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 69

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 69
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 69

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4. That we respectfully recommend Col. H. Titus, of the Douglas county militia, for commander of the territorial militia to be mustered into the service.

G. W. CLARK, SAML. J. JONES, And Others,

Committee.

A copy of the preamble and resolutions ordered sent to the Governor

(Signed)

D. R. ATCHISON, Chairman.

Thus, so far as this county's connection with it is concerned, the Kansas war virtually closed. From that time on immigration poured into the Territory in a heavy stream ; but more from the free States than from the South. At the fall election of 1857 the free soilers par- ticipated in the regular territorial elections, for the first time since the spring of 1855, and were successful. The pro-slavery party yielded gracefully to the result, a thing the free soilers had persistently refused to do from the first settlement of the Territory. Those who wished to hold slaves moved out ; the peaceful mass of pro-slavery citizens did the same thing. Kansas became the rendezvous for runaway and kidnaped negroes, and all along the border slave property decreased rapidly in value until the Civil War, when it was wiped out entirely.

It has long been the fashion with a certain class of narrow-minded bigots and fanatics, when speaking of the Kansas troubles, to charac- terize the Missourians and the Southern people who went to Kansas to settle, or to assist the properly constituted authorities. of the territory in the preservation of law and order, as " border ruffians," and the like. That in a few instances individuals who went there committed acts not to be excused or palliated goes without saying, but that as a rule or by any considerable numbers wrongs were done or depreda- tions committed is most certainly not the case. They went to restore law and order, not to destroy it ; and as a rule those who went from this county and from this State were as fine a class of men - gentlemen of character, means and intelligence, citizens of the highest standing -as could have been collected from the mass of people in any community in the country. We sent no John Browns, Jim Mont- gomerys, Mountjoys, Jim Lanes, Jennisons, nor S. C. Pomeroys. It would be an insult to the men who went to Kansas from this county and this State to name them in connection with the individuals mentioned above, even by way of contrast.

CHAPTER X. THE CIVIL WAR.

Causes of the War - Secession Efforts to Compromise- Beginning of Hostilities - Affairs in Missouri in 1860-61 - Attitude in Platte County - Enlistments for the Southern Army - Wallace Jackson's Company -Campaigns and Battles - Capt. Stewart's and Capt. Thompson's Companies - "The Extra Battalion" - Col. Winston's Regiment -Capts. Mitchell's, Rogers', and Kuykendall's Companies - Companies of Capts. Spratt, Crisman, Miller and Morton - Formation of Winston's Regiment- Campaigns and Battles -Second Re-organization - Other Companies - Col. Burnes', Capts. Downing's and Robertson's Companies -Col. Childs' Convoy of Volunteers -Companies of Capts. Lanter and McGee - Of Capt. Carr - Gates' Regiment and Hughes' Battalion - Services -Casualties - Last of the Southern Companies - Capt. Woodsmall's Company -Col. Thornton's Recruits - Total Number from this County - Union Enlistments - Capt. Phelp's Company -- Cel. Price's Company - The Paw-paw Militia -The Sixteenth Kansas - Capt. Fitzger- ald's Regiment - Occupation of the County by the Federals - Fight, Etc. - Maj. Joseph's Campaign - The Bee Creek Fight -Capture of Col. Moonlight and Maj. Ralph - Maj. Huff comes to Weston- Gordon's Departure South - Morgan's Ad- vent -Clough's Raid of Robbers - Wisconsin and Ohio Troops - Other Troops in 1862 - Skirmishes and Robberies in 1862 - Parkville Skirmish - Goose Neck Fight - Raid of Thieves and Negroes -1863 - A Reign of Terror - Robbing an old Colored Man - Raid on Stump Cockrill -Murder of Toney Tinsley - Kansas Red Legs -Hangings and Robberies-Destruction of the Sentinel Office -Paw-paw Militia Excitement - Threatened Trouble at Platte City -- Other Events in 1863 - Events of 1864 - Thornton's Recruiting Expedition - Raid of the Bashi-bazouks - Other Tragedies - Fights and Robberies -Capture of Parkville -Fight at Ridge- ly - Murder of Geo. Fielding-Killing of Phineas Wood, Throckmorton and Andy Smith - Slash Valley and Buena Vista Fights - Murder of Dr. Joseph Walker - Exodus to Montana and the West - Affairs in 1865. -- The Close of the War.

