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diff --git a/31770.txt b/31770.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..3d6fb81 --- /dev/null +++ b/31770.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11712 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Struggle for Missouri, by John McElroy + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Struggle for Missouri + +Author: John McElroy + +Release Date: March 25, 2010 [EBook #31770] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STRUGGLE FOR MISSOURI *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger + + + + + +THE STRUGGLE FOR MISSOURI + +BY JOHN McELROY + + States are not great except as men may make them, + Men are not great, except they do and dare. + --Eugene F. Ware. + +WASHINGTON, D. C: + +THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE CO. + +1909 + +DEDICATED + +TO THE UNION MEN OF MISSOURI + + + + + +THE STRUGGLE FOR MISSOURI. + +[Illustration: 003-The Struggle for Missouri.] + + +3 + + + +CHAPTER I. A SALIENT BASTION FOR THE SLAVERY EMPIRE. + +WHATEVER else may be said of Southern statesmen, of the elder school, +they certainly had an imperial breadth of view. They took in the whole +continent in a way that their Northern colleagues were slow in doing. +It cannot be said just when they began to plan for a separate Government +which would have Slavery as its cornerstone, would dominate the +Continent and ultimately absorb Cuba, Mexico and Central America as far +as the Isthmus of Panama. + +Undoubtedly it was in the minds of a large number of them from the +organization of the Government, which they regarded as merely a +temporary expedient--an alliance with the Northern States until the +South was strong enough to "assume among the Powers of the Earth the +separate and equal station to which the laws of Nature and of Nature's +God entitle them." + + +4 + +They achieved a great strategic victory when in 1818 they drew the +boundaries of the State of Missouri. + +The Ordinance of 1787 dedicated to Freedom all of the immense territory +which became the States of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and +Wisconsin. The wonderful growth of these in population, wealth and +political influence alarmed the Slave Power--keenly sensitive, as bad +causes always are, to anything which may possibly threaten,--and it +proceeded to erect in the State of Missouri a strong barrier to the +forward march of the Free Soil idea. + +When the time for the separation came, the Northern fragment of the +Republic would find itself almost cut in two by the northward projection +of Virginia to within 100 miles of Lake Erie. It would be again nearly +cut in two by the projection of the northeast corner of Missouri to +within 200 miles of Lake Michigan. + +In those days substantially all travel and commerce was along the lines +of the rivers. For the country between the Alleghany Mountains and +the Mississippi the Ohio River was the great artery. Into it empty the +Alleghany, Monongahela, Muskingum, the Kanawhas, Big Sandy, Scioto, +the Miamis, Licking, Kentucky, Green, Wabash, Cumberland and Tennessee +Rivers, each draining great valleys, and bringing with its volume of +waters a proportionate quota of travel and commerce. The Illinois River +also entered the Mississippi from the east with the commerce of a great +and fruitful region. + + +5 + +West of the Mississippi the mighty Missouri was the almost sole highway +for thousands of miles. + +The State was made unusually large--68,735 square miles, where the +previous rule for States had been about 40,000 square miles--stretching +it so as to cover the mouths of the Ohio and the Illinois, and to lie on +both sides of the great Missouri for 200 miles. A glance at the map will +show how complete this maneuver seemed to be. Iowa and Minnesota were +then unbroken and unvisited stretches of prairie and forest, railroads +were only dreamed of by mechanical visionaries, and no man in Ohio, +Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky or Tennessee could send a load of produce +to market without Missouri's permission; he could make no considerable +journey without traversing her highways, while all of the imperial +area west of the Mississippi was made, it seemed, forever distinctly +tributary to her. + +New Orleans was then the sole mart of the West, for the Erie Canal had +not been dug to convert the Great, Lakes into a colossal commercial +highway. + +Out of a country possessing the unusual combination of surpassing +agricultural fertility with the most extraordinary mineral wealth they +carved a State larger in area than England and Wales and more than +one-fourth the size of France or Germany. + +All ordinary calculations as to the development of such a favored region +would make of it a barrier which would effectively stay the propulsive +waves of Free Soilism. + + +6 + +So far as man's schemes could go there would never be an acre of free +soil west of Illinois. + +The Anti-Slavery men were keenly alive to this strategic advantage of +their opponents. Though the opposition to Slavery might be said to be +yet in the gristle, the men hostile to the institution were found in all +parties, and were beginning to divide from its more ardent supporters. + +Under the ban of public opinion Slavery was either dead or legally dying +in all the older States north of Mason and Dixon's line. In the kingly +stretch of territory lying north of the Ohio and between the Alleghanies +and the Mississippi there was no taint of the foot of a slave, and the +settlers there wanted to "set the bounds of Freedom wider yet." + +The Anti-Slavery men everywhere, and at that time there were very many +in the Southern States, protested vigorously against the admission +of Missouri into the Union as a Slave State, and the controversy soon +became so violent as to convulse the Nation. In 1818, when the bill +for the admission of Missouri was being considered by the House of +Representatives, Gen. James Tallmadge, of New York, introduced the +following amendment: + +And provided, That the introduction of slavery, or involuntary +servitude, be prohibited, except for the punishment of crimes, whereof +the party has been duly convicted; and that all children born within +the said State, after the admission thereof into the Union, shall be +declared free at the age of 25 years. + + +7 + +This was adopted by practically all the votes from the Free States, with +a few from the Border States, which constituted a majority in the House. +But the Senate, in which the Slave States had a majority, rejected the +amendment, and the struggle began which was only ended two years +later by the adoption of the famous Missouri Compromise of 1820, which +admitted Missouri as a Slave State, but prohibited for the future any +"Slavery or involuntary servitude" outside the limits of that State +north of 36 degrees 30 minutes. + +As in all compromises, this was unsatisfactory to the earnest men on +both sides of the dispute. + +The Anti-Slavery men, who claimed that Freedom was National and Slavery +local, were incensed that such an enormous area as that south of 36 +degrees 30 minutes had been taken from Freedom by the implication that +it was reserved for Slavery. + +The Pro-Slavery men, on the other hand, who had shrewdly made Slavery +extension appear one of the fundamental and cherished rights of the +South, set up the clamorous protest, which never ceased till Appomattox, +that the denial of the privilege of taking property in Slaves to any +part of the National domain won by the arms or purchased by the money +of the whole country, was a violation of the compact entered into at +the formation of the Government, guaranteeing to the citizens of all the +States the same rights and privileges. + +They also complained that under this arrangement the Free-Soilers gained +control of 1,238,025 square miles of the Nation's territory, while +Slavery only had 609,023 square miles, or less than half so much. This +complaint, which seemed so forceful to the Pro-Slaveryites, appeared as +rank impudence to their opponents, since it placed Slavery on the same +plane with Freedom. + + +8 + +The great State, however, did not flourish in accordance with the +expectations based upon its climate, natural resources and central +position. The tide of immigration paused before her borders, or swept +around under colder skies to Iowa and Minnesota, or to the remote +prairies of Kansas and Nebraska. Careless as the average home-seeker +might seem as to moral and social questions so long as he found fertile +land at cheap prices, yet he appeared reluctant to raise his humble +cabin on soil that had the least taint of Slavery. In spite of her long +frontage on the two greatest rivers of the continent, and which were +its main highways; in spite of skies and soils and rippling streams +unsurpassed on earth; in spite of having within her borders the great +and growing city of St. Louis, the Metropolis of the Mississippi Valley, +Missouri in 1860, after 40 years of Statehood, had only 1,182,012 +people, against 1,711,951 in Illinois, 1,350,428 in Indiana, 674,913 +in Iowa, 172,023 in Minnesota, 2,329,511 in Ohio, 749,113 in Michigan, +775,881 in Wisconsin, with nearly 150,000 in Kansas and Nebraska. + +More than a million settlers who had crossed the Mississippi within +a few years had shunned her contaminated borders for the free air of +otherwise less attractive localities. + +Nor had the Slaveholders gone into the country in the numbers that were +expected. Less than 20,000 had settled there, which was a small showing +against nearly 40,000 in Kentucky and 55,000 in Virginia. All these had +conspicuously small holdings. Nearly one-third of them owned but one +slave, and considerably more than one-half had less than five. Only one +man had taken as many as 200 slaves into the State. + + +9 + +The Census of 1860 showed Missouri to rank eleventh among the Slave +States, according to the following table of the number of slaves in +each: + + 1. Virginia.........490,865 10. Texas..........182,566 + + 2. Georgia.........462,198 11. Missouri.......114,931 + + 3. Mississippi.....436,631 12. Arkansas.......111,114 + + 4. Alabama.........435,080 13. Maryland....... 87,189 + + 5. South Carolina..402,406 14. Florida.........61,745 + + 6. Louisiana.......331,726 15. Delaware....... 1,798 + + 7. North Carolina...331,059 16. New Jersey...... 18 + + 8. Tennessee.......275,719 17. Nebraska....... 15 + + 9. Kentucky........225,483 18. Kansas......... 