McDonald County, Missouri - Chapter 11, 1897

The history of this county during the Civil War is one that is difficult to write, and about which there is much difference of opinion and many conflicting reports. The inhabitants of the county up to that time were principally from the southern states, and a majority considered that their interests were with the southern people. At the same time there was a strong Union element among them who resisted secession until the war was begun, when they cast their fortunes with the Confederacy. There was still another element, largely in the minority in this county, that remained loyal to the last. Many of these were from the southern states, and the animosities engendered between them and their old neighbors were bitter to an extreme known only in war times and between citizens of those states. It was a time that truly "tried men's souls.' It laid bare to the public gaze the true character of men and re- vealed them in all their moral corruption or noble humanity as could be done under no other conditions. The results of this ordeal were quite the opposite to what in many cases were expected. Men who had been regarded as timid became the bravest of soldiers. Some who stood well in the community were the first to avail themselves of the opportunity to rob and plunder, while others who were regarded as rather "tough,' became prominent in their efforts to restrain violence. Those who entered the regular service, as a rule, became honorable soldiers and conducted themselves in a manner becoming civilized warfare. The deeds of cruelty were generally the work of bands organized either for plunder or revenge.

The acts of heroism, if all recounted, would fill a volume much larger than this. There are many instances where the ties of friendship and love of humanity rose far above the passion and hatred of war. Time and again, both Union and Confederate men and women have taken their lives in their hands, as it were, and gone at the dead hour of night for miles over these lonley hills and valleys, to warn men of the opposite side who they knew were at home to visit their families, of approaching danger. Often the warning came in time and the intended victim would vanish in the darkness and ad- jacent thicket as he heard the clatter of the approaching foe. Sometimes the sound of shots and shrieks of women and children greeted the ears of the messenger before he reached his goal and inscribed on his or her heart the words, "too late."

The military operations of this section of country were so connected with the movements of the opposing armies that it becomes more a matter of general than local history and it is not the province of this book to detail the same. A few incidents of the war which are true beyond a peradventure will be more interesting to our people than an account of the actions of the troops.

As an example of the feelings which often existed between Union and Confederates the f ollowTing is given which wras told the writer several years ago by the party himself. A raid was made into this county by a detachment of Kansas troops and among a number of prisoners captured was E. Caulk, since deceased, who lived on Patterson creek near the state line. A good deal of bad work had been done by bushwhackers and feeling ran high. The prisoners wTere taken to Baxter Springs and kept under close guard waiting to be identified, and their fate determined. When questioned, Mr Caulk told the officer he was a Confederate, but did not belong to the army and was opposed to the action of the bushwhackers. He was trying to stay at home and attend to his own affairs. After a few days confinement, a couple of Union men who were acquainted with him came into camp. When recognized he knew his fate was in their hands but as there had never been any particular friendship between them he was in doubt as to the result. In a short time he was called up before the commander and discharged with a pass home and jDrovisions for the journey. The two men had stated that he was an honest, inoffensive citizen and they were willing to vouch for his good conduct.

A pathetic, but pretty story, is related of the death of Major Smith of the Confederate army. Moses Woodman Smith, a native of Maine, was teaching school at Pineville in 1861. He was boarding at the home of C. B. Walker, a staunch Union man. He and Mr. Walker's daughter, Miss Jennie, now Mrs. Dan Harmon, were engaged to be married. When the war broke out, Mr. Smith raised a company and entered the Confederate service. Soon afterward he was promoted to the rank of Major. The attachment between the two young people, and the ties of friendship between him and her family were not in the least severed by their different views in regard to the war. On many occasions an opportunity was afforded in which one could shield or protect the other, and such chances were never neglected. At one time while he was visiting at the Walker home the Federals made a raid on the town. A brother of the Major's, suspecting he was there called and asked to see him. He begged of Jennie to reveal his hiding place, promising that he only wanted to visit him as a brother, and would not betray her secret. His appeal was denied, and after all danger was over the Major come down from the garrett, and in a short time was with his command.

When General Price made his raid through this part of the state, Major Smith had another opportunity to visit his affianced wife, and made the Walker home his headquarters. When the Union forces sent to retake the place were advancing, and the battle of Newtonia began, which was some distance from the town, she begged him not to go into the fight. He promised her he would not, but when he rode out and saw the battle raging, his zeal overcame him.

and he was soon in the midst of the contending forces He was wounded, and when found on the field, was taken to the house of Mr. Weems an Uncle to Miss. Walker. Hearing of his condition, she first obtained the consent of her parents and went to take care of him. One bullet had struck just above the knee injuring the artery. The attending surgeon informed him that a slight aggravation of the wound wrould sever the artery, and produce death, at the same time stating that amputation of the limb was the only way to save his life. He stated that he would rather take his chances than to loose his limb. Here he was nursed by Jennie, she frequently singing to him his favorite song, "A Soldier of the Legion lay dying.' But there wTas no "Lack of woman's nursing, " no "Dearth of woman's tears, "for kind hands and tender hearts, all true and loyal to their country, rendered every assistance in their power. Some five or six days afterward the wound sloughed into the artery and he bled to death in a few moments.

were taken. Among the rest were David and John Harmon. These two men had incurred the enmity of the Confederates by the active part they had taken in the local military affairs. When the town was taken David Harmon dropped his two revolvers in the weeds near the court house, and concealed them.

