Shelby County, Missouri - Chapter 6, 1911

Chapter 6

The Col'xty's War Eecord - The Moemox AVae - The Iowa "\Vae - Shelby Figures IX Mexicax "War - The "War of 1861 - Governor Jackson Refuses to Respond - The Hunnewell IMeeting - The Flag-Raising Period - The First Federal Troops - First Union Company Organized - Salt River Bridge Burned - Join Green's Company - Green Takes Shelbina - Report of Col. N. G. "Williams, Third Iowa Infantry - "What the Kansas Officers Said - Second Burning of Salt River Bridge - Shelby'^ County- Confederate Troops - Movement of Union Forces - General Grant in Shelby - Secession of Missouri - County Court Meetings - Changes in County* Officials.

The citizenship of Shelby county, be it said to their ci'edit, are and always have been a peaceable and law-abiding people. They, ho^Vever, are not cowards, and whenever a call has been made for volunteers to defend our nation's honor, Shelby has willing-ly responded with her just proportion. The people, however, are the peaceable kind, and prefer to live the simple life around the home fireside rather than to shoulder a rifle and march to war. "Were all nations like Shelby county the time would soon come when, as Isaiah said nearly three thousand years ago, "they shall beat their swords into ])lows]iares and their svears into pruning hooks : Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more."

a new bible (1827) at Palmyra, X. Y., had found their way into Missouri and had settled in the western part of the state. The people clamored for their expulsion, and in 1838 and 1839 considerable skirmishing took place in Caldwell and Carrol counties between the militia of Missouri and the disciples of Joseph. It was to uphold the honor of the state that Capt. S. S. Matson, in the early part of the year 1839, was sent with a company of Shelby county volunteers to the field of battle. The company got only as far as Keytesville, Chariton county, and then disbanded and returned home, without so much as the smell of iwwder on their coats.

Missourians located along tlie liorder of Iowa had for years been in a dispute with their Iowa neighbors over the boundary line between the two states. At times the contention took on a serious phase. The people of Iowa and Alissouri became revengeful and unfriendly, and from 1837 to 1845 there were numerous small but sometimes quite serious engagements between the two contending sections. To aid their ]\Iissouri neighbors a company of infantry was organized in about the year 1840 in Shelby and sent to the front. The matter was, however, settled by the Supreme court of the United States, and the infantry, like Captain Matson's company, turned around and marched right home again, without the stain of blood upon their hands.

Shelby Figures In The Mexican War

Wlien a company was organized in July, 1846, at Palmyra, to reinforce Col. Sterling Price's 2d Missoui-i Mounted Infantry, with Gen. David Willock as ca]itain, Shelby furnished some valiant volunteers. On arriving at Port Leavenworth; Colonel Price's regiment was foimd full, and four additional companies that were present, including the company from Marion, were formed into an extra battalion, to be attached to the regiment. Willock was elected lieutenantcolonel and Anson Smith succeeded him as captain of Company I, of Marion. Samuel Shepard later succeeded Smith. Of Company I, 2d Missouri Volunteers, "VV i 1 1 0 c k ' s Extra Battalion, Shelby county, furnished :

James A. Carothers, first lieutenant (dead), and privates William H. Brown, George W. Barker, J. Calvin Carothers, Robert Clark (died in service at Las Vegas, February 22, 1847), James R. Creel, Thomas S. Dunbar, Peter P. Davis, James Parker, W. R. Strachan, General McNeal (provost marshal).

due time, and was mustered into service August 20. Arrived at Santa Fe in October, in which section they spent their term of service. Some of our members joined the assault on El Moro, January 25, 1847, and were also in our Indian fight on the Seneca river, February 1, 1847.

The principal service rendered, however, was guard and garrison duty at Las Vegas, Santa Fe and Taos, and in grazing camps. In the fall of 1847 the company was mustered out at Leavenworth and returned home October 10-12. The company marched from Mexico to Leavenworth, thence to Palmyra, most of those from Shelby stopping at home en route.

The Wae Of 1861

The twenty-first general assembly of the state of Missouri met at Jefferson City on December 31, 1860. The Shelby county representative, Hon. John Mc- Afee, played a jirominent part in the proceedings of this assembly. Mr. Mc- Afee was chosen speaker of the house as a Democrat of the extreme proslavery wing of the party. He received seventy-seven votes to forty-three for Marcus Boyd of Greene county, a Bell- Everett man, and four for Thomas L. Price, of Cole county, a Douglas-Dunn man, and one for John Hyer, of Dent county. This was a great honor for Shelby county and also to her illustrious representative, who was chosen to this high position at so critical a period in the history of the state. The message sent to the legislature by the retiring governor, Hon. Robert M. Stewart, was mild and conservative on the slavery and secession proposition. To show how conservative he was, we give tlie following extract from his message: "The people of Missouri ought not to be frightened from their propriety by the past unfriendly relation of the North, nor dragooned into secession by the restricted legislation of the extreme South."

The inaugural message of Governor Claiborne Fox Jackson was not so conservative. He held that the interests and destiny of the slave-holding states were the same; that the state was in favor of remaining in the Union as long as there was any hope of maintaining the guarantees of the constitution, but that in the event of a failure to reconcile the differences which then threatened the disruption of the Union, it would be the duty of the state "to stand by the South," and that he was utterly opposed to the doctrine of coercion in any event. Governor Jackson concluded his message by recommending that a state convention be called "in order that the will of the people may be ascertained and effectuated."

The legislature on January 17th passed a bill in accordance with Governor Jackson's recommendation, calling a convention and appointing the following February 18th as the day of the election of delegates, and February 28th as the day that the convention should convene. The bill also provided that there should be three delegates from each senatorial district, so that in the aggregate the convention was composed of three times as many delegates as there were state senators.

act, ordinance or resolution passed by them should become valid until ratified by a majority of the qualified voters of the state voting upon the question.

