USA > Missouri > Jackson County > History of Jackson County, Missouri > Part 14
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77
"The fleetest elk hath shed them from his brow; Fit emblem, Polar Star, to deck thy prow."
About this time the James H. Lucas came into commission and its captain, having in one or two runs arrived at the conclusion that his boat had some speed, made up his mind to try and win those horns. Abiding his time until the stage of water was just right he carefully adjusted his up steam cargo-for upon a proper loading a boat largely depended its ease of motion-he stored his lower decks with much rich pine, several barrels of rosin, a few tons of fat pork, and started forth. The swift strokes of the buckets churned the river into foam while the shapely bow cut and turned the water like a plowshare. The Lucas made the same stops the Star had made and remained as long at each landing.
-
4
VENNIY LEWIS
A REGULAR TUESDAY
PACKET FOR
GLASGOW & CAMBRIDGE
STEAMBOATING ON THE MISSOURI IN THE FIFTIES.
١
201
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY
When she pulled in at Kansas City she had gained a little on the Star's time, but not enough for safety, so the stokers chucked in more rosin and pork and the black smoke curling in a dense cloud from her lofty funnels told of the lively work going on down below. As the boat left Atchison the captain took his stand in front of the pilot house and hold- ing his chronometer in his hand kept the time while he closely watched the river on ahead. Soon the siren signalled St. Joseph, and the captain turned to receive the congratulations of his officers and passengers. He had beaten the Star's time, as I remember, by about three hours and 16 minutes. The master of the Star was game, and as soon as his success- ful rival returned to St. Louis the horns were transferred to the hurri- cane deck of the Lucas, which held them as long as it ploughed the muddy waters of the "old Mizzo."
The John Warner was famed as having the largest and sweetest toned bell on the river. The A. B. Chambers was owned principally in Kansas City, and was a prime favorite. Scarcely a trip was made from here to St. Joseph that it did not carry a party of Kansas City's youth and beauty, and Hickman's string band. The cabin furnished splendid space for dancing, Hickman's artists spun out sweet strains of music, and from dusky eve 'till dewy morn the revelry would be kept up. Many a heart was lost and won, many a vow soft whispered as the proud old steamer breasted the current and won its way up stream, or plowed its way down stream.
One day the Peerless came up wearing a caliope, and the strange- ness of it attracted a great crowd, but after one experience, Kansas City preferred its steam music by wireless and ever after took it over the long distance, for if music be the concord of sweet sounds, a steamboat caliope no more generated it than a buzz saw.
Yes, those were good days for steamboats and steamboats were good for those days, and the writer is one who believes that steamboats can be made good for these days.
In his speech before the National Waterways Convention in Wash- ington City in 1907, James J. Hill, the great railroad king, said :
"Gentlemen, the railroads of this country in a few years time can- not begin to carry the freight that commerce will demand to be carried. We need the rivers, as well as you, to help move the great products of this country, for surely there'll soon be more than enough for all."
Every year, it is said, 30 per cent. of what is produced in the United States, goes to waste because of the lack of facilities to transfer it from those who produce to those who would like to consume.
CHAPTER XIV
EVENTS OF WAR TIMES
FIRST BLOODSHED-WHY YOUNG MEN JOINED THE CONFEDERATE ARMY-A VETERAN'S EXPERIENCE-WHY M. V. B. FLANNERY BECAME A QUANTRELL MAN-THE YOUNGERS-A NARROW ESCAPE.
The first bloodshed in the great Civil War in Jackson County was at a place called "Rock Creek," two miles west of Independence, on the old Westport road.
The first man killed was Charles Harbaugh. A great deal has been told and written about what is called the Rock Creek Fight at the be- ginning of the Civil War. I want to record here what I firmly believe is the exact truth in regard to that occurrence. On the 12th day of June, 1861, Governor Clayborn F. Jackson issued a call for 50,000 volunteer militia, to repel invasion, etc. They were ordered to mobilize at desig- nated points. Previous to that time militia companies had been forming all over the State in anticipation of war between the North and the South. Two of such companies had been formed in Independence, one called the "Blues," and the other the "Grays," the designation being made on ac- count of the color of the uniform. Thomas W. Arnold was captain of one company, George F. Whitehead the other. Both of them were merchants of Independence at the time.
