USA > Missouri > Dade County > History of Dade County and her people : from the date of the earliest settlements to the present time > Part 8
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I said to her, "Consider yourself under arrest and go with me to Captain Kirby's headquarters and tell him your mission and the story you have told me." I took her to the captain and she made no change in her story to him.
He said to her, "I will keep you under guard all night tonight."
"If you do Kinch will kill every one of you tomor- row," was her response.
The captain turned to me and said, "What had we better do with her?"
"I said, "Captain, give her her horse and let her go home and tell Kineh there is nobody here but us and that we will have breakfast ready for him tomorrow morning."
She thanked the captain kindly, mounted her horse and left.
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The next thing was to call the company roll and in- form our men of the warning we had received from Kinch's sister. We also notified the citizens of Greenfield who had asked us to furnish arms and ammunition for them to help to defend the town in case we were attacked by these out- laws. Next in order was to meet at the armory and open up our ammunition, load and stack our guns in the hotel.
A Night Alarm Spoils a Card Party; Causes Fruit- less Investigation .- At night all things were quiet. As usual most of the men lay on their bunks, without un- dressing, awaiting developments. Being of a nervous temperament I did not go to bed but went with W. R. Law- rence and Nathan Dinwiddie to Aunt Julia Wills' parlor, where she joined us in a game of whist. About 11 o'clock Judge Nelson McDowell rapped on her door, having seen a light in the parlor. I met him at the door. He had run from home and was almost out of breath, to tell us that his wife had heard an unusual knocking and other noises down in the hollow near the Wells Grove.
W. R. Lawrence and I jumped on our horses, taking our pistols in hand, and rode quietly out a half-mile to the southwest, then circled round to the Coffee farm, now occupied by George Wilson, southeast of Greenfield, and came in from there, having neither seen nor heard any- thing unusual. The facts in the case were, as we after- wards discovered, that West and Roberts and their gang were at the time hidden in the Wells Grove, and we went entirely around them unmolested. The noise that Mrs. McDowell heard was the gang hacking down the hedge row on the east of the Wells grove, making a gap to get through into town without being exposed to view.
The Attack of October 16th; Raiders Get a Warm "Breakfast"-At dawn on October 16th, 1864, as Samuel S. Acuff and I were feeding our horses in the southeast corner of the court house square, three of four men charged upon us from behind the livery barn, south of the hotel, firing a volley at us as they came. One shot killed Acuff and another shot killed my horse. After firing they ran down the hill to the east. I ran to the hotel and
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rang the bell, to give the alarm. At that the whole outfit raised the yell and came on a charge down South Street. On nearing the hotel they were greeted by volleys from muskets blazing out of the port holes made in the brick walls. This brought them to a right about and a fall back in hot haste. They made a stand at Judge McDowell's carriage shed, where they lost one killed and three wounded. The Judge's carriage and harness were in the shed. They put their dead and wounded in this carriage and ran it down the hill, where they hitched a team to the carriage and took them off the field. Our force was of suf- ficient numbers not only to drive them out of town and save the village from destruction, but we immediately dispatched a messenger to Melville for re-inforcements to help drive them further, and in about three hours, Lieut. Cowan came with 25 men. With the aid of this detach- ment we drove West and Roberts and their gang some 20 miles. In the engagement we lost two men killed and one wounded. We could not tell how many of their forces were killed and wounded, as they bore their's away, while much of the time we were housed up and could not see all the damage done. One man was shot in the hand, which was almost torn off, according to the story told by Mrs. McBride. The circumstance was this: Two of the West gang got behind an unoccupied dwelling house just west of the Lyngar drug store. They would load their guns behind the house and then ride around the corner of the building and fire at two of our men who were near Dr. Bender's office, at about the east lot now occupied by the opera house. The men at the office got a rest against the corner of that building, and when one of the gang rounded the corner to shoot they let them have it. One charge struck one of the raider's hand and tore it badly, and toro the stock off his gun, which dropped to the ground. His horse whirled round with him to run, when the other man at the office shot his horse down dead. The comrade who was with him behind the house dismounted, put the wounded man in the saddle and got on the horse behind him and rode to the house of Mrs. McBride and
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HISTORY OF DADE COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE
asked for a clotli to bandage the torn hand. She took a hand towel from the rack and bound up his wound. The men at the office could not reload their guns and pursue them in time to catch them, but went to the house and picked up the gun that was broken with the bullet, then to the horse that was killed and took the saddle. That gun and saddle have been souvenir keepsakes for those men to this day. Now if any of that wounded man's com- rades on the raid will tell who he is and his whereabouts, if living, we will send him his gun and saddle.