I. CAUSES OF THE WAR.

Like the Kansas troubles, the Civil War grew out of the agitation of the slavery question - was but a continuation or renewal, in fact, of the conflict between the same forces that antagonized each other in the Territory, only on a national scale now, and with the advantages in favor of the anti-slavery party, far greater than they had ever been in favor of their opponents.

In the North, which was stronger as a section than the South, and could, if it would, control the Government, the anti-slavery senti- ment had been developing for a number of years with wonderful

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HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.

rapidity, and there now remained no longer any doubt that it was destined to sweep over and win to the anti-slavery party all the North- ern States.

In 1852, John P. Hale, the free soil candidate, received 156,149 votes out of 3,144,120, and failed, of course, to carry a single State ; in 1856, John C. Fremont, free soil, or Republican, received 1,341,264 votes of the 4,073,967 cast, and carried Connecticut, Iowa, Maine, Massachu- setts and Michigan ; and in 1860, Abraham Lincoln was elected, re- ceiving 1,866,352 of the 4,676,853 votes cast, and carrying California, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, . Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Wisconsin.

Revolutions never go backwards. These figures showed with un- mistakable certainty that the solid North against slavery was simply a question of time. The expectation and even the hope of ever main- taining it in any of the Territories or new States to be formed were abandoned. The only question left open for discussion, was, " Would the anti-slavery North, now coming into possession of the Govern- ment, be content with the exclusion of slavery from the Territories and new States- would not the anti-slavery party, flushed with victory, and embittered by a hard struggle, attempt to establish it in the States where it had always existed, regardless of the will of their people ?"

Many patriotic men of the South and of the North hoped and be- lieved - the hope was father to the conviction - that the slavery question could be amicably adjusted by the exclusion of slavery from the Territories and new States to be formed, united with the policy of non-interference by the General Government or the people of other States with it in those States where it already existed. It could have been so adjusted if human nature had not been what it was, and is. A majority of the people of the country were rapidly coming to believe that slavery was a curse and a crime, and the resolution was already formed to wipe it out at any cost. The principal reasons that prompted them to demand its exclusion from the Territories and the new States to be formed, would support with equal force a demand to extinguish it throughout the whole country.

As early as June 17, 1858, Mr. Lincoln declared that, " A house divided against itself cannot stand. I believe that this government can not endure permanently, half slave and half free. I do not ex- pect the Union to dissolve ; but I do expect it will cease to be di- vided We are now into the fifth year since a policy was in-

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HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.

augurated with the avowed object and confident promise of putting an end to the slavery agitation. Under the operation of this policy that agitation has not only not ceased, but has considerably augmented." So four months afterwards, Mr. Seward said, " Shall I tell you what this collision means? They who think it is accidental, unnecessary, the work of interested or fanatical agitators, and therefore ephemeral, mistake the case altogether. It is an irrepressible conflict between opposing and enduring forces, and it means that the United States must and will, sooner or later, become either entirely a slave-holding nation or entirely a free soil nation. * It is the failure to comprehend this great truth that induces so many unsuccessful at- tempts at final compromise between the slave and free States, and it is the existence of this great fact that renders all pretended com- promises, when made, vain and ephemeral. Startling as this saying may appear to you, fellow-citizens, it is by no means an orignial idea with me, or even a modern one."

Mr. Lincoln became President in 1861, Mr. Seward, Secretary of State, and the whole Cabinet was constructed of like material, The House had been Republican for two years, and the South was rapidly changing its political complexion.

With this change in the administration of the Government, the plain, bold alternative stalked in before the people of the South -the. abolition of slavery and a complete revolution in their industrial sys- tem, together with all the evils that they believed would follow, or, a complete separation from the North: peaceably to withdraw if they could, forcibly if they must. All the world knows the course they took and its result.

