History of Lewis, Clark, Knox, and Scotland counties, Missouri. From the earliest time to the present, together with sundry personal, business and professional sketches and mumerous family records, Part 8

Author: Goodspeed, firm, publishers, Chicago (1886-1891, Goodspeed Publishing Co.)
Publication date: 1887
Publisher: St. Louis, Chicago, The Goodspeed publishing co.
Number of Pages: 1308

USA > Missouri > Scotland County > History of Lewis, Clark, Knox, and Scotland counties, Missouri. From the earliest time to the present, together with sundry personal, business and professional sketches and mumerous family records > Part 8
USA > Missouri > Lewis County > History of Lewis, Clark, Knox, and Scotland counties, Missouri. From the earliest time to the present, together with sundry personal, business and professional sketches and mumerous family records > Part 8
USA > Missouri > Clark County > History of Lewis, Clark, Knox, and Scotland counties, Missouri. From the earliest time to the present, together with sundry personal, business and professional sketches and mumerous family records > Part 8
USA > Missouri > Knox County > History of Lewis, Clark, Knox, and Scotland counties, Missouri. From the earliest time to the present, together with sundry personal, business and professional sketches and mumerous family records > Part 8

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).

On the morning of the 5th of July, Judge Martin E. Green set out on horseback from his farm for Canton, carrying on his arm a basket of cherries for a friend in town. A mile or two from the place he was informed of the presence of the Federal troops under Palmer, and turning about he rode straight for the secession camp at Horse Shoe Bend. A few days after his arrival he was elected colonel of the battalion or regiment. Capt. Joe C. Porter was chosen lieutenant-colonel; both officers were not regularly commissioned until later.

No better selections for commanding officers could have been made than of Cols. Green and Porter. Although both were farmers and without actual military experience, neither having ever set a squadron in the field, yet they seemed from the first at home in their new vocation. The occasion brought them forth. These quiet farmers developed into military leaders, with real

HISTORY OF LEWIS COUNTY.

genius and strong ability and, had not both fallen by Federal bullets, would have come out of the war with the stars of major- generals. Green became a brigadier, renowned for his strong good sense, deliberation and steadfastness of purpose, as well as for his calm bravery and other manly qualities. The war brought to notice no braver, better soldier than Joe Porter. With an indomitable will and courage, he combined energy, sagacity and dash, the elements which make the true and successful soldier to an eminent degree.

In a few days Green had perhaps 400 men; * a majority from Lewis, with many from Marion, Knox and Clark. A company from Marion brought two iron cannon, a six and a nine pounder, cast at Hannibal. Some time previously a steam pipe was improvised into a sort of swivel or mountain howitzer. A log and brush breastwork was constructed for defense in case of an attack. The men were all mounted, and armed with hunting rifles, shot-guns and revolvers. Provisions and provender were obtained from friends in the country. Ammunition was taken wherever it could be found; the stores at Williamstown and Monticello were stripped of their powder, lead and caps, which were sometimes paid for and sometimes not.

After a series of movements from one point to another in the neighborhood, Col. Green moved to Edina about the 31st of July. On the 2d of August Hance Caldwell shot and killed William Cummings in Edina. Cummings was drunk, and Caldwell was endeavoring to effect his arrest and return to camp, although it is claimed that the shooting was accidental. Both men were from Lewis County.

After the ill-fated expedition to Athens, Col. Green returned to the northwestern part of the county, changing camp frequently -now at the Horse Shoe Bend or Sugar Camp Ford, now at Short's Well, now at Camp McReynolds, etc. He had taken prisoners from time to time a number of Union men, some of whom he had exchanged for prisoners of his own in Col. Moore's hands.

On the 27th of July a recruiting officer for the Federal service, Lieut. Joe K. Rickey, of Keokuk, was captured near

* Quite a number of these were not regularly enlisted, and were serving, each man on his own account.

STATE OF MISSOURI.