It therefore became impossible for Missouri to secede from the Union without a vote of a majority of her qualified voters. Hon. Charles H.. Hardin, of the Boone-Callaway district, was the author of this part of the resolutions. Mr. Hardin was afterwards elected governor.

At that time, as now, Shelby county was comprised in the district with Adair and Macon counties, which was then the seventh district. Each county was allowed to name a candidate on the unconditional Union ticket. The three candidates were John D. Foster, of Adair; Frederick Eowland, of Macon, and Joseph M. Irwin, of Shelby. G. W. Hillias, a young lawyer of Shelbyville, was selected as the conditional Union candidate. He was to vote for secession on certain conditions that might possibly arise. Mr. Hillias later, or on March 7, 1861, established the Shelby County Weekly, a newspaper which he published at Shelbyville. Irwin and his two running mates were elected by a large majority, and on the very day that Jefferson Davis was inaugurated president of the Confederacy. Shelby voted nearly three to one for the unconditional Union candidates. Sterling Price, of Chariton county, was chosen president of the convention that assembled at Jefferson City, February 28, 1861. Mr. Price was later a distinguished general in the Confederate army. After being in session for two days, the convention adjourned to meet in St. Louis on the 4tli of iMarch following, the day that Abraham Lincoln became ]>resident. TTei-e it con- tinned in session until Marcli 22d, at which time an adjournment was taken until the third Monday in December, unless called together prior to that date by a call of a majority of a committee of seven. Of the ninety-nine members of this convention, fifty-three were natives of Virginia or Kentucky, three were Germans, and one an Irishman. Thirteen were from the North. On the 9th day of March the committee on federal relations, through its chairman, Hon. Hamilton R. Gamble, of St. Louis, made a report declaring that secession by Missouri was "certainly not demanded." The report further said, ' ' The true position for Missouri to assume is that of a state whose interests are bound up in the maintenance of the Union, and whose kind feelings and strong sympathies are with the people of the southern states, with whom we are connected by the ties of friendship and blood."

There were only five or six votes in opposition to the resolution. Throughout the proceedings of the convention Mr. Irwin was a radical Union man. He did not figure prominently in the debates during these strenuous days, but his votes were all cast on the side of the radical Union men. He cast his vote for the test oaths, and on July - , 186.3, (the day the convention adjourned sine die.) he voted for the ordinance emancipating the slaves, to take effect July 4, 1876, and providing for the payment to every loyal owner of the sum of $300 for every slave so emancipated.

It was now war - war and rumors of war. The people of Shelby county were as intensely agitated over the matter as a people could possible be. The only topic of conversation was war. A large part of the population of the county sympathized with the South and freely and openly gave expression to their feelings, while the Union side likewise had many friends and defenders. War was not only freely discussed, but many actually prepared for it, while others declared in conservative tones that Missouri had done nothing to bring on a war, and would do nothing to help it along should one break out. They would say, "We are neither secessionists nor abolitionists, and we are neither fanatics nor fire-eaters."

The Union men and the secessionists, however, began to hold secret meetings. Friendly they remained as they met each other in the everyday walks of life ; but the smell of powder was being wafted by every breeze that crossed the county, and in the dim distance the clank of arms and the muffled beat of the drum could be heard. While the meetings were supposed to be secret, they were known to both sides. The deliberations, however, were intended to be kept strictly within the breast of each attendant. Both sides began to prepare for war, in case of an emerency, while each side hoijed for peace. They resolved that if come it must they would have their powder dry and their affairs in a condition that they might loyally give their time and service to the cause they believed to be right and just. It matters little now which side was on the right and which side was in error, one thing can be said to the credit of both sides : no men were ever more sincere, more in earnest, and more honest in o]nnion.

numerous public meetings for the Union. Monroe, to the south, favored the Crittenden compromise, while Marion, to the east, favored openly the cause of secession. The citizenship of the county was nervous, feverish and excited during the winter of 1861. The Union sentiment seemed to predominate, yet the secessionists were bold and demonstrative, and on March 16 many attended the Confederate flag-raising at Emerson, Marion county, and later the same event at Palmyra. This fired their souls with enthusiasm and filled their hearts with sympathy for their southern kinsmen. Many, yes, perhaps nine-tenths of their number, were connected with the South by strong cords of kinship, of birth, and other selfinterests. Hon. G. Watts Hillias, who had been defeated as delegate to the state convention on the conditional Union ticket, now edited the Shelby County Weekly, at Shelbyville, and while in fact he was a secessionist, he was mild and in tone for the Union, with many "ifs" and provisos.

On the 12th day of April, 1861, when Fort Sumter was fired on by the Confederates, there was great excitement throughout the whole country, which was participated in by even the peaceable citizens of Shelby. President Lincoln immediately issued a proclamation calling for seventy-five thousand volunteers, but Governor Jackson refused to resjiond to the call or requisition on Missouri. This news rapidly spread over Missouri, and many openly declared in favor of secession, while others stood steadfastly by the Union.

22d of April for an extra session of the legislature, as he said in the call, "for the purpose of enacting such laws and adopting such measures as may be deemed necessary and proper for the more perfect organization and equipment of the militia of the state, and to raise money enough and such other means as may be required to place the state in proper attitude for defense." This extraordinary session of the legislature lasted only twelve days, from May 12th to May 23d inclusive. The speaker of the house, Hon. John McAfee, of Shelby county, stood by the governor on all his measures. He zealously supported the governor's war bills, known as Jackson's military bill, and all the measures adopted against the federal government.

