USA > Missouri > Carroll County > History of Carroll County, Missouri : carefully written and compiled from the most authentic official and private sources, including a history of its townships, cities, towns and villages, together with a condensed history of Missouri ; the Constitution of the United States, and State of Missouri ; a military record of its volunteers in either army of the Great Civil War ; general and local statistics ; miscellany ; reminiscences, grave, tragic and humorous ; biographical sketches of prominent men and citizens identified with the interests of the country > Part 31
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
To the First Missouri Mounted Volunteers were afterward joined Capt. Hudson's company, the Laclede Rangers, two companies of artillery, from St. Louis, in charge of Captains Weightman and Fisher, and under command of Major Clark, and two companies of infantry, under Cap- tains Murphy and Augney. Besides these, were Kearney's dragoons, and these commands composed the members of the famed Doniphan's expedition.
After a brief period spent in drawing arms, drilling, and disciplining the men, the expedition prepared to set out for Santa Fe, and the other Mex-
268
HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.
ican.posts in New Mexico. This expedition is known to every school child, and the first regiment reflected great credit on the people of Mis- ; souri. Col. A. W. Doniphan, its worthy commander, is yet living, an honored citizen of Richmond, Ray county.
Early in the summer of 1846, Hon. Sterling Price, a member of congress from Missouri, resigned his seat and was appointed by President, Polk to command another regiment of volunteers from Missouri to re-enforce the army of the west. This regiment consisted of companies from the counties of Boone, Benton, Carroll, Chariton, Linn, Livingston, Monroe, Randolph, Ste. Genevieve, and St. Louis.
On the 4th of July, 1846, an old-fashioned celebration of Independence Day was had at Carrollton. The patriotism of the people was stirred to its depths, and the question of forming a company to take part in the war then pending was agitated. Indeed at this meeting all the plans were laid for forming this company. In the latter days of July the organization of the company was perfected at Carrollton.
Richard Williams, who had been a captain in the militia, and was at the time a citizen of Wakanda township was chosen captain. B. F. White, an attorney of Carrollton, was elected 1st lieutenant; Joseph Smith, 2d lieutenant; Alex. D. Rock, 3d lieutenant; Alfred Caldwell, orderly sergeant. In a few days the company left the county for Ft. Leavenworth, where the regiment was to be organized. The men left in squads for the fort as they could make their arrangements, and the entire company did not march out from Carrollton in a body with much pomp and circumstance, amid the flutter of handkerchiefs, the waving of banners, and the plaudits of the multitude, as many other companies did, and as was perhaps proper. The last squad that left was presented with a handsome United States flag, made by the ladies of Carrollton, and delivered to the brave volun- teers by Mrs. R. D. Ray and Miss Sarah Prosser, the latter making the presentation address. Mr. Daniel Hoover, the ensign of the company, received the flag and promised, on behalf of the company, to return it with honor, and to remember in the hour of battle whose fair hands had wrought it.
The flag itself was made of cambric, and there being no silk in the Car- rollton stores, of the colors required, the ladies procured ribbons and, cov- ered the banner. Mrs. Ray, Miss Prosser, Mrs. Rees, Mrs. Tull, and other ladies did the work. Owing to the peculiar nature of the task, and the short time given them, it was not completed until 11 o'clock at night, and the presentation ceremonies were at the residence of Judge Ray, then on Benton street, a block west of the square. The members of the company were as good as their word, and brought back from the war the flag bul- let-rent and storm-stained, but with no taint of dishonor about it. After- ward during the civil war it was carried by Captain Hoover's company of
-
269
HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.
federal militia. Hoover was the ensign who carried the flag in the Mexi- can war.
On the 3d of August, it is stated, the Carroll company left the county. Soon after the arrival of the men at Ft. Leavenworth, the organization of the regiment was effected. Col. Switzler (history of Missouri, p 262), says that notwithstanding President Polk had nominated Sterling Price as a suitable person to command the second regiment, many of the volunteers thought he ought to be chosen by their suffrages, if he commanded at all, and accordingly, in deference to their opinion, an election was held. Ster- ling Price was elected colonel and D. D. Mitchell lieutenant-colonel. The Carroll county company was designated company K. The following is the muster roll of the company as furnished by Mr. H. V. Shirley, of Les- lie township, who has carefully preserved it for years:
Richard E. Williams, captain. Resigned 16th February, 1847.
Benj. F. White, 1st lieutenant; elected captain February 17, 1847.
Alex. D. Rock, 2d lieutenant; resigned.
