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 72

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 72
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 72

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).

Second Lieutenant Holland resigned in June, 1862, and was suc- ceeded by Ephraim Davis, of Sedalia.

The history of the Fourth cavalry includes that of Co. A, and we therefore sketch the history of the regiment. The Fourth Regi- ment of cavalry was organized with eight companies, April 28, 1862. Two more companies were added to the organization June 7, 1862, and two more February 22, 1863. At its organization Geo. H. Hall, brother to Gov. Willard P. Hall, was commissioned as

683

HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.

colonel, William M. Albin as lieutenant-colonel, George W. Kelly as senior major, Douglas Dale as junior major, and Lieuts. Joseph K. Robinson and David Bonham, Jr., as battalion adjutants. In September, 1862, Lieuts. Robinson and Bonham were mustered out of service in obedience to law and Lieut. Joseph K. Robinson was mustered in as regimental adjutant. In March, 1863, Lieut .- Col. William M. Albin was mustered out of service, and Lieut .- Col. Wal- ter King was mustered in as lieutenant-colonel ; also Lieut. Joseph K. Robinson, regimental adjutant, was promoted to major, and Lieut. William C. Defever was appointed regimental adjutant.

Dr. D. V. Whitney was surgeon from the time of organization, and Dr. James H. Shoot, assistant surgeon.

In May, 1862, the different companies composing the Fourth Cav- alry, Missouri State militia, were ordered to assemble at Kansas City, Mo., to receive the equipments and transportation necessary to equip the regiment for the field, and when equipped, the regiment marched to Southwest Missouri, and was reported for duty to Brig .- Gen. E. B. Brown. About the 8th of August, 1862, the regiment marched from Springfield, Mo., in pursuit of Coffee and his band of raiders. On the morning of the 12th of August, 1862, the regiment, under command of Maj. Kelly, together with a section of the battery of Co. F, First artillery, Missouri volunteers, under Lieut. Mattie, encountered Coffee, near Stockton, and defeated him, killing 13 of his men and capturing thirty-six prisoners. Maj. Dale was wounded severely in the right wrist, which was the only casualty. Maj. Kelly pursued Coffee over twenty miles, being joined by Maj. Montgomery, Sixth cavalry, Missouri volunteers, while pursuing the enemy.

By order of Maj. Montgomery the whole command moved to Greenfield, and in a day or two afterwards the regiment, with other troops under the general command of Col. Clark Wright, Sixth cav- alry, Missouri volunteers, marched from Greenfield after Coffee and others by whom Coffee had. in the meantime been joined, and pur- sued Coffee out of the State. The regiment returned to Mt. Vernon, Missouri, about the first of September, 1862, having been out on the march constantly since the 8th of August, 1862, till that time, and on but five days' rations of hard bread and salt, without transportation or change of clothes.

On the 30th of September, 1862, the regiment, with others com- posing Gen. Brown's brigade, marched under Col. Hall's command to Newtonia, and succeeded in covering the retreat of Gen. Solo- mon from his ill-conceived attack or demonstration against the Con-

684

HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.

federate forces at that point. On the 3d of October, 1862, being then a part of Gen. Totten's division of the Army of the Fron- tier, it marched with the army till November 10, 1862, having been the advance of that army into Arkansas, and the rear of that army upon its withdrawal. On the 8th of January, 1863, the reg- iment was at the battle of Springfield and went with Col. Cloud in the pursuit of the Confederate forces in their retreat therefrom. The regiment was active in bringing Shelby's raiders to a battle, and in the pursuit it was at the battle of Marshall, Mo. The regiment was in so many skirmishes and battles that it is difficult to narrate them. It went into Huntsville, Arkansas, and had a skirmish with a superior force of the enemy, driving them from the town, It was first to enter Fayetteville in October, 1862, having skirmished for five miles before entering the town with the enemy, and in almost numberless other cases. It was never surprised, and surprised the enemy, at one place on Horse creek, in Dade county, Mo., killing eight and capturing one hundred horses and camp and garrison equipage.