Captain Arnold had a general store on the south side of the square, where the Ott building now stands. Captain Whitehead had a boot and shoe store a few doors east of Mr. Arnold. The companies were made up of the young men of the town, and some of the young men from the country who lived near enough to come in and attend drill. They were armed with various kinds of guns, but mostly those that had been taken
203
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY
from the Liberty arsenal when it was robbed by a preconcerted action from a lot of men from Clay and Jackson counties.
Pursuant to that proclamation, the men began to gather in the pas- ture of Albert G. Oldham, just west of where the old Independence and Westport road crosses Rock Creek. A Colonel Holloway had been com- missioned colonel and designated to command the forces for this county. Mr. Holloway had been an officer of the U. S. army, but had resigned his commission, in order to cast his lot with the people of the South.
Other companies had been formed in different parts of the county. The men came in by companies, squads, and single, some of them belong- ing to no companies, but intending to join some company when they reached here. They were armed with all kinds of weapons imagineable, shot guns, squirrel rifles, and pistols of all known make. Pickets were thrown out toward Kansas City, men were soon busy enrolling and as- signing them to companies. When the call reached Captains Arnold and Whitehead, they started runners out and notified their men to come at once. They got their men together and marched them out to camp as quickly as possible. Both of those companies were nicely uniformed and fairly well drilled. They made a nice appearance when lined up. Colo- nel Holloway looked them over and complimented them on their good showing.
When Captain Arnold's company was ordered out one member could not be found. He was a little Irish shoemaker named Patsy O'Donnell. Captain Arnold left word to him to come right on out if he should show up at his home or shop. About 3 o'clock on the evening of June 13th, Patsy came reeling into camp gloriously drunk. Captain Arnold up- braided him for presenting himself for duty in such a condition. Patsy commenced jawing the captain, and talking very loud. The captain told him if he did not hush up and behave himself he would put him under arrest. "Ye-s havn't got a man in yer company that can irrest me, sir," replied Patsy. Standing close by was a big, broad-shouldered farmer that belonged to the company, named Dealy Noland. When Patsy made that bold statement, the captain said, "Knock him down, Dealy!" No quicker said than done, one well directed punch landed under Patsy's left ear, and he found himself flat on his back. Jump on him said the captain, and Dealy immediately threw himself on the prostrate Patsy and held him as tight as if he had been in a vise. The captain called for a rope and then soon had him hog-tied so thoroughly that he could not move, and left him to think over what he had said. About 5 o'clock one
204
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY
of the pickets came running into camp and reported that the Federal troops were coming down the hill on the west side of Big Blue. Colonel Holloway immediately ordered the men to "fall in." Captains Arnold's and Whitehead's being the best armed and drilled were ordered to march out first, and the others to fall in behind them. By this time Patsy had sobered up wonderfully, and was getting very tired of this position lying on the ground, tied as he was.
When the company was ready to march he called Captain Arnold, and told him he was very sorry for what he had done and begged to be untied so he could go with the company. Captain Arnold said to him, "Now, Patsy, if I turn you loose, will you behave yourself and obey my orders ?" "I will," said Patsy. "Turn him loose," ordered the captain. When he was up they gave him his gun and belt and ordered him to "fall in," which he did. The two companies were marched up the road for nearly a half of mile and stationed on the inside of the rail fence on the west side of the road, and running parallel with the road. The other companies were coming up to support one piece of artillery that was sta- tioned just at a small turn in the road, but at a point where a few turns of the wheel would put it into position to sweep a long, straight stretch of the road. Pretty soon the head of the Federal column came into sight. At the head of it was a flag of truce. Colonel Holloway had selected William (Bud) McClanahan as his aid. McClanahan belonged to the Blues, and was dressed in his uniform and road a iron-gray horse. When Colonel Holloway saw the flag of truce he and McClanahan started west to meet him. When they met Colonel Holloway and the Federal com- mander shook hands, for they were old acquaintances and had served to- gether in the army, and they commenced to talk. What was said was never known, and will never be known, for just at that time Patsy O'Donnel yelled, "Shoot the d-n rascals," and fired his musket at them. The firing commenced immediately. Colonel Holloway fell from his horse, and the Federal commander and his aids wheeled and ran out of range as fast as their horses could go, but did not fire a shot. Pan- demonium broke loose at once, men were firing in every direction, a gen- eral panic started at once, about one-third of the men were engaged in the firing. None of those behind the piece of artillery fired a shot. The result of the firing was that Colonel Holloway was mortally wounded and taken to the house of Barnett M. Noland, nearby, where he died that night. Bud McClanahan and Thomas Cooper were taken to the house of Albert G. Oldham, another farmer near the scene, McClanahan died there
205
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY
the next morning. Cooper remained there until he recovered enough to be taken to his home, near where Lees Summit now is.
