USA > Missouri > Jackson County > The History of Jackson county, Missouri, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc., biographical sketches of its citizens, Jackson county in the late warhistory of Missouri, map of Jackson county > Part 6
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131 | Part 132 | Part 133 | Part 134 | Part 135 | Part 136 | Part 137 | Part 138 | Part 139
II. The Quartermaster-General will procure and issue to Quartermasters of Districts, for these commands not now provided for, all necessary tents and camp equipage, to enable the commanding officers thereof to carry the foregoing orders into effect.
III. The Light Battery now attached to the Southwest Battalion, and one company of mounted riflemen, including all officers and soldiers belonging to the First District, will proceed forthwith to St. Louis, and report to Gen. D. M. Frost for duty. The remaining companies of said battalion will be disbanded for the purpose of assisting in the organization of companies upon that frontier. The details in the execution of the foregoing are intrusted to Lieutenant-Colonel John S. Bowen, commanding the Battalion.
IV. The strength, organization, and equipment of the several companies in the Districts will be reported at once to these Headquarters, and District Inspec- tors will furnish all information which may be serviceable in ascertaining the condition of the State forces.
By order of the Governor.
WARWICK HOUGH, Adjutant-General of Missouri.
May 2, 1861. The Legislature convened in extra Session. Many acts were passed, among which was one to authorize the Governor to purchase or lease David Ballentine's foundry at Boonville, for the manufacture of arms and munitions of war ; to authorize the Governor to appoint one Major-General ; to authorize the Governor, when, in his opinion, the security and welfare of the State required it, to take possession of the railroad and telegraph lines of the State ; to provide for the organization, government, and support of the military forces ; to borrow one million of dollars to arm and equip the militia of the State to repel invasion, and protect the lives and property of the people. An act was also passed creating a "Military Fund," to consist of all the money then in the treasury or that might thereafter be received from the one-tenth of one per cent. on the hundred dollars, levied by act of November, 1857, to complete certain railroads; also the proceeds of a tax of fifteen cents on the hundred dollars of the assessed value of the taxable property of the several counties in the State, and the proceeds of the two mill tax, which had been theretofore appropriated for educa- tional purposes.
May 3, 1861. "Camp Jackson," was organized.
May 10, 1861. Sterling Price appointed Major-General of State Guard.
BREAKING PRAIRIE.
42
HISTORY OF MISSOURI.
May 10, 1861. General Frost commanding "Camp Jackson" addressed General N. Lyon, as follows :
HEADQUARTERS CAMP JACKSON, MISSOURI MILITIA, MAY 10, 186r. CAPT. N. LYON, Commanding U. S. Troops in and about St. Louis Arsenal :
SIR :-- I am constantly in receipt of information that you contemplate an at- tack upon my camp, whilst I understand that you are impressed with the idea that an attack upon the Arsenal and United States troops is intended on the part of the Militia of Missouri. I am greatly at a loss to know what could justify you in attacking citizens of the United States, who are in lawful performance of their duties, devolving upon them under the Constitution in organizing and instructing the militia of the State in obedience to her laws, and, therefore, have been dis- posed to doubt the correctness of the information I have received.
I would be glad to know from you personally whether there is any truth in the statements that are constantly pouring into my ears. So far as regards any hostility being intended toward the United States, or its property or representa- tives by any portion of my command, or, as far as I can learn, (and I think I am fully informed,) of any other part of the state forces, I can positively say that the idea has never been entertained. On the contrary prior to your taking com. mand of the Arsenal, I proffered to Mayor Bell, then in command of the very few troops constituting its guard, the services of myself and all my command, and, if necessary, the whole power of the State, to protect the United States in the full possession of all her property. Upon General Harney taking command of this department, I made the same proffer of services to him, and authorized his Adjutant-General, Capt. Williams, to communicate the fact that such had been done to the War Department. I have had no occasion since to change any of the views I entertained at the time, neither of my own volition nor through orders of my Constitutional commander.
