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 75

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 75
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 75

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).

In compliance with the request of many citizens, Col. Moss ad- dressed the people in the Baptist Church, which was crowded to the utmost capacity, many being unable to get admittance.

His speech was eloquent, manly and convincing, full of devotion to his country and love for the Union. I He said he well remembered the scenes which had been enacted since last he spoke in Platte City, and knew that many whom he saw before, had not been with him. That he had ever been a Union man while they had not been; but that no hard feelings rankled in his heart against those who, having gone astray, now wished to return to their allegiance ; that he wel- comed all such as brothers, who had erred and repented; that the destiny of Missouri was fixed, that she would never desert the Gov- ernment our fathers established, and that the present.causeless rebel- lion was sure to be suppressed. He said it was both the interest and the duty of the people of Missouri to render a prompt and cheerful support to the Government, both State and National, and aid by men and money to prosecute the war until the last armed rebel submitted to the authority of the Government, as the surest road to peace. He also paid a feeling tribute to the patriotism of Gov. Gamble.

He then read his orders placing him in command of this sub-district, and also the order of Gov. Gamble ( which we publish in another column ), and announced that it would be executed.

He said that his mission was to restore peace, and he would do that by a vigorous war against all who refused to submit to the law.

That no peaceable, law-abiding man should be injured in person or property, if he could prevent it, but that all alike should be free to speak and vote their sentiments.

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HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.

The speech had a fine effect, and the people departed for their homes earnestly hoping that a better day had dawned upon them.

Threatened Trouble at Platte City. - But on account of the fact that the old Thirty-ninth Platte county regiment of militia under Col. Price had only recently been disbanded, and other militia organ- izations in the county had been removed or mustered out of the service, much bad feeling existed on the part of many of the mem- bers of these forces. They felt that a grievous slight had been put upon them, if, indeed, a cutting rebuke had not been administered, by being disposed of in that way, and their feelings, already greatly incensed, were still more inflamed by the mustering into service in their stead of some whom they had regarded as Southern sympa- thizers and returned rebels.

This feeling of antipathy went so far as to influence some of the members of the old military organizations almost up to the point of refusing to submit to being disbanded, and threats were made that the Paw-paws should not be armed nor permitted to organize. The Paw-paws, especially Capt. Johnston's company, were denounced as a rebel organization, and the Governor was accused of being in secret sympathy if not concert of action with the Southerners. Counsel, encouragement and assistance from Kansas were sought by the mal- contents, and they received sympathy and advice from that source.

But in the meantime a number of the leading, property holding citizens of the county, fearing that forces from Kansas would come over and devastate the country, or that they might be induced to come over and attempt to disarm the Paw-paws, which would have resulted in a collision and bloodshed and ruin, sought to conciliate and flatter some of the leading and most influential men across the border, and to win their friendship and influence over to the side of law and order in this county.

Accordingly, a very public and complimentary invitation was gotten up on this side - with what sincerity we shall not undertake to say - requesting Col. D. R. Anthony and others (and they would have requested Jennison and John Brown if they had been there and it would have done any good to do so) to come over and address the people of Platte county, largely slave holders, in favor of immediately taking the negroes away from them, for there were still a few that had not yet run off or been stolen.

Col. Anthony courteously replied that he would come. But as the time approached for his coming the people began to get a little nerv-

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ous. They were not exactly sure as to what he would do when he got here, and that it might not turn out as the invitation of the fly to the spider did. Their anxiety was intensified by the fact that the dis- affected militiamen of the county had been in frequent consultation with him and that it had been given out that he was to bring a large force with him.

But they had invited him here and it was now too late to bow them- selves out of it. They must nerve themselves up to the point of facing the responsibility before them - of piloting themselves and their constituents out of it by their tact, discretion and address.

When the time came for the meeting, Col. Moss, as cool and brave as a lion, and who had had and would have nothing to do with An- thony nor his meeting, had his men ready for bloody work, in case it . should be required.

