Grundy County, Missouri - Chapter 4: The Gold Fever, 1881

Chapter 4: The Gold Fever

New El Dorado - A Deficienci/ - Contest of 1861 - Union and Confederate Meetings - The I'weiiti/- Third Missouri - Pittshurfj Landinc/ - Field of Shiloh - Death of Tindall - Tribute to his Memory - Enlogi/ of Woolfolk - Roll of Company B - Confederates - Grundy County Battalion - The Forty-Fourth - Peace - The Blue and The Gray - The Dark Days of the Civil War, 1862-5. ^

" Let dust-begrim'd worm carrion clay On our rich vitals feast and prey ; And dig and delve with hungry greed For faintest trace of * golden lead.' "

The roar of cannons through the mountain gorges and canons of Mexico, the angry shouts of the combatants, and the glad shout of victory which rang with a glorious sound from one end of our conntry to another had scarcely died away before the air was freighted witli rumors of a land where gold literally covered the earth. These stories, as they first came to hand, were vague, but Aladdin's lamps shone not more brightly on the wonders of ancient days than these tales assured of when the reality was reached, that gold had been found on that distant shore where the waves of the mighty Pacific lashed in fury when in its wrath, or kissed its pebbled beach when the storm cloud had passed, and he who ruled the storm had spoken, " peace, be still." Then, indeed, was the whole country excited. The excitement became intense as more definite news came continually to hand, and a perfect stampede took possession of those who were borne away by the wild and wonderful stories of that far-oft' land. The rush was terrible in the number who left all behind them to gain a fortune in the El Dorado of the West, and still more terrible in the sufferings and death of thousands who never reached the Pacific coast and whose bones, with those of thousands of cattle and horses, whitened the plains which lie between the home they had left and that golden shore. Men started out on foot, on horseback, with oxen and horses to wagons, some well ])rovided, others not; covered wagons whitened our State, for Independence and St. Joseph were favorite fitting-out places for those who had the money, while the great Santa Fe trail led from the former place. But nearly all who went overland made the soil of Missouri the route to their distant destination and her western border as the starting point, where civilization ended, and the * wild country beyond was the great unknown land whose dark and gloomy portals had to be passed before the liglit of a golden day would again greet their eyes. The plunge was made, and the discovery of California, that faraway treasure-trove, has left its footprints upon the pages <»f history in the trials and sufi'erings of a mighty host, and the death of thousands of brave hearts who suft'ered all and endured all for their loved ones at home.

Grundy county had her gold-seekers, and scores of the bravest and best left in the wild hegira for the land of gold. All who had horses or cattle to sell got a good price for them for they were in demand. Trade seemed to take a new start, but all that was gained failed to compensate for the sturdy men and their outfit which left the country. Some of those who left died on the way, others reached the haven of their hopes, and after vears of toil concluded to make it their home. Others returned, some with fortunes and some with none; some in rugged health and others broken and dying, only anxious to reach their homes and loved ones once more before they closed their eyes in death. Not all had their wishes gratified. Those who returned well provided with the "root of all evil" were not slow in letting it be known that the}' had "made their pile,'' but just what was the size of the " pile" was one of those things " no fellow " ever could find out. Still, things took a livelier turn; farms were purchased, stock bought and an era of prosperity began to dawn more auspiciously than ever.

At this time a full settlement was made with Wm. Thrailkill, ex-sheriflf, who was short in his collection for 1843 some ninety dollars. The County Court at their August term ordered suit for its recovery and his sureties paid it. It seems not to have been considered a wrong so much as an error. There were other discrepancies found for small amounts for different years, and all seemed to have been settled by him or his sureties. In November, 1848, the County Court took a notion to economize, a habit which had become chronic, and concluded not to advertise any more in newspapers but stick up written notices at cross-roads and other public places, and it was so ordered. They granted, at the same term of the court, on November 13, 1848, a ferry license to Samuel Benson, across Grand River, and it went by the name of Benson's P'erry, until after the bridge was built. In 1849, at the May term, the tax collector had been enabled to collect some back taxes as far back as 1845, and he returned the following sums as evidence of his success:

That May term was further noted for cutting all l)ills against the county down to where it met the bottom point of economy as entertained by the court.

In 1850 three dollars were allowed for taking the census, but there was nothing that could give a clue to just what the census consisted of. Whether this extravagantly paid ofticial just took the enumeration of the population, -or included, also, cereals and live stock is not known by any one of this day and generation and must therefore ever remain unknown to history. There was a proposition entertained at the August term, 1850, to sell the old clerk's office and the slierifF was ordered to sell, but lie ])roved either too sh>\v or else purchasers had become ])aiiit'ully scarce, for the sale had not been effected when the court met again and the order was promptly countermanded. A new order of the court caused the same to be repaired as follows: "Brick work repaired, new roof, window, sash and ^laas, under floor repaired, doors and windows painted with two coats of white lead, shingles to be made of good oak or walnut timber, clear of sap, and to show but five inches to the weather, made full eighteen inches long and five-eighths of an inch thick; plastering, two coats overhead and whitewashed; walls, one coat and whitewashed; also windows, shutters and fastenings, new door, lock, frame, etc." And thus the old clerk's office was made new and it stood until a fire a few years later consigned it to ashes with most of its contents, and with all the records of the probate court to that date. In 1850 it was decided to close the grand jury room and bar all secret societies from its use, and all the benches, tables, etc., taken to be returned at once under penalty of the law. This order seemed to have had the desired effect Yor nothing more was heard of the matter.

The (Circuit Court turned out a batch of indictments at the April term, 1850, and among the number was one against John Forkner, for assault with intent to kill, but the charge not being sustained, the attorney entered a nol. pros.