I trust that after this explicit statement that we may be able, by fully under- standing each other, to keep far from our borders the misfortunes which so unhap- pily affect our common country.
This communication will be handed you by Colonel Bowen, my Chief of Staff, who will be able to explain anything not fully set forth in the foregoing.
I am, sir, very respectfully your obedient servant,
BRIGADIER-GENERAL D. M. FROST; Commanding Camp Jackson, M. V. M.
May roth, 186r. Gen. Lyon sent the following to Gen. Frost :
HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES TROOPS, ST. LOUIS, Mo., MAY 10, 186r.
GEN. D. M. FROST, Commanding Camp Jackson :
SIR :- Your command is regarded as evidently hostile toward the Govern- ment of the United States.
It is, for the most part, made up of those Secessionists who have openly avowed their hostility to the General Government, and have been plotting at the seizure of its property and the overthrow of its authority. You are openly ir communication with the so-called Southern Confederacy, which is now at war with the United States, and you are receiving at your camp, from the said Confederacy and under its flag, large supplies of the material of war, most of which is known to be the property of the United States. These extraordinary preparations plain- ly indicate none other than the well-known purpose of the Governor of this State, under whose orders you are acting, and whose communication to the Legislature has just been responded to by that body in the most unparalleled legislation, hav
43
HISTORY OF MISSOURI.
ing in direct view hostilities to the General Government and co-operation with its enemies.
In view of these considerations, and of your failure to disperse in obedience to the proclamation of the President, and of the imminent necessities of State policy and warf,re, and the obligations imposed upon me by instructions from Washington, it is my duty to demand, and I do hereby demand of you an imme- diate surrender of your command, with no other conditions than that all persons surrendering under this command shall be humanely and kindly treated. Believ- ing myself prepared to enforce this demand, one-half hour's time before doing so will be allowed for your compliance therewith.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
N. LYON,
Capt. 2d Infantry, Commanding Troops.
May 10, 1861. Camp Jackson surrendered and prisoners all released except- ing Capt. Emmet McDonald, who refused to subscribe the parole.
May 12, 1861. Brigadier-General Wm. S. Harney issued a proclamation to the people of Missouri, saying " he would carefully abstain from the exercise of any unnecessary powers," and only use " the military force stationed in this dis- trict in the last resort to preserve peace."
May 14, 1861. General Harney issued a second proclamation.
May 21, 1861. General Harney held a conference with General Sterling Price of the Missouri State Guards.
May 31, 1861. General Harney superseded by General Lyon.
June II; 1861. A second conference was held between the National and State authorities in St. Louis, which resulted in nothing.
June 11, 1861. Gov. Jackson left St. Louis for Jefferson City, burning the . railroad bridges behind him, and cutting telegraph wires.
June 12, 1861. Governor Jackson issued a proclamation calling into active service 50,000 militia, " to repel invasion, protect life, property, etc."
June 15, 1861. Col. F. P. Blair took possession of the State Capital, Gov. Jackson, Gen. Price and other officers having left on the 13th of June for Boon- ville.
June 17, 1861. Battle of Boonville took place between the forces of Gen. Lyon and Col. John S. Marmaduke.
June 18, 1861. General Lyon issued a proclamation to the people of Mis- souri.
July 5, 1861. Battle at Carthage between the forces of Gen. Sigel and Gov. Jackson.
July 6, 1861. Gen. Lyon reached Springfield.
July 22, 1861. State convention met and declared the offices of Governor, Lieutenant-Governor and Secretary of State vacated.
July 26, 1861. Gen. John C Fremont assumed command of the Western Department, with headquarters in St. Louis.
July 31, 1861. Lieutenant-Governor Thomas C. Reynolds, issued a procla- mation at New Madrid.
August 1, 1861. General Jeff. Thompson issued a proclamation at Bloom- field.
