Cooper County, Missouri - Chapter 12: Civil War Period, 1919

The novelist will take the most fragile thread of fact, and from this, with cunning skill, weave a fabric of romantic and surpassing beauty. The historian in comparison must be prosy, eschewing all of the myths, and avoiding legends, the essence of poesy and songs. As one has said, he must "nothing extenuate, nor set down aught in malice." History is a skeleton of the past. It is not in the power of man to visualize it with flesh and blood, make the dead past the living present.

After the lapse of more than half a century, the bitterness of the Civil War is but a memory, and with the younger generation, only a tradition. It is not intended in this chapter to discuss the causes and long chain of events that led up to the sanguinary and internecine war of 1861-65. Suffice it to say that human slavery is abolished. Who can now regret it? The Union is established, one and inseparable. The hand of God has fashioned a nation. In the time of need, He has been the giant of strength, to stay the ruthless onward rush of might. To the peoples of the earth, and the powers of the world, our country proclaims the doctrine that the right of man must prevail over the might of kings and classes.

To give a detailed account of all that transpired here in the war of rebellion, or the Civil War, would require a much larger volume of space than we have at our command. The following pages only profess to give without comment, some of the facts as they occurred.

the citizens were called upon to contribute to first one of the contending forces and then the other. Again, some of the most inexcusable crimes and murders were committed within the territory of Cooper County, which, while not a part of the war proper, will be given in another chapter.

Battle Below Boonville. - Governor Jackson and General Price, on June 11, 1861, left Jefferson City, where the Legislature was in session, sought an interview with Generals Lyon and Blair, and made propositions for a compromise, on the basis of neutrality, etc. The two last mentioned generals refused to make any compromise whatever. They claimed the "unrestricted right to move and station the troops of the United States throughout the State, whenever and wherever, in their opinion, they thought it to be necessary, either for the protection of loyal citizens of the Federal Government, or for the repelling of an invasion.

Governor Jackson and General Price, after this unsuccessful endeavor to bring about peace, returned to Jefferson City, and the Governor issued a proclamation, calling into the active service of the State 50,000 men. General Lyon, a few days afterwards, issued a counter proclamation, in justification of his course in refusing to compromise with Governor Jackson and General Price.

General Lyon then moved his troops to Jefferson City, and on his arrival at that place, he found that Governor Jackson had moved his forces 50 miles above, to Boonville, cutting the telegraph lines, and destroying the bridges on the railway as he proceeded. General Lyon, leaving Colonel Boernstein in command of a small force at the capital, on the afternoon of the 16th day of June, 1861, embarked his forces on three steamers, and ascending the Missouri River, they arrived at Rocheport about six o'clock on the following morning. There he ascertained that the State troops, under General Marmaduke (Price at that time being sick), were in full force a few miles below Boonville, and that resistance might be expected from them1, should he attempt to reach Boonville by that road. Leaving this place, and taking the steam ferryboat, Paul Wilcox, General Lyon's command ascended the river to the island, eight miles below Boonville, which was reached at about seven o'clock a. m., and on the southern shore of which the command disembarked.

No enemy being in sight, and the scouts reporting no sign of any, the troops at once marched up the Missouri River towards Boonville, and followed the road about a mile and a half, to the place where it ascends the bluffs, from the river bottom. At this place, several shots from

General Lyon's scouts announced the driving in of General Marmaduke's pickets. General Lyon then advanced for nearly a mile, and found General Marmaduke well posted at the brow of the ascent. Captain Totten opened the engagement by throwing a few nine pound bombshells into the entrenchments of the State troops, while the infantry commenced a heavy volley of musketry, which was well replied to, the balls flying thick and fast among the ranks of the troops, and wounding several on both sides.

The State troops, under the command of General Marmaduke, were posted in a lane running from the Rocheport road in the direction of the river, and west of the residence of William M. Adams, on the northwest corner of the junction of the two roads. During the fight a couple of bombs were thrown through the east wall of Mr. Adam's house, causing the inmates to retreat to the cellar for protection. A heavy fire from Colonel Shaefer's German infantry, General Lyon's company. of regulars, and part of Colonel Blair's regiment which were stationed on the left of the road, compelled the troops of General Marmaduke to retreat.