The Hunnewell Meeting

A public meeting had been called to take place at Hunnewell on the 13th day of April. It so happened that this meeting followed the firing on Fort Sumter. Both sides were to be represented, and the cord of excitement was drawn to its utmost tension. The meeting was held and G. Watts Hillias represented the secessionists and Esquire Samuel B. Hardy, of Jackson township, espoused the cause of the Unionists. Al McAfee, who died only a few years ago at his home in Clarence, and who was a strong southern sympathizer, attended the meeting. It seems Mr. McAfee was somewhat disappointed in the way Hillias had presented the cause of the South, and he (McAfee) gave vent to his feelings, in an article published in the Weekly the following issue of the paper. To give the readers of this history some idea of the feeling that

' ' I attended the meeting at Hunnewell on Saturday last, and propose to give your readers a few items. In vain we have looked for a peaceful solution of our national trouble. War has begun and the time is at hand when every man should speak boldly and fearlessly his sentiment. Men cannot longer hide their real opinions under high-sounding and once loved and much cherished names. It is the high duty of every man to speak and act for whichever side he deems right. I am a southerner in the full sense of the word. I am proud of the name, and therefore neither afraid nor ashamed to make the avowal. All my feelings are with the South. I believe they have truth, justice and right on their side, and, such being the case, a justice-loving God will aid them in their glorious struggle for independence.

"I attended that meeting to hear Hillias make a speech. I wanted to hear a secession speech, right out, but I was mistaken. He is a secessionist on certain conditions. The young man, in a clear, forceful manner, presented the position he occupied in the recent canvass. He was not for immediate secession - wanted a fair and honorable com- ]iromise, but, failing in this, was in favor of ^Missouri uniting her destiny with the South. We understood in this section that lio was an immediate secessionist, and that his opponent occupied precisely the position which I find Hillias occupied. Hence your readers can reasonably account for the heavy vote given for the so-called Union ticket. We are not .submissionists by any means. He gave the black Republicans some lovely blows. He closed his speech, which was able and eloquent, with some just and cutting remarks in regard to the proceedings of our state convention. He spoke thus of the majority. What a horrible imposition this convention affair is !

"Judge S. B. Hardy arose to reply; said he had been requested so to do by some of the leading men of the party in this section. The judge began by complimenting Abe Lincoln. Said that Lincoln had done all that man could do for the welfare of his country; that the black Republican party had already given the South more than they asked and seemed somewhat displeased at Hillias because he was hard on the black Republicans. Said he must not judge the black Republicans too hard - must give the devil his due. The judge, in his anxiety to relieve the black Republican party from any censure, was willing to make Judge Douglas a black Republican. Now, I have no fondness for some of Judge Douglas's views, yet, if he can preach black Republican doctrine with a more hearty will than did Judge Hardy, he is too black for me.

"I venture the assertion that Giddings himself does not more warmly support Abe Lincoln than did Judge Hardy, and yet he would feel himself insulted if I were to call him a black Republican. For shame, Judge; you and those who act with you - who sustain Lincoln and preach the same doctrines of his party - do have the moral courage to come out at once and say you are black Republicans ! It would be more manly. In fact, we would respect you all more. AVlay seek to hide under the name of Union, unless you all intend to form a new party composed of black Eepublican principles and adopt the name of Union the better to deceive the masses? It is a good name, for you are all 'unconditional Union men' - submissionists in the true and full sense of the word. Southern men tvith northern principles don't suit this climate. There is no excuse for men to act thus. The Union of our fathers is dead. Black Bepublicans killed it.

"We who loved it, and attested that by following its light, now deeplj' mourn over it. We would gather up the broken fragments and, placing them as they have been placed by our noble brethren of the South, would assist to guard those glorious particles forever.

"The question for Missourians to settle is whether they will unite their destiny to a white man's southern confederacy or with the negro confederacy of the North. Again, Judge, as you were the representative of your party, of course they endorse your views, and you said you were opposed to those seceded states being acknowledged inde]iendent by the government at Washington; hence you are in favor of coercion. That was a manly confession of yours. But I had understood your party had backed down from that position. 'Tis the same that your brethren of the North occupy. They are all in favor of coercion. The war has begun. When the judge closed, a glorious shout went up for the young champion of constitutional rights, and the way he poured hot shot into the .judge and his black Republican allies would do the soul of an honest man good.

"Now, I imdertake to say that the people of this township do not endorse any such sentiment as Judge Hardy uttei-ed on Saturday last; nor do they endorse the policy jDursued by a majority in the convention. The men are brave and intelligent; they loved the Union wliile it was one, but they are not base submissionists. Therefore it is useless for men under the garb of the Union to attempt to hide their love for black Republicanism. A. McAfee.

The Flag-Raising Period

The Union sympathizers and the secessionists both began to stir them.selves. The Confedei'ates, however, were the most active, and began to show their loyalty to the cause they advocated by hoisting secession flags. These emblems were identical with the one used by the Confederate States. The first Confederate flag that was raised in Shelby county was the one that stood in William Baker's door-yard, at the place now called Cherry Box. The land on which the flag stood is now owned by J. G. Detwiler. Quite a crowd of southern sympathizers gathered at the jDoleraising, and Capt. William H. Rawlings made a violent secession speech. In INIay a similar flag was raised on the south side of the court house square, near the entrance to the court house, in Shelbyville. This was a great day for the southern cause in Shelby county. Numerous speakers were invited, but the only ones to respond were Hon. James S. Green, for whom J. M. Ennis drove in a buggy to Canton, Lewis county, and Edward McCabe, of Palmyra. Green was one of Missouri's greatest orators, and in 1857 was elected to the United States senate to serve from 1857 to 1861, and was defeated for re-election by the legislature in 1861 because he was a secessionist. However, he received seventysix votes on one ballot, which was witliin three votes of a majority. Green made a brilliant speech, which was very bitter on the Union men. During the course of his speech, and addressing himself to any federals who might be present, he said: "If you win the day we will leave the state ; if we win, you shall leave." This statement was vigorously applauded by the secessionists present.

The speaking was held in the court house. The flag was made by the secession ladies of the town and afterwards divided and made into dresses by the ladies to prevent its capture by the federal troops. From this time on the Confederate flag waved over many homes in different parts of the county.

