USA > Missouri > Vernon County > History of Vernon County, Missouri : past and present, including an account of the cities, towns and villages of the county Vol. I > Part 22
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I send this in haste to accompanying the proceedings, etc., of a meeting of the citizens here. Yours, etc.
J. WILLIAMS,
U. S. District Judge, 3d Judicial District of Kansas Territory.
The following, as samples of numerous telegrams that were sent hither and thither, indicate the state of excitement and panic that existed.
Warsaw, Mo., November 22, 1860.
To D. C. Stone : Montgomery is at Ball's Mill-stole a num- ber of negroes and murdered six or eight men [ !! ] Williams is here. Great excitement-meeting to be held tonight-company formed.
J. H. LEACH.
Warsaw, Mo., November 22, 1860.
To General Hackney: Is it possible to get the military from St. Louis, say 500 men armed and equipped? Montgomery has actually invaded the state, and is now near Taberville. Reply immediately, Prompt action is absolutely necessary.
JAMES ATKISSON. 1 :
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At the same time Montgomery and Jennison, each in command of only twenty-five men, were thirty miles apart in Kansas, with no intention of invading Missouri, as they declared. But a large number stood ready to respond at a moment's warning to resist obnoxious decrees of the United States court or prevent any proceedings not favorable to themselves. The terrible alarm of the Missourians and the exaggerated reports that had spread like wildfire furnished them no end of amusement, and with much bluff and bluster, they kept the ball rolling, by spreading alarm- ing reports of their great strength and intended raids, which some, for the sake of the plunder, would, no doubt, have gladly joined in.
Notwithstanding these threats, Gen. W. S. Harney about De- cember 1, with 200 United States dragoons, came to Fort Scott to protect the authorities and prevent disturbance at the land sales which were advertised for December 5. Whether because of the presence of the troops or the assurances that no one's rights would be invaded in the proceedings, there was no disturbance at the land sales, which were held as advertised, though the only bidders for claimed lands were the claimants themselves, the only outside buyers being of unclaimed land, and little of that.
The presence of Colonel Snyder, as a representative of the governor, did much to allay the fears of the people in Vernon county. He was a man well suited to the work in hand; delib- erate and conservative, a pro-slavery man, and a leading Breck- enridge Democrat, he was at the same time fair and would state the affairs impartially as he found them. After carefully look- ing over the situation he formed his conclusions and embodied them in his report to the governor as follows:
Nevada, Vernon County, Missouri, November 26, 1860.
Governor R. M. Stewart, Commander-in-Chief Missouri Militia, Jefferson City, Mo., Sir : In obedience to your instructions I came to the border to investigate the cause of alarm here, with a view, if necessary, of taking steps for the protection of the citizens. I dispatched Mr. William Tilton, a member of the Polk county, rangers, to the border in Bates county, and he having performed the duties I assigned to him and joined me here, I would respect- fully submit to you the following report of our joint observations and conclusions :
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HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY
In Kansas territory there is a force of about 300 armed men, under the leadership of one Montgomery, who have control of the whole of southern Kansas, in open rebelion to the general government, bidding defiance to all law and authority. These marauders have on more than one occasion crossed the line into the state, and committed sundry depredations here. The citizens of this county, I think, have good grounds to fear future inva- sions of the state by those lawless men; as they have publicly declared it to be their intention to commence a crusade upon the institution of slavery in Missouri and to take all other property possible from Missourians, for their support.
For the present I shall not station any armed force upon the line, but shall organize companies of volunteer militia under our state military law, and urge the citizens of Vernon and Bates counties to procure such arms as they can and be ready for serv- ice whenever required. I am still more strongly of the opinion that a depot of arms and munitions of war should be established somewhere in this district, to be distributed to organized com- panies on the border as exigencies may arise.
I shall remain on the border until the excitement has subsided or until I find it absolutely necessary to organize a force to pro- tect the citizens and will report further. Respectfully, etc. Your obedient servant, J. F. SNYDER,
Division Inspector Sixth Military District, Missouri Militia.