Citizen Soldiers Fail to Respond, Except One-Arch M. Long .- We were sadly disappointed in the help of the citizen soldiery of Greenfield. They had promised us that when the alarm of attack was given by the ringing of the hotel bell they would rush to the hotel, where their arms were ready, loaded. When the alarm was sounded it was a lively time. Instead of running to the hotel the citi- zen soldiery of Greenfield (except Arch M. Long) inglori- ously fled to the brush. Mr. Long came to our rescue with his shotgun in hand and played a gallant part. After we had driven Kinch and Fate out of the country, we made a move upon the Price raiders and captured 42 men of his command and turned them over to Gen. San- born of Springfield. When we arrived at Springfield with them their commander said, "This is our second visit to Greenfield."
He was asked when he had been there before.
"When Cockrell took Greenfield," he replied.
"You were here when the court house was burned, were you?"
"I was with Captain when the torch was set fire to the court house."
I do not know whether that was true or not. That was what he said. His name, as he gave it, was K. B. F. Twyman of Boone County, Missouri. The reason I re- member his name is this: He was a very large man, about 240 pounds. The horse he was riding had a sore back. He swapped that horse to Capt. Kirby for one he could ride, giving the Captain a bill of sale for the animal,
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HISTORY OF DADE COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE
signed K. B. F. Twyman, Boone County, Missouri. His commander called him lieutenant. I do not wish to cast any reflections upon any party I have mentioned in this article, but am recording historical events as they oc- curred during those troublous times.
It Cost the State a Tidy Sum to Save Greenfield From Burning .- It cost the State of Missouri something to save Greenfield from being burned during the Price raid. For services of the men and their horses the cost was $2,555.15. How I know this: The company was relieved and mus- tered out, roll was made October 31, 1864, embracing all items of service for both men and horses. In April, 1866, I took this roll, went to Jefferson City and made settle- ment with the state auditor for all service done by the company during said time of our organization. I have before me his invoice of every item for each man. I went to the state treasurer, who paid me the above stated amount and took my receipt for the same. The money paid me was state money, just in sheets of different de- nominations as it came from the press withont being torn apart. In paying it out I had to clip off the sheets ac- cording to amounts due (we called it "Lizzard-skin"). I do not write this for the benefit of those who know about it bnt for the benefit of the rising generation, that they may know about the fun we had in the days before their being. I would tell yon more about it but I fear I would tire the patience of the devil in the printing office.
After having been discharged, November 1st, 1864, from service in the 76th Regt., E. M. M., I was again com- missioned as First Lieutenant in the Veteran U. S. service and placed in charge of a recruiting camp at Springfield, Mo., recruiting for the 14th Vet. Cal. "Mo. Vols." to go against the Indians on the plains, at this camp. Three companies were organized, viz: Capt. Lucian Roundtree, Capt. Harry Mitchell, Capt. J. P. Robinson. The day be- fore the assassination of A. Lincoln, we received orders to take no more recruits. I was then assigned as Provo Marshal with headquarters at Mt. Vernon, Mo. The regi- ment then had nine full companies. J. J. Gravley was
U. S. KERAN.
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HISTORY OF DADE COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE
commissioned as Lieutenant Colonel of the Regiment and took charge, preparatory to moving against the Indians. When they were ready to move I was relieved as Provo and joined the regiment to act as Adjutant, leaving St. Louis in June, 1865, under command of Gen. J. B. Sanborn, pursued the Indians through Colorado, where a treaty was agreed upon with them. The regiment then moved back to Fort Leavenworth for muster out service, Oct. 20, 1865. The records and men were placed in my charge and sent to St. Louis, Mo., where we received our pay for services by Col. Bonneville, Paymaster for the U. S. A. This being the last service of the 14th Cav. Mo. Vols., we disbanded and all set sail for home. Later on after return- ing home, I was again commissioned as a First Lieutenant, Enrolling Inspector and Mustering officer for the State Militia of Missouri. I organized and mustered in three companies in Dade County, viz: Capt. Thomas Hopper of South Township, Capt. James M. Travis of North Town- ship and Capt. E. V. Lafoon of Morgan Township. In 1866 I was relieved from military duty. During my service I had filled most every position known to the service.
0
THE CONFEDERATE VETERANS OF DADE COUNTY.
by Lewis Renfro.