During the year 1864 the regiment was in Central Missouri, and was engaged in scouting, policing, escorting and guarding the line of the Pacific Railroad, under command, until September 1st, of Col. Geo. H. Hall. From September 1st, Col. Hall having been mustered out to accept promotion as brigadier general, the regiment was under the command of Maj. Geo. W. Kelly. The different companies were sta- tioned in January as follows : Cos, A and B at California, Mo. ; C and E at Lamine Bridge ; D, H, I and M at Jefferson City ; L at Linn creek ; F at Syracuse ; G at Boonville, and K at Tipton, Mo., with regimental headquarters at Lamine Bridge, Tipton and Jefferson City, Mo. During the months of February, March, April and May, the regimental headquarters were at Jefferson City, Mo. Six companies of the regiment formed a column for patrol duty under the command of Maj. George W. Kelly, and were constantly moving through the region comprising the first sub-district of Central Missouri, rendering it entirely free from the depredations or presence of guerrillas. June 3d, regimental headquarters were removed from Jefferson City to Sedalia, Mo. ; thence July 30th to Warrensburg, Mo. ; August 25th to Tabo, Lafayette county, Mo., and during the month of September to points as follows : From Tabo to Georgetown, thence to Boonville, thence to Otterville, thence to Tipton, thence to Sedalia, thence via Tipton to Russellville, Mo. In June, July, August and September the regiment was constantly on the march, scouting the country

685

HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.

extending from the northern boundary of Lafayette county to the mouth of the Osage, and was during this time in frequent fights and skirmishes with guerrillas. In the latter part of September the regi- ment was concentrated at Sedalia, Mo., and, in connection with other troops under General Brown, moved to the defense of Jefferson City, against Gen. Price, arriving at Jefferson City, October 1st. From this date to the 7th the regiment was engaged on outpost and patrol duty along the Osage river and Moreau creek. October 7th, it was withdrawn to Jefferson City ; October 8th, moved out in connection with other cavalry under Gen. Sanborn in pursuit of the enemy ; found and skirmished with him at Moreau; October 9th, pursued, overtook and engaged him at California, Mo., in which engagement three of the regiment were wounded. From this date until October 19th, the regiment moved and remained in the vicinity of the enemy in Cooper and Pettis counties, and participated in several slight skir- mishes, in one of which, near Boonville, one man was lost - missing. From October 19th, forming part of the first brigade, cavalry divi- sion, the regiment took part in the pursuit of Price, and was in the battle of Independence, October 22, of Big Blue, October 23, and of Osage, October 25, 1864 ; its losses in these engagements amounted to eight killed, forty-four wounded and one missing. The prin- cipal loss was at Big Blue ; in this engagement Capt. W. D. Blair was killed while gallantly leading his men; Lieut. Dale was mortally wounded, and Capt. Van Sickle, Lieuts. Hamilton and Bryson severely. In the fight at Osage the regiment captured two pieces of artillery, and one battle flag, together with many prisoners. From Osage the regiment moved via Fort Scott to Lamar, and returned thence via Fort Scott, Germantown and Warrensburg to Sedalia, Mo., arriving at Sedalia November 4th. November 12th, agreeably to Special Order No. 283, Headquarters Department of the Missouri, 1864, Cos. K and L were broken up, and the enlisted men distributed throughout the remainder of the regiment, leaving but ten companies in the organization.

During the year 1865, until mustered out, the regiment was en- gaged in general scouting, escort and guard duty, and rendered ex- cellent service.

It was mustered out in June, 1864.

. COL. PRICE'S COMPANY.

December 15, 1861, the Eighteenth Missouri infantry, United States volunteers, commanded by Col. Morgan, came to this county

686

HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.

and went into quarters at Weston, doing post duty there until March, 1862. Whilst the regiment was at Weston, James A. Price, a citizen of Weston, organized a company of volunteers in this county for the Union service. The company became Co. K, of the Eighteenth Missouri, under Col. Morgan. Capt. Price was afterwards, June 19, 1862, promoted to the rank of major of the regiment, in which posi- tion he served until he resigned, July 7, 1862. His regiment was badly cut to pieces at the battle of Shiloh and a large part of the men captured. He, himself, was badly wounded, and it was on ac- count of disability resulting from his wound that he resigned.

The officers of Co. K, of the Eighteenth Missouri, were as follows : Captain (first one), James A. Price; succeeded by William M. Edgar after the former's promotion ; Capt. Edgar was also promoted, and he was succeeded by D. A. Cudworth ; after Capt. Cudworth was mustered out, his term expiring in March, 1865, Abijah M. Everest be- came captain. William H. Minter was first lieutenant from September 7, 1863, to December 4, when he became captain of Co. F, same regiment. William M. Edgar ranked as first lieutenant from June 3, 1863, to March 1, 1864, when he was succeeded by Michael Collery. Lieut. Collery resigned April 3, 1865, and Charles Manda became first lieutenant. He was honorably mustered out July 18, 1865. O. B. Douglas was second lieutenant until after his desertion, after the battle of Shiloh. William M. Edgar was then second lieutenant from December 4, 1862, until June 3, 1863. James R. Wilson next became second lieutenant. He was also promoted, and James M. Smith succeeded him.

