USA > Missouri > Cedar County > History of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade, and Barton counties, Missouri > Part 11
USA > Missouri > Dade County > History of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade, and Barton counties, Missouri > Part 11
USA > Missouri > Barton County > History of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade, and Barton counties, Missouri > Part 11
USA > Missouri > Hickory County > History of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade, and Barton counties, Missouri > Part 11
USA > Missouri > Polk County > History of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade, and Barton counties, Missouri > Part 11
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SEC. 5. The General Assembly shall have no power to pass laws to emanci- pate slaves without the consent of their owners.
SEC. 6. After the passage of this ordinance no slaves in this State shall be subject to State, county or municipal taxes.
Wednesday, July 1, 1863, the convention, after having held various sessions, since its first meeting, February 28, 1861, adjourned sine die.
EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION AND THE XIIITH AMENDMENT.
In connection with the emancipation measures of the State of Missouri, it may not be amiss to give a brief recital of the various means by which slavery in the United States was finally ob- literated.
President Lincoln's policy was for some time criticised as timid and slow. His more hardy and aggressive advisers de- manded that the negroes be either emancipated or declared con- traband of war at once, as the Southern armies could never be beaten while 4,000,000 of blacks, without cost or remuneration, were at home tilling the soil for the support of the whites in the field. After waiting long enough to see that the South did not want peace upon any terms save a permanent withdrawal from the Union, and recognition by the North as an independent, sovereign power, he issued a provisional proclamation of emanci- pation on September 22, 1862. On the 1st of January, 1863, the President issued one of the most important documents of modern times-the emancipation proclamation. This could have been de- fended throughout the world as an act of progressive and civilized humanity, but it was in reality a war measure, it having become necessary to strike an effective blow against the labor system at the South, and as such was fully sanctioned by the laws and usages of nations. This proclamation is here given in full:
WHEREAS, On the 22d day of September, 1862, a proclamation was issued by the President of the United States, containing among other things the fol- lowing, to wit:
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"That on the 1st day of January, 1863, all persons held as slaves within any State, or designated part of a State, the people whereof shall then be in rebell- ion against the United States, shall be then, thenceforward and forever free, and the Executive Government of the United States, including the military and naval authority thereof, will recognize and maintain the freedom of such per- sons, and will do no act or acts to repress such persons, or any of them, in any efforts they make make for their actual freedom.
" That the Executive will, on the 1st day of January, aforesaid, by proclama- tion, designate the States and parts of States, if any, in which the people thereof, respectively, shall then be in rebellion against the United States, and the fact that any State, or the people thereof, shall on that day be in good faith represented in the Congress of the United States by members chosen thereto, at elections wherein a majority of the qualified voters of such State shall have par- ticipated, shall, in the absence of strong countervailing testimony, be deemed conclusive evidence that such State and the people thereof are not then in rebellion against the United States."
Now, therefore, I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, by vir- tue of the power in me vested as commander in chief of the army and navy of the United States, in time of actual armed rebellion against the authority and Government of the United States, and as a fit and necessary war measure for suppressing said rebellion, do, on this 1st day of January, 1863, and, in accordance with my purpose so to do, publicly proclaim for the full period of 100 days from the day first above mentioned, order and designate, as the States and parts of States wherein the people thereof, respectively, are this day in rebellion against the United States, the following, to wit:
Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana (except the parishes of St. Bernard, Plaque- mine, Jefferson, St. John, St. Charles, St. James, Ascension, Assumption, Terre Bonne, Lafourche, St. Mary, St. Martin and Orleans, including the city of New Orleans), Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Caro- lina and Virginia (except the forty-eight counties designated as West Virginia, and also the counties of Berkley, Accormac, Northampton, Elizabeth City, York, Princess Ann and Norfolk, including the cities of Norfolk and Ports- mouth), and which excepted parts are, for the present, left precisely as if this proclamation were not issued.
And by virtue of the power and for the purpose aforesaid I do order and declare that all persons held as slaves within said designated States and parts of States are and henceforward shall be free ; and that the Executive Govern- ment of the United States, including the military and naval authorities thereof, will recognize and maintain the freedom of such persons.
