Jackson County, Missouri - Chapter 14: Events of War Times, 1920

Escape

killed was Charles Harbaugh. A great deal has been told and written about what is called the Rock Creek Fight at the be¬ ginning of the Civil War. I want to record here what I firmly believe is the exact truth in regard to that occurrence. On the 12th day of June, 1861, Governor Clayborn F. Jackson issued a call for 50,000 volunteer mihtia, to repel invasion, etc. They were ordered to mobilize at desig¬ nated points. Previous to that time militia companies had been forming all over the State in anticipation of war between the North and the South. Two of such companies had been formed in Independence, one called the 'Blues," and the other the "Grays," the designation being made on ac¬ count of the color of the uniform. Thomas W. Arnold was captain of one

Captain Arnold had a general store on the south side of the square, where the Ott building now stands. Captain Whitehead had a boot and shoe store a few doors east of Mr. Arnold. The companies were made up o the young men of the town, and some of the young men from the country who lived near enough to come in and attend drill. They were armed with various kinds of guns, but mostly those that had been taken

Pursuant to that proclamation, the men began to gather in the pas¬ ture of Albert G. Oldham, just west of where the old Independence and Westport road crosses Rock Creek. A Colonel Holloway had been com¬ missioned colonel and designated to command the forces for this county. Mr. Holloway had been an officer of the U. S. army, but had resigned his commission, in order to cast his lot with the people of the South.

Other companies had been formed in different parts of the county. The men came in by companies, squads, and single, some of them belong¬ ing to no companies, but intending to join some company when they reached here. They were armed with all kinds of weapons imagineable, shot guns, squirrel rifles, and pistols of all known make. Pickets were thrown out toward Kansas City, men were soon busy enrolling and as¬ signing them to companies. When the call reached Captains Arnold and Whitehead, they started runners out and notified their men to come at once. They got their men together and marched them out to camp as quickly as possible. Both of those companies were nicely uniformed and fairly well drilled. They made a nice appearance when lined up. Colo¬ nel Holloway looked them over and complimented them on their good showing.

When Captain Arnold's company was ordered out one member could not be found. He was a little Irish shoemaker named Patsy O'Donnell. Captain Arnold left word to him to come right on out if he should show up at his home or shop. About 3 o'clock on the evening of June 13th, Patsy came reeling into camp gloriously drunk. Captain Arnold up¬ braided him for presenting himself for duty in such a condition. Patsy commenced jawing the captain, and talking very loud. The captain told him if he did not hush up and behave himself he would put him under arrest. "Ye-s havn't got a man in yer company that can irrest me, sir," replied Patsy. Standing close by was a big, broad-shouldered farmer that belonged to the company, named Dealy Noland. When Patsy made that bold statement, the captain said, "Knock him down, Dealy!" No quicker said than done, one well directed punch landed under Patsy's left ear, and he found himself flat on his back. Jump on him said the captain, and Dealy immediately threw himself on the prostrate Patsy and held him as tight as if he had been in a vise. The captain called for a rope and then soon had him hog-tied so thoroughly that he could not move, and left him to think over what he had said. About 5 o'clock one of the pickets came running into camp and reported that the Federal troops were coming down the hill on the west side of Big Blue. Colonel Holloway immediately ordered the men to "fall in." Captains Arnold's and Whitehead's being the best armed and drilled were ordered to march out first, and the others to fall in behind them. By this time Patsy had sobered up wonderfully, and was getting very tired of this position lying on the ground, tied as he v/as.

When the company was ready to march he called Captain Arnold, and told him he was very sorry for what he had done and begged to be untied so he could go with the company. Captain Arnold said to him. Now, Patsy, if I turn you loose, will you behave yourself and obey my orders?" "I will," said Patsy. "Turn him loose," ordered the captain. When he was up they gave him his gun and belt and ordered him to "fall in," which he did. The two companies were marched up the road for nearly a half of mile and stationed on the inside of the rail fence on the west side of the road, and running parallel with the road. The other companies were coming up to support one piece of artillery that was sta¬ tioned just at a small turn in the road, but at a point where a few turns of the wheel would put it into position to sweep a long, straight stretch of the road. Pretty soon the head of the Federal column came into sight. At the head of it was a flag of truce. Colonel Holloway had selected William (Bud) McClanahan as his aid. McClanahan belonged to the Blues, and was dressed in his uniform and road a iron-gray horse. When Colonel Holloway saw the flag of truce he and McClanahan started west to meet him. When they met Colonel Holloway and the Federal com¬ mander shook hands, for they were old acquaintances and had served to¬ gether in the army, and they commenced to talk. What was said was never known, and will never be known, for just at that time Patsy O'Donnel yelled, "Shoot the d - n rascals," and fired his musket at them. The firing commenced immediately. Colonel Holloway fell from his horse, and the Federal commander and his aids wheeled and ran out of range as fast as their horses could go, but did not fire a shot. Pan¬ demonium broke loose at once, men were firing in every direction, a gen¬ eral panic started at once, about one-third of the men were engaged in the firing. None of those behind the piece of artillery fired a shot. The result of the firing was that Colonel Holloway was mortally wounded and taken to the house of Barnett M. Noland, nearby, where he died that night. Bud McClanahan and Thomas Cooper were taken to the house of Albert G. Oldham, another farmer near the scene, McClanahan died there

The only man killed outright was Charles Harbaugh, a farmer from near Lees Summit. He was climbing over the fence, and just as he had thrown his leg over the top of the fence a bullet struck him just over the left eye, and passed clear through his head. He fell into the road, and no doubt never knew what struck him.

