Daviess County, Missouri - Chapter 6: The Civil Conflict and Daviess County's Participation Therein - 1861-1865, 1882

Chapter 6: The Civil Conflict and Daviess County's Participation Therein - 1861-1865

The Storm-Cloud - -1861--Dariess County - How and Where They Fought - The Operations of 1861- - -Death of Bill Anderson - Camp Everly - Company A - Roll of Company A - Transferred - Discharged for Disability - Died - Sergeants - Corporals - A ctions Engaged in - Company G - Roll of Company G - Hilled in Buattle - Died - Discharged - Deserled - Sergeants - Corporals - Roll of Company B - Forly-third Missouri - Roll of Forty- Third - Sergeants - Corporals - Commissioned Officers' Record - - Confederate Service - The Heroes Who Died - Tragic Scenes - Bromfield's Death - Order of Inquisition - Reunion,

The Storm-Cloud

The Lone Star State had seen her Alamo, and trom the blood of her murdered sons came forth a glorious State with the banner of freedom and independence floating in the breeze. Then followed the Mexican War when other States came into being and joined the sisterhood. The wave of excitement caused by the gold discovery in California had come and gone when the dark and ominous cloud of civil strite began to hover over the land. Where all was peace, and a prosperity unexampled in the world's history, soon would be given over to desperate conflict; a struggle that was to deluge the land with blood, and which was not only to rend the liberties of the people, but start an era of corruption, the like of which the world had never seen. Hundreds of thousands of the people slain, thousands of millions of dollars of the people's money stolen. Our fair land was to pass through the trying ordeal of a domestic strife which was to clothe our people in gloom, and which was to carry sorrow and mourning into nearly every household in the land.

The year 1861 is historic. The demon of hate had taken possession of the hearts of the people and could only be appeased by deadly conflict upon the battle-field. Peace spread her wings and soared aloft, and the * Land of the Free' once more attested her devotion to free institutions by sealing that devotion in blood. Right or wrong, they attested their devotion by sacrificing their lives upon the altar of their belief - while fanatics and partisans incited the strife, the men who fought did so for principle. So far as the battle-tields of the civil war are concerned, armed men fought and died, and the survivors should shake hands across the bloody chasm. The blue and the gray mingled in fraternal union. It was those who were lett behind who committed crime in the name of loyalty and the American name dis-

The roar of the signal gun at Fort Sumter had scarcely died away before the call to arms resounded in every village and hamlet throughout the land. Giants were to meet in deadly conflict, brave deeds and heroic actions were to go down in history and the horrors of a domestic civil strife were upon the people.

Daviess county was divided in sentiment, but a majority from the first seemed to be in favor of the Union cause. Meetings were held and the most prominent citizens took part. The Union men were more demonstrative, and soon made arrangements to form a regiment for service in the Federal army. The tall of Sumter had its effect, but the affairs at home demanded attention. The State, in the southern and central parts, was overwhelmingly Confederate, while north of the river it was more nearly divided, if we except the river counties below Booneville. In the meantime matters progressed in Daviess county, and in April, 1862, the first regiment of cavalry of the Missouri State Militia was organized with James McFerran as colonel. Of this regiment three companies were raised in Daviess county, being Company A, Captain Joseph H. Me- Gee; Company B, Captain Wiiliam H. Folmsbee; and Company G, Captain

Field And Staff Officers

The regiment was fully recruited and on April 9th,{1862, the following field and staff officers were appointed and received their commissions: James MecFerran, colonel, March 31, 1862. Alexander M. Woolfolk, lieutenant-colonel, February 24, 1862. Samuel F. Cox, major, March 12, 1862. George W. Thompson, first lieutenant and battalion adjutant, March 31, 1862. Thomas Doyle, 1st lieutenant and battalion adjutant, April 9, 1862. Colonel McFerran of the First Regiment Cavalry, Missouri State Militia, was ordered to at once report to his district commander, and cause a duly certified muster roll of the field and staff to be forwarded to the office of the adjutant general. The First Battalion was under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Woolfolk and was composed of' the following companies: Company A, Captain J. H. McGee. Ly: 3; "William H. Folmsbee. *e ©; "Oliver Phillips. ey. PDs "William A. Shelton.

