Audrain County, Missouri - Missouri As a State, 1884

Missouri As a State

By the Constitution adopted by the Convention on the 19th of July, 1820, the General Assembly was required to meet in St. Louis on the third Monday in September of that year, and an election was ordered to be held on the 28th of August for the election of a Governor aud other State officers, Senators and Representatives to the General Assembly, Sheriffs and Coroners, United States Senators and Repre¬ sentatives in Congress.

It will be seen that Missouri had not as yet been admitted as a State, but in anticipation of that event, and according to the provi¬ sions of the constitution, the election was held, and the General As¬ sembly convened.

William Clark (who had been Governor of the Territory) and Alexander McNair were the candidates for Governor. McNair re¬ ceived 6,576 votes, Clark 2,556, total vote of the State 9,132. There were three candidates for Lieutenant-Governor, to wit : William H. Ashley, Nathaniel Cook and Henry Elliot. Ashley received 3,907 votes, Cook 3,212, Elliot 931. A Representative was to be elected for the residue of the Sixteenth Congress and one for the Seventeenth. John Scott who was at the time Territorial delegate, was elected to both Congresses without opposition.

The General Assembly elected in August met on the 19th of Sep¬ tember, 1820, and organized by electing James Caldwell, of Ste. Genevieve, speaker, and John McArthur clerk; William H. Ashley, Lieutenant-Governor, President of the Senate ; Silas Bent, President, pro tem.

Joshua Barton was appointed Secretary of State ; Peter Didier, State Treasurer ; Edward Bates, Attorney-General, and William Christie, Auditor of Public Accounts.

At this session of the Legislature the counties of Boone, Callaway, Chariton, Cole, Gasconade, Lillard, Perry, Ralls, Ray and Saline were organized.

We should like to give in details the meetings and proceedings of the different Legislatures which followed ; the elections for Govern¬ ors and other State officers ; the elections for Congressmen and United States Senators, but for want of space we can only present in a con¬ densed form the official record of the Territorial and State officers.

Officers Of State Government

Trusten Polk (resigned) . . . Hancock Jackson, vice Polk . Robert M. Stewart, vice Polk . C. F. Jackson (1860), office va¬ cated by ordinance; Hamil¬ ton R. Gamble, vice Jackson ; Gov. Gamble died 1864. Willard P. Hall, vice Gamble . Thomas C. Fletcher .... Joseph W. McClurg ....

Fort Sumter fired upon - Call for 75,000 men - Gov. Jackson refuses to furnish a man - U. S. Arsenal at Liberty, Mo., seized - Proclamation of Gov. Jackson - General Order No. 7 - Legislature convenes - Camp Jackson organized - Sterling Price appointed Major-General - Frost's letter to Lyon - Lyon's letter to Frost - Surrender of Camp Jackson - Proclamation of Gen. Harney - Conference between Price and Harney - Harney superseded by Lyon - Second Conference - Gov. Jackson burns the bridges behind him - Proclamation of Gov. Jackson - Gen. Blair takes possession of Jefferson City - Proclamation of Lyon - Lyon at Springfield - State offices declared vacant - Gen. Fremont assumes command - Proclamation of Lieut.-Gov. Reynolds - Proclamation of Jeff. Thompson and Gov. Jackson - Death of Gen. Lyon - Succeeded by Sturgis - Proclamation of McCulloch and Gamble - Martial law declared - Second proclamation of Jeff. Thompson - President modi¬ fies Fremont's order - Fremont relieved by Hunter - Proclamation of Price - Hun¬ ter's Order of Assessment - Hunter declares Martial Law - Order relating to Newspapers - Halleck succeeds Hunter - Halleck's Order 81 - Similar order by Halleck - Boone County Standard confiscated - Execution of prisoners at Macon and Palmyra - Gen. Ewing's Order No. 11 - Gen. Rosecrans takes command - Mas¬ sacre at Centralia - Death of Bill Anderson - Gen. Dodge succeeds Gen. Rose¬ crans - List of Battles.

