USA > Missouri > Cedar County > History of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade, and Barton counties, Missouri > Part 12
USA > Missouri > Dade County > History of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade, and Barton counties, Missouri > Part 12
USA > Missouri > Barton County > History of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade, and Barton counties, Missouri > Part 12
USA > Missouri > Hickory County > History of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade, and Barton counties, Missouri > Part 12
USA > Missouri > Polk County > History of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade, and Barton counties, Missouri > Part 12
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Sigel, meanwhile, had not been heard from; but the consul- tation of officers was soon brought to a close by the advance of a heavy column from the direction whence Sigel's guns had been at first heard. These troops carried a banner resembling the American flag, and their dress resembled that of Sigel's brigade. Hoping to effect a junction with that officer, Sturgis formed his line for an advance. Suddenly from a hill in Stur- gis front a battery began to pour into his line shrapnel and cannister, and at this moment the on-coming Confederate forces, for such they were, displayed their true colors, and the fiercest engagement of the day immediately commenced along the en- tire Union lines. Totten's battery, in the center, supported by the Iowa and regular troops, was the main object of attack. The Confederates were often within twenty feet of the battery, and the smoke of the opposing lines was so intermingled as to appear made by the same guns. Notwithstanding the com- plete rout of the Confederate front, they continued to hold the
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field. Finally, therefore, the Federal forces were ordered to retreat. They moved slowly to the open prairie, about two miles from the battlefield, and thence to Springfield, which they reached at 5 o'clock that afternoon. Their total loss was 223 killed, 721 wounded, and 292 missing.
Sigel's column, in the meantime, had marched within a mile of McCulloch's camp at daybreak, and planted four pieces of artillery on the left, the infantry advancing toward the point where the Fayetteville road crosses Wilson's Creek, and the two cavalry companies guarding his right and left. His artillery fire was so destructive that the enemy were soon driven from their tents, and retired toward the northeast part of the valley. The Third and Fifth Missouri Infantry (Union) had passed the creek, and formed almost in the center of the camp. As the enemy were now rallying in front, Sigel ordered the artillery to be brought forward and formed in battery across the valley, with the Third and Fifth to the left, and the cavalry to the right. At the end of half an hour the enemy retreated into the woods and up the adjoining hills. By the firing in the direction of Gen. Lyon's column, it now became evident that he had engaged the enemy along the whole line; therefore, to give him the greatest possible assistance, Sigel left his position in the camp and ad- vanced to attack the enemy's line of battle in the rear. In pur- suance of this design, Sigel's column struck the Fayetteville road, and, following it to Sharpe's farm, planted his artillery on the plateau, and the two infantry regiments on the right and left, across the road, while the cavalry was stationed on its flanks. The firing in the direction of Lyon's column had then almost entirely ceased. Supposing that Lyon had repulsed the Confed- erates, and that his forces were coming up the road, the com- manders of the Third and Fifth Regiments gave orders not to fire upon troops advancing from that direction. Very unexpect- edly, two Confederate batteries opened fire upon them, one in front on the Fayetteville road, and the other from the hill, where it was supposed Lyon's forces were victorious, while a strong column of infantry, mistaken for the Iowa regiment, advanced from the Fayetteville road and attacked Sigel's right. Conster- nation and frightful confusion at once ensued. Sigel's men,
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thinking that by some mistake Lyon's troops were firing upon them, could hardly be induced to serve their guns until it was too late. The Confederates arrived within a few paces of Sigel's cannon, killed the horses, turned the flanks of the infantry, and forced them to fly. In this retreat Sigel lost five cannons, of which three were spiked, and the colors of the Third Regiment. The total Federal loss was 258 killed, 873 wounded, and 186 missing; in all, 1,317. The Confederate loss was 279 killed, 951 wounded, and 68 prisoners; total, 1,298. Upon the arrival of the shattered Federal forces at Springfield, the command of the whole was entrusted to Col. Sigel, who ordered a retreat to Rolla, Phelps County, 125 miles distant. The retreating army reached this place, August 19, having safely conducted a govern- ment train five miles in length, and valued at $1,500,000.
After the Federal defeat at Wilson's Creek, Gov. Gamble issued a proclamation calling into service 42,000 of the State militia to serve for six months, unless peace in the State should be sooner restored.
MARTIAL LAW DECLARED.
Gen. Fremont, on the 30th of August, inaugurated a new remedy for the lawlessness which prevailed, and the almost abso- lute impotence of the civil authority. He declared martial law and appointed J. Mckinstry, major United States army, provost- marshal-general of the State.