It was in November, 1850, that grand jurors got tired of serving at fifty cents a day and petitioned to have the salary raised to one dollar per day, but the petition was rejected. No such extravagant salaries would be paid; not, in the language of the day, if the court knew herself, and the unfortunate foreman of the grand jury retired, abashed, while the court expressed itself astonished at his presumption. And so a grand juryman was compelled to grind out indictments and board himself at fifty cents a da}'. It will be admitted by the most unprejudiced reader that the bankruptcy of Grundy county was not imminent on the score of high salaries. Still, the grand jury did its work and in the following spring ground out eight indictments for playing and betting on cards, and in the fall turned out twelvemore,* seven who had sinned against the law of God and man by betting at cards, three more for not attending to their duties as road overseers and failing to repair roads, and two for assault with intent to kill. This work was all at the usual rate of fifty cents per day and find yourself

Mr. Jeremiah Snyder of the County Court resigned at this November term, 1852, and Mr. Giles Songer was appointed county judge in his place. The old county road to the upper feny, from the west limits of Trenton, was vacated, being seldom used. It took fifty days to take the census of Grundy county in 1853, seventy-five dollars was allowed for the job, and it was paid to W. C. Harvey. That same year Mr. J. T. Tindall was appointed to investigate and to settle the county affairs between Mercer

Oniirtii hi/ th,- Court. VhM .lohu 0. iJriffiu. of Gruiuiy ooinity. Missouri, bo allowod as full conipenssitioii for his services as scleotinir atjeiit the sum ot" tour cents per acre for each acre selected, desipuitt'd and reported l«v him as overtlowed laiul i^ranted to the State ot Missouri by an act of Coiijrress. entitled " aii act to enable the State of Arkansas ami other States to i-eehvim the swamp hnids within their liiuits." approved. September '2S, I80O, for all sueh hinds situated in the county of Grundy, which nmy be confirmed to the State and made subject to the nianasrement of the County Court of said Grundy county, as provided by lui act of the le.irislature. approved March :i, 1851, to be paid out of the tii-st proceeds of the <ales of such lauds: proiidid. he sliall not receive pay for more than oo.lK>0 acres.

In .Vpril. 1854. the coun'ty ]nirchase.l the "Held notes" and "plats" of lands lyin^- in lirnmly county ot' 1>. V. Thomas and allowed him eighty -live dollars for the same. That year was the tirst that a temperance nu>ve was inauii'urated, by petition, and then John il. Shanklin presented a jietition siiTued bv a maioritv of the ta.\-navers ao-ainst ijrantino; licenses to dram :?hopt> t'or a year. Tiie petition was appro\ ed and no licenses were granted. That year Judge Gamble ot' the Supreme CVnirt resigned and an election was ordered in Cirundy connry to come oti" in Jainiary. 1S55, to vote for a successor. An v)rder had been nuide by the County Court against the occupation ot' the court-house by the ditfereut lodges in Trenton as their place of meeting. It seems rhey had takei\ ]H>ssession and had not given a (j aid pro quo and the court put a stop to it. The lodges felt the loss of their free room, and --0 lodo;e Mo. Ill of Freenu\sons rented the use of the j^rand iurv room, when not used as such, }is their lodije room at an annual rental of twentvlive dollars.

In I cbrnary, l^^>t^ J as. Austin resigiu\l the position of county treasurer and Ceo. M. Cooper was aj^pointed. and Jolui C. Grithn was appointed county attorney in place of J. T. Tindall, resigned, in ]\Iarch, 1854.

d. II. Cooper, Thos. J. Proctor and Wni. Collier were appointed a committee to superintend the erection of the county jail and were also given the power to select the spot on the public square where it should be plaeeil.

Under an arrangement for the assessment of the county it was, in Jannarv. I80S, divided into fotir districts, and the followino' describes their boundaries as fixed:

Tlie court-booge iiqiiarc was orrlered enclosserl with a paling fence in the fall of 1859, and an oak plank walk orrJered laid down. Tlie purchaite of two large Vjox j»tove» wa« decided upon and they cost the »nni of $45,82, This closed the extra expenses for tliat year.

Tlie year 1860 was a fruitful one a* regards the crops. Cereals and froit gave abundant returns, and at no period of onr country's hi»tor>' was it more prosj^erous*. But in the fall and winter of 1860-61 came the first muttering uf a storm which was to deiuge our land with hUtod^ and to bring grief to the homes and firesides of our glorious and prosperous land,

The year 1861 will go down in hi.itory a* liie opening year in the dark drama where American freemen, instead of fin i ting to build up a fraternal brotherhood of States, caused the land Ut become a battle-field of contending hosts, and onr favored and prosperous country to be drenched with tbe life blood of her ])eople. The angel of peace had taken her flight and the demon of hate held high carnival over the death struggles of brave men. Once more was the "Land of the Free*^ to seal her devotion to lilj^rty in the blood of her martyred sons, Tlie bra%'e and heroic deeds of the sons of freedom were given an additional luster, but at enormous cost, while the wails of agony went up from the hearts of millions of people, and the lives of thousands were given freely, a sacrifice upon the altar of their country. The people of to-day can look more leniently upon the action and motives of those who, in the madness of the hour brought dire distress and sorrow to the land- yet no l>lush of shame mantles the cheek, for right or wrong, they fought as only brave men fight, and so far as in that fierce conflict man met man in hostile array, it was no crime. The crimes committed lay at the door of those at home, who, while brave men were defending the very portals of liberty, engendered hatred and malice, preached thegospelof hate, and committed those crimes of which history has but imperfect record, and whose appalling atrr.cities are branded deej>in the hearts and memories of the families and friends of the victims.

Grundy county, at the outset of the war, was pretty evenly divided in sentiment, but as time passed, the ringing cry of the ''Union forever ~ soon placed the Federal power in a majority, and when the news came that Sumter had fallen, the time had also come for the upholders of the Union to express more openly their sentiments and determination. Among the rising men of the day, there came to the front one of those men of which heroes are made. Prompt in action, strono- of will, with tlie spirit of a patriot to di-aw others to liis belief, he promptly took the lead. This man was J. T. Tindall. Then others at once rallied to his standard, and the cause of the Union to(dv new life. Jewett Norris, Geo. H. Rubbell, J. T. Tindall, J. H. Shanklin, li. A. DeBolt and Andrew Shanklin took the stump and traveling over the surrounding counties they addressed the people, defending the Union with burning words and with matchless eloquence, calling on them to stand by it and prevent its severance.

