Clinton County, Missouri - Chapter 12: The Civil War Period, 1923

POLITICAL, EXCITEMENT OF 1860 - THE CLINTON COUNTY VOTE - THE UNION AND SECESSION ELEMENT - PUBLIC SENTIMENT - RESOLUTIONS - LEADING SPIR¬ ITS - ACTIVITY OF LOCAL MEN - ORGANIZATION OF TROOPS - CLINTON COUNTY TROOPS IN THE WAR - ARREST OF JUDGE BIRCH - THE KILLING OP CAPTAIN JOHN REED AND REVEREND PAYNE - QU AN TRELL'S BAND.

The year 1860 was one of political excitement. The division of the Democracy, and the nomination by the respective elements of Douglass and Breckenridge, rendered the election of Mr. Lincoln absolutely certain, he Democracy of Clinton, as appears from the vote of that year, was almost equally divided - the Douglass vote being only a few over that of Breckenridge - while the vote for Mr. Bell was nearly equal to the com¬ bined vote for Douglass and Breckenridge, and the vote for Mr. Lincoln being only ten.

The secession of South Carolina followed by six other states, so inten¬ sified the feeling that the Legislature of Missouri passed an act to elect 99 delegates to take into consideration, etc. The whole question in all its bearings was thus brought before the people. The Union element here nominated the late Judge James H. Birch, while the other element nominated the late Rev. A. H. F. Payne. Mr. Payne was a highly intelli¬ gent gentleman, a large farmer, and a minister of the Christian Church, but more conservative than those who put him forward.

The difference in the platforms upon which they were placed was so positive, as were the feelings and sentiment of leading spirits upon each side. They felt that their duty was as much as possible to keep down and harmonize the feelings of the people - who were largely South¬ ern born - and on all questions, but the one main question, were of one mind. Hence, we find in the platform upon which Judge Birch was nomi¬ nated, a resolution as follows;

Resolved, That the possession of slave property is a Constitutional right, and as such ought to be ever recognized by the Federal Govern¬ ment ; that if the Federal Government shall fail and refuse to secure this right, the Southern States should be found united in its defense, in which event Missouri will share the common danger of the South.

"That we are warmly attached to the government under which we live; that we recognize the great Federal Union as the great preserva¬ tive of our liberties ; that under it we have, by God's providence, prospered beyond all other people; that under this government, we are respected abroad, prosperous at home and fast taking our position as the leading nation of the earth. Valueing as we do, thus, highly, the American Union, w^e should regard its dissolution as eminently disastrous to our country, and as tending to suppress the cause of national liberty throughout the world."

This meeting was presided over by William Carpenter, one of the oldest Whigs in the county; and the committee which reported the resolu¬ tions was composed of Thomas E. Turney, Samuel S. Trice, W. G. Biggerstaff, G. B. White, George Funkhouser, Holman Block and John M. Mc- Michael.

The matter having been submitted to a convention of 99 picked men, the excitement of the county subsided. The action of the convention tended to consolidate public sentiment in peaceful channels.

The firing on Fort Sumpter, the action of Virginia, the call of the President for troops, the refusal of Governor Jackson to supply Missouri's contingent, the concentration of state troops under General Frost, and their forced surrender to General Lyon, set the people in a furor of excite¬ ment. A company was raised in this county, Cunnlow, captain, for service under Governor Jackson's call. This company was principally made up of the young men of the county, who, filled with high resolves, thought their duly lay in supporting, with their lives, the cause of the South.

Under an act of Legislature, Governor Jackson had ordered an enroll¬ ment of able-bodied men, preparatory to draft. This act excited the Union men, who, in their resolve not to be conscripted to fight against their con¬ victions of duty, organized themselves into companies to resist the execu¬ tion of the law.

The tendency of things in this county was dangerous, and a colli¬ sion was inevitable. The older heads saw clearly the outlook, and while divided on the issues, as did the younger ones, yet they were friends and had lived long enough to be charitable to each other, and tolerant of per¬ sonal opinions. They therefore met at the college building by appoint¬ ment, and, after discussing the questions, resolved that while they could not harmonize their feelings or opinions, yet they would discountenance any personal or local violence, and that those of each side might hold their opinions, and join and fight under their respective banners, but keep their peace toward one another at "home. This state of feeling predominated until Sept. 1, 1861. The respective sides engaged in recruiting their armies. Colonel Boyd had a Confederate regiment encamped in Whar¬ ton's pasture on Castile Creek, ready to march as it did march, to join Price in his attack on Mulligan, at Lexington, fighting on its way, the celebrated Blue Mills fight against the Third Iowa Regiment. It was on that day that someone destroyed the Platte River bridge on the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad, which let the passenger train into that river, resulting in the death of many persons, including Cutler, the conductor. Who did it, and what was the motive has never transpired.