The Union men did not hoist any flags, but were busy just the same. They effected an organization at Miller's mill, in the eastern part of the county, and in Shelbyville, Ben McCoy, a brother-inlaw to William and Abe Kemper, was occasionally drilling a company of Union volunteers. Union men were numerous in and around Bethel, and we might add that this is the only township in Shelby county that has given a Republican majority since the war period. Griffin

Frost, who edited the Clarence Courier, and who died only recently and was buried in Edina, Mo., was at this time editing the Shelby County Weekly and was told by the Unionists that his room

The Fiest Federal Troops

The date on which the first federal troops actually set foot on Shelby county soil was Jime 13, 1861. The 2d Iowa Infantry, under command of Col. Samuel Curtis, came down the Mississippi river from Keokuk, Iowa, and landed at Hannibal. There they took the Hannibal & St. Joe railroad for St. Joe. At Hunnewell some citizens were fired upon by these troops and two persons were taken prisoners. No one was injured, however, and the troops passed on to St. Joseph. A number of Shelby county Union men went to St. Joseph at this time to enlist in the service. About this time there was an attempt made to organize a battalion of cavalry, with W. R. Strachan as major, and a company was organized at Shelbina by Captain Hughes. By this time the Shelby countians who had gone to St. Joseph had enlisted in the Old Missouri 13th Infantry (afterwards the 25th). They were captured a little later at Lexington, Mo., while serving under Mulligan.

The Monroe City fight happened July 10th of this year, and about the same time a detachment of the 16th Illinois came out from Macon City to William Baker's place and cut down the secession flag-pole that had been raised there. The neighborhood was badly scared, but beyond cutting the pole down the troops were not disposed to make any military

A Union meeting was held at Miller's mill, six miles east of Shelbyville, in Tiger Fork township, the latter part of July, 1861. The orators of the occasion were John M. Glover, of Lewis county, and John L. Taylor, of Knox. There were a large number of Union men present, but very few who sympathized with the Confederate cause. Hon. John McAfee, speaker of the house, however, attended, and was severely criticized and censured by Glover in the latter's speech for his (McAfee's) course in the legislature. After the speaking, McAfee and Glover engaged in a controversy, and McAfee called Glover a liar. Quick as a flash the Lewis countian assaulted the speaker. Quite an exciting time followed, but neither of the combatants was severely injured.

At this meeting the Shelby County Home Guards were organized, with Joseph H. Forman as captain; Robert Eaton and Solomon Miller, lieutenants ; Oliver Whitney, first orderly sergeant; George Lear, second orderly. This was an independent company and served as infanti'y.

This company possibly had existed irregularly since some time in May, but did not enter the United States service formally until July 2.3d. It was mustered in at Shelbina on the above day by United States Marshal William R. Strachan. This company was authorized by Gen. G. A. Hurlbut and continued under his jurisdiction until August 23d, at which time it was disbanded.

Guarding the railroad and the government's goods at Hannibal and doing a little scouting and camp duty were the services rendered the government by this company. The men were armed with muskets sent them from Hannibal, and upon being mustered out a majority enlisted in other regiments.

Salt River Bridge Burned

The Missouri State Guards, a company of secession troops from Ralls county, under Capt. Daniel B. West, under direction of Dr. Foster, of Hannibal, set fire to and bui-ned the Salt River railroad bridge on July 10, 1861. The bridge was located two miles west of Hunnewell. The troops were assisted by some of the residents of the neighborhood, who furnished turpentine to hasten the burning. Five cars were burned at Hannibal the same day, and Foster ordered the depot burned, but was persuaded to countermand the order by citizens of the town.

At the time the bridge was burned the fight was on at Monroe City, and the federals were greatly hindered in the transportation of supplies and troops. The bridge was soon rebuilt by Hurlbut 's troops. The sti'ucture was made only temporary for a time. Some Illinois troops soon after constructed a block-house near the bridge, and a strong guard was kept for some time. Brig.- Gen. John Pope was assigned by the federal authorities to the North ^Missouri command. He made headquarters part of the time at Hunnewell and Shelbina. Brigadier-General Hurlbut was also an active federal officer along the Hannibal & St. Joe railroad, and spent some of his time in Shelby county.

In July of 1861 quite a number of Shelbj' county boys who had decided to enlist and die if need be for the cause they believed to be just, left the county and joined the Confederate ranks. They enlisted under Col. Martin E. Green, who was then at Sugar Camp ford, on the Fabius, near Monticello, in Lewis county.

Colonel Green soon left Lewis county and concentrated his forces, about 1,000 men, near Marshall's mill, about six miles northwest of Palmyra.

AMiile located here. Green sent a company into this county to arrest some L'nion men at Shelbyville. The company was commanded by J. L. Owen, of Marion county. They remained in Shelbyville an hour or so and then returned to camp, being unable to find their men.

A few days later, Frisbie McCullough, commanding a company of Confederates, called at the residence of Capt. Joseph Freeman, just east of Shelby^'ille, and took the captain and a hired man named Gwinn prisoners.

At another time McCullough visited Shelbyville and took Col. John F. Benjamin prisoner. The latter was held for some time and was well guarded all the time. He was taken into Knox and Lewis counties. Green also made a trip to Bethel at one time, but here he did not disturb anybody more than to levy small contributions in the way of supplies.

In September, Mr. Green broke camp at Marshall's mill and went south to join General Price's army. He crossed the Hannibal & St. Joseph railroad near ^lonroe City and passed across Monroe

The next noteworthy movement of trooi)s in Shelby county took place in September, when General Hurlbut, commanding 500 troops of the 3d Iowa. Col. David Moore's Northeast Missouri Regiment, and Colonel Smith, of the 16th Illinois, united their forces at Bethel to attack Green, whom they supposed to be at Philadelphia, in Marion county. With their 1,200 men, of whom 400 were mounted, and their four pieces of field artillery, and 150 Knox and Adair County Home Guards, they began their march on Green, but on arriving at Philadelphia they learned of his movement to the south.

Hurlbut now sent Moore and Smith with their men on to Palmyra, and with the 3d Iowa and about 120 sick men he started to Shelbina. He reached Shelbyville at near noon, and remained for dinner, after which the march to Shelbina continued.