No provision having been made to feed the men and horses some of the men began to pull out for home. The rest broke camp and retreated eastwardly and did not stop until they had reachel Little Blue. It is a mistake to call that affair a fight. There must be two parties to every fight, and in that case only one party acted. The Federal commander did not come there for a fight. He was sent to ascertain for what pur¬ pose that many armed men were congregated together. Just what his orders were will never be known, for the only man that was told of their commission was killed. Thus it will be seen, that the unauthorized act of a drunken soldier was the cause of the trouble and loss of life. A great hue and cry went all over the country, about Southern men firing on ^ flag of truce. This is the first written statement that I have ever made in regard to that affair, but it is absolutely true in every particular, for all of it I saw, and part of it I was, for I was a member of Captain Ar¬ nold's company, and was present and saw the whole thing.

When the order came to abandon camp and retreat, everything was in the upmost confusion, with the commander mortally wounded and np one else authorized to take command. It seemed to be a case of every man for himself, and the "Federals catch the hindmost." Wagons, sad¬ dles, camp equipments were scattered around in the upmost confusion. Late the next evening Major Price, with an attachment of infantry from Ft. Leavenworth, marched in and camped at the same place. They had come by forced march and the men were about worn out. When they came in Mr. Oldham, on whose premises they were camped (as he after¬ wards told me) , went into the camp and saw Major Price and told him that there was a wounded man at his house and asked him to put a guard around the house. The major did so, and asked that nothing should be molested. His orders were fully carried out, and not a soldier except the guards put his foot on the place. There was another family living on the south side of the camp that reached up to the yard fence. As soon as the family saw them coming into camp they took fright and ran away to a neighbor's and stayed all night, leaving no one in the house. The next morning they, having gotten over their scare, returned home and found the house had been entered and some small articles such as spoons, knives and every man in camp fell into line. He designated two officers to go down the line and carefully, search each man. They soon caught three inen with some of the loot in their possession. After all had been searched the three men were taken before a summary court martial, tried and convicted. The major sent for Mr. Oldham and told him of what had been done The verdict of the court martial was that the men were to receive ten lashes on their bare backs, and to be dishonorably discharged from

.U t J' the circumstances afterward, Mr. Oldham told the writer that he never saw such a sight in his life, and hoped that he would never o so again. After the men had received the whipping they were made

If all of the officers of the U. S. Army had been such soldiers as Major Price, General Price would never had an army and western Mis¬ souri wou d have been spared the many scenes of murder, rape and heart¬ less cruelty that afterward swept all over the country, and left a trail of ruined homes in their wake.

After Major Price had administered the punishment to the soldiers he marched his soldiers into town, but stayed only a little while. He came back and camped again that night in the same place. The next morning the whole command returned to Fort Leavenworth. During the w ole time that he and his command were in Jackson County, not a single thing was disturbed or taken, as above stated. None of his men were a owe 0 eave camp or rank when on the march, except under orders.

Why Young Men Joined The Confederate Army

When the Civil War commenced there was living about one and onemiles south of Raytown a man by the name of Martin L. Kritser He owned a fine farm, well stocked and plenty of the world's goods to make him contented. Mr. Kritser had raised a large family of sons and daughters, some of them had married and possessed homes of their own. The younger ones were at ome with their parents, assisting their father and mother in the work of the farm.

Mr. Kritser was of German descent, but American born. He was a Whig in politics, and was a strong Union man and violently opposed to secession and slavery. Among his sons were John and Martin, aged about 19 and 17, respectively. They were at home, taking no part in the war either way.

Soon after the war commenced, a scout of Federal soldiers, consist¬ ing of about 30 men, rode up to Mr. Kritser's house and ordered dinner prepared for the whole number.

The lieutenant in command was a German, as well as the first ser¬ geant. The next order was, feed for their horses. Mr. Kritser called the boys and told them to go with the lieutenant down to the barn and show him where to find the feed.

They all had dismounted and were leading their horses with a long, heavy, leather halter strap. John was walking just in front of the lieu¬ tenant, when, without warning, he unbuckled the strap and, doubling it up, commenced thrashing John unmercifully with it and, at the same time, remarked : "You are a dam secesh and makes trouble with the Government." When the sergeant saw what the lieutenant was doing he performed the same operation on Martin, the rest of the squad laughing and enjoying the transaction greatly. The boys had to stand it, of course, until the officers got tired of the job and quit.

The ladies of the house prepared the dinner for the whole party, which they ate. After they had all gotten through their dinner they rode off. It was the custom in those days for the farmers to give each of their sons and daughters a colt, and when grown to be their own propyerty. Mr. Kritser had followed the custom, so that John and Martin each had a good horse, saddle and bridle of their own. In addition to their horses each of them owned a good double-barreled shotgun, which they used in shooting wild geese and prairie chickens, which came in count¬ less numbers during the fall and winter.

