USA > Missouri > Greene County > Past and present of Greene County Missouri, early and recent history and genealogical records of many of the representative citizens, Volume I > Part 26
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GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
states, or the employment of the military force by the seceding states to assail the government of the United States. Judges Orr and Hendrick, the members of the convention from Greene county, upon their return home, were warinly commended by the people and press for their course.
The people of this county took a marked interest in public affairs during the early part of 1861, and a number of public meetings were held, but no important action was taken. The prospect of war was freely discussed, and many prepared for it. A few openly sympathized with the seceded states, but the majority preferred to take no decided steps to aid either side. Many declared that Missouri had done nothing to bring on a war and should do nothing to help it along should one break out, declaring that her citizens were neither secessionists nor abolitionists. But a number of secret meetings were held by men of both sides. An effort was made to find out the politics of each man, and each side knew that the other was meeting secretly, but no interference was attempted. neither caring to voluntarily molest the other, and even little attempt was made to send out spies. One meeting by the Union men, which was held the latter part of March, near the place where the battle of Wilson's Creek was subsequently fought, was of considerable importance. It was attended by delegates from various counties of south- west Missouri to determine what was best to be done, and a general exchange of counsel by the leading Union men of this part of the state. Greene county was represented by Judge Hendricks and Col. Marcus Boyd. Cedar county's representative was Col. J. J. Gravelly, afterwards a member of Congress and lieutenant-governor of this state. A number of other men important in public life in surrounding counties of that time were present ; and it is said that a secret agent of President Lincoln was there. The result of the con- ference was a determination to stand by the Union at all hazards, and if necessary fight for it. Those favoring the secession of the state worked zeal- ously, preparing for emergencies, and were encouraged from time to time by emissaries of Governor Jackson, and the secession cause in central Missouri, who promised them plenty of arms if the time should come to use them. While most of these men deplored civil war, they determined to do their best in the interests of the South if war had come, allied, as they were, to that section by ties of kinship, of birthplace, of self-interest, o'f sympathy, of commonality of sentiment. And no men ever more honest in opinion or more in earnest than the secessionists of Greene county. Without making invidious comparisons or distinctions, it being always the first duty of the historian to give the facts, it is but fair to say that the leading Unionists of the county at that time were Henry Sheppard, Benjamin Kite, Marcus Boyd, Sample Orr, Mordecai Oliver, Littleberry Hendricks, R. J. McElhaney, John M. Richardson, John S. Phelps, R. B. Owen, and Dr. T. J. Bailey. Among
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the leading Southern sympathizers were Samuel Fulbright, Junius T. Camp- bell. Nick F. Jones, O. B. Smith, John W. Hancock, John Lair, E. T. Frazier, W. C. Price, Dr. G. P. Shackelford, Charles Carleton, Capt. Don Brown, P. S. Wilks, Joe Carthal, Thompson Brown and D. D. Berry, Sr.
NEWS OF FORT SUMTER.
When the long suspense was broken by news that General Beauregard had fired on Fort Sumter. April 12, 1861, the Confederates thereby precipi- tating the long-looked for contlict, nowhere in the country did excitement run higher than in Greene county, and Governor Jackson's refusal to respond to the requisition on Missouri for a portion of the seventy-five thousand vol- unteers which President Lincoln called for, was the paramount topic of dis- cussion here. Although Springfield had no railroad at that time, a telegraph line had been built here from Rolla, and the citizens were informed of the important happenings as quickly as any section of the Union. The Adver- tiser issued an extra edition announcing the Fort Sumter incident, and the people assembled in large crowds discussing the incident and its probable results. On April 22d Governor Jackson called a special session of the state Legislature to meet May 2d, and at that session a military bill was passed, providing. among other things, for the organization of the military forces of the state, called the Missouri State Guard. Under orders from the gov- ernor one company was raised in Greene county, and Capt. Richard Camp- bell was placed in command. The Unionists of the county were aggressive and outspoken, knowing that they were greatly in the majority, and a military organization was soon affected. Arms were soon procured from the Over- land State Company and other sources, and the stores round about were soon called upon to sell all their ammunition. A number of the leading men of the county had been in correspondence with the Union officers at Wash- ington and St. Louis and had received instructions to prepare for the direst emergencies as best they could. So leaders were ready to organize the men, equip and drill them. The Union men of this county were of all political parties. John S. Phelps, congressman from this district, was a Douglas Democrat, and he returned from Washington to his home in Springfield early in the troubles and at a conference of Union men held in a local bank building on the public square, gave as his opinion that the honor and inter- ests of the people of Greene county commanded them to stand by the Union, and other Democrats joined him in this view. The Bell and Everett men were nearly all Unionists. Some time previously, at the political meeting in Franklin county, Sample Orr, who had been candidate for governor, de- clared himself to be not only a Unionist, but a coercionist-making war upon the secessionists at once. He was a candidate on the Bell-Everett ticket.