And men that they are brethren? Why delight In human sacrifice? Why burst the ties Of nature, that should knit their souls together In one soft bond of amity and love?"

Fort Sumter was fired upon April 12, 1861. On April 15th, Presi¬ dent Lincoln issued a proclamation calling for 75,000 men, from the the militia of the several States, to suppress combinations in the South¬ ern States therein named. Simultaneously therewith, the Secretary of War sent a telegram to all the governors of the States, excepting those mentioned in the proclamation, requesting them to detail a cer¬ tain number of militia to serve for three months, Missouri's quota being four regiments.

four regiments of men for immediate service, has been received. There can be, I apprehend, no doubt but these men are intended to form a part of the President's army to make war upon the people of the seceded States. Your requisition, in my judgment, is illegal, unconsti¬ tutional, and can not be complied with. Not one man will the State of Missouri furnish to carry on such an unholy war.

April 22, 1861. Governor Jackson issued a proclamation convening the Legislature of Missouri, on May following, in extra session, to take into consideration the momentous issues which were presented, and the attitude to be assumed by the State in the impending struggle.

I. To attain a greater degree of efficiency and perfection in organ¬ ization and discipline, the Commanding Officers of the several Military districts in this State, having four or more legally organized compa¬ nies therein, whose armories are within fifteen miles of each other, will assemble their respective commands at some place to be by them sever¬ ally designated, on the 3rd day of May, and to go into an encampment for a period of six days, as provided by law. Captains of companies not organized into battalions will report the strength of their compa¬ nies immediately to these headquarters, and await further orders.

II. The Quartermaster-General will procure and issue to Quarter¬ masters 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 sol¬ diers 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 exe-

IV. The strength, organization, and equipment of the several com¬ panies in the District will be reported at once to these Headquarters, and District Inspectors will furnish all information which may be ser¬ viceable in ascertaining the condition of the State forces.

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 man¬ ufacture 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 pos¬ session 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 pro¬ ceeds 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 appro¬ priated for educational purposes.

Sir : I am constantly in receipt of information that you contem¬ plate an attack upon my camp, whilst I understand that you are im¬ pressed 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 instruct¬ ing the militia of the State in obedience to her laws, and, therefore,

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 representatives 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 command of the Arsenal, I proffered to Major 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 eutertained 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 understanding each other, to keep far from our borders the mis¬ fortunes which so unhappily 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.

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 in 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 plainly 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, having 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 warfare, and the obligations imposed upon me by instructions from Washington, it is my duty to demand, and I do hereby demand of you an immediate surrender of your com¬ mand, with no other conditions than that all persons surrendering under this command shall be humanely and kindly treated. Believing myself prepared to enforce this demand, one-half hour's time before doing so will be allowed for your compliance therewith.

May 12, 1861. Brigadier-General Wm. S. Harney issued a procla¬ mation 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 district in the last resort to preserve peace."

Hstory Of Missouri

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 Capi¬ tal, Gov. Jackson, Gen. Price and other officers having left on the 13th of June for Boonville.

August 10, 1861. Battle of Wilson's Creek, between the forces under General Lyon and General McCulloch. In this engagement General Lyon was killed. General Sturgis succeeded General Lyon.

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 11, 1861. President Lincoln modified the clause in Gen. Fremont's declaration of martial law, in reference to the confiscation of property and liberation of slaves.

December 12, 1861. General Hunter issued his order of assess¬ ment upon certain wealthy citizens in St. Louis, for feeding and cloth¬ ing Union refugees.

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.

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 offend¬ ing 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 direct¬ ors of the State University 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 Ed¬ mund J. Ellis, of Columbia, 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 Gov¬ ernment. Ellis was found guilty, was banished during the war from Missouri, and his printing materials confiscated and sold.

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 Harrisonville, 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 satisfac¬ tion of the commanding officer of the military station nearest their present place 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 com¬ manding companies and detachments 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 wffiich 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, will at once be vigorously executed by officers com¬ manding 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.

Nothing occurred specially, of a military character, in the State after December, 1864. We have, in the main, given the facts as they occurred without comment 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 : -