The Division

In May, 1861, two meetings were called, one to be addressed by those favoring the Confederate cause, the other for the Union. The latter showed by far the largest assembly, and from that day the Union advocates took courage. The formation of a regiment was at once determined upon, and the recruiting went briskly on and continued during the last of July and in jiugust, 1861. On August 25th seven companies had been raised and were in Trenton on that day, as was, also, a company of Merrill's Horse from Daviess and Harrison counties. Art election of officers took place and Jacob T. Tindall, of Trenton, (irrundy county, was elected colonel. Jacob Smith, of Linn county, was elected lieutenant-colonel, but was not commissioned as he was appointed judge of this judicial circuit, and Quin Morton was selected in his place. John McCuUough, of Sullivan county, who proved a brave man and an able officer, was elected major. R. A. DeBolt acting as recruiting officer. In the formation of company B, raised in (irundy county, and numl>ering ninety-six men and officers, R. A. DeBolt ^yas elected captain; Stephen Peery, first lieutenant, who resigned on being promoted to adjutant; Samuel Rooks, second lieutenant, but promoted to first lieutenancy, taking the post vacated by the promotion of Peery. Benj. F. Harding became second lieutenant, and this is the way the company stood at the battle of Shiloh, which so nearly destroyed it. . Captain DeBolt, First Lieut. Rooks and Second Lieut. Harding all resigned after being exchanged. June 7th, 1862, at the reorganization of the Twenty-third, Wm. P. Robinson, of Harrison county, became colonel; J. M. Nash, captain of company B, with Orville Moberly first lieutenant and Robt. A. Collier second lieutenant. August 26, 1861, these troops arrived at Chillicothe, where the election as above stated took place and the regiment named The Twenty-third Regiment of Volunteer Infantry of Missouri. From there they went into camp near Brookfield until ordered to St. Louis, where they received their arms and accouterments and were mustered into service September 1st, 1861. They left St. Louis for Macon City October 15th, and remained in the latter city until November 1st, and then were ordered to winter at Chillicothe. Recruiting continued, and in January, 1862, their full complement of ten companies and 1,000 men was secured and the officers received their commissions. In February, 1862, delegates were elected to the State convention to be held the following June, and Colonel Tindall was the choice of the people of Grundy county to represent them, but it was a position he was never destined to fill. In March Colonel Tindall received orders to report with his regiment at St. Louis, and he arrived there and reported to the commanding officer and took quarters at Benton Barracks. The men were re-clothed and new arn^s given them, and on April 1st, ])eing in tine condition, they were ordered to Pittsburg Landing and reported to (leneral Grant, who ordered them to the brigade of Gen'l B. M. Prentiss, to whom Col. Tindall rej^orted. They had reached PiTTSBURci Landing on the 4:th of April, unloaded and prepared to join Prentiss's brigade on the 5th. On the morning of the 6th they were ready for duty and met the enemy on the Field op Shiloh, one of the bloodiest of the war. The scene of carnage was fearful; the demon of war was in his glory, and when the sun set that day it cast its fitful rays of light through the trees upon the body of as brave a man and as noble heart as ever beat in the cause of the Union. Between four and five o'clock the gallant colonel of the Twenty-third Missouri, who had been in the heat of the struggle all day, his regiment still fairly surrounded by his foes and sadly decimated, the dead and wounded lying around him, like a stag at bay, was still making a heroic stand. Begrimed by the smoke of battle, he made one more desperate attempt to fight his way out, and cheering his men on, who stood unflinchingly by their lion-hearted colonel, he led the last charge and fell, pierced by the messenger of death upon the battle-field, and the going down of the sun on the evening of the 6th of April, 1862, upon the field of Sliiloh, set while the death- rattle sounded, and the noble spirit ceased its fiuttering and was borne across the dark waters to a brighter and more glorious day. And thus went out the life of Grundy's noblest son.

"Rest on! embalmed and sainted dead! Dear as the blood ye gave ; No impious footsteps here shall tread The herbage of your grave; Nor shall your glory be forgot While Fame her record keeps, Or honor points the hallowed spot Where Valor proudly sleeps."

The gallant Twenty-third had made a glorious record upon that gory field, and when night came on, little was left to tell the tale of its dire destruction. Of company B, what few who were not killed upon the field of battle were prisoners in Confederate hands, and the Twenty-third was known no more until late in the fall of 1862, when it was reorganized. It went into the battle fully 1,000 strong on the morning of the 6th of April. It was attached to Prentiss's brigade, which stood the first shock of battle, the

A Tribute

The State convention which was held at Jefferson City, commencing June 2, 1862, paid a glowing and manlj tribute to the memory of the gallant Tindall, who was a member-elect of that body. Col. J. H. Shanklin, elected to take his place as a member of the convention, after his death with the gifted and elocpient Woolfolk, Breckinridge and Stewart, all spoke of him, who knowing his duty performed it so nobly and well. Below is given the resolutions passed by the convention, and the beautiful, glowing, but just tribute of the impassioned "Woolfolk to the memory of the lamented dead.

The Resolutions

On the 3d day of June, 1862, at the afternoon session of the Missouri State convention, Mr. "Woolfolk, of Livingston county, presented the following resolutions in reference to the death of Col. Tindall:

Whereas, The calamities of war have deprived this convention and the country of the services on this floor of Col. Jacob T. Tindall, who fell at the head of his regiment on Sunday, the 6th day of April, 1862, on the battlefield of Shiloh ; therefore, be it

Resolved, That in the death of Col. Tindall this convention has lost a valued member, whose intellect and energy, patriotism and conservative views rendered him an able and efficient member of this body. That by his untimely fall the nation has lost a devoted patriot in the hour of her peril, the army a prudent commander, the society in which he moved an ornament, and his family an affectionate husband and father.