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At that time Nathan Robinson, a secessionist, was postmaster at Spring- field. Early in May, Benjamin Kite, who had voted for Lincoln, and who was one of the leading Republicans of the community, received a commis- sion as postmaster. succeeding Mr. Robinson. It seems that the commission had been sent to Mr. Kite as an obscure country postoffice between Spring- field and Bolivar, and the fact that a change in postmasters at the former place had been made was not known to the people. It was understood that such a change would be resisted. The new postmaster surprised Mr. Robin- son one morning by boldly entering the office with his commission in one hand and a loaded revolver in the other and demanded that Mr. Robinson vacate at once and haul down the Confederate flag which he had raised over the postoffice, which he did without resistance.
About this time Gen. William S. Harney and Gen. Sterling Price agreed that no more troops were to be armed or organized in Missouri on either side, and this agreement had a tendency to quiet the minds of the people for a time, but they soon became alarmed again over reports to the effect that the secessionists were organizing, arming and rapidly preparing for hostili- ties. In the stage-coach at Springfield, a letter which J. S. Rains had care- lessly dropped, showed that negotiations were pending with the Cherokee Indians and other tribes to induce them to join the secessionists, and that it was believed fifteen thousand armed savages could be secured. It was also rumored that guns and troops were expected from Arkansas. General Harney telegraphed General Price relating what had been told him of the threatened invasion from the south and intimating the probability of his sending a regiment to Springfield to protect peaceable citizens. General Price replied to him that his information was undoubtedly incorrect, that arms and men could not be crossing into Missouri without the knowledge of Governor Jackson or himself, and that they had had no such information, and advised against sending a regiment to this part of the state, fearing it would exasperate the people. Price assured him that he was dismissing his troops and that he intended to carry out his part of the agreement faith- fully. The Union men at Springfield hoped that the agreement of these generals would be carried out, but they remained feverish and restless, and had no confidence in it being done. Gen. J. S. Rains began organizing seces- sion bands under the military bill. It was believed that secessionists were in Arkansas soliciting aid, and that troops from that state were mobilizing near the state border and entrenching themselves at Harmony Springs. The Home Guard was organized at Springfield about this time, eight hundred men being mustered into service, and a general mass meeting of secessionists was called for June IIth. The Unionists of Springfield decided to guard the town to prevent their opponents from coming in and carrying away am-
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mmmmition and provisions, and consequently details were made and the streets patroled all night and all the roads leading into town carefully watched.
GATHERING OF THE CLANS.
