USA > Missouri > History of southeast Missouri : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests, Volume I > Part 49
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dock; Company I, captain, William R. Vaughn; Company K, captain, Clinton Spen- cer. The only service the regiment saw was that of the respective companies in their own counties; in the summer of 1865, they were ordered to St. Louis and were a little later mustered out of service.
The Sixth Regiment Missouri Cavalry was organized February, 1862, by consolidating two battalions and a company; these battal- ions were known as Wright's and Wood's, and the company was the one raised by H. P. Hawkins. The regimental officers were: C. Wright, colonel; S. N. Wood, lieutenant col- onel; H. P. Hawkins and Samuel Montgom- ery, majors; during the remainder of the year, 1862, the regiment saw service in south- west Missouri and Arkansas. It was then sent to Memphis, Tennessee, and took part in the battles around Vicksburg, some of these battles being Chickasaw Bayou, Arkansas Post, Greenville, Champions Hill, Black River and Bridgeport. From Vicksburg the regi- ment went to Jackson and then to Louisiana ; it served in Louisiana until the close of the war when it was mustered out.
The Tenth Missouri Cavalry was organized at Camp Magazine near Jefferson Barracks, in December, 1862; its colonel was F. M. Cornyn; the regiment was made up in large part of men from Southeast Missouri. After its organization it was sent to the South and was divided for a time, parts of it being sta- tioned at Helena, Memphis, Columbus, Ken- tucky. In the early part of 1863 the regi- ment was brought together at Memphis and then sent to Tuscumbia and took part in the operations against General Vandorn; its fur- ther service was confined to northern Missis- sippi and Alabama and won for itself an en- viable record for bravery and activity.
The Engineer Regiment of West Missouri
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Volunteers was recruited throughout most of the southern part of the state. One company of this regiment, the 3rd, was organized at Cape Girardeau in September, 1861, and took part in fortifying Cape Girardeau and Bird's Point. In March, 1862, this company was consolidated with three other companies to form a battalion which was then attached to General Pope's army as a pioneer corps; it took part in the engagements about New Mad- rid and Island No. 10. After Island No. 10 had been captured, the battalion was sent to northeast Mississippi with Pope's army and participated in the operations against Cor- inth, the rest of the year was spent in Ten- nessee, Mississippi and Alabama in repairing railroads, bridges, cars, locomotives, etc. Dur- ing the year 1863, the regiment operated in two battalions the first against Vicksburg, the second was employed in keeping the railroad between Grand Junction and Corinth in re- pair. In December, 1863, the regiment was consolidated with the Fifth Missouri Volun- teers and took part in the construction of the Nashville and Northwestern Railroad. It was then sent to Atlanta and took part in the fortification of that city after it was sur- rendered. The term of enlistment of many of the men expired while the regiment was in Atlanta and many of them were sent home; the remainder were organized into five com- panies and accompanied the Army of Tennes- see in its march to the sea, having charge of the building of bridges on this march.
Battery F was reeruited in Cape Girardeau and Scott counties and made a part of the Second Illinois Light Artillery, the organiza- tion being completed December 1st, 1861. The officers of the battery were: John W. Powell, captain; Michael Dittlinger and Jos- eph W. Mitchell, David Bliss, G. A. Tirmen- stein, lieutenants ; Fred Roeboeck, II. R. Hen-
ning, J. B. Walker, Lucius Moore, William Buchanan, Albert Gratenheim, W. II. Pow- ell and Alfred S. Looker, sergeants. This battery was on duty in Cape Girardeau until March, 1862, when it was sent to Savannah, Tennessee ; it took part in a number of en- gagements in Tennessee and Mississippi, and was later ordered to Louisiana, where it saw active service until the close of the war.
The Second Regiment of Missouri Volun- teers was organized at St. Louis, September 10, 1861. Shortly after its organization it was sent to Southwest Missouri, where it took part in the battles at Pea Ridge, then in Ar- kansas where it fought at Batesville. Later the regiment returned to Missouri and was for a time stationed at Cape Girardeau ; from Cape Girardeau it was sent east of the river and took part in the engagements at Corintb and Rienzi, Tennessee. In 1862 the regiment was sent to Cincinnati, Ohio, then to Louis- ville, Kentucky, and from there to Nashville, Tennessee; it took part in the great battles of Perryville, Murfreesboro, Chickamauga and Chattanooga.
