Cooper County, Missouri - Chapter 10, 1876

Chapter 10

Indian Scare on Flat Creek, in Pettis County, in the Year 1832, and the Part the Citizens of Cooper County took in Same. - Mormon War, in the year 1838, and Companies Raised in Cooper County, at Call of Governor, to Assist in the Same. - Company Raised in Cooper County to Take Part in the Mexican War of 1846, and the Actions of Sam^, Names of Officers, Privates, &c.

Sometime during the year I832, a report became circulated that the Indians had broken out, and were attacking the settlers living within the present limits of Pettis county, then part of Cooper and Saline counties. The report that they were slaying men, women and children as they went, spread like "wild fire," and men rushed towards that part of the county to aid in the defense of the homes of their neighbors. The place of rendezvous for those who went from Cooper county, was "Wooley's Mill," on the Petite Saline Creek, where they organized by electing their officers. After they had organized they marched to the supposed seat of war ; and on their arrival they found that no Indians had been there, and that it had been entirely a false alarm. These valiant soldiers then returned to their homes, and for a long time it was impossible to find any one who would acknowledge that he had been on that expedition.

The origin of this report was as follows : Some men, for their own amusement, dressed themselves and painted their faces, so as to resemble Indians, went to a corn field where some men were at work plowing, and, giving the Indian yell, shot off their guns, pointed in the direction of the settlers. They, supposing that the disguised men were hostile Indians endeavoring to slay them, took to their heels and

S8 History Of Cooper County

Spread the alarm, which, like a tale of scandal, traveled from neighborhood to neighborhood, gathering new items of horror as it went from lip to lip.

This originated several anecdotes, among which is the following : A wealthy farmer of Cooper county catching the alarm, buried his bacon to save it from the blood-thirsty savages ; then going to a field in which a large number of his negroes were at work, waved his hand and hallowed at the top of his voice, *'Put out ! Put out ! The Indians will be upon you ! The Indians will be upon you !" The Africans taking the alarm, stampeded and scattered in, every direction, as though the savages with their tomahawks and scalping-knives were already close upon their heels, when in reality there was not, at that time, an Indian within one hundred miles of the place.

The Mormon War

The Mormon war took place in the year 1838. The Mormons when they first arrived in Missouri, located in Jackson county, and the citizens not looking with favor on their customs, and being incensed at the many crimes which they committed under the guise of their religious views, soon drove them from that place and they located in Caldwell county. Mo.

The citizens of that part of the State being determined to drive them entirely from the State, but not having sufficient force to accomplish the desired end, called upon the Governor to send them troops suiiicient to expel these false teachers. Gov. Lilburn W. Boggs issued a call for 7,000 volunteers to assist in drivincr the Mormons from the territory over which he had control.

In response to this call three companies were raised in Cooper county. One, called the "Boonville Guards," composed entirely of citizens of Boonville ; this, under the existing laws of the State, was a standing company, and equipped at the expense of the State government. The second, a volunteer company raised at Boonville, composed of citizens of Boonville and the surrounding neighhorhood. Of this company, Jessie J. Turley was Captain, Marcus Williams, Jr., First Lieutenant, and J. Logan Forsythe, Second Lieutenant. The third was raised at Palestine, the officers of which are not known. Of the forces raised in Cooper county, Joel E. Woodward was Brigadier General, Joseph Megguire, Inspector General, and Benjamin E. Ferry, Aid de Camp to General Henry W. Crowther.

These companies marched twice towards the Mormon settlement and the seat of war. The first time they marched as far as Jonesborough, Saline county, where the commanders, supposing from reports which reached them that there were sufficient troops already at the scene of war to conquer the Mormons, ordered them to return. They were shortly afterwards again ordered to the seat of war, and marched to Lexington, where they crossed the Missouri river. They then advanced about two miles into the prairie, and there camped for two days. The Mormon troops having in the meantime surrendered to Gen. John B. Clark, Sr., these companies returned home without having the pleasure of meeting the enemy or having the opportunity of testing their valor. On their arrival at Boonville these troops were disbanded.

The Mormons during this short war were commanded by Gen. Weite, an old British officer, who fought against Gen. Jackson in the battle of New Orleans.

The Mormons after the conclusion of this war left the State and located at Nauvoo, Illinois, where they remained for several years'. Having had a difficulty with the authorities of the State of Illinois, and their prophet and leader, Joseph Smith, having been assassinated, they again "pulled up stakes" and emigrated to the shores of the

The prisoners taken and retained in jail as the leaders of the Mormons were Joseph Smith, Lyman Weite, Hiram Smith, Sydna Regdon, Roberts, Higby, and two others. These men were first imprisoned in the jail at Richmond, Ray county, and were afterwards removed to the jail at Liberty, Clay county, where they broke jail, escaped pursuit, and were never tried.

The Mexican War

In the month of May, 1846, a call was made for one company from Cooper county to join troops in Mexico, and assist in subduing that people. On the 21st day of that month the following bulletin extra appeared, and of which the following is a verbatim copy :

The call for one company from the Fifth Division has been promptly responded to. Fort3^-three volunteers were raised by Gen. Ferry on Monday in Boonville, and on Tuesday at Palestine, under the direction of Gen.'s Ferry and Megguire, the number was increased to sixty-one. They then elected their officers, and the following gentlemen were chosen :

1st. Corporal - Tipton Prior. 2nd. Corporal - A. B. Cole. 3rd. Corporal - Wesley Amick. 4th. Corporal - A. G. Baber. The company, thus organized, assembled in Boonville on Wednesday, where they were exercised in military duty by their accomplished and gallant young Captain. The following is a list of the privates, from which it will be seen a few more have been added :

They departed to-day (Thursday) on the steamer L. F. Linn, for St. Louis, where they will be armed and equipped, and immediately transported to the army of Occupation on the Rio Grande. Our best wishes attend them. May victory ever perch upon their banners, and may they all return horfie to their friends full of honors, with the proud reflection that they have served their country faithfully."

