USA > Missouri > Pettis County > The History of Pettis County, Missouri, including an authentic history of Sedalia, other towns and townships, together with biographical sketches > Part 41
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The Narrow Gauge Railroad, extending from Sedalia to Warsaw, in Benton county, was accomplished by Cyrus Newkirk, the prime factor in the movement, working about two years most valiantly before its organiza- tion; he was also treasurer of this company; Maj. Wmn. Gentry, presi- dent; D. H. Smith, vice-president; and Col. Jno. D. Crawford, secretary. Late surveys of this road extend to Springfield and Pierce City, Mo. The object that Mr. Newkirk had in view when he was so tenaciously working for this road was to checkmate the Osage Valley and Southern Kansas Railroad, and take charge of the old road-bed in Benton county, which was pledged to the company that would make the first road to that county. The bonds of this company were held by St. Louis parties, issued by the company, whose headquarters were in Sedalia. The road is now in the Jay Gould combination.
Chief among the leaders in constructing the Lexington branch of the Missouri Pacific are the names of Maj. Wm. Gentry, Reece Hughes,
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Col. T. F. Houston, Judge Gibson, Col. Joe Higgins, Capt. Samuel Shanks, with many others on the line of the road.
The city of Sedalia gave to the Pacific Railroad company twenty acres of land and $40,000 in bonds to permanently locate the machine shops near the city. At present all the roads that center in Pettis county belong to the Jay Gould combination.
A project is now being warmly agitated by Cyrus Newkirk, D. H. Smith and others, whose object is to project a railway line through Sedalia as a competitive line. The survey of the road has now been made and no doubt the project will not fail to be of vast moment to the people of Pettis county.
The subject of railroads was strongly urged upon the people till 1860. In March, 1857, the court has-
It is ordered, that A. M. Barret be and is hereby appointed agent of the court to grant certificates of stock to persons paying railroad tax under the various subscriptions of stock by Pettis county to the capital stock of the Pacific Railroad company for the amount so paid.
The Missouri Pacific Railroad enters the county from the east on the line of the counties of Morgan and Cooper, passing through Smithton township, the villages of Smithton and Farmers City, thence northwest to Sedalia, continuing in a northwesterly direction to Dresden, in Dresden township, thence to Lamonte, in Lamonte township, thence west through Johnson county.
The Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railroad extends from Sedalia in a southwesterly direction, passing through a portion of Prairie, Washington and Greenridge townships, extending through the towns of Windsor, Lewis' Station, Clinton, LaDue and Montrose of Henry county. From Sedalia this road extends northeasterly to Beaman, in Bowling Green township, thence to Boonville.
The Narrow Gauge extends south from Sedalia through Flat Creek township, thence to Warsaw, in Benton county.
A proposed route extends from Marshall, Saline county, through Seda- lia, thence somewhere south.
In reality the Missouri Pacific Railroad was completed to Sedalia in January, 1861, where it remained the terminus till in the fall of 1863; but there was little vim or energy spent in building the road except as the government gave it aid till the close of the war.
Soon after the completion of the Pacific Railroad to Sedalia, might be seen almost every day long trains of cars, heavily laden with lumber, business houses, residences and shops of all kinds, transported from towns and villages along the line of the road from the east as far as Otterville, eighteen miles distant.
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CHAPTER XV .- MARTIAL HISTORY.
Introduction-The Strife in Pettis County .- The Sufferings of Wives and Mothers-The First Companies Raised-Men engaged in Raising the Forces -- Col. Jno. F. Philips -Capt. Jno. M. Sneed and his Roll of Privates-The Progress of the War -- Home Guards-Table of 7th Cavalry M. S. M. and 40th E. M. S. M .- The Sedalia Post.
"True patriots all ; for be it understood,
We left our country for our country's good." -- Geo. Barrington.
Years must elapse before a written sketch of any internecine war can be rightly appreciated. The struggle between the Federal government of the United States and the Southern Confederacy was a long and bitter conflict, in which neighbors and, in many instances, brothers met as com- mon foes upon the battle field.
The historian has labored earnestly to gather facts of interest pertain- ing to the conflict between the north and south, collecting from the most reliable sources, winnowing the chaff from the materials collected, and pruning down the partisan spirit, making an impartial record of the darkest days that our country has ever witnessed. Some excellent histories of the Great Rebellion have been written. However, there are but few which have not borne the tinge of political affiliations. All fact is truth, but all truth is not fact. It is the province of the historian to keep facts before his readers. In presenting facts for the generations yet to come, dignity and honesty should be alike preserved.