His force then clambered over the fence into a field of wheat, and again formed in line just below the brow of the hill. They then advanced some twenty steps to meet the Federal troops, and for a short time the artillery of Captain Totten was worked with great rapidity. Just at this the State troops opened a galling fire from a grove just on the left of the Federal center, and from a shed from beyond and still farther to the left.

What had been before this a skirmish now assumed the magnitude of a battle, which continued only about a half hour. The State troops finding the Federals too strong and too well armed and drilled to be successfully opposed by raw recruits (most of them had never been under fire) and having no artillery with which to return the fire from General Lyon's batteries, abandoned the fight and retreated. Captains Cole and Miller took possession of "Camp Bacon," where the State troops had been encamped for two days.

General Lyon continued his march towards Boonville. He was met on the hill near the residence of T. W. Nelson, by James H. O'Bryan, acting mayor of Boonville, Judge G. W. Miller, and other prominent citizens, who formally surrendered the town to him, and he immediately marched into and took possession of it.

occurred he left Boonville on a steamboat for Lexington. Governor Jackson was on the battleground in the forenoon, but left Boonville on the Georgetown road about 11 o'clock of that day. In this engagement two of Lyon's men were killed and nine wounded. Among the State troops, three were killed and several wounded, but the number of these is unknown.

Kelly's was the only well organized and well drilled company under the command of General Marmaduke, and it did not participate in the battle. It is said that General Price was opposed to making a stand against General Lyon at the time, as all of his troops, except Kelly's company, were raw recruits and very poorly armed and drilled, having rallied at Boonville during the preceding three days. There was considerable controversy among the officers and men, whether, considering the circumstances, a stand or retreat should be made; but some of the most enthusiastic, whose counsel prevailed, said that they had come to fight and they intended to do so. There were several prisoners taken by General Lyon, but they were afterwards released on parole.

The next day after the battle, General Lyon issued a proclamation, offering full pardon to all who would lay down their arms, return to their homes, relinquish their hostility to the United States Government, and persons who did this were assured that they would not be molested for past offenses. Many w'ho had taken part in this battle availed themselves of the opportunity offered by General Lyon, and some of them never took up arms again during the war.

General Lyon remained at Boonville for several weeks, during which time he purchased a large outfit of wagons, horses and mules, paying fair prices for them, no pressing or forced sales being made. He a] captured every steamboat that passed down the river. On the third day of July, having received reinforcements of an Iowa regiment, he took his departure for the southwest, his objective point being Springfield. A short time before, General Blair left for Washington, to take his seat in Congress, he having been elected a representative from St. Louis.

This being the first battle of the Rebellion which was fought on land, the taking of Fort Sumter having occurred only a short time before, produced great excitement throughout the United States, and General Blair on his way to Washington was met by great crowds of his friends, and lionized, feasted, and toasted, as the "hero of the hour."

were commanded by him. They thi-ew up fortifications at the old fair grounds. When he moved to Springfield, he left Major Curly, who was shortly afterwards succeeded by Col. John D. Stephenson, in command at the fortifications.

Doctor Quarles was among the killed of the State troops. His body was found in the wheat field late in the evening after the battle, he having been severely wounded in the thigh, and not being discovered, bled to death. Young McCutchen was also wounded in the thigh, and although properly cared for, all their efforts could not save him. He died a few days after the battle. The death of these two gentlemen, so young, so .remising and kindhearted, cast a gloom over the entire community, and their loss was universally regretted by all parties. The other gentleman killed, who was from Pettis County, was shot in the head, and his name is not remembered.

General Parsons, with the artillery belonging to the State troops, arrived too late to engage in the Battle. He came in on the Boonville and Tipton road, via Wilkin's bridge, and halted at the top of the hill, south of Boonville, near Dr. William Trigg's present residence, where, learning that General Marmaduke had been defeated and was retreating, he took the road leading from Boonville to Prairie Lick in a southwest direction, and soon formed a junction with Governor Jackson's state troops.

General Lyon, two days after the battle of Boonville, sent a detachment of his force southwest, by way of Syracuse, as far as Florence, Morgan county, in pursuit of Governor Jackson. But finding that the state troops had moved still farther south, the command returned to Boonville without meeting any of Jackson's command.