On his return to Bolivar from Vernon Colonel Snyder sent the following telegraphic report :
Headquarters Sixth Military District Missouri Militia, Bolivar, December 3, 1860.
To Governor Stewart, Commander-in-Chief of the Missouri Milita, Sir : I returned from the border last night. All is quiet there. The State has not been invaded, and is in no immediate danger. I have organized the militia of Vernon county, and will return tomorrow to Bates county. I would respectfully urge you to 'establish an arsenal in my district, in order that we may be prepared to defend the border in case of future troubles there.
J. F. SNYDER, Division Inspector.
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Companies of militia were organized at Nevada, Montevallo, Deerfield and Balltown, that of Nevada comprising sixty-five men, under Capt. A. H. Bourland, Lieuts. John D. Kelley and D. C. Hunter, and Charles H. Blann as orderly sergeant. The men at first armed and equipped themselves till arms were provided by the state and were constantly on guard, and there was a general feeling among the people that with proper equipment as recom- mended by Captain Snyder they could have protected themselves with little expense to the state and without flourish of trumpets.
But great and portentous events were near at hand. Abra- ham Lineoln had recently been elected to the presideney, and far- sighted men of all seetions anxiously watehed, awaiting the impending confliet. The seeession party in Missouri, wishing the state to seeede from the Union, were preparing, in mind, at least. for eivil war that was imminent, and the martial spirit ran high. Yet there was little efficient organization in the state outside of St. Louis. And in order to be ready when the time to aet should eome it was the idea of many of the "Southern Rights" party that there should be formed loeal guards which should be nuelei of a seeession army later on, and nothing seemed more feasible than to station near the border, with the ostensible purpose of repelling invasion companies of the militia, to be thoroughly equipped, armed and drilled in military seienee. Like companies might be organized throughout the state, and when the inevitable confliet eame it would not find them unprepared. That such a . plan was in the minds of many of the seeession leaders is amply vouched for.
It was under such a state of the public mind that the governor, himself anti-seeession, but aeting on the adviee of his counselors, on November 23, 1860, ordered Brigadier General D. M. Frost, military commander at St. Louis, to proceed at once to the border with all his available foree. Obeying the order with soldierly promptness, General Frost, within thirty-six hours, started for the border with a military foree comprising the several bodies mentioned in his report to the governor. Going by rail to Smith- ton-now Sedalia-the troops were marehed from there and reached the alleged scene of hostilities Deeember 3, ten days from the time of the governor's order.
If it were really thought that the danger was as imminent as represented it seems inexplicable that so much time should have
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been consumed in sending troops, who had no interests at stake, when arms and munitions could have been furnished the inter- ested citizens near the border with a great saving of time and at trifling expense to the state, as compared with the cost of the expedition. And besides, what would the sending of the troops have availed had invasions really occurred, as they might a dozen times during those ten days, and the invaders have escaped with- out hindrance ?
On hearing the true state of affairs, the governor ordered the troops back and after his return to St. Louis General Frost made the following report of the expedition, to-wit :
Headquarters Southwest Expedition, St. Louis, Mo., December 26, 1860.
His Excellency R. M. Stewart, Governor of Missouri, Sir: I have the honor to report that, in obedience to your excellency's orders, received through your aid-de-camp, Colonel Tracy, on the evening of the 23d ultimo, I proceeded in about thirty-six hours thereafter en route for the southwest frontier, with the following command :
Colonel Easton's first regiment of infantry, commanded by Lieut .- Col. John Knapp, numbering 364 men.
Major Pritchard's battalion of engineers, with the "Governor's Guards," of Jefferson City, attached, numbering 153 men.
Major Schaeffer's squadron of cavalry, numbering seventy- three men; and Captain Jackson's battery of three six-pound pieces, with thirty-one men, which, together with the general staff, made an aggregate of 630 men.
With this command I proceeded by the Pacific railroad to its terminus, at Smithton, where we arrived at noon on the 26th, and marched out two and one-half miles to obtain a proper camping ground, where clothing, blankets and pro- visions were issued to the troops in the afternoon, and on the following day the wagons were loaded, horses for the artillery procured, the command mustered and inspected, and every prep- aration made for the march.