In this great conflict the European stood amazed that a nation which had sprung into existence almost by magic within three-quarters of a century could be divided and furnish the immense armies marshaled mainly from the plow and work-shop into the field, the great battles, splendid generalship, dashing feats of arms, masterly strategy, brilliant tactics, bravery of soldiers, grand charges and terrible battle-fields, vast resources, the sanitary system, and the strong resolutions and firm endur- ance of the people, challenging the admiration of the world in their bravery and military skill. Indeed, throughout the history of modern times there are no efforts more amazing, no sacrifices more unbounded, no achieve- ments more brilliant on record, than those of the armies of the north and south. In this fratricidal war brave men went forth to battle, in whose veins proudly coursed kindred blood, whose pioneer fathers had stood in defense of the American flag in the war of 1812, and in the revolution that gave birth to this republic.
The war is now over, and throughout the broad expanse of our country we find many people, animated by the noblest sentiments, impartial in their offering to the memory of the dead. They strew flowers alike upon the graves of the blue and the gray. In our broad land, from every
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neighborhood the hand of affectionate relatives of both Confederate and Federal soldiers think of the blue and the gray as they sleep:
" Under the sod and the dew, Waiting the judgment day; Love and tears for the Blue, Tears and love for the Gray."
The civil war in Pettis county was four years of that particular strife, in which many citizens of the county arrayed themselves in the ranks of the contending armies; and very many of them died of disease and wounds, or were slain upon the field of battle, whilst others at the close of the struggle found homes in other states. This was a period of sore distress and calamity to the people of Pettis county. The wails of widows and orphans were heard for the loss of husbands, fathers and brothers. The population of the county was more than decimated by the casualties of the war, valuable personal property and even life itself became unsafe. Bands of marauders from the cesspools of both contending armies often dashed upon the peaceable citizens, and after doing what mischief they could, skedaddled from the county before an armed force could take them. In this way many acts of lawlessness were perpetrated.
During the days when the dark cloud of war hung over the county many citizens sought refuge in other sections of the state and in other states. Homes were abandoned, farms ceased to be cultivated, and lands depreciated in value. Debts were reduced to judgment and execution, and real-estate sacrificed under the hammer. Families were driven, almost penniless, from their homes, and in brief, the whole county seemed to be involved in utter ruin. The most sanguine mind could scarcely have hoped to witness within the following decade a restoration of the county to its former wealth, population and prosperity; and yet, notwithstanding the ravages of war, at the return of peace in the spring of 1865, many of the people who survived this dreadful civil strife and carnage came back to their homes and devoted themselves again to their loved vocations with renewed energy.
In 1861, when the civil war assumed a belligerent form in Pettis county there was no neutral ground. The zealous advocates of secession espoused the cause of the Southern Confederacy and marched away with the first opportunity to join in the ranks of battle. Many of the most valiant and trustworthy citizens of the county, frantic like, rushed into this cause, which, with many of their lives, rights and property, was lost. On the other hand the friends of the Union enlisted in the militia and regular Fed- eral service as the country called them forth. The struggle was so bitter and unpleasant to the citizens who desired to remain at home that by the summer of 1863 there was not one out of ten of the population of 1860. In many instances old men were shot down while holding the plow, who
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in every respect, especially on account of their age, felt safe in staying at home and cultivating the farm that their children might have bread. However, these men had their sentiments, and a right to proclaim them, and thus they became martyrs for this sentiment. In this dark time that tried men's souls every man had his friends and enemies, and often the latter outnumbered the former. The enemies that were accustomed to plunder, murder and make raids into neighborhoods of law-abiding citizens were once neihgbors, and their taking different sides aroused a striking enmity which frequently had a fatal termination. At times so few men were allowed to stay at home that women and children were obliged to plant and cultivate the fields or starve. Cases of families whose standing was high and living in luxury, the daughters, whose hands were unskilled to toil and hardships, went into the fields, drove the ox teams (for no horses could be kept), cultivated the soil, harvested the grain, and per- formed the drudgeries common to the most menial farm laborer. Such was the pluck and chivalry of the Pettis county girls in many instances, whose noble virtues, brave and self-reliance, have ever kept them in their proper sphere. The noble mothers and daughters of this county deserve great praise for their patient endurance of fatigue and hardships during those black days of fearful guerrilla warfare within the limits of their own neighborhoods.