After the departure of the soldiers John said to Martin: "You know that we have been strong Union people, all of us, but if this is the way we are to be treated by men in the uniform of Union soldiers, I want no more of it, and you may do as you please, but I am going into the Con¬ federate army, and I swear I will kill every d - n Dutchman that I pos¬ sibly can, and am in hopes one of them will be that scoundrel that

They joined Company E, Shank's regiment, Shelby's brigade. That company was selected by General Shelby for his escort. From that time on until the close of the conflict, they were in all of the fights of that iigade. They were always in the front.

How well John Kritser kept his oath made that day in his father's yard God and himself only knows, but if any men whose face showed any trace of German blood in his veins met him in battle, no questions were asked, and business would immediately begin.

of the men ^of Shelby's brigade got the idea that he was not sending his escort into the close places as much as they thought he ought to and be¬ gan talking among themselves about it. The talk finally reached the ears of General Shelby. When the advance reached Booneville, there was seen Federal soldiers on the opposite side of the river. Shelby decided en and there that he would show them whether he was shielding them or not. He rode down to the river and saw a lot of skiffs tied up to the bank. Turning to Captain Langhorne, he said: "Captain, detail an o icer and half dozen men to take two of these skiffs across the river and find out how many Yankee soldiers are over there." Langhorne replied: "It looks like sentencing a man to death to start him across ere ^ in an open boat. I will call for volunteers and see if I can get them. The call was made for volunteers for the trip. John Kritser was the first one to answer the call. Soon the number was made up. there was a lot of old brick houses standing on that side and the Fed¬ eral soldiers were firing from behind them. Shelby directed his men to

His men unsaddled their horses and put the saddles in the boats and swam the horses to the north side. The audacity of the thing seemed to throw a scare into the Federals, for, when they landed, sadled and mounted, the enemy were found to be retreating as fast as

Confederate Monfmext. Done Jack. Mo

Many years after the close of the war, I was in conversation with an old veteran of the Confederate artillery that had gone through the whole war in the same division as Shelby brigade, when he made the re¬ mark: "I have known a great many soldiers in my time, but the best all around soldier that I ever saw or knew was John Kritser of Com¬ pany E,- Shank's regiment. He was always ready for fun, frolic or fight. It made no difference to him. He certainly was Johnnie on the spot when it came to soldiering. He could ride longer, sleep less, get into more tight places and get out quicker without being hurt or caught than any man in the regiment. After the war he went to Texas and went into the cattle business.

It will be seen what acts of cruelty and oppression will do. If that lieutenant had not treated him as he did, the probabilities are that both John and Martin Kritser would have stayed at home and attended to their own affairs. Such cases as the above described were plentiful over west¬ ern Missouri. In a great many other cases the ill-treatment was worse than was administered to the Kritser boys, but, in almost every case, the result was the same.

One Sunday evening, many years ago, I was strolling through Wood¬ land cemetery in Independence when I noticed a man some distance away searching the names on the tombstones and monuments. I soon recognized him as an old acquaintance, a person that I had known for a great many years. About the same time he saw me and walked over to where I was. We passed the compliments of the day with each other.. He then asked me if I could tell him where the men that were killed in the "Wagner fight" were buried. I told him that I could, and would go with him to the spot. When we reached the place, he ran his eyes over the names and soon stopped - pointed his finger to a name, and said: "That was the hardest man to kill that I ever saw." "How do you know about him?" I asked. He replied: "I sent three dragoon balls through that man's body before I knocked him out of the saddle." "How did you find out his name?" "After the fight I went back and took his belt, pis¬ tol and saber from his body and his name was written on the belt, I threw the caber away, but wore the belt until the close of the war." "Tell me about the fight" I said to him. "All right," he replied, "Let's go to that seat yonder, where we can sit down, and I will tell you." We walked to the seat and sat down, and he g^ave me the following account of it :

We had gotten orders from Geo. Todd, who was then in Jackson County, to meet near the Howard's Farm (that lies just east of the pres¬ ent county farm) . When the men had gotten there, we counted off and there were 63 of us. We threw out pickets along the old Harrisonville road, both ways, and awaited developments. There is a long hill on the south of Little Blue, where the road leads up from the bottom land to the higher lands on the south. It followed up a branch between hills on either side, and was covered with brush. We had named it 'Manassas Gap.' It was an ideal place for a surprise. The ridge on either side was high enough that the attacking party could fire down on anyone in the road, and the sides were so steep that it was almost impossible for a man on horseback to climb up. We did not know if we were to take station there or not, and await developments.

"The most of our men were in the edge of the brush on the east side of the road. South of the cut - on the opposite side, was an open field that looked as though it had been in wheat for the last crop that had been raised on it. From where the pickets stood they discovered a company of Federal soldiers coming. One of the pickets concealed himself and counted 62 men. Another picket came in and reported the number. Our orders were to wait until they had gotten opposite the open field and then to charge on them so as to get advantage of the open ground in which to do our fighting. The Federal commander had discovered the pickets' which purposely showed themselves in order to get the Federals to follow them to the open ground, which they did. As soon as our commander saw that they were in the open field, he ordered the charge. At it we went, whooping like wild Indians. As soon as the Federal commander heard us, he stopped the pursuit of the pickets and turned his men to

62 men on one side and 63 on the other. In less than a minute, the whole 125 of us were fighting on one acre of land. The smoke and the dust raised by the horses soon got so thick that it was almost impossible to distinguish friend from foe, and men had to be careful to identify the man^that he was shooting at for fear it would be one of his own men.