The Southern people had a billion and a half of dollars wrapped up in slave property. They entered upon such a course as they believed would best preserve their property from destruction, and-failed. New England, at the same time, had less than a billion and a half represented in real estate. If a party of communists in the South, or elsewhere, had risen up and, after obtaining possession of the Govern- ment, had made the solemn declaration that this Union could not exist under a system of private landlordism, New England would doubtless have taken some steps to protect her property with not less ceremony or greater regard for the Union than that with which the Southern States seceded.

But whether secession was advisable, under the constitution, for any cause, it is now too late to discuss - the question is believed to have been settled for all time by the arbitrament of arms. Sufficient

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HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.

to say, in passing, that the right of withdrawal had often been as- serted by the highest authorities, both North and South, and that just before the beginning of the Civil War many of the leading men of the North conceded the right to be beyond question. But the attempt of the Southern States to effect a separation by force, or, rather, to separate in face of the fact that their independence would depend upon their ability to maintain it by force, the result has proved to have been ill advised and impolitic.

Facts make history, and results establish principles. The first struggle for independence in this country having succeeded, is ad- judged to have been wise and patriotic. The second one having failed, is held to have been the reverse of the first, not the least reason for which is that it failed.

SECESSION - EFFORTS TO COMPROMISE.

On the 17th of December, 1860, after the election of Mr. Lincoln was virtually an accomplished fact, South Carolina, by a representa- tive convention of her people called to consider the question of secession, passed an ordinance withdrawing from the Union. Commis- sioners were appointed to treat with the Goverment at Washington for possession of the forts and other property in that State belonging to the United States. Most of the other Southern States soon fol- lowed the example of South Carolina - withdrawing from the Union, and a provisional Confederate Government was established.

In the meantime, various efforts were made to effect a compromise. A peace conference was held at Washington in February, 1861, by representatives of all the States. Various propositions were intro- duced into. Congress, and others were submitted by the several States. But all were without avail. Concessions were refused by the ex- tremists on both sides, and Mr. Lincoln declared in January that he would not consider, nor would he advise his friends to consider, any proposition looking to a settlement of existing difficulties until after he had been duly and legally inaugurated.1

As soon as the inauguration of March 4, 1861, was over, it became apparent to all that the Administration meant to attempt the coercion of the seceded States. Supplies were sent forward for the forts in the South and hasty preparations made to maintain the National authority within the Southern States.

1 New York Tribune, January 30, 1861.

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HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.

BEGINNING OF HOSTILITIES.

South Carolina took the initiative in inaugurating hostilities as she had in inaugurating the secession movement. Apprised of the fact that the authorities at Washington were taking steps to provision and hold Ft. Sumter, early in April, 1861, Gen. Beaureguard demanded the surrender of the fort. Maj. Anderson, who was in command of the United States forces at the garrison, refused to yield. It was fired upon on the 12th of the month and speedily reduced. The war had now begun.

AFFAIRS IN MISSOURI IN 1860-61.

In Missouri there was a marked change in public sentiments within the six or seven months immediately following the election of Mr. Lincoln. Although the people were citizens of a pro-slavery State. which was originally settled nearly altogether from the South, and were warmly in sympathy with Southern rights and Southern institu- tions, there was at the same time a strong Union sentiment through- out the State, a sentiment which, during the time it was hoped and believed that slavery within the above States would not be attacked or interfered with by the party then coming into power, prevailed with a large majority of the people : it was strong, as a rule, with each indi- vidual substantially in proportion to the degree of security he felt for the continuation of slavery, except with the few who were always opposed to it and with another class " who have little or no settled convictions on any public questions," but readily fall into line with the powers that be and are loyal to any government they happen to be under.

Early in 1861, an election was ordered, under an act of the Legis- lature, to select delegates to a State Convention which was to take into consideration the relations of Missouri to the Union. This elec- tion occurred February 18, 1861.

