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 35
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When such men as Judge Hardwick, Turpin Thomas and Joseph Adkins, one of the heaviest slaveholders in the county-men, who have borne the hardships of the wilderness to improve the country and extend the area of civilization, while many of the present enemies of their country's flag were mewling and puking in the nursery ; when men like these forget the infirm- ities of age, and ride through the storm and drenching rain to encourage their fellow .men to stand by their flag and their Constitution, we hope their example will be followed throughout the entire State.
: The meeting was called to order by Samuel Winfrey; Esq. Where- upon Thomas Hardwick was chosen Chairman, and Turpin Thomas, Joseph Adkins, and John Gray, Vice Presidents, and Geo. W. Tatham, Secretary.
The following committee was then appointed by the Chair to draft the resolutions expressive of the sense of the meeting: Samuel Winfrey, E. H. Thomas, George Buckhart, James Gosnell and B. E. Kirgan. . After the reading of the resolutions, Mr. John B. Hale, who had been invited to attend the meeting, and whose arrival through the drenching rain had been cheered by his multitude of warm friends, delivered a most excellent address. Among the many interesting topics, he noticed, in an especial manner, a certain fact, well known to every enlightened politician, who is posted in the history of the past, that the slavery question was not in any way connected with the secession of South Carolina. In her attempt at nullification or secession in'32, the slavery question was never made the issue; it was then the Tariff, and the Tariff alone, that was the ground of her complaint! Gen. Jackson then wrote a letter to a friend in Georgia exposing the designs and machinations of South Carolina, in which he then predicted that the next time South Carolina would try to break up the Union, she would use, as a pretext, the slavery question. The real object of the Gulf States appears to be the creation of a great aristocratic Confederacy, wherein wealthy men, who own immense tracts of land, can control their tenantry and' the poor white men who are dependant on them. Mr. Hale next noticed the Military Bill, at some length, and closed his remarks amid the cheers of the meeting.
The following resolutions were reported by the Committee and unan- imously adopted:
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WHEREAS, a crisis has now arrived that the people, the working peo- ple, by whose labors the state is supported in peace or war, should throw off the shackles of party, and cease to lend ear to the exciting declama- tions of small politicians, but come out openly and declare their views to their fellow citizens. We therefore adopt the following resolutions as expressive of our views:
Resolved, That instead of secession being a remedy for any real of fan- ciful evils Missouri is now suffering, it would be a certain mode of plunging us into all the horrors of civil war, and we believe, that as Providence is promising us abundant crops, our duty to our God and our country, to our children and our neighbors, can be better performed by Missourians thronging to the harvest field and cutting down their crops than to the battle field to cut down their fellow-citizens.
Resolved, That we are proud of our state convention, recognizing in its deliberations a spirit of calmness and conservatism, which has earned for Missouri a higher reputation than any deliberative body that ever sat within her borders, and our delegate, ROBT. D. RAY, deserves our high- est commendation.
Resolved, That the late military bill passed by the legislature is, and ought to be, a dead letter, a disgrace to the statute book, and only to be preserved as a curiosity, commemorative of the folly and excitement of the night in which it passed. We believe that the plea of a " big scare " is not sufficient justification of any who voted for it.
Resolved, That we most cordially disapprove the attempt made to burthen the people of this county with a useless debt of ten thousand. dollars, while other and wealthier counties refused to give a dime.
Resolved, That neutrality is the only policy Missouri should adopt, and Gens. Price and Harney deserve the warm regard of the people for their humane arrangement to preserve the public peace, and in these two gen- tlemen the adage is fully verified, that humanity is inseparable from bravery.
That while we pledge our lives and property to maintain all the insti- tutions of Missouri, and especially her slave institution, we equally pledge to one another our aid and protection in the enjoyment of the sacred and unalienable right of opinion and speech, leaving the latter only to the restrictions of law, we heartily condemn all persecutions for opinions sake, holding that every law-abiding citizen of Missouri, whether born in the north or south, or in Europe, is bound to be protected in the enjoy- ment of his opinions by his fellow citizens here.