None of our men had less than two, and some of them three and four Colts six-shooters (I had four), while the Federals only had one, with carbine and saber. There was such a rearing and plunging of horses that carbines were useless. They soon emptied their pistols, and of course had no time to reload. Some of them undertook to use their sabers, but it is well known among veteran cavalrymen that a saber is not a good weapon with which to face a man with a loaded six-shooter that knows how to use it. We soon discovered their pistols were empty, and then we got just as close to them as possible and used our own pis¬ tols to the best advantage. I saw that man draw his saber and start for me. I waited until he got nearly close enough to hit me with it, then I aimed a shot at his body. The shot must have struck a vital part for the saber immediately dropped from his hand. As quisk as I possibly could, I fired two more shots. When I fired the last shot my pistol was not three feet from his body. His horse went on past me and the rider did not fall from him until he had gotten 15 or 20 paces beyond me. How it happened that he remained on the horse as long as he did, I don't know, for I thmk the first shot was fatal.

"There was not a command given after the first one, or, if given, was not heard or heeded. Every man on both sides knew that it was a fight to the death; no quarters asked or given. We were all fighting under the black flag. At the first rush, Dick Yader rode straight at Captain Wagner. They had a hand to hand fight of it. Wagner shot half of Yager's mustache off in the melee, but fell from his horse, shot through the body. After the Federals had emptied their only pistol and discovered that Captain Wagner had been killed, they seemed to realize that they were at our mercy and they broke and commenced running in every direction, followed by one, two and sometimes three of our men. As a general thing, their horses were in better condition than ours, and they soon ran away out of reach of our pistols. After it was over we were astonished to find that we had only one man killed, one severely and one slightly wounded. We gathered up all the arms that we could find, taking those of the killed. We also found that we had killed 16 of their men, including the captain. We took the captured pistols and tried them to see how they would shoot. It was a pattern called 'Star Revolver.' Upon trial, we found they w'ould not shoot with any accuracy at all. In shooting at a mark at fifteen steps, they were just as apt to shoot as much as three feet in any direction away from the mark as to hit it. That accounted for our small loss of men.

"I fought men of many different commands while in the war, but I never fought a braver set of men in all that time than those of the Second Colorado cavalry, and if they had been armed as we were, with Colts revolvers, there are some of us living today that would, in all prob¬ ability, been killed in that fight."

All of the time that he was telling me that, I remained perfectly silent and did not say a word to him. I had known that his father was a strong Union man when the war commenced, and I wanted to find out why he had become gorilla. During his recital of the fight he had been speaking in a plain, every-day conversation, such as any man would use describing a trip to town or any other common occurrence.

When I saw that he was through with his description of the fight, I asked him, "Where was the closest place that you were ever in during the war?" He replied: "That is a very hard question for me to answer. Sometimes a man may be in a very close place and not know it, and again he may think that he is in a very dangerous place when he is not, but about the closest place that I think that I ever was in occurred on Blackwat^ Creek, in Johnson County. We had gotten a lot of recruits made up of young men from that county, or rather boys they were, not over eighteen years old. I was directed to take them in hand and teach them some of our tricks in evading the enemy scouts. I knew of a big bend in^the creek, and it had heavy timber all around it. I took six of them with me one evening, and after getting supper and enough for breakfast at a friendly farm house and feed enough to supply our horses and went out to the farthest point of the bend and stayed all night.

"The next morning, after we had eaten our breakfast and fed our horses that were hitched to the nearby trees, I picked up a chunk of wood about 16 inches long, and after standing it on end sat down on it with my back towards the creek. The rest of the boys sat down on the ground all around the fire that we had built, and were having a good time, laughing and talking. All at once there -was a terrible crash, and the ashes and fire flew all around, but not a man was hurt. I jumped to my feet, as did all the rest, turned around, and just along the edge of the creek, I saw the heads and shoulders of 25 or 30 Federal soldiers. They had discovered our camping place, slipped down under the bank of the creek and at a given signal had fired at the whole bunch of us with their carbines, without us knowing that they were any way close to us. I immediately drew my pistol and opened fire at the captain, while the other boys opened up at the men, who were reloading their carbines as they were strung along the bank. I was close enough to the captain to see the kind of pistol that he was using. At my second shot he dropped down behind the bank, as did the other men when we opened on them. Motioning to the boys, I turned and ran down the other bank of the creek opposite to them. We ran as fast as we could, abandoning our

"After I saw they were not following us, we stopped, and watched them. We saw them leading our horses off and 'apparently abandon the search for us. One of the boys said to me, 'Now, what are we to do? We are afoot and don't know where to get another outfit.' I told them that I did not propose to stay afoot long, and that I was going to follow them and get a horse if they did not go clear out of the country. We fol¬ lowed them all day, being careful to keep out of their sight. When we did not see them, we could follow their tracks. About sundown, we saw them stop at a farm house and hitch their horses along an old rail fence, go into the field and get corn to feed them. They did not unsaddle them. Just tied them with the halter strap. We felt certain they would stay there all night, which was just what I wanted them to ao. They put out a picket at the farthest end of the line of horses from the barn. The men took their blankets to the barn and made their beds there. The night was chilly and the picket made a fire to warm his hands by.