CAPTURE OF LEXINGTON.
Contrary to the expectations of both armies, McCulloch and Price failed to pursue their victory at Wilson's Creek by follow- ing Sigel in his retreat to Rolla, and McCulloch soon left Mis- souri with all his forces. Taking advantage of the favorable impression made upon the people by his success, Gen. Price issued a proclamation in which he declared that his army had been organized for the maintenance of the rights, dignity and honor of Missouri, and was kept in the field for these purposes alone. The citizens of the State now flocked to his standard in considerable numbers, and in a few weeks he had collected a large force. He now pressed northward across the State to Lex- ington, on the Missouri River. This place was defended by a
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force of Federals, 2,600 strong, commanded by Col. Mulligan. In anticipation of an attack, intrenchments had been thrown upon Masonic College Hill, an eminence overlooking the Missouri River. Mulligan's fortifications were most skillfully planned, but his men had only about forty rounds of ammunition each, six small brass cannon and two howitzers, the latter of which were useless because of the lack of shells. At dawn of Septem- ber 12, Gen. Price drove in the Union pickets, and, from a position within easy range of Mulligan's intrenchments, opened a cannonade from four different points. The assault and defense were kept up during the entire day, when Price withdrew to await the arrival of his wagon train and reinforcements. Mulli- gan's men worked night and day to strengthen their fortifications, and anxiously expected reinforcements, for which a courier had been dispatched to Jefferson City. This messenger was cap- tured on the way and, of course, no relief came.
On the morning of the 18th Gen. Price, who had been rein- forced, and now had from 15,000 to 25,000 men, began a final attack upon Mulligan's works, cutting off the communication of the beleaguered garrison with the city, stopping their supply of water, seizing a steamboat laden with stores, and occupying a building which commanded the position of the Union forces. A most stubborn defense was made, which continued for fifty- two hours. During the afternoon of the 20th Gen. Price pro- cured numerous bales of hemp, and with these, wetted to resist hot shot, he caused movable breastworks to be constructed, be- hind which a large body of the Confederates advanced within ten rods of Mulligan's works. The latter officer saw that further resistance was madness. To retreat was impossible. His men had no water except that which had been caught in blankets during a passing shower, and afterward wrung out; and the stench from the carcasses of horses and mules killed within the - intrenchments was insufferable. Accordingly the white flag was raised, and the siege of Lexington was ended. The men laid down their arms and became prisoners of war. As the fruits of this victory there fell into the hands of Gen. Price six cannon, two mortars, over 3,000 stand of infantry arms, a large number of sabers, about 750 horses, wagons, teams, ammunition, and
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$100,000 worth of commissary stores. On the Union side 40 men were killed and 120 wounded. The Confederate loss was 20 killed and 65 wounded.
FREMONT IN THE FIELD.
Gen. Fremont, deeply chagrined at the Federal reverses, and fearing that Gen. Price would advance upon the State capital, or intrench himself at some central point upon the Missouri River, determined to take the field in person, with the hope of defeating Price before McCulloch, who had been recruiting troops in Arkansas, could return to his aid. With this intention he di- rected toward Southwestern Missouri an army of more than 20,000 men, arranged in five divisions, under command of Gens. Hunter, Pope, Sigel, Mckinstry and Asboth. These troops were accompanied by eighty-six pieces of artillery, many of which were rifle cannon. On the 28th of September Fremont, with his fa- mous body-guard, commanded by Maj. Zagonyi, a Hungarian, reached Jefferson City, and commenced vigorous measures to overturn the plans of Gen. Price, and drive him from the State. On the 30th of the month Price abandoned Lexington, leaving a small force of 500 men to guard such prisoners as had not been paroled. On the 16th of October Maj. White, with his "Prairie Scouts," consisting of 185 cavalry men, surprised this garrison releasing the Union prisoners, capturing seventy of the Confed- erates, and dispersing the rest. He then rejoined Fremont's army.
'SPRINGFIELD.
Maj. White was now ordered by Gen. Sigel to reconnoiter near Springfield, and if advisable to attack the Confederate force in camp there. The major was seriously ill at the time, but im- mediately set his command in motion, accompanying them in a carriage.
On the evening of the same day, October 24, he was over- taken by Maj. Zagonyi, with the " body guard, " and he, under orders from Fremont, took command of the combined force. The Confederates, mostly cavalry, and numbering something more than 1,000, were encamped about a mile west of Springfield, on the Mount Vernon road, and were under command of Lieut .- Col.