2 + +There were 3,185 slaves in the District of Columbia and 29 in the +Territory of Utah, with all the rest of the country absolutely free. + +The immigrant Slaveowners promptly planted themselves where they could +command the great highway of the Missouri River, taking up broad tracts +of the fertile lands on both sides of the stream. The Census of 1860 +showed that of the 114,965 slaves held in the State, 50,280 were in the +12 Counties along the Missouri: + + Boone........... ....5,034 Jackson..............3,944 + + Calloway.............4,257 Lafayette............6,357 + + Chariton.............2,837 Pike.................4,056 + + Clay.................3,456 Platte...............3,313 + + Cooper...............3,800 St. Charles..........2,181 + + Howard...............5,889 Saline...............4,876 + + +Two-thirds of all the slaves in the State were held within 20 miles of +the Missouri River. + +As everywhere, the Slaveowners exerted an influence immeasurably +disproportionate to their numbers, intelligence and wealth. + + +10 + +A very large proportion of the immigration had not been of a character +to give much promise as to the future. + +The new State had been the Adullam's Cave for the South, where "every +one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt and every one +that was discontented gathered themselves." Next to Slavery, the South +had been cursed by the importation of paupers and criminals who had been +transported from England for England's good, in the early history of the +Colonies, to work the new lands. The negro proving the better worker in +servitude than this class, they had been driven off the plantations to +squat on unoccupied lands, where they bred like the beasts of the field, +getting a precarious living from hunting the forest, and the bolder +eking out this by depredations upon their thriftier neighbors. Their +forebears had been paupers and criminals when sent from England, and the +descendants continued to be paupers and criminals in the new country, +forming a clearly marked social class, so distinct as to warrant the +surmise that they belonged to a different race. As the eastern part of +the South and the administration of the laws improved, this element +was to some extent forced out, and spread in a noisome trail over +Mississippi, Arkansas and Missouri. While other immigrants went into the +unbroken forest with a few rude tools and in the course of several years +built up comfortable homes, their's never rose above abject squalor. The +crudest of cabins sufficed them for shelter, beds of beech leaves were +all the couches they required; they had more guns in their huts than +agricultural or mechanical implements; they scarcely pretended to raise +anything more than a scanty patch of corn; and when they could not put +on their tables the flesh of the almost wild razor-back hog which roamed +the woods, they made meat of woodchucks, raccoons, opossums or any other +"varmint" their guns could bring down. They did not scorn hawks or owls +if hunger demanded and no better meat could be found. + + +11 + +It was this "White Trash" which added so much to the horrors of the war, +especially in Missouri, and so little to its real prosecution. Wolf-like +in ferocity, when the advantages were on their side, they were wolf-like +in cowardice when the terms were at all equal. They were the Croats, +Cossacks, Tolpatches, Pandours of the Confederacy--of little value in +battle, but terrible as guerrillas and bushwhackers. From this "White +Trash" came the gangs of murderers and robbers, like those led by the +Youngers, Jameses, Quantrils and scores of other names of criminal +memory. + +As has been the case in all times and countries, these dregs of society +became the willing tools of the Slaveholding aristocrats. With dog-like +fidelity they followed and served the class which despised and overrode +them. Somehow, by inherited habits likely, they seemed to avoid the +more fertile parts of the State. They thus became "Bald Knobbers" +and "Ozarkers" in Missouri, as they had been "Clay Eaters" in South +Carolina, or "Sang Diggers" in Virginia. + +With these immigrants from the South came also large numbers of a far +better element even than the arrogant Slaveowners or the abject "White +Trash." + + +12 + +The Middle Class in the South was made up of much the same stock as +the bulk of the Northerners--that is of Scotch, Scotch-Irish and North +English--Congregationalists, Presbyterians, Baptists and Dissenters +generally--who had been forced out of Great Britain by the intolerant +Episcopalians when the latter gained complete power after the +suppression of the Rebellion of 1745. With these were also the +descendants of the sturdy German Protestants who had been driven +from Europe during the religious wars when the Catholics gained the +ascendency in their particular country. These were the backbone of the +South, and had largely settled along the foothills of the Alleghanies +and in the fruitful valleys between the mountains, while the "White +Trash" lived either on the barren parts of the lowlands or the bare and +untillable highlands. + + +13 + +It is a grave mistake to confound these two classes of Non-Slaveholding +whites in the South. They were as absolutely unlike as two distinct +races, and an illustration of the habits of the two in migrating will +suffice to show this. It was the custom in the Middle Classes when a boy +attained majority that he chose for his wife a girl of the same class +who was just ripening into vigorous womanhood. Both boy and girl had +been brought up to labor with their own hands and to work constantly +toward a definite purpose. They had been given a little rudimentary +education, could read their Bibles and almanacs, "cipher" a little, +write their names and a letter which could be read. When quite a lad the +boy's father had given him a colt, which he took care of until it became +a horse. To this, his first property, was added a suit of stout homespun +cloth, which, with a rifle, an ax and some few other necessary tools, +constituted his sole equipment for married life. The girl had been given +a calf, which she had raised to a heifer; she had also a feather bed and +some blankets of her own making and a little stock of the most obvious +housekeeping utensils. With this simple outfit the young couple were +married, and either went in debt for a little spot of land near home or +pushed out into the new country. There they built a rude log cabin to +shelter them from the storm, and by the time their children had reached +the age they were when they married they had built up an unpretentious +but very comfortable home, with their land well cleared and fenced, and +stocked with cattle, pigs, sheep and poultry sufficient to maintain them +in comfort. From this class came always the best and strongest men in +the South. Comparatively few of them became Slaveowners, and then but +rarely owned more than one or two negroes. A very large proportion found +homes in the great free States north of the Ohio River. + + +14 + +On the other hand, none of this accession to comparative wealth seemed +possible to the "White Trash." The boys and girls mated, squatted on +any ground they could find unoccupied, raised there the merest shelter, +which never by any chance improved, no matter how long they lived there, +and proceeded to breed with amazing prolificacy others like themselves, +destined for the same lives of ignorance and squalor. The hut of the +"Clay Eater" in South Carolina, the "Sand Hiller" in Georgia, the "Sang +Digger" in Virginia was the same as that his grandfather had lived in. +It was the same that his sons and grandsons to the third and fourth +generations built on the bleak knobs of the Ozarks or the malarious +banks of the Mississippi. The Census of 1850 showed that about 70,000 +of the population of Missouri had come from Kentucky, 45,000 from +Tennessee, 41,000 from Virginia, 17,000 from North Carolina and 15,000 +from the other Southern States. Nearly 40,000 had gone from Ohio, +Indiana and Illinois, but a very large proportion of this number was the +same element which had streamed across the southern parts of those +States on its way to Missouri. Only 13,000 had entered from the great +States of New York and Pennsylvania, and but 1,100 from New England. +Nearly 15,000 Irishmen, mostly employed along the rivers, had settled +in the State. + +While the Slaveowners and their "White Trash" myrmidons were Pro-Slavery +Democrats, the Middle Class were inclined to be Whigs, or if Democrats, +belonging to that wing of the party less subservient to Slavery which in +later years was led by Stephen A. Douglas. + + +15 + +Upon these three distinct strata in society, which little mingled +but were all native Americans, was projected an element of startling +differences in birth, thought, speech and manners. The so-called +Revolution of 1848 in Germany was a movement by the educated, +enthusiastic, idealistic youth of the Fatherland to sweep away the horde +of petty despots, and unite their pigmy Principalities and Duchies into +a glorious and wide-ruling Germany. They were a generation too soon, +however, and when the movement was crushed under the heavy hand of +military power, hundreds of thousands of these energetic young men +thought it safest and best to make new homes in the young Republic +beyond the seas. The United States therefore received a migration of the +highest character and of inestimable benefit to the country. + +Somewhere near 150,000 of these went to Missouri. They had none of the +antipathy of Northern Americans to a Slave State. They were like their +Gothic forebears, to whom it was sufficient to know that the land was +good. Other matters could be settled by their strong right arms. The +climate and fertility of Missouri pleased them; they saw the State's +possibilities and flocked thither. Possibly one-half settled in the +pleasant valleys and on the sunny prairies, following the trail of good +land in the Southwest clear down to the Arkansas line. The other half +settled mostly in St. Louis, and through them the city experienced +another of its wonderful transformations. Beginning as a trading post +of the French with the Indians, it had only as residents merchant +adventurers from sunny France, officers and soldiers of the royal army +and the half-breed voyageurs and trappers who served the fur companies. +Next the Americans had swarmed in, and made the trading post a great +market for the exchange of the grain and meat of the North, for the +cotton and sugar of the South. Its merchants and people took their tone +and complexion from the plantations of the Mississippi Valley. + + +16 + +Now came these Germans, intent upon reproducing there the +characteristics of the old world cities beyond the Rhine. They brought +with them lager beer, to which the Americans took very readily, and a +decided taste for music, painting and literature, to which the Americans +were not so much inclined. German signs, with their quaint Gothic +lettering and grotesque names, blossomed out on the buildings, military +bands in German uniforms paraded the streets, especially on Sundays. +German theaters also open on Sunday represented by astonishingly good +companies the popular plays of the Fatherland, and newsboys cried the +German newspapers on the streets. Those who went into the country +were excellent farmers, shrewd in buying and selling, and industrious +workers. They dreamed of covering the low hills of the western part of +the State with the vineyards that were so profitable on the Rhine and +of rivaling the products of Johannesburg and the Moselle on the banks of +the Gasconade and the Maramec. + + +17 + +The newcomers were skilled men in their departments