The above battalion was pertected March 26, with the exception of the two last companies which were added, by order of the adjutant-general, April 9, 1862. On May 28th following, Companies I and K were also added. In February, 1863, the Fifth Missouri Cavalry (ten companies) was broken up and three companies of that regiment, B, C, and E, were added to Colonel McFerran's regiment, and were known as I, L, and M, and Companies A and D were antiecly broken up, and Colonel McFerran was ordered to distribute his men among the different companies as he saw fit.

Thus the regiment had three companies trom Daviess county. There was also added to Colonel MeFerran's regiment, Captain Johinson's company of cavalry.

The first engagement took place July 27, 1862. Lieutenant-Colonel Woolfolk, with 180 men attacked 80 rebels and dispersed them, with one man wounded.

Company B, August 5, 1862, and a party of enrolled militia, had a fight with the rebels under Davis and Kirk, near *Di-Amon, dispersing thane The command had five men severely wounded and several rebels were killed. The regiment was contined to State duty during its existence, and the following will give a pretty general history of its career for the first two years of its service.

One hundred and twenty men of the First Regiment were with Colonel McNeal in the pursuit of Porter in North Missouri, in 1862, and took part in the battles of Newark and Kirksville.

Two hundred and twenty-five men of the First Regiment took part in the battle of Panther Creek, on the eighth day of August, 1862, under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Woolfolk.

Abont 500 men of the First Regiment, under command of Colonel James McFerran, had a skirmish with Porter's rebels at Walnut Creek, Adair county, Missouri, on the ninth of August, 1862, and on the same day fought Porter's forces at See's Ford, on the Chariton riv er, in which engagement the First Regiment had one man killed and ten wounded.

On the twelfth and thirteenth of August, 1862, about 600 of the First Regiment, under command of Colonel McFerran, were in pursuit of Poindexter's guerrillas, in the counties of Linn and Livingston, Missouri, ot whose force about twenty men were killed and one hundred and fifty taken prisoners. The First Regiment did not sustain any loss.

Early in September, 1862, 180 then of the First Regiment, under command of Major Mullins, chased Quantrel with 150 guerrillas three days and nights through Lafayette and Jackson counties, dispersing his force.

During the fall and winter the headquarters of the regiment remained at Lexington; four companies, under Lieutenant-Colonel Woolfolk, were stationed at Sedalia, from November until the first of April.

During the fall and winter the First Regiment was constantly engaged in scouting and skirmishing with guerrillas in the counties near the post of Lexington, Missouri. In March, 1868, the headquarters of the First Regiment were moved to Independence, and in April to Harrisonville; on the tenth day of May, to Warrensburg, and on the third day of June to Lexington, where they remained till the first of October, when they were removed again.

On the fitteenth of April, 1863, in Lafayette county, Missouri, about forty men of the First Regiment, under command ot Lieutenant-Colonel King, Fourth Cavalry. Missouri State Militia, killed six guerrillas without sustaining any loss; also on the same day, in Cass county, Missouri, eight men of the First Regiment encountered eight bushwhackers, wounded two, and rescued a citizen whom they were abont to hang. On the tenth day of June, forty men of the First Regiment surprised thirty guerrillas in St. Clair county, Missouri, killing two and wounding several, and captured a boy. On the sixteenth day of June, 1863, fifty men, under command of Lieut. J. H. Smith, surprised and killed four guerrillas in Lafayette county, Missouri.

In July, 1863, 100 men of the First Regiment, under command of Maj. A. W. Mullins, attacked Marchbank's guerrillas, numbering sixty men, in Bates county, Missouri, killing two and wounding a number, capturing and burning their camp and garrison equipage, and then pursued them, skirmishing about three miles, when the guerrillas dispersed.

On the twenty-ninth day of June, 1863, the rebel colonel, Parker, with four men, attacked four men of the First Regiment, when a fight ensued, in which Parker was killed and his adjutant wounded; the men of the First Regiment sustained no injury. In July, 1863, 100 men of the First Regiment, under command ot Maj. A. W. Mullins, attacked Marehbank's guerrillas, numbering eighty men,in Vernon county, on the prairie, where a running fight took place, lasting for six hours, over sixteen miles, killing two and wounding several; the First Regiment had one man severely wounded,

On the second day of August, 100 men of the First Regiment, under Maj. A.W. Mullins, attacked Marchbank's guerrillas, numbering eighty-tive men; a fight ensued and ended in dispersing the guerrillas, killing one; the First Regiment had one man killed. On the tenth day of August, 1863, 230 men of the First Regiment attacked Teague's guerrillas, numbering about forty men, in Cass county, Missouri, killing three; the First Regiment sustained no loss.