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Cloud. The attack of Zagonyi proved a complete surprise. His men dashed down a lane under fire of the enemy, who had hastily formed a line along its north side. At this first onset a large number of the Confederates ran in every direction, but the remainder stood their ground. The Union soldiers swept past the Confederate camp, demolished a rail fence, entered the field where the enemy then were, and formed in line in a ravine about 200 yards away. They again charged with drawn sabers, but were repulsed with considerable loss. Falling back to the ravine they repeated the charge a second and third time with a like re- sult. The Union loss in the engagement was Zagonyi's "body guard," 15 killed, 27 wounded and 10 taken prisoners-52; White's "Prairie Scouts" killed, wounded and prisoners, 33; total 85.
After the engagement the Confederates withdrew to Price's headquarters at Neosho, and Zagonyi also fell back until he met Sigel's advance.
Gen. Fremont was just upon the eve of an attack upon Price, who, it was reported, reinforced by McCulloch, was moving on Springfield with 40,000 men, when he was superseded by Gen. Hunter. The latter, after retreating to St. Louis, was in turn superseded by Gen. Halleck on the 18th of November.
BELMONT.
The only remaining movement of importance was at Belmont on the Mississippi.
The Confederate general, Polk, acting under orders of his government, had, notwithstanding that State's neutrality, entered Kentucky with an army, and had captured the town of Columbus. Batteries planted here commanded the Mississippi. The Con- federates gathered in force at Belmont, on the opposite bank. In order to dislodge them, Gen. Fremont sent Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, with a brigade of 3,000 Illinois and Iowa troops, into Missouri by way of Cairo, On the 7th of November, Grant made a vigorous and successful attack on the Confederate camp, but Gen. Polk sent reinforcements across the river, the guns of Columbus were brought to bear on the Union position, and Grant was obliged to retreat. The total loss on the Federal side was 108 killed, 353 wounded and 121 missing; total, 582. The Con-
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federate loss was 105 killed, 419 wounded and 117 missing ; total, 641.
In addition to the engagements already described, quite a large number of raids, surprises and skirmishes-some of them important enough to be accounted battles-occurred in Missouri during 1861. They will be found mentioned in chronological order in the list of battles on another page.
THE CAMPAIGN OF 1862.
The beginning of the year found Missouri comparatively quiet. Gen. Price had concentrated about 12,000 men at Spring- field, intending to remain there all winter, but Gen. Halleck massed his forces, comprising the troops of Asboth, Sigel, Davis and Prentiss, at Lebanon, under command of Gen. Curtis. On February 11 this army moved against Springfield, and on the following night Gen. Price retreated to Cassville. Curtis pur- suing him, he withdrew still further across the Arkansas line to Cross Hollows, thence to Sugar Creek, where, reinforced by McCulloch, he gave battle, and was defeated February 20. Price again retreated to Cove Creek, and then halted, leaving Missouri with no large organized Confederate force within her borders. Nevertheless, it was evident that the rebel general, sheltered in the defiles of the "Boston Mountains," was only gathering strength for more vigorous operations; therefore Curtis retraced his steps, and fell back to Pea Ridge, among the mountains in the northwestern. part of Arkansas. Here he received intelli- gence that Price and McCulloch had been reinforced by Gen. Van Dorn, and that their combined force under command of the latter officer would soon attack his position.
BATTLE OF PEA RIDGE-AN ELKHORN TAVERN.
This engagement commenced on the morning of the 6th of March, 1862. The Confederate force aggregated about 25,000 men as follows: McCulloch's troops from Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas, 13,000; Gen. Pike's command, consisting of Choctaw, Cherokee, Chickasaw and other Indians, and some white troops, 4,000; Price's Missouri troops, 8,000. The Federal force con- sisted of 10,500 men, including cavalry and infantry, forty-nine pieces of artillery and one mountain howitzer.
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After a hard-fought battle, which lasted for two days, the Federals were victorious. The Confederate generals, McCulloch and McIntosh, were both killed. Van Dorn withdrew to the in- terior of Arkansas, and Curtis marched slowly southward. The Federal loss in the battle of Pea Ridge was 203 killed, 972 wounded, and 176 taken prisoners; total, 1,351; Confederate loss about the same.
VARIOUS WAR MEASURES.
Meanwhile, in Missouri, Provost-Marshal-General Farrar issued an order requiring the publishers of newspapers in the State, with the exception of St. Louis city papers, to furnish a copy of each issue, for inspection at the marshal's office.