While the regiment was at Weston, Col. Morgan was succeeded by Col. Madison Miller. He resigned March 16, 1864, and Lieut .- Col. Charles S. Sheldon became colonel of the regimen .

The regiment was ordered South in the spring of 1862. The first important battle in which it took part was the battle of Shiloh. It was in the thickest of the fight and sustained itself with distinguished gallantry until it was cut to pieces. More than a third of Maj. Price's old Platte county company was either killed or wounded. The whole regiment, and particularly the brave Platte countians, fought with a courage worthy of their gallant State and of the ever victorious flag that floated above them.

After the battle of Shiloh the regiment returned to St. Louis to re- cruit its depleted ranks and to reorganize. In a month or two more it was again on its way South. It joined the Union forces in Tennessee, and was in numberless skirmishes and several battles prior to the be-

687

HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.

ginning of " Sherman's March to the Sea." It then accompanied that famous and invincible chieftain of the Union arms on his victor- ious campaign through the heart of the Confederacy. When Atlanta fell, the last sea port of the South was closed, and the Confederacy had received its death blow.

COL. PRICE'S REGIMENT.

In the meantime, Maj. Price, after his resignation from the Eighteenth Missouri, near Shiloh, had returned home to Weston, and after re- covering somewhat from his wounds, decided to raise a regiment. He had lost none of his ardor for the Union cause, and was determined that as long as he could raise an arm it should be uplifted for the old flag, and the authority and integrity of the nation.

Platte county was strongly Southern in feeling, and although the county was nominally under the control of the Union forces, it was almost constantly infested with returned Confederates and independ- ent Southern scouts, who improved every opportunity to harass Union troops passing through or stationed here, falling upon small detachments unawares, and attempting to cut them to pieces. As all the volunteers then in the field were already fully occupied with the work of closing in upon the enemies of the Government elsewhere, an order was issued in July, 1862, for the enrollment and organiza- tion of an additional force of State militia. This was intended for home service strictly, that is, for service inside the State. It was ex- pected with this force to rid the country of the armed bands of Southern raiders and scouts then infesting it, and to restore peace and the reign of law and order.

Under the authority of the Governor's call, Maj. Price at once commenced the enlistment of volunteers for the formation of a regi- ment. The necessary companies were soon raised and organized, and a regiment was formed which numbered, rank and file, about 800 men.

Maj. Price was made colonel of the regiment; Hon. Jno. Doniphan, lieutenant-colonel ; Hon. Jno. M. Clark, major ; Hon. H. J. Wolf, adjutant, and Benj. Bonifant, surgeon.

The principal officers of the companies of this county forming the regiment were as follows : -

Regimental Officers - James A. Price, colonel ; John Doniphan, lieutenant-colonel ; John M. Clark, major; Henry J. Wolf, adjutant ; L. W. Ringo, quartermaster ; Benjamin Bonifant, surgeon ; James F. Bruner, army surgeon. Company A-Wash. T. Woods, captain ;

688

HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.

Thomas H. Talbott, first lieutenant ; James O. White, first lieutenant ; John Shindlar, second lieutenant. Company B -James M. Noland, captain ; Hiram Malott, first lieutenant ; George W. Noland, second lieutenant. Company C-Wm. J. Fitzgerald, captain ; Henry H. Snyder, first lieutenant ; John Sheerer, second lieutenant. Company D- John M. Clark, captain ; Charles G. Peacock, captain ; Thomas E. Mills, first lieutenant ; Thomas J. Wilson, second lieutenant. Company E - John H. Burts, captain ; William F. Baker, first lieutenant ; Alex. Maltsberger, second lieutenant. Company F- M. P. Moore, captain ; Wm. T. Carrington, captain ; John R. Norton, first lieutenant ; William Cox, second lieutenant. Company G- Charles Guenther, captain ; Philip Doppler, first lieutenant ; Mathias Schindler, second lieutenant. Company H - Samuel J. Miller, captain ; Henry J. Wolf, first lieutenant ; John L. R. Ringo, first lieutenant ; S. Veneman, second lieutenant ; John F. Kenny, second lieutenant.

In consequence of an extraordinary reduction in numbers from various causes, such as removals from the State, enlistments in the United States service, and payments of commutation tax in lieu of military service, this regiment was disbanded and the commissions of all the offices vacated by General Orders No. 30, November 1, 1863. Col. James H. Moss, commanding First Sub-District, Seventh Military District Enrolled Missouri Militia, completed the reorganization of the effective militia of Platte county, as instructed to do by said general order, and the regiments was known as the Eighty-second En- rolled Missouri Militia, command by Col. Moss.