The only man killed outright was Charles Harbaugh, a farmer from near Lees Summit. He was climbing over the fence, and just as he had thrown his leg over the top of the fence a bullet struck him just over the left eye, and passed clear through his head. He fell into the road, and no doubt never knew what struck him.
After the Federal forces ran, the firing ceased as suddenly as it had commenced, and all the men marched back to camp.
No provision having been made to feed the men and horses some of the men began to pull out for home. The rest broke camp and retreated eastwardly and did not stop until they had reachel Little Blue. It is a mistake to call that affair a fight. There must be two parties to every fight, and in that case only one party acted. The Federal commander did not come there for a fight. He was sent to ascertain for what pur- pose that many armed men were congregated together. Just what his orders were will never be known, for the only man that was told of their commission was killed. Thus it will be seen, that the unauthorized act of a drunken soldier was the cause of the trouble and loss of life. A great hue and cry went all over the country, about Southern men firing on a flag of truce. This is the first written statement that I have ever made in regard to that affair, but it is absolutely true in every particular, for all of it I saw, and part of it I was, for I was a member of Captain Ar- nold's company, and was present and saw the whole thing.
When the order came to abandon camp and retreat, everything was in the upmost confusion, with the commander mortally wounded and no one else authorized to take command. It seemed to be a case of every man for himself, and the "Federals catch the hindmost." Wagons, sad- dles, camp equipments were scattered around in the upmost confusion. Late the next evening Major Price, with an attachment of infantry from Ft. Leavenworth, marched in and camped at the same place. They had come by forced march and the men were about worn out. When they came in Mr. Oldham, on whose premises they were camped (as he after- wards told me), went into the camp and saw Major Price and told him that there was a wounded man at his house and asked him to put a guard around the house. The major did so, and asked that nothing should be molested. His orders were fully carried out, and not a soldier except the guards put his foot on the place. There was another family living on the south side of the camp that reached up to the yard fence. As soon as the
206
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY
family saw them coming into camp they took fright and ran away to a neighbor's and stayed all night, leaving no one in the house. The next morning they, having gotten over their scare, returned home and found the house had been entered and some small articles such as spoons, knives and forks had been stolen. The man went to headquarters and reported the theft to the major. He immediately ordered the assembly sounded, and every man in camp fell into line. He designated two officers to go down the line and carefully. search each man. They soon caught three men with some of the loot in their possession. After all had been searched the three men were taken before a summary court martial, tried and con- victed. The major sent for Mr. Oldham and told him of what had been done. The verdict of the court martial was that the men were to receive ten lashes on their bare backs, and to be dishonorably discharged from the service. Three teamsters with blacksnake whips were called and told to administer the punishment.
In relating the circumstances afterward, Mr. Oldham told the writer that he never saw such a sight in his life, and hoped that he would never do so again. After the men had received the whipping they were made to dress themselves, and were drummed out of camp to the tune of the Rogue's march.
If all of the officers of the U. S. Army had been such soldiers as Major Price, General Price would never had an army and western Mis- souri would have been spared the many scenes of murder, rape and heart- less cruelty that afterward swept all over the country, and left a trail of ruined homes in their wake.
After Major Price had administered the punishment to the soldiers he marched his soldiers into town, but stayed only a little while. He came back and camped again that night in the same place. The next morning the whole command returned to Fort Leavenworth. During the whole time that he and his command were in Jackson County, not a single thing was disturbed or taken, as above stated. None of his men were allowed to leave camp or rank when on the march, except under orders.