Home Guards in Cooper County. - General Nathaniel Lyon, on the 20th day of June, 1861, organized and mustered into service a company of German home guards, consisting of 135 men. Of this company Joseph A. Eppstein was elected captain ; Emil Haas, first lieutenant ; Ernest Roeschel, second lieutenant; and John A. Hain, orderly sergeant. This company was, on the fourth day of August, ordered to Jefferson City for the purpose of aiding in the protection of the capital. They together with Colonel Brown's 7th Missouri regiment, wei-e, a short time afterwards, ordered to Otterville. They went by rail to Syracuse, and marched on foot the balance of the way to Otterville, which they immediately occupied.

A large number of southern men living in the vicinity had organized a company, and under the command of Captain Alexander, James B. Harris, and others, were camped near by. These two commands for some reason not wishing to attack each other, made the following compromise which was suggested by the southern commanders, and after some parley, accepted by Colonel Brown. It was agreed that if the Federal troops would withdraw from Otterville, Captain Alexander would disband his forces, and Colonel Brown ordered his command back to Jefferson City.

Afterwards, the home guards, with part of Colonel Worthington's command, were ordered to Boonville. They ascended the Missouri River in a steamboat, and arrived at Boonville very early on the morning of the day following their start from Jefferson City. The morning was very foggy, so that the boat could hardly be seen from the shore. It passed Boonville under cover of darkness and the fog, and landed at Haas' brewery, situated about one-half of a mile west of the city. Here the home guards disembarked, and from thence marched around and surrounded the town before the citizens were aware of their presence. Colonel Worthington, with the men of his command, dropped down on the steamboat landing at the foot of Main street, and marched up into the town. He then took a number of prominent citizens prisoners, and confiscated the contents of two tin stores and one shoe store, the owners of which were charged with selling goods to the Confederates ; he also took possession of the Observer printing establishment, then owned by A. W. Simpson and had the presses, type, etc., boxed up and shipped to Jefferson City. This was all done under the orders of Colonel U. S. Grant afterwards president of the United States, who was then in command at Jefferson City. The home guards, together with Colonel Worthington's command, on the afternoon of the same day, took with them the prisoners and the property which they had confiscated. The prisoners were afterwards released, and returned home; but most of the property, except that belonging to the printing establishment, was never seen again by its owners.

Aug. 28th, in the same year, Gen. Jeff C. Davis ordered the home guards to reinforce Colonel Mulligan at Lexington, Missouri. Two days before the 2d Illinois regiment of cavalry had been ordered to the same place, and had started. When Colonel Eppstein, the commander of the home guards, arrived at Tipton, he heard that a part of the 2d Illinois cavalry was at Boonville, and concluded to go there also, and reported to headquarters, that if they had any orders for him, to forward them to him at that place.

Colonel Eppstein was ordered by Gen. Jeff C. Davis, then stationed at Jefferson City, to remain at Boonville and occupy the breastworks, which he did.

Sept. 1, 1861, the troops around Boonville formed themselves into a battalion, consisting of two and one-half companies; companies A and B, infantry, and one-half a company of cavalry. The officers of the battalion were Joseph A. Eppstein, major; Emil Haas, surgeon; and John A. Hayne, adjutant; of company A, infantry, were John B. Keiser, captain; John Roterd, first lieutenant; Charles Koch, second lieutenant; of company B, infantry, were Charles Beihle, captain; Joseph Weber, first lieutenant; John Fessler, second lieutenant. The half company of cavalry was commanded by Peter Ostermyer.