At the outbreak of the war Captain Samuel Montgomery organized the first company of soldiers in defense of the Union. Dr. Joe. M. Fox raised the first Confederate company. These companies were organized in the spring of 1861, when the country was all aflame and panting for war. The rebels had taken Ft. Sumter, and the South was jubilant of the vic- tory and the constant cry was "on to Washington." Hundreds of the citizens, whose affiliations and sympathies were with the secessionists, drifted to the scene of conflict and carnage, many of whom never returned. The first two years the secessionists had things about their own way, after which the "tables were turned," and the Federals from every direction swept over the county, scouting for bushwhackers, taking possession of the towns. They partially held them till the surrender of Gen. Lee, at Appomattox court house, April 9th, 1865.
Captain D. M. Williams and Maj. J. C. Woods raised forces for the Confederates. E. D. Williams, a worthy citizen, was shot in trying to escape from the Federals and join Gen. Price. U. F. Short, now a prom- inent lawyer of Sedalia, was a soldier in the Confederate service, also Col. T. P. Hoy, Rob't C. Wood and John Burris. Wm. H. Field was among the slain on the Southern side. Dr. T. E. Staples was quite active in recruit- ing and equipping forces for the Confederates in this and Saline counties.
Among the Union officers that scouted in the county and had head- quarters in Sedalia, we mention Col. R. R. Spedden, Lieut. J. H. Brown,
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Maj. Gentry, Captains Jno. M. Sneed, W. K. Ramey, Geo. Lawes, Dr. J. P. Thatcher, Sam'l Brown and W. W. Cross. The soldiers in the M. S. M. were clothed, fed and paid by the state. Besides the regular militia, bands were organized and known as Home Guards. for the protection of their homes. In some instances those who enlisted were no better than those for whom they were prepared to confront in battle. Col. Jno. F. Phillips organized the 7th M. M., which was not to go out of the state unless in defense of the state against invading enemies. These soldiers were paid and equipped the same as regular soldiers of the Federal army. Company "C," 40th E. M. M., had the following officers: Adjutant, Chas. P. Townsley; Maj., Wm. Gentry; Lieut. Col., J. H. Brown; Col., R. R. Spedden; Capt., Jno. D. Crawford; 1st Lieut, C. C. Crawford; 2nd Lieut., Jno. F. Yankee.
These men were well chosen and well fitted for the positions they held. They held the Sedalia post through the dark days of raiding, bushwhack- ing rage. On the 14th day of October, 1864, when the rebels had cut the telegraph wires and burned the railroad bridges between St. Louis and Sedalia, thus cutting off all communication, a small squad of militia were left in Sedalia, almost defenseless, when Gen. Jeff. Thompson, with about 1500 half starved soldiers, marched into Sedalia with three pieces of artillery, at once capturing the city, and after killing a few men, he com- menced plundering. He overran the town, ransacked the stores, and took all the goods his force could carry. The few militia, to save their lives, were compelled to make a hasty retreat in the direction of Flat Creek. Since no reinforcements could be had, Jeff. Thompson quietly left the city unmolested.
The following is the list of names of Company " D," 40 Reg. E. M. M .: Captain, Jno. M. Sneed; 1st Lieut., R. M. Funk; Quartermaster, H. R. Dobyns; 2d Lieut., Jno. G. Reisler; Sergeants, George Neely, Silas D. Helton; Corporals, David A. Bagby, Harvey Folkenth, Robert M. Funk, Green S. Cockrell, Washington Stark, Thornton Farris. The following names embrace the privates: Alexander Anderson, William Anderson, Newton T. Burge, William A. Burge, William Baker, James W. Brown, Thomas B. Champen, John Cole, Daniel Donnohue, Leonidas Derby, William Degarnett, Henry C. Donnohue, Jefferson Degarnett, Barton W. Degarnett, Ainstead Henderson, Thos. J. Johnson, Daniel Johnson, Willis P. King, Anderville Lambert, George Lansur, Lewis F. Metcalf, Thos. F. Melvin, William J. Moler, Thos. F. Parisett, Simon E. Pollard, Micheal Ramsour, John Shobe, John C. Shy, Job Stevens, David Thomas, William Thomas, Reuben Thomas, Mason Brown, D. T. Williams, William Williams.