And I hereby enjoin upon the people so declared to be free, to abstain from all violence, unless in necessary self-defense, and I recommend to them that in all cases, when allowed, they labor faithfully for reasonable wages.
And I further declare and make known, that such persons of suitable con- dition will be received into the armed service of the United States to garrison forts, positions, stations and other places, and to man vessels of all sorts in said service.
And upon this act, sincerely believed to be an act of justice, warranted by the constitution, upon military necessity, I invoke the considerate judgment of mankind and the gracious favor of Almighty God.
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In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my name, and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.
Done at the City of Washington, this first day of January,
[L. s.] in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty- three, and of the Independence of the United States the eighty- seventh. ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
By the President:
WILLIAM H. SEWARD,
Secretary of State.
As the State of Missouri was loyal to the Union, and was at the time of the proclamation represented in Congress by her chosen representatives, the provisions of that document had no effect upon slavery within her borders. As has been seen, the people of the State, through their legislators and their State convention ordinances had adopted emancipation, but that action was superseded by the Thirteenth Amendment to the constitu- tion of the United States, which was ratified by thirty-three States, including Missouri, ratified conditionally by Alabama and Mississippi, and rejected only by Delaware and Kentucky. As the permission of three-fourths of the States was all that was necessary for the adoption of the amendment, it was declared in force by President Johnson in 1865, although Lincoln himself lived to see it proposed. It is as follows:
ARTICLE XIII.
SECTION 1. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punish- ment for crime, whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.
SEC. 2. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
Thus, after an existence of more than two hundred and forty years, the institution of African slavery in the United States was swept away. Although it was the purpose of the general Gov- ernment to discriminate carefully between Union and non-Union slave holders, and to sufficiently indemnify the former class against all losses occasioned by the freeing of their slaves, yet in many cases loyal men were ruined financially in this great over- throw of Southern institutions, and all classes suffered together.
CAMPAIGN OF 1861 .- BOONVILLE.
Jackson and Price had collected, at Boonville, a military force of from 3,000 to 4,000 men. This force was poorly
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armed, possessed of but a single piece of artillery, undisciplined, and deficient in organization and competent officers, yet they were eager to meet the troops, which under command of Lyon and Blair were coming up the river to attack them. On the eve of battle, Price was taken seriously ill, and was obliged to go home; therefore the Confederates marched under command of Col. John S. Marmaduke, to meet the advancing column of Lyon's forces. The latter had disembarked at Rocheport, and were ad- vancing with six pieces of artillery in the direction of Boonville, when they encountered the State troops about midway between the two places. Capt. Totten, of the Unionists, opened the en- gagement by throwing a few nine-pounder explosives into the State ranks, while the infantry of the former filed obliquely, right and left, and commenced a terrific volley of musketry, which was at first vigorously returned. Col. Marmaduke was stationed in a lane, leading toward the river from the road by which the United States troops were advancing, and in a brick house on the northeast corner of the two roads. A couple of shells were thrown into the house, dispersing the State troops in great con- fusion. This, together with the well-directed fire of the infantry from the right and left, soon forced Col. Marmaduke's men to fall back, but they again formed in line of battle, and advanced a few feet to meet the Union forces. The cannon were now brought into requisition, and the State troops opened a galling musketry fire from a grove on the left of Lyon's center, and from a shed still further to the left.
The skirmish now became a battle. Lyon's force was 2,000 in all, but not more than 500 were at any one time engaged. There were 1,500 of the State troops, but neither were they all continu- ally in the conflict. Lyon brought his artillery to bear with deadly effect, and a forward movement on the right decided the engagement, the State forces retreating in great disorder. Such was the confusion of this retreat that this battle is often jocularly styled " the Boonville Races. "
The Federal forces took possession of "Camp Vest" and the city of Boonville. At the former there were found twenty or thirty tents, fifty guns, a large number of shoes and other cloth- ing, a quantity of blankets and ammunition and two secession flags.
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CARTHAGE.