He was dressed in a loose homespun hunting shirt and trousers, that very much resembled the Confederate gray. While the Union prisoners were being marched to the court room on the upper floor of the court house, he says one of the guards set his gun down and went for a drink of water. Harmon watched his opportunity and picking up the gun began walking the beat in the place of the guard. A moment later General Shelby and the sheriff of the county rode up, and leaving their horses, started to the court house. The general's horse had been trained to stand without being tied. As the two men passed near Harmon, he had his hat pulled down, and his head turned to avoid rocognition by the sheriff who knew him, and kept leisurely walking his beat. He heard the sheriff remark as they passed by that he wanted to go up stairs and see if any of those Harmons were there, if so, they had lived long enough. They passed into the court house and Dave walked to where he had dropped his pistols, picked them up, and mounted Shelby's horse. The other guards, having seen the general just pass, supposed he had been sent to take charge of the animal, and made no protest. He rode unconcernedly down the street, past the guards and into the woods, before the ruse was discovered. The horse was a splendid animal, and carried him safe from all pursuit into the Federal lines.

His brother, John, was placed with a few other prisoners in the back room of an old house, the guards remaining in the front room. There was a door to the room in which the prisoners were kept, but it had been locked. In the night, and while the guards engaged in a game of cards in the front room by the light of the tire, Harmon silently unlocked the door with an old key he happened to have in his pocket, and escaped in the darkness of the night. He eluded all the guards and pickets, and before daylight came was several miles away.

The following account will not only be of interest as a personal reminiscence, but is a fair example of the way in which many of our citizens came to enter the service of either army.

lived on what is now the Royal Harrington farm on Buffalo, which he had owned for several years. Mr. Nutting died in February, 1862, and his wife, step-mother to the Nutting children, in March following. Wash. , the oldest son, had enlisted in the Union army, state troops, and M. L. (Bud) was at Neosho suffering from wounds received the previous summer, and J. W., then a boy of fifteen years, was left to look after the farm. His sister Martha (Mrs. D. H. Mathews) had charge of the family of five little children. Their father had been a Union man, but tried to remain neutral.

John had raised a crop that year of twentyfive acres of corn and about the same of oats. The oats were cut and he was binding them while damp early in the morning and late at night. One evening after working until dark he went home, and in a few moments a squad of some fifteen or twenty men rode up and wanted oats for their horses. They went to the field, got what they wanted and the leader gave him a gold dollar. They camped for the night but left before daylight. The next morning while he was out binding oats a company of Federal troops under Lieutenant Brown came along. The Lieut, called Nutting out to the road where the following conversation took place:

At this the Lieutenant drew his pistol, cocked it, and placing the muzzle against the boy's breast, hissed between his teeth, "I say, what are you?"

John came down in a few moments and was standing in the hallway when he heard a man coming from the field. As he turned the corner of the house Nutting covered him with his revolver. The fellow threw up his hand and said "Don't shoot, I am a friend. ' He said he was d - n hungry, and stated that his horse had been killed in the fight and he was going to Jasper county and steal the best horse they had. His name was Yocum, a son of the commander of the Confederate squad. Nutting saddled his horse and left that evening. He was able to slip in home a few times on a few moments visit but in a short time enlisted at Beaver Springs under Major Smith and served in the Confederate army until the close of the 'war.

In the late summer or early fall of 1863 a Confederate regiment under Col. Coffee was camped at Enterprise. They were attacked by the First Ark. Cavalry and a pretty hot fight ensued. The Ark. troops had two small field pieces which they brought into play and the Confederates retreated to Scott's mill where the fight ended.

people, lived on what is now known as the Polk farm which is a mile above Tiff City on Buffalo Creek. Matters grew pretty warm for them and they could neither safely remain at home, nor take their effects awav.