Joseph Smith, elected 2d lieutenant; elected 1st lieutenant Feb. 18, 1847. Alfred L. Cald .vell, orderly sergeant; mortally wounded at Pueblo de Taos, Feb. 4th, and died Feb. 8, 1847.
David McKay, 2d sergeant, died March 30, 1847, at quarters in Santa Fe.
Burvadus Woods, 1st corporal.
James W. Jones, 2d corporal; discharged June 15, 1847, by reason of wounds received at the battle of Pueblo de Taos.
Isaac Graham, 3d corporal; died at Santa Fe, March 20, 1847.
James A. Jones, 3d corporal.
Benj. Cross, 4th corporal; reduced to the ranks, and died March 2, 1847.
Amos Johnson, 4th corporal; died at Abique, Nov. 17, 1846.
Neville Artenburn, bugler.
John S. Tatham, bugler.
Grief P. Herndon, farrier; discharged Feb. 16, 1847.
Privates .- R. A. Austin; James Austin, mortally wounded at Taos, Feb. 4, and died Feb. 6, 1847; Thos. A. Austin, elected 3d lieutenant after the battle of Taos; Peter Austin, John Austin; George Asher, died Sept. 17, 1846; Robt. M. Berry, James Berry, Chas. W. Berry, Elias Barbee, Bailor Banks, Samuel Barrett, Edward J. Brown (from Saline county), Charles Bailes, Milton Cooley; H. S. Claudis, discharged May 1, 1847; Thos. S. Cross ;* Jackson Coater, died in hospital at Santa Fe, May 3, 1847; Fleming Coats; Seth De Masters, died at the grazing camp below
Those marked with a star (*) are said to have been among those who served with Doni- phan. A dagger (+) denotes those at present residing in the county.
E
270
HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.
Santa Fe, April 14, 1847; Foster De Masters, David De Masters; John N. Dunlap, promoted to assistant surgeon of the regiment, March, 1847; Joseph Dixon, appointed cook and farrier, Feb. 20, 1847; David Evans,* Levi Flowers,* Martin Glaize, Charles Hancock, Wm. Hill, James Hill, Pleasant Hill; Wm. J. Hatfield, killed by Mexicans and Indians in the Taos mountains, Jan. 15, 1847; Daniel Hoover, flag-bearer. or ensign, appointed 4th sergeant, May 2, 1847; Isaac Harmon; Christopher Ham- lin, died in hospital at Santa Fe, March 31, 1847; Newton J. Halsey, Larkin Latham, James L. Lowthain, James S. Mahaney, John Markle; Oliver P. Markle, died at Santa Fe, March 6, 1847; George McClary, appointed 3d corporal, March 23, 1847; Kenian Newsome; Pleasant Newton, died at Santa Fe, March 31, 1847; Chas. A. Perkins, Thos. Phillips, Geo. P. Phillips, James M. Partlow, F. A. Redwine, Levi P. Redwine, Wm. H. Richardson, Walter O. Squires, John Squires, Alexander Shell,* John T. Snoddy ;* Ervin Smith, died at Abique, Jan. 1, 1847; Edwin Stewart, dis- charged for physical disability; Hiram Standley,* William Turner, Joel Turner, James Trotter, Dudley Thomas; Erastus Trible, died Jan. 12, 1847; John S. Thompson, transferred to Co. M; Alexander Wiley, died in quarters at Santa Fe, March 29, 1847; John J. Wyncoop, appointed corporal, May 25, 1847; Edward Whitworth, killed in battle with the Indians, at the grazing camp, May 26, 1847; Morgan Watkins, Burnoit Woods; William W. White, discharged by reason of physical disability; Robert Walker, promoted to adjutant; Joseph Waters,* John Winfrey; Hardwick Hardwick, died in hospital at Santa Fe, May 1, 1847; John Whitworth.
About the 15th of August, Price's regiment took up the line of march from.Ft. Leavenworth to Santa Fe, following the same road taken by Kearney and Doniphan. The men stood the march well, and met with many adventures of interest. The trip will never be forgotten by those who made it, as long as they live. The country through which they passed was wild and new, the life was new, and the experience novel. They encountered more or less privations and discomforts, but invariably made merry over every mishap. When the fierce storms that sweep over · the wild western prairies blew down the tents of their camp, which fre- quently happened, the boys crawled out of their beds and laughed at the circumstance. They were heroes and Mark Tapleys as well.
