declared that should war break out they would take no part on either side. It afterwards came about that some men, who declared stoutly that when war came they would fight, did not fight when the opportunity presented itself, and that men who declared they would not fight did fight.
Before hostilities actually broke out, there was a general hope that they would be averted, but there were even some individuals who actually desired that the occasion might not pass without an armed conflict with the despised " Abolitionists and Black Republicans," of the North, whose character was detested and whose courage and capacity to fight were derided. A large majority of our people, however, earnestly deprecated war and sought to avert it. It was contemplated, even at that early day, that if war should come it should not come to Missouri. Its boundary lines were to be the metes and bounds of a territory of peace - barriers outside of which the armed
754
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
partisans of either side might presume to hover, but across which they should not are to march.
AFTER SUMTER.
At last, on the early morning of the 12th of April, old Edmund Ruffin pulled the lanyard of the cannon which sent the first shot against Fort Sumter and set in motion the huge machinery of war, which did not cease to operate until it had ground the institution of slavery to powder, crushed the life out of half a million of men, and destroyed billions of dollars' worth of property. Then our citizens began to take sides.
The Secessionists in Livingston county were in the majority, and were active and aggressive besides. While they were active, the Unionists were passive ; while they were demonstrative, the Unionists were unobtrusive and quiet. Their leaders were the prominent men of the county, such men as Wm. Y. Slack, C. J. Rackliffe, Hon. A. J. Austin and John Graves, and for a time they had everything their own way. Some of them grew insolent and intimidating, and a few Unionists in various portions were either compelled to leave the county, or else became unnecessarily frightened and left without suffi- cient cause. The following is a copy of a message sent through the post-office at Utica to a Union man of the county : -
MAY 6, 1861.
SIR : - You and your friends that vote [d] for Lincon better go wher you belong and tak your property and stay there if you know when you are well off, better tak refug in Abraham Bosem. We are the Boys that for Southren Rights.
The position of a majority of Missourians had been often expressed that both secession and coercion were wrong - the latter especially so ! President Buchanan and various other statesmen shared practically the same belief. No provision had been made in the constitution for either secession or coercion, and therefore neither could be or must be attempted. But all the same the Southern States went ou seceding, and it was to be noticed that here in Missouri, long before there was any attempt on the part of the Federal Government at coercion, whenever a State seceded there were thousands of men that cheered her for her action ; but when- ever there was a threat of coercion made anywhere these same men denounced it in unmeasured terms as wicked and particularly as being " unconstitutional !" Yet very many of these men, on public occasions especially, took care to assert that they were opposed to
755
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
both secession and coercion. The real truth is they were Secession- ists, and acted as they did from motives of policy. It had been declared that should the United States attempt to repossess its prop- erty and restore its authority in the seceded States, then it would be the duty of Missouri " to stand by her sister States of the South." This declaration was made by men who knew full well that the Federal Government would never sumbit to its disruption and dismemberment without .an effort to prevent it, and when they made it they knew that it was but a clever device to manufacture Secessionists out of men on short notice at the proper time.
Those who honestly doubted the policy and the legality of coercion, while at the same time strongly condemning secession, occupied an anomalous position. No State has a right to and must not leave the Union under any circumstances. But what if it does? Why, then, let it go in peace ! This idea must have been borrowed from Dog- berry's instructions to the Messinian watchmen : -
Dogberry - This is your charge - you shall comprehend all vagrom men ; you are to bid any man stand, in the prince's name.
Watch - How if a' will not stand ?
Dogb. - Why, then, take no note of him, but let him go; and presently call the rest of the watch together and thank God you are rid of a knave. It is an offense to stay a man against his will.
The powers of the General Government are enumerated; the power per se to coerce a State is not enumerated, but under section 8 of article I of the Constitution there is authority enough, it would seem, for preserving the property of the United States and enforcing the laws thereof. A strict constructionist of the Jefferson school, the writer is willing to admit that the Federal Government has the power to protect and preserve its life and property, and events have shown that it has the ability so to do.
The announcement that hostilities had actually begun created great excitement, but no surprise. The formation of military com- panies in earnest was not begun until a month later, or until after the convening of the Legislature and the passage of the military bill ; but certain persons in different portions of the county began to put their shot-guns in order.