of civilized +activities--far above the average of the Americans. They were good +physicians, fine musicians, finished painters, excellent actors and +skillful mechanics, and each began the intelligent exercise of his +vocation, to the great advantage of the community, which was, however, +shocked at many of the ways of the newcomers, particularly their +devoting Sunday to all manner of merrymaking. Still more shocking was +their attitude toward the Slavery question. Even those Americans who +were opposed to Slavery had a respect approaching awe of the "Sacred +Institution." It had always been in the country; it was protected by a +network of laws, and so feared that it could only be discussed with +the greatest formality and circumspection. The radical Germans had +absolutely none of this feeling. In their scheme of humanity all +Slavery was so horrible that there could be no reason for its longer +continuance, and it ought to be put to an end in the most summary +manner. The epithet "Abolitionists," from which most Americans shrank +as from an insult, had no terrors for them. It frankly described their +mental attitude, and they gloried in it as they did in being Free +Thinkers. They had not rebelled against timeworn traditions and +superstitions in Germany to become slaves to something worse in this. + +Vigorous growths as they were, they readily took root in the new soil, +became naturalized as fast as they could, and entered into the life +of the country which they had elected for their homes. They joined the +Republican Party from admiration of its Free Soil principles, and in the +election of 1860 cast 17,028 votes for Abraham Lincoln. + + +18 + +Such were the strangely differing elements which were fermenting +together in the formation of the great Commonwealth during those +turbulent days from 1850 to 1860, and which were to be fused into +unexpected combinations in the fierce heat of civil war. The same +fermentation--minus the modifying influences of the radical Germans--was +going on in all the States of the South except South Carolina, where the +Middle Class hardly existed. Everywhere the Middle Class was strongly +attached to the Union, and averse to Secession. Everywhere the +Slaveowners, a small minority, but of extraordinary ability and +influence, were actively preaching dissatisfaction with the Union, +bitterly complaining of wrongs suffered at the hands of the North, and +untiring in their machinations to win over or crush the leaders of those +favorable to the Union. Everywhere they had the "White Trash" solidly +behind them to vote as they wished, and to harry and persecute the Union +men. As machinery for malevolence the "White Trash" myrmidons could +not be surpassed. Criminal instincts inherited from their villain +forefathers made them ready and capable of anything from maiming a Union +man's stock and burning his stacks to shooting him down from +ambush. They had personal feeling to animate them in this, for their +depredations upon the hogs and crops of their thriftier neighbors had +brought them into lifelong collisions with the Middle Class, while they +had but little opportunity for resentment against the owners of the +large plantations. In every State in the South the story was the same, +of the Middle Class Union men being harassed at the command of the +Slaveowners by the "White Trash" hounds. They had been sent into Kansas +to drive out the Free State immigrants there and secure the territory +for Slavery, but though backed up by the power of the Administration, +they had been signally defeated by the numerically inferior but bolder +and hardier immigrants from the North. + + +19 + +Force rules this world; it always has; it always will. Not merely +physical force, but that incomparably higher type--intellectual +force--Power of Will. It seemed that in nearly all the States of the +South the Slaveowners by sheer audacity and force of will succeeded in +dominating the great majority which favored the Union, and by one device +or another committing them hopelessly to the rebellion. This was notably +the case in Tennessee, Virginia, North Carolina and Georgia, where the +majority repeatedly expressed itself in favor of the Union, but was +dragooned into Secession. + +In Missouri, however, the Secessionists encountered leaders with will +and courage superior to their own. Many of these were Slaveowners +themselves, and nearly all of them were of Southern birth. Head and +shoulders above these, standing up among them like Saul among the +Sons of Israel, was Frank P. Blair, then in the full powers of perfect +manhood. He was 42 years old, tall and sinewy in body, blue-eyed and +sandy-haired. He came of the best Virginia and Kentucky stock, and had +long been a resident and slaveowner in Missouri. As a boy he had served +in the ranks in the Mexican War, had an adventurous career on the +Pacific Coast, had gone back to Missouri to achieve prominence at the +bar, and as early as 1848 had come to the front as the unflinching +advocate of Emancipation and the conversion of Missouri into a Free +State. Against his perfect panoply of courage and resource all the +lances of the Slaveowners were hurled in vain. Their violence recoiled +before him, their orators were no match for him upon the stump, and +their leaders not his equal in party management. In 1852 he was elected +to the Missouri Legislature as a Free Soiler, was re-elected in 1854, +and in 1856 to Congress. His value to the Union was immeasurable, for +he was a leader around whom the Union men could rally with the utmost +confidence that he would never weaken, never resort to devious ways, and +never blunder. As a Southerner of the best ancestry, he was not open to +the charge of being a "Yankee Abolitionist," which had so much effect +upon the Southern people of his State. + +[Illustration: 056-General Francis P Blair] + + +20 + +A very dangerous element was composed of a number of leaders who +belonged to the Pro-Slavery wing, but desiring to be elected to offices, +masked their designs under the cover of the Douglas Democracy. The most +important of these was Claiborne F. Jackson, a politician of moderate +abilities and only tolerable courage, but of great partisan activity. He +professed to be a Douglas Democrat, and as such was elected Governor at +the State election. Born in Kentucky 54 years before, he had resided in +Missouri since 1822. A Captain in the Black Hawk War, his service had +been as uneventful and brief as that of Abraham Lincoln, who was two +years his junior, and he was one of the Pro-Slavery clique who had +hounded the great Thomas H. Benton out of politics on account of his +mild Free Soilism. In person he was tall, erect, with something of +dignity in his bearing. He essayed to be an orator, had much reputation +as such, but his speeches developed little depth of thought or anything +beyond the customary phrases which were the stock in trade of all the +orators of his class south of Mason and Dixon's line. + + +21 + +The fermentation period culminated in the Presidential campaign of 1860, +the hottest political battle this country had ever known. + +The intensity of the interest felt in Missouri was shown by the bigness +of the vote, which aggregated 165,618. As the population was but +1,182,012, of which 114,965 were slaves, it will be seen that +substantially every white man went to the polls. + +The newly-formed Republican Party, mostly confined to the radical +Germans of St. Louis, cast 17,028 votes for Abraham Lincoln. + +The Slaveowners and their henchmen--"Southern Rights Democrats"--cast +31,317 votes for John C. Breckinridge. + +The "Regular Democrats" polled 58,801 votes for Stephen A. Douglas and +"Squatter Sovereignty." + +The remains of the "Old Line Whigs," and a host of other men who did not +want to be Democrats and would not be Republicans, cast 58,372 votes for +John Bell, the "Constitutional Union" candidate. + +Thus it will be seen that out of every 165 men who went to the polls 17 +were quite positive that the extension of Slavery must cease; 31 were +equally positive that Slavery should be extended or the Union dissolved; +59 favored "Squatter Sovereignty," or local option in the Territories in +regard to Slavery; 58 thought that "all this fuss about the nigger +was absurd, criminal, and dangerous. It ought to be stopped at once by +suppressing, if necessary, by hanging, the extremists on both sides, and +letting things go on just as they have been." + + +22 + +Thus so great a proportion as 117 out of the total of 165--nearly +five-sevenths of the whole--professed strong hostility to the views of +the "extremists, both North and South." + +The time was at hand, however, when they must make their election as to +which of these opposite poles of thought and action they would drift. +They could no longer hold aloof, suggesting mild political placeboes, +lamenting alike the wickedness of the Northern Abolitionists and the +madness of the Southern Nullifiers, and expressing a patriotic desire to +hang selected crowds of each on the same trees. + +South Carolina had promptly responded to the election of Abraham Lincoln +as President of the United States by passing an Ordinance of Secession, +and seizing all the United States forts, arsenals and other places, +except Fort Sumter, within her limits. + +The rest of the Cotton States were hastening to follow her example. + +To the 117 "Middle-of-the-Road" voters out of every total of 165 it +was therefore necessary to choose whether they would approve of the +withdrawal of States and seizures of forts, and become Secessionists, +or whether they would disapprove of this and ally themselves with the +much-contemned Black Republicans. + +It was the old, old vital question, asked so many times of neutrals with +the sword at their throats: + +"Under which King, Bezonian? Speak, or die." + + +23 + +[Illustration: 023-The War Clouds Gather] + + + +CHAPTER II. THE WAR CLOUDS GATHER + +The storm-clouds gathered with cyclonic swiftness. South Carolina +seceded Dec. 20, 1860, and sent a Commission to Washington to negotiate +for the delivery of all the forts, arsenals, magazines, lighthouses, +and other National property within her boundaries, organizing in the +meanwhile to seize them. Her Senators and Representatives formally +withdrew from Congress; the Judges and other Federal officials solemnly +resigned their places; and Maj. Robert Anderson, recognizing the +impossibility of defending the decrepit Fort Moultrie against assault, +transferred his garrison to Fort Sumter. + +President Buchanan announced the fatal doctrine that while no State had +the right to secede, the Constitution gave no power to coerce a State +which had withdrawn, or was attempting to withdraw from the Union. + +Mississippi seceded Jan. 9, 1861; Florida, Jan. 10; Alabama, Jan. 11; +Georgia, Jan. 19; Louisiana, Jan. 26; and Texas, Feb. 1;--all the Cotton +States precipitately following South Carolina's example. + + +24 + +Each made haste--before or after Secession--to seize all the United +States forts and property within her borders. + +In the midst of this political cataclysm the