Preface: Having been selected by the historical com- mittee to write a history of the Confederate Veterans of Dade County from 1861 to 1865, I accepted the invitation with some hesitancy, from the fact that I have no written data or memoranda to guide me in this task, and since more than fifty years have taken their flight since those memorable events occurred, and knowing the frailty of human memory, I shall only attempt to tell the simple story as I now remember it in looking through the long vista of years which have elapsed, and should I fail to mention any name or event of importance it will be an
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error of head and not of heart, for it is my sincere desire that all who are entitled to be mentioned in this sketch should have their proper place.
In the early Spring of 1861, at the breaking out of the Civil War, several companies of state troops for the Confederate service were raised in Dade County. They were mustered in for six months. John T. Coffey was elected Colonel for one regiment and Colonel James Clark- son for another, but their regiments were not all made up of Dade County men, but these officers were residents of the county when the war broke out. The following Captains raised companies in Dade County: John M. Stemmons, F. M. Hastings, Tilman H. Lea, I. J. West and Captain Bell. They all had full companies and were mostly comprised of Dade County boys. These companies all took active part in all the battles fought on this side of the Mississippi River. The most important battle fought by them while in the state service was the battle of Wilson's Creek, in which the Dade County boys suffered many casualties. Captain Bell was killed, also Lieutenant David Vaughn, Colonel Buster was pinned to the ground with a bayonet through his side, inflicted by a Dutch- man, after which he was shot, several bullets passing through his body. I remember that when some of our boys went to pull the bayonet from his body our Surgeon, Dr. Dunn, rushed up and would not permit it until his body was turned over and the dirt wiped from the bayonet. The bayonet had encountered a rib and had never pierced his stomach, and in a few weeks he was able to return to his command, apparently in as good shape as ever. The Colonel was engaged in selling goods in Greenfield at the beginning of the war, and as far as is known he is still alive and lives in Texas. He was an exemplary man in every respect, and during the remainder of the war he never received another scratch. The battle of Wilson Creek was a hot fought battle on a very hot day-August 10th, 1861. Several Dade County boys were killed there, Colonel Buster was the only Colonel from Dade County wounded, and Captain Bell the only Captain from Dade County, killed.
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Our next enagement of importance was at Lexington, where we captured General Mulligan and his entire com- mand. That was no before breakfast spell. General Price was in command of the Confederate forces. We tried for a day and a night to capture the fort, but was unsuccess- ful, but finally General Price adopted a plan which proved a success. Hemp bales were rolled up for embankments and we starved them out. I think it was on the third day of the siege that General Mulligan capitulated. Two vic- tories in succession filled our boys with courage insomuch that many of them thought Price's command could whip the whole Yankee army. Several Dade County boys were killed in this battle.
After the battle of Lexington we came back south, where we had several small engagements, among them Cow Skin Prairie, Crane Creek and a few others, after which we returned north and engaged in the battle of Mar- shal, which proved quite severe.
I recall now the loss of one brave Dade County man in this battle-his name was Stoveall, Tom Courtney's grandfather. He was shot through the head and killed instantly. My brother, Shelby, was standing by his side at the time.
One of the hottest encounters in this campaign was at Lone Jack. We finally captured the town but our losses were heavy. The number engaged on each side was comparatively small but they fought like demons. The Union forces were commanded by Major Foster, as brave a man as ever wore a uniform, while our forces were under the command of General Cockerel. I have received several letters of late years from men who par- ticipated in that battle and all ascribe great bravery to both Major Foster and General Cockerel. I think General Cockerel is still living in Texas. Major Foster has long since gone to his reward, which I hope is one of eternal rest, for while a prisoner I became attached to him by reason of his manly qualities, and still have great respect for his memory.
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Among the Dade County boys to fall in this battle, I recall Jim and Bill Gillispie. Their father was the owner of the Gillispie Mill on Turnback. Lieutenant Willis Taylor was killed there also. He was a son-in-law of Judge Hoyle, owner of the farm and mill of that name on Turnback about two miles east of Greenfield. After the battle of Marshal we had but a few minor skirmishes until we went into winter quarters at Springfield, Mo., where our army was re-organized and entered the Con- federate service. The enlistments were for three years or during the war. It was about the middle of February, 1862, when General Price, then in command, hearing of a large Union force marching from Rolla toward Spring- field, ordered stakes pulled, and we headed for the south. We were reinforced by General Mccullough and General McIntosh at or near Elk Horn, where the Elk Horn Prairie battle was fought. This was later in February or early in March, 1862. The weather was severely cold for that lat- itude and the ground was covered with snow. Dade County lost some of her brave boys in this battle. After this battle Captain John M. Stemmons went from the cav- alry to the infantry and became Captain of Company G, 16th Missouri Infantry. He was mustered out at the close of the war as Lieutenant Colonel of this regiment. A few years ago he died at Dallas, Texas.