Three of the Union soldiers set out on foot, without leave, to go from Shelbyville to Shelbina, while the main portion of the army was vi.siting at the county seat. They had covered about half the distance, and were walking down the direct road between the two cities, when they were fired upon by Confederate sympathizers who had concealed themselves behind some large oak trees about half a mile north of the Salt river crossing. One of the men was killed instantly, another wounded, and the third escaped unharmed. He was found a mile or so east of the scene and was taken by J. C. Hale on horseback to the command, which they met on the high prairie about two miles out of Shelbyville. The dead comrade was taken by the company to Slielbina and buried. The two that survived were severely censured by their commander for leaving the company without permission.

The parties that did the shooting were, it is said, nine in number, and among that nmnber were Eay Moss, John Jacobs, Bert Hightower, John Evans and a Mr. Freeman. They had their horses tied near by, and intended, no doubt, to tire upon the whole company as they passed by; but the three stragglers drew their fire before the full company got there. They made their escape on horseback. Moss afterwards became a captain in the Missouri State Guards under General Price. He served six months in this capacity and was then mustered out and immediately re-enlisted in the regular Confederate army. On October 4, 1862, he was killed at Corinth, Miss., having his head torn off by a grape shot. Jacobs also enlisted in the regular Confederate service and became a captain. He became famous as a fighter. After the war he settled at Louisiana and died in about 1880.

At seven o'clock that evening Hurlbut reached Shelbina, but could not wire for transportation on account of a fierce wind and hail storm. He therefore went into camp. The next day the company received transportation and left about noon for Brookfield.

During this time Moore and Smith had remained at Palmyra, but on the 4th of September set out after Green. They, however, left 400 men behind to guard the city, who on the 6th, under the command of General Pope and accom]ianied by Col. John M. Glover and about fifty men of his cavalry, which

Green Takes Shelbina

General Pope, who was now located at Brookfield, had three companies of the 3d Iowa Infantry under Col. N. G. Williams, and a company of the Linn County Home Guards from Brookfield, to Palmyra, to open the road and then to go to Paris, Monroe county, to take possession of the specie and funds in the bank there, fearing the Confederates would get hold of it. On August 31st they left Brookfield, and arrived at Palmyra the day following. Here they found they had to go to Hannibal in order that their engine might be turned around. "^JNTiile at Hannibal they were joined by the 2d Kansas Eegiment, which had fought at "Wilson's creek and had come up from St. Louis on a boat on their way home to be mustered out.

The Kansas boys gladly joined the men under Colonel Williams and set out with them for Paris. Colonel Williams had a few more than 600 men, which included the Linn County ^Mounted Home Guards under Loring and a large portion of the 3d Iowa under Lieutenant- Colonel Scott. Sunday, September 1st, the Federals arrived in Shelbina and that evening set out for Paris. They arrived there Monday morning, after an all-night march. The fimds had been removed by the cashier of the bank, and could not be obtained. So on the following morning the troops started to return to Shelbina. Colonel Green, who was then at Florida, had mustered his forces and determined to take the Federals. AVilliams and his men reached

Shelbina by hard and tiresome marching and by considerable dodging and shifting from one direction to another in order to avoid Green. They arrived in Shelbina after dark and soon learned that General Hnrlbnt had left the town that day for Brookfield. The Union men realized they were in a close place, with only 620 men, and Green close on their heels with something like 1,500 Vnen. On Wednesday, Septemlier 4th, it conld be seen that Green had them surrounded and wo^ild soon accomplish his aim. so the Federals barricaded the streets and concluded to put up the best defense possible and to make their get-away as soon as an opportunity presented itself. They were relived, however, about 11 o'clock by a train arriving from Brooktield. It was sent by General Hurlbut to take the company back to Brooktield. Wednesday at noon Colonel Green sent Colonel Williams a note which gave the Federals thirty minutes to remove the women and children and to surrender. The order was obeyed as far as removing the women and children was requested, but no further. The note was not even answered. Green had obtained a good position just southeast of the town and out of range of the Federal musket and opened tire with his two pieces of artillery, which belonged to Captain Kneisley's Palmyra battery. One was a six and the other a nine pounder. Nearly every shot was well pointed and fell somewhere near the center of the town near the depot square. Here it was that Captain McClure, of the Second Kansas, lost a foot. Two balls went through the old hotel building and the marksmanship was so accurate that only two balls went astrav. They were found out north of town next day. Green's men were out of musket range and, of course, the Federals could not fight back, unless they could get in closer range. This they did not want, so the Kansas troops took the train. The whole company then boarded the train, except the Linn County Mounted Home Guards. They got out of town by proceeding under cover of train - keeping the train between them and the artillery until they were a mile or so west of town. The Confederates then advanced and took the town. Their trophies of war were some knapsacks, four mules and a wagon and some gims. The Confederates now numbered fully 2,500 men. They had been reinforced by some Marion, Ralls and Monroe county guards under Col. Theodore Brace. The report of the battle by Colonel Williams follows:

Report Of Col. N. G. Williams, Third Iowa Infantry

In obedience to your order, I respectfully submit the following statement of facts connected with the Paris expedition and the reasons why I retired from Shelbina :

Late Friday evening (August 30th), I received a telegraphic dispatch from General Pope to take my effective command, together with Loring's cavalry, proceed to Palmyra, open the road, and then go to Paris and take the specie and funds in the bank and send it to St. Louis. Early Saturday morning I started from Brookfield to execute the order. I arrived in Palmyra about noon, was there informed by the railroad eml^loyees that we would have to go to Hannibal in order to turn the engine west, they telling me it would be impos- sible to back the train. As a further reason for going to Hannibal there was $150,000 specie on board and from instructions I feared it would be in some danger of being seized by the rebels. I arrived in Hannibal and while feeding my men the 2nd Kansas regiment arrived per boat, enroute for Kansas to recruit. I immediately invited them to join me in the Paris expedition, as I had learned on my down trip that it would be unsafe with my force (320 men) to go into Monroe county. They consented, and we started Sunday morning. Arrived at Shelbina about noon. I jDressed into service some wagons to carry provisions and sick men, and started for Paris about 8 o'clock in the evening. My entire force consisted of about 620 men, viz: 520 infantry and 100 cavalry. I arrived in Paris at daylight Monday morning, September 2nd. I immediately proceeded to the bank in company with M. Cassel, Esq. (agent to receive money). We called the directors together. They informed us that the cashier had taken the money to a safe place, and that they did not know where he or the money was. "We waited during the day, thinking that they would get the money. In the afternoon I learned that the whole country was rising in arms against us. About 5 o'clock I gave the order to prepare for our return march, but a termendous storm coming up I countermanded the order and resolved to stay in Paris over night. I quartered my men in the Court house and vacant buildings. About midnight we received an alarm and turned out under arms and remained so during the night. Started on our return at daybreak.