The earliest organization of troops in this county to suppress the rebel- lion was made under the call of the president for 75,000 men, which
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was issued April 15, 1861. It was April, May, and June of this year, under the most adverse circumstances, that these companies were organized.
As the summer of 1862 advanced, the rebels throughout the state, elated by the temporary success of their friends, became bolder, and clung with desperation to the idea that there was yet some prospect of re-estab- ing by force of arms their friend, Governor Jackson, and his state gov- ernment. To accomplish this, a thorough system of organization was commenced, which was set on foot and was rapidly being formed by men who had returned from the rebel service through the Union lines; men of influence and respectability in the different localities where they had form- erly resided. About the first of September a general uprising of the secessionists took place in this and other parts of the state. They relied on the strong faith they had in their leaders.
As an example of the zeal and fervor the southern sympathizers yet had in their leaders, we give one which will suffice: Col. Coffey, with five hundred men from the rebel army, came into the state from the south- west in the month of July, avoiding the Union posts, and, no sooner had he reached the central part of the state than, in the short space of ten days, his numbers were increased to nearly 6,000, and it was only with great loss on the part of Union soldiers that he was finally beaten and driven back beyond the lines of the Union army.
Under the existing circumstances of that time the state was compelled to enforce a more and more rigid discipline. Bands of bushwhackers and guerrillas were forming in vigilant and daring companies, independent of any army regulations for the purpose of retaliation upon those whom they laid the blame of their misfortunes. In these cliques were aged men and boys, whose blood was hot and desperate for marauding. No doubt many were wronged, and both parties engaged in this fratricidal conflict. Men forgot themselves, their country, and their interest, and rushed hotly upon a supposed foe, having dispatched his life, they burned his house, and soon were meditating and concocting other diabolical schemes. Both parties raised the black flag. Especially was this true in the guerrilla bands of militia and bushwhackers. By the middle of the summer of 1862 the rebel guerrillas had made inroads all over the state, and the adjutant general, for the protection of the loyal citizens, made an urgent order which was published by General Schofield, requiring an immediate orga- nization of all the militia of the state for the purpose of exterminating the guerrillas that infested Central Missouri. Every able-bodied man capable of carrying arms, and subject to military duty, was ordered to repair, without delay, to the nearest military post, and report for duty, to the commanding officer. Every man was required to take with him what arms he could procure and a good horse. The order gave them the priv- ilege of taking whatever property they could utilize, such as arms, ammu-
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nition, and horses, not in possession of loyal families, to be used in public defense in crippling the rebellion. This daring act on the part of the Federal authorities embittered the southern sympathizers and made the bushwhackers more furious. Many of the disbanded militia who had returned peaceably to their rural homes were shot down while at the plow, and on the other hand the militia showed no mercy to the southerner, whether in arms or peaceably at home. This was the most horrid and terror-sticken year of the war. Life was a bubble cast upon the sea of time, with but little more its defense. The military posts were often the cess-pools of crime and disgrace to patriotic pride. Hatred and envy rose high, and honesty and purity of purpose was rarely found.
Pettis county was at that time in the Fifth Military District; Captain A. C. Marvin was provost marshal of this district; A. S. O'Bannon, commissioner, and Bernard Bruns, surgeon. Under the general order of the War Department Col. Jno. F. Philips organized the Seventh Infantry, U. S. Volunteers, and was one of the most reputable regiments of the state, with headquarters part of the time in Sedalia, 978 strong. The First Missouri State Militia Battery, with seventy-four strong, was sta- tioned in Sedalia during 1863.
The "Pettis County Home Guards " was a mounted, independent company, organized by authority of General Lyon, June, 1861, and per- formed duty in Pettis and adjoining counties until the following August, when the same was disbanded. The officers were: Captain, Jno. P. Thatcher; First Lieut., Jac. Yankee; Second Lieut., Jas. M. Bohon. The aggregate strength of the company was ninety-two.