Dover Church by Hance Caldwell and Willis T. Ball, and taken to Green's camp, where he was kept a prisoner for some days, being released at last and sent to Palmyra. When captured Lieut. Rickey was in a buggy with a companion near Dover Church, where a company of Union Home Guards was drilling. Col. Woodyard was somewhat concerned about the fate of Rickey, and addressed a letter to Col. Green, through Judge Henderson Davis, on the subject of the arrest, exchange and release of prisoners by both parties, demanding the instant release or exchange of Rickey. To this letter Col. Green returned the following reply: *

HENDERSON DAVIS,

CAMP MCREYNOLDS. August 12, 1881.

Dear Sir :- I am in receipt of a note of Col. Woodyard addressed to you, which is the only reason why I address this to you. In that note Col. Woodyard proposes to exchange prisoners, but on an entirely new theory. I have had several letters from Col. Moore, and we have had several exchanges of prisoners. We exchange according to roster, that is, according to rank. Such a thing as arresting citizens, not under arms, is a thing not per- mitted by me. My instructions to all under my command is to let citizens alone. It would be very little trouble for me to arrest citizens, but I hope I will never be guilty of such an act. I have publicly declared my intention not only to let citizens alone, but to protect them in all their rights, regardless of opinions. This I have scrupulously observed.

As regards Joe Rickey, the is in Palmyra, with liberty to go where he pleases. The condition then that he (Woodyard) lays down for the release of the prisoners in his charge are fully complied with so far as I am concerned. Mr. Rickey went to Palmyra at his request, and I do not think I ought to be requested to return him. I can just say this much-he is fully released so far as I am concerned. I do not know anything further that I ought to do. I think when he reflects on what I have done he will come to the conclusion that I was perfectly justifiable in all I done. My actions I am willing shall be scrutinized upon the evidence of the prisoners. Yours, respectfully etc.,

MARTIN E. GREEN,

Colonel Commanding Missouri State Guards.

SKIRMISH AT CLAPP'S FORD.

Soon after the Athens fight Col. Woodyard began to make ready an expedition against Green's forces in the interior. On the night of the 14th of August occurred the affair at Clapp's Ford. Col. Woodyard, with 350 men, all home guards except a company of Illinois " zouaves," had moved from Canton to Williamstown. From there he started on a night

*From the original, in the possession of Louis Koch, Esq., of La Grange.

+Mr. Rickey is now (1887) a well known Democratic politician and Washington lobbyist. No name is better known in Washington than that ot "Colonel " Joe Rickey .- Compiler.

HISTORY OF LEWIS COUNTY.

march for Edina, to unite his forces with those of Col. Moore. A battle moon shone brightly, and the command proceeded with- out impediment until it reached the North Fabius, on the Clark County line, at the crossing known as Clapp's Ford. Here Woodyard learned of the immediate presence of a considerable rebel force, and halted in the creek bottom, forming his men in line in the tall slough grass. In a few minutes about an equal number of rebel troops, under Lieut .- Col. Joe Porter, came up from the opposite side. Porter had with him the two pieces of cannon before mentioned. When the rebels had approached suffi- ciently near the Federals fired a heavy volley at them. Taken by surprise the Southerners were thrown into confusion and fell back in disorder. Col. Porter steadied a portion of his command long enough to return the fire with his small arms and his artillery ; the latter did not deliver more than two or three rounds, none of which took effect. The Federals had with them a small swivel or two-pound cannon, which at one time belonged in La Grange, and had been used exclusively in civic demonstrations. This was put in position and discharged, perhaps twice, with the effect to cause one excited rebel officer to exclaim: " Boys, they've got cannon too; let's get out of this !" Accordingly the rebels "got out," with more celerity than grace, but with a great una- nimity of purpose. It is said that they left behind them a hun- dred hats and caps and fifty shot-guns and rifles, dropped in the wild skurry through the brush and thickets. The rebels had one man, a citizen of Knox County, killed, and three or four wounded. A few horses were killed and hurt. The Union loss was one killed, a man named William Pulse, who lived on Deer Ridge, and three wounded, and one horse killed. The small number of casualties was due to the wild shooting in the night time and under great excitement. At the time each side reported a large number of the other killed, but the truth is believed to be as here stated.