Some of the disaffected ex-militiamen, on the other hand, wanted the Paw-paws disarmed at all regards,and were hopeful that Anthony would inaugurate the work of disarming them when he arrived.

He was reported to be approaching and already near to town. Affairs looked critical. A few minutes more would decide what was to be the issue of Anthony's visit. All wore a serious expression and Moss' men looked sober and determined.

Anthony's force came in sight. Now was the time for the citizens who had invited him to show their tact, good judgment, and diplomacy. They were equal to the occasion. They wanted to avoid a collision and save life and property, and they did it. They dashed gladly (?) forward on their horses and met Anthony before he entered the borders of the town. They welcomed him with every expression of joy and hospitality.

Never was a care-worn, battle-scarred soldier of the Cross, a patri- archal, white-haired circuit rider, more warmly welcomed to a revival than was Brother Anthony welcomed to Platte City. His men came in singing " Old John Brown," and of course the committee of citi- zens were not so impolite as not to join them in that soul-inspiring song. They, too, sang - sang as they never sang before - with voices of almost angelic seraphimic sweetness, beauty and modulation, although several of them had been present in the raid on John Brown, at Osawatomie, and had shot at him while he was swimming the Maries des Cygne river.

After this Col. Anthony could not be made to believe that the peo- ple of Platte county were not the greatest and best of the greatly and truly loyal. The pleadings, remonstrances and all the representations

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of the dissatisfied, disorganized and disarmed ex-militiamen were in vain. He was the steadfast friend of his newly discovered loyal friends in Platte.

The people had no further fears of organized raids from Kansas. All that they now had to look after were their own thieves at home.

The following is a report of the meeting from a Kansas standpoint, taken from the Leavenworth Bulletin : --

THE MEETING ON SATURDAY.

A few days since we published a letter of invitation, signed by forty-two well known citizens of Platte, inviting Mayor Anthony, Gen. Delabay and Mr. Parrot to address an immediate emancipation meeting, to be held at Platte City, on the 26th (Saturday). The in- vitation was accepted.

Since then rumors of difficulties and threats against those who should attend were rife. The radical Union men of Weston informed Mayor Anthony that the call was a blind to cover the intended disarm- ing of the radical loyalists, and the arming of the rebel sympathizers and copperheads. On Friday information was received that Col. James H. Moss, of Liberty, had, under cover of authority from Gov. Gamble, to take command of the enrolled militia of Clay and Platte, proceeded to Platte City and organized and armed a large company of men, who were under bonds, and who were violently pro-slavery.

Under these circumstances it was advisable to take a small escort. Mayor Anthony, Mr. Marsh, Judge McCahan, the Messrs. Palmer, Mr. Hinton and some twenty more citizens, left here on Saturday to fill the engagement.

A couple of miles from town they were met by a messenger from Col. Price with the following missive : --

To Col. Anthony and Others :

PLATTE CITY Mo., Sept. 26, 1863.

DEAR SIRS- I am in Platte City, according to promise; find James H. Moss here . with 180 butternuts. You must send at least 150 good men here forthwith. We may have trouble before night. Don't fail to attend to this immediately. In haste, J. A. PRICE.

As we came in sight of Platte City it was evident that great excite- ment prevailed. One company was drawn up under arms at one end of the street, and the other was forming. Judge Paxton met us with representations of the excitement prevailing, and urged that every exertion be made to keep the peace. The delegation passed in singing John Brown, and as they passed the Weston and Parkville militia they were received with loud cheers. In passing the company of Col. Moss a few faint shouts were given for the " Union of the States," which were heartily responded to by rousing cheers for " Freedom." Stopping in front of the hotel, three cheers were given for " The loyal men of Missouri ;" and three more for " Immediate Emancipa- tion."

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HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.

Prior to organizing it was deemed advisable to invite Moss and his men to attend. So Anthony sent the following note. Norton is a lieutenant in the Moss troopers : -

SEPT. 26, 1863.