In the attack of the rebel, Blount, on Captain Peery, who, with ten inen, was acting as paymaster's escort, he succeeded in repulsing them with the Joss of one man.

In October, 1863, 659 men of the First Regiment, under the command of Lientenant-Colonel Lazear, participated in the pursuit of General Shelby and his forces, and were engaged in the battles of Dug Ford, in Cooper county, and Marshall, in Saline county, and followed them through Saline, Lafayette, and Johnson counties.

In January, 1864, the regiment were badly scattered, doing guard duty The headquarters of the regiment were at Warrensburg, where two companies, Land M, were stationed. Company A was at Waverly; B, at Calhoun; C,at Chapel Hill; D, at Kingsville; E, at Germantown; F, at Wellingten; Gand H, at Lexington; I, at Hopewell; and K, at Osceola; and their principal business was guard duty and scouting, and this continued during January and February.

In April, Lieutenant Triplett, with forty men of Company D, broke up a camp of guerrillas in Johnson county, and captured from them an elegant regimental banner of the Fifth Infantry, Indiana Volunteers.

In May, Companies A, C, and L were stationed at Warrensburg, B, E and K, at Germantown, D and M, at Holden, and F, G, H, and I, under Captain Burris, were in the field in the western part of Latayette county. Scouting and fighting the guerrillas continued until July, when the headquarters of the regiment were moved trom Warrensburg to Mound Prairie, Lafayette county, July 14, and trom there to Lexington on the 19th.

In the latter part of July Lieutenant-Colonel Lazear was ordered to assume command of the regiment and operations in Lafayette and Saline counties, relieving Colonel MceFerran. Colonel Lazear continued to operate in this district with his command until the 16th of September, when Colonel MeFerran again assumed command. During this period the headquarters of the regiment were in the field.

On September 17th, Major Mullins, with one battalion, then in the field in Lafayette county, was ordered to proceed to Saline county and take command in that county, with headquarters at Marshall. The headquarters of the regiment in the mean time were established at the Little Snibar, Lafayette county.

ferson, finally ariving at the latter place in October, 1864. The regiment was connected with the first brigade, and while with it was engaged in the battles of Big Blue, Independence, and Osage. The regiment was at Fort Scott on the 26th of October, when it was detailed to escort to Warrensburg the prisoners and artillery captured from the rebels by the brigade, and November first they made their headquarters for the winter at Warrensburg.

On the 1st of January, 1865, the regiment was stationed in the Centrab District of Missouri, and was engaged in exterminating the band of guerrillas that infested that region of country, and performing guard and escort duty, until mustered out.

It will be seen that the First Regiment was kept pretty busy during the time of the "great unpleasantness," and with the exception of an occasional resignation, wounds and sickness, the companies from Daviess county were constantly in the field, their scope of duty being confined to Missouri. They had, therefore, no chance to distinguish themselves by participating in the many memorable battles on Southern soil, but they performed the duties. assigned to them with zeal and deserved well of their country.

Death Of Bill Anderson

October 27, 1864, a heavy foree of guerrillas, under the command of Bill Anderson, were repulsed near Albany, Ray county, by a portion of the Fiftyfirst Regiment, Enrolled State Militia. In this engagement the noted guerrilla leader, Bill Anderson, was killed while making a desperate charge on Major Samuel P. Cox's forces. There wereengaged in the battle the First Cavalry of the Missouri State Militia, under Major Cox, and those of the Fifty-tirst Regimen, under command of Major John Grimes. Anderson's horse was eaptured by a soldier of Major Cox's command. Major Cox received a slight flesh wound in that fight. Both the Ray and Daviess county troops behaved with coolness and bravery, and the officers showed themselves not only brave men, but ofticers of ability and inilitary tact. This tight was so disastrous to the guerrillas, besides the loss of their gallant and desperate leader, that they retreated, that night, from this section of the country.