After the skirmish was over Woodyard himself fell back a short distance, and the next day went to Fairmont with a portion of his command. Porter united with Green, who soon pushed out for Edina and toward Kirksville.

During the last week in August Col. Green prepared to set out

STATE OF MISSOURI.

with his forces to join the army of Gen. Price, then known to be on its way from Springfield to some point on the Missouri. The Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad was in possession of the Fed- eral troops, and its passage with a conspicuous force was a matter of some difficulty. Col. Green, therefore, marched westward, and made a feint of attacking Kirksville.

A detachment of the Third Iowa Infantry and some home guards were at that point. Green moved into the eastern part of Adair County, and about the 18th of August a skirmish occurred on Bee branch, eight miles northeast of Kirksville, in which Cor- poral Dix, of Company C, Third Iowa, was killed, and one of Green's men, named Lapsley, from Lewis County, was badly wounded. The skirmish occurred at a dwelling-house early in the morning, and was between Corporal Dix and a squad of home guards on one side, and a detachment of Monroe and Lewis seces- sion troops under Capt. Bob Hagar on the other. The next day another skirmish occurred, wherein one Secessionist (Brown, of Schuyler) was killed, and one wounded. A demonstration directly against Kirksville was made, and the Federals came out with artil- lery and repulsed it. These incidents had exactly the effect Green intended.

The Federals under Gen. Hurlbut left the railroad, withdraw- ing the greater part of their forces from Macon, Shelbina and Hunnewell, and repaired to the relief of Kirksville, when Green turned about, marched swiftly to the southeast, halted a day or two at Marshall's Mill, in Marion County, to enable some detach- ments to join him, and on the 2d of September crossed the rail- road, a little west of Monroe City, in perfect safety and without interference, tore up the track and destroyed the telegraph for some distance, and went into camp near Florida, Monroe County, to await the orders of Gen. Price.

Driving out a force of Federals (part of the Third Iowa and Second Kansas) at Shelbina, and capturing the town, on the 4th, Col. Green returned to his camp near Florida, and on the 8th started for Lexington, avoiding encounter with a strong Federal force marching against him under Gen. Pope and Col. David Moore. On the 12th he crossed the Missouri at Glasgow, on a captured steamboat called the " Sunshine," and on the 18th, with

HISTORY OF LEWIS COUNTY.

1,500 men, joined Gen. Price at Lexington, where his command bore a gallant and leading part in the capture of Col. Mulligan, and the Federal forces under his command. In this engagement Lieut .- Col. Porter and a number of other Lewis County men were wounded.

Gen. Martin E. Green was born in Fauquier County, Va., June 3, 1815. He was a farmer by occupation, and received but a limited education. In the fall of 1836 he came to Lewis County, and for some years he and his brother, Hon. James S. Green, operated a saw and grist-mill on the Wyaconda, in the north- eastern part of the county. He was for many years a justice of the peace, represented the county in the Eighteenth General Assem- bly, being elected in 1854, and served two terms as a county court justice.

His entrance into the civil war, as previously noted, was as colonel of the Northeast Missouri Regiment of State Guards, of Gen. Harris's division. At the close of his term in the State Guards he entered the regular Confederate service, inducing many other Missourians to join him. He took part in the engage- ments at Athens, Shelbina, Lexington, Crane Creek, Pea Ridge, the defense of Corinth, Iuka, the attack on Corinth, Port Gib- son, Champion Hills and the defense of Vicksburg. At Pea Ridge he commanded a brigade, receiving his commission as brig- adier-general a month later. At and after the battle of Corinth he commanded a division until his death.

Gen. Green was killed at dawn on the morning of June 27, 1863, during the siege of Vicksburg, while examining the Fede- ral position through his field glass. A sharpshooter shot him through the head, and he died instantly. Word of his death was sent to the St. Louis papers, through the Federal lines, by Lieut. John D. Murphy, an officer of Green's brigade, formerly a resi- dent of Canton .* The body was buried in the Vicksburg Cemetery.

VICKSBURG, July 1, 1863.

