USA > Missouri > Cooper County > History of Howard and Cooper counties, Missouri : written and compiled from the most authentic official and private sources, including a history of its townships, towns, and villages : together with a condensed history of Missouri, a reliable and detailed history of Howard and Cooper counties-- its pioneer record, resources, biographical sketches of prominent citizens, general and local statistics of great value, incidents and reminiscences > Part 76
USA > Missouri > Howard County > History of Howard and Cooper counties, Missouri : written and compiled from the most authentic official and private sources, including a history of its townships, towns, and villages : together with a condensed history of Missouri, a reliable and detailed history of Howard and Cooper counties-- its pioneer record, resources, biographical sketches of prominent citizens, general and local statistics of great value, incidents and reminiscences > Part 76
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The next day after the battle, General Lyon issued a proclama- tion, offering full pardon to all who would lay down their arms, re- turn to their homes, and relinquish their hostility to the United States government ; and persons who did this were assured that they would not be molested for past offences. Many who had taken part in the battle availed themselves of the opportunity offered by General Lyon, and some of them never took up arms again during the war.
General Lyon remained at Boonville for several weeks, during which time he purchased a large outfit of wagons, horses and mules, paying fair prices for them, no pressing or forced sales being made. He also captured every steamboat that passed down the river. On the third day of July, having received reinforcements of an Iowa regiment, he took his departure for the southwest, his objective point being Springfield. A short time before, General Blair left for Wash- ington, to take his seat in congress, he having been elected a repre- sentative from St. Louis.
This being the first battle of the rebellion which was fought on land, the taking of Fort Sumter having occurred only a short time before, produced great excitement throughout the United States, and General Blair on his way to Washington was met by great crowds of his friends, and lionized, feasted and toasted, as the "hero of the hour."
Before General Lyon left Boonville, Major Joseph A. Eppstein organized two companies of home guards, composed entirely of Ger- mans, which were commanded by him, and threw up fortifications at
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the old fair grounds. When he moved to Springfield, he left Major Curly, who was shortly afterwards succeeded by Colonel John D. Stephenson, in command at the fortifications.
Dr. Quarles was among the killed of the state troops. His hody was found in the wheat field late in the evening after the battle, he having been severely wounded in the thigh, and not being discovered, had bled to death. Young Mccutchen was also wounded in the thigh, and was properly cared for, though all their efforts could not save him ; he died a few days after the battle. The death of these two gentlemen, so young, so promising and kind-hearted, cast a gloom over the entire community, and their loss was nuiversally regretted by all parties. The other gentleman killed, who was from Pettis county, was shot in the head, and his name is not recollected.
General Parsons, with the artillery belonging to the state troops, arrived too late to engage in the battle. He came in on the Boonville and Tipton road, via Wilkins' bridge, and halted at the top of the hill, south of Boonville, near Dr. William H. Trigg's present residence, where, learning the result of the battle, that General Marmaduke had been defeated and was retreating, took the road leading from Boon- ville to Prairie Lick, in a southwest direction, and soon formed a junction with Governor Jackson's state troops.
General Lyon, two days after the battle of Boonville, sent a de- tachment of his force southwest, by way of Syracuse, as far as Florence, Morgan county, in pursuit of Governor Jackson. But finding that the state troops had moved still farther south, the command returned to Boonville without meeting any of Jackson's command.
MOVEMENTS OF THE HOME GUARDS IN COOPER COUNTY.
General Nathaniel Lyon, on the twentieth day of June, 1861, organized and mustered into service a company of German home guards, consisting of 135 men. Of this company Joseph A. Epp- stein was elected captain ; Emil Haas, first lieutenant ; Ernest Roeschel, second lieutenant, and John A. Hain, orderly sergeant. This com- pany was, on the fourth day of August, ordered to Jefferson City for the purpose of aiding in the protection of the capital. They together with Colonel Brown's 7th Missouri regiment, were, a short time afterwards, ordered to Otterville. They went by rail to Syracuse, and marched on foot the balance of the way to Otterville, which they immediately occupied.