WHY YOUNG MEN JOINED THE CONFEDERATE ARMY.
When the Civil War commenced there was living about one and one- half miles south of Raytown a man by the name of Martin L. Kritser. He owned a fine farm, well stocked and plenty of the world's goods to make him contented. Mr. Kritser had raised a large family of sons and
207
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY
daughters, some of them had married and possessed homes of their own. The younger ones were at ome with their parents, assisting their father and mother in the work of the farm.
Mr. Kritser was of German descent, but American born. He was a Whig in politics, and was a strong Union man and violently opposed to secession and slavery. Among his sons were John and Martin, aged about 19 and 17, respectively. They were at home, taking no part in the war either way.
Soon after the war commenced, a scout of Federal soldiers, consist- ing of about 30 men, rode up to Mr. Kritser's house and ordered dinner prepared for the whole number.
The lieutenant in command was a German, as well as the first ser- geant. The next order was, feed for their horses. Mr. Kritser called the boys and told them to go with the lieutenant down to the barn and show him where to find the feed.
They all had dismounted and were leading their horses with a long, heavy, leather halter strap. John was walking just in front of the lieu- tenant, when, without warning, he unbuckled the strap and, doubling it up, commenced thrashing John unmercifully with it and, at the same time, remarked: "You are a dam secesh and makes trouble with the Government." When the sergeant saw what the lieutenant was doing he performed the same operation on Martin, the rest of the squad laughing and enjoying the transaction greatly. The boys had to stand it, of course, until the officers got tired of the job and quit.
The ladies of the house prepared the dinner for the whole party, which they ate. After they had all gotten through their dinner they rode off. It was the custom in those days for the farmers to give each of their sons and daughters a colt, and when grown to be their own prop- erty. Mr. Kritser had followed the custom, so that John and Martin each had a good horse, saddle and bridle of their own. In addition to their horses each of them owned a good double-barreled shotgun, which they used in shooting wild geese and prairie chickens, which came in count- less numbers during the fall and winter.
After the departure of the soldiers John said to Martin: "You know that we have been strong Union people, all of us, but if this is the way we are to be treated by men in the uniform of Union soldiers, I want no more of it, and you may do as you please, but I am going into the Con- federate army, and I swear I will kill every d-n Dutchman that I pos- sibly can, and am in hopes one of them will be that scoundrel that
208
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY
whipped me." Martin simply replied: "I will go with you." They told their father of their decision. He replied: "Sons, I don't blame you. If I were of your age and had been treated like you have, I would go too." They went out, saddled their horses, got their guns that they had kept hidden out to avoid having them taken away from them, their clothing and blankets. bade the family good-bye, and struck out for the Confed- erate army.
They joined Company E, Shank's regiment, Shelby's brigade. That company was selected by General Shelby for his escort. From that time on until the close of the conflict, they were in all of the fights of that brigade. They were always in the front.
How well John Kritser kept his oath made that day in his father's yard, God and himself only knows, but if any men whose face showed any trace of German blood in his veins met him in battle, no questions were asked, and business would immediately begin.
When General Price made his raid through Missouri in 1864, some of the men of Shelby's brigade got the idea that he was not sending his escort into the close places as much as they thought he ought to and be- gan talking among themselves about it. The talk finally reached the ears of General Shelby. When the advance reached Booneville, there was seen Federal soldiers on the opposite side of the river. Shelby decided then and there that he would show them whether he was shielding them or not. He rode down to the river and saw a lot of skiffs tied up to the bank. Turning to Captain Langhorne, he said: "Captain, detail an officer and half dozen men to take two of these skiffs across the river and find out how many Yankee soldiers are over there." Langhorne replied: "It looks like sentencing a man to death to start him across there in an open boat. I will call for volunteers and see if I can get them." The call was made for volunteers for the trip. John Kritser was the first one to answer the call. Soon the number was made up. There was a lot of old brick houses standing on that side and the Fed- eral soldiers were firing from behind them. Shelby directed his men to open fire on them with their rifles, and keep them from firing on the skiffs while they were crossing if possible.