Legislature of Missouri met +on the last day of 1860. + +The Senate consisted of 25 Democrats, seven Unionists, and one +Republican; the House of 85 Democrats, 35 Unionists, and 12 Republicans. + +The retiring Governor--Robert M. Stewart--sent in his final message +Jan. 3, and the same day his successor--Claiborne F. Jackson--was +inaugurated, and delivered his address. Gov. Stewart was a typical +Northern Democrat, born in New York, but long a resident of Missouri. He +was a strong Douglas man, and believed that the Southern people had the +Constitutional right to take their slaves into the Territories and hold +them there, and that this right ought to be assured them. He had +never pretended to be in love with Slavery, but he believed that the +Constitution and laws granted full protection to the Institution. He +denied the right of Secession, particularly as to Missouri, which had +been bought with the money of the whole country. In his final message +he did not hesitate to clearly set this forth, and to denounce South +Carolina as having acted with consummate folly. He recognized the Union +as the source of innumerable blessings, and would preserve it to the +last. He said: + +As matters are at present Missouri will stand by her lot, and hold to +the Union as long as it is worth an effort to preserve it. So long as +there is hope of success she will seek for justice within the Union. +She cannot be frightened from her propriety by the past unfriendly +legislation of the North, nor be dragooned into secession by the extreme +South. If those who should be our friends and allies undertake to render +our property worthless by a system of prohibitory laws, or by reopening +the slave trade in opposition to the moral sense of the civilized world, +and at the same time reduce us to the position of an humble sentinel to +watch over and protect their interests, receiving all the blows and none +of the benefits, Missouri will hesitate long before sanctioning such an +arrangement She will rather take the high position of armed neutrality. +She is able to take care of herself, and will be neither forced nor +flattered, driven nor coaxed, into a course of action that must end in +her own destruction. + + +25 + +The inaugural address of the new Governor was, under a thin vail of +professed love for the Union, a bitter Secession appeal. He said that +the destiny of the Slaveholding States was one and the same; that what +injured one necessarily hurt all; that separate action meant certain +defeat by the insolent North, which was alone and wholly responsible for +the present deplorable conditions. He applauded the "gallantry" of South +Carolina, urged that she be not condemned for "precipitancy," and said +significantly: "If South Carolina has acted hastily, let not her error +lead to the more fatal one--an attempt at coercion." + +With reference to the Republican Party and the future policy of +Missouri, he said: + +The prominent characteristic of this party * * * is that it is purely +sectional in its locality and its principles. The only principle +inscribed upon its banner is Hostility to Slavery;--its object not +merely to confine Slavery within its present limits; not merely to +exclude it from the Territories, and prevent the formation and admission +of any Slaveholding States; not merely to abolish it in the District of +Columbia, and interdict its passage from one State to another; but to +strike down its existence everywhere; to sap its foundation in public +sentiment; to annoy and harass, and gradually destroy its vitality, +by every means, direct or indirect, physical and moral, which human +ingenuity can devise. The triumph of such an organization is not the +victory of a political party, but the domination of a Section. It +proclaims in significant tones the destruction of that equality among +the States which is the vital cement for our Federal Union. It places 15 +of the 33 States in the position of humble recipients of the bounty, +or sullen submissionists to the power of a Government which they had no +voice in creating, and in whose councils they do not participate. + + +26 + +It cannot, then, be a matter of surprise to any--victors or +vanquished--that these 16 States, with a pecuniary interest at stake +reaching the enormous sum of $3,600,000,000 should be aroused and +excited at the advent of such a party to power. + +Would it not rather be an instance of unprecedented blindness and +fatuity, if the people and Governments of these 16 Slaveholding States +were, under such circumstances, to manifest quiet indifference, and to +make no effort to avoid the destruction which awaited them? + +The meeting of the Legislature naturally brought to the State Capital at +Jefferson City all of the powerful coterie which was self-charged with +the work of taking Missouri into the road whither South Carolina was +leading the Cotton States. This coterie included the Judges of the +Supreme Court and all the State officials, and the United States +Senators and Representatives. Ever since the Anti-Benton faction had +accomplished the great Senator's defeat, the shibboleth for admission +into the higher circles of Missouri Democracy had been "Southern +Rights." As the mass of the Middle Class Democrats favored Senator +Douglas's plan of letting the settlers in each Territory decide for +themselves whether they would have Slavery, it was highly politic for +every candidate to claim that he was a Douglas Democrat. It must be +known to the inner ring, however, that he was at heart fully in accord +with the views of the extreme Pro-Slavery men, and ready at the word to +join the Secessionists. So thorough was this preliminary organization, +that while in Missouri tens of thousands of professed Union men went +over to Secession when the stress came, there was no instance of an +avowed Pro-Slavery man cleaving to the side of the Union. + + +27 + +Next to Gov. Jackson,--surpassing him in intellectual acuteness and +fertile energy,--was Lieut.-Gov. Thos. C. Reynolds, then in his 40th +year, a short, full-bodied man, with jet-black hair and eyes shaded by +gold-rimmed glasses. He boasted of being born of Virginia parents in +South Carolina, but some of the Germans claimed to know that his right +name was Reinhold, and that he was a Jew born in Prague, the Capital of +Bohemia, and brought to this country when a child. He was a man of more +than ordinary ability, and had accomplishments quite unusual in that +day. + +He spoke French, German and Spanish fluently, wrote profusely and with +considerable force, and prided himself on being a diplomat. He had seen +some service as Secretary of Legation and Charge d' Affaires at +Madrid. He had been elected as a Douglas Democrat, but was an outspoken +Secessionist, and as he was ex-officio President of the Senate, he had +much power in forming committees and shaping legislation. He clung to +the wrecked rebel ship of state to the last, went with Gov. Jackson +and the rest when they were driven out of the State, assumed the +Governorship when Jackson--worn out by the terrible strains and +vicissitudes--died at Little Rock, Ark., in December, 1862--and was last +heard from near the end of the war, with the shattered and melancholy +remnants of the Missouri State Government and troops, on the banks of +the Rio Grande, writing furious diatribes against Gen. Sterling Price, +the admired leader of the Missouri Confederates. + + +28 + +Another man of great influence in the State was United States Senator +James S. Green, a Virginian by birth, but who had been a resident of +Missouri for about a quarter of a century. He was a lawyer of fine +talents, and in the Senate ranked as a debater with Douglas, Seward, +Chase, Toombs, Wigfall, Fessenden, Wade, and others of that class. In +Missouri he was one of the leaders of the Ultra-Slavery "Softs" against +Thos. H. Benton; had been Minister to New Granada, and Representative +in Congress, and in the Senate belonged to the Jefferson +Davis-Toombs-Wigfall cabal, which was planning the disruption of the +Union. His term expiring March 3, 1861, he was now in Jefferson City for +the rather irreconcilable purposes of securing his re-election to the +United States Senate and of fulfilling his pledge to his Secessionist +colleagues to carry Missouri out of the Union. + +His colleague--Senator Trusten Polk--a strong, kindly, graceful man--was +there to assist him in both purposes. Born in Delaware, he had been a +resident of Missouri since 1835, elected Governor of the State in 1856, +resigned to accept Benton's seat in the Senate, from which he was to be +expelled in 1862 for disloyalty, and to follow the failing fortunes of +the Missouri Confederates to the banks of the Rio Grande. + +The problem of absorbing intensity for the Secession leaders--Messrs. +Jackson, Reynolds, Green, Polk and others--was to win over, entrap or +constrain a sufficient number of the 117 "Doubtful" voters out of every +165, to give them a working majority in the State. There was fiery zeal +enough and to spare on the Secession side; what was needed was skillful +management to convince the Union-loving peace-loving majority that the +Northern "Abolitionists," flushed with victory, meant unheard-of wrongs +and insults to the South; that Missouri must put herself in shape +to protect her borders, call a halt on the insolent North, and in +connection with the other Border States be the arbiter between the +contending sections, and in the last resort ally herself with the other +Slave States for mutual protection. + + +29 + +A man to be reckoned with in those days was the Commander of the +Department of the West, which included all that immense territory +stretching from the Mississippi to the Rocky Mountains, except Texas, +New Mexico, and Utah. This man was the embodiment of the Regular Army +as it was developed after the War of 1812. At this time that Army was +a very small one--two regiments of dragoons, two of cavalry, one of +mounted riflemen, four of artillery, and 10 of infantry, making, with +engineers, ordnance and staff, a total of only 12,698 officers and +men--but its personnel and discipline were unsurpassed in the world. +Among its 1,040 commissioned officers there was no finer soldier than +William Selby Harney. A better Colonel no army ever had. A Colonel, mind +you--not a General; there is a wide difference between the two, as we +found out during the war. There are very many Americans--every little +community has at least one--who, given a regiment, where every man is +within reach of his eye and voice, will discipline it, provide for it, +rule it, and fight it in the very best fashion. Give him some piece of +work to do, of which he can see the beginning and the end, and he will +make the regiment do every pound of which it is capable. But put in +command of a brigade, anything beyond voice and eye, set to a task +outreaching his visual horizon, he becomes obviously unequal to the +higher range of duty. + +[Illustration: 029-The Harney Mansion] + + +30 + +A form of commanding hight (sp.), physique equal to any test of activity +or endurance, a natural leader of men through superiority of courage +and ability, William Selby Harney had for 43 years made an unsurpassed +record as a commander of soldiers. He had served in the everglades of +Florida, on the boundless plains west of the Mississippi, and in Mexico, +during the brilliantly spectacular war which ended with our "reveling +in the Halls of the Montezumas." He it was, who, eager for his country's +honor and advancement, had, while the diplomats were disputing with +Great Britain, pounced down upon and seized the debatable island of +San Juan in Vancouver waters. For this he was recalled, but the island +remained American territory. He was soon assigned to the Department of +the West, with headquarters at St. Louis. + + +31 + +He had been for 12 years the Colonel of the crack 2d U. S. Dragoons, and +for three years one of the three Brigadier-Generals in the Regular Army, +his only seniors being Maj.