August 2, 1861. Battle of Dug Springs, between Captain Steele's forces and General Rains.
August 5, 1861. Governor Jackson issued a proclamation at New Madrid.
August 5, 1861. Battle of Athens.
August 10, 1861. Battle of Wilson's Creek, between the forces under Gen- eral Lyon and General McCulloch. In this engagement General Lyon was killed General Sturgis succeeded General Lyon.
44
HISTORY OF MISSOURI.
August 12, 1864. McCulloch issued a proclamation, and soon left Missouri.
August 20, 1864. General Price issued a proclamation.
August 24, 1861. Governor Gamble issued a proclamation calling for 32,000 men for six months to protect the property and lives of the citizens of the State.
August 30, 1861. General Fremont declared martial law, and declared that the slaves of all persons who should thereafter take an active part with the enemies of the Government should be free.
September 2, 1861. General Jeff. Thompson issued a proclamation in re. sponse to Fremont's proclamation.
September 7, 1861. Battle at Drywood creek.
September 11, 1861. President Lincoln modified the clause in Gen. Fre- mont's declaration of martial law, in reference to the confiscation of property and liberation of slaves.
September 12, 1861. General Price begins the attack at Springfield on Colo- nel Mulligan's forces.
September 20, 1861. Colonel Mulligan with 2,640 men surrendered.
October 25, 1861. Second battle at Springfield.
November 2, 1861. General Fremont succeeded by General David Hunter.
November 7, 1861. General Grant attacked Belmont.
November 9, 1861. General Hunter succeeded by General Halleck, who took command on the 19th of same month, with headquarters in St. Louis.
November 27, 1861. General Price issued proclamation calling for 50,000 men, at Neosho, Missouri.
December 12, 1861. General Hunter issued his order of assessment upon cer - tain wealthy citizens in St. Louis, for feeding and clothing Union refugees.
December 23-25. Declared martial law in St. Louis and the country adja- cent, and covering all the railroad lines.
March 6, 1862. Battle at Pea Ridge between the forces under Generals Curtis and Van Dorn.
January 8, 1862. Provost Marshal Farrar, of St. Louis, issued the following order in reference to newspapers :
OFFICE OF THE PROVOST MARSHAL, - GENERAL DEPARTMENT OF MISSOURI. } ST. Louis, January 8, 1862.
(General Order No. 10.)
It is hereby ordered that from and after this date the publishers of newspapers in the State of Missouri, (St. Louis City papers excepted), furnish to this office, immediately upon publication, one copy of each issue, for inspection. A failure to comply with this order will render the newspaper liable to suppression.
Local Provost Marshals will furnish the proprietors with copies of this order, and attend to its immediate enforcement.
BERNARD G. FARRAR, Provost Marshal General.
January 26, 1862. General Halleck issued order (No. 18) which forbade, among other things, the display of Secession flags in the hands of women or on carriages, in the vicinity of the military prison in McDowell's College, the carriages to be confiscated and the offending women to be arrested.
February 4, 1862. General Halleck issued another order similar to Order No. 18, to railroad companies and to the professors and directors of the State Univer- sity at Columbia, forbidding the funds of the institution to be used "to teach treason or to instruct traitors."
February 20, 1862. Special Order No. 120 convened a military commission, which sat in Columbia, March following, and tried Edmund J. Ellis, of Columbia,
45
HISTORY OF MISSOURI.
editor and proprietor of " The Boone County Standard," for the publication of information for the benefit of the enemy, and encouraging resistance to the United States Government. Ellis was found guilty, was banished during the war from Missouri, and his printing materials confiscated and sold.
April, 1862. General Halleck left for Corinth, Mississippi, leaving General Schofield in command.
June, 1862. Battle at Cherry Grove between the forces under Colonel Jos. C. Porter and Colonel H. S. Lipscomb.