Brigadier-General Martin E. Green, of Missouri, is no more. Gloriously did he pass from earth-killed by a minie-ball-while visiting his line of works on Saturday morning, June 27, 1863. The country that he loved so well, and for which he made so many sacrafices, has at last furnished him a grave. Peaceful be his rest beneath her soil.

LIEUT. JOHN D. MURPHY, Of Canton, Mo.

P. S. Will some officer in the U. S. service be kind enough to forward the above to the St. Louis papers for publication, and forever oblige the friends and relatives of Gen. Green.

Yours, most respectfully,

LIEUT. JOHN D. MURPHY.

STATE OF MISSOURI.

THE SKIRMISH AT MONTICELLO BRIDGE.

A few days after Green's forces left the county occurred an affair at the bridge over the Fabius, half a mile south of Mon- ticello, which is known as " the skirmish at Monticello bridge." The date of this incident is believed to be September 6. [See Rebellion Records, Vol. III, p. 2.]

Some of Col. Woodyard's command, living in Knox County, had obtained leave to go to their homes to look after their per- sonal affairs and to secure recruits. Word came to Monticello that they were returning to their encampment at Canton, and would pass through the town, coming in from the south. Their progress as they advanced was noted and reported from time to time, and Secessionists to the number of thirty, a majority of whom lived in and about Monticello, and some of whom were members of Richardson's company, collected, and placed them- selves in ambush in the timber and brush commanding the deep cut in the roadway running down upon the bridge, immediately on the south side of the creek. Their arms were chiefly double- barreled shot-guns, loaded heavily with buckshot, their position well concealed and protected on the west side of the road, and it seemed that when the cut should be filled with men and the fire delivered there would be a considerable slaughter. Some of the citizens of Monticello engaged in this affair were Joe Dodge, "Pres." Leeper, the McAllister boys, and - Kelly. Judge Ralph Smith and Capt. Richardson were present.

The Federals numbered forty or fifty men, mounted, and com- manded by Dr. S. M. Wirt and Capt. James A. Reid, of Edina. Three or four miles west of Monticello they were warned of their danger by the wife of one of the bushwhackers, but they kept on. On the crest of the hill, a hundred yards southwest of the ambush, they came upon three mounted and armed Secession- ists. Capt. Reid at once fired upon them, wounding one, Joe Dodge, in the arm. A brief halt was made at this point, but for some reason no examination of the ground was made, and conclud- ing, perhaps, that the three men encountered constituted the only enemy in the neighborhood, the Federals passed on and entered the cut.

Suddenly the bushwhackers poured upon the line a concerted

HISTORY OF LEWIS COUNTY.

volley from their shot-guns. Startled and alarmed, the Federals ran forward into and across the covered bridge in some disorder. On the north bank Capt. Reid halted a number of them, got them into line, and fired across the creek into the timber. In a few seconds the bushwhackers retreated, few of them firing but one shot. Largely as the rebels had the advantage, close as was their range, and experienced as they were in the use of shot- guns, their fire was very ineffective; it is said they were much excited. Only three Federals were wounded; none killed. Lot Meade was severely wounded in the head, Josephus Claypool in the leg, and James Reid, Jr., was slightly wounded in the arm. Ed. Cooney had his horse killed. Meade and Claypool were cared for in Monticello until they were able to be removed.

Learning in Monticello that another ambush was prepared for them east of Monticello somewhere, the Federals avoided the main road to Canton, took a circuitous route to the north and northeast, and did not reach camp until late at night.

When Capt. Reid and his men reported what had occurred at Monticello, and stated further, on the authority of certain Union men, that a majority of the bushwhackers were from the town; that they had set out for the ambush in view of all, cheered and commended by their friends, there was great indignation, and threats were freely made to burn Monticello to the ground. The next day a strong detachment came out, and it was said would have executed these threats but for the persuasion of the few Union men of the place.

Throughout the remainder of the year 1861 all of north- east Missouri was completely under Federal domination. Early in the fall Gen. Ben. M. Prentiss was appointed to the command of the district, with headquarters at Palmyra, and with plenty of troops to sustain him. There were no disturbances in the county worthy of note during the entire winter.