-Gen. and Brevet Lieut.-Gen. Winfield Scott, +the General-in-Chief; Brig.-Gen. John E. Wool, commanding the Department +of the East; and Brig.-Gen. David E. Twiggs, commanding the Department +of Texas. + +Gen. Harney's assignment, while a recognition of his eminent fitness +for ruling the territory over which he had campaigned for more than a +quarter of a century, was highly gratifying to him inasmuch as he +was married to a wealthy St. Louis woman, and in that city he had an +abundance of the luxurious social enjoyment so dear to the heart of the +old warrior. A Southerner by birth and education, a large Slave-owner, +with all his interests in the South, and at all times seemingly in +full sympathy with the Southern spirit that dominated the Army, the +Secessionists sanguinely expected that he would prove as pliant to their +proposals as had Gen. Twiggs, the Commander of the Department of +Texas. We shall see how soldierly instincts and training measurably +disappointed them. + + +32 + +To return to the Missouri Legislature: Lieut.-Gov. Reynolds could, as a +lieutenant always can, be more outspoken and radical than his chief, +who labored under responsibility. On the day the Legislature met he +published an important letter which thoroughly indicates the feeling +of the Secessionists at that period. He urged the General Assembly to +promptly express the determination of Missouri to resist every attempt +by the Federal Government to coerce any State to remain in the Union, or +to use force in any way to collect revenues or execute the laws in any +seceding State. He denounced President Buchanan's distinction between +"coercing a State" and "compelling the citizens of the State to obey +the laws of the United States" as a "transparent sophistry." "To levy +tribute, molest commerce, or hold fortresses, are as much acts of war as +to bombard a city." He also urged immediate and thorough organization +of the militia and other preparations for "putting the State in complete +condition for defense." If the present controversy could not be adjusted +before March 4, the State of Missouri "should not permit Mr. Lincoln to +exercise any act of Government" within her borders. + +This was certainly distinctly defiant, and shrewdly calculated to gather +about the new administration all the wavering men who could be attracted +by inflammatory appeals to their prejudices against the North, to their +State pride, and to their hopes of making Missouri the arbiter in +the dispute. Lieut.--Gov. Reynolds followed up his pronunciamento by +carefully organizing the Senate committees with radical Secessionists at +the head, and the immediate introduction of bills ably contrived to put +the control of the State in the hands of those who favored Secession. +These committees promptly reported several bills. + + +33 + +One provided for calling a State Convention, an effective device by +which the other Southern States had been dragged into Secession. Another +provided for the organization of the Militia of the State, which would +be done by officers reliable for Secession, and the third was intended +to extinguish resistance by taking away much of the police power of the +Republican Mayor of St. Louis, who had at his back the radical Germans, +organized into semi-military Wide-Awake Clubs. All these bills seemed to +be heartily approved all over the State, and the Southern Rights leaders +were exultant at their success. Apparently the 117 "Doubtfuls" were +flocking over to them. + +It seemed for a few momentous days in the opening of 1861 that Missouri +would be inevitably swept into the tide of Secession, and even in St. +Louis, the stronghold of Republicanism, a monster mass meeting, called +and controlled by such afterwards--strong loyalists as Hamilton R. +Gamble, later the Union Governor of the State, Nathaniel Paschall, +James E. Yeatman, and Robert Campbell, unanimously passed resolutions +declaring slave property to be held as a Constitutional right which the +Government should secure, and if it did not, Missouri "would join with +her sister States and share their duties and dangers," and that the +Government should not attempt to coerce the seceding States. This word +"coerce" had an extraordinarily ugly sound to all ears, and was a potent +enchantment in taking many of the professedly Union men into the ranks +of the rebellion. Even Horace Greeley recoiled from "a Union held +together by bayonets." + + +34 + +The bill "to call a Convention to consider the relations of the State of +Missouri to the United States, and to adopt measures for vindicating the +sovereignty of the State, and the protection of her institutions," was +promptly reported back to both Houses on the 9th of January, and as +promptly passed by them, with only two adverse votes in the Senate and +18 in the House. Of the latter 11 were from St. Louis. + +The Secessionists proceeded to a joyful celebration of this new triumph. +They hastened at once to another step to ally Missouri with the South. +A Commissioner arrived from the State of Mississippi to ask the +co-operation of Missouri in measures of common defense and safety. The +Governor received him with the distinction accredited an Embassador from +a foreign power, and recommended the Legislature to do likewise. The +serviceable Lieut.-Gov. Reynolds carried out this idea by putting +through a joint resolution to receive the Commissioner in the House +Chamber, with both bodies, the Governor and other chief officers of the +State, and the Judges of the Supreme Court in attendance, and with every +other honor. He dictated that upon the announcement of the entrance of +the Commissioner, the whole body should respectfully rise. The radical +Union men from St. Louis resisted this vehemently, and did not hesitate +to apply the ugly word "traitor" to the Commissioner, and those who were +aiding and abetting him. + + +35 + +The Commissioner made a long address, in which he said that the +Union had been dissolved, could never be reconstructed; that war was +inevitable, and the people of Mississippi earnestly invited those of +Missouri to unite with their kindred for common defense and safety. A +few days later the Legislature adopted a resolution against coercion, +and another introduced by George Graham Vest, of the Committee on +Federal Relations, afterwards Senator in the Confederate House from +Missouri, and for 24 years representing Missouri in the Senate of the +United States. This resolution declared that so "abhorrent was the +doctrine of coercion, that any attempt at such would result in the +people of Missouri rallying on the side of their Southern brethren to +resist to the last extremity." There was only one vote against this in +the Senate, and but 14 in the House. + +The eager young Secessionists were impatient to emulate their brethren +farther south, and strike a definite blow--seize something that would +wreck the sovereignty of the United States. Forts there were none. In +the historic old Jefferson Barracks, below St. Louis, there were only +a small squad of raw recruits, and a few officers, mostly of Southern +proclivities, whom it would be cruel to turn out of house and home while +they were waiting "for their States to go out." + + +36 + +There were but two Arsenals in the State; a small affair at Liberty, in +the northwest, near the Missouri River, which contained several hundred +muskets, a dozen cannon, and a considerable quantity of powder. The +other was the great Arsenal at St. Louis, one of the most important in +the country. It covered 56 acres of ground, fronting on the Mississippi +River, was inclosed by a high stone wall on all sides but that of the +river, and had within it four massive stone buildings standing in a +rectangle. In these were stored 60,000 stands of arms, mostly Enfield +and Springfield rifles, 1,500,000 cartridges, 90,000 pounds of powder, a +number of field pieces and siege guns, and a great quantity of munitions +of various kinds. There were also machinery and appliances of great +value. The Arsenal was situated on rather low ground, and was commanded +from hills near by. At the beginning of 1861 the only persons in it were +some staff officers, with their servants and orderlies, and the unarmed +workmen. The officer in command was Maj. Wm. Haywood Bell, a North +Carolinian, graduate of West Point, and Ordnance Officer, but who +had spent nearly the whole of his 40 years' service in Bureau work, +attending meanwhile so providently to his own affairs that he was quite +a wealthy man, with most of his investments in St. Louis. + +Gov. Claiborne F. Jackson had as his military adviser and executant +Maj.