The Thirty-ninth Missouri (Enrolled Missouri militia ) continued in the service for about a year. Two companies of the regiment were not dissolved until January, 1863. It was active and vigilant in its efforts to maintain the authority of the Union armies in this county and to crush out at the very inception every demonstration of hostility on the part of the Southern element. A number of spirited skirmishes occurred in the county, some of them hotly contested and bloody, and quite a number of prisoners were taken by the militia. The authority of the Government and the Union armies was strictly enforced, and a great many private citizens who were suspected or known to be guilty of disloyalty were apprehended and made to take the oath required at that time.

Col. Price was a Union man and a soldier, an unconditional Union man, and terribly in earnest in his desire to see what he believed to be a causeless and unholy rebellion crushed out. His neighbors and

689

HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.

friends, Southern sympathizers, though they might be, he esteemed as much as others and always sought to shield and protect them when he could, without trenching upon his duty to the cause he had sworn to uphold, a cause as dear to him as ever Colonial independence was to a soldier of '76. Whenever loyalty to the Union and personal friendship came in contact, the latter, for the moment, was put aside. In many instances, it is true, he favored his Southern friends, but never when it seemed to, be treason to do so.

To give aid and comfort to those in arms against the Government was held to be positive and flagrant disloyalty, and was punishable by the laws of war. Sometimes he had the painful duty to perform of seeing to it that the offenses of his neighbors and friends in this respect were not permitted to go unpunished. 'For this he has been bitterly blamed by some. But whilst it was perhaps but natu- ral for them to give food and shelter - to harbor and protect, as far as possible - their kindred in arms against the Government, he would have been doing less than his duty as an officer and soldier had he permitted this to be done without making an effort to prevent it. War is bad at best. But war in which neighbors and friends are on op- posite sides is the worst of all.

THE PAW-PAW MILITIA.

After the Thirty-ninth, under Col. Price, was mustered out, there were no other Union forces here except those merely passing through or stopping only temporarily, until the organization of what was known as the Paw-paw Militia - Eighty-first and Eighty-second regi- ments of the Enrolled Missouri State Militia. These were organized in the fall of 1863. The following were the principal officers of the regiment and the companies forming it ; -

Eighty-first Regiment E. M. M. - Officers. - John Scott, colonel ; Elias Parrott, lieutenant-colonel; Jno. M. Bassett, major ; P. K. O'Donnell, major ; Chas. West, captain, adjutant. Company A .- Geo. J. Lucas, captain ; Wm. Howard, captain ; D. L. Irving, first lieutenant ; Jno. Eaton, first lieutenant; T. L. Crumpacker, second lieutenant. Company B-T. J. Stratton, captain ; W. L. Hyatt, first lieuten- ant ; T. J. Bracken, second lieutenant. Company C -Jacob B. Cox, captain ; Cornelius Day, first lieutenant ; Robert B. Thomas, second lieutenant. Company D-Milton M. Claggett, captain ; Jacob T. Child, first lieutenant ; T. C. Roberts, second lieutenant. Company E -Harrison W. Davis, captain ; James Dye, first lieutenant ;

690

HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.

Joseph H. Dicken, second lieutenant. Company F1-John A. Dole- man, captain ; Robert S. Gunn, first lieutenant ; Henry T. Gore, sec- ond lieutenant. Company G- Anthony Grable, captain ; Daniel A. Meadows, first lieutenant ; John T. Ferrill, second lieutenant. Com- pany H-John N. Smith, captain ; William A. Cornelius, first lieu- tenant ; Thomas L. Blakely, second lieutenant, Company I-Mil- ler Woodson, captain ; Uriah Griffith, first lieutenant; Jacob Schultz, second lieutenant. Company K2- James H. Davis, captain ; William S. Tyler, first lieutenant ; Allen H. Dunlap, first lieutenant ; H. B. Gross, second lieutenant ; C. R. Thompson, second lieutenant. Com- pany L-Jas. Noland, captain ; B. F. Catlett, first lieutenant ; D. C. Hart, second lieutenant. Company M- Milton R. Singleton, captain ; John L. Stanton, first lieutenant ; Isaac Hayes, second lieutenant.