Both Captain Stemmons and Billy Williams were wounded at the battle of Lone Jack, each being shot through the shoulder. As soon as he was able, Captain Stemmons returned to his command. Captain Stemmon's wife was an Allison, who was raised in Greenfield, being a daughter of Judge Mathias Allison. After the war, Billy Williams married Miss Lou Beachley. He died a few years ago at Dallas, Texas. Each of these two men were law- vers and after the war they formed a partnership and practiced in Dallas, Texas, where they became very wealthy.
In the early summer of 1862 a part of the Missouri Confederate troops went across the Mississippi river, among them General Price, General Joe Shelby, who was
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HISTORY OF DADE COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE
then a Colonel, Colonel Buster and Colonel Clarkson. General Price and General Shelby returned some time in the fall, and Shelby was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General. I don't know just how this happened for Colonel Coffey was senior in rank, but by some hook or crook the plum went to Shelby. After this, Coffey re- signed his command and was never in the service again. His wife was a sister to Uncle Samuel Weir of Green- field. Colonel Coffey was one of the leading lawyers of southwest Missouri and at one time represented Dade County in the State Legislature.
George Wilson, residing one mile southeast of Green- field, lives on a part of the old Coffey homestead. Colonel Coffey died some years ago at Georgetown, Texas.
After the resignation of Colonel Coffey, Gideon Thompson was elected Colonel and placed in command of the regiment, which was the 3d Missouri cavalry. By reason of numerous losses by death, sickness and missing, the Dade County boys were consolidated into four com- panies, three of cavalry and one of infantry. Cartain T. H Lea commanded Company A, I. J. West commanded Company F, F. M. Hastings commanded Company I and John M. Stemmons commanded Company G, all of the 16th Missouri Infantry, composed almost exclusively of boys from Dade county. The greater part of these boys never returned to Dade County. Many of them are quietly sleeping on the battle fields, others are residents of other states, mostly Arkansas and Texas. Colonel James Clark- son never came back across the river, but was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General. After the war while making his way back home, he was murdered at Dead Man's Lake near the Mississippi River. Robbery was supposed to be the motive. General Clarkson was a vet- eran of the Mexican war and perhaps the greatest mili- tary man that ever went out from Dade County. He was an uncle of Fred Clarkson Eastin of Greenfield. He has a number of relatives and descendants in the county. His brother, Uncle Davy Clarkson, as he is familiarly called, served in the Confederate army during the entire war, re-
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turned to Dade County and died there several years after- ward Each of these men had sons in the Confederate army. Some were killed in battle and others were wounded I recall that young Davy had an arm shot off. The Clarksons were pioneers in Dade County.
I have a complete roster of but two companies which I made from memory many years after the war, and a roster of Company F, 3rd Mo. Cav, made by Hon S. P. Mills, Orderly Sergeant of that company, which will be given herein, and a partial list of the members of Company G, 16th Missouri Infantry, which I will also attach to this sketch
Captain F. M. Hastings of Company I, 3d Mo. Cav., recruited his company mostly in Arkansas, but there were a few Dade County boys in this company. I remem- ber that some of the Janes family from this county be- longed, but I am unable to recall their names and have been unable to locate any of the members of this company who could give me the information. Captain Hastings was a good, brave man and had a splendid company, which always responded when called upon in times of danger. Captain Hastings was Sheriff of Dade County when the war broke out. He had a horse killed from under him by a cannon ball at the battle of Little Rock.
An incomplete roster of Company G, 16th Mo. Inf., C. S. A .. , made from memory after more than fifty years have elapsed, assisted by T. B. Rountree of Cane Hill and Charles Winkle of Greenfield. In the first organization of the company :
Captain, John M. Stemmons, of Greenfield.
First Lieutenant, W. R. Snadon.
Second Lieutenant, B. F Moore.
Third Lieutenant, Willis Taylor.
Orderly Sergeant, T. M. McPatt.
Third Lieutenant, Thee Buchanan, elected to fill the place of Willis Taylor, who was killed in the battle of Lone Jack.
Third Lieutenant, John West, elected to fill the place of Thee Buchanan, who was killed.