-Gen. Daniel M. Frost, a New Yorker by birth and a graduate of West +Point. He had served awhile in the Mexican War, where he received a +brevet as First Lieutenant for gallantry at Cerro Gordo, and then became +Quartermaster of his regiment. He had been sent to Europe as a student +of the military art there, but resigned in 1853, to take charge of a +planing mill and carpentry work in St. Louis. He subsequently became +a farmer, was elected to the Missouri Senate, entered the Missouri +Militia, rose to be Brigadier-General, and was sanguinely expected to +become for Missouri what Lee and Jos. E. Johnston were for Virginia, +Beauregard for South Carolina, and Braxton Bragg for Louisiana. He was +really a good deal of a soldier, with foresight and initiative force, +and had the Governor had the courage to follow his bold counsels, the +course of events might have been different. + +[Illustration: General Claiborne Jackson] + + +37 + +As early as Jan. 8 he visited the Arsenal, and had an interview with its +commandant, which he reported to the Governor as entirely satisfactory. +Maj. Bell was wholly in sympathy with the South, and regarded the +Arsenal as being virtually Missouri's property when she should choose to +demand it. His honor as a soldier would compel him to resist any attack +from an irresponsible mob, but a summons from the sovereign State +of Missouri would meet with the respectful obedience to which it was +entitled. It was therefore decided that this was the best shape in which +to leave matters. Maj. Bell would hold the Arsenal in trust against both +the radical St. Louis Germans and over-zealous Secessionists, who wanted +to seize it and arm their particular followers. When Gen. Frost had +organized the Missouri Militia to his satisfaction, he would march into +the Arsenal, and under the plea of protecting it from mobs, use its +contents to thoroughly arm and equip his Militia, which would thus be +put in very much better shape than the troops of any other State. + +Meanwhile, Gen. Frost recommended that as little as possible be said +about the Arsenal, in order to avoid attracting attention to it. + +All the same, the Arsenal was intently watched by both sides, and for +the next four months it was the great stake for which they played, since +its possession would go far toward giving possession of the State. There +were but 150,000 stands of arms in the rest of the South, while here +were 60,000. + + +38 + +Even before South Carolina seceded the ardent young Secessionists of St. +Louis had begun the organization of "Minute Men" to "protect the State." +Naturally, their first step in protecting the State would be to seize +the Arsenal, to prevent its arms being used to "coerce the people." +Their headquarters were in the Berthold House, a fine residence at the +corner of Fifth and Pine streets, over which floated the Secession flag. + +Into these companies went numbers of young men from the best families +of the South, who had come to St. Louis to take advantage of business +opportunities, and young Irishmen, of whom there were many thousands +in the city, and who; having in their blood an antipathy to "the Dutch" +dating from William of Orange's days, were skillfully wrought upon by +the assertion that the "infidel, Sabbath-breaking, beer-drinking Dutch +who had invaded St. Louis" were of the same breed as those who harried +Ireland and inflicted innumerable persecutions in 1689. Very effective +in this was one Brock Champion, a big-hearted, big-bodied young +Irishman, of much influence among his countrymen, who played little +part, however, in the war which ensued. More conspicuous later was Basil +Wilson Duke, a bright Kentucky lawyer, 25 years old, who was Captain of +one of the companies, and afterwards became the second in command and an +inspiration to John H. Morgan, the great raider. The Captain of another +company was Colton Greene, a South Carolinian, a year or two younger +than Duke, a merchant, a man of delicate physique and cultivated mind, +but of great courage and constancy of purpose. + + +39 + +Everywhere in the State began a systematic persecution of the +Unconditional Union men and the bullying of the Conditional Union men. +Secession flags in numbers floated from buildings in St. Louis, Rolla, +Lexington, Jefferson City, Kansas City, and elsewhere. Union meetings +were disturbed and broken up in all the larger towns, the Star Spangled +Banner torn down and trampled upon, and the borders of Kansas and Iowa +were thronged with Union refugees telling how they had been robbed, +maltreated, and threatened with death, their stock killed, their houses +and crops burned by the "White Trash" which the Slave Power had turned +loose upon them. + +When Maj. Bell had talked of "irresponsible mobs," he may have thought +of premature young fire-eaters like Duke, Greene, and Champion, eager +for the distinction of capturing the Arsenal, covetous of distributing +its arms to their followers. Most likely, however, he had in mind forays +from Illinois, or by the radical Germans of St. Louis, who were ill +disposed toward seeing their enemies equipped from its stores. + +Gen. Frost had the Germans in mind as early as Jan. 8, probably +immediately following his interview with Maj. Bell, for he sent out a +secret circular to his trusted subordinates instructing them that "upon +the bells of the churches sounding a continuous peal, interrupted by +a pause of five minutes, they should assemble with their men in their +armories, and there await further orders." One of these circulars fell +into the hands of a good Union man, who immediately took it to Frank +P. Blair. It was found that it was the Catholic church bells that were +relied upon to do the ringing, implying that the enthusiastic, reckless +Irishmen were to take the initiative. + + +40 + +The Archbishop of St. Louis was immediately seen, to prohibit the bells +of the churches being used as a tocsin to light the flames of civil war. +Mr. Blair sent the circular with other information to Gen. Scott, with +an urgent request that an officer of sounder loyalty supersede Maj. +Bell, and that some troops be sent to Jefferson Barracks against an +emergency. Mr. Montgomery Blair, brother of F. P. Blair, Jr., and soon +to be Postmaster-General, Gov. Yates, of Illinois, and President-elect +Lincoln supported this request. A fortnight later Maj. Bell was +relieved, and assigned to duty in the East. + +A gallant one-armed Irish First Lieutenant of the 2d U. S., one Thomas +W. Sweeny, of whom we shall hear more later, was ordered to Jefferson +Barracks, where it was supposed his influence with his countrymen might +offset that of Mr. Champion. A small squad of Regulars was sent him from +Newport Barracks. + +Maj. Bell foreseeing that the Army was to be no longer a place for a +quiet gentleman with business tastes, resigned his commission, to remain +with his well-placed investments in St. Louis. + + +41 + +All this disturbed the Secessionists. They saw that the Government had +an eye on the important Arsenal, and did not intend to give it up as +tamely as it had other places in the South. The arrival of the Regulars +was made the basis of inflammatory appeals that the Government +was trying to "overawe and coerce the people." Two days later this +"intimidation" became flagrant. Isaac H. Sturgeon, Assistant United +States Treasurer at St. Louis, a Kentuckian and Secessionist, had for +reasons of his own reported to President Buchanan that he was concerned +about the safety of $400,000 in gold in his vaults. The President handed +the letter to Gen. Scott, who sent an order to Jefferson Barracks which +resulted in a Lieutenant with 40 men being sent to the Post Office +Building to protect the removal of the gold. The city was thrown into +the greatest excitement as the troops marched through the streets, the +papers issued extras, and it required all the efforts of the officials +and the leaders on both sides to preserve the peace. + +Gov. Claiborne Jackson took advantage of the occasion to send a message +to the Legislature, in which he said that this was an "act insulting to +the dignity and patriotism of the people." + +The gold having been removed, Gen. Harney ordered the troops back to the +Arsenal, and quiet was restored. + +Maj. Peter B. Hagner, of the District of Columbia, who graduated from +West Point in 1832, and had distinguished himself in the Mexican War, +succeeded Maj. Bell in the command of the Arsenal. His sympathies were +strongly with the South, but not so strongly as to overmaster his desire +to retain his commission and its emoluments. He was willing to go any +length in serving the Secessionists that did not involve his dismissal +from the Army. He had two brothers in the service, and all three held on +to their commissions until forced from their hands by the grim grasp of +death. + + +42 + +Meanwhile, Lieut.-Gov. Reynolds was pushing the Legislative work to +carry Missouri out of the Union. The acts which proved so successful +in the other Southern States in binding the people hand and foot and +dragging them over to the rebellion were closely imitated. One of these +was the celebrated "Military Bill" introduced in the Senate, Jan. 5, +1861. This put every man of military age in the State into the Militia, +and at the disposal of the Governor, who was given $150,000 outright +to enable him to carry out his plans. It made everybody owe paramount +allegiance to the State, and prescribed severe penalties, including even +death, to be inflicted by drum-head court martial for "treason" to +the State--for even the utterance of disrespectful words against the +Governor or Legislature. This went a little too far for many of the +members, and by obstinate fighting the passage of the bill was postponed +from time to time and at last defeated. + +Another bill was generally understood as one to stamp out Republicanism +in St. Louis, but officially designated as "An Act to amend an act for +the suppression of riot in St. Louis City and County." This took out +of the hands of the Republican Sheriff and Mayor most of their +peace-preserving powers, which were given to a Board to be appointed by +the Governor, thereby to tie their hands when the time came for taking +the Arsenal. One of the Governor's Police Commissioners was Basil Duke, +the leader of the "Minute-Men." + + +43 + +Though they had none of the noisy aggressiveness of the Secessionists, +the leaders of the Unionists, during those bitterly intense Winter +days, were no less able, courageous, and earnest. Blair had a masterful +courage and determination not equalled by any man opposed to him. He was +one of those men of mighty purpose who set their faces toward an object +with the calm resolution to die rather than fail. Against the hardened +steel of his relentless will the softer iron of such thrasonic +Secessionists as Gov. Jackson, Lieut.-Gov. Reynolds, United States +Senators James S. Green and Trusten Polk, Gen. Frost and lesser leaders, +clashed without producing a dent. + +Blair had skill and tact equal to his courage. He foresaw every movement +of his antagonists and met it with a prompt countermove. To their +inflammatory rhetoric he opposed clear common sense, loyalty and wise +judgment as to the future. When occasion demanded, he did not hesitate +to publicly express the hope "that every traitor among them would be +made to test the strength of Missouri hemp." He was swift to subordinate +himself and "the Cause," when anything could be gained. There were many +prominent men who wanted to save the Union, but would deny to Frank +Blair the credit of it. He unhesitatingly gave them the highest places, +and took the subordinate one for himself. There were tens of thousands +of Whigs and Democrats who loved the Union, but shuddered at the thought +of becoming Black Republicans. He abolished the Republican Party, that +they might form a Union Party, the sole principle of which should be +support of the Government. + + +44 + +Next to Blair was the famous "Committee of Safety," which did such +high work for the Union during those fermenting days. These and their +birthplaces were: + +O. D. Filley, New England. + +John How, Pennsylvania. + +Samuel T. Glover, Kentucky. + +James O. Broadhead, Virginia. + +J. J. Witzig, Germany. + +These self-denying, self-sacrificing patriots worked together with Blair +in perfect harmony and with the utmost skill. They were more than a +match for their Secession opponents in organization and management, and +lost very few points in the great game that was played throughout the +Winter, with the possession of the City, the State, and the Arsenal for +the main prizes. + +The Committee of Safety had its Home Guards to offset the Minute Men. +Where there were hundreds of