The leading Secessionist in the county was Capt. William Y. Slack. He was a prominent politician, and the previous fall had been a Breckinridge elector. Withal he was the leading lawyer of the county, a man of strong, natural ability, and of undoubted honor and integrity. To him those who were for secession went for
756
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
counsel and instruction, for from the first he favored the secession of the State and its union with those already seceded.
PREPARING TO FIGHT.
In the latter part of May the organization of companies of the State Guard was begun. Two or three companies were formed in this county, all mounted. It was proposed to defend the county against invaders from all outside quarters, whether Federal troops or Confederate forces, and this proposition met with great favor. But the little deception this proposition contained deceived but few. The authors, as well as many others, knew that while all Federal invaders were to be excluded, yet those of Secession proclivities in the State would not be considered " invaders," but rather fellow- citizens, and so given free entrance and exit. In time everybody and everything anti-Federal would be admitted.
On the 18th of May Gov. Jackson commissioned Wm. Y. Slack, of Chillicothe, a brigadier-general of the Fourth Military District, com- posed of the counties of Worth, Gentry, DeKalb, Clinton, Harrison, Daviess, Caldwell, Ray, Carroll, Livingston, Grundy and Mercer. The appointment was regarded as a judicious one. As previously stated Gen. Slack had been from the first an avowed Secessionist ; he had served under Gen. Price in the Mexican War and was known to be an able and brave military man; he was universally popular wherever he was known, and had the confidence of the State author- ities.
GEN. SLACK'S CANNON.
Gen. Slack set to work at once to organize his district. While the Price-Harney treaty was supposed to be in effect, the work of per- feeting and strengthening the Missouri State Guard went on all the same. "To defend our homes against the invader," it was pro- posed by certain citizens of Chillicothe to put the town in a state of defense. A subscription paper was circulated and a considerable sum subscribed to purchase two pieces of cannon, iron six pounders, with suitable ammunition, etc., for the same.1 Gen. Slack con- tracted with the firm of Cleaver & Mitchell, foundrymen, at Hannibal, for the manufacture of the cannon, to be shipped to Chillicothe by rail and to be paid for on delivery.
I The original of this subscription list is now in the hands of C. H. Mansur, Esq., and contains the names of some men who afterwards became extremely loyal.
757
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
The cannon were cast about the first of June and when finished were presented to the railroad for shipment. But the authorities of the road were thoroughly loyal and refused to receive them. Recourse was then had to strategy. A covered wagon was procured, the can- nons loaded into it and covered with straw, a good team and a driver, Wm. A. Wilson, engaged, and the outfit set out for Chillicothe, by the " dirt road," Wilson giving out to all inquirers that he was an emigrant on his way to Pike's Peak. The wagon seemed an innocent affair, and the driver a guileless individual, and neither aroused any suspicion.
Soon after the cannon had been started from Hannibal the fact was known to the Federal military authorities at St. Louis, but the exact road they had taken was not learned until a day or two later. As soon as it was known, however, word was sent to Brookfield and other points where there were Union Home Guards to look out for them and seize them. A company of Home Guards from Brookfield under Capt. Crandall, or Capt. Worthley, set out at once to inter- cept the outfit, and at a point on the State road, three miles north of St. Catherine, it was met and captured and carried to Brookfield in triumph.1
Well was it that the Home Guards came upon and captured the cannon when they did. Word had been sent to Gen. Slack of the manner of their shipment, and he had sent Capt. James A. Small with about twenty well armed and mounted men out to meet them and convoy them in to Chillicothe. Small reached the point of cap- ture about an hour too late. Had he been about two hours earlier the Home Guards would have been forced to fight for their prize, and the issue would have been doubtful. As it was the Secessionists were forced to return to Chillicothe in much discomfiture.
As the cannons were to be paid for only on delivery, they were never paid for. The money was collected, however, and the most of it afterwards expended for powder and other munitions of war. The subscription list was preserved and the knowledge of its existence was often a source of uneasiness and annoyance to many individuals.
THE MISSOURI STATE GUARDS.