Green and his forces had got past General Hurlbut and that he had prepared an ambush for me on the straight road to Shelbina. I determined to take the road to Clinton, making a detour of ten miles. Every step of the way I found evidence that the whole people were in arms. I arrived, however, in Shelbina at night, having escaped the ambush, Init had one man wounded (sujiposedly mortal) by the enemy's pickets. "When I arrived in Shelbina I found no communication east or west, also learned that General Hurlbut had left that day for Brookfield. During the night had two alarms. In the morning and after the enemy had shown himself in force, a train arrived from the west and brought word that another train was coming to take my command away. In the meantime the enerdy was gathering in still greater force, so that I could make out about 3,000 men.

About noon I received a note from the rebel commander, giving me thirty minutes to move the women and children and to surrender. I ordered the women to leave but made no reply to Green. I barricaded the streets and prepared to resist the enemy. After a short time the enemy opened on us with two pieces of artillery, one nine and one six pounder (reported to me to be brass by an escaped prisoner). Their battery was planted a full mile off. I am satisfied that at this time the enemy numbered fully 3,000. With my glass I could discover a strong force under cover of timber to support their artillery. I offered to lead the men out on the plain and offer the enemy battle. Major Cloud, of the Second Kansas, objected. I did not insist, as I thought the opposing force too great.

During the firing I discovered tlie enemy some two miles in the west tearing up tlie track. I immediately ordered one company on the train to run up to them, which was done, and the enemy driven from that point. I observed also a force in the east tearing up the track and started a train that way, but the train came back, as the enemy opened iipon it with their artillerj'. The officer in command reported to me that he supposed the engine and train of more value than a little piece of track. I told him he did right.

The enemy fired well. Almost every shot was well pointed, either striking the building or falling in the square. Captain McClure, of the Second Kansas, had his foot shot off. After receiving some thirty shots, the officers of the Second Kansas held a meeting, and sent Major Cloud to me, demanding that I should withdraw the men, saying that tliey had been in one Springfield fight and did not wish to be in another (meaning fighting against such odds), and also that if I would withdraw and get artillery they would come back with me. He further stated that his men were discontented and supposed they were going home and did not like being brought on the expedition; that he, to encourage them, had held out the inducement to them that the money in the bank was to pay them off with; that they only considered themselves in the light of volunteers, etc. I still further resisted, and declared I would not mention the subject of retreating to my men, as I had been to them and told them we could hold the place; but finally they insisted so strongly, and fearing there might be a stampede, I consented to call the officers together.

When they met, I said to them I had nothing further to say. After they had decided it to be expedient to retire I told them to wait oi'ders. I delayed giving orders any further than to tell them to go to their companies and prepare to move. After a few minutes I saw the Kansas men starting for the cars. They filled the first ti'ain and started. I jumped on the engine and ordered the engineer to move slow, so that the cavalry could keep up with him on the right flank (the enemy was on the south). I then jumped off and started back for my own men (280), but they, seeing the Kansas men off, had got on the second train and started before I got back. In the confusion the Iowa men left some of their coats and knapsacks in the quarters. They did not know at the time we were retiring from the enemy. There was also one transijortation wagon and four mules left, all of which might have l)een brought off had they waited for orders.

It is proper for me to state that I had l)ut one captain with me at the time and he had been quite sick for several days, and was unfit for duty at the time, but he turned out and rendered me valuable assistance. I was extremely short for officers. I had sent three home sick. I then moved the trains to Hudson and reported to you in person. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, said: "It is perhaps proper for me to state foiTually to you a fact or two relative to the evacuation of Shelbina on yesterday. The enemy numbered, as near as we could ascertain, about 3,000 men, and we had only 600 efficient men. We drove them several times and held our position until the enemy bi-ought to bear upon us two pieces of artillery, one six and one nine pounder. AVe having no artillery and not being able to reach them otherwise, but being compelled to sit behind barricades and receive discharges of artillery, which would inevitably have destroyed the command, I, after consultation with Major Cloud and the ofBcers of the Second Kansas, insisted upon the men being withdrawn until we could be reinforced by artillery, which we understood was at Brookfield. Colonel Williams was averse to the withdrawal, Ijut we insisted that it should be done and he tinally yielded a reluctant and unwilling assent; and as we had volunteered to serve in the Paris expedition, he was in courtesy compelled to pay some attention to our wishes in the matter and consequently he at last yielded."

After the departure of the Federal troops Colonel Green took posession of Shelliina and his men remained there several hours. Late that evening the Confederates burned the railroad bridge across Salt river. They also visited Hunnewell and caused some slight damage about the depot.

Colonel Blanton, of Monroe county, was in command of the company that Green sent around west of town to tear up the railroad track, and which was made to retreat by the company sent out on the

Hunnewell was now made the base of what was expected to be important military movements. And the people of the county saw something of the real pomp of war. A brigadier-general and his staff took charge of affairs and directed matters from this town. Then Brigadier-General Pope was sent here to move on Green and to totally annihilate the latter, who was then stationed at Florida, in Monroe county. But General Fremont withheld his orders for Pope to move on Green until the latter had crossed the Missouri river at Glasgow and was on his way to join Price at Lexington. Captain Forman and the other Shelby countians who had formerly been taken prisoners, were released near Marshall, after being duly paroled not to take up arms until they were exchanged.