Resolved, That in testimony of our appreciation of the deceased and from due regard to his memory, this convention will now adjourn until tomorrow morning at 9 o'clock, and that the members wear the usual badge of mourning during the present session.

Resolved, That we tender the condolence of the members of this body to the family and immediate friends of Colonel Tindall in their sad bereavement; that these resolutions be spread upon the journal of this convention, and that a copy thereof be prepared b^'- the secretary and forwarded to Mrs. Emeline Tindall, the wife of the deceased.

"J/-/'. President - It has become my sad and unexpected duty to present these resolutions upon this floor. I deem them only a proper tribute to the memory of one of tliis body who has gone from our midst - who has fallen in the discharge of his duty as a patriot and soldier.

"The deceased united in himself many of those qualities Avhich win our admiration and love. He was sincere, honest and generous, and full of that noble modesty which, united to a proper self-respect, lends such a charm to merit. Born in Kentucky, in 1825, his parents removed to Howard county, Missouri, during his early youth, and afterward removed to Grundy county when he reached the age of eighteen years. As a youth lie was much loved in the county in which he lived. He was quiet, unassuming and diligent in the prosecution of his studies.

" When the Mexican War broke out he at once enlisted and served with honor in the position of sergeant-major and acting adjutant of his regiment. When the war was over he commenced the practice of law in his own of Grundy, and soon won for himself a proud name in his own and adjoining counties. His integrity, his close application to business, and his fine, discriminating intellect made him one of the most successful advocates in thfe Grand Kiver Valley. The masses possessed entire confidence in his honesty, and this fact gave him a power before juries which few others possessed. He had f<»r several years prior to our national difficulties stood at the head of his profession in the Grand River Valley. At the very commencement of this revolution he took a bold stand in favor of the Unions and when the convention was called he M'as elected by an overw^helming majority to this body. When Sumter fell and the American nation was to arms, he was among the first to rally at the call of his country. I well rememljer an evening passed with him about this period. It was just after the Camp Jackson affair. The military bill had been passed and Union men were falling away by hundreds. Everywhere in the State confusion M^as reigning. False re])orts as to the policy of the government were flying over the country. No Union man felt secure. The iron hand of rebellion was upon us; and a rebel government had been erected in our midst. I was gloomy - almost despondent. In my own city of Chillicothe two-thirds of the citizens had suddenly become avowed secessionists, and the remaining one-third, with but few exceptions, occupied ambiguous positions. Tindall came to our city just at this period, on his way to St. Joseph. He came to my office and announced that the time had come when we must fight on one side or the other. The Union men must abandon their principles and enlist under the military bill as passed by the legislature, or they must organize to resist it. Brigadier-general Shick had just him the position of brigade inspector, with the proviso that if he did not like the place he should have any other he desired. But Tindall, true to his principles, unhesitatingly refused his offers. ' I have made up my mind,' said he to me, ' to resist this military bill and battle on the side of my government, but I dislike to be alone in my opposition. I am going to St. Joseph for the purpose of seeing if the Union 4nen there and elsewhere will act with me in my resistance to treason.' I admired his bold, decisive conduct. I felt that nature had destined him for a leader, and I unhesitatingly pledged him my support, even if I should stand alone.

city of Cliillicothe, and his conservative conrse had a great influence toward restoring peace to that distracted section. The ultras who desired to use the strong arm of military ]>ower for the purpose of gratifying revengeful passions, found in him no friend, and he pursued unwaveringly the path of conservatism, regardless of the clamor of men who called for acts of violence and wrong. The ultras endeavored for a time to weaken his influence by charges that he was courting favor with the secessionists, and I shall never forget his noble reply when he heard these charges. ' Tliey may call me what they please, but they shall not induce me to do what I believe to be wrong.' He was loved by all good men, regardless of party; all felt secure under his authoritj^as long as they respected the constitution and the laws. And when his bleeding remains were borne from the battle-field of Shiloh, good men of all parties followed him weeping to the grave. He was one of those noble men whom we often meet during these struggles, and whom I always admire. Born in the South, he was not a Union man from any hostility to slavery, or from any sympathy with Northern States in opposition to Southern States. He was a Union man from principle and patriotism. He abandoned his section for the sake of his country; but by his country he meant his whole country - not the northern half of it - and he loved it all, from ocean to ocean and from the lakes to the gulf.

'' He has given the noblest proof of his patriotism, for he has made the last only sacrifice a patriot can make for his country. He led his gallant regiment upon the bloody field of Shiloh, and belonging to Prentiss' brigade, they stood the first shock of battle. During the entire day of the 6th of April, the gallant men of the Twenty-third Missouri were in the thickest of the fight and nobly stood their ground against superior numbers. About 4 o'clock in the evenino^ Tindall fell, at the head of his reOTment. I mourm his loss but I could not ask for him a nobler fate.

" If there was a spot upon the green earth where the patriot should desire to breathe out his spirit, that spot should be the battle-field of Shiloh. It will live in history as one of those fields and around it will cluster those imperishable memories that gather about such names as Bunker Hill, Thermopyhie and Marathon. Life is nothing; it is the manner we spend that life. The patriot never dies too soon who falls in the defense of his country; but lives too long, if he survive to wander amid its ruins. No: I could ask no nobler fate for the lamented dead! He knew no feeble sunset; no slow wasting away of life; no emaciated form; no dismal chamber of disease; but he fell at once in the pride of his strength, like some green oak shivered by the lightning's touch. He sank upon the tented field, with the blue sky above him and the starry banner for his winding sheet; and liis gallant spirit mounted aloft from a death-bed of fame, as the free mountain bird soars to its eyrie. He lias gone, but gone in glory. With us remains the dirge - with him has ascended the paean of triuni])h. lie fell in the vigor of life, in the noon of liis fame just as he saw the star of his destiny dawning brightly from the sky of fate. His last words that were heard rinofini^: alonij the burnino: lines of battle, were words cheering on liis 7iien to the conflict, He fell as a patriot and a hero would desire to fall - at the head of his regiment, with the mighty liosts of freedom battling around him, and the wild thunders of battle ringing upon his dying ear.