Although the citizens of Greene county earnestly desired to evade actual warfare, all had felt for some time that war could not be averted. Emis- saries from the seat of the Confederate government visited this section of the state at various times and encouraged those who sympathized with the South. Governor Jackson sent a large quantity of gun powder to Linn creek, from which point it was distributed throughout southwestern Missouri to the State Gnards and armed secessionists. Greene county's share was brought by stage-coach to Springfield and hidden in Campbell's barn, the major portion of which was finally captured by Federal troops. The Home Guards, com- posed of Union men, had perfected a number of organizations in this and adjoining counties. They were armed with squirrel rifles, navy revolvers and shotguns. AAs per previous plans, Campbell's company of State Guards and a large body of secessionists gathered at Fulbright's spring on June II. 1861. Governor Jackson, in forming the state into military districts, had commissioned John S. Rains, a prominent politician of Jasper county, briga- dier-general of the Missouri State Guard of this district, called the eighth district, and it was understood to be in obedience to his orders that the Greene county company mustered. General Rains was well known to the people of this county, and had been a candidate for Congress on the Bell- Everett ticket for the Unionists, against John S. Phelps in the presidential campaign of 1860. He was also at this time a state senator. Word had been sent to all the Unionist companies to gather at Springfield on June 11th and make such a demonstration as would discourage the secessionists, so they gathered on the Kickapoo prairie, about two miles south of Springfield near a small pond, and they came from all directions, bringing their arms, teams, wagons and provisions. The day being oppressively hot and there being a lack of water and shade at the "goose pond," John S. Phelps rode out to the meeting and invited the crowd to his farm nearby where it would be more comfortable and they accepted and soon all the companies were en- camped in Phelps' pasture. The twelve or more companies were formed into a regimental organization, of which John S. Phelps was chosen colonel, Marcus Boyd, lieutenant-colonel, and Sample Orr and Pony Boyd, majors. The regiment had no sooner been formed than a number of the privates asked the officers to lead them at once to Fulbright's spring so they might roust the secessionists who were there organizing and drilling. Major Orr expressed his willingness to do so, but Colonel Phelps forbade any such demonstration, cautioning his men to do nothing to precipitate hostilities, as they would
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come soon enough of themselves, and the people would eventually have their fill of bloodshed. Meanwhile the secessionists were preparing for a great demonstration in town, desiring to parade the streets with their forces and raise over the court house a new flag designed for the occasion. Couriers freely passed between the two camps, and it was soon learned that if an at- tempt was made to raise the flag of the secessionists over the court house a collision would ensue. Col. Dick Campbell rode to the Union camp and con- ferred with Colonel Phelps, telling him of his plans to raise a Southern flag over the court house, to which Colonel Phelps stoutly objected, saying that no such banner had a right to, and should not wave over Greene county if it could be prevented. An amicable agreement was finally reached whereby Col: Campbell's men raised the state flag and the other side raised the stars and stripes at the same time over the court house and both regiments paraded the streets of Springfield at the same time, and the day passed without blood- shed, however a clash was narrowly averted. The Home Guards held the town that night, and all was quiet ; however, they discussed plans to capture the Southern sympathizers the following day, but before an attempt was made in this direction Colonel Campbell led his men away, and a conflict among fellow citizens was a second time averted, or more properly, post- poned. Phelps' regiment of Home Guards, which had been raised without authority from any source, and only in obedience to the natural rights of self-protection, was disbanded for the time, each man to return to his home and to consider himself a "minute man," ready to be called out at a moment's notice, if needed.
FIRST FEDERAL TROOPS APPEAR ..
Upon the disbanding of Phelps' regiment. S. H. Boyd, Dr. E. T. Rob- berson and L. A. D. Crenshaw, all loyal Union supporters, determined to go to St. Louis and impress upon the Federal military authorities there the importance of sending troops, arms and general munitions of war to Spring- field without delay, and assist the Union men in southwest Missouri in order to hold this section against the secessionists. The three men made the trip on horseback, each riding a white horse, to Rolla, Dr. Robberson, who knew the country well, leading the way. They left Springfield at night and se- lected a path through the woods in a direction which they knew there would be little danger of being intercepted. On their way they passed a large num- ber of men, some alone, some in small bands, and all bearing arms; but whether they were friends or foes was never ascertained, for no questions were asked by anyone. The party rode rapidly, lost a horse, but reached Rolla in time to witness its capture by the first Federal troops in this part of Missouri, the Third and Fifth Missouri Volunteer Regiments, commanded
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by Col. Franz Sigel. Some State Guards were in Rolla at the time, and being taken unawares by Sigel's Germans, many of them were made pris- oners. The Greene county trio had the ride for nothing, for in a confer- ence with Colonel Sigel they were informed that he was then on his way to southwestern Missouri for the purpose of holding this section in line for the l'union, and to give special attention to Gen. James S. Rains and the di- vision of State Guards, then supposed to be concentrating near Sarcoxie, in Jasper county. A few days later Colonel Sigel resumed his march toward Springfield. He commanded his own regiment, the Third, while the Fifth regiment was commanded by Col. Charles E. Salomon, and Messrs. Boyd, Robberson and Crenshaw returned to Greene county with these two regi- ments. The long trip from Rolla over a very rough country was slow, and the Federals were compelled to feel their way cautiously. The country was well reconnoitered, detachments being sent out on either side the moving column.