June, 1862. Battle at Pierce's Mill between the forces under Major John Y. Clopper and Colonel Porter.
July 22, 1862. Battle at Florida.
July 28, 1862. Battle at Moore's Mill.
Angust 6, 1862. Battle near Kirksville.
August 11, 1862. Battle at Independence.
August 16, 1862.
Battle at Lone Jack.
September 13, 1862. Battle at Newtonia.
September 25, 1862. Ten Confederate prisoners were executed at Macon by order of General Merrill.
October 18, 1862. Ten Confederate prisoners executed at Palmyra by order of General McNeill.
January 8, 1863 Battle at Springfield between the forces of General Mar- maduke and General E. B. Brown.
April 26, 1863. Battle at Cape Girardeau.
August -, 1863. General Jeff. Thompson captured at Pocahontas, Arkan- sas, with his staff.
August 25. 1863. General Thomas Ewing issued his celebrated Order No. II, at Kansas City, Missouri, which is as follows :
HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF THE BORDER, KANSAS CITY MO., August 25, 1863.
(General Order No II.)
First .- All persons living in Cass, Jackson and Bates counties, Missouri, and in that part of Vernon included in this district, except those living within one mile of the limits of Independence, Hickman's Mills, Pleasant Hill and Harrison. ville, and except those in that part of Kaw township, Jackson county, north of Brush Creek and west of the Big Blue, embracing Kansas City and Westport, are hereby ordered to remove from their present places of residence within fifteen days from the date hereof.
Those who, within that time, establish their loyalty to the satisfaction of the commanding officer of the military station nearest their present places of residence, will receive from him certificates stating the fact of their loyalty, and the names of the witnesses by whom it can be shown. All who receive such certificate will be permitted to remove to any military station in this district, or to any part of the State of Kansas, except the counties on the eastern borders of the State. All others shall remove out of this district. Officers commanding companies and detach- ments serving in the counties named, will see that this paragraph is promptly obeyed.
Second .- All grain and hay in the field, or under shelter, in the district from which the inhabitants are required to remove within reach of military stations, after the 9th day of September next, will be taken to such stations and turned over to the proper officer there, and report of the amount so turned over made to district headquarters, specifying the names of all loyal owners and the amount of such produce taken from them. All grain and hay found in such district after the 9th day of September next, not convenient to such stations, will be destroyed.
Third .- The provisions of General Order No. 10, from these headquarters,
46
HISTORY OF MISSOURI.
will at once be vigorously executed by officers commanding in the parts of the district, and at the stations not subject to the operations of paragraph First of this Order-and especially in the towns of Independence, Westport and Kansas City.
Fourth -Paragraph 3, General Order No. 10, is revoked as to all who have borne arms against the government in the district since August 20, 1863.
By order of Brigadier-General Ewing.
H. HANNAHS, Adjutant.
October 12-13, Battle of Arrow Creek.
January, 1864, General Rosecrans takes command of the Department September, 1864, Battle at Pilot Knob, Harrison and Little Morceau River. October 5, 1864, Battle at Prince's Ford and James Gordon's farm.
October 8, 1864, Battle at Glasgow.
October 20, 1864, Battle at Little Blue Creek.
September 27, 1864, Massacre at Centralia, by Captain Bill Anderson.
October 27, 1864, Capt. Anderson killed.
December -, 1864. General Rosecrans relieved, and General Dodge ap- pointed to succeed him.
Nothing occurred specially, of a military character, in the State after Decem- ber, 1864. We have, in the main, given the facts as they occurred without com- ment or entering into details. Many of the minor incidents and skirmishes of the war have been omitted because of our limited space.
It is utterly impossible, at this date, to give the names and dates of all the battles fought in Missouri during the civil war. It will be found, however, that the list given below, which has been arranged for convenience, contains the prominent battles and skirmishes which took place within the State :
Potosi, May 14, 1861. Boonville, June 17, 1861.