On the 12th of June Gov. Jackson again ordered the State Guards into the field. Those of Slack's division were ordered to repair to Lexington. Gen. Slack at once set to work. A considerable force
1 About June 12.
758
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
was organized in Carroll and the county court had appropriated $10,000 for their equipment and support. In every other county in the district there was a mustering of the clans.
Livingston county was ready. At least 200 men were organized and ready to take the field. In Jackson township, between the forks alone, there were two companies. On the 13th there was a parade of volunteers in Chillicothe. In every part of the county men were enlisting to do battle for the Southern cause. Secession flags were flying at various points. The Secession ladies of Chillicothe prepared a fine banner, but circumstances prevented its being given to the breeze. Everywhere was heard the note of preparation for armed conflict. The Union men were quiet, but they were watching and waiting, knowing full well that their turn would come ere long.
FIRST FEDERAL TROOPS.
Early in the beginning of the Civil War the Federal authorities realized the importance of protecting the Hannibal and St. Joseph Rail- road and maintaining it intact. If that great thoroughfare could be preserved, Federal troops could be moved rapidly from one side of the State to the other as they were needed, supplies and munitions of war sent, and all of Northern Missouri kept under Federal domination. The road would also be of incalculable service in keeping open com- munication with the first line of operations adopted by the Federal commanders - the Missouri river. It was of the utmost importance that the road should be well guarded and kept continuously in run- ning order. The authorities of the road were nearly all Northern men, heartily in sympathy with the Union cause, and could be relied on to act accordingly.
For some time the Secessionists in this quarter had been threaten- ing an attack on the railroad. Certain parties wanted to burn the bridges across Grand river and Medicine creek, to capture Brookfield, where there were a round-house, machine shops, and division head- quarters, and there were even threats made to blow up or tear up the track. It was expected that the road would be of great service to the Federals, and it was regarded as a " Yankee concern anyway." At one time there was a well matured scheme on the part of some Livingston and Carroll men to burn the Grand river bridge,1 and it is said that the turpentine and cotton batting were actually pur-
1 See, for action taken in Carroll county, History of that county, by Missouri Historical Co., p. 302 (ed. 1882).
759
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
chased. But better and wiser counsels prevailed and the attempt was given over.
The Federal authorities were a little slow about taking action in this quarter, but when they moved at last they moved with force and vigor. They were quite well informed as to the situation and acted intelligently. The first thing to be done was to secure the Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad, and to do this the road itself was made to assist in its defense.
The Secession squadrons were forming in the county, preparatory to departing to Lexington, and it was rumored that when they left they would put the torch to the Grand river and Medicine creek bridges. Word was sent to the Federal authorities, from Chillicothe, of the suspicion, which after all may not have been well founded.
At Hannibal the 16th Illinois infantry, Col. R. F. Smith, was then stationed, having arrived from Quincy on the 12th of June, the first Federal troops to enter North Missouri. On the 13th of June the 2d Iowa infantry was sent from Hannibal over the Hannibal and St. Joseph, going at least as far west as Macon.
On the night of June 13 a detachment of the 16th Illinois, under Lieut .- Col. Wilson, passed over the road from Hannibal to the Grand river bridge, where they remained in the cars until daylight. The train carrying the soldiers arrived at Chillicothe at 1 a. m., of the 14th, halting a few minutes, but the occupants keeping themselves under cover as well as possible. The regular evening train had passed some hours before, and a passenger had quietly given information to one or two parties about the depot of the approach of the soldiers. The alarm spread.
Gen. Slack was in town and he and others were warned. There were quite a number of Gov. Jackson's troops in town, but the gen- eral rendezvous was over in " the forks." There had been frequent alarms of the approach of the Federals, and at first some were inclined to consider the report as sensational, but it was confirmed, and soon Gen. Slack and his men were mounted and on their way to the forks, which they reached in safety.
Near noon, on the 14th, a strong detachment of the soldiers came up to Chillicothe, Col. Wilson at the head. That officer's first care had been the bridge ; then he sought the capture of Gen. Slack. The Fed- erals marched to the square and soon scattered themselves in squads throughout the town, in search of " secesh " prisoners and contraband of war. They had with them a small cannon, which they unlimbered and placed in position on the square. It is said they had received in-
43
760
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
formation that Gen. Slack and some of his men were yet in town, and when they left Grand river they expected a fight.