Camp Everly

The first Union camp in Daviess county was on the farm of William W. Everly, and while the companies were reerniting, his farm furnished food for both men and horses. The old man was a pioneer settler in Daviess county, having come to the county in 1833. He lived to see the war end, and the mantle of peace and prosperity once more spread over the land, and died in September, 1869. The "soldier boys" all remember "Camp Eyerly." There was very little effort made to keep the names of those who entered either the Union or Confederate service. The latter, especially, has had no record kept and those. who joined the Southern army generally did so by going, singly or in squads, to some Southern rendezvous, and there enlisting. This prevented a list of names being kept, as no company or companies of Contederates were raised in Daviess county. By persevering ettort, the compiler of this work has been able to secure the names of the most of those who obeyed their country's call, and assisted in retaining this great union of States. :

Company

This company was mustered into service February 8, 1862, at Gallatin, Missouri, by Capt. T. B. Biggers. The company was commanded by Captain Joseph H. McGee, of Gallatin; First Lieutenant Merdith Morris, of Pattonsburg, and Second Lieutenant McClain Wilson, of Monroe township. Their commissions all bear date from February 3, 1862. One year and two months from the last date, April 3, 1868, Joseph McGee was promoted to major; March 26, 1863, Merdith Morris sueceeded him as captain of the company; Benton Miller as first lieutenant, and McClain Wilson still holding his position of second lieutenant. Of these officers, Captain Morris was dismissed, April 26, 1864; First Lieutenant Miller was mustered out February 11, 1865, having served out his term; and McClain Wilson resigned April 23, 1864.

Roll Of Company A.

Company A belonged to the first regiment of cavalry, Missouri State Militia. The roll of privates and non-commissioned officers is here given A noble band who did their duty in the Union cause:

Transferred Discharged For Disability

' Bear, Peter, second sergeant, Ban- Miller, Seamon, private, Kidder. croft. Leard, Janes G., private, Alto Vista. Stone, George W., third sergeant, Everly, Samuel H., private, Gallatin. Gallatin. Field, Riley, private, Civil Bend. Tipton, George W., fifth sergeant, Grantham, William D., private, Gal- Victoria. latin. Grantham, Robert H., sixth corpo- Miller, William F., private, Victoria, ral, Civil Bend. Sweaney, George, private, Civil Bend, Peniston, Thomas, bugler, Civil Sego, Charles B., private, Pattons- 3end., burg.

Died Of Disease

rge der. (yallatin. William V. McGee, quarter-master William L. Powell, third sergeant, sergeant, Gallatin. Grallatin. William C. Gillahan, company ser- Lewis Heaston, fourth sergeant, Galgeant, Gallatin. latin. 7

Actions Engaged In

The first action this company was engaged in, was fought at Kirksville, in Adair county, August 6, 1862. Two days after, August S, they again met the enemy at Panther Creek, Macon county, and following them up, a short engagement ensued on Walnut Creek, and at Seaford the next day. On the 13th of August, four days after, they fought their next battle with Poindexter. This is the record of the first movements of this regiment. None were killed, but several wounded, among whom were William R. Dutcher, private, and David E. Youtsey, second sergeant, both of Gallatin.

Company G was organized March 27, 1862, with Jolin Ballinger as captain, who ranked as such from March 16th of that year. The original roll of the company could not be found, but the roll of the company when mustered out was preserved by Lieutenant David Groomer, and kindly furnished, and from which was taken the names of those who lived to return to their homes. Those who died from exposure, or were killed in battle, filled a soldier's grave, and the nemory of them will ever remain green. Time may lessen the violence of griet, but memory ever keeps her vigils, and as the one softens with passing years, the other ever rises bright and glorious, and with hope as its beacon light, holds fast until death.