Brigadier-General Pope left Hunnewell on September 8 and pushed forward to where Green had been near Florida. Here he found only a few of the rear guard and a portion of their outfit, which were captured. Only two shots were fired and only one man wounded. The cavalry set out to locate Green, but returned later and announced that the Confederates must be over fifty miles away. General Pope returned to Hunnewell.

came active and many set out to join the Confederate army. Some went to join the General Price Home Guards in southwestern Missouri, others went to Colonel Green in Lewis county. There was no regular company organized in the county, but those who had the war fever left the county either singly or in squads and joined themselves to the Confederate army, either with Colonel Green or General Price. A small company was organized near Huunewell, however, about the first of August, which was not a regular organization. They were never mustered into service and were composed of men from the three counties of Marion, Monroe and Shelby. The company was commanded by Capt. Thomas Stacy, who lived on a farm near Hunnewell, in Shelby county.

August 8th, Stacy's company made a raid on Palmyra, which was then unoccupied and secured some provisions, arms and took two citizens prisoners. August 16th the company fired on a train near Hunnewell. The Sixteenth Illinois were on the train and two of the Union men were bady wounded.

Movement Of Union Forces

About the first of August, Captain Forman received orders fi'om General HurHmt to take his comjiany of Shelby County Home Guards and search certain houses in Shelbyville for military stores. Ten members of the Sixteenth Illinois, who were stationed at Shelbina, volunteered to go with Captain Forman.

They reached Shelbyville early in the morning and searched the store of J. B. Marmaduke, but found no military stores. They, however, arrested the village gunsmith, Fred Boettcher, whom they charged with repairing guns for some Confederates. Boettcher was taken from Shelbyville to Slielbina and then sent to St. Louis. The Forman Home Guards while in Shelbyville also cut down the secession flag pole.

As stated previously, Hon. John Mc- Afee was an extreme Southern sympathizer and ag-itator. He was accused of being one of the three men in north Missouri who did more than a thousand others to bring about hostilities. The other two were Senator James S. Green, of Lewis county, and Thomas L. Anderson, of Palmyra. It is also notable, however, that when the cannon began to belch forth their deadly missiles of war, these three men remained at home. The story is told on Mr. McAfee that at one time during the progress of the hostilities that General Hurlbut offered Mc- Afee a complete outfit, including horse, saddle and bridle and safe conduct out of his lines, if he would enlist in Green's army. McAfee had been arrested by the Sixteenth Illinois on August 6th. The company came from Macon over to Shelbyville and after placing Mr. McAfee under arrest took him to Macon and kept him a prisoner for some time.

He was treated severely by the Federals because of his pronounced Southern tendencies, and because he had been so prominent and active in secession matters. It is said General Hurlbut caused him to do hard labor in the extreme August sunshine, such as digging privies for the soldiers. After keeping him in Macon for a time, he was sent to Palmyra, and General Hurlbut ordered him tied upon the cab of the engine to keep the Confederates from firing upon the train. The order, however, was not executed. The engineer refused to run the train if the soldiers executed the order.

Geneeai, Grant In Shelby

It was now a settled fact that Missouri soil would be stained with the blood of man by the cruel hand of war, and the Federal government deemed it of the greatest importance to keep the Hannibal & St. Joseph railroad intact. The road was needed to transport troops and provisions and munitions of war over, also in the transmission of messages it was of the utmost benefit. It was therefore of very great importance that the road should be carefully guarded. To accomplish this the government plainly realized they must send more men to the county. Accordingly Gen. U. S. Grant, commanding the Twenty-first Illinois Infantry, and Col. John M. Palmer, commanding the Fourteenth Illinois, were sent to relieve Colonel Smith at Monroe City. In about a week they were sent on to Hunnewell and to the Salt river bridge, which had been burned only a short time before and which they were to guard during the reconstruction thereof. It thus appears that Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, later one of the greatest captains in the Union army and afterward twice President of the United States, began his illustrious military careei- in Shelby county. While located at Salt river bridge. General Grant erected a block house, which stood to his memory until a few years ago. He was ordered to proceed agaist Tom Harris, who was conducting a recruiting station at Florida. On his arrival there he found that Harris and his recruits had scattered. General Grant turned around and marched back to his post at Salt river. In relation to the Grant stay in Shelby county, Edgar AVhite, of Macon, recently contributed an article to some eastern papers. We use it here by permission :

Shelbina, Mo. - "Say, do you know I lost the opportunity of a lifetime?" queried a frosty-haired citizen of this town to a group of the oldest inhabitants sitting on the benches in the railroad park. "I might have had chairs and tables and ])ipes and things worth hundreds - yes, thousands of dollars, by now. AVhen the bushwhackers began raising Hades up and down the old Hannibal & St. Joe until nobody wanted to travel, the government sent a rather short, stout man up here to look after things. He only had a handful of men, and was so quiet and easy going that nobody thought he amounted to shucks. We never took much stock in him till we began to notice that he wouldn't let his soldiers rob our hen houses and take our horses. If any of the men took anything all we had to do was to make a roar to that quiet, stolid looking fellow and he'd say a few short words to somebody and we'd get it back with an apology. That quiet fellow, who generally wore a cigar in his mouth, was a St. Louis woodseller, Col. U. S. Grant by name."

"Let me tell you," the narrator went on, "that man Grant soon had more friends in these parts than anybody. Of course, we were all for the Johnnie Rebs, but we respected the square fellows on the other side. Grant knew which way our feelings were, and he never talked politics or got into any controversies. He and his men protected the raih'oad at the big bridge and made the bushwhackers afraid to light there. That's all the duty he had then. Lots of our people went out to his camp on the river and became acquainted with him. He talked to them about fishing and hunting and woodcraft and the thousand and one homely little occupations that lie nearest the countrjTnan's life. But I noticed that he would a good deal rather listen than talk. He seemed to be gifted that way, and he would remember everything you told him that was worth remembering.