About four days afterwards, this battalion received information that it would be attacked by the Confederates from several surrounding counties. Colonel Eppstein immediately arrested a number of the most prominent southern men in Boonville, viz: N. H. Ells, Rev. H. M. Painter, William E. Burr, J. W. Draffen, James Harper, and Joseph L. Stephens, and held them as hostages, hoping thereby to prevent the contemplated attack. But about six o'clock on the morning of the 13th day of Sept., 1861, while Eppstein's command was at breakfast, the pickets having all come in, the breastworks were attacked by a force of about eight hundred men under the command of Colonel Brown, of Saline County. The fortifications were attacked on the west, southwest and southeast sides. The first attack was from the southwest, the next through Lilly's field on the southeast, and finally extended around to the west side. At first, the firing was very rapid from the southwest and southeast, and soon afterwards from the side of the fortifications, the balls falling thick on every side. Colonel Brown led the attack on the southeast, and made two charges upon the breastworks, but was compelled to fall back each time under the heavy fire from the intrenchments. In the second attack Colonel Brown was mortally wounded, and fell within 50 feet of the breastworks. A short time afterwards, his brother, Captain Brown, was also mortally wounded, and fell about ten feet behind him. The Browns were both brave men, and fought with desperation and with utter disregard of their own safety. After the two Browns had fallen mortally wounded, and Major Poindexter been left in command of the Confederates, Mr. Burr, who was one of the prisoners at the breastworks, having become satisfied that the entrenchments could not be taken, asked, and was granted pel-mission to visit the Confederates, under a flag of truce, in order to see what arrangements could be made so as to bring about a cessation of hostilities. The two commanders finally agreed upon an armistice for seven days, Major Poindexter's troops to be withdrawn from the breastworks and city, a distance of three miles, and were not to enter town only for medicine during that time; Poindexter was to return all horses taken from Union men, and surrender the arms of the men who had fallen in the engagements. If the terms of the armistice were broken by Poindexter, then Rev. H. M. Painter was to be shot.

The home guards numbered about 140 effective men. Their loss was two killed and seven wounded. The names of the killed were John A. Hayne, adjutant, and Kimball, a private. The number of Colonel Brown's command who were killed and wounded is not known. Colonel and Captain Brown were, after the battle, taken to a hospital at Boonville. The colonel died of his wounds the same evening; the captain lingered until the next day, when he too died. Their bodies were taken to Saline County for burial.

At the commencement of the battle, messengers were dispatched by three different routes, viz: by way of Tipton, Jefferson City road and down the river in a skiff, asking for reinforcements. Of these messengers, none reached Jefferson City except Joseph Read and Joseph Reavis, who went down the river. Those who went by the way of Tipton and the Jefferson City road, were captured by Colonel Brown's men while they were on the way.

On the 14th, at 10 o'clock p. m., the force at Boonville was reinforced by the 5th Iowa regiment, under the command of Colonel Worthington, which came up the river on a steamboat. After the armistice had expired, Major Poindexter drew off his men and marched up the river to join General Price, at Lexington.

In Nov., 1861, a scouting party of three men belonging to the home guards, started out to gain information in regard to a band of bushwhackers, who were thought to have their headquarters somewhere in Clark's Fork township, in this county. While approaching the house of William George, in said township, they were fired upon from the house, and one of their number killed. The scouts then returned to Tipton, and having obtained reinforcements, returned and burned William George's house.

On Sept. 16, 1861, Colonel Eppstein's battalion was commanded by Colonel Worthington to take possession of and guard the bridge across the Lamine River, on the road from Boonville to Arrow Rock. Before their arrival at the bridge, they heard the firing of several minute guns behind them, which were intended to warn the. state troops of the approach of Colonel Eppstein's men. They reached the bridge in the night, and were fired upon from the opposite side of the river by the state troops, who seemed to have taken possession of the bridge. Colonel Eppstein returned the fire, and mortally wounded a young man named Herndon, who lived in Lamine township, in this county. He was taken to the house of Mr. William Higgenson, where he soon afterwards expired. The state troops soon retreated and left Colonel Eppstein's troops in possession of the bridge, where they remained, until Sept. 19th, when they were ordered to return to Boonville.

Soon afterwards, Colonel Worthington ordered Colonel Eppstein to take his command with him and burn this same bridge, it having been reported that General Price's army was marching towards Boonville from that direction, and would probably cross the Lamine at this point. Colonel Eppstein endeavored to dissuade him from this purpose by telling him that this would only delay Price a single day, as he could cross a short distance above; but Colonel Worthington replied that it must be done, as he deemed it to be a military necessity. So the bridge was burned according to his order. This proved to be a false alarm, as Price was not on his way to Boonville, and did not attempt to march in that direction.

Under a special law of congress, passed on account of a general dissatisfaction among the home guards all over the state, Colonel Eppstein's battalion was reorganized, and became a part of the Missouri state militia. Six companies were raised and organized at Boonville, and to these were added two companies from St. Louis, thus forming the 13th regiment of the Missouri state militia cavalry. The company of infantry which was commanded by Capt. Charles Biehle, joined the 1st Missouri state militia infantry. Afterwards the 13th infantry was consolidated with four companies of the 12th regiment, and Schofield's "hussars", and from that time formed the 5th regiment, the old 5th having previously been disbanded.