A large number of southern men living in the vicinity had organ- ized a company, and under the command of Captain Alexander, James
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B. Harris, and others, were camped near by. These two commands, not, for some reason wishing to attack each other, made the following compromise which had been suggested by the southern commanders, and after some parley, accepted by Colonel Brown. It was agreed that if the federal troops would withdraw from Otterville, Captain Alexander would disband his forces, and Colonel Brown ordered his command back to Jefferson City.
Afterwards, the home guards, with part of Colonel Worth- ington's command, were ordered to Boonville. They ascended the Missouri river in a steamboat, and arrived at Boouville very early on the morning of the day following their start from Jefferson City. The morning was very foggy, so that the boat could hardly be seen from the shore. It passed Boonville under cover of darkness and the fog, and landed at Haas' brewery, situated about one-half of a mile west of the city. Here the home guards disembarked, and from thence marched around and surrounded the town before the citizens were aware of their presence. Colonel Worthington, with the men of his command, dropped down on the steamboat to the landing at the foot of Main street, and marched up into the town. He then took a number of prominent citizens prisoners, and confiscated the contents of two tin stores and one shoe store, the owners of which were charged with selling goods to the Confederates ; he also took possession of the Observer printing establishment, then owned by A. W. Simpson, and had the presses, type, etc., boxed up and shipped to Jefferson City. This was all done under the orders of Colonel U. S. Grant, afterwards president of the United States, who was then in command at Jeffer- son City. The home guards, together with Colonel Worthington's command, on the afternoon of the same day, took with them the prisoners and the property which they had confiscated. The prisoners were afterwards released, and returned home; but most of the property, except that belonging to the printing establishment, was never again seen by its owners.
On the twenty-eighth day of August, in the same year, General Jeff. C. Davis ordered the home guards to reinforce Colonel Mul- ligan at Lexington, Missouri. Two days before, the 2d Illinois regiment of cavalry had been ordered to the same place, and had started. When Colonel Eppstein, the commander of the home guards, arrived at Tipton, he heard that a part of the 2d Illinois cavalry was at Boonville, and concluded to go there also, and re- ported to headquarters, that if they had any orders for him, to for- ward them to him at that place.
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Colonel Eppstein was ordered by General Jeff. C. Davis, then stationed at Jefferson City, to remain at Boonville, and occupy the breastworks, which he did.
On the first day of September, 1861, the troops around Boon- ville formed themselves into a battalion, consisting of two and one- half companies ; companies A and B, infantry, and one-half of a company of cavalry. The officers of the battalion were Joseph A. Eppstein, major ; Emil Haas, surgeon, and John A. Hayne, ad- jutant ; of company A, infantry, were John B. Keiser, captain ; John Roterd, first lieutenant, and Charles Koch, second lieutenant ; of company B, infantry, were Charles Beihle, captain ; Joseph Weber, first lieutenant ; John Fessler. second lieutenant. The half company of cavalry was commanded by Peter Ostermeyer.
About four days afterwards, this battalion received information that it would be attacked by the Confederates from several surround- ing counties. Colonel Eppstein immediately arrested a number of the most prominent southern men in Boonville, viz. : H. N. Ells, Rev. H. M. Painter, William E. Burr, J. W. Draffen, James Harper, and Joseph L. Stephens, and held them as hostages, hoping thereby to prevent the contemplated attack. But about six o'clock on the morn- ing of the 13th day of September, 1861, while Eppstein's command was at breakfast, the piekets having all come in, the breastworks were attacked by a force of about eight hundred men under the command of Colonel Brown, of Saline county. The fortifications were attacked on the west, southwest and southeast sides. The first attack was from the southwest, the next through Lilly's field on the southeast, and finally extended around to the west side. At first the firing was very rapid from the southwest and southeast, and soon afterwards from the west side of the fortifications, the balls falling thick ou every side. Colonel Brown led the attack on the southeast, and made two charges upon the breastworks, but was compelled to fall back each time under the heavy fire from the intrenchments. In the second attack Colonel Brown was mortally wounded, and fell within fifty feet of the breastworks ; a short time afterwards, his brother, Captain Brown, was also mortally wounded, and fell about ten feet behind him. The Browns were both brave men, and fought with desperation, and with utter disregard of their own safety. After the two Browns had fallen mortally wounded, and Major Poindexter been left in command of the Confederates, Mr. Burr, who was one of the prisoners at the breastworks, having become satisfied that the in- trenchments could not be taken, asked, and was granted permission
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to visit the Confederates, under a flag of truce, in order to see what arrangements could be made so as to bring about a cessation of hos- tilities. The two commanders finally agreed upon an armistice for seven days ; Major Poindexter's troops to be withdrawn from the breastworks and city, a distance of three miles, and were not to enter town only for medicine during that time ; Poindexter was to return all horses taken from union men, and surrender the arms of the men who had fallen in the engagement. If the terms of the armis- tice were broken by Poindexter, then Rev. H. M. Painter was to be shot.
