History of Clay and Platte 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 Clay and Platte Counties --their pioneer record, resources, biographical sketches of prominent citizens., Part 22

Author:
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: St. Louis : National Historical Co.
Number of Pages: 1156

USA > Missouri > Platte County > History of Clay and Platte 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 Clay and Platte Counties --their pioneer record, resources, biographical sketches of prominent citizens. > Part 22
USA > Missouri > Clay County > History of Clay and Platte 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 Clay and Platte Counties --their pioneer record, resources, biographical sketches of prominent citizens. > Part 22

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).

The fight took place about four miles east of south of Liberty, or between the wooden bridge across the town branch, a little below the arsenal, and Mr. Beauchamp's, though extending a little beyond (n. e. 1/4 sec. 33, tp. 51, range 31). The locality is a mile below where now (1885) the Wabash railroad crosses the county road to the ferry landing.

A few, and only a few, Clay county men took part in the Blue Mills fight, against the Federals, of course. These had joined Col. Saunders' forces as they passed through.

Returning to Liberty Col. Scott found that Col. Smith had come up with about 2,500 troops, and was in camp about the square in Col. Lightburne's orchard. Everything was now safe on the Federal side, and equally safe on the Secession side. Col. Saunders had not seen proper to follow up his victory, as it would seem he could have done - and if so should have done- and was content to get across the river without further molestation.

Col. Saunders says the piece was fired six times, but Col. Scott says it was dis- charged but twice.

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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.

The Federals visited the field that night, and succeeded in remov- ing nearly all of their wounded. The next day all were brought back and taken to the William Jewell College building, which was con- verted into a hospital. The Federal surgeons had their hands full for a day or two, and were assisted by Dr. W. A. Morton and perhaps another local surgeon.

The Federal dead were buried in the college grounds, a little north of the buildings, and there yet all or nearly all of them still lie,

"Under the sod and the dew, waiting the judgment day."

September 20 two companies of Home Guards from Kansas City, under Capts. Hyde and Thomas, came down to Liberty Landing on the steamer Majors, and marching thence to Liberty, removed all the wounded able to be transported to Kansas City, where they were cared for till they recovered. These companies also took away with them some blasting powder and a few tools that the Secessionists had left the previous April at the seizure. But there were no arms left for them to take.

THE KILLED AND WOUNDED.

According to the best information obtainable, discarding all wild and sensational reports made without grounds and never authenticated, the Federal loss in the Blue Mills fight amounted to 14 killed outright on the field - 7 in the Third Iowa, 1 of the German artillerists, and 4 of the Caldwell county Home Guards, and 2 of the Adair county Home Guards. In the Third Iowa there were mortally wounded : David H. Dill, Co. E, died September 28; Michael Wierna, Co. H, died November 19 ; Larian T. Washburn, Co. I, died next day, Sep- tember 18. This information is obtained from official records, muster rolls, etc., yet on file in the offices of the adjutant-generals of Iowa and Missouri, and agrees with the memory of Dr. W. A. Morton, who was at the Federal hospital. The Federal wounded amounted to about to about 80- 74 in the Third Iowa, 3 of the Caldwell Home Guards, and 3 or 4 of the German artillerists and Adair Home Guards.

The loss of the Missourians was 3 killed dead on the field - James W. Gillespie, of Patton's regiment; Dr. John Ross, of Wilfley's regiment ; and William Pope, unattached - and it is believed that 2 more died of their wounds within a week. The wounded numbered 17 or 18.

Of course other publications, biased in favor of one side or the

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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.

other, have placed the number of killed and wounded much larger. Immediately after the engagement each side grossly exaggerated the loss of the other - the wish fathering the thought in this particular - and each side, too, vastly over-estimated the forces of the other. The statements of the leading officers were seized upon by their respective partisans, and lost nothing in volume by their currency and circulation, until finally it came to be believed in certain quarters that 100 or more Federals were killed and three times as many wounded, and in certain other quarters that four score " rebels " had bitten the dust and a proportionate number wounded.