Resolved, That we believe Missouri's interests are peculiar to herself, and she ought not to be influenced or controlled the least by the action of any other state north or south, and we repudiate that puerile sentimental- ity which causes some to think nothing is done right here unless it accords with the action of the state from whence they come. We believe there is intelligence enough among the people of this state to carve out their own destiny without blindly following any other state, and particularly so while Missouri is differently circumstanced from any other state in. America.
Resolved, That as Missouri is destined to become the great thorougfare for Asiatic and European trade, and being possessed of untold mineral wealth, far surpassing the gold of California in value, we believe her inter-
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ests are too great to justify any hurried action, but prudence requires that she should take time and, in view of developing circumstances, adopt the policy her interests may require; for in a few years her population will be mostly native born, who will have none of those childish and disturbing sympathies with other states which so much influence the opinions and actions of many of the present day, who sympathize with their far off native state.
Resolved, That we condemn as dastardly the attempt by some to intro- duce a spirit of terrorism to awe Union men, by denouncing all who are not secessionists as abolitionists. This charge of abolitionism has often been falsely brought against our best men to injure them, but the people are now too well posted to heed such false accusations. Many of our talented and most solvent men are actively engaged in opposing secession, for instance, Rollins, Stewart, Hall, Henderson, Thomas Allen, Judge Dunn, Judge Leonard, and hundreds of others, who are an honor to any cause.
Resolved, That the misapplication of our state school money by the legis- lature meets with the decided disapprobation of the people, who regard it as a sacred fund to protect their children from the invasion of ignorance.
Resolved, That as we do not know and have never heard of a single instance of a man in Missouri being injured by the Union, we see no reason for dissolving a Union by which, so far, nobody has been hurt.'
Resolved, That as Missouri has prospered in the Union, we shall remain there till our honor and interests demand a separation, then we will, like our fathers, resort to revolution and discard the subterfuge of secession. , Resolved, That the proceedings of this meeting, signed by its officers, be published in the Carrollton Democrat, and that the editor of the Mis- souri Republican be respectfully requested to copy them for the Repub- lican. The meeting then adjourned.
THOS. HARDWICK, Chairman.
TURPIN THOMAS,
JOSEPH ADKINS,
Vice Presidents.
JOHN GRAY,
GEO. W. TATHAM, Sec.
The stars and stripes were raised in the county and people again began to do them honor. The fight at Boonville, June 10, in which Gen. Lyon defeated Col. Marmaduke, dispirited the secessionists and correspondingly encouraged the Union men-indeed it has been averred that it ·created many of latter class, as the victory of the state Guards and confederates at Wilson's Creek created many secessionists. Meetings were called and held, at which speeches were made and resolutions adopted of a strong Union character.
UNION MEETING AT DE WITT, JUNE 15.
The following report of this meeting was furnished at the time by the secretaries to the Carrollton Democrat :
The meeting being called to order, David Gilbert was chosen Chair- man, and E. C. Robertson and D. C. Henning, Secretaries.
The chairman, having stated the object of the meeting, the following gentlemen were appointed a committee to report resolutions expressive of
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the sentiments of the meeting: Geo. Pattison, Dr. P. H. Perkins, D. McIlvoy, Daniel Cary, Marcus Stephenson, David Thomas, and Wm. H. Pate.
John B. Hale, of Carrollton, being present, by invitation, for the purpose of making a Union speech, came forward and took the stand, from which the Stars and Stripes were unfurled, and stated that he was prepared to make a Union speech if the meeting desired it, but that since he had arrived here it had been suggested to him, that probably the meeting had better be adjourned until the people could be better satisfied in regard to the events. transpiring in our State since this meeting was called, which. course, he thought, would be nothing but proper, but stated that he was not prepared to take back a single sentiment uttered by him in defense of this glorious Union.
Messrs. Moberly and Harris, of Brunswick, also Wm. M. Eads, our Representative, and J. S. Logan, of De Witt, being present, were called upon, and all made remarks about to the same effect, that as the Union sentiment was by far the greatest in our community and county, we could afford to be magnanimous, and that caution and prudence should characterize our proceedings at present, and that nothing should be done to excite our neighbors who hold views in opposition to ours. But all referred in the most feeling manner to the flag of our country, and said they' would never be guilty of treason to that flag.