On Wednesday, the 28th, the line of march was taken up for that point of the border lying nearest Fort Scott, and continued thereafter regularly, from day to day, the command making longer marches than those usually made under like circumstances.
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Reports of every character were continually coming up from the border, but all indicating much disturbance and distress among our citizens in that quarter.
At the town of Clinton I obtained from Judge Williams, United States judge of Kansas and from many respectable citi- zens of Missouri information that Montgomery intended to re- sist the United States authorities and prevent the land sales ad- vertised to take place at Fort Scott on December 3d, and imme- diately after invade the state of Missouri, with a force sufficient to carry out his repeated threats against the persons and prop- erty of our citizens. Upon the receipt of this information I deemed it advisable to push on with my artillery and cavalry to the vicinity of Fort Scott so as to arrive there by the even- ing of the 3d, and, accordingly, with Major Schaeffer's squad- ron, Captain Jackson's battery and a company of scouts and guides under Captain Staples (who joined me at Papinsville), I proceeded in advance of the infantry brigade and arrived on the state line, four and a half miles east of Fort Scott at the desired time, having marched seventy miles in two days, the men and horses in good condition and ready for service.
On the 4th, accompanied by my staff, I called upon General Harney at Fort Scott and whilst there I learned that Montgom- ery had threatened to attack that place the night previous. I also learned that General Harney contemplated sending a force to take Montgomery at his home-or rather "blockhouse"-the next day. This place, called "Montgomery's Fort," is about five miles from Mound City, fifteen miles from the Missouri line, and twenty-five miles north of Fort Scott.
The general impression was that Montgomery still retained the command of an organized body of men and would give bat- tle. I accordingly returned to my camp and sent an express to the infantry brigade, advancing under Lieutenant-Colonel Knapp (which I presumed to be that night at or near Papinsville). ordering that command to move across the country and join me on the border, near Mound City, and within easy striking dis- tance of "Montgomery's Fort." The orders were well executed -the infantry coming up at the time and place specified, with admirable precision, reuniting my entire force at the moment when it was supposed our services would be required. It was, therefore, ascertained with regret [!] that General Harney had
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HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY
not advanced his force simultaneously with our concentration, and with greater disappointment [!] we learned on the follow- ing day that Montgomery had disbanded his people and left the county, his friends and followers contenting themselves by assem- bling in convention at Mound City and passing a series of trea- sonable and inflammatory resolutions, which were ordered to be published in the Missouri "Democrat," New York "Tribune," Mound City "Report," and other newspapers; a copy of the latter paper containing these resolutions is marked "E" and accompanies this report.
Whilst marching to and remaining on the border, I availed myself of every opportunity to gather information of the exact state of affairs. I sent out scouting parties, examining suspected persons and obtained affidavits of injured and distressed citizens. As some little evidence of what has been done and threatened, I would call your attention to the accompanying affidavits, as also to the identical paper found upon the dead body of the murdered man Hindes, and which is attached to the affidavit of his brother, G. W. Hindes. From these papers it will be seen that a citizen of Missouri was taken from the midst of an indigent and dependent family, and in the full light of day, within sight of his native state, hanged to death for no other crime than that he had been faithful to the laws and institutions of that state. No other charge than that is alleged against him, even by his murderers, nor could their malice invent aught else, for the peaceable, quiet and orderly character of this man was pro- verbial along the border. In addition to this particular instance of wanton cruelty, I would state that the deserted and charred remains of once happy homes, combined with the general terror which prevailed amongst the citizens, who still clung to their possessions, gave but too certain proof of the persecution to which they had all been subjected, and which they would again have to endure with renewed violence as soon as armed protection should be withdrawn.
And here I beg to assure your excellency that no more beau- tiful agricultural country can be found in all the great West than that lying between Smithton and Fort Scott; and to its great agricultural advantages are to be added those of a con- tinuous field of coal of the best quality, two and a half feet thick underlying the whole country at depths varying from a
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few inches to six feet. It was under these circumstances and with this knowledge that I determined that, in order to carry out the spirit of your excellency's instructions ("to repel inva- sions and restore peace to the border"), it would be necessary to leave a considerable force in the doubtful district until such time as the confidence of our people would be restored and the enemies of their peace and safety brought to justice.