It was Sunday morning. June 24, 1861, when those who lived in the eastern part of Springfield looked out and saw uniformed men on horseback riding at the head of a long column of troops marching along the St. Louis road, then a light breeze unfurled a banner, showing the familiar Stars and Stripes : then the band struck up a national air, and in a few moments the entire city knew that the Union soldiers or "Yankee Dutch" were coming ; in fact. had come and were in possession of the town, "before anybody knew it." Most of the people were at church on this quiet Sabbath, when the in- vaders reached the public square, just before noon. A pompous German major rode with his detachment to the Christian church, where the Rev. Charles Carleton was preaching to a large audience, the majority of whom were known to be in favor of the Southern cause. A cordon of soldiers quickly surrounded the church building and respectfully waited until services were over and the benediction pronounced, when the major entered, filling the doorway with his massive figure and called out in stentorian tones: "In der name of mine adopted gountry, der United Stades of Ameriky, und der Bresident, and der army, und by der orders of Franz Sigel, you are mine brisoners of war! Pass out, all of you mens, und to mine headquarters in der gourt house go, right avay quick! Forwart. March! Der laties may go home!" The court house was soon filled with prisoners accused of being guilty of real or premeditated treason against the government, and some im- pressments of property made. The powder stored in the Campbell barn, which had been sent by Governor Jackson, was found and promptly appro- priated by Sigel's men. Pickets were thrown out on all roads leading into the city, and reconnoitering parties made incursions into the country from time to time.
T. W. Sweeney, a captain in the regular army, who had been chosen
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a brigadier-general by the St. Louis Home Guards, came to Springfield on July 1, 1861, with a force of about fifteen hundred men, including the First Iowa Infantry, which wore gray uniforms, a portion of the Second Kansas Infantry, a battalion of regular dragoons and some artillery. He was recog- nized as a brigadier-general, and thus outranked all other Federal officers in southwestern Missouri, and so became commander of all Union forces here. Sweeney was an Irishman. He had fought in the Mexican war, where he lost an arm. He was an aggressive fighter, but seemed to lack coolness and sound judgment, and although he started at the beginning of the war with a high rank, he never attained much distinction as a military man. He will be remembered as the man who led the Fenian raid into Canada, after the close of the Civil war, which raid ended so ignominiously. During the early part of the Civil war it was the custom of the commanding generals to issue frequent proclamations. Many believe that they did neither good nor harm. They came frequently from the Federal officers who were in southwest Mis- souri. The Union people did not need them, and the secessionists paid no attention to them, unless it was to break them, and a number of men rode up and down the country tacking up copies of proclamations by Generals Price, McCulloch and Rains. We give the following from the pen of General Sweeney, which is a typical "proclamation," and which, it seems, had no effect whatever on the people of this locality :
Headquarters Southwest Expedition. Springfield, Mo., July 4, 1861.
To the Citizens of Southwestern Missouri: Your governor has striven to cause the state to withdraw from the Union. Failing to accomplish this purpose by legislative enactment, he has already committed treason by levy- ing war against the United States. He has endeavored to have you commit the same crime. Hence he has called for troops to enter the military service of the state, not to aid, but to oppose the government of the United States.
The troops under my command are stationed in your midst by the proper authority of our government. They are amongst you, not as enemies, but as friends and protectors of all loyal citizens. Should an insurrection of your slaves take place, it would be my duty to suppress it, and I should use the force at my command for that purpose. It is my duty to protect all loyal citizens in the enjoyment and possession of all their property, slaves in- cluded. That duty shall be performed.