No Indians or other hostiles were met with on the route, althoughi a sharp look-out was kept for them, and there were no alarms of any con- sequence. The men were well mounted, but for the most part were very indifferently armed, their weapons being old-fashioned, flint-lock, smooth- bore "Harper's Ferry" muskets, with bayonets. They had no sabres, no pistols. In fact, they were but mounted infantrymen; and yet they did good service.
1
.
271
HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.
At last, on the 28th of September, the 2d Missouri arrived and was quartered at the quaint old adobe-built city of Santa Fe, then a place of 5,000 or 6,000 inhabitants, comprising a population cosmopolitan in char- acter, although mostly Mexicans, Spaniards and half-breed Indians. A few days before Gen. Stephen Kearney had left the city for California, and Col. Doniphan, with the 1st Missouri, had departed for Mexico. A detail of 100 men from Price's regiment, consisting of ten men from each company, was immediately dispatched to join Doniphan. It is said that. this detail was commanded by Capt. Hudson. The Carroll county men who joined Doniphan are noted elsewhere.
The Second Missouri went into quarters in various public buildings in Santa Fe, and the men enjoyed the situation immensely. Life in the city in that day was gay and frolicsome, after the most approved Mexican and Spanish fashion, and the soldiers soon adapted themselves to it, and par- took bountifully of it. Monte banks were everywhere in full blast, dance- houses abounded, and kindred establishments of every sort were to be found on every hand. All of these houses were well patronized, and by all classes. It was no uncommon sight to behold, among the patrons of a monte bank, a merchant, an hidalgo or large landed proprietor, an official of the city government, a padre or priest, in his robe and with his crucifix, an American soldier, a muleteer or mule driver, a prostitute, a Peon or Indian serf.
At the dance houses, fandangoes were nightly held, participated in by motley groups of soldiers, citizens, officers, and the abandoned of both sexes. The wildest revels were indulged in at times, and often the orgies closed with a tragedy when Santa Fe was under Mexican rule; but these endings were rare during the American occupation. The music was not of the best-indeed, it was the rudest-but it put life and mettle in the heels of the dancers, and was wild and weird, as was the assemblage. Quite often, however, the scene was graced (?) and the antics hallowed (?) by the presence of a jolly padre, whose eyes twinkled merrily as they gazed upon the revelry, and rolled solemnly as he invoked a "benedicite" on revel and revelers.
The women of Santa Fe-the dark-eyed "senoras" in Spanish-were, for the most part, dark of complexion and light of love. To state it mildly, they swore and were improper. With the most of them their impropriety was of a professional character; with the rest it was a trait. They were not like many of their sex in colder and purer climes, who prefer
The lilies and languor of virtue to the roses and raptures of vice.
But yet, there was this excuse to be made for them, that they were reared amid ignorance and vice of every sort, and knew no better than to become depraved and degraded.
272
HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.
About two weeks after their arrival at Santa Fe, Capt. Williams' com- pany and the company from Livingston county, commanded by Capt. W. Y. Slack, afterward a confederate brigadier-general, who fell at Pea Ridge, were sent up to the little vilage of Abique (pronounced Ab-i-ku), on the Rio Chaima, a tributary of the Rio Grande. Abique was a small place, whose population was composed of Mexicans and Pueblo Indians. The town was exposed to the raids of the fierce and merciless Navajo Indians, and, as the American authority had been established in New Mexico, Col. Price sent up these two companies to protect the town and its people. Capt. Williams took command of the post.
The inhabitants of Abique were very friendly and peaceably disposed toward the soldiers, and the most amicable relations were established between the people and the garrison. Here the Carroll county men remained until about the 20th of December. During their stay, many of the soldiers were attacked with the measles, and when the companies were ordered away were left behind. Some of them died of disease, and it was reported that others were massacred by the Mexicans, in the upris- ing which followed soon after.
When Gen. Kearney captured Santa Fe, he proclaimed the supremacy of the American authority, and. set up a provisional government. Silas Burt was appointed provisional governor. The Mexicans did not greatly relish the new order of things, and stimulated by the. priests, who imag- ined that American rule in New Mexico meant the extinction of the Cath- lic religion, and encouraged by certain of their former officials, who knew that their days of extortion, profligacy, and corruption would forever pass if the "Yankees" maintained their authority-so stimulated and so encouraged, the people rose in revolt and insurrection against those whom they deemed their oppressors and "infidel usurpers.". The situation of Col. Price and his men was extremely critical. They were hundreds of miles from support, in an enemy's country, in the midst of winter, and almost without the means of communication with their friends. Yet Col. Price was equal to the emergency, as was clearly and thoroughly demon- strated.