I, therefore, authorized the formation of a local battalion of three companies of rangers and one of artillery to patrol and protect the frontier. Such a battalion was accordingly formed from volunteers from my brigade and citizens of Bates, Ver- non and Polk counties, and organized by the election of Lieut .- Col. John S. Bowen (an accomplished officer and gentleman) to the command, who voluntarily quitted his position of adjutant- general of the expedition to remain with the battalion. Having thus provided for the future peace and safety of that portion of our state, I conducted the residue of my command with the utmost dispatch to Jefferson City and St. Louis and discharged them from active service.
I cannot close my report without expressing to your excel- lency the admiration I feel for all those officers and soldiers, who, at a few hours' notice, left their homes and families to undertake all the hardships and privations necessarily incident to a long winter campaign, and who prosecuted it without flinch- ing to its termination. In this connection I think it proper to state that the troops appeared in the uniforms purchased with their own private means; and that those uniforms were quite worn out and ruined by exposure. I trust this fact will be recol- lected when provision comes to be made for compensating the com- mand for their services. Where all have proved themselves so worthy, it becomes a difficult task to select any one, who, more than another deserves special mention ; yet I feel that I would do my duty to the state in particularly commending Lieut .- Cols. John Knapp and John S. Bowen to the favorable consideration of your excellency. Colonel Knapp was the second in command and con- ducted a considerable portion of the march. Colonel Bowen, in his capacity of adjutant-general, had most arduous and trying duties to perform. Both of these gentlemen by their intelligence and untiring zeal and energy contributed in a large degree to the happy termination of the campaign.
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HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY
Maj. John N. Pritchard, who most ably commanded the bat- talion of engineers, and to which was attached the governor's guards of Jefferson City, in his report to these headquarters particularly mentions this latter corps in terms of well-deserved praise for its prompt, cheerful and soldierly performance of every duty that devolved upon it.
Captain Staples' small company of scouts and guides, who so promptly responded to my call, distinguished themselves by their ready obedience and orderly behavior, and thus rendered their knowledge of the country of the greatest importance to the ex- pedition.
It affords me great gratification to inform your excellency that no death occurred in the command during the campaign, and that when it was finally dismissed there was not a single name on the sick report. I consider much of this good result to be due to the great skill and energy of Dr. F. M. Cornyn, chief surgeon of the expedition, who was most ably assisted by Sur- geon Joseph Scott, of the first regiment of infantry.
The good order, subordination and military precision main- tained throughout the expedition give evidence of the efficiency of our present volunteer system. With some slight modification of the military law making all its provisions general, our system can be rendered theoretically equal, if not superior, to that of any state; and with the co-operation of her citizens, the execu- tive of Missouri will be able at a moment's notice to place in the field an organized and disciplined army capable not only of de- fending her soil, but able, if necessary, to carry on offensive operations.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant.
D. M. FROST,
Brig .- Gen. Mo. Vol. Mil. Comdg. S. W. Expedition.
The cost of this expedition to the state, including the pay of the troops, railroad fare, etc., was in the neighborhood of $50,000, four times as much as would have sufficed to equip local com- mands of citizens in Vernon and Bates counties sufficient to have insured permanent peace. Were there back of this military ex- ploit hidden motives ? Was the expedition really in anticipation of and preparation for foreshadowed events? The following ex-
of
-
FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CILURCH.
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tract from another communication of General Frost to the gov- ernor is both interesting and significant :
"The state should be armed and to this end an appropriation ought to be made by the legislature for the purchase of arms and munitions. It will cost an average of $15 per man, or $15,000 for every thousand men armed as infantry. The arms (Colt's revolvers and Sharpe's rifles), saddle and equipments of a cav- alry soldier will cost about $45 per man. A piece of artillery (six-pound field) will cost, with its carriage, caisson and equip- ments, about $500. For each brigade of, say, 3,000 infantry there ought to be one battery (of six pieces) of artillery and two squad- rons (say 250) of cavalry. I estimate that it will cost about $120,000 to arm and equip an army corps of 7,000 men, compris- ing the proper proportions of infantry, cavalry and artillery."