In the latter part of December a company of Confederate recruits was organized in the neighborhood of Monticello, and set out for the army of Gen. Price, then south of the Missouri. This company was commanded by Capt. John P. Caldwell. But while in camp on Silver Creek, in the southern part of Ran- dolph County, about the 15th of January, 1862, the entire Con-

STATE OF MISSOURI.

federate force, which was commanded by Col. J. A. Poindexter, was attacked by a Federal detachment under Maj. Torrence, of the First Iowa Cavalry, and completely routed. A young man named Bondurant, from the western part of this county, was killed, and Capt. Caldwell and a number of his men were taken prisoners. The weather was inclement, and in a brief time nearly all of the Lewis County men were at their homes.

In the meantime, during the preceding fall, recruiting for the Federal Army had been vigorously pushed. The Third Missouri Cavalry, Col. John M. Glover, had been organized, and Company A of that regiment, Capt. John T. Howland, was made up entirely of men from Lewis County, the majority of whom were from Union and Highland Townships. Two com- panies, A, Capt. Yust, and K, Capt. Leeser, were in the Twenty- first Infantry from this county.

WAR INCIDENTS FROM 1862 TO 1865.

With the first appearance of the spring of 1862 the Con- federate partisans in northeast Missouri began operations. Few in number and isolated in position, their movements were stealthy, and their warfare was of a character not to be commended. It was chiefly modeled upon the Indian style, and was commonly called bushwhacking. About the 25th of March occurred the bushwhacking incidents near Colony and Novelty, mentioned else- where.

On the 2d of April two Federal militia and a Union citizen, named Lilburn Hale, were fired on and killed by Tom Stacy's band of bushwhackers, near Shelbyville. Two or three Union men-James Preston, a peddler named Hotchkiss, and Reed-were murdered in the western part of Marion. There were evidences that a general Confederate rising was in progress.

Col. John M. Glover was in command in this district, with headquarters in Palmyra. Hearing of the troubles in Knox on the 6th of April he set out with five companies for. Edina, where he established his headquarters, and proceeded to clear out the surrounding country of bushwhackers. His troopers scouted through portions of Lewis, Clark, Scotland, Adair, Knox, and 6

HISTORY OF LEWIS COUNTY.

Shelby Counties, and killed seven so-called bushwhackers, one of whom, William A. Marks, was a resident of the northern part of Lewis County, and a relative of Gen. Martin E. Green. He had been in Gen. Price's army, and had returned to his home a few months before. The Federals claimed to have evidence that he was connected with the bushwhackers, whom they were ordered to exterminate. He was shot near his house, and his body left where it fell.

Col. Glover soon broke up or destroyed all the little bush- whacking bands, and there was something like peace in the coun- try for a month or more, although the rebels were simply lying low and waiting for an opportunity. Indeed it is true that com- panies and squads were in existence that did not take the field openly. Tom Stacy's band staid in the brush; others remained at home, all ready for the signal!

It had been understood for some time that just as soon as warm weather came, recruiting officers from the Confederate Army would visit north Missouri to secure and take away recruits, and preparations to receive them had been made among the adherents of the rebel cause. At last it was announced that Col. Joseph C. Porter, who had so long lived in the south- western part of this county, and who had gone out the previous fall as second in command under Martin E. Green, had returned to take charge of matters in this quarter, and that he, Capt. Frisby Mccullough, and others, were already at work in the neighborhood of Newark.

INCIDENTS OF THE PORTER CAMPAIGN.

During the Porter campaign Lewis County was the scene of some stirring incidents. The county swarmed with Rebel raid- ers and Federal scouting parties. Business of all kinds was practically suspended. Alarming reports and exciting rumors were constantly circulated. The citizens were foraged upon, and often robbed and maltreated by both sides. Nearly all of the able-bodied men had taken up arms, and their families were left to care for themselves. The people were given a taste of civil war, and they found it bitter and unwholesome. Many found to their cost that war was not a pleasant pastime,

STATE OF MISSOURI.

although they had declared they would be satisfied with nothing else.