Happily official records, complete and perfectly authenticated, with no motive now for prevaricating or concealing the truth, do not leave anything to be guessed. In the light of these, and in the face of . other testimony corroborative, and with no design of disparaging the veracity of either Col. Scott or Col. Saunders, it is but the plain, simple truth that when one said, " the loss of the enemy (the Mis- sourians ) from accounts deemed reliable, is not less than 160," and " his total force about 4,400," and the other said, " the enemy (the Federals) admitted a loss of 150 to 200 killed, wounded and missing," and that " 42 were left dead on the field,"- both were · mistaken.

REPORTS OF THE LEADERS.

The official records of Col. Scott, commanding the Federals, Col. Saunders, commanding the Missouri State Guards, or Secession forces, and Gen. D. R. Atchison, a volunteer pro tem., serving under the orders of Gen. Price, are herewith given as necessary portions of an account of the engagement at Blue Mills.

REPORT OF COL. SAUNDERS.

REGIMENTAL HEADQUARTERS, LEXINGTON, September 21, 1861.

BRIG .- GEN. A. E. STEIN - I have the honor to submit to you the following report of an engagement on the 17th at Blue Mills ferry, between the State forces under my command, and a body of some 1,100 Federal troops. From the hour of leaving St. Joseph until I reached the river at Blue Mills, reports of the enemy hanging on our rear were hourly received. But upon the night of the 16th reliable information reached us of the enemy's presence in considerable force (estimated variously at from 1,500 to 3,000) upon the Centerville road, some 12 miles distant.

My command, consisting of my own regiment of infantry, embrac- ing 11 companies, numbering about 400 men ; Col. Jeff. Patton's regi- ment of infantry of about the same number; Lieut .- Col. Wilfley's

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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.

regiment of cavalry of an equal number; Col. Child's battalion of some 300 men reached the Missouri river at about four o'clock on the 16th, but could not commence crossing until 2 o'clock a. m. on the 17th, the boats being occupied by Major Boyd's troops, who reached the ferry in advance of me. My orders being imperative to push on, I permitted no delay in crossing, with such facilities as were at my command. When about one-fourth of my train, consisting of about 100 wagons, were crossed about 8 o'clock a. m. my pickets were driven in. I had posted Col. Child's some four miles back upon the road with his battalion, and when his men were driven in, he took prompt steps to hold the enemy in check until I should be prepared to receive them.

The ready and judicious disposition of this officer in the morning, as well as his gallantry later in the day, deserves the highest com- mendation, and is especially brought to your attention.

After some sparring between pickets, Col. Childs succeeded in kill- ing four and severely wounding one man, who was left upon the road and was afterwards given up to his friends.

After reconnoitering I concluded the enemy had retired and marched my men - who had been formed in order of battle - back to the river and proceeded with the work of crossing, when, at 3 o'clock, about one-half had crossed, reducing my effective force which could be rallied, to about 600, our pickets were again driven in.

I ordered Cols. Patton and Childs forward with such forces as could be hastily formed, and directed Lieut .- Col. Cundiff to go forward with the remainder of my regiment while I should rally and bring up all the available forces not yet over the river.

The enemy opened on us with grape from a brass six-pounder, which my men silenced at the sixth round, killing all their artillery men ( except one, who was slightly wounded and taken prisoner ) and their horses. The men from the rear now commenced reaching the scene of action, and adding their cheers to those in front, the enemy commenced flying, leaving their caisson on the ground containing 123 shell and a large lot of canister, grape and round shot. My men ran them some three miles, and only desisted when quite exhausted. The officers and men under my command behaved most gallantly, and de- serve especial notice for their bravery and coolness during the action.

If I had had artillery, I doubt not I should have taken the piece opened upon us, with all the enemy's baggage.

My loss was 1 killed and 17 wounded, as follows : Of Capt. Fisher's company, W. P. McGee, dangerously wounded ; P. Smith Roberts, slightly wounded.