The rebellion was led by Gen. Tofoya, Chavez and Montaya. Their forces were chiefly organized in the district northwest of Santa Fe, the town of Taos (pronounced Tow-us or Touce), being the headquarters of the insurgents. One of the first outbreaks occurred at Gov. Bent's Mill, near Taos. The governor and some others were killed. Wm. J. Hat- field, a member of the Carroll county company, was also killed, either at Bent's Mill or at another near by. The insurrection rapidly spread and assumed alarming proportions. It seemed as if the Americans would be
1 overthrown, and either exterminated or driven from the country. Tofoya at the head of a strong force was marching directly on Santa Fe, and all 1
·
273
HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.
of the outposts were threatened. The Americans who had settled in iso- lated locations were daily being surprised and massacred.
About the 24th of January, Col. Price called in all his companies. The companies at Abique made a hurried march to Santa Fe, where they were joined by their comrades from the other outposts. As before stated the sick were left behind. In a short time, the regiment, with Fisher's St. Louis battery and a company of dragoons, marched to meet the Mexi- cans who were threatening Santa Fe. Fisher's battery consisted of four howitzers and was manned almost exclusively by Germans.
The first evening out the Mexicans were encountered, 2,000 strong, at a little hamlet called Canada (pronounced. Can-ya-tha). Price's forces, all told, numbered not more than 500 or 600 men. The Mexicans, under Tofoya, Chavez and Montaya, were posted on a high ridge, commanding well the country in front and running directly across the American line of march. They were well armed with muskets and other infantry and cav- alry arms, but were without artillery.
Col. Price marched his command up within striking distance, along the. road, which, it has been indicated struck the ridge at right angles, and then deployed his forces in front of the enemy, forming his line in an arroyo, or dry bed of a stream, running parallel with and at the base of the mountain range, on the crest of which the enemy were posted. Fish- er's battery unlimbered and opened on the Mexicans with shell. The effect was insignificant, and Col. Price ordered the Missourians to "charge!" Away they went up the steep hilside, receiving the fire of the Mexicans at short range without halting or quailing, and pressing gal- lantly on to the crest of the hill and to victory. The Mexicans not relish- ing a bayonet encounter, nor a hand-to-hand fight, retreated with great precipitation and in confusion. Two thousand men had been put to flight by five hundred.
When the fight was over several Mexicans lay dead on the field. The Americans lost a number wounded, but none killed outright. Col. Price himself was slightly wounded. Some guns and other munitions of war- were taken by the victors. The fight closed at nightfall. The Americans remained on the field that night, apprehensive of an attack, but by the next morning not a Mexican was in sight.
The march was resumed and the enemy was again reached on the 29th, posted in the little hamlet of El Embudo. Fisher's battery was brought up and shelled the town. A charge followed participated in by the mounted men and the infantry. The Mexicans were routed with a loss of several killed and wounded, while the Americans lost but two men, neither of whom was from Carroll county. The superiority of American over Mexican courage was made manifest in the Embudo fight, and the Mis- souri boys won a deserved good name for pluck and efficiency. The
-
1
274
HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.
Mexicans fled over a range of hills and mountains, and Col. Price led his men in pursuit with much alacrity. On the mountains there was much snow, and the soldiers suffered considerably. Beds were made of pine boughs, and on them, and under their army blankets, the volunteers lay contentedly down to sleep, with pickets well out, while-
The sentinel stars kept their watch in the sky.
There was little murmuring, or complaint. A soldier's life, well followed, is one of privation, peril, inconvenience, and discomfort generally, and the men knew this and were content. Dr. Peter Austin, then a jolly, light- hearted stripling, but now a grave and profound M. D., of the city of Car- rollton, who has furnished much of the details of this chapter, still retains a vivial recollection of those nights on the spurs of the Rocky mountains, in the days when he was a smooth-faced soldier laddie under Sterling Price and the stars and stripes, against the copper-faced " Greasers."
About the first of February, Col. Price's little army descended the moun- tains and entered the valley of Taos. The command camped in the village , of San Fernandez, a suburb of the city of Taos. The only inhabitants of the place when the Missourians entered it, were women and children, and a few old men. All of the able-bodied male population were in the city of Taos in Tofayo's army, which had there determined to make a final stand. . There was, of course, great alarm and trepidation in San Fernandez, when the dreaded " Americos" took possession of the place, but without good cause or adequate reason. Nobody was hurt, and the time was chiefly spent in preparing for the work of the following day.