"About 12 o'clock I slipped along the fence until I got near enough to the picket to see that he had gone to sleep with his gun between his knees. I slipped along the fence until I came to the captain's horse, which I could distinguish from the saddle. I carefully laid down the fence, unhitched him and led him back to my comrades. I told then\ how I had gotten him and told them to got one at a time and do likewise. Each of them did so. In a few minutes we were better mounted than before the loss of our horses in the morning. After we were all mounted I remarked that picket ought to be killed for sleeping on his post and let¬ ting us steal the horses, and that I had a great notion to ride down there and do it. One of the men said to me, 'Don't do that; we have succeeded in getting good horses and can get along ways from here by daylight, and don't let us take a chance of arousing the whole camp and get them after us again.' I concluded that his reason was a good one.

"We rode away on our new horses and by morning had put many miles between us and them. Some time after that I rode up to the house where they had stayed that night. The farmer's wife told me that the captain had given her an account of his firing at us. He told her that he could not understand why he did not hit me. I can hit a squirrel in the top of a tall tree with this pistol, but I could not hit the big brown back of that bushwhacker at 15 steps. 'Possibly there is not as much dan¬ ger to you in shooting at squirrels as there is in shooting at bushwackers,' the lady replied.''

During all the time that he was talking, I was studying him closely, trying to find out his innermost thoughts, and, if possible, to learn just w at manner of man he was. Let me describe him to you. He was a ittle over six feet tall, rather angular in his formation, but showing great strength and endurance in his general make-up. He looked strong enough to cut wood all day and dance all night after it, or ride all day and night without stopping if it was necessary. It was his face, however that revealed his strongest points. His complexion was a strange mix¬ ture rarely seen. When talking they showed great tendereness, but a

When he was through with that story, I put the question to him irect; 'How did you happen to become a bushwhacker?'' He turned around, and, looking me straight in the face, replied: "That question brings up a terrible recollection to me, one that I wish that I could for¬ get, but, as you have asked me the question, I will tell you why. My father was a native of Kentucky, but, strange as it may seem to you, he was religiously opposed to slavery. He was a great Bible reader, and, rom it, had been led to believe that human slavery was wrong. So firmly did be helieve it, that when my grandfather, who was a slave owner, died, he would not allow my mother to take any of the slaves in the division of the estate. In politics he was a Whig, and, when the war '^mmenced, he was a strong Union man, and strongly opposed secession. He came to this country when land was cheap and, by hard work and economy, had accumulated a fine farm with plenty of stock around him.

"I had been helping him ever since I was old enough to work. Our income was made principally from the sale of hogs, cattle and sheep. We had to butcher the hogs in the fall and cure the meat and sell it in the spring to the outfitters for the trainmen on the plains. We kept our steer calves until grown and sold them for work oxen. The sheep we kept for their wool, out of which most of our clothing was made. I had absorbed the teachings of my father and was strong for the Union. I had decided that I would take no sides in the war that we all knew was coming, but that I would stay at home and help my father and mother. My four old¬ est sisters had married and had homes and families of their own. The youngest sister was still unmarried and lived at home with father, mother and myself. By hard work, father and myself had raised a big com crop and besides fattening 70 head of fine hogs, had a big lot cribbed up, also

"One day father and I took a team and went to the timber for a load of wood. Upon our return home we found Colonel Jennison with his regi¬ ment of Jay-hawkers and Red Legs in full possession. They were killing our cattle for beef and loading wagons with bacon out of the smoke-house, as well as emptying the cribs of corn to feed their horses. Father went to Colonel Jennison and remonstrated with him for such conduct, and told him that he was a Union man and always had been, and wanted to know if that was the way he was to be treated by men claiming to be Federal soldiers, Jennison replied to him: 'You are just like all of these d - n Missourians, You claim to be strong Union men when we are around, but as soon as we are gone, you are secesh. We are going to take everything that we want in spite of your claims,'

"On going into the house, I found my mother lying on the bed and my sister trying to stop the flow of blood from a deep gash on her cheek and forehead, I asked her how she got hurt. She replied : 'One of those negroes came in here and started upstairs, I caught hold of the door and told him that he had no business up there, as it was my daughter's room, with nothing in it that would be of any use to him. He caught hold of the door with both hands and gave it a violent jerk. The sharp edge of it struck me in the face, knocking me down,' To say that it made me furious does not express the feelings that I had. As I stood there looking at the blood on her face, my whole feelings changed to hatred for any man that wore a blue uniform. The feelings of my sister changed also,

"The next morning Jennison and his men left, after taking every¬ thing almost that they could lay their hands on. After they had gone, my sister and I went out and looked our things over. They had not left a pound of meat, lard, corn or hay on the place. Everything looked desolate. We saw our year's work and more swept away in a night. Mother in bed with her face bandaged up, her eyes swelled shut and suf¬ fering. With tears in her eyes, she said to brother: 'If I were a man like you, I would go and join the bushwhackers and kill everyone of those scoundrels that I possibly could. There is my saddle horse. He is somewhere out on the prairie, for I don't think they were able to catch him. Go get him. I will give him to you, but promise me that you will avenge the wrong that has been done us.' I made my decision there and then, I determined that I would avenge the treatment of my father and mother. I went out, caught the horse, borrowed a saddle and bridle from a neighbor, and, after bidding the family good-bye, was off to join the ranks of the men that was fighting Jennison and his gang. I was totally unarmed when I reached them, but was soon fitted by the loan of arms rom those that had a surplus, and I was ready for business. For three long, weary, bloody years, I followed that black flag and, during all that time, I never let an opportunity pass to fulfill my vow. I suffered hun¬ ger, cold, and, at times, almost nakedness, but I don't regret it now.