"The remains of the lamented Tindall have been removed to his home near Trenton, in Grundy county, Missouri, and there he reposes amid the scenes of his early labors and triumphs. He sleeps in the quiet village churchyard, away from the busy hum of life - far away from the thunder of conflict, and no clarion note will ever more disturb his slumbers or call him forth to battle. Let us hope that, " after life's fitful fever, he sleeps well." No proud mausoleum marks his resting place, and he needs none. His noblest monument has already been erected in the hearts of his fellow citizens. His lonely grave will long be treasured in their memories, and will be a sacred shrine to which votaries will often wander. Peace to his ashes. May the undying laurel of glory grow green over his grave.

" When I remember, sir, all the gallant dead that have fallen in this war, 1 feel that this government should be preserved in justice to their sacrifices if from no other motive. We cannot abandon this struff^le - we cannot submit to a division of the Union without a wrong, a deep and burning wrong, to the noble men who have sacrificed their lives to preserve the integrity of this government. Shall they fall in vain? Xo, sir: it must not be! Let us swear by our gallant dead that we will preserve this temple of liberty as our fathers made it; or, if all is vain, that we will clasp its crumbling columns and perish amid the wreck.

" Mr. President, the traveler through the Grand River Valley is struck with its desolate appearance. The country looks dreary and deserted. The farm-houses are often empty; the villages are destitute of their teeming population, and that once beautiful and populous region is almost as lonely as the grave. Where, sir, have the gallant men of that region gone? Go to your armies of the Union and you will find them there. When Tindall raised his regiment, the gallant men of Grundy, Harrison, Linn, Sullivan, Putnam, Mercer, Daviess and Livingston, rallied at once to his standard. They flocked to the banner of their country, abandoning their farms in secession neighborhoods, and leaving their property at the mercy of jayhawkers. When the Eighteenth and Twenty-fifth regiments were raised, the same counties poured out their loyal hundreds and soon filled them to the maximum. When the State militia were called for, the young men of these counties were almost all in the field, but true to their patriotic impulses, the old men turned out and at once filled the First and Third reg-iments of Missouri cavalry.

"Sir, the gallant men of this section need no eulogy from me. The bones of their heroic dead are bleaching upon every battle-field of the West. Tindall, one of their colonels, sleeps in the village churchyard in Grundy county, Missouri. Peabody, the colonel of the Twenty-fifth regiment, reposes amid the green hills of his New England home. The colonel of the Eighteenth regiment, and McCullough, the gallant major ot the Twentythird, together with many of their brave officers and men, are now incarcerated in Southern prisons, because too fearless to turn their backs upon the foe when deserted by other regiments who should have stood with them in the hour of danger. But many, very many of these gallant men have left their bones to bleach upon the plains of Shiloh. While other States have recorded the valor of their slain, these noble men have gone down to the grave without au epitaph. No marble monuments are over them - no trump of fame breathed its elegiac tones over their graves, but they sleep amid the wild scenery of Tennessee, far from their loved ones, and in a foeman's land, with no kindly hand to scatter the flowers of affection upon their tombs, and with only the whistling winds and the chirping wild birds to chant their mournful requiem. But let them sleep on. They could find no nobler bed than the field of their fame, for it will [be hallowed by a nation's gratitude and a nation's tears."

Company

Company B, from Grundy county was badly cut up - quite a number were killed and a larger number wounded. Below are the names of the gallant men who composed company B, and who shed such luster not only upon Grundy county, but to the noble regiment in which they served:

The Roll At Suiloh

The history of the Twenty-third regiment on its reorganization is connected with that of the Fourteenth army corps. It participates in the battle of Murfreesboro, Tenn., in the Atlanta campaigns and was with Sherman in his march to the sea.

There were no companies formed in this county for the Contederate service and no record kept of those who joined the South. Capt. Coleman recruited a few men here in 1861, and witli the best information, after the most searching- inquiry, there seems to have been about two hundred men from this county to join the Confederate cause. They were not recruited, except those who joined Capt. Coleman's company, but generally left in small squads, from five to twenty, and made their way to the South.

Capt. Jacob Bain, of Lincoln township, raised a company in Mercer county and came down to Lincoln, his old home, and recruited others from among his old acquaintances until his company numbered 183 men. They camped awhile at Edinburgh and then went to Chillicothe, where they were mustered in Col. Clark's regiment.

The above battalion were six months' militia, and were mustered into service in October, 1861. They remained at their several camps, with an occasional drill, until November, 1861, when they were organized and found service in breaking up sundry secession encampments, and acting as scouts and skirmishers for the various regiments encamped in the neighborhood. They were sent to Chillicothe, where they remained until they were mustered out. They numbered 269 men, rank and file. There were in all five companies, and officered as follows:

The Forty-fourth regiment of State militia was organized and enrolled for service in October, 1862, and W. B, Rogers w^as commanding colonel of the same November 5th, his commission dating from October 24, 1862. The regiment numbered 516 men, 46 officers, and was in service 25 days.