The home guards numbered about one hundred and forty effective men. Their loss was two killed and seven wounded. The names of the killed were John A. Hayne, adjutant, and Kimball, a private. The number of Colonel Brown's command who were killed and wounded is not known. Colonel and Captain Brown were, after the battle, taken to a hospital at Boonville. The colonel died of his wounds the same evening ; the captain lingered until the next day, when he too died. Their bodies were taken to Saline county for burial.
At the commencement of the battle, messengers were dispatched by three different routes, viz. : by way of Tipton, Jefferson City road, and down the river in a skiff, asking for reinforcements Of these messengers, none reached Jefferson City except Joseph Read and Joseph Reavis, who went down the river. Those who went by the way of Tipton and the Jefferson City road, were captured by Colonel Brown's men while they were on the way.
On the 14th, at ten o'clock P. M., the force at Boonville was re- inforced by the 5th Iowa regiment, under the command of Colonel Worthington, which came up the river on a steamboat. After the armistice had expired, Major Poindexter drew off his men, and marched up the river to join General Price at Lexington.
In November, 1861, a scouting party of three men belonging to the home guards, started out to gain information in regard to a band of bushwhackers, who were thought to have their head- quarters somewhere in Clark's Fork township, in this county. While approaching the house of William George, in said township, they were fired upon from the house, and one of their number killed. The scouts then returned to Tipton, and having obtained reinforce- ments, returned and burned William George's house.
On the 16th day of September, 1861, Colonel Eppstein's battal- ion was commanded by Colouel Worthington to take possession of
50
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and guard the bridge across the Lamine river, on the road from Boon- ville to Arrow Rock. Before their arrival at the bridge, they heard the firing of several minute guns behind them, which were intended to warn the state troops of the approach of Colonel Eppstein's men. They reached the bridge in the night, and were fired upon from the opposite side of the river by the state troops, who seemed to have taken possession of the bridge. Colonel Eppstein returned the fire, and mortally wounded a young man named Herndon, who lived in Lamine township, in this county. He was taken to the house of Mr. Wm. Higgerson, where he soon afterwards expired. The state troops soon retreated and left Colonel Eppstein's troops in possession of the bridge, where they remained until the 19th day of September, when they were ordered to return to Boonville.
Soon afterwards, Colonel Worthington ordered Colonel Eppstein to take his command with him and burn this same bridge, it having been reported that General Price's army was marching towards Boonville from that direction, and would probably cross the Lamine at that point. Colonel Eppstein endeavored to dissuade him from his purpose by telling him that this would only delay Price a single day, as he could cross a short distance above ; but Colonel Worthington replied that it must be done, as he deemed it to be a military neces- sity. So the bridge was burned in accordance with his order. This proved to be a false alarm, as Price was not on his way to Boonville, and did not attempt to march in that direction.
Under a special law of congress, passed on account of a general dissatisfaction among the home guards all over the state, Colonel Eppstein's battalion was reorganized, and became a part of the Mis- souri state militia. Six companies were raised and organized at Boon- ville, and to these were added two companies from St. Louis, thus forming the 13th regiment of the Missouri state militia cavalry. The company of infantry which was commanded by Captain Charles Beihle, joined the 1st Missouri state militia infantry. Afterwards the 13th infantry was consolidated with four companies of the 12th regiment, and Schofield's " hussars," and from that time formed the 5th regi- ment, the old 5th having previously been disbanded.
The officers of this regiment were Albert Sigel, colonel ; Joseph A. Eppstein, lieutenant-colonel ; John B. Kaiser, major; and John Fetzer, surgeon. This regiment after first being thoroughly organ- ized and fully drilled and equipped, was ordered to Waynesville, in the Rolla district, where they remained and from whence they mostly operated during the war. Part of this regiment was under the com-
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mand of Colonel Brown, during his pursuit of Shelby, when in Oc- tober, 1863, he made his raid through the state in the direction of Boonville.