these latter drilling more or less openly, +with much fifing and drumming and flaunting of Secession flags, there +were thousands of Home Guards meeting and training with greatest secresy +in old foundries, breweries, and halls, with pickets out to prevent +surprise, sawdust on the floors to drown the sound of their feet, and +blankets at the windows to arrest the light and the words of command. +The drill hall was only approached at night, and singly or by twos or +threes, to avoid attracting attention. Most of these Home Guards were +Germans, and a large proportion had had military training in Europe. The +great problem with them, as with the Minute Men, was to get arms, and +both sides watched the Arsenal with its 60,000 rifles and 1,500,000 +cartridges with sharp covetousness. + + +45 + +The Governor of Illinois loaned the Home Guards a few arms, but it was +expected that these would be repaid with interest from the stores of the +Arsenal. + +The appointment of Maj. Hagner to the command of the Arsenal was +satisfactory to the Secessionists, but there was naturally a good deal +of interest as to the bias of Capt. Thomas W. Sweeny. One day a man +presented himself at the west gate of the Arsenal and asked to see Capt. +Sweeny. Sweeny went to the gate and recognized an old acquaintance, St. +George Croghan, the son of that Lieut. Croghan who had so brilliantly +defended Fort Stephenson, at Lower Sandusky, in the War of 1812, and +who afterwards was for many years Inspector-General of the United +States Army. Croghan's grandfather had been a gallant officer in the +Revolution. It was a cold day, and Croghan wore a citizen's overcoat. +On their way to the quarters, the guards properly saluted Sweeny as they +passed. Said Croghan, "Sweeny, don't you think those sentinels ought to +salute me--my rank is higher than yours?" at the same time throwing open +his overcoat and revealing the uniform of a rebel field officer. + +"Not to such as that, by heavens!" responded Sweeny; and added: "If that +is your business, you can have nothing to do with me. You had better not +let my men see you with that thing on." + +Croghan assured him his business in calling was one of sincere +friendship; but he would remark while on the subject, that Sweeny had +better find it convenient to get out of there, and very soon, too. + +"Why?" asked Sweeny. + +Replied Croghan: "Because we intend to take it." + + +46 + +Sweeny in great excitement exclaimed: "Never! As sure as my name is +Sweeny, the property in this place shall never fall into your hands. +I'll blow it to hell first, and you know I am the man to do it." + +Nine months later this Croghan was to fall mortally wounded at the +head of a cavalry regiment while attacking the Union troops near +Fayetteville, W. Va., while Sweeny was to do gallant service in the +Union army, rising to the rank of Brigadier-General of Volunteers, +and command of a Division, and being retired in 1870 with the rank of +Brigadier-General. + + + + +CHAPTER III. NATHANIEL LYON'S ENTRANCE ON THE SCENE + +The Secessionists were in the meanwhile hardly making the headway in +the Legislature that they had anticipated, in spite of the stimulating +events in the extreme Southern States. + +A curious situation developed in the Legislature leading to the arrest +for a while of Lieut.-Gov. Reynolds's plans for organizing the State +for rebellion. The term of Senator James S. Green expired on the 3d +of March, and he was desirous of being his own successor. The first +consideration was whether Missouri was likely to stay in the Union and +have a Senator. At the moment this seemed probable enough to warrant +going on and electing a Senator, and the Pro-Slavery men made strenuous +efforts to re-elect Mr. Green, but it was significant that he was deemed +too ultra a Secessionist, and Waldo P. Johnson was elected in his stead. +Among the many things in the war which turned out surprisingly different +from what men had confidently expected was that Mr. Green took the +selfish politician's view of the "ingratitude" of those who refused to +re-elect him, sullenly retired to private life, and did not raise his +hand nor his voice for the South during the war, while Mr. Johnson, who +was elected because he was a better Union man, soon resigned his seat +in the United States Senate, entered the Confederate army, became +Lieutenant-Colonel of the 4th Mo. (Confederate), and fought till the +close of the war. + + +48 + +Jan. 18, after a prolonged debate, both Houses passed a bill to call a +Convention "to consider the relations of Missouri to the United States." +This was the successful device which had been used in carrying other +States out of the Union, and despite the conservatism of the language +of the act it was hoped that it would be successful in this instance. In +the Senate there were only 26 votes against it, and in the House but 18, +of whom 11 were from St. Louis. The Southern Rights men regarded this as +a great triumph, however, and made much jubilation throughout the State. +The election for members to the Convention was fixed for Feb. 18, and +the Convention was to meet on the last day of the month. This act was +followed by the adoption of a joint resolution which expressed profound +regret that the States of New York and Ohio had tendered men and money +to the President for "the avowed purpose of coercing certain sovereign +States of the South into obedience to the Federal Government," and +declaring that the people of Missouri would rally to the side of their +Southern brethren to "resist the invaders and to the last extremity." +Only 14 votes were cast against this resolution. + +The main interest now centered upon the election of delegates to the +Convention. New political lines ran among the people, dividing them into +Secessionists, "Conditional Union" men and "Unconditional Union" men. + + +49 + +Blair's leadership was able to efface the Republican Party for the time +being, and carry all of the members over to the Unconditional Unionists. +The result of the election was a blow to the Secessionists, not one of +whose candidates was elected. + +In St. Louis the Unconditional Union candidates were elected by over +5,000 majority. + +The bitterly-disappointed Secessionists denounced the majority as +"Submissionists," and threatened all manner of things. + +The election occurred on the same day that Jefferson Davis was +inaugurated President of the Southern Confederacy. + +When the State Convention met at Jefferson City, it was found that of +its 99 members 53 were natives of either Virginia of Kentucky, and all +but 17 had been born in Slave States. Only 13 were natives of the North, +three were Germans, and one an Irishman. A struggle at once ensued for +the organization of the Convention, which resulted in a victory for the +Union men, ex-Gov. Sterling Price being elected President by 75 votes, +to 15 cast for Nathaniel W. Watkins, a half-brother of Henry Clay, and +a strenuous advocate of Southern Rights. As soon as the Convention +completed its organization it adjourned to St. Louis, to avoid the +badgering of the pronounced Secessionists, who constituted the State +Government, and the clamorous bullying of the crowd assembled in the +State Capital to influence its action. + + +50 + +On assembling at St. Louis the Convention immediately addressed itself +to the duty for which it had assembled. Judge Hamilton R. Gamble, +a Virginian, leader of the Unconditional Union men, and afterwards +Governor of the State, as Chairman of the Committee on Federal +Relations, made a long report, in which it was denied that the +grievances complained of were sufficient to involve Missouri in +rebellion; that in a military sense Missouri's union with the Southern +Confederacy meant annihilation; that the true position of the State +was to try to bring back her seceding sisters, and to this effect a +Convention of all the States was recommended, to adopt the Crittenden +Proposition. An attempt to amend this report by the declaration that +if the Northern States refused to assent to the Crittenden Compromise +Missouri would then side with her sister States of the South received +only 23 votes, but among them was that of Sterling Price, who had begun +to drift southward. + +The Convention adopted Gamble's report, and a few days afterward +adjourned subject to call of the committee. + +The Secessionists were greatly discouraged by the result, and the +Legislature also adjourned. Then came another fluctuation in public +opinion. The great majority wanted peace. The attitude of the Governor +and his faction, who seemed to look toward peace by putting Missouri in +a state of defense to prevent the new Republican President from making +war, appealed to many, and in the Spring elections the Unconditional +Union men were defeated by a small majority, and St. Louis passed from +their official control to that of the Conditional Union Men. + + +51 + +While these events were occupying public attention there occurred +another, little noted at the time, but which was soon to be of +controlling importance. Feb. 6 there marched up from the steamboat +landing to the Arsenal a company of 80 Regular soldiers of the 2d U. +S., from Fort Riley, Kan., at the head of which was a Captain, under the +average hight, and a well knit but rather slender frame. He had a long, +narrow face, with full, high forehead, keen, deep-set blue eyes, and +hair and whiskers almost red. His face was thoughtful but determined, +his manner quick and nervous. He bore himself towards his men as an +exact and rigid disciplinarian, mingled with thoughtful kindness for all +who did their duty and tried their best This was Capt. Nathaniel Lyon, +born in Connecticut, descended from old Puritan stock, with the blood of +Cromwell's Ironsides flowing in his veins. He was then 42 years old, and +before another birthday was to fill the country with his fame, and fall +in battle-face to the front. He had graduated from West Point in 1841, +the 11th in his class. That his intellectual abilities were of high +order is shown by his standing in that class, of which Zealous B. Tower, +an eminent engineer, and brevet Major-General, U. S. A., was the head, +and Horatio G. Wright, who commanded the Sixth Corps during the last and +greatest year of its history, was the second. + +[Illustration: 010-General Lyon] + +Gen. John F. Reynolds, the superb commander of the First Corps and of +the Right Wing of the Army of the Potomac, with which he brought on the +battle of Gettysburg, where he was killed, graduated 26th in the class, +and Gen. Don Carlos Buell, who organized and commanded the Army of the +Ohio, graduated 32d. Gen. Robert Garnett, the first Confederate General +officer to fall in the struggle,--killed July 13, 1861, at Carrick's +Ford,--was the 27th in the class. Julius P. Garesche, who graduated 16th +in the class, became Chief of Staff to Gen. Rosecrans, and was killed at +Stone River. + + +52 + +Besides being thoroughly versed in all that related to his profession +of arms, Capt. Lyon was well informed in history and general literature; +was a devoted student of the Bible and Shakspere, and