It was not until August, 1862, that the members of the Twenty-third Missouri regiment were gotten together for reorganization. Those who were prisoners, and others that came back, in all about 250, were attain placed in rank and the regiment recruited up to a lair number and went at once into active service. There were but a few Grundy county men in tlie new organization outside of company B. The regiment was a fighting regiment from its first organization. Wni. and R. A. Collier, Moberly, Torpey, in fact all of the original company not killed or wounded were in the regiment, excepting those who resigned. The regiment did duty in different parts of the State as provost-guard until July 3d, when it was ordered to Vicksburg, but as that post fell July 4th they did not go, but went to Rolla to guard and cut out timber for a fort. In November they were ordered to report to General Ilosseau and became a part of his bi-igade in the fight around Nashville, and from there took part in the siege of Atlanta, where the regiment was badlv cut up. Previous to the Atlanta siege the regiment had been transferred to General Turchin's command, a part of the Fourteenth army corps. They were in North Alabama a while at Galeville, and marched from thence to Rome, Ga., on to Kingston, some fifty odd miles north of west of Atlanta. They remained there until Sherman was ready to start on hi memorable march to the sea and became a part of that army. The regiment was mustered out at Washington, D. C, June 10, 1865. Besides this regiment there were quite a number of Grundy county men connected with the Eighteenth and the Thirty-fifth regiments of volunteer infantry, and also the Seventh Missouri State militia.

Forty-Fourth Regimknt

The Fort3'-fourth regiment was organized in August, 18(54, and it was the expectation they Avere to remain in Missouri and become a sort of liomeguard to protect the State from the raids of jayhawkers and organized bands of thieves, but they counted badly, for they were immediately ordered to the front. Even before fully recruited they were ordered to Rolla. In November the regiment was ordered to Paducah, Kentucky, where they arrived on the 16th, with nearly one-third of its members sick and unfit for duty. Those who were able were sent out to meet rebel cavalry. From Paducah they went to Columl)ia,Tenn., and were placed under General Scliotield in the Twenty-third army corps. They took part in the battle at Franklin, where they suffered heavy loss and fell back on Nashville, at which place they arrived Dec. 1st, 1864. They were joined to General A. J. Smith's corps from Sept. 3d until mustered out at St. Louis, August 15th. 1865. They had been in several engagements in Mississippi and Alabama, and had been down the river to New Orleans and from there to Montgomer}', Alabama. From Tuskegee they were ordered to St. Louis. There is no roll of the Grundy county men who composed a pait of this regiment. Two of Trenton's prominent citizens were in it, Rezin A. DeBolt as major; W. B. Rogers, then of Princeton, Mercer coutity, captain of compau}' D, and M. A, Winters, captain company K; Jas. Overman, first lieutenant, and Sam'l Warner, who was killed at the battle near Columbia, Tenn., I^ovember 29, 1864.

There was an enrollment of all able-bodied men subject to military duty in Januar}', 1865, and the foUowino- named persons were appointed as enrolling officers. The number found was not reported, or if so the record has not been kept. They started on their duty January 4th:

-' W. Dillon, T. J. Clawson and W. B. Dillon, Marion township; E. L. Winters, John Rolls and Wm. Tolle, Liberty township; C. II. Corn well, Wm. Wyatt and W. V. Denslow, Franklin township; C. Burgess, G. A. Spickard and John McHarque, Washington township; W. B. Grubb, W. W. Metcalf and A. R. Tate, Madison township; Joseph Lucas, W. H. Turner and L. Chenowith, Jefferson township; A. Y. Shanklin, J. S. Ettes and J. B. Thomas, Trenton township."

Such is the record of Grundy county in the late civil war, and is a concise history of all that can be found in reference thereto, and is carefully confined to the facts. Many personal incidents might be recorded, but would not be of s^eneral interest and are therefore left out. The record altogether is one to be proud of and Grundy county upon the battle-field for the preservation of the Union acted a noble part.

Peace

Tlie war cloud had passed, but it had left a trail red with the blood of the sons of freedom; yet had peace come, and the land so lately rended by strife and raging hosts of armed men, now lay quiet, bathing in the soft sunlight of a spring day, and hope, the white winged messenger of despairing hearts, came in silent gladness to the people once more. The Blue and the Gray had met in mortal strife; they now meet as brothers. The country.has suffered and passed through a trying ordeal, but liberty remains unscathed. Let US hope that the future of our country may never again be in the throes of a fratricidal strife, and that peace and brotherly love may be upon the banner of those who shall now and in all future time guide the destinies of this great republic. Strong, solid and as enduring as the rock of ages, its principles founded upon the rights of the people for self-government, holding out its hands in welcome to the oppressed of all nations, the "- Blue and Gray" unite once more in bonds of fraternal union, and standing side by side will ever guard the portals of liberty from all foes. And thus standing side by side as brothers, there is nothing more appropriate to close the record of the past than the beautiful tribute of Francis Miles Finch, at Arlington:

The Blue And The Gray

Whence the fleets of iron had fled, Where the blades of the grave-g^rass quiver. Asleep are the ranks of the dead; Under the sod and the dew,

So when the Summer calleth. On forest and field of grain. With an equal murmur falleth. The cooling drip of the rain ; Under the sod and the dew,

During the dark days of the civil strife which shook tlie pillars of freedom to their foundation, there was, outside of the arni}^, much of history which has not and never will be recorded. The records of local affairs, not mentioned in army history, and much of the fierceness of that strife and its retaliating spirit, is found in the home or local surroundings. Of this local liistory we give a chapter below from the graceful pen of Dr. Thos. Kimlin, M^ho depicts, as with a practiced hand, the home events of Grundy county, while the struggling combatants, in serried columns, fought for supremacy upon the battle-fields of the South. The following is from the Doctor's graphic pen:

"In the month of June, 1862, the writer of this sketch, then a young man of twenty-four, walked from Chillicothe, in Livingston county, to Trenton, in Grundy. He had come from New York, and on arriving at Chillicothe found his means exhausted, consequently was obliged to resort to natural locomotion to reach his destination. The Harry House was the only hotel in Chillicothe, and as the tired traveler rested there for one night, thinking of his walk on the morrow, he was anything but delighted to hear that the bushwhackers were seen on the Trenton and Chillicothe road the day before, and were raiding around Springfield.