PRICE'S RAID.
Six companies of the 5th regiment, under the command of Colonel Eppstein, composed a portion of the forces of General Sanborn during his operations against General Price in his raid through Missouri in the fall of 1864. General Sanborn, at first supposing that General Price would march in the direction of Rolla, concentrated his forces at that place, but finding that General Price was making for Jefferson City, he moved his command to the latter place, on the way march- ing nearly parallel with the Confederates ; for while he was crossing the Osage river at Castle Rock, General Price was crossing the same stream eight miles below. Colonel Eppstein's command had a slight skirmish with the Confederate advance guard between the Osage and the Moreau creek, but he succeeded in reaching Jefferson City first.
General Sanborn had concentrated at that place, 3,000 infantry and 4,000 cavalry, most of them regulars, and all of them well-armed and drilled. General Price's army numbered about 20,000 men, yet there were thousands of them who had no arms, and had never seen anything like a battle. Neither had his troops been organized and placed under commanders, as many of them had flocked to his stand- ard as he had marched through the state, and as he was continually on the march, he had no opportunity to etfect organization in the ranks at this time, though shortly afterwards he had them under perfect control.
Price only made a slight attack on Jefferson City with a small portion of his forces, then withdrew without a general battle, and marched across the country in the direction of Boonville. General Sanborn, as soon as he learned the true state of affairs, started his cavalry in pursuit of the Confederates. Tho cavalry had skirmishes with the Confederate rear gnard, which was commanded by General Fagan at Stringtown, Russelville and California, on the 10th day of October, 1864, During these skirmishes, three of Colonel Eppstein's men were killed and thirteen wounded. The loss of the Confederates is unknown. Price camped, on the night of the 10th, on the Moniteau creek, just within the limits of Cooper county, and on the next day marched to Boonville.
The Federals moved west and camped on the upper Tip- ton road, about eleven miles south of Boonville, at Crenshaw's farm. On the 12th of October, Colonel Graveley, with about four hundred
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mounted men of Sanborn's command, advanced by way of the upper Tipton road to within about one-half of a mile of Boonville, to test the strength, and if possible, to find out the contemplated movements of General Price's command. At what is known as the Vollrath place, about one-half of a mile south of Boonville, Colonel Graveley came upon some Confederate companies in camp, and some lively fighting ensued, but finding the Confederates too strong for them, the Federals retreated to the main army.
On the 12th, Colonel Eppstein with about three hundred and fifty men of his command, moved toward Boonville, and camped at Bo- hannon's farm, about seven miles south. of Boonville. Early on the morning of the 13th, he was ordered to advance as far as he could in the direction of Boonville, and reconnoitre General Price's position. Immediately upon receiving this order be commenced his march with the above mentioned number of men and two mountain howitzers, and on arriving at Wilkin's bridge, across the Petite Saline creek, his command was fired upon by a band of about four hundred men under the command of General Fagan, who were guarding the bridge. Colonel Eppstein returned the fire, and ordered four mounted com- panies to dismount and deploy as skirmishers, After some little skirmishing along the banks of the creek, General Fagan leisurely re- treated towards Boonville. After going north about one-half of a mile to where a lane crosses the main road, south of Mrs. McCarty's house, Colonel Eppstein, who was in pursuit, found that General Fag.in had barricaded the road with trees, etc. Here Miller's and Murphy's companies had a close fight with the Confederates, even using swords and bayonets. These two companies were surrounded at one time and ordered by the Confederates to surrender ; but the other two com- panies of Colonel Eppstein's command coming up to their aid, Gen- eral Fagan again fell back. At this place two of the Federals were wounded, but none hurt upon the other side.
General Fagan next made a stand at Anderson's branch, and here the two forces had a more severe battle. Three of the Federals were killed, and seven wounded. The killed were Fred. Hoecher, a man named Jones ; the name of the other is not known. The loss of the Confederates, as was afterwards learned, was considerable.