"On each side of us were Union commanders who at that time were talked about considerably as being fierce and warlike. One was in charge of a large force at Palmyra and the other in charge of the Department of Northern Missouri at Macon. Sometime during the war each of these commanders ordered military executions of ten men in their respective jurisdictions. I'll bet under the same circumstances Grant wouldn't have done anything like that. Here within the length of sixty miles three men were making history in their own peculiar way, two of them by a rigorous enforcement of the military law and the other by a quiet, unostentatious attention to

"When Colonel Grant first came to these parts most of the Southern men hiked out. Grant heard of that and he sent couriers out after them, telling them to come back home and extending a cordial invitation to come to his camp and get acquainted. Those who accepted the invitation were astonished at the plain soldier's hospitality and evident good will. He talked to them in his easy, business like way, explained the difference between a soldier and a marauder and said that when his men required feed for their horses or provisions for themselves orders would be issued and the government would pay for the supplies. He said the fact that we were Southern sympathizers wouldn't make any difference with him so long as we didn't come at him with guns. We all thought it was a pity that such a man should be a Yankee, and a citizen asked him one day how he could fight to free the 'niggers,' being in all other respects so much of a gentleman. I never heard Colonel Grant's answer, but several people about here did, and they quote him this way :

"You may be sure that didn't lessen his popularity any in this neck o' the woods. We considered Colonel Grant a pretty good 'rebel' from that time on, and looked with confidence to his lining up alongside of Bob Lee before the war was over. Well, he did line up alongside of Lee, but not the way we had hoped he would.

ing his headquarters hereabouts that he was ordered to hunt up and attack Colonel Tom Harris and his Confederate soldiers, who were becoming somewhat audacious. Harris was then much better known than Grant. He had been engaged in a nmnber of lively skirmishes and was said to be a hard and swift fighter. Grant knew all this, and I notice in reading some sketches about him since the war that he was just a liit uneasy about the outcome of the expected encoimter. Nevertheless, he led his men bravely enough in the direction of Harris's camp. The Union force halted before ascending the hill, while muskets and ammunition were examined, bayonets fixed and prayers said by the devout ones. Then the order came to march. The big hill was surmounted, revealing a naked plain and a hastily abandoned camp. Harris and his warriors skedaddled.

"'I'll admit I was suffering from stage fright when we went up that hill,' said Colonel Grant, 'but it never occurred to me till then that Harris might be bothered with the same disease.'

"That gave rise to Grant's oft-repeated expression that 'When going into battle I try to remember that the enemy might be as much afraid of me as I am of him.'

"After Colonel Grant left here I read of many mean things said about him by his enemies, but I din't take much stock in 'em. He never said mean things al)out other loeople, and that kind of a man don't need any defending."

Long Branch, N. J., August 3, 1884. - Dear Sir - In July, 1861, I was ordered with my regiment, the Twenty-first Illinois Infantry, to North Missouri to relieve Colonel Smith, of the Sixteenth, who was reported surrounded on the Hannibal & St. Joe railroad. On my arrival at Quincy I found that the regiment ( ?) had scattered and fled. I then went with my regiment to the junction of the road from (^)uincy with the one from Hannibal, where I remained for a few days, until relieved by Colonel Turchin with another Illinois regiment. From here I was ordered to guard the workmen engaged in rebuilding the Salt river bridge. Colonel Palmer was there with his regiment at the same time. "When the work was near completion I was ordered to move against Thomas Harris, who was reported to have a regiment or battalion encamped near Florida, Mo. T marched there, some twenty-five miles from Salt river, but found on arrival that he had disbanded about the time I started. On my return I was ordered to Mexico, Mo., by rail. Very truly yours,

Secessiox Of Missouri

This important event in the history of Missouri occurred on the 28th day of October, 1861. The session of the legislature, known as "Claib Jackson's legislature," was held in a hall in Neosha, commencing Octolier 26th, and on the 28th an ordinance of secession was passed by both houses. There were in this famous assembly of Missouri statesmen at the time of secession only thirty-nine members of the house and ten members of the senate. Charles H. Hardin was a member of the senate and was the only member of that body to vote "no." He was afterward governor of the state. Kepresentative Shambaugh, of DeKalb county, was the only one of the thirty-nine members of the house to vote " no. " According to the constitution of the state a quorum was required to transact business. This would have necessitated the attendance of seventeen members of the house. The ordinance passed by the Jackson legislature was, however, approved by the Confederate congress at Richmond, Virginia, and Missouri was considered by those who sympathized with the South as annexed to the Southern Confederacy.

Shelby county troops were from this time on considered Confederates, and of these the county had jjerhaps about 300 in the field. They were mostly with Green and Price. The Third battalion of infantry, under Green, was commanded by Lieut.-Col. S. A. Rawlings, of Shelby county, and Capt. Oliver Sparks commanded Company A.

County Court Meeting Changes In County Officials

The county court of Shelby coimty had not held a session from October, 1861, until in May, 1862, at which time the court was called together by public notice. Of the three county judges who had been elected only one attended (Judge Daniel Taylor). The other two, James Pickett and Perry B. Moore, were turned out of office charged with being disloyal. The governor appointed in their places Samuel Houston and Robert Lair. John Dickerson had also been elected sheriff, and upon refusing to take the "Gamble Oath" was suspended, and E. L. Holliday appointed Elizar sheriff. Mr. Holliday served until October, at which time J. H. Forman was appointed by the governor, and in November he was elected to the office by a unanimous vote. J. J. Foster was also suspended as justice of the peace in Salt River township and Daniel H. Givens in Jackson township shared a similar fate. H. H. Weatherby was appointed in Foster's place and James Jameson in the place of Givens. The assessor's office was also made vacant on account of M. J. Priest being declared disloyal. Leonard Dobyns was appointed to fill the vacancy.