Carthage, July 5, 1861.
Monroe Station, July 10, 1861.
Overton's Run, July 17, 1861.
Dug Spring, August 2, 1861.
Wilson's Creek, August 9, 1861.
Athens, Angust 5, 1861.
Moreton, August 20, 1861.
Bennett's Mills, September -, 1861.
Drywood Creek, September 7, 1861.
Norfolk, September 10, 1861.
Lexington, September 12-20, 1861.
Blue Mills Landing, September 17, 1861.
Glasgow Mistake, September 20, 1861.
Osceola, September 25, 1861.
Shanghai, Oct. 13, 1861.
Lebanon, Oct. 13, 1861.
Linn Creek, Oct. 15, 1861.
Big River Bridge, Oc'. 15, 1861.
Fredericktown, Oct. 21, 1861.
Springfield, Oct. 25, 1861.
Belmont, Nov. 7, 1861. Piketon, Nov. 8, 1861.
Little Blue, Nov. 10, 1861.
Clark's Station, Nov. 11, 1861. Zion Church, Dec. 28, 1871.
Silver Creek, Jan. 15, 1862.
New Madrid, Feb. 28, 1862. Pea Ridge, March 6, 1862.
Neosho, April 22, 1862.
Rose Hill, July 10, 1862.
Chariton River, July 30, 1862.
Cherry Grove, June -, 1862.
Pierces Mill, June -, 1862.
Florida, July 22, 1862.
Moore's Mill, July 28, 1862.
Kirksville, Ang. 6, 1862.
Compton's Ferry, Ang 8, 1862.
Yellow Creek, Aug. 13, 1862.
Independence, Aug. 11, 1862. Lone Jack, Aug. 16, 1862.
Newtonia, Sept. 13, 1862. Springfield, Jan. 8, 1863.
Cape Girardeau, April 29, 1863.
Arrow Rock, Oct 12 and 13, 1863.
Pilot Knob, Sept. - , 1864.
Harrison, Sept. - , 1864. Moreau River, Oct. 7, 1864.
Prince's Ford, Oct. 5, 1864. Glasgow, Oct. 8, 1864.
Little Blue Creek, Oct. 20, 1864.
Albany, Oct. 27, 1864.
Near Rocheport, Sept. 23, 1864. Centralia, Sept. 27, 1864.
47
HISTORY OF MISSOURI.
CHAPTER IX. EARLY MILITARY RECORD.
Black Hawk War-Mormon Difficulties-Florida War-Mexican War.
On the 14th day of May, 1832, a bloody engagement took place between the regular forces of the United States, and a part of the Sacs, Foxes, and Winneba- goe Indians, commanded by Black Hawk and Keokux, near Dixon's Ferry in Illinois.
The Governor (John Miller) of Missouri, fearing these savages would invade the soil of his State, ordered Major-General Richard Gentry to raise one thou- sand volunteers for the defense of the frontier. Five companies were at once raised in Boone county, and in Callaway, Montgomery, St. Charles, Lincoln, Pike, Marion, Ralls, Clay and Monroe other companies were raised.
Two of these companies, commanded respectively by Captain John Jaimison, of Callaway, and Captain David M. Hickman, of Boone county, were mustered into service in July for thirty days, and put under command of Major Thomas W. Conyers.
This detachment, accompanied by General Gentry, arrived at Fort Pike on the 15th of July, 1832. Finding that the Indians had not crossed the Mississippi into Missouri, General Gentry returned to Columbia, leaving the fort in charge of Major Conyers. Thirty days having expired, the command under Major Con- yers was relieved by two other companies under Captains Sinclair Kirtley, of Boone, and Patrick Ewing, of Callaway. This detachment was marched to Fort Pike by Col. Austin A. King, who conducted the two companies under Major Conyers home. Major Conyers was left in charge of the fort, where he remained till September following. at which time the Indian troubles, so far as Missouri was concerned, having all subsided, the frontier forces were mustered out of service.