General Fagan by this time had brought up four pieces of artil- lery, and commenced shelling the woods along Anderson's branch in which Colonel Eppstein was stationed. The Federals then received orders to fall back, and retreated to California, Moniteau county. to obtain supplies. They soon afterwards returned to Crenshaw's farm,
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and there halted and took dinner. There General Sanborn learned that Price had left Boonville, so marching west he camped for the night at New Nebo church. The next morning he continued his march in the direction of Georgetown.
In August, 1864, Captain Parks with two companies, of which Franklin Swap was first lientenant and provost marshal, being a part of the Iowa cavalry, had command of the post at Boonville. Finding but little to do on this side of the river, they crossed over into Howard county, in search of Anderson's bushwhackers, - passed. through New Franklin, and took the road east leading to Rocheport. Although warned by the citizens of his danger, as Anderson was known to be in full force in the neighborhood, Captain Parks marched on. When about one mile east of New Franklin, his command was suddenly attacked by Anderson's men, and cut into two parts, seven of them being killed by the first fire. The greater part of his command retreated to a house in the Missouri river bottom, and kept Anderson at bay by firing through the cracks of the house. Captain Parks, at the outset, became separated from his men, and retreated towards Fayette until he met Major Leonard's command, which happened to be marching in that direction. With this he returned to the relief of his company, and Anderson having learned of his approach, drew off his men and retired.
The part of Captain Parks' company which had been besieged in the house, finding that Anderson had drawn off his men, mounted horses, came back to Old Franklin in the night, and crossed the river in safety, although several men were missing. This part of the com- pany knew nothing of Captain Parks until the next day, when he made his appearance. They then recrossed the river, and having re- covered the bodies of their companions who had been killed, buried them in one grave at the city cemetery, in the southwest part of Boonville.
In the winter of 1862 and 1863, Colonel Pope was the com- mander of several companies of home militia, with headquarters at the fair grounds at Boonville. They disbanded in 1863, and Colonel D. W. Wear formed a battalion and was commander of the post at Boonville. The battalion did considerable scouting, the details of which are not sufficiently known to be given.
Lieutenant Colonel Reavis, while under Colonel Pope, learning that some Confederate recruiting forces had crossed the river, making their way in a southern direction, immediately started in pursuit, and overtook them while in camp in the brush, near Thomas Tucker's
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house, about two miles east of Buneeton, in Cooper county. He fired upon them, killing two men and wounding one. The recruits then separated and made their way out of the country by different routes. The names of the Confederates who were killed were Josbua Lamp- ton and Jones, from Boone county. They were buried at the " Vine " or Concord church. The wounded man, after recovering, was paroled by Colonel Pope, and returned to his home in Boone county.
SHELBY'S RAID.
General Joseph Shelby, of the Confederate army, made a raid into Cooper county during the month of October, 1863. He passed through Otterville on the night of the 9th of said month, and burned the Pacific railroad bridge near that town. On the night of the 10th he camped near Bell Air, in a pasture belonging to Mr. Nathaniel Leonard, and on the next day he marched to Boonville. His move- ments becoming known in Boonville the night before, a meeting of the citizens was called by Mayor MeDearmon. After some delay, the conclusion was reached that the only alternative was to surrender the eity to General Shelby. Citizens were sent out to meet him, who re- turned without being able to gain any information as to his wherea- bouts, and conveyed the impression that he would not pay his compliments to the city during this expedition.
Therefore, his arrival at Boonville on the 11th day of October, was quite a surprise to the citizens. Several of the citizens had crossed the river into Howard county the night before, having con- eluded that discretion was the better part of valor, that their presence in Boonville would accomplish no good, and that there would be more safety in making themselves searce.
Just as General Shelby marched into Boonville from the south, Major Leonard, with about 250 Federal troops, appeared on the north side of the river and commeneed crossing his men. The first boat load had almost reached the Boonville shore, when some one called to those in the boat that the town was full of Confederates, and that they had better retreat. The pilots immediately turned the boat around and made for the Howard shore. At this time some of Shelby's men appeared and commenced firing upon the boat with muskets. But the boat, having gotten out of reach of this fire, the Confederates brought up some artillery and opened fire upon the boat, two shots striking it before it reached the shore. As soon as Major Leonard landed his forces, the artillery was turned upon them, and they were soon forced to retire beyond the reach of the shells.
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