The Forty-seventh Regiment of Missouri Volunteers was mustered in September 16, 1864, and disbanded March 30, 1865; the or- ganization of the regiment was never entirely completed for as soon as the companies were enrolled they were dispersed in their counties where they saw active service for a time. Most of the companies of this regiment took part in the resistance of Price's raid. They fought in the battle of Pilot Knob and after Price had been driven from the state, they were sent to Tennessee and there formed part of Sherman's command on the march through Georgia.
Of the Enrolled Missouri Militia, most of which was recruited in 1865, the Fifteenth Regiments was raised in Jefferson county The
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regimental officers were colonel, Anthon Yer- ger; lieutenant colonel, C. C. Fletcher, and major, D. W. Bryant. The officers of the va- rious companies of this regiment were, as follows : Company A, captain, John Williams ; lieutenants, John C. Powers, and R. W. Mc- Millin; Company B, captain, B. F. Butler ; lieutenant, S. F. McGee; Company C, lieu- tenants, Elbert Ogle, and R. M. Whitehead; Company D, captain, Eugene Armor, and lieutenants, George Martin and Xaver Koh- ler; Company E, captain, F. W. Fritter and lieutenant, J. J. McMillen ; Company F, cap- tain, J. W. Sullens and lieutenants, Philip Edniglo and C. M. VanGordon; Company G, lieutenant, William C. Alford; Company H, C. T. Edwards and lieutenant, Alfred Ste- wart ; Company I, captain, F. D. Heaton and lieutenant, William Knapp; Company K, captain, E. F, Donnell.
Some of the companies of the Twenty-third Regiment of the Missouri Enrolled Militia were from Southeast Missouri also. The officers of these companies were as follows : Company B, captain, Joseph H. Vaughn and lieutenant, Ignaz Lutz; Company C, captain, J. H. Bridges, lieutenants, David Baker and William H. Bartlett; Company D, captain, Joseph M. Ayer; Company E, captain, S. R. Hoglan; Company F, captain, George W. Hutson; Company H, captain, Robert L. Bush.
The Twenty-third Regiment was raised principally in Iron county, its regimental of- ficers were, colonel, James Lindsay, and after- ward W. T. Leeper ; lieutenant colonel, J. S. McMurtry; major, Warren E. Peck. The company officers were, Company A, captain, Martin G. Foster and lieutenant, Robert N. Spaugh ; Company B, captain, W. Ake; Com- pany C, captain, James G. Rauft ; Company D, captain, William Russell; Company E.
captain, John G. Imboden; company F, cap- tain, D. E. Eddington; Company G, captain, Jacob Granthorn; Company H, captain, W. F. Mitchell, and lieutenants, Eli D. Ake and George Spitzmiller; Company I, lieutenant, Henry Schwan.
The Thirty-ninth Regiment of Missouri Enrolled Militia was raised principally in Cape Girardeau county ; G. C. Thilenius was colonel, and another of the regimental officers was Patrick Gilroy. Company A of this regi- ment was commanded by Adolph Tacke, the organization of this regiment was never completed.
A regiment was also begun to be formed in Bollinger county and was known as the Eighty-third Battalion. It was never com- pleted ; the company officers were: of Com- pany A, captain, James Rogers and lieuten- ants, Levi M. Lincoln and H. F. Rhodes ; Company B, captain, Enoch Virgin, and lieu- tenants, S. J. Leesley and Jolin A. Barks; Company C, captain, James G. Woodfin ; lientenants, Jonathan Couch and John Bess ; Company D, captain, Erich Pape; lieuten- ants, Henry Samuels and James W. Stepp; Company E, captain, F. E. Witener, and lieu- tenant, John C. Krimminger; Company F, captain, W. A. Dunlap; lieutenants, Henry Yount and Jacob J. Conrad; Company G, captain, Andrew J. Horth.