The officers of this regiment were Albert Sigel, colonel ; Joseph A. Eppstein, lieutenant-colonel; John B. Kaiser, major; and John Fetzer, surgeon. This regiment after being thoroughly organized and fully drilled and equipped, was ordered to Waynesville, in the Rolla district, where they remained and from which place they operated during the war. Part of this regiment was under the command of Colonel Brown during his pursuit of Shelby, when in October, 1863, he made his raid through the state in the direction of Boonville.

of Colonel Eppstein, composed a portion of the forces of General Sanborn during his operations against General Price in his raid through Missouri in the fall of 1864. General Sanborn, at first supposing that General Price would march in the direction of Rolla, concentrated his forces at that place, but finding that General Price was making for Jefferson City, he moved his command to the latter place, on the way marching nearly parallel with the Confederates ; for while he was crossing the Osage River at Castle Rock, General Price was crossing the stream eight miles below. Colonel Eppstein's command had a slight skirmish with the Confederate advance guard between the Osage and the Moreau creek, but he succeeded in reaching Jefferson City first.

General Sanborn had concentrated at that place, 3,000 infantry and 4,000 cavalry, most of them regulars, and all of them well-armed and drilled. General Price's army numbered about 20,000 men, yet there were thousands of them who had no arms, and had never seen anything like a battle. Neither had his troops been organized and placed under commanders, as many of them had flocked to his standard as he had marched through the state. As he was continually on the march, he had no opportunity to effect organization in the ranks at this time although shortly afterwards he had them under perfect control.

Price only made a slight attack on Jefferson City with a small portion of his forces, then withdrew without a general battle, and marched across the country in the direction of Boonville. General Sanborn, as soon as he learned the true state of affairs, started his cavalry in pursuit of the Confederates. The cavalry had skirmishing with the Confederal e rear guard, which was commanded by General Fagan at Stringtown, Russelville, and California, on the 10th clay of Oct., 1864. During these skirmishes, three of Colonel Eppstein's men were killed and 13 wounded. The loss of the Confederates is unknown. Price camped, on the night of the 10th, on the Moniteau creek just within the limits of Cooper County, and on the next day marched to Boonville.

The P'ederals moved west and camped on the upper Tipton road, about eleven miles south of Boonville, at Crenshaw's farm. On the 12th of Oct., Colonel Graveley, with about four hundred mounted men of Sanbora's command, advanced by way of the Tipton road to within about one-half of a mile of Boonville, to test the strength, and if possible, to find out the contemplated movements of General Price's command. At what is known as the Vollrath place, about one-half mile south of Boonville, Colonel Graveley came upon some Confederate companies in camp,

On the 12th, Colonel Eppstein with about 350 men of his command, moved toward Boonville, and camped at Bohannon's farm, about seven miles south of Boonville. Early on the morning of the 13th, he was ordered to advance as far as he could in the direction of Boonville, and reconnoitre General Price's position. Immediately upon receiving this order he commenced his march with the above mentioned number of men and two mountain howitzers, and on arriving at Wilkin's bridge, across the Petite Saline creek, his command was fired upon by a band of about 400 men under the command of General Fagan, who were guarding the bridge. Colonel Eppstein returned the fire, and ordered four mounted companies to dismount and deploy as skirmishers. After some little skirmishing along the banks of the creek, General Fagan, leisurely retreated toward Boonville. After going north about one-half of a mile, to where a lane crosses the main road, south of Mrs. McCarty's house, Colonel Eppstein, who was in pursuit, found that General Fagan had barricaded the road with trees, etc. Here Miller's and Murphy's companies had a close fight with the Confederates, even using swords and bayonets. These two companies were surrounded at one time and ordered by the Confederates to surrender but the other two companies of Colonel Eppstein's command coming up to their aid, General Fagan again fell baei,\ At this place two of the Federals were wounded, but none hurt upon the other side.

General Fagan next made a stand at Anderson's branch, and here the two forces had a more severe battle. Three of the Federals were killed, and seven wounded. The killed were: Fred Hoecher; a man named Jones ; while the name of the other is not known. The loss of the Confederates, as was afterwards learned, was considerable.