The lead mines in the southwest part of the State became an object of great importance to the Confederate Government, which, hoping to secure them, dispatched large bodies of troops from Arkansas and Texas. On July 5, a scouting party, sent out by Col. Franz Sigel, encountered, about two miles from Carthage, a picket guard of the State troops, who were taken prisoners. As soon as possible Col. Sigel prepared to advance, expecting to find the State troops some distance west of the town. About half-past 9 o'clock the armies met in an open prairie, seven miles beyond Carthage .. The State forces numbered per- haps 5,000 men, mostly cavalry, but had a battery of five cannon. Col. Sigel's command comprised his own regiment of two bat- talions, and Col. Salomon's detached regiment, with several pieces of artillery, under command of Maj. Backoff. Col. Sigel's and Col. Salomon's men numbered together 1,100. Gens. Par- sons and Rains were in command of the State troops. Maj. Backoff, by direction of Col. Sigel, opened fire, and in less than two hours the battery of the opposing forces was silenced. The superior arms of the Federals enabled them to maintain a situa- tion of comparatively little danger. The State ranks were twice broken, but rallied, and held their position until their guns gave out, when their column was again broken.
At this time a large body of the Confederate cavalry was sent back to cut off Sigel's transportation train. Seeing this movement, he ordered a retreat, and sent word for the wagons to advance as quickly as possible. By keeping up an incessant fire with the infantry, and using the artillery whenever practicable, Sigel managed to retard the advance of the cavalry, and to fall back in good order, some three and a half miles, to the baggage train. The wagons were then placed in the center of the column in such a manner that there were artillery and infantry forces both in front and rear. At this the State forces retreated, and attempted to surround the entire column, taking a position upon some bluffs overlooking a creek. There was but one road across this stream, and, to change his position without further retreat, it was necessary for Sigel to cross the hill where the State cav- alry were mainly stationed.
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Maj. Backoff ordered two of the artillery pieces in front to oblique to the left, and two to the right, and at the same time & corresponding movement was made from Sigel's battalion. This maneuver led the State troops into the belief that the Federals were seeking to outflank their cavalry. Accordingly the forces on the bluffs closed up to the right and left, when, on reaching a point 300 yards from them, Backoff's artillery was ordered to transverse oblique, and immediately opened a terrible cross-fire with cannister. At the same time the Federal infantry charged at double quick, and in ten minutes the State troops were dis- persed in every direction.
This engagement, with the maneuvering, occupied about two hours. The State cavalry were poorly armed and mounted, and having no cannon on the bluffs could make but little resistance to the attacks of Col. Sigel. Forty-five men and eighty horses were taken by the Federals, also a quantity of double-barreled shot- guns and some revolvers and bowie-knives. The loss of the State troops was estimated at 250 or 300 men. However these forces still prevented Sigel's advance over the creek, and that officer was compelled to retreat in the direction of Carthage, the State troops following and surrounding the column on three. sides, although kept at a distance by the infantry fire.
Sigel's command reached Carthage at half past six o'clock, and at once attempted to enter the woods about a mile distant. This movement the State cavalry resisted, knowing that they could do nothing in the timber. An effort to rally the cavalry to & charge was made, which brought the whole of Sigel's infantry into action. After some hard fighting that officer got his men into the woods and forced the State troops to relinquish the pur- suit. The latter returned to Carthage intending to renew the battle in the morning. In this last engagement the State troops lost ten killed and sixty-four wounded. The dispatchers of Col. Sigel placed his loss during the whole day at thirteen killed and thirty-one wounded.
Notwithstanding the terrible fatigue of the day-his men having been in action nearly twelve hours-Sigel continued his retreat. A forced march was made to Sarcoxie, in the south- east corner of the county (Jasper), a distance of twelve or four-
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teen miles. There the Federal troops went into camp at 3 o'clock in the morning. On the following afternoon the retreat was con- tinued to Mount Vernon, Lawrence County, where, for a time, Sigel established his headquarters.
THE WESTERN DEPARTMENT.
On July 3, 1861, the Western Department was created, com- prising Illinois and the States and Territories west of the Missis- sippi and east of the Rocky Mountains, including New Mexico. The headquarters of this department were at St. Louis, where, previous to its establishment, Gen. Harney, and, afterward, Gen. Lyon, were in command. Gen. John C. Fremont, who was a son- in-law of Senator Benton, and had been a candidate for the pres- idency in 1856, was appointed to the command of the new depart- ment, and assumed the duties of his office on the 26th of July ..