"When General Lee surrendered and the Confederacy was defeated, we were offered amnesty if we would surrender and take the oath of allegiance to the United States Government. A lot of our men, myself among the number, decided to accept the terms. We went in and sur¬ rendered and received our paroles. We were allowed to keep our horses and, as soon as I had received my parole, I bade my old comrades goodye and turned my horse's head homeward. As I rode on, I determined -at, as far as I was concerned, the war was over, and that I would do my utmost to make a good citizen out of myself. I felt that I had fully avenged the wrong done to my mother.

burned and destroyed. I went to work with a will. Soon the effects of my work began to show. I raised good crops and began to prosper. In a few years more I decided that I needed a help-mate, so I married a good vy e, and now I have two nice children, a good farm, with plenty of stock around me, and owe no man a dollar, and, what is more, I have the respect and confidence of my friends and neighbors. I am not a atahst, but, when I look back over some of the escapes that I made, when It seemed that I was looking death in the face, and from which there seemed to be no getting away from, I wonder if there is some work left in this world for me to do yet to benefit mankind. I hope there is, and when the call comes, that I may be prepared to meet it."

Here, he arose, looked at his watch and said: "I have been here talking to you all evening, and it is time for me to be going home. I expect that my wife is looking for me now." I told him that I had en- .loyed his story very much, indeed, and that, at some future time I wanted him to tell me of the fight at Centralia. He replied that he would at some time. He mounted his horse and rode off, and, as he went down he road, I watched him until he was out of sight, then the question arose ly mind, how it is possible that a man who has gone through what that man has can be changed from the blood-thirsty human tiger that he was to the loving husband and father that he is?

Why M. V. B. Flannery Became A Quantrell Man

The first husband of Mrs. Laura E. Bridges, of Independence, Mo., was M. V. B. Flannery, and this couple lived near Hickman's Mill when the Civil War broke out.

Their house was burned by Federal troops October 29, 1861, at the beginning of the Civil War. Mr. Flannery volunteered under Col. Upton Hayes, and, after Colonel Hayes' death, in 1862, he served under Gen. Sterling Price for six months, receiving an honorable discharge. He came home in March, 1863. He then rented the Chrisman farm and had 160 acres planted in corn and three men hired when the "White Rags" came - men from Andrew and DeKalb counties, Missouri, who claimed to be Federal soldiers, but, in reality, plunderers and outlaws.

These men came across Flannery's field and ordered him to take his team from the plow and pilot them through a part of Jackson, Cass, Bates. and Vernon counties, Missouri. He begged to be let off; then he asked to be permitted to go to the house and see his wife and baby and get a riding horse, a trotter he had there.

The men were in 14 fights during that time and lost 23 men. The party returned to Independence with three other men they had captured and used as pilots also. These men learned that they were to be hanged at Independence the following morning after their arrival. Two of the men decided to join the band rather than suffer the penalty, but Flan¬ nery and one other man said they would die rather than join the band.

The party stopped at Pleasant Lea's place, near the present site of Lees Summit, for dinner. Here the officers and pilots ate in the house - the others killed, slayed, cooked and ate in the barnyard. While here, Flannery found a short lead pencil in his vest pocket, which the searchers had overlooked, and, tearing off the margin of a newspaper, he managed to write a note to his wife, instructing her to go to William Hagan, who had married a cousin of Flannery, and have him go to Zion Flannery, his father, and not to spare his horse. Then have them, Hagan and Zion Flannery, go to Kansas City and see James and Miles Flannery, officers in the Federal Army, and tell them to come to Independence that night and plead for his life, as he was to be hanged at sunrise the next morning.

The note was slipped to Miss Lea, as Flannery went to the dinner table. She read it, and immediately ran one mile across the field to Mrs. Flannery's place, arriving out of breath and unable to speak. Mrs. Flan- nery took the note, read it, and grasping the situation, she saddled her orse, rode up to the porch and taking Miss Lea behind her, and her twos e "she":

Flannery replied: "You will be killed if you don't go, for I will relrt you to Quantrell in less than a half hour." He then agreed to go and started at once on horseback, leaving his team in the field His horse was e.xhaus ed when he arrived at the home of Zion Flannery, felt S if it were me, I would go, as he cannot live in peace here, and I would - sell my life as dearly as possible.'^ He did join Quantrell and was shot from an ambush while in the service in Texas, June 29, 1864, and was buried at Johnston Station, Tarrant County, Texas.