I require all troops and armed men in this part of the state, now as- sembled, and which are arrayed against the government of the United States, to immediately disperse and return to their homes. If this shall not be done without delay, those hordes of armed men shall be taken prisoners or dis- persed. I request every citizen to acknowledge that he owes allegiance to the
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United States to aid me to prevent the shedding of blood and to restore peace and quiet to this portion of the state. Those who have manifested a want of loyalty, either by act or word, toward the government of the United States are requested to appear before me or any officer in command of any post or any detachment of troops under my command and take an oath of allegiance to our government. Gross misrepresentations of the oath, which lias already been administered to many of your most respectable citizens, have been made. No loyal citizen will decline to take such an oath. It is the (luty of every good citizen to bear allegiance to the government and to support the constitution of the United States, not to encourage secession by word or act. and to obey all legal orders eminating from the constituted authorities of the land. No loyal citizen will bear arms against his government or give aid and support to the enemies of the country. Such, in brief, are the obligations required.
I assure you that the government of the United States will deal leniently, yet firmly, with all its citizens who have been misled, and who desire to main- tain and preserve the best government ever devised by human wisdom.
T. W. SWEENEY, U. S. A., Brigadier General Commanding.
During the latter part of June, 1861, the forces under Governor Jack- son and Colonel Marmaduke marched to the southwestern part of the state to join the forces of General Rains, and to be in easy distance of Gen. Ben McCulloch's army at Fayetteville, Arkansas. When news of this movement reached Colonel Sigel he at once set out from Springfield with his regiment to intercept Jackson and Marmaduke, and if possible prevent the juncture of their forces with the troops under General Rains, and to attack the latter and destroy him in camp in Jasper county. Besides his own regiment, Sigel had the major portion of Colonel Salomon's regiment, eight pieces of Back- off's artillery, six and twelve pounders, and a company of regulars, and he "pressed" into service a number of horses and wagons, which he took from the people of the vicinity of Springfield. The little army left Springfield about July Ist. taking the road westward toward Mt. Vernon, it being sixty- five miles to Carthage. On July 5th the opposing forces came together at Carthage. Against the eight companies of Sigel's regiment, seven of Salo- mon's and the artillery under Backoff were the State Guards under Gover- nor Jackson in person, and Generals Rains and Parsons. The Federals were defeated and fell back to Mt. Vernon, Sigel being foiled in his attempt to prevent the concentration of the secessionists.
1
GEN. NATHANIEL LYON.
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GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
WHEN GENERAL LYON CAME.
Southwest Missouri was becoming the store center of the West. On July 3, 1861, Gen. Nathaniel Lyon, who was destined to play a very im- portant role in the war drama in this part of the country, left Boonville, where a battle had been fought with Jackson and Marmaduke, three weeks previously. He was at the head of some two thousand troops, leading them to southwestern Missouri for the purpose of co-operating with Sigel. An- other force of about sixteen hundred men, comprising ten companies of Kansas volunteers. six companies of regular infantry and dragoons and five companies of cavalry, under the command of Maj. S. D. Sturgis, left Kansas City on June 25, destined also for southwest Missouri. At Grand river, in Henry county, the two commands formed a junction and then started to find Sigel. General Lyon upon hearing of the Union defeat and retreat eastward, changed his direction more to the eastward, reaching Greene county about July 13th, and went into camp near Pond Spring in the western part of the county, and on the above mentioned date Lyon rode on into Spring- field. Those who saw him enter the town always remembered vividly his appearance. He was mounted on a splendid iron-gray horse, with an escort and body-guard of ten picked men from the First Regiment, United States Regular Cavalry, all of whom were men remarkable for their large size, strong physique, and fine horsemanship. The bright, neatly fitting blue uni- form, contrasted sharply with his red beard and long red hair. He treated the citizens with kindness and courtesy, although impressing their domestic animals and such provisions as he needed for his army. He soon got in communication with Sigel, also with General Fremont at St. Louis, asking the latter to send him reinforcements at once. He also busied himself with recruiting for the Federal service, and issued commissions to the officers of the Home Guard companies, and mustering in enlisted men. His arrival in Springfield was heralded broadcast and he was soon visited by Union leaders from all over this section of the state, by men from the various counties within a radius of seventy-five miles.
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