The authorities at Washington, perplexed by the disastrous defeat at Bull Run, were so absorbed with the defenses of the National Capital, and with military operations at the East, as to be unable to give necessary aid to the Western Department. Fremont finally obtained $100,000 from the National sub-treas- urer at St. Louis, with which he proceeded to secure the re-enlist- ment of many of the three months' men, whose terms had expired, and to fortify the city against any probable attack. Harassed by a lack of resources, Fremont was soon placed in a dilemma, oc- casioned by the exigencies of the campaign in Missouri. The Confederate general, Pillow, was reported to be advancing with a large number of troops against Cairo and Bird's Point, while Gen. Hardee was pushing into the interior of Missouri to annoy Gen. Lyon's flank and rear. In addition to all this, Lieut .- Gov. Reynolds, Gov. Jackson being temporarily absent, elated with the Confederate victory at Bull Run, issued a proclamation to the people of Missouri, in which he alluded to the State con- vention as merely a tool in the hands of their enemies, assured them that peace and security could only be obtained through union with the South, and called upon them to rally as one man to the standard of the State, and aid Gen. Pillow in expelling the invader from their borders.
In view of this variety of changes, Gen. Fremont decided to
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secure Bird's Point against the attack of Gen. Pillow, but upon sending an expedition to that place, found that the menace against it was merely intended as a diversion.
Meanwhile, after the battle of Boonville, Gen. Lyon, with a force of nearly 3,000 men, four pieces of artillery and a long bag- gage train, left that place, and followed in pursuit of the State troops, who were reported to have fled to Syracuse and beyond. At Grand River, a branch of the Osage, in Henry County, he was reinforced by 3,000 Kansas troops under command of Maj. S. D. Sturgis. When within eighty miles of Springfield, Lyon heard of Sigel's battle at Carthage and determined to change his course and march to his relief. Notwithstanding the intensely hot weather, and the fatigue of his infantry, early on the morn- ing of July 10 Lyon's army moved from their encampment and forced their way among the hills, gorges and forests that lay in their path. After they had proceeded fifty miles, a messenger from Sigel brought definite information of the desperate en- counter at Carthage, and that Sigel's little army was now at Springfield. Therefore Lyon, marching more leisurely, accom- plished the remaining thirty miles of the journey in two days.
Encamped near Springfield, he now prepared to meet the . enemy who were his superior in numbers and constantly increas- ing. It was now that he repeatedly called upon Gen. Fremont for those reinforcements which the latter failed to supply.
Near the close of July, Gen. Lyon was informed of the con- centration of the Confederate forces at Cassville, and of their de- sign of attacking his camp. Therefore, although their numbers were much greater than those of his army, he determined to an- ticipate their attack by an advance of his own troops. Late on the afternoon of August 1, his entire army, consisting of 5, 500 foot, 400 horse and 18 guns, moved toward Cassville and biv- ouacked that night on Cave Creek, ten miles south of Springfield. The next morning they marched to Dug Springs, in Stone County, nineteen miles southwest of Springfield. Here they en- countered and defeated a body of Confederates under Gen. Rains.
WILSON'S CREEK.
On August 6, Gen. Lyon returned with his army to Spring- field. The entire Confederate force was now concentrated near
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Crane Creek, in the northern part of Stone County. Believing that Lyon's army was much larger than their own, a disagree- ment arose between Price and McCulloch as to the expediency of an advance toward Springfield, the former counseling a for- ward, and the latter a retrograde movement. Finally an order was received from Maj .- Gen. Polk, ordering an advance upon Lyon. A council was at once held, in which McCulloch expressed his willingness to march upon Springfield, provided he were granted the chief command. Price, to whom that distinction, perhaps, rightfully belonged, consented to the terms of McCul- loch, hoping that Lyon might be defeated, and driven from the State. A little after midnight on Sunday, August 4, they took up the line of march, and reached Wilson's Creek, ten miles southwest of Springfield, on the 9th. Here they encamped, determining at 9 o'clock that night to march in four separate columns against Springfield, surround the place, and begin a simultaneous attack at daybreak. A threatened storm caused Gen. McCulloch to countermand his order, and morning found his entire army, consisting of 5,300 infantry, fifteen guns, and 6,000 cavalry, besides a large number of unarmed horsemen, encamped upon the field. But the night was neither too dark nor stormy for Gen. Lyon. At 5 o'clock P. M. of August 9, he marched in two columns from Springfield, making a detour to the right, and notwithstanding the darkness and storm at 1 o'clock found himself within sight of the Confederate guard fires. Here he called a halt, and his soldiers lay on their arms until dawn, when they formed in battle line and advanced. Lyon's effective force was 5,200 men, including infantry and cavalry, and three batteries of sixteen guns. The two columns of the Federal army were commanded by Lyon and Sigel, and their early attack was a complete surprise to the Confederates, McCulloch, trusting for security to the darkness and storm, having withdrawn his advanced pickets.