JUDGE NORTON : - Will you invite Col. Moss and his men to attend the meeting at the Reformers' Church this afternoon. I think that an exchange of opinion would tend to promote harmony and good feeling between Kansas and Missouri. Respectfully, D. R. ANTHONY.

REPLY.

HON. D. R. ANTHONY : - A note addressed to Judge Norton by yourself, inviting myself and men to attend your meeting, has just been handed to me. I am much obliged to you for your polite invitation and I would cheerfully comply with your request, but I think it advisable not to let my men mix with the crowd for fear some imprudent man should bring on a difficulty. No obstacle in the way of establishing good feeling between the citizens of Kansas and Missouri will be thrown in the way by me, but on the contrary, I shall labor for that end. Yours, etc., JAMES H. Moss.

The meeting was organized by the election of Col. J. A. Price, of Weston, President, and Judge Paxton, of Platte, as Secretary.

Col. Price, in taking the chair, spoke earnestly in relation to the collision that had oc- curred. He denounced Moss' movements as a usurpation; declared it was calculated to strengthen bushwhacking and rebellion. Col. Price said that as colonel of the en- rolled he knew that there were but four men whose loyalty was not impeached. All others were suspected persons, enrolled as rebels and sympathizers. To arm such men was a crime at any time - worse when a Union man did not dare to poke his head out after dark. If these men would be killed it was their own fault. He was far from desiring a collision- he hoped in God's name it would be averted. But the Union men of Platte, who had always been true; who, like himself, had fought the battles of the Union, would not always submit to the imposition of defending them- selves against United States arms, being put in the arms of their enemies. If Moss' copperhead militia got hurt in the operation, he for one would never protect them - never so help him God ! [Loud cheers]. Col. Price continued for some time, scorning the men and movements under Moss.

The Rev. Mr. Heath, having opened the meeting with prayer, it was declared fully organized.

The meeing was addressed by Judge McCahan, Col. Anthony and R. J. Hinton, Esq., of Leavenworth, and J. N. Burnes, of Weston.

The committee on resolutions reported ; and resolutions in favor of a new convention and immediate emancipation were passed, and denounced the action of Col. Moss in the strongest terms, declaring their determination to resist, if the proper authorities failed to disarm the rebel sympathizers he had organized.

From the Leavenworth Conservative, we take the following in regard to Col. Burnes' speech :

The speech of Col. Burnes was truly electrifying. Al- luding briefly and forcibly, but most handsomely, to the errors of the past, he claimed the privilege of being permit- ted to profit by experience and take part in the great struggle for human liberty, even at this late day. [He and others soon

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engaged in dealing in contraband cotton and made a small fortune. ] He said that anti-Quantrell resolutions were played out. That resolutions denouncing the devil would be just as appropriate. That such patriotism, such Unionism, was too cheap to amount to anything and that the people of Platte, owing allegiance to the Government of the United States, had no right to claim its protection [that is, against murder, robbery, arson and all the crimes known to the catalogue] unless that allegiance was such as the heart- service of the freeman and not the lip-service of the slave. That alle- giance and protection went hand in hand and he who denied the former had no right to claim the latter. He said that the corner- stone of the rebel government was negro slavery. That if the little stone in Missouri was instantly removed the rebel structure now crumbling before the mighty blows of OUR armies must the sooner fall. That slavery is a protection and shield to bushwhackers in the State, and the earnest Union men of Kansas, who had so long and so patiently demanded its extinction, would tolerate it in Missouri no longer. That it was the root of our troubles [as the traveler's pocket-book is the root of his troubles with the thief] and unless removed we could have no peace. That with its removal a spirit of fraternity and good-neighborhood would at once spring up between Kansas and Missouri and we would all shake hands in a glorious march to prosperity and peace. His speech was remarkably well received and enthusiastically cheered. The ball rolls on. Under the heavy blows of the Radicals slavery in Missouri will speedily cease and then and not till then will we have peace. 1

The Paw-paws did valuable service for the county and freed it of thieves and plunderers. Comparative peace prevailed under their sur- veillance until the summer of the following year, when Col. Calhoun C. Thornton and others came into the county recruiting for the South- ern service, which of course brought about collisions and gave the Kansas troops and others who were no friends to the people of Platte county a pretext to come in and inaugurate a second reign of terror.