The Youngers

Colonel Henry W. Younger was living, when the war broke out, on the Independence and Harrisonville road, a few miles from what is now known as Lees Summit. Judge Younger was county judge for eight years and afterward was twice elected to the State Legislature; it seems that when he, his family and his property were first attacked, he was a United States Mail Contractor, and had his transportation outfit stationed at Harrisonville, Mo. The first dash of Jennison through Jackson and Cass counties swept the lovely property of Colonel Younger away; this gained, of course, for the Federals, eternal hatred from the Younger family; they espoused immediately the Confederate cause, though they were pri¬ marily Union men. The next year brought its full harvest of death and crime. On the 20th of July, 1862, Colonel Younger was waylaid and as¬ sassinated five miles from Independence. As he had been trading in toAvn the day before rather extensively, the presumption is that he was killed for his money. Though he had some $2,000 or $3,000 about his person, the robbers did not get but about $400. It would have been good for the world and Jackson County had the assassins that killed Colonel Younger never been born. For this and other insults that had been offered to the Younger family brought to the front one of the most dar¬ ing and dangerous characters that ever drilled beneath the black flag. Coleman Younger, more hastily called Cole, son of Colonel Younger, while beholding the agonizing tremors of his delicate mother and sisters over the dead body of his dear father, made resolutions the faithful carrying out of which has cast a shadow over his father's family and good name, made hundreds of widows and fatherless children, and scattered for¬ gotten graves over the entire portion of western Missouri and eastern Kansas. Many a jioble son and brother that volunteered to fight for the glorious stars and stripes of our native land melted and went down be¬ fore the remorseless anger and resolutions of that injured son and brother. The historical narrative and connection would be entirely broken, were the deeds and cri- es of the Younger brothers to be followed.

A Narrow Escape

fbvt ^ at an early date in the connlaop J ®°'"®'^hat conscientious about taking an oath that would e un er the command of wicked men, who would be likely to lead

We brought one load, and dinner not being ready, we ate a few late peaches, and started back after another. We had passed Mr. Poteet's ouse on the state line, and half the length of his big corn field on the east, the open prairie of Kansas being on the west. Mr. Rippetoe look¬ ing ahead said, 'Look yonder.' Looking, I saw a company of men horse-back, coming over the prairie ridge in front. 'Yes, that is those ast horses among them, and they will catch us on any of these mulesand besides, if we attempt to run or hide, they will kill us sure, for they we had been moving onward. The advance came up; we turned to the west, intending to give them the full benefit of the road, as there was plenty of room. 'Halt!' 'Halt!' We obeyed. 'Get down off that mule, and have you any arms?' Having our coats off, they did not search us. In the meantime, the Stars and Stripes went streaming past, with the bright colors glittering in the sunbeams. Glorious, indeed, was the old flag, in the hands of true men, but on that occasion it was calculated to inspire in our heart anything but respect. While we were thus held captive at the road side, a few words were exchanged by those who held us captive and the soldiers, as they rode by, such as 'I will attend to that business,' and another 'I will see you again about something else,' which showed that they were intimately acquainted with each other; and now they turn their attention to us. 'Where are you going, and where are you from?' 'We live back here a few miles, and are going after some Santa Fe wagons for Mr. Chiles. The freighting company has dissolved and Mr. Chiles is having his part of the wagons brought home.' 'Get on your mules and drive up,' was the positive command, and we readily but not cheerfully obeyed. 'What is your politics?' comes the horrid ques¬ tion, and I heard Mr. Rippetoe reply that he was a Union man, and always had been. 'Why are you not in the army, fighting for your country?' was the next question, in an angry mood. My turn came next: 'What is your politics?' 'I am a Southern man; I was born and raised in the South.' We were now traveling rapidly west, guarded closely by four men, who made it their business by turns to question us. Here comes a rather low, compact built man, with his rifle in a direct line of my body. He has his broad-brimmed hat set a little to one side. He seems to be proud of his situation - really, he has a mean look. He don't have very much to say, and I am glad of it. A small man now rides up, with his revolver in his hand, and sword at his side. He asks, 'Do you know any Sesesh?' I replied, 'Yes, sir.' 'Where do they live?' 'They have gone south, to the Southern army.' Now he gives place to a tall man, with a heavy double-barreled shot-gun, who is my especial escort for a while. I had rather he would turn his gun in any other direction.

Tall Man - "We will turn and go into the city. If we went down the line we might run into a company of Sesesh." "Why are you not in the army fighting for your country?" he asks in a pompous manner and con-

I This IS not altogether a one-sided business" "wn<.t a mean, sir," said the tall man. "I mean that Z s tn not get their constitutional rights in the UnZ Z the headquarters of the jayhawkers. If he had said that he was going to deliver us into the hands of the whole United States army and navy combined, it would have been good news compared with going to Mound City, for I verily believed that if they took us irtto Mound City we would never get out alive. So I said, "Captain, it is getting late and we have had no dinner, don't you intend to give us supper?" I was not hungry, but did not wish to let him know that there was any dread in my mind.

Captain - "I don't know, it is war times now, and you will have to do as I do; sometimes I eat once a day and sometimes oftener, just as I can get it."

