USA > Missouri > Gentry County > History of Daviess and Gentry counties, Missouri > Part 5
USA > Missouri > Daviess County > History of Daviess and Gentry counties, Missouri > Part 5
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On Aug. 16th, the sheriff of Daviess County, accompanied by Judge Morin called upon Joseph Smith Jr., at Far West with a writ to take him
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to Daviess County for trial for visiting the county on the 7th. He inform- ed the sheriff that while he would submit to the laws of the land, he wished to be tried in Caldwell County since the attitude of the people of Daviess was so unfriendly. The sheriff then went to Richmond to see Judge King, and returning informed the prophet that he was not in his jurisdiction and that he could not act in Caldwell.
On Sept. 2nd, Joseph Smith Jr., sent for General David R. Atchison, who was in command of a division of the State Militia, hoping that his presence would stop the citizens of Daviess preparing for hostilities. He also wrote to Austin A. King, circuit judge, asking him to assist in putting down what he termed as a "mob." General Atchison arrived the next day and was employed as counsel by the Mormons, as was his partner, Alexan- der W. Doniphan. Joseph Smith Jr., and Lyman Wight agreeing to a pre- liminary hearing before Judge King, in Daviess County, arrangements were made for the trial to be held at Mr. Littlefield's near the present site of Winston.
Court was convened at the Littlefield home on Sept. 6th, but no testi- mony was taken and the case was continued until the next morning, at a Mr. Rgalin's who lived further south, within a half mile of the Caldwell County line. William P. Peniston was the prosecutor and Adam Black, the only witness for the state. The hearing resulted in Smith and Wight being bound over to court on a $500 bond.
At this time a wagon load of fire arms was being sent from Richmond to Daviess County. Learning of this the civil authorities at Far West de- cided to intercept them. A writ was issued, the wagon surrounded and John B. Comer, William L. McHaney and Allen Miller put under arrest. These men were held till Sept. 12th. Their preliminary trial was held at Far West, when they were bound over to the circuit court, the charge against Comer being "attempting to smuggle arms to a mob," and the others as accomplices.
The arrest caused a great deal of excitement. The Missourians peti- tioned the Governor to drive the Mormons from the state, while the saints petitioned for his protection. On Sept. 11th, General Atchison ordered the militia to Caldwell and Daviess Counties. The order was given to General Doniphan, who reported on Sept. 15th that he had ordered Col. William A. Dunn to raise four companies of mounted riflemen of 50 men each, and pro- ceed to the scene of the excitement. General Doniphan, accompanied by his aide, then went to Far West, where he took charge of Comer, McHaney and Miller, and collected the arms captured by the saints. The arms were sent to General Atchison. Comer was also sent to Ray County, while the
HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING, GALLATIN
South Side of Square, Gallatin, Mo.
SON
SOUTH SIDE OF SQUARE, GALLATIN
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HISTORY OF DAVIESS AND GENTRY COUNTIES
other two were taken to Daviess County by General Doniphan where they were released on parole.
Arriving at the camp of the citizens of Daviess and adjoining counties, he read them General Atchison's order to dispearse. They insisted that they were acting only for the purpose of defending themselves, but General Doniphan reported "They still continue in arms marching and counter- marching." Proceeding to the camp of the Mormons, Colonel Wight in charge of the troops agreed to disband and to turn over all Mormons accus- ed of crime if the opposing side should also disband. "I intend to occupy this position until your arrival, and I deem it best," wrote General Doni- phan to General Atchison, "to preserve peace and prevent an engagement between the parties, and if kept so for a few days they will doubtless dis- band without coercion." Shortly thereafter, General Doniphan arrived and reported to the Governor that there were 200 or 300 men in arms from Livingston, Carroll and Saline Counties under the command of a Dr. Aus- tin of Carroll County, whom he ordered home. "The citizens of Daviess County, or a large portion of them residing on each side of the Grand River have left their farms and removed their families either to the adjoining county or collected them together at a place called Camp Ground. The Mormons of Daviess County had also left their farms and had encamped for safety at a place immediately on the east band of Grand River, called Adam- ondi-Ahmon. Both parties have been scouting through the country and occasionally taking prisoners and threatening and insulting each other, but as yet no blood has been shed. I have been informed by the Mormons that all of those who have been charged with a violation of the law will be in to- day for trial. When that is done the troops under my command will be no longer required in this county if the citizens of other counties will return to their respective homes. I have proposed to leave two companies of 50 men each in this county and to discharge the remainder of the troops."