CONFEDERATE ORGANIZATIONS
Before the war began a company of militia was organized at Cape Girardeau under com- mand of Samuel J. Ward. This company was known as Marble City Guards. In the spring of 1861 after President Lincoln had made a call for troops, the Marble City Guards were divided. The organization contained in its ranks sympathizers with the South and men whose sympathies were with the North. The
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former of these became parts of Wood's bat- talions of State Guards which was organized at Jackson and enlisted for a term of six months. About the same time that this bat- talion was organized a company of cavalry was also formed at Jackson enlisted for the same length of time the captain of this com- pany was W. L. Jeffers; first lieutenant, Dr. S. S. Harris; second lieutenant, W. Watkins, and third lieutenant, Joel Wilkerson. Within a short time the companies that were being organized in Southeast Missouri were formed into a battalion, the lieutenant colonel being W. L. Jeffers and Solomon G. Kitchen was ma- jor. The four companies which made up this battalion were from Stoddard, Bollinger, Washington and Cape Girardeau counties; the captains were: Solomon G. Kitchen, Ed- ward Wilson, John J. Smith and W. L. Jeffers. The organization saw active service during its period of enlistment, but was disbanded at the end of the six months' term. The officers at once began to recruit independent companies. Lieutenant Harris organized an artillery eom- pany which was ordered to Fort Pillow in March, 1862, and took part in the fight, having been sent on board the flagship General Bragg. From here this company was sent to Yazoo City on the ram Arkansas and par- ticipated in the 'engagement with Porter's fleet. July 15, 1862. It was then made part of the regiment under command of Colonel Martin Green and served until the close of the war. In February, 1863, Jeffers, who had in the meantime been made a captain, organ- ized a battery composed of Southeast Missou- rians at Camden, Arkansas, and this battery became part of Marmaduke's brigade. Also in 1861, a regiment of the State Guards was or- ganized in Dunklin county. The regimental officers were: James A. Walker, colonel; D. Y. Pankey, lieutenant colonel; among the cap-
tains were : L. P. Eldridge, Lee Taylor, A. J. Dooley, W. P. Jones and Taylor Pickard.
The regimental organization was formed at Clarkton and after preliminary drill it be- came a part of the foree under General Jeff Thompson and took part in the battle at Fredericktown; from there it was ordered to New Madrid and was mustered out at the end of the six months' period.
In the summer of 1862 a battalion was formed at Hornersville in Dunklin county, by Andrew Jones, who was soon afterward killed by deserters and was sueceeded by Charles Williford. This battalion was com- posed of two companies; Williford eom- manded one and Lewis Chandler the other.
Another regiment of State Guards was or- ganized at Bloomfield in Stoddard county by William G. Phelan; it was sent from Bloom- field to Camp Hunter, then to Belmont and Columbus and took part in the battle at Fred- ericktown and was disbanded January 1, 1862.
A battalion of the State Guards was or- ganized in Butler county under command of Daniel L. Jennings. There were four com- panies commanded by James M. Jennings, John C. Smart, William Gregory and N. C. Dodson.
A company of State Guards was also raised in Bollinger county under command of J. II. HIunter. Two companies were organ- ized in Mississippi county, one by Charles B. Price and another by Captain Taylor.
As we have seen the term of service for the State Guards was usually fixed at six months and most of the eompanies that were organized had disbanded at the end of that period. The organization of these troops was an attempt on the part of the state to be practically in- dependent of both North and South and they
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were not a part of the Confederate troops though the men who formed the various or- ganizations were southern sympathizers, the fact that they were disbanded at the end of their term of enlistment was a confession that the attitude assumed by Missouri was really an impossible one. A state with sympathies as widely divided as Missouri and as closely in touch with the South as well as with the North, could not hope to maintain long any armed neutrality. Men who composed the State Gnards, almost without exception, en- tered one or another organization of Confed- erates and took the oath of allegiance, not to the state as before, but to the Confederate government itself. We have now to give an account of the principal ones of these organi- zations.
One of the first was a regiment organized at Belmont with John Smith as colonel, Solo- mon G. Kitchen, lieutenant colonel, and H. H. Bedford, major. Just before the battle was fought at Belmont, the regiment was ordered to New Madrid and took part in the skir- mishes and battles around that place. In 1863 it was sent across the river to Memphis and made a part of Price's army. It operated un- der Price until the close of the war and took part in most of the battles fought by that command.
In the spring of 1862, W. L. Jeffers organ- ized a company of cavalry with W. E. Mc- Guire as first lieutenant and John A. Ben- nett as second lieutenant. This company took part in the operations in Southeast Missouri and northern Arkansas and became the basis of a regiment organized by Jeffers and known as the Eighth Missouri Cavalry; its regi- mental officers were: W. L. Jeffers, colonel; Samuel J. Ward, lieutenant colonel: James HI. Parrott, major, and James Craig, sergeant major.
In 1862, Colonel Solomon G. Kitchen or- ganized a battalion of four companies of vol- unteers and reported to Vandorn at Mem- phis. This battalion was then consolidated with troops from northern Missouri. A regi- ment of cavalry was organized with Robert McCulloch as colonel; S. G. Kitchen, lieuten- ant colonel, and H. A. Smith as major; this regiment was a part of General Price's com- mand during the remainder of the war and participated in all his campaigns.
At a later date Colonel Kitchen returned to Stoddard county and recruited another regi- ment of which he was made colonel ; Jesse El- lison, lieutenant colonel, and Captain Walker of Dunklin county, major. This regiment was united with a battalion which Colonel Kitchen organized in Arkansas and was known as the Missouri and Arkansas Legion ; this legion was also joined to the forces of Price and took part with him in his engage- ments until the end of the war.