On that day, a company of men belonging to Boyd's Regiment, were in Plattsburg to bury young Kelley, who was killed at Wilson's Creek. They were in command of Major Bostwick, and, after the burial services were over, they arrested Col. John Steel, and a detachment of men under Bostwick proceeded to the residence of Colonel Birch, south of town, to arrest him. Colonel Birch, who had some intimation of danger had armed himself heavily and defied Major Bostwick to arrest him. The major, with great prudence and to avoid shedding of blood, retired, and shortly returned with and increased force of soldiers. At this turn of affairs. Colonel Birch, seeing it useless to contend with such a force, mounted his horse, and, reaching Prairie Park, the home of his father, informed him of the condition of affairs and they both that night proceeded to Cameron, where they were joined by Captain Rogers and his company. Captain Groom and his company. Captain Edgar's com¬ pany, with detachments of men from Caldwell, Davies and DeKalb, and soon had a force of 400 men. The camp here established was, for the time being^, the headquarters of military operations in northwest Missouri. Here was organized and mustered into service Major James' battalion, con¬ sisting of Edgar's company, from Clinton, and Plum's company from Cald¬ well, also Major Cox's battalion, consisting of Bollington's and other com¬ panies. These were state forces, under Governor Gamble and mustered into service for six months. These irregular and temporary commands were afterwards transmuted into the 6th Missouri Cavalry, commanded by Col. E. C. Catherwood. One of the companies of this regiment was composed of the flower of the young men of the county. The roster of Company F showed that its captain was Charles C. Bassett, afterwards a prominent lawyer in south Missouri. Its first lieutenant was Daniel M. Birch, just fresh from the Virginia University and afterwards its captain. D. C. McMichael was a lieutenant, and afterwards its captain and who was subsequently killed while leading an attack against the Modoc Indians, in the lava beds of Oregon. Company B stood pre-eminent in the brigade, and it showed that for drill, discipline and behavior, it was the first, while the desperate and gallant charge it made at Pineville, under Captain Birch, proved that it was entitled to rank first among the bravest.

Captain Edgar's company of infantry, made up in part of the 17th Missouri and it being a part of General Benton's brigade, received the first onset of Confederate .troops, and its commander was among the first to offer up his life in that great battle.

In November, 1861, a concerted movement was understood to be in progress to arrest the members of the convention, who had assumed the right to rule the state - had deposed General Jackson and placed H. E. Gamble in his place. In furtherance of this object the late Judge James H. Birch was arrested and taken to General Price's camp on Sac River. If the movement was intended to arrest the whole convention, it failed, as Judge Birch was the only one who was arrested. About the same time General Halleck had arrested Maj. David Wright, who was also a mem¬ ber of the convention, and the two being of equal rank and civilians, they were exchanged for one another.

Judge Birch was taken from his residence about three o'clock one morning, by a band of armed men, and taken to Platte County, thence Clay and Ray and across the river at Lexington. His arrest caused great excitement, and numerous arrests were made in retaliation by the Federal troops, and for a while, it was feared that serious consequences would result as it was not known what the object of the arrest was. But such men as Judge Robert Johnson, and Dr. (later Senator) Bland - Southern men - penetrated into Clay County and were enabled to report from Judge Birch himself that no personal violence need be feared, when the citizens, who had been arrested as hostages, were discharged. As the winter of 1861-62 progressed, the feelings that had separated the citizens began to subside, and those who had been forced to flee, to return. Col. James H. Birch, Jr., who had in the meantime been placed upon the staff of Governor Gamble with the rank of Colonel, returned home and resumed the practice of law. A great many of the Confederates, whose term of enlistment had expired, came home under the proclamation of Governor Gamble and took oath of allegiance, and resumed their duties as citizens.

The year of 1862 was marked with no outbreak. The citizens were peacably attending to their personal affairs. Those who had military desires joined the flag which they preferred to fight under, and quiet and peaceful desires were the order of the day. The year 1863 opened in the same spirit, and but for the appearance of certain parties in our midst, would have continued. The county was thrown into the most violent commotion and fear by two of the most fearful and bloody murders of the war. A detachment of Colorado troops had penetrated the county and had plundered our merchants, Mr. John E. Shawhan being robbed of more than $10,000. A portion of the 25th Missouri succeeded them and were induced to kill Captain John Reed, one of the oldest, most respectable and peacable citizens of the county. His death was consummated with peculiar atrocity. At the same time Rev. A. H. F.' Payne, who had been the opponent of Judge Birch for the convention, was taken from home, and after being kept for two days, brutally shot. Mr. Payne was quietly pursuing his vocation as a farmer and minister and had protection papers in his pocket from Governor Hall and Major Bassett. It was understood that others had been marked for destruction, but it was hard work to induce the Missouri soldiers to carry out the bloody purposes of those who had originated these murders, and it was arranged for another Colo¬ rado regiment to come into the county, but General Schofield promptly ordered them from the state, which order reached them when taking din¬ ner three miles south of Plattsburg, and thus was frustrated what might have been one of the bloodiest chapters of the whole war, as several prominent Union men had been marked, because they had given voice to indignation at the murders which had been committed. The result of this (11) style of warfare brought its natural results for it was not long before a band of bushwackers, being a part of QuantrelFs band under Lieutenant Gregg, put in their appearance, and took the town, robbed the treasury and set fire to the records in the court house. This band being unable to catch the men whom they believed had caused the death of Captain Reed and Mr. Payne, were prevailed on to leave the town without doing anyone personal violence. Judge Culver and Mr. Winslow Turner were the spirits which prevented any violence. The advent of these guerillas brought a great many of the militia from other counties, and for a while the earth seemed turned into a place of torment. No one felt that he was safe, either in person or property. The militiaman, for the time being was King, and all subordinate powers took their cue accordingly. The fore¬ going is taken largely from the old history of Clinton County.