General Fagan by this time had brought up four pieces of artillery, and commenced shelling the woods .-".long Anderson';, branch in which cnel Eppstein was stationed. The Federals then received orders to f?.ll back, and retreated to California, Moniteau County, to obtain supplies. They soon afterwards returned to Crenshaw's farm, and there halted and took dinner. Here General Sanborn learned that Price had left Boonville, so marching west he camped for the night at New Nebo church. The next morning he continued his march in the direction of Georgetown.

cavalry, had command of the post at Boonville. Finding but little to do on this side of the river, they crossed over into Howard County, in search of Anderson's bushwhackers - passed through New Franklin, and took the road east leading to Rocheport. Although warned by the citizens of his danger, as Anderson was known to be in full force 'in the neighborhood, Captain Parks marched on. When about one mile east of >T Franklin, his command was suddenly attacked by Anderson's men, and cut into two parts, seven of them being killed by the first fire. The greater part of his command retreated to a house in the Missouri River bottom, and kept Anderson at bay by firing through the cracks of the house. Captain Parks, at the outset, became separated from his men. and retreated towards Fayette until he met Major Leonard's command, which happened to be marching in that direction. With this he returned to the relief of his company, and Anderson having learned of his approach, drew of his men and retired.

The part of Captain Park's company which had been besieged in the house, finding that Anderson had drawn off his men, mounted horses, came back to Old Franklin in the night, and crossed the river in safety, although several men were missing. This part of the company knew nothing of Captain Parks until the next day, when he made his appearance. They then recrossed the river, and having recovered the bodies of their companions who had ben killed, buried them in one grave at the city cemetery, in the southwest part of Boonville.

In the winter of 1862 and 1863, Colonel Pope was the commander of several companies of home militia, with headquarters at the fair grounds at Boonville. They disbanded in 1863, and Colonel D. W. Wear formed a battalion and was commander of the post at Boonville. The battalion did considerable scouting, the details of which are not sufficiently known to be given.

Lieutenant-Colonel Reavis, while under Colonel Pope, learning that some Confederate recruiting forces had crossed the river, making their way in a southern direction, immediately started in pursuit and overtook them while in camp in the brush, near Thomas Tucker's house, about two miles east of Bunceton in Cooper county. He fired upon them, killing two men and wounding one. The recruits then separated and made their way out of the country by different routes. The names of the Confederates who were killed were Joshua Lampton and Jones, from Boone County. They were buried at the "Vine" or Concord church. The wounded man,

Shelby's Raid. - General Joseph Shelby, of the Confederate army, made a raid into Cooper County during the month of Oct., 1863. He passed through Otterville on the night of the 9th of said month, and burned the Pacific railroad bridge near that town. On the night of the 10th, he camped near Bell Air, in a pasture belonging to Mr. Nathaniel Leonard, and on the next day he marched to Boonville. His movements becoming known in Boonville the night before, a meeting of the citizens was called by Mayor McDeramon. After some delay, the conclusion was reached that the only alternative was to surrender the city to General Shelby. Citizens were sent out to meet him, who returned without being able to gain any information as to his whereabouts, and they conveyed the impression that he would not pay his compliments to the city during this expedition.

Therefore, his arrival at Boonville on the 11th day of October, was quite a surprise to the citizens. Several of the citizens had crossed the river into Howard County the night before, having concluded that discretion was the better part of valor, that their presence in Boonville would accomplish no good, and that there would be more safety in making themselves scarce. J. L. Stevens, R. F. O'Brien, A. H. C. Koontz, Alex Frost, D. C. Koontz, Leonard Ware and D. S. Kcontz were in this party.

Just as General Shelby marched into Boonville from the south, Major Leonard, with about 250 Federal troops, appeared on the north side of the river and commenced crossing his men. The first boat load had almost reached the Boonville shore, when some one called to those in the boat that the town was full of Confederates, and that they had better retreat. The pilots immediately turned the boat around and made for the Howard shore. At this time some of Shelby's men appeared and commenced firing upon the boat with muskets. But the boat, having gotten out of reach of this fire, the Confederates brought up some artillery and opened fire on the boat, two shots striking it before it reached the shore. As soon as Major Leonard landed his forces, the artillery was turned upon them, and they were soon forced to retire beyond the reach of the shells.