" At the time the election of delegates was held the public senti- ment of the state had unquestionably settled in favor of a continuance of Missouri within the Union and a hostility to secession, except to resist coercion. Mr. Seward and Mr. Cameron had made conciliating speeches in the United States Senate ; a loud voice was heard all over the Central States, calling for the immediate adoption of measures for the salvation of the Union and the adjustment of all questions of difference between the contending sections. Crittenden and Doug- las declared that an adjustment would take place ; and the general be-

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HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.

lief out of Congress was, that in less than 90 days all the difficulties would be honorably settled, unless the extreme Republicans should defeat all concessions, or the State of South Carolina should deter- mine to bring about war by making an attack upon the forces and forts of the United States. Hence, the result of the election of dele- gates to the State Convention was the choice of a large majority of Union men."1

It was in this state of public sentiment that Sterling Price ran as a Union man, and was elected. He was also made president of the convention. After the war opened he and other members, to whom it became apparent that not a compromise, but the coercion of the South and the ultimate abolition of slavery were the purposes of the administration, entered the service of the State under Gen. Jackson's call, and then the regular Confederate army.2

If, in February, 1861, the people had known, as they afterwards found out, that a civil war was inevitable, and that unless the South succeeded, slavery would be wiped out from all the States, no sane, well informed person can for a moment doubt that they would have been in favor of secession by an overwhelming majority - perhaps by five to one, or even more.

The Convention, or the remainder of it, after those of its members who espoused the Southern cause had withdrawn, continued in session from time to time throughout the first two years and more of the war; and although called at the suggestion of Gen. Jackson and elected, whilst the people were laboring under the delusion that neither coercion nor the abolition of slavery would be attempted by the party then coming into power, much less by the Convention itself, it assumed the authority in the course of its long and unprece- dented sittings, and without consulting the will of the people, to iden- tify the State with the cause of coercion, to oust and outlaw the regularly and legally elected Governor and Legislature, and other State and county officers ; to prescribe test oaths for voters and pub- lic officials which disfranchised two-thirds of those who voted for the delegates to the convention ; and, finally, to abolish slavery !

1 Davis' History of Missouri, p. 153.

2 Those were classed as Union men at that time, and they cast a large majority of the Union votes, who, although they sympathized with the South and thought her complaints well grounded and just, were opposed to seccession on the ground that a compromise could be effected, by which both the rights of the Southern States and the Union could be preserved. Gen. Price was a Union man of this class. Howard and Clay counties were also Union counties.

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HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.

These ordinances of the convention were enforced by Federal bay- onets and by, a militia enlisted under its authority.

Meanwhile, before these extreme measures were proposed in the convention, and while its members were passing resolutions by prac- tically unanimous votes, declaring that they were devotedly attached to slavery and would defend the State against coercion and secession, and asking the Federal Government to withdraw its forces from the South, Fort Sumpter was fired upon and the conflict opened. Gov. Jackson called an extra session of the Legislature, and military bills were brought forward to put the State in proper condition for defense against its occupation by Federal troops.

As soon as hostilities opened and it became apparent that the people of Missouri would be compelled to take one side or the other, a rapid change in public sentiment set in favorable to the South; not that they loved the Union less, but that they loved the people and institutions of the South more -their own kindred and their own institutions. The capture of Camp Jackson on the 10th of May by Capt. Lyon, the victory of the Missourians at Wilson's Creek in August, and the emancipation, martial law proclamation of Gen. Fremont, tended to increase and complete this revolution in popular sentiment. Counties that gave large Union majorities in February would now have voted in three cases out of five overwhelm- ingly for secession. In less than one hour after the news of the cap- ture of Camp Jackson was received by the Legislature, the military bills were passed and signed by the Governor. He was authorized to borrow $500,000 from the banks for military purposes and issue bonds for $1,000,000 more. Every able bodied male inhabitant of the State above the age of 18 and under 45 was made subject to military duty. The Governor called for 50,000 volunteers to form a State Guard.