Gen. Halleck issued an order requiring the officers of the Mercantile Library Association and of the Chamber of Com- merce to subscribe to the oath prescribed by the convention ordi- nance of October 6, 1861, under peril of arrest and imprison- ment. The same order also forbade the display of secession flags in the hands of women or on carriages-the carriages to be con- fiscated and the women arrested. A similar order was issued to the presidents and directors of all railroads in the State, and to the president, professors, curators and other officers of the State University at Columbia. This order required all clerks, agents and civil employes in the service of the United States to take the oath prescribed by act of Congress, and recommended that all clergymen, teachers, officers of benevolent institutions, and all engaged in business and trade, who were loyal to the Union, should voluntarily take the convention oath, in order that their patriotism might be known.
At different times men were tried and condemned to be shot upon charges of railroad and bridge burning, but these sentences were mitigated to imprisonment, or in some cases the culprits were released upon their taking the oath of allegiance, and giving bond in the sum of $2,000 each, for future loyalty to the Govern- ment.
Edmund J. Ellis, of Columbia, editor and proprietor of The Boone County Standard, was found guilty, and sentenced to ban- ishment from the State, during the war, on the several charges of giving information to the enemy, encouraging resistance to the
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Federal Government, and inciting persons to rebellion against the same. His printing materials were confiscated and sold.
Early in April, Gen. Halleck went to Corinth, Miss., and left Maj .- Gen. Schofield in command at St. Louis.
OPERATIONS AGAINST GUERRILLAS .- COL. JO. C. PORTER.
Gov. Gamble, desiring to repress the numerous guerrilla organizations in the State, authorized Gen. Schofield to organize the State militia into companies, regiments and brigades, and to call a force into the field sufficient to quell the marauders and secure the people of the State in their persons and property. In the series of skirmishes and fights which occurred between the State militia and the Confederate guerrillas, the most brilliant and im- portant were those connected with the pursuit and final overthrow of Col. Jo. C. Porter.
His force was first engaged July 1, at Cherry Grove, Schuy- ler County, by Col. Lipscomb, with about 450 of the State militia. After a small fight the Confederates retreated, and were pursued as far as Newark, Knox County. The next important encounter with Porter's forces was at Pearce's Mills, on the Middle Fabius, Scotland County, where, on the 19th of July, a pursuing force, under Maj. John Y. Clopper, of the Merrill Horse, and Maj. John F. Benjamin, of the Eleventh Missouri State Militia, was ambus- caded, and sustained a loss of eighty-three men, while the Con- federates lost but half a dozen. Porter, however, retreated toward the west and south, and in less than twenty-four hours was at Novelty, Knox County, sixty-four miles distant. Still going southward, they passed through Marion County to Florida, in Monroe, where they attacked and defeated a small detachment of the Third Iowa Cavalry, under Maj. H. C. Caldwell, and then hurried on to the heavily-wooded country near Brown's Spring, ten miles north of Fulton, in Callaway County. Ascertaining their position, Col. Guitar, of the Ninth Missouri State Militia, started in pursuit, July 27, with about 200 men and two pieces of artillery. On the preceding day Lieut .- Col. Shaffer, of Merrill's Horse, left Columbia upon the same errand, with 100 men, and was joined at Sturgeon by Maj. Clopper, with as many more. Maj. Caldwell, with a detachment of the Third Iowa, also started
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from Mexico. These two latter columns marched toward Mt. Zion Church, in the northeast part of Boone County, believing that Porter was encamped there. Not finding the object of their search, they pursued their way into Callaway County, and, on the afternoon of the 28th, heard Guitar's cannon four or five miles distant. Shaffer and Caldwell hastened forward, and arrived in time to assist in the hard-fought battle at Moore's Mill, July 28, wherein Porter was defeated with a loss of 32 killed and 125 wounded, while Guitar lost 13 killed and 55 wounded.
BATTLE OF KIRKSVILLE.
Porter now retreated northward, through Monroe into Marion County. Here he received a large number of recruits. On the 1st of August he attacked and captured Newark, Knox County, with its garrison of seventy-five men, under Capt. Wesley Lair, of the Eleventh Missouri State Militia, and pushed northward to Short's well, in the southern part of Scotland, where he was joined by a considerable detachment under Col. Cyrus Franklin and Lieut .- Col. Frisby H. Mccullough. The rebel forces were closely pursued by Col. John McNeil. Porter and Franklin turned west from Short's well, and reached Kirksville on the morning of August 6, a few hours in advance of their pursuers, and, ordering the citizens to evacuate the town, posted their troops in the courthouse, seminary, stores and private residences, and thus entrenched awaited the coming Unionists. Porter had about 2,800 men, all mounted, but many were without arms, and nearly all without experience.