On account of the Paw-paws being composed to some extent of men who had served in or sympathized with the South, the Radicals made every effort to bring discredit upon them. The Governor, as we have said, was strongly criticised, and a resolution for an investigation of his conduct in connection with the Paw-paws was offered in the State House of Representatives. On the consideration of that reso-

1 About this time, according to the statement of Col. Price, of Weston, Col. Burnes, fearing that his change of heart might still be looked at a little cross-eyed by the authorities, took a likely colored girl belonging to a Platte county farmer and put- ting her in his buggy, carried her safely to the border, so that she could escape safely into Kansas. For all this he certainly deserves a pension and back pay.

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HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.

lution, the following is the speech delivered by Mr. Wilson, of Platte : -

I voted for that resolution, and I did it because I want an oppor- tunity for an investigation. I know something about the Paw-paw militia, and I am proud to acknowledge here in my seat that I am one of them. I belong to Co. A, of seven companies raised in Platte county. Col. Moss was first authorized to raise these troops, and who are they? I will tell you, Mr. Speaker. They are citizen sol- diers, raised by order of Gov. Gamble under the laws of the State, calling upon the militia to keep the peace of the country and enforce the laws. I have full confidence in the Governor's action on this oc- casion, and I have full confidence in Col. Moss. The Governor could not have made a better selection in the State.

Sir, there was a great necessity for this step. Up through our portion of the country, including Platte county, which I in part rep- resent, a reign of terror prevailed, caused by the demoralization of the old militia. Houses were burned, men shot down in cold blood, and others cowhided through the streets - some of our very best citi- zens - by these enrolled militia, until men were afraid to walk the streets. The Red-legs almost depopulated our county, committing rob- beries and murders night after night. It was, indeed, a reign of terror.

Col. Pike had command at the time. He was relieved by Col. Moss. They disobeyed Col. Pike's orders, sir, and he was unable to control them. He had not sufficient force to execute his orders, and a reign of terror existed, brought about by the Radical press of the State. The Radical press demoralized the old militia, and it was the duty of the Governor, an obligation imposed upon him by the Con- stitution which he had sworn to support, to call upon the citizen mili- tia under the laws of the State and enforce the law and prevent honest people from being plundered and murdered.

The first day that a company of these militia was organized in Platte county they detailed a scout at night and routed a band of ten Red-legs and highway robbers. They caught them in the act of hang- ing an old man because he refused to give them his money. They routed them and captured their horses and saved the old man's life.

Now, sir, I am glad an opportunity is presented to investigate this matter - investigate it thoroughly throughout this whole State, and you will find a necessity existed for this new organization.1

1 This raid near Farley has been referred to on a former page. A Leavenworth paper thus refers to the loyal cut-throats and thieves : "Another party of Union refu- gees arrived here yesterday from Platte county, Mo. Affairs there are assuming a serious aspect. Every Union man receives warning to leave."

Col. Moss, of Clay county, whose antecedents are not such as to satisfy the de- mands of the conditional Union men, with authority from Gov. Gamble to command the enrolled of Platte, Clay and Clinton counties, has, instead of calling the enrolled militia of Platte county into service, called out the enrolled rebels, and is now organ- izing companies of men in every township. - Conservative:

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HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.

OTHER EVENTS IN 1863.

The principal events in this county during the year 1863, other than those already referred to, may be briefly summarized.

Early in the year Col. Price issued a military order from his head- quarters at Weston, as colonel of the Thirty-ninth Enrolled Missouri militia, mounted infantry, to the effect that husbands and fathers, or male members of families, would be held accountable and punished for any slights or contemptuous conduct of women and children toward the militia or Union authorities, and that the ladies themselves would be punished by the military for any such offenses.

On account of the reign of terror that obtained here during the early part and summer of 1863, a great many of the better citizens of the county left for other localities, taking with them their families and all the movable property they could that had not previously been " pressed " from them. Most of the emigrants crossed the plains and went to Colorado and California.