" The next morning dawned bright and beautiful, and as our traveler struck north he thought he never saw a more lovely country. The prairie was of a gentle, undulating character, covered with a fine growth of grass and interspersed with belts of timber - hickory, oak, ash, elm, cottonwood and black walnut. Numerous streams crossed the country, along the banks of which the wild plum and crab-apple grew in the greatest luxuriance. The soil was a fine, deep, dark loam. Tlie woods and streams abounded in game. The chattering squirrel ran across the road or, perched on a stump, scolded like a fish-woman; the shy rabbit loped along under the shade of the bushes; coveys of quails from time to time rose whirring in the air; and on passing the creeks and water pools many a wild duck flew away on clamorous wing. Only the road was deserted. In the entire distance he met not a single individual. No farmers were at work in the fields; no loaded teams wended their way to town ; no market wagons filled with noisy lads, rosy lasses, or a<i;ed parents, went clattering lioine with recently acquired stores of dry a-oods and "groceries. Even the few houses alonir tlie road looked deserted - in one or two the doors and windows were jealousJy closed, and in a few others the widely open door and broken windows revealed empty desolation within.

"About half way between Trenton and Chillicothe stood two farm-houses a short distance from the road which were some months afterward the scene of a terrible tragedy that to-day invests the neighborhood with a strange horror. Again a few blackened beams, a pile of crumbling brick or stone, showed where a house had been. What had happened here? What had become of the inhabitants? Happily for the traveler's peace of mind he did not know then, nor until long afterward, for those who knew of these occurrences were very reluctant to speak about them.

"Our traveler, however, arrived safely in Trenton, which he found to be a town of perhaps seventy or eighty houses, clustered irregularly around a square brick building, the county house. The appearance of the place was not such as to impress a stranger very favorably. Instead of being located on one of the fine prairies with which Grundy county abounds, the town was built on and between a number of scraggy bluffs adjacent to Grand River. These bluffs had been washed out of all shape by rains, and cut into gullies so deep that some of the streets were impassable. The streets were overgrown with a prodigous growth of "jimson" and dogfennel, which, when in bloom, tilled the atmosphere with an odor that was more striking than pleasant. The population was rather heterogeneous. The war had swept off the best part of the people - the young men to join the Union armies; the feeble and weak-kneed in body and loyalty to the more bracing climate of Montana and Oregon.

" In politics Trenton had been Democratic, so much so that in the election of 1860 but two or three votes were cast for Lincoln. Now it was all the other way. Trenton got so loyal it leaned backward ; or, rather, when the really patriotic men had joined the army, many rough characters came to the suface Avho, otherwise, would have remained hidden in their native i»bscurity, and these ruffians, assuming the garb of loyal men and Itej)ublicans, w'ere a disgrace, alike to the cause of the one and the name of the (»ther.

In no State in the Union did men, both Democrats and Republicans, turn out in defense of their country more enthusiastically than in north Missouri ; and no county in north Missouri exceeded " loyal old Grundy."

" Rampant ruffianism made it almost as dangerous for a man to say he was a Democrat, as to say he was a rebel. Even the families of Democrats, whose sons perhaps were in the Union army, were not altogether safe.

" The Rev. Mr. Starr, an infirm Methodist preacher whose only son was^ in the Union army, and who was on Grierson's staff in his famous raid to

Xtnv Orleans, was subjeotiHl xo minierous petty persecutions. One was the nailing of a Union tiag over his tVont lioor. not as a sign ot loyalty, hut as a mark otMisgrace - pretty nuieh of tho same oharaoter as the red tiag nailed to houses suspected of eon tain in i^- sniall-]x^x.

-'Street tights were eoniuion, and it was a ]x»or day that clid not atlbrd two vv three tights, perhaps coming o1^' at one and the same time.

"The lnisinef> of tlie town had sulfered a severe shock by the war. Some ot' the best tirnis had succumbed; probably the largest amount of trading was done at * Moberly's Corner,' and carried on chietiy by "\Vm. C. Benson, who was at that time treasurer of the c^'unty.

-' The ]u\>]>le were t'raiik aiul hospitable in their manners, and their tastes were simple. Thev had few amusements. Amonir the ladies, irood looks Avere then, as M-ell as now. the rule, especially among the girls up to the aire of twenty, and i^lain looks the exception. The writer don't remember of seeing a really ugly woman except once, and she hailed front an adjoinino; county. To join in their social recreations, one might easily fancy himself in some ]n'iniitive acadia. ^vhere the shepherds jnped to their lassies on wheaten straws; indeed, one favorite game was called 'Weevily wheat,' from an artless song of that name. This song was sung by the entire eompan^- while uiarcliina- two and tw^i around a circle. The refrain was:

"There was one piano in town, perhaps two. but for good downright earpiercing music the life bore otl' the ]ialm. TTe may be mistaken, but we believe that the lifer's stock of music consisted of two pieces, the one he was always playing, at least M-hen we could hear him - and that was daily - the either tune was never heard.

" Pitching dollars into a hole in the irround was a favorite out-door i^ame. It was generally carried on in front of a groggery, and the playei-s were sure to be surrounded by a circle of highly interested spectators, their interest beinir partlv accounted fir bv the fact that, ^ith western o^nerositv. manv vf the games Mere played for 'drinks for the crowd.'

which made a tri-weekly trip to Cliillicothe. The arri val of tlie hack wa.s alwavs the signal for a crowd to gatlier around the jKjst-otHce, and listen while tiie address on eacli letter and paper was called out by the worthy postmistress, Mrs. Collier. When tlie papers were distributed, they adjourned to some convenient fence corner to hear the news about the war. This was generally read aloud by Mr. A. K. Sykes, who has done more gratuitous work of this kind for the people, than any other iiian in the county.

" At times the monotony of this life would be broken by a report of a raid of bushwhackers somewhere in the neighborhood, and the men and boys would he liastily gathered together, enrolled as militia, and either stationed as guards on the roads leading to town, or sent off to protect .some more threatened or scared locality.