Eighty-Second Regiment, E. M. M. - Officers : James H. Moss, colonel ; Nathaniel Grant, colonel ; John Doniphan, lieutenant-colonel ; John M. Clark, major ; C. S. White, adjutant. Company A - R. D. Johnston, captain ; Wm. Chesnut, first lieutenant ; E. O. Sayle, second lieutenant. Company B-Isaac Simpson, captain ; Wm. M. Stokes, first lieutenant ; H. C. Hatfield, second lieutenant. Company C - L. A. Ford, captain ; J. H. Nash, first lieutenant ; Cyrus Capron, second lieutenant. Company D - W. T. Woods, captain ; John W. Martin, first lieutenant; Samuel A. Woods, second lieutenant, Company E - Thomas J. Wilson, captain ; John S. Mallott, first lieutenant ; M. D. Riley, second lieutenant. Company F-R. H. Bywaters, cap- tain ; William H. Elliot, first lieutenant ; James M. Hall, second lieu- tenant. Company G- Aaron P. Osborn, captain; William Down- ing, first lieutenant ; William A. Williams, second lieutenant. Com- pany H-Charles B. Hodges, captain ; Elijah W. Cooley, first lieu- tenant; John W. Dixon, second lieutenant. Company I - John S. Thomason, captain ; Nathaniel Grant, first lieutenant ; James D. Bax- ter, second lieutenant. Company K-George S. Story, captain ; John W. Collins, first lieutenant ; L. W. Tiegardner, second lieuten- ant. Company L-Robert P. Clark, captain ; A. V. Smith, first lieutenant ; Thomas W. Park, second lieutenant. Company M- Preston Simpson, captain ; A. R. Baker, first lieutenant ; Samuel R. Brown, second lieutenant.

1 Formerly Company F, Twenty-fifth Regiment. Attached to this regiment by General Orders No. 32. Transferred to Eighty-third Regiment, Co. B, by Special Orders, No. 178, 1864.

2 Formerly Co. K, Twenty-fifth Regiment. Attached to this regiment by General Orders No. 32.

691

HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.

Of the foregoing regiments Cos. G, H, I and M, of the Eighty- first, and Cos. A, B, C, D, E, F, G, L and M, of the Eighty- second were composed principally of volunteers from this county. In the two regiments, according to the statement of Mr. Wolf, member of the Legislature during the war, there were volunteers from Platte county sufficient to have formed seven complete companies. These regiments were afterwards consolidated, as we were informed by Col. John Doniphan, and those not previously mustered out were honora- bly discharged, March 12, 1865.

They were organized for home protection and were composed of some of the best citizens of the county, without regard to political affiliations or distinctions ; and a great many of both rank and file were those who had previously been in the Southern army.

When there were no regular Union soldiers here- Federal forces with some regard for their reputation for common honesty and with a desire to protect law-abiding citizens from thieves and open and noto- rious robbers and plunderers -the people were subject to constant raids from what were termed " red-legs " from Kansas, who stole and carried off all kinds of movable property, and sometimes burned houses and committed other depredations. It was mainly to protect the people against raids of this kind that the Paw-paw militia regiments of Platte county were organized. They did valuable service as a local police and gave protection to all classes of citizens who were at home obeying the laws and quietly engaged in their usual avocations. They served without pay and without the expectation or hope of it - simply to protect the lives and property of the peaceable, law-abiding classes of the community.

But among the extremely loyal classes, or the Radical Union men as they were called, there was a strong prejudice against the Paw-paws. It was charged that a great many of them were ex-rebels, with the " ex " hanging on only by a thread, and that most of the others were, to say the least, Southern sympathizers. Finally, this prejudice be- came so bitter that when the Radical element in the Union party ob- tained control of the State Government, a movement was set on foot to have the Paw-paws disarmed and disbanded.

This of course created great dissatisfaction. The militia were serving without pay and were molesting no law-abiding citizen. On the contrary they were affording protection to all and maintaining the public peace. Many believed that they were to be disarmed simply that they might be robbed and plundered again with impunity. The greatest outcry against the Paw-paws came from across the river in Kan-

692

HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.

sas, which was of itself extremely significant. Some of the militia declared they would not give up their arms, believing that there was no honest or patriotic motive in disarming them, and that rather than submit to this they would resist to the bitter end and even go over to the Southern army with their guns in their hands. As a matter of fact a few of them afterwards did join the Southern army, but only a very few. The difficulty was at last adjusted without serious trouble, and the militia quietly and peaceably disbanded and resumed their places at home.

THE SIXTEENTH KANSAS.

At the time of the disbandment of the Thirty-ninth Missouri State militia in Platte county, and the organization of the two Paw-paw militia regiments, the State government in this State was in the hands of the Conservative Union party; that is, that party as contradis- tinguished from the Radicals. Gov. Gamble had been made Governor by the old State Convention called by Gov. Jackson to take the State out of the Union, and Lieut .- Gov. Hill, who succeeded Gov. Gamble as Governor, after the latter's death, was a Conservative, but a strictly loyal Union man. But as a matter of fact the State adminis- tration did not keep abreast of the more extreme element in the Union party.

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.

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