Of Capt. Sullivan's company, J. B. Still, slightly wounded.

Of Capt. T. Owens' company, Wm. Willis, seriously wounded.

Of Capt. Edmonson's company, Wm. L. Carson, dangerously wounded ; James White, slightly wounded.

Of Capt. Petram's company, Conrad Sharp, seriously wounded.

Of Capt. Finney's company, James York and Wheeler South, both slightly wounded.

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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.

Of Col. Patton's regiment, James W. Gillespie, killed ; Robert Austin, Geo. A. Bell, J. T. Thornton, slightly wounded.

Of Col. Wilfley's regiment, Dr. John Ross, killed ; B. Allen, Chas. Thorp and Thos. Spencer, seriously wounded ; James A. Burnham, slightly wounded.

The enemy admitted a loss of 150 to 200 killed, wounded and miss- ing; 42 were left dead on the field. We got the prisoners, who are still in my hands. Several gentlemen not in any company or of- ficial capacity deserve especial mention for gallantry and activity ; among those were G. W. Van Lear, of St. Joseph, and Wm. Pope, of Buchanan county ; the latter fell mortally wounded in the very front of my advancing column.

Respectfully, etc.,

J. P. SAUNDERS, Col. Missouri State Guards.

HON. D. R. ATCHISON'S REPORT.

LEXINGTON, Mo., September 21, 1867.

SIR - In pursuance of your orders I left this place on the evening of the 15th inst. and proceeded forthwith to Liberty, Clay county, Mo., where I met the State Guard on the march from the Northwest - five regiments of infantry, under the command of Col. Saunders, and one regiment of cavalry, under the command of Col. Wilfley, from the fifth district ; five regiments of infantry, under command of Col. Jeff. Patton, and one battalion of cavalry, under Col. Childs, from the fourth district. I delivered your orders to the above commands to hasten to this point (Lexington ) with as much dispatch as possible. They marched forthwith, and arrived at the Missouri river about four o'clock in the evening, when Col. Boyd's artillery and battalion and baggage were crossed over to the south, where the colonel took his position, Capt. Kelly planting his artillery so as to completely com- mand the river. The crossing continued all night without interrup- tion, every officer and man using his best exertions. We received news during the night that the enemy would be in the town of Liberty, about six miles distant from Blue Mills ferry, at an early hour the ensuing morning. We were crossing in three small flats, and much time was necessary to move the large train of some hundred wagons. Col. Childs with his command had taken post for the night about two miles from Liberty on the road to the ferry. Here he engaged the enemy's advance or pickets in the morning, killing four and wound- ing one, with no loss on our side. The enemy fled and we heard no more of them until 3 or 4 o'clock, when their approach was announced in large force, supposed to be about 900 men, with one piece of artil- ery (a 6-pounder). The men of our command immediately formed, Col. Jeff. Patton leading the advance, to meet the enemy. After pro- ceeding about three miles from the river they met the advance guard of the enemy and the fight commenced. But the Federal troops al- most immediately fled, our men pursuing rapidly, shooting them down until they annihilated the rear of their army, taking one cais-

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son, killing about 60, and wounding it is said, about 70. The Federal troops attempted two or three times to make a stand, but ran after delivering one fire. Our men followed them like hounds on a wolf chase, strewing the road with the dead and wounded, until they were compelled to give over the chase from exhaustion, the evening being very warm. Col. Saunders, Col. Patton, Col. Childs, Col. Cundiff, Col. Wilfley, Maj. Gause, Adj. Shackelford, and all the other officers and men, as far as I know or could learn, behaved gallantly .

D. R. ATCHISON.

To GEN. PRICE.

COL. SCOTT'S REPORT.

HDQRS. THIRD REGIMENT IOWA VOLUNTEERS, LIBERTY, September 18, 1861.

