Linn County, Missouri - Chapter 8: Civil War in Missouri, 1882

Chapter 8: Civil War in Missouri

fcrt Sumter fired upon - Call for y^,ooo men - Gov. Jackson refuses to furnish a man - U. S. Arsenal at Liberty, Mo., seized - Proclamation of Gove} nor Jackson - General Order No. 7 - Legislature convenes - Camp Jackson organized^ Stei ling Price appointed Major- General - Frost's letter to Lyon - Lyon's letter to Frost - Surrender of Camp Jackson - Proclamation of Gen. Harney - Conference between Price and Harney - Harney superseded by Lyon - Second Conference - Gov. Jackson bums the bridges behind him - Proclamation of Gov. Jackson - Gen. Blair takes possession of Jefferson City - Proclamation of Lyon - Lyon at Springfield - State offices declared vacant - Gen. Fremont assumes command - Proclamation of Lieut. Gov. Aeynolds - Proclamation of Jeff. Thompson and Gov. Jackson - Death of Gen. Lyon - Succeeded by Sturgis - Proclamation of McCulloch and Gamble - Martial Law declared - 2d Proclamation of Jeff. Thompson - President modifies Fremont's Order - Fremont relieved by Hunter - Proclamation of Price - Hunter's Order of Assessment - Hunter declares Martial Law - Order relating to Newspapers - Halleck succeeds Hunter - Halleck' s Order 81 - Similar order by Halleck - Boone County Standard confiscated - Execution of prisoners at Macon and Palmyra - Gen. Etving's Order No. 11 - Gen. Rosencrans takes command - Massacre at Centralia - Death of Bill Anderson - Gen, Dodge succeeds Gen. Rosencrans - List of Battles,

Ah ! why will kings forget that they are men? And men that they are brethren ? Why delight In human sacrifice ? Why burst the ties Of nature, that should knit their souls together In one soft bond of amity and love?"

Fort Sumter was fired upon April 12, 1861. On April 15th, President Lincoln issued a proclamation, calling for 75,000 men, from the militia of the several States to suppress combinations in the Southern States therein named. Simultaneously therewith, the Secretary of War, sent a telegram to all the governors of the States, excepting those mentioned in the proclamation, requesting them to detail a certain number of militia to serve for three months, Missouri's quota being four regiments.

Secretary of War, Wasliington, D. C. : Sir: Your dispatch of the 15th inst., making a call on Missouri for four regiments of men for immediate service, has been received. There can be, I apprehend, no doubt but these men are intended to form a part of the- President's army to make war upon the people of the seceded States. Your requisition, in my judgment, is illegal, unconstitutional, and cannot be complied with. Not one man will the State of Missouri furnish to carry on such an unholy war.

April 22, 1861. Governor Jackson issued a proclamation convening the Legislature of Missouri, on May following, in extra session, to take into consideration the momentous issues, which were presented, and the attitude to be assumed by the State in the impending struggle.

Headquarters Adjutant-General's Office, Mo., Jefferson City, April 22, 1861. {General Orders No. 7.) i. 'io attain a greater degree of efficiency and perfection in organization and discipline, the Commanding Officers of the several Military districts in this State, having four or more legally organized companies therein, whose armories are within fifteen miles of each other, will assemble their respective commands at some place to be by them severally designated, on the 3rd day of May, and to go into an encampment for a period of six days, as provided by law. Captains of companies not organized into battalions, will report the strength of their companies immediately to these headquarters, and await further orders.

II. The Quartermaster-General will procure and issue to Quartermasters of Districts, for these commands not now provided for, all necessary tents and camp equipage, to enable the commanding officers thereof to carry the foregoing orders into effect.

III. The Light Battery now attached to the Southwest Battalion, and one company of mounted riflemen, including all officers and soldiers belonging to the First District, will proceed forthwith to St. Louis, and report to Gen. D. M. Frost for duty. The remaining companies of said battalion will be disbanded for the purpose of assistmg in the organization of companies upon that frontier. The details in the execution of the foregoing are intrusted to Lieutenant-Colonel John S. Bowen, commanding the Battalion.