In 1861 a battalion of cavalry was organ- ized at Bloomfield, composed in part of men from Ste. Genevieve and Madison counties. There were two companies in the battalion, one of them commanded by Captain John J. Casey and the other by Captain William Cousins. In the fall of 1861, they were sent to New Madrid and from there were trans- ferred to Pocahontas, Arkansas, and made part of Colonel Lowe's regiment of infantry. In the spring of 1862, this regiment, with the exception of Captain Casey's company, was sent to the east side of the river with Gen- eral Price's army. Captain Casey's company remained at Helena, Arkansas, during the summer of 1862. General Thompson crossed the Mississippi and took a part of the com- panies of Casey's and Cousins' with him and the remainder of these companies was placed under the command of James Surge and or-
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dered to Brownsville, Arkansas. There the men were dismounted and were dissatisfied with this proceeding and they were then sent to Thomasville, Arkansas, where they were attached to the Third Missouri Cavalry un- der Colonel Green. They were later, after participating in the battles of Prairie Grove and Cane Hill, ordered to join General Por- ter and were then made a part of the eom- mand of General Marmaduke until the close of the war.
The Ninth Missouri Infantry was organ- ized in September, 1862, at Little Black river bridge in Butler eounty, of which James B. White was eolonel and William S. Ponder lieutenant colonel. It was made up of men from Southeast Missouri in large part; it marched to Pocahontas, Arkansas, then to Fort Smith and took part in the battle of Prairie Grove. It was then sent to Helena and to Camp Bragg where it was consolidated with the Tenth Infantry under Colonel Moore. The two regiments were then or- dered to Shreveport, Louisiana, and in the following year took part in the battles of Mansfield and Pleasant IIill. They were then sent baek to assist in the campaign against Steele and were in the fight at Jenk- ins Ferry ; were then ordered to Camden and later to Shreveport, where they remained un- til the close of the war.
The Second Missouri Infantry was organ- ized at Memphis, Tennessee, in 1861; it was made up of men principally from New Mad- rid and Pemiscot counties; its regimental of- fieers were: Colonel, John S. Bowen ; lieuten- ant colonel, L. L. Rich, and major, - Camp- bell. Company A, Captain Sprague, from New Orleans; Company B, Captain Duffie, from St. Louis; Company C. Captain Hearst, from St. Louis, New Madrid and Pemiseot eounties; Company D, Captain Burke, from
St. Louis; Company E, Captain Rice, from Ilickman, Kentucky, and Southeast Missouri; Company F, Captain Garland, from St. Louis; Company G, Captain John A. Gordon, from Pemiscot and New Madrid counties ; Company H, Captain Hogan, from Pemiseot county ; Company I, Captain Thomas J. Phil- lips, from New Madrid county; Company K, Captain John E. Averill, from l'emiseot.
This Second Missouri Regiment had a long and illustrious serviee from the place of its organization, New Madrid; it was sent to Fort Pillow then to New Madrid, Columbus, Ken- tueky, and to Camp Beauregard, taking part in all the battles and skirmishes on the way. On December 25, 1861, it was ordered from Camp Beauregard to Bowling Green, thence to Nashville, Murfreesboro, Iuka and Barnsby. The mention of these places is sufficient evi- denee that the regiment was seeing its share of fighting. This regiment was at Shiloh and after that battle it went into camp at Mill- dale not far from Corinth. The term for which the men had enlisted expired while the regiment was in this eamp, most or all of them, however, reenlisted for three years or for the entire period of the war.
Colonel Bowen had been placed in eom- mand of a brigade before the battle of Shi- loh and Lieutenant Colonel Rich was made colonel and A. C. Riley, first lieutenant of Company I, was made lieutenant colonel. This promotion of Riley offended some of the other offieers who resigned their commissions. Lieutenant Colonel Riley was afterwards made Colonel of the regiment on the death of Colonel Rieh, who was wounded at Shiloh. After the battle of Corinth the regiment was in camp at Lumpkins Mill near Holly Springs, and was there consolidated with the Fourth Missouri and assigned to Cockerill's brigade: it spent the winter of 1862-63 in
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Mississippi and was then sent on an expe- dition to Louisiana and to Grand Gulf; it took part in the battle of Champions Hill and was surrendered with the army at Vicksburg on July 4th, 1863. From here it was sent into Parole Camp at Demopolis, Alabama, where it remained until it was exchanged in the following September. It was then sent to Mobile it went into winter quarters; from Mobile it went to Lauderdale Springs and then to Gainesville, Alabama. It was attached to Hood's army and took part in the great battles of Franklin and Nashville and the lesser engagements of that campaign. The regiment suffered very greatly at the battle of Franklin. Out of 140 men who went into the battle not more than thirty came out un- injured. It took part in all the campaigns about Atlanta ; it was then sent to Mobile and was again captured at Fort Blakesly, which put an end to its active service. Colonel Ri- ley was killed at New Hope Church and was succeeded by Captain Garland. When the lat- ter was wounded the regiment was placed in command of Ambrose Keith, who had en- tered the service as lieutenant in Company H. The record of these two regiments was not surpassed by many in either army. They cov- ered long distances in their marches, took part in many of the great battles and won for themselves a name for steadiness and bravery that is enviable.