On the 18th, Governor Boggs ordered the 4th division, commanded by General S. D. Lucas to the county, evidently considering that the force was not large enough, or that General Atchison underestimated the gravity of the situation.
Later General Atchison wrote the Governor that the citizens of other counties had gone to their homes, as had also the Mormons, and that he considered the insurrection at an end for the present. However, a portion of the military force was left in the county under the command of General Parks. On Sept. 25th, he wrote General Atchison that a committee from Daviess County would meet the next day with a committee of Mormons at Adam-ondi-Ahmon to propose to them to buy or sell.
But the suspension of hostilities in Daviess County was followed by as
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serious trouble with the saints in Carroll County. The Mormons finally agreed to leave the county, and they then joined their fellow-believers at Far West.
Here on the morning of Oct. 15th, a company of about 100 men was organized. The commander was a Mormon, Lieutenant Colonel Hinkle, who held a commission in the State Militia. It is said that he acted under the order of General Doniphan. This company, accompanied by Joseph Smith, Jr., then went to Adam-ondi-Ahmon. On the 18th of October about 150 Mormons came to Gallatin, and finding but a few men in the place, took possession of the town. Removing the goods from the stores, the business houses were burned. According to Major McGee, "We could stand in our dooryard and see houses burning every night for over two weeks. The Mor- mons completely gutted Daviess County. There was scarcely a Missourian home left standing in the county. Nearly every one was burned. Their flight from the county had been so precipitated that they left all they had behind, taking only their families and teams. The Mormons secured all their property and took it to De Amon and there placed it in what was term- ed the Lord's Storehouse, to be issued out to the saints as they might need."
According to the Prophet, the Missourians removed the contents of their houses and set fire to them themselves and then accused the saints of doing it. He also tells of threats made by the "mob," as he termed all his enemies.
During this time, on Oct. 18, 1838, General Parks came to Daviess County and went at once to the home of Lyman Wight, at Adam-ondi-Ah- man. On the 25th, a small engagement took place near the ford of Crook- ed Creek, and several of the Mormons were killed.
The following day Governor Boggs ordered a large force of the militia into Daviess County. This order came as a result of petitions, he says, stating that "The Mormons with an armed force have expelled the inhabi- tants of that county from their homes, have pillaged and burned their dwellings, driven off their stock, and were destroying their crops ; that they, the Mormons, have burned to ashes the towns of Gallatin and Mill Port in said county, the former being the county seat of said county, and including the clerk's office and all the public records of the county, and that there is not now a civil officer within said county." On the 27th, the Governor issued his famous 'Exterminating Order,' addressed to General Clark, in which he states 'The Mormons must be treated as enemies, and must be ex- terminated or driven from the state, if necessary, for the public good. Their outrages are beyond all description. If you can increase your force you are authorized to do so, to any extent you may think necessary." It is said that General Atchison, upon receiving this letter, withdrew from the
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military force, saying he would not be a party to the enforcement of such inhuman commands. On the other hand, it is also stated that he was re- lieved of his command by the Governor.
According to "The History of the Church," the Danites were organiz- ed at this time by a Dr. Avard. In a speech to his followers he instructed them to rob and plunder from the gentiles as this was the way to build up the kingdom of God-laws were of no consequence under the new dispen- sation. Naturally, this aroused the ire of the gentiles, and they were in no frame of mind to believe the statements of the presidency of the church that Avard's actions were unauthorized and met with the disapproval of the Mormon authorities.
In the meanwhile troops were gathered in obedience to the call of the Governor, and the feeling between the two factions increased. On Oct. 30th, what is usually referred to as Haun's Mill Massacre took place in Caldwell County. On Oct. 30, 1838, a force of between 2,200 and 3,000 men gather- ed near Far West under Generals Lucas, Wilson and Doniphan. Before the expected battle the leaders of the Mormons were delivered to the militia through one of their number, Colonel Hinkle, who was supposed to be in command of the Mormon forces. He had also made terms upon which the Mormons agreed to leave the state. The Mormons later gave up their arms and were ordered to leave the state. Their leaders were tried before a military court (though Lyman Wight was the only one connected with the military) and sentenced to be shot. General Doniphan refused to obey the orders and threatened General Lucas if they had them executed. The order was never carried out. According to the interpretation placed upon one of the articles of agreement the church membership was held liable for the payment of the debts of the war waged against them, and in this man- ner deprived of their property. No hearing was given them.