Mr. Pattison, our county school commissioner, being present, was then called for, and delivered an address, showing that the causes of the excitement were only imaginary, and that no real cause for it exists in our state, and enquired, What would have been thought of a meeting like the present, which, twelve months ago, would have considered prudence nec- essary in expressing their devotion to their country and its flag?
The vote was then taken whether Mr. Hale should deliver a speech or not, when it was decided that the meeting wished to hear him. Where- upon he again took the stand and delivered such a speech as only a Union-loving man can deliver.
Mr. Eads then came forward and spoke for a short time, reviewing our national troubles, and showing that he has always been a Union.man and opposed to secession, and that it would cost the state of Missouri fifteen millions of dollars to keep only twenty thousand soldiers in the field for twelve months, for which she is wholly unprepared, and, we believe, sat- isfying every one present as to his course in voting for that obnoxious, thing called a military bill, passed by our legislature not long since.
The committee then returned and reported the following resolution:
Resolved, That as events have transpired since this meeting was called, the particulars of which we have not yet fully learned; we shall, when we adjourn, agree to meet again when notified by the president of this meet- ing, and in the meantime we recommend to our fellow citizens to avoid all excitement, and aim to maintain a law abiding spirit among the people. It was further
Resolved, That the secretaries furnish a copy of the proceedings for publication in the Carrollton Democrat.
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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.
The meeting then adjourned to meet again at the same place on Satur- day, the 29th inst.
DAVID GILBERT, Chairman.
E. C. ROBERTSON, - Secretaries.
D. D. HENNING,
MEETING AT COLOMA.
The following report of a Union meeting held at Coloma, Morris town. ship, was furnished the Carrollton Democrat, and appeared in that paper, June 29th. 1861:
At a meeting held at Coloma by the Union citizens of Morris Town- ship, Carroll county, Mo., on the 22d June, 1861, W. H. Pilaster was appointed Chairman, and D. R. Bartlett, Secretary.
By order of the Chairman a committee of five was appointed to draft resolutions expressive of the sense of the meeting, to-wit: George Nance, Sr., Dr. J. M. Rogers, Ambrose Hanley, Thomas Mathes, Robt. B. Clas- pill.
While the Committee was drawing resolutions the meeting was addressed by K. Scott, who made a very intelligent speech, after which the following resolutions were read and adopted:
1. Resolved, That the action of the Missouri Legislature, in enacting what is known as the Military Bill, and in appropriating the State School funds, and the funds for the support of the Lunatic Asylum to military purposes, meets with our unqualified condemnation.
2. Resolved, That we will not organize under the Military law of the State, believing, as we do, said law is unconstitutional, subversive of demo- cratic government, and dangerous to the liberties of the people.
3. Resolved, That, in our opinion, the exigency of the times impera- tively demands of all lovers of the Union, American liberty, and demo- cratic institutions, throughout this State to form themselves into Volun- teer Companies for the suppression of all lawless acts of violence, and to preserve to all citizens of this State Constitutional protection, irrespective of political opinion.
4. Resolved, That we organize ourselves into a Military company, to he known as the Marion Home Guard of Morris Township.
5. Resolved, That in view of the importance of the occasion, we pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.
MEETING AT MANDEVILLE.
On the 24th of June a portion of the union citizens of Morris township held a meeting at Mandeville. After short and appropriate addresses by Jno. B. Hale and Wm. M. Eads, Mr. McFerren was called to the Chair, and W. Smithpeeter appointed secretary, and the following resolutions passed:
1. Resolved, That we, as a body, agree to use all means in our power to suppress all mob law, or get up parties for the purpose of marring the peace of civil community.
2. Resolved, That we invite the union men of the county to confer together, and take into consideration the propriety of organizing Home
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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.
Guards in the county, for the purpose of self protection and securing arms, and that we would suggest to-morrow week as the time for a general meeting at Carrollton.
PREPARING TO FIGHT.
It will be seen that the union men of the county, as well as the secession- ists, were preparing for the fight that everybody saw was coming. The secessionists were on the move, and nearly every day small or large squads left the county for Price's army, then in southwestern Missouri. Many union men, especially from the neighborhood of De Witt, went up to the various federal posts along the line of the Hannibal and St. Joe rail- road, and took service under the "old flag."