SIR :- In relation to an affair of yesterday which occurred near Blue Mills Landing, about five miles from this place, I have the honor to report : -

Agreeably to your orders, I left Cameron at 3 p. m. of the 15th inst., and through a heavy rain and bad roads made but 7 miles dur- ing the afternoon. By a very active march on the 16th I reached Centreville, 10 miles north of Liberty, by sunset, where the firing of cannon was distinctly heard in the direction of Platte City, which was surmised to be from Col. Smith's Sixteenth Illinois command. Had sent a messenger to Col. Smith from Haynesville, and sent another from Centreville, apprising him of my movements, but got no re- sponse. On the 17th, at 2 a. m., started from Centreville for Liberty, and at daylight the advanced guards fell in with the enemy's pickets, which they drove in and closely followed.

At 7 a. m. my command arrived at Liberty, and bivouacked on the hills north of and overlooking the town. I dispatched several scouts to examine the position of the enemy, but could gain no defi- nite information. They had passed through Liberty during the after- noon of the 16th to the number of about 4,000, and taken the road to Blue Mills Landing, and were reported as having four pieces of artil- lery. At 11 o'clock a. m. heard firing in the direction of the landing, which was reported as a conflict between the rebels and for disputing their passage over the river.

At 12 m. moved the command, consisting of 500 of the Third Iowa, a squad of German artillerists and about 70 Home Guards, in the direction of Blue Mills Landing. On the route learned that a body of our scouts had fallen in with the enemy's pickets, and lost 2 killed and 1 wounded. Before starting dispatched courier to Col. Smith to hasten his command.

About two miles from Liberty the advance guard drove in the enemy's pickets. Skirmishers closely examined the dense growth through which our route lay, and at 3 p. m. discovered the enemy in force, concealed on both sides of the road, and occupying the dry bed of a slough, his left resting on the river and his right ex

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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.

tending beyond our observation. He opened a heavy fire, which drove back our skirmishers, and made simultaneous attacks upon our front and right. These were well sustained, and he retired with loss to his position. In the attack on our front the artillery suffered so severely that the only piece, a brass 6-pounder, was left without sufficient force to man it, and I was only able to have it dis- charged twice during the action. Some of the gunners abandoned the piece, carrying off the matches and primers, and could not be rallied.

The enemy kept up a heavy fire from his position. Our artillery useless, and many of the officers and men already disabled, it was deemed advisable to fall back, which was done slowly, returning the enemy's fire, and completely checking pursuit. The 6-pounder was brought off by hand, through the gallantry of Capt. Trumbull, Lieuts. Crosley and Knight, and various officers and men of the Third Iowa, after it had been entirely abandoned by the artillerists. The ammu- nition wagon, becoming fastened between a tree and a log at the road- side in such a manner that it could not be released without serious loss, was abandoned.

The engagement lasted one hour and was sustained by my command with an intrepidity that merits my warmest approbation.

I have to regret the loss of a number of brave officers and men, who fell gallantly fighting at their posts. I refer to the enclosed list of killed and wounded as a part of this report.

The heaviest fire was sustained by Co. I, Third Iowa volunteers, which lost four killed and 20 wounded, being one-fourth of our total loss.

Maj. Stone, Capts. Warren, Willett and O'Neil were severely wounded, and also Lieuts. Hobbs, Anderson, Tullis and Knight. The latter refused to retire from the field after being three times wounded, and remained with his men till the close of the engage- ment.

Among the great number who deserve my thanks for their gallantry I might mention Sergt. James F. Lakin, of Co. F, Third Iowa, who bore the colors and carried them into the thickest of the fight with all the coolness of a veteran.

The loss of the enemy can not be certainly ascertained, but from accounts deemed reliable is not less than 160, many of whom were killed. His total force was about 4,400.

Your most obedient servant,

JOHN SCOTT, Lieut .- Col. of the Third Iowa Volunteers. S. D. Sturgis, Brig .- Gen. U. S. Army.

LIST OF KILLED AND WOUNDED IN THE THIRD IOWA.

[The following list of the killed and wounded of the Third Iowa Infantry, in the battle, has been kindly furnished for this history, properly certified, by Col. W. L. Alexander, Adjutant-General of

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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.