At sunrise on the morning of February 3, 1847, Col. Price drew up his force in front of the Mexican position at Taos. The Mexicans were well protected and in admirable position to withstand and repel an assault from an enemy ten times the number which then confronted them. Taos is situated on a plain, and the town was surrounded by a high and strong wall built of adobe, or sun-dried bricks. On the side where Col. Price made his attack, stood a large Catholic church, the outer wall of which formed a part of the fortification which enclosed the town .. This church was well filled with soldiers, the walls being well pierced with loop-holes for musketry. Fischer's battery opened the fight by a well directed fire against the walls, which it was desirous to shatter and dismantle, in order that an entrance into the town might be effected. The cannonade was kept up until about noon, the balls at every discharge striking the wall fairly and truly in what seemed its most vulnerable parts, but without the desired effect. The walls would not fall.
Col. Price at last became weary of this ineffective mode of attack, and determined, by the advice of his officers, and the consent of his own mind, on an assault. Early in the afternoon a storming party was formed, a part of the men being provided with axes, and at the word, the men dashed
1
275
HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.
gallantly forward, receiving the Mexican fire for hundreds of yards. The Carroll company was in line immediately in front of the Catholic church, and when the wall was reached was against that building. The axes were plied vigorously, and holes were soon made in the church sufficiently large to admit of hand grenades being thrown through them upon the Mexicans. A brisk musketry fire was kept up on the top of the walls, and seldom did a Mexican show his head that it was not hit. At last, breaches were made that admitted the brave Missourians, and through them they went cheering and shouting, and firing and bayoneting.
As the Americans entered Taos on one side, the Mexicans began leav- ing on the other. A body of horseman was sent around the walls and fell upon the fugitives, cutting down many of them, and making prisoners of many more. Firing was kept up in the streets of the town, and from behind buildings for some time, but at last the Mexicans were vanquished, their tri-colored flag went down, and the stars and stripes floated in its stead.
In the assault on Taos the Carroll county company lost two of its best men-Alfred Caldwell, the orderly sergeant, and James Austin a private. Several were wounded whose names it has not been possible to learn. The company was commanded by Lt. White. A day or two after leav- ing Sante Fe Capt: Williams was so badly affected with a sort of rheuma- tism in his knee that he was compelled to return. There was great dis- satisfaction among the men over his conduct, which many attributed to cowardice. It is proper to say that very many always believed Capt. Williams to be a brave man, and that the charges against him were un- founded; but his company was dissatisfied with him, and he resigned and was succeeded by Lt. White, who became the captain of the company and brought it back to Carroll county when its time had expired.
Hundreds of prisoners were taken at Taos; and among them were Tof- aya and several of his officers. A large amount of mititary stores was also captured. The victory was a glorious one, and complete, for it ended the war, substanially, so far as New Mexico was concerned.
A short time after the Taos fight, Tofaya and about a dozen other of the leaders of the insurrection were tried by drum-head court martial and. hung at San Fernandez. All of them had taken the oath of allegiance to the American government, and had violated it in the basest and most treacherous manner, thereby forfeiting their lives. They met their deaths very heroically, and elicited from the Americans not only admiration for their bravery, but pity for their fate. It seemed indeed a grevious thing to take their lives after they had surrendered, and so it was; but it was actually necessary to resort to the extremest measures to repress the insurrection and visit the severest punishment upon its leaders in order to prevent its repetition. The ignorant, depraved Mexicans, treacherous by
276
HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.
nature and murderous almost by instinct, could not be made to live under American authority by any other motive than fear. It was necessary to "strike terror into their hearts" by meting out to them the most rigorous punishment for their perfidy. 4
The loss of the Mexicans in three engagements of Canada, El Embudo, and Taos in killed was 282; the wounded and prisoners were never counted. Col. Price's loss was fifteen killed and 47 wounded. The only officer killed on the American side of any distinction was Major Bur-' gwine, a North Carolinian, an officer of dragoons, but who served with Fischer's artillery on the expedition to Taos, and was killed at the battle at that place. His remains were afterwards exhumed, taken to Ft. Leav- . enworth and re-buried in the following September .*
The 2nd Missouri soon returned to Sante Fe, where it remained on garrison duty until the 9th of August following. During the stay of the regiment here many of the men died of pneumonia and other diseases. There was no further fighting. An alarm was given one night and the men "fell in" on the plaza expecting an attack, but it was caused by the entrance into the town of a train of burros or donkeys laden with supplies of some sort. These burdens were placed upon two poles which were attached to the animals like shafts. One end of these shafts dragged on the ground and two or three hundred of them made a great clatter, which was mistaken for the noise made by a division of Mexican cavalry in motion !
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.