His men unsaddled their horses and put the saddles in the boats and swam the horses to the north side. The audacity of the thing seemed to throw a scare into the Federals, for, when they landed, sad- dled and mounted, the enemy were found to be retreating as fast as possible.
CONFEDERATE MONUMENT, LONE JACK. MO.
209
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY
The effect of that trip across the river forever closed the mouths of the complainants as to his shielding his escort.
Many years after the close of the war, I was in conversation with an old veteran of the Confederate artillery that had gone through the whole war in the same division as Shelby brigade, when he made the re- mark: "I have known a great many soldiers in my time, but the best all around soldier that I ever saw or knew was John Kritser of Com- pany E, Shank's regiment. He was always ready for fun, frolic or fight. It made no difference to him. He certainly was Johnnie on the spot when it came to soldiering. He could ride longer, sleep less, get into more tight places and get out quicker without being hurt or caught than any man in the regiment. After the war he went to Texas and went into the cattle business.
It will be seen what acts of cruelty and oppression will do. If that lieutenant had not treated him as he did, the probabilities are that both John and Martin Kritser would have stayed at home and attended to their own affairs. Such cases as the above described were plentiful over west- ern Missouri. In a great many other cases the ill-treatment was worse than was administered to the Kritser boys, but, in almost every case, the result was the same.
A VETERAN'S EXPERIENCE.
One Sunday evening, many years ago, I was strolling through Wood- land cemetery in Independence when I noticed a man some distance away searching the names on the tombstones and monuments. I soon recognized him as an old acquaintance, a person that I had known for a great many years. About the same time he saw me and walked over to where I was. We passed the compliments of the day with each other. He then asked me if I could tell him where the men that were killed in the "Wagner fight" were buried. I told him that I could, and would go with him to the spot. When we reached the place, he ran his eyes over the names and soon stopped-pointed his finger to a name, and said : "That was the hardest man to kill that I ever saw." "How do you know about him ?" I asked. He replied: "I sent three dragoon balls through that man's body before I knocked him out of the saddle." "How did you find out his name?" "After the fight I went back and took his belt, pis- tol and saber from his body and his name was written on the belt. I threw the caber away, but wore the belt until the close of the war." "Tell me about the fight" I said to him. "All right," he replied, "Let's go to
210
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY
that seat yonder, where we can sit down, and I will tell you." We walked to the seat and sat down, and he gave me the following account of it:
"We had gotten orders from Geo. Todd, who was then in Jackson County, to meet near the Howard's Farm (that lies just east of the pres- ent county farm). When the men had gotten there, we counted off and there were 63 of us. We threw out pickets along the old Harrisonville road, both ways, and awaited developments. There is a long hill on the south of Little Blue, where the road leads up from the bottom land to the
higher lands on the south. It followed up a branch between hills on either side, and was covered with brush. We had named it 'Manassas Gap.' It was an ideal place for a surprise. The ridge on either side was high enough that the attacking party could fire down on anyone in the road, and the sides were so steep that it was almost impossible for a man on horseback to climb up. We did not know if we were to take station there or not, and await developments.
"The most of our men were in the edge of the brush on the east side of the road. South of the cut-on the opposite side, was an open field that looked as though it had been in wheat for the last crop that had been raised on it. From where the pickets stood they discovered a company of Federal soldiers coming. One of the pickets concealed himself and counted 62 men. Another picket came in and reported the number. Our orders were to wait until they had gotten opposite the open field and then to charge on them so as to get advantage of the open ground in which to do our fighting. The Federal commander had discovered the pickets, which purposely showed themselves in order to get the Federals to follow them to the open ground, which they did. As soon as our commander saw that they were in the open field, he ordered the charge. At it we went, whooping like wild Indians. As soon as the Federal commander heard us, he stopped the pursuit of the pickets and turned his men to meet us. Such a fight I have never seen as that was. There we were- 62 men on one side and 63 on the other. In less than a minute, the whole 125 of us were fighting on one acre of land. The smoke and the dust raised by the horses soon got so thick that it was almost impossible to distinguish friend from foe, and men had to be careful to identify the man that he was shooting at for fear it would be one of his own men.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.