Iowa. It is taken from muster rolls yet on file, and is compared and agrees with the Iowa Adjutant-General's report of 1863] : -

Maj. Wm. M. Stone, wounded in the head.

Company A- Wounded, First Lieut. D. J. O'Neil, in the arm ; First Sergt. D. J. Duane, in the thigh ; Corp. Wm. H. Munger, in the thigh ; Privates, Elliott Critchfield, in the arm ; James P. McCafferty, in thigh, John Schrage, in the leg.

Company B- Wounded, Second Lieut. Albert Hobbs, in shoulder ; Sergt. John C. Woodruff, through left lung ; Corp. W. F. Hart ; Privates Benjamin Robins, in left arm, Josiah M. Woodruff, left thigh badly shattered.

Company C- Killed, Lester Squires. Wounded, Corp. Benjamin Hunting, in arm; Wagoner, Herman Drone, severely ; Private, Wm. H. Phillips.

Company D-Killed, Wm. B. Miller. Wounded, Capt. George R. Willett, in knee ; Second Lieut. Ole A. Anderson, in head ; Pri- vate, Wm. B. Hickert, in knee.

Company E - David H. Dill, died September 28 ; Wounded, Sergt. Thos. Mulvana ; Corps. Nathaniel Jennings and Wm. H. McCowin, in side ; Privates, Geo. W. Groves, James F. Guthrie, Daniel Hill, Joseph H. Miller, Bartley N. Pardee, Wm. R. White and Wm. C. White.

Company F-Killed, Hasseltine D. Norton. Wounded, Second Lieut. Aaron Brown ; Corp. L. B. Davis, severely ; Privates, John W. Hawn, severely ; David Ishman, severely ; Joseph N. Johnson, Charles Lyon, Jacob Swank, Thos. Saunders, and Charles Winchell, severely.

Company G- Wounded, Corp. William Swan ; Privates Francis M. Lotta, William Michael, John McCullough and John A. Rutter.

Company H-Wounded, Michael Wierna (died November 19), Capt. John H. Warren, in legs ; First Lieut. James Tullis, in legs ; Sergt. John McMannus, in arm; Privates Ed. A. Barbour, Isaac Gamble and Jesse McClure.

Company I-Killed, G. W. Bedell, Thos. M. Mix, Benj. F. Dar- land. Wounded, Lorain T. Washburn (died next day) ; First Lieut. John P. Knight, in arm, leg and chin; Sergts. David Forney and Isaac M. Henderson ; Corp. William Burdick, in leg ; Drummer Chas. E. Balcomb, in neck ; Privates James Buel, in right leg; Leroy Car- ter, in leg ; Peter S. Darland, severely; Richard C. Dolph, severely ; Daniel W. Foot, Wolsey Hawks, Wm. H. Mirifield, in leg ; Lewis D. Powers, in arm; Wm. L. Peppers, in leg and arm; A. S. Russell, severely in arm; Geo. W. Stocks, severely in head and arm ; Geo. H. Smalley, in leg ; Ferdinand Seick, Samuel Trowbridge, Joseph Wy- borney, in left knee ; Asa H. Warner, A. M. Wilcox, severely in leg ; Thos. B. Walley and James E. White.

Company K-Killed, Private James H. Brownell.

The four men of the Caldwell county Home Guards that were killed

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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.

were Linus Miller, Daniel Strope, John Smith and James Bogan. Three of Johnson's company were wounded - Capt. E. D. Johnson and privates Whitfield Early and Wm. O. Dodge.

Capt. Cupp, of the Adair county Home Guards, was killed in the action, as was a private of his company.

OTHER WAR INCIDENTS OF THE FALL AND WINTER OF 1861.