Early in the spring- of 1862 a detachment under Major Hubbard was sent from Neosho to escort them to the Federal lines. They had a couple of six-pounders with them which they brought into use to disperse squads of men who had assembled on the hills with a view to firing on the escort should they collect a sufficient body. Daniel Dobbs, Jim Dobbs Fayette Price, and perhaps a few others were on the point of the bluff near the old Camp Shed, when a few shot s from the cannon were fired at them. Of course they hustled out of range. As they went on up the creek they saw about forty men under Isbell on the hill back of W. C. Price's house. The cannon were turned loose on them and some fifteen or twenty shots were fired. The Confederates dispersed without firing a shot and the escort returned to Neosho unharmed.

In the summer of 1862 Major Doubleday with a part of the 2nd Ohio was sent on a secTat down Buffalo creek and the west part of this counl They were making prisoners of every man they came to. As they went down Buffalo they captured two AVetherspoon boys who were at work in the field. The scout went on down to the river and came back the next day. JohnDobbs and M. L. Nutting had taken to the brush with their horses the day before, not from any hostile feelings towTards the Union troops but through fear of being taken prisoners or loosing their horses. After the troops had gone up the road and, as they supposed were out of thew^ay, they came down to dinner. Hearing the Weatherspoon boys had been released, they started up to their place to see how they had been treated. A short distance above the upper end of the Nutting farm, they were suddenly confronted by a detachment of the troops. Here they made a fatal mistake. Had they surrendered they would have been examined and released in ashorttime. But they attempted to escape. They ran down the level road some twTo hundred yards and were leading the troops, but there they left the road and started up the point of the hill. This checked their speed and their pursuers ran up to the foot of the hill and tired. Dobbs fell dead and Nuttingreceived a minnie ball at the left of his back bone and it was cut out in front of his stomach; one ball entered the back part of his hip and was taken out in front, a third gave him a flesh wound in the wrist. In a moment or two the

Captain came up and when he looked at him exclaimed: "Why that boy lives back there where I got dinner; They are as fine people as I ever met!'* He expressed regret at the wounding of Bud, and spoke in very high terms of the family. Bud was afterwards taken to Neosho where he eventually recovered and is now living near Splitlog.

The Wimpey boys had quite a varied career during the war. Mr Wimpey lived on Beaver valley near the mouth of the long hollow that runs up to Splitlog. One night the old gentleman and a small boy had gone up the fence a short distance from the house to look after some stock. A band of bushwhackers happened along and took his hat, coat, shoes and pants, and left the old man to return to the bosom of his family with the cool April breeze chanting requiems through the flapping tail of his nether and only garment.

Two of his sons were conscripted into the Southern Army. One made his escape in a short time, but the other was afterwards killed in a battle down near the Mississippi River.

aid and information to the bushwhackers. The following account of his death and the cause given in the report was furnished by C. D. Wimpey, a brother to the deceased.

Tim had been at McRae 's helping the women kill hogs. It was along in the evening and he and the women were snowballing, when a party of Indian scouts under Capt. Stevens came along and took him prisoner. They went on down the creek about two miles where they halted and the Captain ordered two Indians to shoot him. He was shot twice in the head and then stabbed.

His brothers, Jim and William, both loyal men, made complaint to General Blunt and the matter was investigated. Capt. Stevens reported that on coming down the creek they had captured Nathaniel McRae, who convinced him that he, McRae, was a good, loyal citizen, but told him that Tim Wimpey wTas a bad bushwhacker. He said they would find him on down the creek helping some women kill hogs. He was but a boy, but very dangerous.

The reason given for McRae, s animosity is that he attempted to steal Wimpey ?s horse some time before that and Tim would have killed him had his gun not missed lire.

The first Union man killed in the war is said to have been William Hamlin, who was shot by Rice Robinson, in April, 1861. Mark Harmon and Russell Spencer were killed early in 1862 on account of their unswerving loyalty to the government. These were followed later by many murders and depredations committed by the Confederates, generally bands of bushwhackers.

The Union people suffered the most severely durinsr the raid of the Confederates in 1861 and 1862 but were never safe until after the close of war. The number of Union men killed in this county has never been fully ascertained.

Bands of Union scouts were constantly making raids through this county and a spirit of retaliation was often manifested. A number of men were shot down in retaliation for like offenses perpetrated on their friends, and many more killed with arms as bushwhackers. Upwards of forty men of this county were thus killed during the four years of the war. This does not include those killed in battle, or in actual service.

Among the leading bushwhackers was Bill Hinson, who burnt the court house at Pineville in 1863. He or some of his gang also burnt Hugh L. Testerman 's house and the residence of C. B. Walker. He was afterwards shot at Xeosho.

On the Union side, Lieut, Christian was a terror to the evil doers. He was possessed of great bravery and his expeditions into this county were very much dreaded by his foes. He was afterwards killed and scalped by the Confederates. Col. Kelso was the most noted Union scout in this section of the state. He made many dangerous and daring expeditions, and became an object of equal dread and hatred to the bushwhackers. He however escaped unharmed and after serving a term in Congress after the close of the war, went to the Rocky Mountains where he made quite a fortune.