Black Hawk continued the war in Iowa and Illinois, and was finally defeated and captured in 1833.
MORMON DIFFICULTIES.
In 1832, Joseph Smith, the leader of the Mormons, and the chosen prophet and apostle, as he claimed, of the Most High, came with many followers to Jack- son county, Missouri, where they located and entered several thousand acres of land.
The object of his coming so far West-upon the very outskirts of civilization at that time-was to more securely establish his church, and the more effectively to instruct his followers in its peculiar tenets and practices.
Upon the present town site of Independence the Mormons located their "Zion," and gave it the name of "The New Jerusalem." They published here The Evening Star, and made themselves generally obnoxious to the Gentiles, who were then in a minority, by their denunciatory articles through their paper, their clannishness and their polygamous practices.
Dreading the demoralizing influence of a paper which seemed to be inspired only with hatred and malice toward them, the Gentiles threw the press and type into the Missouri river, tarred and feathered one of their bishops, and otherwise gave the Mormons and their leaders to understand that they must conduct them- selves in an entirely different manner if they wished to be let alone.
After the destruction of their paper and press, they became furiously incensed, and sought many opportunities for retaliation. Matters continued in an uncertain
48
HISTORY OF MISSOURI.
condition until the 31st of October, 1833, when a deadly conflict occurred near Wes port, in which two Gentiles and one Mormon were killed.
On tlie 2d of November following the Mormons were overpowered, and com- pelled to lay down their arms and agree to leave the county with their families by January Ist on the condition that the owner would be paid for his printing press.
Leaving Jackson county, they crossed the Missouri and located in Clay, Car- roll, Caldwell and other counties, and selected in Caldwell county a town site, which they called " Far West," and where they entered more land for their future homes.
Through the influence of their missionaries, who were exerting themselves in the East and in different portions of Europe, conve ts had constantly flocked to their standard, and "Far West," and other Mormon settlements, rapidly prospered.
In 1837 they commenced the erection of a magnificent temple but never finished it. As their settlements increased in numbers, they became bolder in their practices and deeds of lawlessness.
During the summer of 1838 two of their leaders settled in the town of De- Witt, on the Missouri river, having purchased the land from an Illinois merchant. DeWitt was in Carroll county, and a good point from which to forward goods and immigrants to their town-Far West.
Upon its being ascertained that these parties were Mormon leaders, the Gen- tiles called a public meeting, which was addressed by some of the prominent citizens of the county. Nothing, however, was done at this meeting, but at a subsequent meeting, which was held a few days afterward, a committee of citi- zens was appointed to notify Col. Hinkle (one of the Mormon leaders at DeWitt), what they intended to do.
Col. Hinkle upon being notified by this committee became indignant, and threatened extermination to all who should attempt to molest him or the Saints.
In anticipation of trouble, and believing that the Gentiles would attempt to force them from DeWitt, Mormon recruits flocked to the town from every direc- tion, and pitched their tents in and around the town in great numbers.
The Gentiles, nothing daunted, planned an attack upon this encampment, to take place on the 21st day of September, 1838, and, accordingly, one hundred and fifty men bivouacked near the town on that day. A conflict ensued, but nothing serious occurred.
The Mormons evacuated their works and fled to some log houses, where they could the more successfully resist the Gentiles, who had in the meantime returned to their camp to await reinforcements. Troops from Howard, Ray and other counties came to their assistance, and increased their number to five hundred men.
Congreve Jackson was chosen Brigadier-General ; Ebenezer Price, Colonel ; Singleton Vaughan, Lieutenant-Colonel, and Sarchel Woods, Major. After some days of discipline, this brigade prepared for an assault. but before the attack was commenced Judge James Earickson and William F. Dunnica, influential citizens of Howard county, asked permission of General Jackson to let them try and ad- just the difficulties without any bloodshed.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.