At the same time, Colonel Crittenden, with about one hundred men, was seen steaming up the river in a boat, but on learning the situation of affairs at Boonville, he droped down the river and landed a short distance below, in Howard county.

General Shelby remained in Boonville the balance of the afternoon of that day, and encamped for the night west of the city on the Georgetown road. He came here to obtain supplies, such as clothing and provisions, which they found in great abundance, and which they took, wherever found. M. J. Wertheimer and Messrs. Lamy & McFadden were the greatest sufferers, each losing about $4,000 in clothing. The Confederate troops did not molest any person during their stay ; not a single man was killed or wounded, and they were very polite and gentlemanly to every person.

While the Confederates were in Boonville, the Federals, under General Brown, were close behind them, and on the 11th day of October, were within eight miles of Boonville, on the Bell Air road. On that day General Brown moved a portion of his troops west to the junction of the Sulphur Springs and the Boonville and Georgetown roads, which is about seven miles southwest of Boonville. But during the night he marched his command back again to the Bell Air road, and camped near Billingsville. The next morning after General Shelby had left, the Federals passed through Boonville in pursuit, their advance just behind the Confederate rear guard. Two of General Shelby's men who had stopped at Mr. Labbo's house, about one and one-half miles west of Boonville to get their breakfast, were killed by some Federal scouts as they appeared at the front door, in order to make their escape.

A running fight was kept up at intervals, all along the route from Boonville to Marshall. The fight became pretty spirited between the Sulphur Springs and Dug Ford; and at Dug Ford two Federals were killed and fell from their horses into the water. During the long running fight there was quite a number killed on each side, but the number is not known.

At Marshall, a battle took place, in which a number were killed and wounded on each side. But General Shelby succeeded in escaping from his ursuers with the loss of only a small portion of the stores which he had obtained at Boonville.

This raid, of course produced great excitement, and in the heat of passion, considerable censure was heaped upon the commanding officer, whether justly or unjustly, is left to the reader to determine. General Shelby succeeded in getting back to the lines without any great loss, but whether his entire anticipations in regard to obtaining supplies and reinforcements were fully realized, is not known. Major Leonard and Colonel Crittenden crossed their commands over the river to Boonville about ten o'clock on the morning of the 12th, and after stopping for dinner, they started in the direction of Marshall. Boonville, then was once more clear of troops, and the citizens had time to gather together provisions to feed the next lot of hungry soldiers who happened to land whether Federals or Confederates. Thus ended the famous "Shelby's Raid," as far as Cooper county was concerned.

Price's Raid Into Cooper County. - The Federal troops in the fall of 1864, having all abandoned Boonville, three companies of home guards were organized for the protection of the city against what were known as the bushwhackers. Two of these companies were composed of men belonging to both parties, who had joined these companies with the understanding that they would only be required to protect the city against bushwhackers and plunderers, and would not be compelled, against their wills, to fight against the regular southern troops.

Although there were frequent alarms, the bushwhackers never attacked Boonville, but often during the war made raids through the county, in which many citizens were killed. They always took anything they wished, no matter in whose hands it was found. There were also bands of robbers moving continually through the county, who cared nothing for either party, and who robbed and killed without discrimination or regard to party. During the year 1864, many good citizens, belonging to each side, were shot down, first by one party and then by another, and many citizens abandoned their homes, seeking places of more security. The details of these murders and robberies are too disgraceful and sickening to enumerate in this brief history.

On the 11th day of October, 1864, scouts brought information that a large hostile force was approaching Boonville. These three companies, being under the impression that these were Andersons bushwhackers, immediately erected a strong barricade across Fifth street, at Thespian hall, in Boonville. They were strengthened in the belief that these were bushwhackers from the fact that they had received a dispatch that afternoon from Mexico, Missouri, stating that General Price had been repulsed at Jefferson City, and was retreating by way of Tipton.