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HISTORY OF DADE COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE
In 1863 Stemmons was elected Major. Rather than to become Captain, both W. R. Snadon and W. R. Moore resigned and went to the Cavalry, and John West being wounded, the company was reorganized, and T. M. Mc- Patt was elected Captain; Guss Wetzel, First Lieutenant ;
Dick Grout, Second Lieutenant; D. R. Mallory, Third Lieutenant; Napoleon Parnell, Orderly Sergeant
Privates in the Company were as follows:
Ross Chappel,
Dick Ragsdale,
Rufe Chappel,
John Williams,
Mansfield Oldham,
Marion Williams,
G. W. Oldham.
J. M. Carlock,
John Finley, Carlock,
J. R Finley,
Bill Scott,
Will Finley,
Tom Scott,
Polk Cates
John Scott,
Jim Brown
Hale Duncan,
Mat McGregory,
Tom Duncan,
Jay McGregory,
Cook,
Wiley MeGregory,
William Ping,
Bill Slecper,
W. A. Dale,
Frank Parnell,
John Dale,
J. M. Gout, Dick Rose,
Andrew Dale,
Charley Wimkle,
Benton Dale,
John M. Beckley,
Jim Chambers,
Monroe McNatt,
Robert Daughtrey,
J. S. MeNatt,
William Daughtrey,
Willis McNatt,
J. M. Daughtrey,
Carr MeNatt,
Jim Faires, Newt Faires,
Will Daniels,
Jake Williams,
Jim Foster, John McMillen,
Reason Mccullough,
Job Robertson,
Jacob Friend,
William Horne,
Reason Jones,
John Harvey,
Hosea Williams, (killed at Lone Jack.)
John Ray, Jim Ray, George Handcock,
T. B. Rountree,
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HISTORY OF DADE COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE
Marion Mclemore,
Ed. Fleetwood,
George Massongale,
Joseph Walker,
Jack Holder,
Ed. Jerome,
Tom Holder,
Harrison Southwell,
Newt Gray,
(Doubtful)
Alexander McBride,
Mirel Hardin,
Rice McBride,
S. S. Allison.
(killed at Helena, Ark.)
LIST OF DEAD THAT WENT OUT FROM DADE COUNTY.
The following is a list of killed from Dade County as I remember, there are others I am sure that I cannot recall their names, as I have nothing to go by and have to trust my memory:
John Carr, Will McMahan, John Mills, Bill Fair, Wm. Pirtle, Sanford Pirtle, Jim Gillespie, Will Gillespie, Willis Taylor, Wm. R. Stoveall, Capt. Silas Bell, Lieut. David Vaughn, George Bowles, Alexander Bowles, John Williams, Brown Williams, Lieut. Guss Wetzel, Rich Spain, Lieutenant Thee Buchanan, Zeb Stockstell, Mart Speer, Frank Speer, Lieut. Ben Finley, Dr. Kennedy, Jolin Davidson, Dickson Brown, Bob Kinmons, Mat Mc- Gregory, Reason McCullick, John West, jr., Jesse West, John M. Williams, E. E. Williams, Jim Scott, Jeff Cald- well, Jackson Dougherty, John Zinamon, R. T. Willis, jr., John Durnell, Dock West, George Hall, Levy Thompson, Lee Fine, Dock Lawson, Rice McBride (killed at Helena, Ark.), Lieut. Thee Buchanan.
This roster was made out by Hon. S. P. Mills, who was Orderly Sergeant of this company, who represented Mellen County, Texas, in the Legislature two terms and two terms from that Senatorial District, was killed acci- dentally February 8th, 1916.
Roster, Company F, 3rd Missouri Cavalry, General Joe Shelby's, Brig .:
Captain Gentry West, Lieutenant McPherson,
Captain J. L. Jenkins,
Lieutenant T. J. MeLuer,
Lieutenant A. C. Bowles, S. P. Mills, O. S.
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HISTORY OF DADE COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE
Privates-
John Jones
Hue Arnold
Jake Jones Rufe Lack
Robt. Akin S. W. Bates Burnett Botts
Earle Lacy
Will Long
A. J. Bates
Leonidas Morris
Ben Bowles
Pat Mclemore
Stant Buford
Henry McGhee
Isral Blackburn
B. F. Moore
John Mills
Tom Bird Geo. Cotton W. B. Clark Will Cook Marion Cox Johnithan Cox
Tom Mills
K. McGregor
McGregor
John Maniese
Wm. Noale
Jeff Colwell
Norsinger
Elie Cobell
P. Nichols
Ben Collins
Ostiloe
Len Davis John Davidson
Tom Ragsdale
Geo. Davidson
T. L. Reed
James Davidson
John Robinson
N. E. Robinson
Len Eaton Tom Foresith Joe Foresith John Foresith John Givens Ike Hicks
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