Of the men who took part in this display a number after- wards became prominent in either military or civil affairs. Gen- eral Frost was a brigadier in the confederate army; Col. John S. Bowen was a confederate major-general and prominent in ne- gotiating the surrender of Vicksburg and died a little later; Capt. Joseph Kelly became a confederate colonel, and Sergt. M. K. Mc- Grath served many years as Missouri's secretary of state. Major Schaefer, Dr. Cornyn, Captain Jackson and Lieut. Thomas Curley served as colonels of Missouri regiments in the Union army, Cornyn and Schaefer being killed while on duty.
These warlike demonstrations by the state authorities were contemptuously regarded by the Kansans, and led to the holding of the meeting at Mound City December 6, at which Hon. J. W. Babb presided, and at which the following excerpts from resolu- tions, referred to by General Frost were prepared and presented by John T. Snoddy, S. B. McGrew and T. Elwood Smith and unanimously adopted, to-wit :
"That all of those enormous reports of bloodshed, robbery and civil war in Kansas and Missouri are based upon and have grown out of the fact of the execution of three persons, the arrest of three, and the trial of two others, all on Kansas soil. Russ Hindes and Samuel Scott were hung and L. D. Moore was shot. J. M. Hoffnagle and Dustan Scott were arrested, submitted to trial, and in default of sufficient evidence of guilt were released, and John McDonald was arrested and released without a formal trial. That these persons were not arrested, tried and executed by a
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HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY
small party of ruffians, outlaws and criminal adventurers, but by a committee of the citizens of Linn and Bourbon counties. And we unite in pronouncing all the statements of Judge Williams and other fugitive United States officials, and of all others, which differ from the above facts as willful and unmitigated falsehoods, entitling their authors to the contempt of every honest citizen.
"Resolved. That * in the settlement of every new
country,
it sometimes becomes necessary, in order to guarantee the safety of life and property, that the people shall deal out summary justice to criminals.
"Resolved. That the late executions in our midst were justi- fiable, on account of the peculiar and base criminality of those who suffered the judgment of the people's court, because of their plotting to murder and assassinate our citizens and deprive men of their dearest rights. That we are opposed to kidnaping and man-hunting on the soil of Kansas under any pretenses, and the person who sells himself to engage in this disgraceful and sinful business is worthy only of death, and we unite in declaring our intention to use any means necessary to prevent kidnaping on the soil of Kansas."
Other resolutions denounced the presence of the United States troops at Fort Scott and with blustering threats declared their readiness to defend themselves to the bitter end if attacked.
Communications now began to appear in the newspapers from the scene of the troubles that there was no war; that Missouri had not been invaded by Kansans during the year. And it was pertinently asking why, in the fall of 1860, so much ado and such military display on the border, at merely apprehended trouble, when no move was made two years previous, when invasions actually occurred in which Missouri citizens were murdered, robbed and their houses burned.
The following letter from Colonel Snyder to the St. Louis "Republican." which was widely copied, is interesting as clearly stating the situation :
Bolivar, Mo., December 3, 1860.
Mr. Editor: Before this reaches you the majority of your readers will have ascertained that the "invasion" of the state by Montgomery, which caused so much excitement. was, so far as the "invasion" is concerned, the merest piece of Munchausen- ism. without any foundation in truth. How the yarn that Jim
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Montgomery and his gang of horse thieves had "taken Fort Scott" could cause any excitement in the state of Missouri is a mystery, for every one knows that he has had Fort Scott and all of southern Kansas for the last three years. You have per- haps learned by this time that the "300" armed outlaws who "invaded the state, took Fort Scott and broke up the United States district court," have dwindled down to certain threats of Montgomery's and Jennison's and about sixteen vagabond aboli- tionists who lurked about Fort Scott for a few days before the court was to have been held.
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