. At sunrise, on the morning of the 14th, a company of the soldiers were in Utica. Here they found two secession flags, which they took possession of. One was a Palmetto flag with the motto " Constitu- tional Rights." In a short time they returned to their camp at Grand river, which they named Camp Wilson.
No armed prisoners were taken. A few " secesh " citizens were arrested, and after taking an oath of loyalty were discharged. Noth- ing contraband was found. Two days later Col. Wilson repaired to a printing office, and had printed and distributed hand-bills, of which the following is a copy : -
PROCLAMATION ! !
CHILLICOTHE, June 16, 1861.
I have been sent here by the United States Government for the purpose of putting down armed rebellion against the Government of the United States, and I call upon all good citizens to aid in carrying out the object. I call upon all companies or regiments of troops, whose object is not the upholding of the Government of the United States, to deliver me their arms and disperse immediately. Protection will be given to all peaceful citizens, and I hope the common avocations of life will be resumed, and trade and commerce go on in their usual channels, and all the power at my command shall be extended to the utmost to protect all loyal citizens.
SAM'L WILSON, Lieut .- Col., Commanding U. S. Forces.
The same day troops went to Utica, Mooresville, and Medicine creek. Thereafter, until the close of the war, without an hour's inter- mission, Livingston county was in possession of the Federal or Union authorities.
No immediate attempt was made to attack Gen. Slack and his men in their position near Spring Hill. Wilson feared to leave the bridges unguarded, and he could not move with much prospect of success unless he took with him all his men. Hesent word to his superiors of the situation, and hurried preparations were begun to attack and cap- ture Slack and his forces ; but two days before these preparations were completed the opportunity had passed.
On Monday, June 17, a number of the Union ladies and gentle- men, of Chillicothe, went on an excursion, by invitation, to the camp of the 16th Illinois, just beyond the Grand river bridge. Speeches were made by E. L. King, of Chillicothe, on behalf of the citizens ; and by Maj. Hays, Col. Wilson and Capt. Marsh for the soldiers.
761
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
Col. Wilson seemed anxious to quiet the apprehensions of the people that he intended harm to them or to the county, and the , " picnic " was really an effective stroke of policy.
About the 25th of June Cos. A and B of the 2d Iowa and a com- pany of Home Guards, from St. Joseph, were sent down to Grand river bridge and remained a few days. Detachments went to Linneus and other points in this quarter and arrested a number of secesh citi- zens.
June 19 some printers of the 16th Illinois, by permission of Mr. Hughes, of the Constitution, printed a small newspaper at Chilli- cothe, which they called " The Illinois 16th." Francis Ashton was " editor," and Mat. Ashby " assistant." July 2 the printers of the two companies of the 2d Iowa, having taken possession of the office of the Chronicle - whose editor, Col. L. J. Easton, had left town - issued a little sheet which they called " The Anti-Secessionist." Lieut. T. 1. McKenny, of Co. A, and R. M. Littler, of Co. B, were the " editors." Copies of both of these papers, now in the posses- sion of W. C. Wood, Esq., have been consulted by the writer for dates, etc., and are valuable for these and other particulars.
THE SOUTHERN TROOPS MOVE OUT.
On the night of the 16th of June Gen. Slack, at the head of about two hundred and fifty men, chiefly from Livingston, with a few from Grundy and Daviess, set out from near Spring Hill. The men were on foot and all fairly armed with shot-guns, rifles and revolvers, and carried some provisions with them. Marching silently and swiftly southward the little column crossed the railroad in safety at Moores- ville, neglecting to call on the Federals at Grand river and bid them good-bye, and soon passed through the northwest corner of Carroll into Ray, via Tinney's Point, and on to Richmond and Lexington. Here the men were organized into a regiment, of which Col. Rives, of Ray, was colonel.
THE LIVINGSTON MEN UNDER GEN. PRICE.
The Livingston men took part in every principal engagement fought for Missouri in 1861. They were at Carthage, Wilson's Creek, Dry- wood and Lexington. In all of these engagements they bore them- selves bravely, and were highly commended by their commanders.
At the desperate and bloody battle of Wilson's Creek the brunt of the Federal attack was sustained by Slack's division, and here
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