IV. The strength, organization, and equipment of the several companies in the Districts will be reported at once to these Headquarters, and District Inspectors will furnish all information which may be serviceable in ascertaining the condition of the State forces.

Warwick Hough

May 2, 1861. The Legislature convened in extra Session. Many acts were passed, among which was one to authorize the Governor to purchase or lease David Ballentine's foundry at Boonville, for the manufacture of arms and munitions of war ; to authorize the Governor to appoint one Major-General ; to authorize the Governor, when, in his opinion, the security and welfare of the State required it, to take possession of the railroad and telegraph lines of the State; to provide for the organization, government, and support of the military forces ; to borrow one million of dollars to arm and equip the militia of the State to repel invasion, and protect the lives and property of the people. An act was also passed creating a "Military Fund," to consist of all the money then in the treasury or that might thereafter be received from the one-tenth of one per cent, on the hundred dollars, levied by act of November, 1S57, to complete certain railroads; also the proceeds of a tax of fifteen cents on the hundred dollars of the assessed value of the taxable property of the several counties in the State, and the proceeds of the two mill tax, which had been theretofore appropriated for educational purposes.

Sir : - I am constantly in receipt of information that you contemplate an attack upon my camp, whilst I understand that you are impressed with the idea that an attack upon the Arsenal and United States troops is intended on the part of the Militia of Missouri. I am greatly at a loss to know what could justify you in attacking citizens of the United States, who are in lawful performance of their duties, devolving upon them under the Constitution in organizing and instructing the militia of the State in obedience to her laws, and, therefore, have been disposed to doubt the correctness of the information I have received.

I would be glad to know from you personally whether there is any truth in the statements that are constantly pouring into my ears. So far as regards any hostility being intended toward the United States, or its property or representatives by any portion of my command, or, as far as I can learn, (and I think I am fully informed.) of any other part of the state forces, I can positively say that the idea has never been entertained. On the contrary prior to your taking command of the Arsenal, I proffered to Mayor Bell, then in command of the very itw troops constituting its guard, the services of myself and all my command, and, if necessary, the whole power of the State, to protect the United States in the full possession of all her property. Upon General Harney taking command of this department, I made the same proffer of services to him, and authorized his Adjutant-General, Capt. Williams, to communicate the fact that such had been done to the War Department. I have had no occasion since to change any of the views I entertained at the time, neither of my own volition nor through orders of my Constitutional commander.

I trust that after this explicit statement that we may be able, by fully understanding each other, to keep far from our borders the misfortunes which so unhappily affect our common country.

This communication will be handed you by Colonel Bowen, my Chief of Staff, who will be able to explain anything not fully set forth in the foregoing.

Brigadier-General D. M. Frost

It is, for the most part, made up of those Secessionists who have openly avowed their hostility to the General Government, and have been plotting at the seizure of its property and the overthrow of its authority. You are openly in communication with the so-called Southern Confederacy, which is now at war with the United States, and you are receiving at your camp, from the said Confederacy and under its flag, large supplies of the material of war, most of which is known to be the property of the United States. These extraordinary preparations plainly indicate none other than the well-known purpose of the Governor of tliis State, under whose orders you are acting, and whose communication to the Legislature has just been responded to by that body in the most unparalleled legislation, hav-

In view of these considerations, and of your failure to disperse in obedience to the proclamation of the President, and of the imminent necessities of State policy and warfare, and the obligations imposed upon me by instructions from Washington, it is my duty to demand, and I do hereby demand of you an immediate surrender of your command, with no other conditions than that all persons surrendering under this command shall be humanely and kindly treated. Believing myself prepared to enforce this demand, one-half hour's time before doing so will be allowed for your compliance therewith.

N. Lyon

May 12, 1 86 1. Brigadier-General Wm. S. Harney issued a proclamation to the people of Missouii, saying " he would carefully abstain from the exercise of any unnecessary powers," and only use "the military force stationed in this district in the last resort to preserve peace."