Forty-Third Infantry, Missouri Volunteers

In 1864, there was a farther demand for troops and the Forty-third Regiment was organized, September 22, 1864, under the command of Chester Harding, junior, of St Louis, as colonel. The duties of the regiment were confined to the State, and six companies of it participated in the battle of Glasgow, fought October 15, 1864. Of this regiment, only one company was purtially organized trom Daviess county, under the captainey of William F. Flint, whose post address was given us Bethany, Missouri, but who, atter the war. became sheriff of Daviess county, and was the unfortunate vietim of robbery in Kansas City, a detailed account of which is given in another place. A portion only of the names ot this company can be given, and not all of them from this county. They were in active duty in the Central Missouri District, until the close of the war, and were mustered out of

Confederate Service

CONFEDERATE SERVICE, While it is believed that at no time was the Union sentiment in a minority, there was a strong Southern teeling in the county, nut so niueh a disunion sentiment as a belict' that the infernal fanaticism of the Abolitivnists had corrupted the honorable feelings of the people by a willful perversion of tacts, and that scheming demagogues and corrupt politicians had seized upon it to inflame the Northern heart. Free republican government was the dominant sentiment of the South, and is to this day. When, therefure, the politicians precipitated a conflict, it was not for the downfall of a demoeratic form of government, but for a separate republic. This cansed many men to join the Southern army, and there was over 300 who left this county to join their fortunes to the Confederate cause. The battle for a separate republic was lost and the Union preserved, Brave men met on the field of strife, the blue and the gray met in mortal combat, and contested each for the cause they loved best. Victory crowned the Union army, the contending hosts shook hands across the bloody chasin, fraternal brotherhood once more swayed the hearts of the people, and the sisterhood of states was preserved, an imperishable Union. To be sure, cowards came to the front when the strife was ended, and preached the "Gospel of hate," as only cowards could preach, but the masses of the people have at last driven them to cover. There is a union of hearts and a union of hands in this year of our Lord, 1881, and the country is once more advancing to the front of nations. The blue and the gray are now one, the flag of our Union waves over both, and any conflict which this country may hereafter engage in will find the gray and the blue side by side, struggling as to which shall do the most, and achieve the most hervic action for their common country. They sleep side by side on many fields of battle, the living are once more brothers, the dead are united, and upon the graves of the blue and the gray are placed the garlands of victory, and memory is ever kept green for the loved ones dead.

The Heroes Who Died

"God knows who was right." Ah! yes! it is true, And the God of the Gray Is the God of the Blue; He hore their proud spirits To mansions above, And he crowned them at last With his garlands of love.

No strife or contention, No discord, no hate; The portals are open, And there, side by side, Stands the heroes of battle - The heroes who clied.

Cod welcomes them all; Though in battle array One bore the bright blue And the other the gray. Though one fought for Union, The other for State. One angel of mercy Guided all to God's gate.

And there at the right hand OF him who is just, Away from the mortal And up from the dust, There, there by God's throne, Far away from Earth's grave, Tn raiment nnspotted, Stand the true and the brave.

Shall we, the frail worldlings, Who yet hve and wait - Shall we sit in judement, Or ery ont in hate? While « father above us, A father all wise, Calls back his loved children From earth to the skies.

Forgive ns, forgive us, Dear Father above! Bring back to our conscience The heart beat of love; And while we are weeping For our loved ones to-day, Let us tenderly cherish The Blue and the Gray."

Tragic Scenes

There were many cold-blooded and heartless scenes transpired during the civil war, not in the army, but among the stay-at-homes. The killing of James Weldon, of Harrison township, was one of those deliberate, coldblooded murders. He had returned to his home, taken the oath, and was a member of the Home Gnards, or militia. A captain from Caldwell county with a squad of men had been out scouting, and returning by the residence of Weldon, and knowing he had once been a Confederate, rode up to his house atter dark, called him out, took him out upon the open prairie, mur-

No Jess atrocious and horrible in character was the deliberate murder of Crews, at a pienic in Harrison township. A Captain Bromfield, who came from Washington township, attended this pienic. He heard that there was a man there who had been in the rebel army. He did not know Crews, but he went toa man and told him to show him Crews or point him out. The man knowing Bromfield's vindictive nature, dared not disobey, and the report is that he went up to Crews and gave him an apple as a sign to Bromfield to spot the man. Crews was standing near a tree, with four or five ladies near him, when Bromfield walked up, pistol in hand, and killed him dead without « word of provocation or warning. But the fiend carried his murderous proclivities once too far, and met with a terrible but righteous punishment at the hands of a comrade whom he was seeking to kill.