One of the most famous of the Confederate organizations of Southeast Missouri was the Second Missouri Cavalry recruited in a num- ber of counties in this part of the state. Its most famous colonel was Robert MeCulloch, who was elected at Springfield in October, 1861. They took part in the battles in Mis- souri and Arkansas especially the one at Elk Horn Tavern, where the regiment displayed such courage and fortitude and such unusual
steadiness as to attract the attention of offi- cers even at this point in its career. In 1862, with the First and Third Regiments, it was assigned to the brigade commanded by Gen- eral M. E. Green and sent to Arkansas. It made its headquarters at Van Buren and then crossed the river to the east with Generals Vandorn and Price. East of the river the First and Third Regiments were dismounted and became part of the Missouri Brigade, com- manded by General Cockrell; the Second was retained as a cavalry regiment throughout the war. It took part in the great battle at Bolivar, Tennessee, in August, 1862, where it was commanded by General Armstrong. A little later it was at Iuka and with Bledsoe's Missouri battery checked the pursuit after the battle. The regiment distinguished itself at Corinth and later during the terriffic fighting on Hatchie river. On this river when General Price's army seemed almost certain to fall into the hands of the enemy, the Second Missouri with Bledsoe's Battery, formed the rear guard and fought desperately for several days. At one time they formed an. ambush and inflicted great damage and loss on the enemy.
In 1863 the regiment operated in Missis- sippi until in October when it took part on the raid of Tennessee, fighting at Savery and Collinsville. On the retreat from this raid the companies of Captains Savery, Thompson, and Lichlighter fought as the rear guard. It formed a part of the command of General Bedford Forrest and distinguished itself for bravery at Okalona in 1864. It led the charge made against Fort Pillow, and in every action which it took part, won new laurels for itself. Colonel McCulloch was wounded at Old Town creek, and Lieutenant Colonel R. A. McCulloch was chosen in his place as col- onel. The regiment took part in the fighting
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around Memphis and went on Wilson's raid in Alabama and Georgia, surrendering at Gainesville, Alabama, in 1865.
The Missouri troops, including the First and Second Missouri Brigades and Marma- duke's Cavalry and the First and Second Mis- souri regiments, were everywhere recognized as among the finest soldiers of the South. General Maury in speaking on the repulse of Rosecrans' attack, says: "The glorious First Missouri Brigade." At one time there was a report that General Lovell, to whose negli- gence was probably due the defeat at Corinth, had spoken of Missouri troops as undisci- plined. After the Corinth campaign, the troops were reviewed by Generals Vandorn and Price in the presence of President Da- vis. Davis said : "I have attended reviews of Generals Beauregard, Bragg, A. S. and J. E. Johnson, and the old United States service, but I have never seen a finer looking body. of men nor of more soldierly appearance and efficiency, nor have I ever witnessed better drill or discipline among the soldiers belong- ing to any military service than these Mis- souri soldiers."
On another occasion he said : "I have never
seen better fighters than Missouri troops or more gallant soldiers than General Price and his officers."
The attack on Corinth was made in three di visions, the First and Second Divisions car- ried out the plan and got into town. The Third in command of General Lovell, was in- active. Among those that entered the town were the Missouri troops. General Maury, in speaking of this attack on Corinth says of the Missouri troops: "General Price looked on the disorder of his darling troops with unmitigated anguish. The big tears coursed down his bronzed face and I have never wit- nessed such a picture of mute despair and grief as his countenance wore when he looked upon the defeat of those magnificent troops ; he had never before known them to fail and they had never failed to carry the lines of any enemy in their front, nor did they ever to the very close of their noble career on April 9, 1865, fail to beat the troops before them. I mean no disparagement to any troops of the Confederacy when I say that the Missourians were not surpassed by any soldiers in the world."
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