July 9 a company of rebel partisans visited Monticello, held the town a few hours, taking from the citizens a considerable quantity of boots, shoes, guns, etc. County Treasurer Million, a Union man, was visited and forced to pay $100 in cash for his release. William Mack was arrested, and his bond for his good behavior toward the Confederate cause was being written, when the alarm that "the Feds. are coming," caused the raiders to disperse. The next day a number of Union citizens started for Canton for safety, but met a detachment of enrolled militia under Maj. A. Q. Pledge en route for Monticello to protect them.

On the 12th, Maj. Ralph Smith, at the head of a Confederate detachment, visited Williamstown, seized some horses belonging to Union men in that section, and carried off as a prisoner a young man named Tuttle. Very few of the Union citizens of the county, who had taken no part in the war, were seriously dis- turbed by the Confederates at any time.

Some time about the 20th of September, Staples' grist-mill and distillery, on the Fabius, about four miles northwest of Monticello, were burned by a battalion of the Second Missouri State Militia under Maj. J. B. Rogers. The Major had been informed that the mill had been used to grind flour and meal for the rebel forces, and that upon it many of them relied for their breadstuffs. Mr. Staples had taken the oath of loyalty, and had run his mill on but one or two occasions in aid of the Confederate cause, and then only when forced to do so, and a portion of the property destroyed belonged to a widowed sister-in-law. When Rogers was informed of these facts he denounced his informer in severe and profane terms, swearing to a relative of Mr. Staples (now in Canton) that the next " d-d sneak" that came to him with tales against his neighbor should be kicked out of his presence. All this, however, did not rebuild the property, yet it furnished good reason for believing that the burning had not been in pure wantonness.

About the 1st of September Maj. Ralph Smith occupied Mon- ticello with a company, but left on the approach of Maj. Rogers, who came in with 300 men of the then Eleventh Missouri State

HISTORY OF LEWIS COUNTY.

Militia, which organization was afterward consolidated with McNeil's regiment, and known as the Second Missouri State Militia. With the exception of a few days' absence at the time of the fight at Whaley's Mill, Rogers' battalion remained in Monticello until some time the next winter.

THE RAID ON CANTON.

The Confederate raid on and capture of Canton, on August 2, 1862, may here be more fully described than on another page.

The raid had for its object the maintenance of the Confed- erate prestige, the encouraging of the Southern partisans in the county, and the capture of certain military stores and material believed to be in the town. The force was composed of about 250 men belonging to Col. Porter's command, and was tempo- rarily organized as a regiment with Col. Cyrus Franklin, Lieut .- Col. W. F. Davis and Maj. Ralph Smith as the field officers. The raiders were all mounted, and generally well armed. Knowl- edge of the fact that no troops were in the town had been con- veyed to the rebel leaders by trusted friends, and they understood the situation perfectly. Setting out from their encampment at the "Sugar Camp," on the Middle Fabius, southwest of Monticello, the raiders rode steadily but cautiously until they reached the western border of the town. Here it was learned that there was but little chance of resistance, but that if any was met it would be encountered on the levee, near J. W. Carnegy's warehouse, where about seventy-five muskets were stored. Thereupon Col. Franklin sent an advance guard of twenty-five men into town to feel the way, with instructions to proceed on Clark Street to the river, then turn down the river to the foot of Lewis Street, where Carnegy's warehouse stood. "And when you reach that point," said the Colonel to the leader of the advance," look out that you are not bushwhacked."

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History of Lewis, Clark, Knox, and Scotland counties, Missouri. From the earliest time to the present, together with sundry personal, business and professional sketches and mumerous family records, Part 8

Author: Goodspeed, firm, publishers, Chicago (1886-1891, Goodspeed Publishing Co.) Publication date: 1887 Publisher: St. Louis, Chicago, The Goodspeed publishing co. Number of Pages: 1308

Author: Goodspeed, firm, publishers, Chicago (1886-1891, Goodspeed Publishing Co.)
Publication date: 1887
Publisher: St. Louis, Chicago, The Goodspeed publishing co.
Number of Pages: 1308