Bromfield'S Deat

There was nothing done toward punishing Bromfield tur the murder he had so wantonly committed, and his murderous instinet and bullying manner made people afraid of him, Ue had «a man in his company by the name ot Solomon Tomlin, and it seems that on a raid made down in Buehanan county they appropriated a lot of horses. In the division of property Captain Bromfield and Tomlin had some bitter words, and this increased until Bromfield declared he would kill Tomlin. Not long after he started on a hunt tor him, and went to Tomlin's house, some two miles from Gallatin, and called to him to come out. Tomlin's wife was at home and informed the ruttian that her husband had gone to Gallatin. He told her that he had come to kill her husband, and that she would never see him alive again, and that he wonld come back that night and hang Tomlin's hat on the gate-post. Bromtield came to town, and at once began his hunt for Tomlin, The Jatter kept ont of his way, and at Jast hid in a dry goods store, kept hy a Mr. Miller, on the south side of the square, now occupied as a grocery store. After a long hunt he went to the clerk's office in the court-house, and trom some one around there learned that Tomlin was hiding in the store above mentioned. Bromfield started from the elerk's office, passing ont of the south gate of the square and walking directly toward the door. In the meantime Tomlin had been on the watch, and seeing him coming, knew it was a life and death matter. The merchants were badly seared, and told Tomlin to leave the store, as they did not want any killing done there. Tomlin had been crying, but when his enemy passed Lhtongh the gate into the street with pistol in hand, ready to kill him, his canlliont and courage arose at once. He had weakened because he did not want to be killed, and neither did he want to kill Bromfield, but when he saw the bully leave the court-house and come direetly toward him he realized that one or the other had to die. Tomlin was armed with a double-barrel shot-gun, and as Bromfield passed out of the court-honse yard into the street he cocked both barrels and told the merchants to stand aside. They did so. When Bromtield had reached the middle of the street Tomlin stepped from behind the door and brought his yun to his shoulder, and before Bromfield could raise his pistol (for it was evident he got a sight of Tomlin when he came in full view), the latter tired both barrels. The aim was true and Bromfield fell, his breast riddled with buckshet, killing him instantly. Tomlin lett at once for his home, and there making burried preparations left for a more peaceful and decided|y healthier clime tor him. Bromtield's friends, for it seems the man had a few, would have killed Tomlin had he remained. They were both Federal soldiers.

The so-called fight at "Di-Amon, as reported by Major Mullins, was simply a body of returned Contederates who came back to give up their arms and be loyal. The Federal squad tired on them and killed one Confederate by the name of Hieklin.

There were many other incidents that could be related, but enough is given to show the state of anarchy the country was in and where bad men had their day of revelry. This will happen wherever war rages, and the lesson learned by the American people in those four years of strife will not soon be forgotten. These heartrending scenes were not in Daviess county alone, other eonnties and other portions of the State had their own tales of horror to tell. Let us hope that the future of this Republie may be peace.

Order Of Inquisition

The following order is of the nature of a Spanish Inquisition: tew more despotie or prying into the personal affairs of the people, could have been issued. It smacks very little of the rights of the people that a shoulderstrap was bound to respect. War has its horrors, we know, but histery tells of too many disgraceful representatives tor the good name and honor of our country. The order reads: -

"The committees named below are hereby appointed tor Daviess county, whose duty it is in their respective townships to prepare and put in the hands of Lieutenant-Colonel Samuel P. Cox, at Gallatin, with the least posstble delay, a list of all persons of their respective townships who have been in the rebel army, designating those who are or have been attached to guerrilla or bushwhacking organizations ; also including all persons ueainst whont evidence of aiding armed rebels or bushwhackers, and the withholding of im- formation concerning their presence and inovements can be furnished. This list will give the name, age and residence of each person, when he joined the rebel army; what family he has and where they are now living, the age of the eldest child at home; present value of personal property; number of acres and value of real estate; and such additional remarks touching each family, as to enable the military to arrive at just conclusions in the premises. " COMMITTEES.

Reunion

Five years after the war closed, on the fourth of July, 1870, there was a celebration and a reunion of the soldiers of the Union army, but having been long proclaimed, and fraternal union having taken the place of strife, this reunion was joined in by the Confederates, they having been invited to the feast. Hands were shaken across the bloody chasm, and the gospel of hate died in Daviess county upon the anniversary of our national independence. May it never be resurrected.