On Nov. 4th, John B. Clark assumed command in Far West, with ex- plicit orders from the Governor to carry out his "Exterminating order." In speaking of the Mormons, he reviewed the terms of the treaty, stating that the first three provisions had been complied with-their leaders given up for trial, their arms given up, and their property signed over to defray the . expenses of the war. He then advised them to comply as quickly as pos- sbile with the last provision-to leave the state.
On Nov. 6, 1838, the Governor wrote General Clark, directing him to hold a military court of inquiry in Daviess County. General Clark then ordered Bragadier-General Robert Wilson to go to Adam-ondi-Ahman for this purpose. He arrived there on the 8th. Every man in town was put under guard, and the court established, with Adam Black as judge, and a soldier in General Clark's command as prosecuting attorney. At the end
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of three days, every man tried was honorably acquitted. General Wilson then ordered every family to be out of town within ten days. They might spend the winter in Caldwell County, but must leave the state then on pen- alty of extermination. This is a sample of the permits issued to those against whom a charge had been sustained:
"I permit David Holman to remove to Caldwell County, there to re- main during the winter or to pass out of the state.
Nov. 10, 1838.
(Signed) R. Wilson, Brigadier General,
By F. G. C., Aide."
On Nov. 2nd, Joseph Smith Jr., Sidney Rigdon, Hiram Smith and other Mormon leaders were started for Independence under a strong guard. They were detained at Richmond and there 53 were held for trial, charged with high treason against the state, murder, burglary, arson, robbery and lar- ceny. Austin A. King presided at the trial. The testimony of Samson Avard, mentioned above in connection with the Danite band, gave testimony which confirmed the beliefs of the Gentiles regarding the purpose of that organ- ization. Smith states that in his diary Avard swore falsely in order to save himself. When the defendants were called upon for witnesses, Smith says that, "The persons whose names were given were thrown into jail and the few who were allowed to testify were prevented by threats from telling the truth as much as possible." In spite of this 23 prisoners were dismissed for lack of evidence. Finally, all but Lyman Wight, Hiram Smith, Caleb Baldwin, Alexander McRae and Joseph Smith, Jr., and four others were released. The first group was sent to Liberty, the other four to Boone County. P. P. Pratt and Morris Phelps escaped from the Boone County jail, July 4, 1839. Follet escaped with them but was recaptured. Luman Gibbs, the remaining one of the four, apostatized and was acquitted.
Joseph Smith Jr., and his companions arrived in Liberty on the first day of December, 1838.
After various preliminaries and during which time the prisoners ap- pealed to the Legislature and the Supreme Court and no action taken,-on April 6, 1839, Judge Austin A. King ordered them taken to Daviess Coun- ty. On April 8th. they were delivered to Sheriff Wm A. Morgan of Daviess County. The grand jury was in session at the time, and returned a true bill for treason against the prisoners and others. The witnesses were: Samon Avard, Waterman Phillips, Adam Blaxer, Josiah Marin, John Cor- ril, J. L. Rogers, Francis McGuire, Lebum Marrin, Henry McHenry, John Edwards, John Brown, Robert McGaugh, John B. Comer, Jackson Job and Ira Glaze.
Indictments against the prisoners for murder, treason, burglary, lar- ceny, theft and receiving stolen goods, were also returned by this jury. The
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prisoners pleaded not guilty when brought up for the trial before Judge Thomas C. Burch. A change of venue was asked by Smith and his compan- ions on the ground that the judge had been of counsel in the cause. The request was granted and the case transferred to the circuit court of Boone County.
On April 15, 1839, William Morgan and four guards started to Colum- bia, Mo., with the five prisoners. On the night of the 16th the Mormons escaped.
Only one log cabin remains to mark the site of the Mormon town, Adam-ondi-Ahman. On the elevation nearby grows a giant hackberry tree, at the foot of which is a pile of limestone. This spot is commonly referred to as "Adam's Grave."
CHAPTER VII.
THE CIVIL WAR.