The Federal forces in command of Lyon formed a line of battle at daybreak, closely followed by Totten's battery, supported by a strong reserve, and with skirmishers thrown out in front. After driving in the enemy's outposts, a ravine was crossed and a high ridge gained, when a large force of the Confederate skir-
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mishers came in view. Very severe fighting ensued, and it be- came evident that Lyon's column would soon reach the strong- hold, where the main battle would take place. A few shells cleared the front, and the First Missouri and First Kansas moved forward, supported by the First Iowa and Totten's battery. The Second Kansas, Capt. Steele's battalion and Lieut. Dubois' bat- tery, were held in reserve, so as to bear upon a powerful bat- tery of the enemy, which was stationed in front, on the opposite side of Wilson's Creek. The Confederates now rallied in large force near the foot of the slope, opposite Lyon's left wing, and along the slope in his front and to his right. During this time, Capt. Plummer, with four companies of infantry, had moved down a ridge a few hundred yards to Lyon's left, and found at its terminus a large body of the enemy's infantry, which arrested further progress in that direction. Directly artillery firing was begun at the point, about two miles distant, where it was expected that Sigel's column would encounter the enemy.
Lyon's whole line now moved with great impetuosity toward the Confederate position; and the roar of musketry increased and became continuous. Totten's battery came into action, as the nature of the ground would permit, and made great havoc in the opposing ranks. After half an hour's fierce fighting the Con- federates retired in great confusion, leaving Gen. Lyon in pos- session of the field. Meanwhile, Capt. Plummer had been com- pelled to fall back, but Lieut. Dubois' battery, supported by Capt, Steele's battalion, opened upon the enemy in that direction, and soon drove them from the cornfield, where they had intrenched themselves. There was now a momentary cessation of firing along the whole line, except on the right, where the First Mis-
souri was still engaged against superior numbers. The Second Kansas was ordered to the support of this regiment, which must otherwise have been destroyed while unflinchingly holding its position. During this time Capt. Steele's battalion, which had been detailed to the support of Dubois' battery, was brought for- ward to the support of Totten's, and soon the Confederate force reappeared along Lyon's entire front, marching toward each flank. The battle again began with great fury, and became general along the whole line. The ranks of the opposing sides were sometimes
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within thirty or forty yards of each other, when charges upon Totten's battery were made. For more that an hour the conflict was carried on with great slaughter on both sides, and so equally balanced were the opposing forces that neither were gaining any decisive advantage.
Early in this desperate engagement, Gen. Lyon's horse was killed, and he himself received a wound in the leg and one in the head. He then mounted another horse, and, swinging his hat, called upon the nearest troops to follow him. The Second Kan- sas gallantly responded, but their commander, Col. Mitchell, soon fell severely wounded, and, at about the same time, Gen. Lyon received a mortal wound in or near the heart. Maj. Sturgis then succeeded to the command. The Confederates had been driven back, and for twenty minutes there was a lull in the battle, during which Sturgis summoned his officers for a consul- tation. Lyon's column had been dreadfully shattered, and the leader killed. For nearly thirty hours the men had been with- out water, and a supply could not be had short of Springfield, which was ten or twelve miles away. Their ammunition was nearly gone, and should they, by slackening fire, reveal this fact to the enemy, annihilation seemed inevitable.
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