Col. McNeill, approaching from the eastern side of the town, drew up his forces before it. Not knowing the exact position of the enemy, he ordered ten men, under Lieut. John N. Cowdry, of Merrill's Horse, to ride through the town and discover their places of concealment. They obeyed the order, and the rebels in their eagerness fired upon them from houses, stables and other places affording them protection from the missiles which were shortly to be poured upon the town. McNeill now opened the battle with his cannon, and, under cover of his artillery fire, advanced his dismounted men, and soon the Confederates began to give way.
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In three hours the town was in possession of McNeill, and the forces of Porter and Franklin were in full retreat toward the Chariton River. The Confederate loss in this engagement was between 200 and 300 killed, wounded and captured; the Federal loss was 6 killed and 33 wounded.
COMPTON'S FERRY-YELLOW CREEK.
On the following day Col. Guitar, who had been ill at Jef- ferson City, entered upon preparations for the pursuit of a considerable rebel force in Chariton County, under Col. J. A. Poindexter, and, on the 8th of August, landed from a steamer a considerable force at Glasgow. He overtook Poindexter at 9 o'clock on the night of the 11th, at Compton's Ferry, on Grand River, in Carroll County. Part of Poindexter's men had crossed the river before his arrival, but a large number, with all their baggage, horses, wagons, etc., had yet to cross. Guitar ordered a charge, and at the same time opened upon the fleeing rebels with two pieces of artillery. The result was a great panic and considerable destruction. Many of the Con- federates, in their eagerness to escape, threw away their guns, and forced their horses into the river, but the animals, in many instances, became unmanageable, and returned to the same shore whence they started. Some were drowned. A large num- ber of prisoners, and all the baggage, together with horses, mules, guns and wagons, were captured.
Poindexter marched as swiftly as possible to the northward, reaching the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad at Utica on Tues- day morning, the 12th. Near here he was intercepted and driven back by Gen. Lyon. Retreating south he was met by Guitar on the 13th, at Yellow Creek, in Chariton County, and again routed, his band being scattered and broken up. Guitar then returned to Jefferson City and was promoted by Gov. Gamble to be briga- dier-general of Enrolled Missouri Militia.
BATTLE AT INDEPENDENCE.
The next important engagement in the State occurred at Inde- pendence very early in the morning of August 11. The town was garrisoned by about 450 Federal troops, comprising infantry
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and cavalry, under Lieut .- Col. J. T. Buell. The Confederates, commanded by Col. John T. Hughes, of Clinton County, and G. W. Thompson, numbered from 600 to 800. They were fairly in- side the town, and had commenced a vigorous attack before their approach was suspected. Col. Buell was at once surrounded at his headquarters, thus preventing all communication between himself and his men; nevertheless his soldiers fought bravely; but so completely were they surprised that the best they could do was to retreat into the fields, where they formed for defense be- hind a stone wall. While the rebels were charging upon this position Col. Hughes was killed. Col. Buell, finding that his camp was in the hands of the enemy, and that extrication was hopeless, raised the white flag and surrendered the post. Both sides suffered heavy losses.
BATTLES OF LONE JACK AND NEWTONIA.
At Lone Jack, a village in Jackson County, a rebel force (3,000 strong) under Cols. John T. Coffee, Vard. Cockerill, S. D. Jackman and D. C. Hunter, attacked 800 State militia under Maj. Emory Foster, of the Seventeenth Missouri State Militia on August 16. The Federal loss was 43 killed, 154 wounded and 75 missing; the Confederate casualties were about the same. The Federals were defeated and lost two pieces of artillery. The rebels hearing their adversaries were to be reinforced retreated southward.
On September 13, 1862, an engagement took place at New- tonia, Newton County, between about 5,000 Kansas, Wisconsin, Missouri and Indian troops, under Gen. Salomon, and a Confed- erate force of 8,000 or 10,000 under Col. D. H. Cooper. Num- bers were killed and wounded on both sides, and the Federals were compelled to retreat as far as Sarcoxie, fifteen miles distant.
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EXECUTION OF REBEL PRISONERS.
At Macon, Mo., on the 25th of September, ten rebel prisoners were executed on the charge of repeated violations of their paroles, and on October 18 a similar number was shot at Palmyra, in retaliation for the abduction and murder of Andrew Allsman, a Unionist of Marion County. After the battle of Kirksville,
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