SENTIMENT DIVIDED IN DAVIESS COUNTY-ACTIVITIES OF UNION MEN IN 1861- COMPANIES ORGANIZED HEADQUARTERS ESTABLISHED AT GALLATIN-GUER- RILLA WARFARE-SKIRMISH - BOUNTY OFFERED TO VOLUNTEERS - UNION SOLDIERS FROM DAVIESS COUNTY-COMPANY A-COMPANY G-COMPANY B- FORTY-THIRD INFANTRY-SPECIAL ORDER NO. 6-CONFEDERATES-CIVIL WAR INCIDENTS.
At the outbreak of the Civil War, the people of Daviess County were divided in sentiment, probably the majority of them, however, being South- ern sympathizers. Major McGee reports that while there were plenty of Union men in the county, in Gallatin there were only 20 men who, in the fall of 1860, favored standing by the Union and only eight would declare it openly, Judge S. A. Richardson, S. B. Cox, John Ballinger, Harfield Davis, Owen H. McGee, William V. McGee and Joseph H. McGee. James McFer- ran, councellor of the group, kept in the background. The southeast cor- ner of the square in Gallatin, occupied by Davis and Son, druggists, was known as "Secession Corner." While Harfield Davis was a Union man his father was a violent rebel. Finally the firm dissolved, Baalis Davis going into business at Chillicothe.
The activities of the Union men during 1861 are told by Major McGee in the following paragraphs :
"Dr. C. C. Hogan, my old family physician, had raised a company for the rebel army, had them camped on Grand River bottoms, about three miles from town. Rebel companies were now organizing and drilling all over the country. Many of them would come upon the platform in front of my office while Judge Richardson and I were in there and talk so that we could hear them. They would purpose taking out what few Union men there were in Gallatin and hang them. They never did. This kind of life could not be borne always. We decided to put an end to it. Upon consulting Major Cox, Captain Ballinger, brother William, John Shriver and myself, we concluded to leave town and raise one or more companies, then come
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back, take possession of the place, keep it. * * We set the time for us to leave. It was arranged that all should get an early dinner, then meet at my house promptly at 12 m. At 12 o'clock sharp we all mounted our horses, laid our rifles before us on our saddles. Two abreast we galloped up the street and by "Secession Corner." More than 20 rebels were standing looking at us as we galloped past. They had never dreamed of such a thing. Their eyes bulged out to such an extent that you could have almost thrown a lariat around them. I had part of a company enlisted who were to meet us at Honey Creek. We went by, got them, went on to Cameron. Dr. Folmsbee had enlisted a company on the east side of Grand River and met us at Cameron. I had about half enough to organize a company.
"Learning that Colonel Craynor was disbanding his men at St. Joseph and knowing that all the Civil Bend boys who were with him would reenlist, Capt. Ballinger and myself got on the train. We went to St. Joseph to see them ; found that they had all started for home across he country. We re- turned to Comeron the same night. Early next morning we mounted our horses and struck across the country to intercept them. We halted them late in the evening, made arrangements with them to meet at a neighbor's the next morning and go with us to Comeron to enlist. We all met the next morning an went to Cameron. We were mustered into six months' service under the call made by Governor Gamble. Col. James H. Birch was our mustering officer. As Dr. Folmsbee had his company first made up, his was Company A. Mine was Company.B. Major Cox was mustered in as Major over our two companies. Meredith Morris was my first lieuten- ant, McLain Wilson my second lieutenant.
"We were mustered in Sept. 18, 1861. We had no arms but our old *
shot guns and rifles. * * We got word that Price had sent troops across the river to tear up the H. & St. J. R. R. The objective point would be Cameron. We kept our horses saddled and bridled for two nights; had pickets out for five and ten miles on the Lexington road.
"Judge Birch, father of Colonel Birch, our mustering officer, got on the engine with the engineer, (it was not safe to run a train on the railroad on account of Bushwackers) and went to Hannibal, got on a stemboat there and went to St. Louis ; gave his individual bond for guns with which to arm our two companies ; did not leave the city until he saw them boxed and ship- ped to us. They were nothing but old Springfield muskets. We were sup- plied with fixed ammunition, which made them a great improvement on our former arms. We still remained at Cameron practicing our arms and scouting through the country.