On Friday, September 20, a considerable Federal force under Gen. S. D. Sturgis came into Liberty from the north and east and united with the Third Iowa and Sixteenth Illinois. Sturgis' command consisted of the Twenty-seventh and Thirty-ninth Ohio regiments of in- fantry, and some Gentry county Home Guards. The next day, Stur- gis at the head, the Ohio regiments departed for the west, going toward Fort Leavenworth. A day or two before their arrival at Lib- erty they had attempted to reinforce Mulligan at Lexington, but in the Missouri bottom, opposite and about four miles from Lexington (or near the present site of R. & L. Junction ), they were diverted from their purpose by the presence of Gen. Rains' division of Mis- sourians, sent across by Gen. Price to stop them, and they moved rapidly to the westward to get out of the way, burning some of their wagons.

Not long after September 21, the Third Iowa and Sixteenth Illinois, with the Missouri Home Guards, left, and in their case the citizens considered it a good riddance of a lot of bad rubbish. For with these commands, especially among the Home Guards, were a lot of rapa- cious and unscrupulous thieves and plunderers that out-jayhawked the Kansas jayhawkers. Hen roosts, pig pens, gardens, even kitchens and private houses were preyed upon and stripped by these scamps, and two stores in Liberty were completely "gutted." The Missouri Home Guards did the greater part of this pillaging; next to them were the Sixteenth Illinois men, and then came the Third Iowa, though it is said only comparatively a few of the latter regiment engaged in the plundering, but such as did were quite active.

Not so with the Ohio troops. These men were all gentlemen, and seemed to understand that the war was one between fellow-citizens of a common country. They came quietly into town, went into camp, and as quietly conducted themselves during their stay. They abused nobody, insulted no one, and there did not seem to be a thief among them. Even at this late day, these regiments, and especially the Thirty-ninth, and its old colonel, John Groesbeck, are pleasantly re- membered. Brave men these were, and many a time afterward in

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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.

the mighty battles in Tennessee, Mississippi and Georgia, did they accomplish great deeds of gallantry and moment, but not the least among their glories during their term of service were their acts of gentility, honor and chivalry toward the people of Missouri in the fall and winter of 1861. It is a pity that the same can not be said of all Federal regiments !

Upon the fall of Lexington there was great rejoicing among the Secessionists, and enlistments in the army of Gen. Price were further stimulated. About this time inflammatory appeals were made by certain leaders of the Secession forces to our people, asking for assistance in men and means, and denouncing Federals and Federal sympathizers in the severest terms. The following is an extract from a communication of Col. John T. Hughes, in the Liberty Tribune, of September 20: -

Were I Governor of this State I would notify Gov. Charles Robinson, of Kansas, that if he should again suffer his soldiers to cross into Missouri I would retaliate with a terrible vengeance. I would invade, occupy and hold, and desolate the entire State of Kansas with fire and sword, and sack and burn every town and city in the State. I would reduce it to its primeval solitudes.

* The exiled soldiers are returning, and this land will be drenched in blood, and widows and orphans be multiplied, and the wildest anarchy prevail, if there should be any attempt to support the Provisional Government of the traitor and usurper, Hamilton R. Gamble, by force of arms.

Col. Hughes appealed to the women to weave cloth and prepare clothing, and to the men to prepare leather and other supplies for the use of Price's army, and the appeal was not altogether unre- sponded to.

The bank at Liberty, which was a branch of the Farmers' Bank of Lexington, suspended specie payments in the summer, and early in the fall the coin was sent to St. Louis for safety.

Recruiting was kept up for the army of Gen. Price during the fall, and on December 1 there were at least five companies with " Old Pap " in his camps down in Southwestern Missouri : Capt. P. C. Pix- lee's, L. B. Dougherty's, Gideon Thompson's, Robert Minter's and R. Scott's. Other men from Clay belonged to companies whose officers were from adjoining counties.

THE NEOSHO SECESSION ORDINANCE.

On October 26, " Claib Jackson's Legislature," as it was called, met in the Masonic Hall at Neosho, and on the 28th an ordinance of

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Author: Publication date: 1885 Publisher: St. Louis : National Historical Co. Number of Pages: 1156

Author:
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: St. Louis : National Historical Co.
Number of Pages: 1156