" The writer has a distinct recollection of a certain hurried march to the neighboring town of Edinburgh, taking possession of the college there, and being quartered on the town for a day or two, very much to the disgust of the inhabitants, who appeared more relieved by our departure than overjoyed by our presence.

'- Truth compels me tu say that the militia made no nice distinctions between meurii et tuurn^ in the matter of c<jrii and chickens. These militia raids were sometimes more extended, even on occasion going as far as the Missouri River. On one memorable tour the Grundy county militia were gone two weeks, and scoured the counties of Livingston, Ray, Carroll and Caldwell. The militia from Mercer, Harrison, Daviess, Sullivan and Putnam took part in this demonstration, as well as a few companies of Illinois cavalry. The writer, who had never lieen on horseback before, was mounted on a little scrub of a pony that had a vicious tendency of falling upon its nose everv few hundred vards. Two of the heaviest doctors in the countv accompanied the men, well ladened with lint and bandages. Several preachers also went along, presumably, to attend to the morals of their flock. The company was under the command of Capt. R. A. DeBolt. The first day's march brought them to Chillicothe, where muskets and ammunition were distributed to the men, who were then slightly drilled and the new recruits initiated into the duties of militia men, i. e., stealing fodder and trading horses. As Chillicothe was a friendlv town and near home, the first was srenerallv done by moonlight or starlight under the guidance of a more 'experienced comrade. The latter was performed on the authority of an order issued by our worthy colonel. J. II. Shanklin, directing his men if the inhabitants did not supply them with horses when when they nee<led them, to take them by force.

"The recruits were all apt scholars. Indeed, how could they be otherwise with such teachers f To Ije sure, the preference was given to rebel corncribs and rebel horses, and a Union corn-crib, if empty, was not touched, and a TTnion Iiorse, if blind or lame, wa^s considerately left to its owner. The expedition was a grand success. All the more so, perhaps, because it fell in with no bushwhackers. Rebel chickens were plenty, and so were rebel horses, and the men of Grundy helped themselves as coolly to one as to the other, so that the fame of their exploits went through all that region round about. Indeed, it was maliciously said that when the women would hear the Grundy militia were coming they hastilj^ gathered up their children and valuables and hid themselves in the brush. It is hard to say what gave them this notoriety ; whether it was from their hungry looks (for by accident or design they had been assigned to the rear of the column where there was but scanty picking), or whether it was because they had so many preachers in their company, and a natural inference in regard to chickens was the conse- (juence - one divine had the bow of his saddle adorned with a defunct rooster, that caused considerable merriment - or whether it was, as the writer suspects to be tlie fact, because the militia from the neighboring counties when they stole anything and were caught at it invariably said they were from Grundy count3^ At any rate the Grundy militia got the blame for all the depredations committed, and for years afterward were hated by the people of the river counties even as the Jews hated the Philistines. The truth is, that except taking a little corn-fodder, occasionally borrowing a horse when their own gave out, leaving their name and address with the owner, the Grundy county militia paid their expenses out of their own pockets.

" One beautiful morning down on the Missouri bottom the bugle sounded the companies to fall into line. The tired militia who had been reclining on the grass, or eating their scanty breakfasts, mounted their horses in haste and took their stations in their respective companies. The militia of Grundy, always among the iirst to obe}' an order, were soon in their places, wondering what was going to take place next. On their right and left were stationed the various other militia companies composing the expedition and on the extreme left the Illinois cavalry. Some important order was about to be given. Some said that the bushwhackers had escaped and that they would be followed over the river. That was good news, for there was not one there who would not willingly have gone over the Arkansas line if necessary. The officer commanding and his staff were posted some little distance otf. Suddenly an adjutant left the group and rode to the place where DeBolt's company was stationed. Halting, he took out a paper and read the following:

" 'Whereas, Continual complaints have reached the ears of the commanding officer that the militia company under the command of Captain H. A. DeBolt have been guilty of numerous crimes and misdeeds whereby the morals of the command in general have been very much deteriorated, therefore they are discharged from further participation in this campaign. They are ordered to report in Chillicothe and be discharged.'

"And so tlie poor militia - victims of nnjust suspicion and lying accusation - turned their horses' heads and sadly wended their way in silence over the hills to the right of the encampment and struck out for home. The same evening on halting for the night an examination was made of the entire company, at their own request, to ascertain if any had been guilty of stealing. The result was: One old horse blanket, one curry comb, three onions and twenty ears of corn.

" The greater part of the company had too much respect for themselves to forget, for a single moment, that they were gentlemen and men of honor, and would have scorned to commit the petty crimes with which they were charged.

" Two days afterward the company reached Trenton, where, in the welcome they received, they soon forgot their fatigue, disasters and mortification. In the foregoing sketch, when alluding to the Grundy county militia, DeBolt's company, composed of men living in and about Trenton, was more particularly meant, as that was the company that was so especially honored on the Missouri bottom.

"Before the war closed, the disorderly spirits in Trenton, got so outrageous in their conduct, that Col. Shanklin was ordered to take a company^ of militia from St. Joe, proceed to Trenton to arrest the violators of the peace, and take them to St. Joe for trial. This was done and Trenton had no more trouble. The war came to a close, and with the return of the heroes who went, happiness and peace settled down, though here and there a mournful face looked out on the silent night, and the gazer thought of her loved one lying dead beneath the stars that twinkled so tremulously in the Southern sky.

"Time passed on, the clouds of war faded away one by one, and instead of the roar of distant cannon, the roll of the emigrant's wagon was heard upon all the roads of Grundy and adjacent counties. Many passed on through,, crossing the Missouri River and seeking a home on the distant prairies of Kansas and Nebraska, but many remained and made their homes on the rich prairies that lay between Grand Kiver and Medicine Creek, and none ever regretted having done so. Law and order, peace and plenty, virtue and happiness have existed in old Grundy for many years, and that they may ever continue to do so is the sincere wish of one who came here a stranger and found friends; who came penniless and found a competence; who came a bachelor and found a companion to cheer him to his life's end."