June 23, 1862, the 6th Cavalry M. S. M., commanded by Col. E. C. Catherwood, was ordered by Brig. Gen. Schofield to move immediately to Sedalia. The regiment consisted of ten companies, moving from Liberty via Richmond and Lexington. The regiment arrived at Sedalia, June 15, 1862, and at once reported to Gen. Patten that the companies were ready for duty. Two companies, G and H, remained at Cam- eron to dispose of military stores, and did not reach Sedalia till June 21st. Here the regiment was stationed during the summer of 1862, per- forming police and post duty, escorts, scouts, thus effectually protecting a section of country with an area of 6,000 square miles. A detachment of companies A, B and E left Sedalia, August 12th, under Assis't Surg. J. W. F. Clawges, Serg. Maj. W. D. Hubbard, Stew. E. T. Dun- ham, and chief bugler Jno. S. Dugan, marching to Lone Jack via Lex- ington, and participated in the severe action there August 16, 1862.
The headquarters of this regiment were changed from Sedalia to War- rensburg, August 30, 1862, and again from Warrensburg to Sedalia, Sep- tember 14, 1862, remaining at the latter place until the 28th day of Octo-
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ber, when the entire regiment, except companies "D " and " E," sta- tioned at Calhoun, was ordered to Harrisonville.
An account of the 7th Missouri Cavalry of state militia, under Col. Philips, who has long been identified with the interests of Pettis county, will be of interest to his many friends who stood bravely by him in the camp:
HEADQUARTERS, 7TH CAVALRY, M. S. M., SEDALIA, Mo., DEC. 21, 1863.
COL. JOHN B. GRAY, ADJ. GEN. MISSOURI:
Sir: In reply to your communication of the 18th inst., ( just received,) I have the honor to report that my regiment was recruited in Central Mis- souri, in the winter of 1861 and 1862, under the most adverse circum- stances. The whole country was filled with rebel armies and guerrilla bands, and recruiting was carried on at the point of the bayonet, literally having to fight into the recruits and to bring them to the recruiting stations at Sedalia and Warrensburg, under strong escort. In Johnson county we had two fierce engagemets with Gordon's and Quantrell's bands, in which Maj. Foster and Capt. Foster, of the regiment, were severely wounded, and Lieut. Jewell killed. On the 1st day of May, 1862, the regimental organization was perfected, as announced in general order, No. 15, series 1862, from headquarters, A. G. O., State of Missouri, and was then sta- tioned at Georgetown, Missouri.
Companies A, D and E were, during the months of July and August, 1862, stationed at Boonville, Missouri, under command of Lieut. Col. T. T. Crittenden, and participated in the remarkable and somewhat romantic and adventurous pursuit of the rebel forces under Col. Poindexter in North Missouri. Company D, under Capt. Turley, especially distinguished itself in the engagement at Compton's Ferry, where at a single volley it killed some thirty rebels, crossing Grand river in a ferry boat, and at Switzler's Mills with distinguished valor.
The headquarters of the regiment were at Syracuse, Missouri, from 1st of June to 15th of August, 1862. On the 16th day of August, 1862, Maj. Foster fought 2,500 rebels at Lone Jack, with 800 Union soldiers. A part of this regiment participated, losing one-third of the force engaged, and behaving with a desperate valor almost unparalleled in small engage- ments. Here Maj. Foster fell, having been most seriously wounded. Our entire force marched immediately under my command, with 1,500 others, to the relief of Lexington, returning to Sedalia on the 19th of August, having marched 125 miles. From Sedalia, on the night of the 20th of August, we marched under Gen. Totten to the relief of Springfield, Mis- souri; we marched day and night, via Osceola, reaching Springfield on the 27th of August; distance marched, one hundred and thirty-five miles. We remained at Camp Schofield, near Springfield, till night of 21st Sep- tember, when the regiment marched thirty-five miles to Crane Creek, to watch movements of enemy at Cassville, and check his apprehended ad- vance on Springfield; while there we had several skirmishes with the enemy.
On the 13th of October marched from Crane Creek, arriving at Cass- ville on the 14th. Here we joined the Army of the Frontier, the regiment
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being in the 2d brigade, (Col. Philips, commanding,) 3d division, (Gen. Her- ron, commanding.) The regiment was in all the heavy marches and priva- tions of the Army of the Frontier, and was highly complimented for its good behavior in the battle of McGuires, between Fayetteville and Hunts- ville, Arkansas, on the 28th of October. From Cross Hollows, Arkansas, the regiment, on the 3d of November, 1862, marched va Elk Horn Tavern to Newtonia, where it remained, having almost daily skirmish actions with Livingston's guerrillas, until December 11th, when it marched for Elk Horn Tavern, where it arrived on the 13th of December.
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