Hugh Testerman had quite a lot of apples in his orchard to which the soldiers freely helped themselves. Mrs. Testerman, his first wife, gathered a lot of the apples and put them away near the house. A few of the soldiers got after these one clay, and she promptly ordered them away. One of them refused to obey and was proceeding to help himself when she shot him, inflicting a dangerous wound. The fellow was laid up for some time, but it is believed that he finally got well.

This put a check on the apple stealing, but came very near costing "Uncle Hugh" his life. The comardes of the wounded man seized Mr. Testerman and would have killed him, but the Confederate commander ordered hisrelea: and placed a guard to protect his property.

In the early part of the war Col. Shields of Southwest City, recently deceased, was taken prisoner by a company of Kansas troops and was about to be shot wThen John Martin of Pineville, a Union man, secured his release.

On another occasion J. P. LaMance, who at that time held a commission in the Confederate service, was on the point of being executed by some Union troops, when John V. Hargrove interfered and saved his life. As an officer Mr. LaMance had been very lenient towards Union men, and did his utmost to save their liv« and property. Afterwards, when the control of this county had shifted to the other side, his kindness was remembered by his old neighbors.

Pineville between the Second Wisconsin Cavalry and the Confederates under Major Russell. The latter were defeated, with the loss of several prisoners and considerable property.

At another time the Federal army was advancing down the valley towards Pineville and a detatchment was sent in advance down the ridge. They planted four cannon on the point of the hill north of Testerman's house and threw a number of shells over the town and in the bottom across the river where the Price farm now is. The Confederates had retreated a short time before, and the Union army passed through and went on up Little Sugar.

In August, 1863, there was a sharp engagement in the bottom just across the river from Pineville between Col. Coffee with about 500 Confederates and a portion of the Sixth Mo. Cavalry. Coffee lost quite a number wounded and prisoners and much of his munitions.

Jim Cowan reports a little fight on Granny's Branch in which he was a participant. He was with a company of Union soldiers who were out on a scout. Some three or four were some distance in advance when they were suddenly fired on by fifteen or twenty of the enemy. A running fight ensued, the balance of the party coming up in a short time. Pour or five of the Confederates were wounded but no one was hurt on the other side.

M. N. LaMance had a very narrow escape from death at the hands of some Kansas troops. They took him prisoner at his home in Pineville, he being then a mere boy, and had the rope around his neck to hang him. His mother ran into the crowd and begged for his life. For some time she was repelled and every effort but force was used to induce her to leave. At last some one set fire to their house and, pointing to it told her to go and save it. She refused, saying, ''No, the house may burn, but I must save my boy. ' This touched the hard hearts of his would be executioners and they went and extinguished the fire and then released the boy. This was the principal cause of his joining the Southern army which he did soon afterwards.

The following story of vengeance being meeted out to the perpetrators of a crime is related as told by one who claims to know the facts and vouches for the truth of the statements.

As has been before related, Mark Harmon was killed by a band of men early in 1862 for being a loyal man. He had been away and was on his way home when he was met by a possee of nineteen men. Knowing that his life had been threatened, he took refuge behind a tree and determined to sell his life as dearly as possible. His enemies without exposing themselves gradually formed a circle around the tree and soon brought him down with their rifles.

His son Dan was in California, but David and John were here in the Southwest. Besides his sons Mr. Harmon had many friends among whom was Col. Kelso, who determined that his murder should not go unavenged. They made enquiry in the neighborhood and ascertained from different women that a band of nineteen men were in the neighborhood that day, a few of whom they knew. Not long afterwards one of these men was taken prisoner some two or three counties east of here. He would have been summarily dealt with, but Harmon's friends requested that he be delivered to them. They took him off some distance from the camp and told him they would give him one chance for his life.

If he would give the names of all the party that killed Mark Harmon, they would turn him loose and not pursue him until he had an hour's start. If they caught him after that they would kill him. He accepted their terms, gave the names of the other eighteen and made his escape. He went east and joined the Federal army and some time afterwards was shot for insubordination.

then made and. the truth of his statement as to the guilty parties fully verified. From that day they were a doomed set of men. For three years their pursuers hung on their trail, neither giving nor asking mercy. Before the close of the war seventeen of the band were killed. One man by the name of Adams went to Texas soon after Harmon's death and is said to be the only one of them who escaped. On the other hand it is claimed that there were two living in Texas after the war.

The incidents of the cruel war might be extended indefinitely, but the foregoing are sufficient to give to the rising generation an idea of what our people on both sides did and suffered during the four years of the Great Civil War.