An ordinance of emancipation was adopted by the State convention called by Gov. Jackson in 1860 to take the State out of the Union. It formed a written compact with Lyon and the Federal authorities and throttled the State government, constituting itself Governor, legislator and everything else, and continued in session until it had disfranchised a large majority of the people who voted it into existence and delivered them over, tied hand and foot, to the very persons it was elected to protect the people and the State against.

The ordinance of emancipation was to go into effect in 1870.

But the negroes and their immediate radical emancipation friends, here and in Kansas, could not think of waiting seven weeks for eman- cipation, much less seven years. The darkies began to flock across the river into Kansas like blackbirds, organized into droves and guided by some of the officers and privates under Col. Herren, at Weston.

Enrolling officers were appointed to register all the male population in Platte county of proper ages and physical qualifications for military duty, in anticipation of a draft. The enrollment showed between 1,500 and 1,600 present.

About this time, also, or a little before, came the notice of the amount of taxes due from the county to meet its share of the liabil- ity of the State on the Union military bonds, issued to pay the enrolled Missouri militia the same that was wholly or in principal part. dis-

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HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.

banded, partly for the reasons already stated and for others. The amount due from this county for 1863 was $30,051.38, no small sum for the people to pay, for such a purpose, especially when they had been stripped and robbed of nearly every thing they had to pay it with.

A commutation tax of $30.00 was charged against every person qualified for military duty who failed to go into the service, and one per cent upon his taxable property. Besides a full tax of $2.00 was collecti- ble from each individual unable to pay a poll-tax and one-fifth of one per cent was charged against his property, all for military purposes alone. The tax payer had his other taxes and burdens to bear in ad- dition.

EVENTS OF 1864.

The year 1864 was the darkest period in the history of Platte county. Misfortunes came so thick and fast upon the people that they lost all hope and sat down, with the resignation of fatalists, to await their doom. No one knew whether he would be murdered within an hour, a day or a month, and none seemed to care. Death appeared to be inevitable to all, and the question of the particular time it was to come gave them but little concern.

Nevertheless, the year opened not unfavorably. The Paw-paw militia had cleared the county of thieves and cut-throats, and the early winter and spring seemed to promise a period of comparative peace and quiet, considering that it was a time of war.

But before the spring was over the prospect had began to darken. The Confederate armies in the South were sorely in need of recruits. Unless they could get them the South could not sustain herself through another year. It was a question of reinforcements or ruin.

The Southern forces from Missouri had every reason to believe that they could supply their thinned ranks with volunteers if they could come up into the State to conduct them out. They resolved to try. It was arranged for recruiting officers to come up in advance, and that as soon as any considerable progress was made in recruiting, large relief forces were to be sent in to conduct the recruits safely out of the State.

THORNTON'S RECRUITING EXPEDITION.

Accordingly, officers in the recruiting service were sent into the different parts of the State. Lieut .- Col. C. C. Thornton was sent to Clay and Platte and surrounding counties on this side of the river.

This was an unfortunate selection, both for the Southern service and for this part of the country. Whatever may have been Col.

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HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.

Thornton's military record prior to his advent into Platte in 1864, here it was subsequently not a good or creditable one. He showed that he lacked good judgment, candor and courage, three qualities in- - dispensable to success on a mission so delicate and responsible as his was into Platte county. The result was that he accomplished nothing for the Southern service and indirectly caused the death of fifteen or twenty persons, and the inauguration of a worse reign of terror than had ever been known in the county.

He found many of the young men of the county ready and anxious to enlist, and swore them into the Confederate service. They were told that Gen. Price would come on after a while, and that if the people rallied to the Southern standard as they should do, he would be able to hold the country.

Collecting a hundred or more volunteers, Col. Thornton himself felt emboldened to assert that he could hold Platte county until the arrival of Gen. Price. That was a great mistake ; but many believed it to be true and enlisted with that expectation.

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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