I - "I am in the habit of eating three times a day and would like to have supper if you can get it, if you don't I will do the best I can without it." I kept on secretly praying, yes, praying; I could raise my heart to God in prayer for the Lord is nigh to all that call upon Him in truth, and he could hear me now, although I was very closely guarded. I thought of many instances where God had delivered his people in Bible times and of many cases recorded in history. I was trying to plan our escape; I felt as if I could act my part in a desperate manner if the Lord should give me the opportunity, provided it did not endanger the life of my friend Mr, Rippetoe, could I get hold of the revolver, rifle or doublebarreled shot-gun, and a few seconds time to use it. You may well think that these were very wicked thoughts for a Christian to harbor, but re¬ member that I am but human; and if the Lord had not been watching over me I might have been turned into a desperado. They did not give us the least opportunity to escape. About dark they stopped at a house and the Captain gave us each a piece of pie. Here one man, whom I have not described, took leave to go to Olathe. We then turned due south. I was quite willing to let my mules slack their speed, but when I was commanded "to hurry up" those mules, I knew I had to do it. The moon arose about dark and shone brightly. I still talked to my escort as calmly as if nothing unusual was happening, and on we went until about one or two o'clock in the night. We had just crossed Coffee Creek in the Black Bob district of Kansas, when we were stopped in the midst of an old Indian camping ground, with brush around the edges. The moon was shining in splendor. As the night air was cool I slid down from the saddle and our guard stood consulting near Mr. Rippetoe, for they seemed to guard him closely, and they may well have afforded to do it. At this time I was near my team looking down, kicking my feet in the dust and thinking so deeply that when the Captain said "step here," 1 earthly hope was gone and I had but one request to make. I said : "Capain, give me a few minutes for prayer, please." Without waiting for an with his big double barreled shot-gun has squared himself, and I think his aim is true. In a few broken sentences I acknowledged my depend¬ ence upon the great God that had made and taken care of me, confessed my sins and short-comings, prayed the Lord to forgive all my sins, and be with me. Committed myself into his hand, offered up a short petition for those who were near and dear to me, and then said in my prayer: "Lord, have mercy on our nation and country; may this war and blood¬ shed be stopped ; and may the time soon come when war shall be no more ; but all shall know Thee, from the least to the greatest; and these men, remember them, in thy great mercy ; may they see the wickedness of their ways, and turn, before they go down to eternal ruin; Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." Here, I thought I had finished my course, but as they did not fire, I continued praying in a few broken sentences, when the man with the rifle said : "Captain, stop this foolish¬ ness." The tall man then spoke: "Captain, I think you should let this man go, he don't believe there is any Union." The Captain said: "I don't like to kill him." My friend who had by this time uncovered his face, spoke a few words in my favor. The Captain then stepped to where I was, still on my knees, he put out his hand, I arose and took his hand, and he spoke in a mild tone, as follows: "Do you, sir, pretend to say that you are a better man than Washington, and the men who made the constitution and gave their lives for it, and all the great and good men of our day who swear to support it, and are ready to die for it?" I said: "No, I don't say any such thing, Washington and the men who made the constitution have done a great and good work, and all I have to say about the great and good men of our time who are swearing to support the con¬ stitution is this, they think different from what I do, or they would act different from what they do."

Captain - '^l can't spare it now; the next time you go to Kansas City you come to Camp Union, on the hill, and I will either leave the saddle there or pay for it ; you can come and get it for him."

/ - "All right, good bye" ; and we shook hands with the Captain and started. We had not gone twenty yards when the Captain called to us to come back ; we looked at each other, looked toward the brush, but was not long in turning back ; the Captain had a little blank book in his hand and said that he had forgotten to take down our names ; we gave our full names. He again told us that we could go, and we could hardly keep trom running we felt so light and free. We crossed the branch and took the road for home. We had not gone far when Mr. Rippetoe squatted down and crept into the tall grass and wild sun-flowers; I followed as quickly as I could. With our heads close to the ground, we could hear a tiamping sound, but it did not sound like horsemen. I whispered, "Perry, ' what did you see?" "I don't know," was his reply. I finally ventured to part the grass and peep out. I saw that it was a herd of cattle going toward the creek. I said, "Perry, it is nothing but cattle going for water." He said, "I can stand it if you can." We went ahead then on quick time until within about four miles of New Santa Fe. when a thunder storm came up; we took refuge in a little vacant house near the roadside. As the rain came rattling down and the thunder jarred the windows, I lay down among the pea vines on the floor and was soon asleep. My friend.

Mr. Rippetoe, was more cautious ; he had been west among the wild Indians and knew how to keep a sharp lookout. The shower soon passed over, my friend called to me; remembering where I was, I sprang to my feet. We arrived at New Santa Fe at daybreak. Seeing a light burning, we knocked at the door of Mr. A. R. White. Mrs. White came to the door ; she was excited and talked very fast. She said, "the Federals have been here and taken Mr. John Davis' goods; we have been up all night; the men are all hid ; the soldiers have been all over the neighborhood ; we heard guns firing all around and no telling who is killed ; but they are all gone now, won't you come in?" We said, "no, thank you; they have had us and we must go home." I soon saw my friend Rippetoe buckle on his heavy revolver.

After the war was over I saw a stranger turn into the yard ; he looked as if he was tired; he came toward the house; I recognized him as my old friend, Perry Rippetoe. As I took his hand I noticed that his revolver was gone, and he had on a palmetto hat that had been made and presented to him by the ladies in the extreme south. He said, "I heard that you were living here, and determined to stop and see you before going home." Since that time we both have been permitted to live peaceable and quiet lives at home.