June 12, 1861. Governor Jackson issued a proclamation calling into active service 50,000 militia, "to repel invasion, protect life, property, etc."

June 15, 1861. Col. F. P. Blair took possession of the State Capital, Gov. Jackson, Gen, Price and other officers having left on the 13th of June for Boonville.

August 10, 1861. Bittle of Wilson's Creek, between the forces under General Lyon and General McCulloch. In this engagement General Lyon was killed. General Sturgis succeeded General Lyon.

August 24, 1861. Governor Gamble issued a proclamation calling for 32,000 men for six months to protect the property and lives of the citizens of the State.

August 30, 1 86 1. General Fremont declared martial law, and declared that the slaves of all persons who should thereafter take an active part with the enemies of the Government should be free.

September 11, 1861. President Lincoln modified the clause in Gen. Fremont's declaration of martial law, in reference to the confiscation of property and liberation of slaves.

December 12, 1861. General Hunter issued his order of assessment upon certain wealthy citizens in St. Louis, for feeding and clothing Union refugees.

It is hereby ordered that from and after this date the publishers of newspapers in the State of Missouri, (St. Louis City papers excepted), furnish to this office, immediately upon publication, one copy of each issue, for inspection. A failure to comply with this order will render the newspaper liable to suppression.

January 26, 1862. General Halleck issued order (No. 18) which forbade, amopg other things, the display of Secession flags in the hands of women or on carriages, in the vicinity of the military prison in McDowell's College, the carriages to be confiscated and the offending women to be arrested.

February 4, 1 862. General Halleck issued another order similar to Order No. 18, to railroad companies and to the professors and directors of the State University at Columbia, forbidding the funds of the institution to be used "to teach treason or to instruct traitors."

February 20, 1862. Special Order No. 120 convened a military commission, which sat in Columbia, March following, and tried Edmund J. Ellis, of Columbia, editor and proprietor of ** The Boone County Standard" for the publication of information for the benefit of the enemy, and encouraging resistance to the United States Government. EUis was found guilty, was banished during the war from Missouri, and his printing materials confiscated and sold.

First. - All persons living in Cass, Jackson and Bates counties, Missouri, and in that part of Vernon included in this district, except those living within one mile of the limits of Independence, Hickman's Mills, Pleasant Hill and Harrisonville, and except those in that part of Kaw township, Jackson county, north of Brush Creek and west of the Big Blue, embracing Kansas City and Westport, are hereby ordered to remove from their present places of residence within fifteen days from the date hereof.

Those who, within that time, establish their loyalty to the satisfaction of the commanding officer of the military station nearest their present places of residence, will receive from him certificates stating the fact of their loyalty, and the names of the witnesses by whom it can be shown. All who receive such certificate will be permitted to remove to any military station in this district, or to any part of the State of Kansas, except the counties on the eastern borders of the State, All others shall remove out of this district. Officers commanding companies and detachments serving in the counties named, will see that this paragraph is promptly obeyed.

Second. - All grain and hay in the field, or under shelter, in the district from which the inhabitants are required to remove within reach of military stations, after the 9th day of September next, will be taken to such stations and turned over to the proper officer there, and report of the amount so turned over made to district headquarters, specifying the names of all loyal owners and the amount of such produce taken from them. All grain and hay found in such district after the 9th day of September next, not convenient to such stations, will be destroyed.

will at once be vigorously executed by officers commanding in the parts of the district, and at the stations not subject to the operations of paragraph First of this Order - and especially in the towns of Independence, Westport and Kansas City.

Fourth - Paragraph 3, General Order No. 10, is revoked as to all who have borne arms against the government in the district since August 20, 1863. By order of Brigadier-General Ewing.

Nothing occurred specially, of a military character, in the State after December, 1864. We have, in the main, given the facts as they occurred without comment or entering into details. Many of the minor incidents and skirmishes of the war have been omitted because of our limited space.

It is utterly impossible, at this date, to give the names and dates of all the batdes fought in Missouri during the civil war. It will be found, however, that the list given below, which has been arranged for convenience, contains the prominent battles and skirmishes which took place within the State :