After the capture of Camp Jackson, Gen. Lyon moved on the State capital, which he occupied on the 15th of May. In the meantime, the Legislature had adjourned to meet at Neosho, where it afterwards assembled - but without a quorum of both Houses - and went through the form of passing resolutions of secession and electing Senators to the Confederate Congress. That proved to be the last Legislature in the State favorable to the Southern cause. It was succeeded by a " loyal " Legislature, elected by the voters of the State - or those of them not in the Southern service or prevented from voting for sympathizing with the South - called by authority of the convention referred to in a former page. Before the close of the first year of the war the forces of the Federal Government and the Union State militia had practi-

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HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.

cally overrun and taken possession of the State. A large percentage of those of the people of Southern proclivities who remained at home now became loyal, some of them actually so, and the others construc- tively ; and to protect their homes and themselves a great many en- tered the Union militia. Missouri became, apparently, a Union, loyal State.

ATTITUDE OF PLATTE COUNTY IN 1861:

Like those of Clay and Howard counties, the people of Platte county, under the impression that a compromise could be effected and both the institutions of the Southern States and the Union saved, voted, by a decided majority, for the Union candidates in February, 1861; and like those, after the war opened, they sympathized with the Southern cause by even a more decided majority. Whilst there were a few original Union men in the county, that is, those who were for the Union in any circumstances - unconditional Union men - lit- tle or nothing was heard from them during the first year of the war. At that time the current of popular feeling seemed to be altogether favorable to the South, and all the recruiting for militia service 1 was for the State (Southern ) Guard. Later along, however, another change occurred, this time favorable to the Union cause. The State fell into the hands of the Union forces and Federal troops came in and took possession of the county. After this enlistments for the South- ern army were extremely difficult and dangerous, and even if volun- teers succeeded in reaching the South in safety, a service of the greatest hardships and privations faced them - trials more severe than the ragged, half-starved continentals of the Revolution underwent. On the other side the most flattering inducements were held out. Bounties, flashy uniforms, plumes, brass cross-swords, yellow tassels, and everything ; fire arms and accoutrements, sword bayonets, navy pistols, and all that; and an abundance of good rations, regularly three times a day, and pay that in most instances is going on yet ; back pay, forward pay, side pay, and top and bottom pay ; pay of all sorts and kinds, classified by names too numerous and technical to mention or remember.

These considerations influenced a few, as like considerations influ- enced many during the War of the Revolution. Then, again, there

1 In 1861 there were 2,975 slaves in the county, valued at $1,269,061; in 1862 there were 2,318, valued at $319,770, a falling off in numbers of 657, and a depreciation in value of $979,291. In other words, a man who was worth $10,000 in slaves in '61 was worth only about $1,000 in 1862. Bell and Everett and Douglas Union slaveholders now began to realize what the war really'meant.

662

HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.

is always a class in every community loyal to any government they live under, and their loyalty changes with the changes in the govern- ment of the country. This class also became loyal, of course, as it would have done with equal alacrity if the Czar of Russia had taken possession of the country instead of the Federal authorities.

Altogether, a considerable Union sentiment began to manifest itself in the county during the year 1862, and after a while it came to form a respectable minority of the people, in numbers. It was represented principally by the Germans of the county, who were Union because they were opposed to slavery and for other reasons, and by the less well-to-do class of Americans. There were a few of the latter, how- ever, who were substantial property holders. Many of them became so during the war.

On one side, even for those who desired to stay at home and take no part in the war, were dangers, annoyances, insults and wrongs of almost every description, and perhaps the ruin of their fortunes and families, and death. On the other were comparative security for both life and property, and perhaps great profit by judicious deals or other- wise. The wonder is that under such circumstances a greater number did not become loyal than really did become so.

II. ENLISTMENTS FOR THE SOUTHERN ARMY.

The stirring events in the spring of 1861 throughout the country, and the aggressive course of the Federal authorities in Missouri, pro- duced intense excitement in this county. Many of those who stood up for the Union whilst there was hope for a compromise now came out squarely for the South and became active and prominent in en- couraging enlistments for the Southern army. Public meetings were held at Platte City and other points. Southern flags were raised and speeches were made by leading citizens.

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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