When the steamer Louis F. Linn, Eaton, Captain, Jewell, Clerk, arrived at Boonville, on her downward trip, the company formed in line on the upper deck and many friends passed along the line, bidding farewell and shaking each volunteer by the hand. The landing was crowded with people. The boat soon started, with cheers from the multitude, and waving of handkerchiefs by the ladies.

Incidents Ok The Voyage

Our steamer laid up for the first night at Nashville, which is about fifteen miles below Rockport. The members of the company were all jolly fellows, and jest and laugh made the time pass pleasantly and quickly. The most of them had never been from home, and longed, with the anxiety of children to see new countries, and to take part in other than every day affairs of their lives.

Lieutenant Levens being on watch the latter part of the night after they had left Boonville, heard a terrible splash in the water, and on inquiring for the cause discovered that one of his men had fallen overboard. The deck-hands rescued him, and soon afterwards another of the company followed the example of his comrade, and was rescued by the same men. The Lieutenant becoming alarmed for the safety of the men of the company, waked up the Captain, informed him of what had happened, and told him that if he did not take measures to prevent it he might have his company considerably diminished before they reached St. Louis, if the men continued to fall overboard as rapidly as they ha^ commenced. The Captain was greath^ surprised at such unexpected accidents, and placed out a strong guard, which prevented any more occurrences of the kind. The trouble was that some of the men before leavinof Boonville had imbibed rather freeljs and having never been on board of a boat before, imagined they were on land and walked off without beino- aware of their chanp-ed cir^ cumstances.

cover them, or any place except the naked benches on which to sleep. Most of the company expecting to draw their clothincr and blankets at Jefferson Barracks, had nothincr but the shirt and pants which they had worn from home.

Captain Stephens' company was mustered into service by Gen. Robert Campbell. Gen. Taylor having gained an important victory over the Mexicans, and it being thought that he would be able to conquer his enemies without any further reinforcements, Capt. Stephen's company were or dered back, and directed to report to Adjutant General Par sons at Jefferson City, whither they hastened on the same boat, expecting orders from him to join Donaphan's expedition to New Mexico ; General Parsons informed the Captain that he had no requisition for Cooper county, but to hold his company in readiness to march when called on. The members of the company were very much disappointed at being thus summarily dismissed to their homes, and felt very indignant at what they considered -such shabby treatment ; and though the company was ready and willing during the whole of the war, to go to the field of battle on the shortest notice, they were not called on. Some of the members of the company were so determined to go, that they joined other companies of General Donaphan's command. The company, although they were gone from home only a short time, had a rough introduction to military life, having been forced to live on "hard tack" on their trip to St. Louis and return, without bedding of any kind, and many of them without a change of clothes. Mrs. Andrews, an estimable lady of St. Louis, treated the company to as many pies as they could eat, for which they will alwavs feel grateful to her.

But very few of the company had ever seen St. Louis or any other city, and it was a pleasing and wonderful sio-ht to these men, who had during all their lives, been accus- tomed only to the quiet scenes of their every day life. The company, as it passed through the streets, seemed from the numbers who stopped to gaze at them to attract as much attention as a fantastic company on account of their queer costumes, arms and manners. As they expected to draw their uniform on their arrival at the *' Great City," and as they expected to throw their citizen's suits away, they were not particular what they wore when they started from home. Most of them being dressed in back woods style, without uniform or arms, made a rather ludicrous appearance to *'city folks." But the men cared little for that, and some of the "city gents" were made to measure their lengths upon the pavement for their uncalled for remarks in regard to the personal appearance and manners of the strangers.

Some of the company while in St. Louis had a row with some merchants on Water street for insulting one of the men. After some little quarreling, the merchants threatened to have them arrested and confined in the calaboose ; but they were told if that threat was executed, they would level the calaboose, and if that was not sufficient to show their power they would level the whole city, and that they had sufficient men to accomplish that undertaking. So the merchants becoming alarmed, did not attempt to have the threat executed, and the difficulty was finally arranged without any serious consequences. On their return up the Missouri river on the same boat on which they had gone down to St. Louis, a fine dressed "gentleman" unthoughtedlv made the remark, that "these soldiers were a rough set." The officers of Capt. Stephen's and Capt. Reid's companies demanded that he should be put ashore, and at the next landing he was made to "walk the plank," amidst shouts and cheers from the crowd ; they thus gave him an opportunity of traveling on the next boat, where perhaps, he might meet with passengers more congeniel to his nature,

After this they proceeded without further incident to Boon ville, where they were met by crowds of their friends and acquaintances, who, with loud cheers, welcomed them home. Soon after they arrived, the company was disbanded by the captain, with orders to be ready to assemble and march to the seat of war on very short notice. From that time to the close of the war the members of the company were prepared at all times to march to the front, whenever their services should be required, but they were never ordered forward to take part in the great struggle which had then been transferred to the enemy's country.

This is the only part the citizens of Cooper county took in the war of 1846, and though they did not partake directly in the struggle, they showed their readiness to do so, by organizing and keeping in readiness to march a company composed of some of the best citizens.