So these companies of home guards, expecting no quarter from Anderson's men, prepared to sell their lives as dearly as they could, thinking anyway, that it would be certain death to fall into the hands of Bill Anderson. Soon afterwards Shelby's command entered the town with a dash, killing a German scout near Mrs. Muir's residence, about one mile east of Boonville. The home guard fired one round at the advance guard of Shelby's command as they advanced along Vine street near the Baptist

Learning that this was but the advance guard of General Price's large army, and that resistance would be useless, the home guards surrendered as prisoners of war. These prisoners were quartered at the court house and closely guarded, but the commissioned officers were paroled. General Shelby, with his command, entered about sundown on the above mentioned day. General Price and his staff made their headquarters at the City Hotel, on Morgan street. On Tuesday, the 13th day of October, the prisoners were marched in front of the city hall, ranged in line, and General Price made them a speech and gave orders for their parole, on the condition that if they were ever found with arms against the south they would be shot.

Price had about 20,000 men, many of them late Missouri recruits, without arms. Some of his command were well armed and drilled, but the greater part were very poorly armed. Their general conduct toward the citizens during their stay in Boonville was good.

On the night of the 13th, while Captain Shoemaker, who was on parole, was going from Capt. John Porter's house to his residence, on the corner of Central avenue and Sixth streets, he was captured by some men who were afterwards discovered to be Anderson's men, taken to the fair grounds, killed and his body thrown into the river. Two men, named Neef and Boiler, were killed near their homes about four miles west of Boonville also a negro man who was concealed in a corn-shock on the farm of J. M. Nelson, situated two miles west of Boonville. These were all the persons killed in this part of the county, who were not slain in battle, whose names are now recollected.

Thousands of volunteers in Missouri flocked to the standard of General Price, believing that he would be able to hold the state. The rear guard of General Price's army and the advance guard of General Sanborn's command, skirmished, at intervals, from Jefferson City to Boonville. General Sanborn's command consisted of about 4,000 mounted men. The infantry command under Gen. A. J. Smith, was also in pursuit, but never came within fighting distance of the Confederates.

There was considerable skirmishing and some hard lighting south and southeast of Boonville, during Price's three day's sojourn at that place, in which a number were killed and wounded on both sides. The Arkansas militia, under the command of General Fagan, who were left to protect

A dash was made upon General Price's outposts by a few companies of Federals, who came so near Boonville that the firing could be heard and the smoke of the battle seen from the city. General Price's artillery was brought into requisition and soon compelled the Federals to retire. The greater part of Price's regulars was then called out, and a general charge having been made all along the line, the Federal army fell back on the road leading from Jefferson City to Georgetown, via Bell Air and following that road, camped about four miles west of Bell Air, near the farm of A. J. Read.

Price's army left Boonville during the night of Oct. 14th, having remained three days. His army took all the horses in the northern part, and the Federal troops all in the southern part of the county. Both parties foraged upon the people of the county for the support of their respective armies, and left the county pretty destitute, especially of horses, hardly a good one being left. This was virtually the end of the war as far as Cooper county was concerned, no more battles being fought in it between organized armies.

Tompkin's Inn was known in the early days as a hostelry of some importance. The stage coach that used to run between Boonville and Jefferson City in the very early days, during the Civil War times, made a stop at Tompkin's Inn.

This inn was situated just below Prairie Home and was known as the Albert G. Tompkins Inn, and was located on the site of the residence of W. F. Carpenter. Here were not only the stage coach horses changed, but the hungry travelers were fed from the substantial fare of the times, and frequently were bedded for the night.

During the Civil War, a squad of Federal troops came from Boonville, and lodged at this inn one night. Captain Boswell, who lived at the time on the Henry Kuhn farm, west of Prairie Home, in command of a squad of Confederates made an attack upon these Federal troops, and in the fight Captain Boswell was wounded. A few days thereafter, he died from the effects of the wound. The Union troops had guards out, one of them being Felix Imhoff, who after faithfully patrolling his beat, until relieved, lay down on the ground, weary, and went to sleep. So sound and peaceful were his slumbers, during these war times, especially on this particular occasion, that the fight above referred to was all over before he came from slumberland. He was aroused from his sleep by one of the men, and told of the fight. The story goes that he was intensely indignant because he had been thus neglected, and it was several years before he was restored to good humor. It seemed to be a matter of deep regret to him that he had missed the fun.

Captain Boswell was buried in the Pisgah cemetery and Albert G. and Tompkins, who was the proprietor of the inn, is buried about 150 yards south of the Carpenter residence.