By and by, after . Carthage and Wilson's Creek had given the state guard boys an idea of what war and soldering meant, and an idea of the kind of war in which they had enlisted to fight, some of them got tired and came home. Some of them never went back; others, being har- rasssed by the federal militia thereafter, and for other reasons, re-enlisted as the opportunity offered, and they felt inclined. The idea that. one southern man could whip five northern men, or that one northern man was equal to three southern men, was demonstrated very early in the war, to be an erroneous one. The people made up their minds pretty soon that the contest would be earnest, bloody, lengthy and doubtful.
MISCELLANEOUS INCIDENTS.
On the 28th of June, the Carrollton Democrat, M. O'Gorman's paper, suspended publication, the following card appearing in the last issue, a half sheet:
Owing to the fact that we are without the necessary help to carry on the Democrat, (all the printers in this region having gone to the "wars,"", and also to the great difficulty in collecting funds at this time, sufficient to carry on the business of the office, we have come to the conclusion to sus- pend publication, save a small sheet for legal advertisements, until the times become more favorable. Our suspension, we hope, will be but tem- porary. The news, now-a-days, is of so lying a character, and so much calculated to excite and inflame, that it had better be altogether dispensed with.
About the 20th of June, Judge Dunn held a special term of court at Carrollton, for the trial of James Reirdon, charged with the murder of Wm. Walker, the previous year. The trial was conducted, for the defence, by Messrs. Jno. B. Hale and Wellington Gordon, and on the part of the state, by D. C. Allen, of Liberty, the prosecuting attorney. After a full investigation, the prisoner was found "not guilty."
The county officers continued to exercise their functions under the new provisional government which had been established upon the flight of Gov. Jackson and Lieut .- Gov. Reynolds, although they did not take the
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oath to the so-called " Gamble government, " until some time later. Some of them still recognized Jackson as the chief executive of the state.
Gov. Jackson, shortly after the battle of Lexington called the legisla- ture to meet at Neosho, Newton county, on the 21st of October. Out of 133 members of the house of representatives thirty-nine obeyed this call; and out of thirty-three senators ten were present. Charles H. Hardin, then 'senator from Callaway, started from his home in obedience to the governor's call and coming to Carrollton interviewed Representative Eads. After much consulation the two concluded to go to Neosho and if an ordinance of secession should be presented resolved to vote against it. At a point in Henry county Mr. Eads was taken sick and returned home. Hardin went on and was the only senator that voted against the passage of the secession ordinance when that instrument was adopted by the " Claib. Jackson legislature," Oct. 28, 1861.
The news of the battle of Wilson's Creek, or Oak Hill, Aug. 10, 1861, was received by the secessionists of this county with great joy, mingled with universal regret at the death of the brave and gallant Capt. Chas. E. Blackwell, who fell early in the engagement leading on his men. At the time of his death Capt. Blackwell was but twenty-one years of age, but by reason of his ability, talent and courage had been chosen captain of his company over men years his senior. He had been a cadet at West Point for some months. He was a son of Mr. A. C. Blackwell, so fre- quently named in this work.
The Carroll county men greatly distinguished themselves by their cour- age and effective work in the battle of Wilson's Creek and contributed no little to the brilliant confederate victory there attained.
On the 12th of September Gen. Price's army moved up to the Missouri river and besieged 2,800 Federals under Col. James A. Mulligan at Lex- ington. The siege really lasted eight days, although the Federal works were not entirely invested and there was no severe fighting during the first five. The cannon could be plainly heard in this county, and at night during the last three days of the fight the roar of musketry was audible. Along the river these sounds were especially distinct. A dance was in progress in the bottom on the evening of the 19th, the day previous to Mulligan's surrender, and the dancers, young men and maidens, at the close of a "set" would repair to the open air and listen to the booming of the cannon and the rattle of musketry at Lexington, fifteen miles away.
A number of the citizens of the county were witnesses of the closing scenes of the fight, and not a few went over and "took a hand." War was being brought to their very doors, and they went out to meet it. This class, of course, rendered what service they did in aid of the south- ern cause.
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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.
FIRST BLOOD OF THE WAR IN CARROLL COUNTY-THE HURRICANE FIGHT.
As has been stated, some union men from DeWitt had made their way to the federal troops, on the Hannibal & St. Joe railroad, and joined them. It was known that many more were only waiting the advent of the federal forces to themselves enroll under the stars and stripes.