"Captain Folmsbee and myself concluded we would take a survey of the county around Gallatin. When we started, I supposed we were coming
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to Gallatin. When we got as far as where the Round school house now stands, four miles west of Gallatin, Captain Folmsbee, being the ranking captain, ordered the command to take the road leading to Esquire William Everly's, near where the Crab Orchard church now stands. I was anxious to see home. Tried to get him to change his order. He declined doing so. It was probably well enough that he did not, as I afterwards learned that Dr. Hogan's rebel company was expecting us and had concealed themselves on each side of the road west of Major Cox's and intended bushwacking us as we came in. We went to Squire Everly's and struck camp, which was afterwards known as Camp Everly.
"We remained at Camp Everly until we had seen our families and learn- ed all we could as to the intention of the rebels. It is singular how numbers can be magnified. In Captain Folmsbee's company and my own we had probably 150 men all told. Yet the rebels at Gallatin who could by occupy- ing the cupola of the court house and using a field glass take in our camp, as it was only four miles off, had magnified our number to 1000 men. We did not try to undeceive them. After we had remained in camp as long as we thought best, we concluded to break camp and return again to the railroad where we could get our supplies. We camped the first night after leaving Camp Everly at old Uncle John Castor's on Marrowbone Creek. We were treated to the best he had on his farm. Next day we moved to Kidder on the H. & St. J. R. R. Made our quarters in the depot. Major S. P. Cox now took command of us as our major. We remained at Kidder some two or three weeks drilling. It was determined to return to Gallatin even if we had to fight our way in. We broke camp at Kidder early in the morning and started for Gallatin. We were not interrupted on the way, entered. took possession of Gallatin without opposition. To say that we were joy- fully received would be partly true and partly false. By our families and Union friends we were joyfully received but by the rebels of the town, they would rather, as one woman expressed it, "have seen the devil coming into town." The drama was now changed. For the last two months the town and country had been under the control of the rebels. Union men fared badly. Now that we had possession they expected there would be a retalia- tion.
"I forgot to state that before we left Kidder some of the boys whilst on a scout duty had captured Dr. Hogan. He had taken his company off south to Price's army, had returned to recruit others. We countermanded his orders. Captain Ballinger and myself took him to Hannibal, where he was confined as a prisoner of war until he took the oath. He was paroled. It took the rebel portion of Gallatin some time to settle down to the conviction that they were still in the Union. They finally gave up all hopes of Price
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coming to relieve them, accepted the situation hoping and praying for the success of the Southern Confederacy."
Major Samuel P. Cox established his headquarters in Gallatin. In ad- dition to the companies commanded by McGee and Folmsbee, Captain Brumfield's company from the northern part of the county and two from Harrison County were stationed there. The rest of the winter was passed in scouting through the country, keeping out Confederate recruiting offi- cers, arresting Confederates and requiring them to take the oath.
Service in the six months militia being ended in January, 1862, plans were made to organize a regiment of cavalry of the Missouri State Militia. In April the regiment was formed with James McFerran as colonel. Three of the companies were raised in Daviess County, Company A, under Cap- tain Joseph H. McGee, Company B, under Captain W. H. Folmsbee, and Company G, under Captain John Ballinger.
On April 9, 1862, the field and staff officers were commissioned. The batallion was perfected March 26th, except companies G and H, which were added April 9, 1862. On May 28th, two new companies were added. In February, 1863, the Fifth Missouri Cavalry (ten companies) was broken up and three of the companies added to Colonel McFerran's regiment, while Companies A. and D. were broken up.
Only one engagement took place in Daviess County and it was only a slight skirmish-a sort of game of hide-and-seek. The official account of the encounter is found in the official records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Vol. 13, p. 207:
"Headquarters, Breckenridge, Mo., Aug. 16, 1862.
I have the honor to report that on the 5th instant 14 men of the First Regiment of Cavalry, Missouri State Militia, under Lieutenant Goodbrake, and 21 militia, under Captain Vickers, making in all 35 men, near Cravens- ville, in Daviess County, Mo., were fired upon from the brush by 85 guerril- las, under Davis and Kirk. The engagement lasted for about an hour and a half, and resulted in the defeat of the guerrillas, with a loss of six killed and ten wounded, 15 horses, and ten guns. We had three severely and two slightly, wounded. Our wounded are all doing well and will recover.
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