Early in October, a squad of those who had enlisted in the union army returned to their homes on a furlough, granted by their officers at Laclede. The squad, numbering about ten men, was in charge of one Jeff Harry. A few days after their return home, about thirty secessionists, under com- mand of Capt. Logan Ballew, made a descent 'upon these soldiers, cap- tured and disarmed them, and released them upon parole.
News of this affair reaching Laclede, the commanding federal officer at that post, a Col. Morgan, sent an expedition down into Carroll county. The invading force consisted of two companies of the Missouri cavalry, commanded by Captains Wesley R. Love and Frederick C. Loring, two companies of infantry, and two pieces of artillery, making in all a force of about 400 men. The whole force was under command of Col. Morgan, then of the Eighteenth Missouri infantry.
On the 17th of October. this force encamped at Mr. Owens' farm, in the northeastern part of the county. The next morning the march was resumed, the command going south towards DeWitt. News of the approach of the federals had reached Capt. Ballew, and his scouts were watching them. He had under his command about 100 men, but it is said that all of them were not with. him. Learning his enemies' destina- tion, he determined to ambush them, at the crossing of Big Hurricane creek, in the southeast quarter of section 35, township 55, range 22. For this purpose he selected forty-seven of his men, all of whom were armed with double-barreled shot-guns loaded with buckshot, and some had revolvers. Mr. Stephen Hancock had joined Ballew, with about twenty- five men, but, as he states, he disapproved of the ambushing scheme, as he considered it cowardly and guerrilla-like, and not in accordance with the true principles of warfare, and accordingly he drew off his little force, and left Ballew to himself, after urging him three times not to "bush- whack" the federals, but to "fight fair."
Ballew posted his men so that they would command the ford and both its approaches, and had them well concealed. On came the federals, sus- picious, but not altogether conscious of their danger. Love's company was in front.
The men rode down into the stream, and began to water their horses. Of a sudden, Ballew gave the word "Fire!" Instantly a most murderous and terrible volley was poured into the unsuspecting troopers, and the Hurricane ford was full of wounded, bleeding men, and frantic, struggling horses, while screams and groans and shouts rent the hitherto peaceful
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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.
air. There was very great confusion, and fright, and terror, to be sure. Ballew's men fired another volley or so, and then mounting their horses, which had been completely and securely concealed near by, rode away from the scene, with not a man killed or wounded.
The buckshot from the 47 shotguns wounded 14 of Love's men, some of them desperately, all of them badly, but strange to say, and very luck- ily, withal, none of them mortally. The bugler of the company was mistaken for an officer, and fared very sadly. Part of the forces were kept behind to care for the wounded, who were taken to the neighboring houses at first, and afterwards removed to Laclede. Several horses were also disabled in the melee and a few killed.
The federals at first fell back. Loring's company, Col. Morgan's . infantry, two companies of the 18th Missouri, and the artillery, formed in battle line, expecting the attack to be resumed. The cannon fired a few shots, and a skirmish line was advanced, but the enemy had fled. Just before arriving at Hurricane ford, the federals met Mr. Ambrose Callaway, an old and respected citizen of Hurricane township, whom they questioned as to the whereabouts of Ballew's men. He denied any knowledge of them, but stated that he had seen a force which he believed to be them, moving rapidly away from the south side of Hurricane creek. This force, doubtless, was Hancock's, but Mr. Callaway did not know them. After they had been fired on, the federals returned, overtook Cal- laway and killed him .. Full particulars of the latter incident are given elsewhere. '
The federal forces soon rallied and resumed their march to DeWitt, which place they reached without further incident. At De Witt they made prisoners of two men, Price Merrick and Frank Ball, the latter the postmaster, whom they carried away to Laclede. Upon leaving De Witt, the next day, one James Reirdon, one of Love's men, accidentally shot and killed himself while mounting his horse. Reirdon was from this county, and had been tried and acquitted, a few months before, of the charge of murdering his brother-in-law, one Wm. Walker. It is also said that it was he who killed Mr. Callaway. Mr. Wm. Allen, at present in Carrollton, states that Reirdon fired the shot in obedience to the orders of Col. Morgan.
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