wrote well and +forcibly. What was very rare among the officers of the old Army, he was +a radical Abolitionist, and believer in the National Sovereignty. He was +so outspoken in these views as to render his position quite unpleasant, +where nearly every one was so antagonistic. A weaker-willed man would +have been forced either out of the Army or into tacit acquiescence with +the prevailing sentiment. + +Upon graduation he had been assigned to the 2d U. S., and sent to get +his first lessons in actual war fighting the Florida Indians. There his +superiors found occasion to remark that his zeal sometimes outran +his discretion--not an infrequent fault of earnest young men. He had +distinguished himself and received a brevet in the Mexican War for +gallantry at Contreras and Churubusco, and had then been sent to +California. With a slender force he was charged with the duty of keeping +a long frontier in order against turbulent Indians. He accomplished this +by making the Indians more afraid of him than the whites could possibly +be of them. No quick retreat, no impregnable fastness, could shelter +them from his inexorable pursuit. On one occasion he carried boats on +wagons over a mountain range to cross a river and strike an Indian lair +where the marauders were resting in the fullest sense of security. +His company had next been transferred to Kansas in the midst of the +political troubles there, where, while doing his official duty with +strict impartiality, his sympathies were actively with the Free State +settlers. + + +53 + +For 42 years he had been growing and fitting himself for a great +Opportunity. + +For once Opportunity and the Man equal to it met. + +Immediately after settling his company in the Arsenal, Capt. Lyon went +to the city to meet Frank P. Blair. The two strong men recognized each +the other's strength, and at once came into harmonious cooperation. + +The fate of the Arsenal, of the City of St. Louis, and of the State of +Missouri, was settled. + +Before Capt. Lyon arrived, the Committee of Safety had had an alarm +about the Arsenal, and rallied a strong force of their Home Guards in +waiting to go to the assistance of Capt. Sweeny and his 40 men, should +the Minute Men attack him. But the Secessionist leaders had such +confidence in Maj. Hagner that they dissuaded the impatient Basil Duke, +Colton Greene, Brock Champion and other eager young Captains from making +the attack. + +Capt. Lyon was soon reinforced. Lieut. Warren L. Lothrop, of the 4th U. +S. Art., a Maine man, who had risen from the ranks, came in with 40 men. +He was afterwards to succeed Frank P. Blair, jr., as Colonel of the 1st +Mo. Light Art. Next came Capt. Rufus Saxton, also of the 4th Art., a +Massachusetts man, later to rise to brevet Major-General of Volunteers, +and to play an important part in caring for the freedmen of the South +Carolina coast. + + +54 + +Still later came Capt. James Totten, of the 2d U. S. Art., with his +company. He had been born in Pennsylvania, but was appointed to West +Point from Virginia, and was in command of the Arsenal at Little Rock +until he evacuated his post, Feb. 8, before a large force of rebels, +and retired with his command to the Indian Territory, by virtue of +the agreement with the Governor of the State. While Lothrop and Saxton +appear to have been taken at once into the councils of Capt. Lyon, Capt. +Totten does not, probably because the uncompromising Lyon did not like +his methods in Arkansas. He was, however, true to his loyalty, and rose +eventually to the rank of Brigadier-General. + +There were now in the Arsenal nine officers and 484 men. Hagner and Lyon +at once came into collision. Though Hagner belonged to the Ordnance, +and not therefore regarded as eligible to command troops, he secured +an order assigning himself to command according to his brevet rank +of Major, which made him superior to Lyon. Hagner had been five years +longer in the service than Lyon, but his commission as Captain was 20 +days junior to Lyon's. Lyon energetically protested against Hagner's +assignment in a letter to Blair, who was then in Washington, D. C, +looking out for matters at that end of the line, in which he said: + + +55 + + It is obvious that the fine stone wall inclosing our grounds + affords us an excellent defense against attack, if we will + take advantage of it; and for this purpose platforms should + be erected for our men to stand on and fire over; and that + artillery should be ready at the gates, to be run out and + sweep down a hostile force; and sand-bags should be prepared + and at hand to throw up a parapet to protect the parties at + these pieces of artillery; inside pieces should be placed to + rake the whole length, and sweep down each side a party that + should get over the walls, traverses being erected to + protect parties at these pieces. A pretty strong field + work, with three heavy pieces, should be erected on the side + toward the river, to oppose either a floating battery or one + that might be established on the island; and, finally, + besides our houses, every building should be mined, with a + train arranged so as to blow them up successively, as + occupied by the enemy. Maj. Hagner refuses, as I mentioned + to you, to do any of these things, and has given his orders + not to fly to the walls to repel an approach, but to let the + enemy have all the advantages of the wall to lodge himself + behind it, and get possession of all outside buildings + overlooking us, and to get inside and under shelter of our + outbuildings, which we are not to occupy before we make + resistance. This is either imbecility or d----d + villainy, and in contemplating the risks we run and the + sacrifices we must make in case of an attack in contrast to + the vigorous and effective defense we are capable of, and + which, in view of the cause of our country and humanity, the + disgrace and degradation to which the Government has been + subject by pusillanimity and treachery, we are now called + upon to make, I get myself into a most unhappy state of + solicitude and irritability. With even less force and proper + disposition, I am confident we can resist any force which + can be brought against us; by which I mean such force as + would not be overcome by our sympathizing friends outside. + These needful dispositions, with proper industry, can be + made in 24 hours. There cannot be, as you know, a more + important occasion nor a better opportunity to strike an + effective blow at this arrogant and domineering infatuation + of Secessionism than here; and must this all be lost, by + either false notions of duty or covert disloyalty? As I have + said, Maj. Hagner has no right to the command, and, under + the 62d Article of War, can only have it by a special + assignment of the President, which I do not believe has been + made; but that the announcement of Gen. Scott that the + command belongs to Maj. Hagner is his own decision, and done + in his usual sordid spirit of partisanship and favoritism to + pets, and personal associates, and toadies; nor can he, even + in the present straits of the country, rise above this, in + earnest devotion to justice and the wants of his country. + +Lyon went to Gen. Harney to urge his right to command, from seniority +of commission; but Harney sustained Hagner, who was in some things much +more Harney's style than Lyon. Lyon thereupon appealed to President +Buchanan, which meant to Gen. Scott, who, of course, sustained Hagner. +Lyon was, therefore, forced to submit until Lincoln was inaugurated. + + +56 + +There was no vanity or self-seeking in this urgency of Lyon's. In the +Army he was distinguished for his readiness to subordinate himself to +carry out any plans which commended themselves to him. He had repeatedly +offered to subordinate himself to Hagner if the latter would take +what Lyon thought only the most necessary steps at that crisis for the +defense of the position and stores of priceless importance. + +What Lyon dreaded above all things was something akin to that which had +freshly occurred at Little Rock, where Capt. Totten had withdrawn from +the Little Rock Arsenal with his company in the face of a large mob of +Secessionists, upon a receipt by the Governor for the arms and stores, +and the promise that he would account for them to the United States +Government. Lyon was determined to bury himself and his men in the +ruins of the Arsenal before it should pass into the hands of the +Secessionists. + +Basil Duke, Colton Greene, and the other chafing young Captains had +matured a plot with the connivance of Gen. Frost, of the Militia, +probably somewhat at his instigation, which would brush aside the +network of intrigue which Claiborne Jackson and others were spinning, +bring matters to a focus, and in one blow crush Union sentiment, overawe +the timid, fasten the wavering, seize the Arsenal and launch Missouri +upon the tide of Secession with the Cotton States. + + +67 + +The police powers of the city of St. Louis had been taken away from +the Mayor, Frost had his Militia in readiness, the Irish were +properly worked up to a state of exasperation against the "infidel, +Sabbath-breaking Dutch," and hosts of Americans were in the same net +when on the day of Lincoln's inauguration the Secession flag was boldly +hoisted from the roof of the Berthold Mansion, in the most prominent +part of the city. At once excitement burned to fever heat. Incensed by +the wanton insult, the Germans and other Unconditional Union men raged +that the flag should be torn down, and crowds gathered around the +Berthold Mansion for that purpose. The house had, however, been +converted into an arsenal, with all the arms and ammunition that could +at that time be gathered, and filled with determined men under the +leadership of Duke, Greene and others, eager to precipitate a riot, +under the cover of which the Irish and Americans could be hurled against +the Germans, and the Arsenal seized. + +Blair and the Committee of Safety saw the danger of this. Their +followers were not so ready for battle as the enemy was, and in +conjunction with the more conservative leaders of the other side they +succeeded in restraining their indignant friends from opening up a day +of blood which would have been forever memorable in the history of St. +Louis. Blair at once hastened back to Washington, and a few days +after the Inauguration secured from the new Secretary of War an order +assigning Capt. Lyon to the command of the Arsenal. This had to come +through Gen. Harney's hands, and in transmitting it he informed Capt. +Lyon: + +You shall not exercise any control over the operations of the Ordnance +Department. The arrangements heretofore made for the accommodation of +the troops at the Arsenal and for the defense of the place will not be +disturbed without the sanction of the Commanding General. + + +58 + +This was to save Hagner's pride, as well as propitiate Gen. Harney's +Secession friends in St. Louis, who were becoming very uneasy at the way +the "Yankee Abolitionist" was taking hold. + +The dilemma into which Gen. Harney was becoming daily more involved was +far more perplexing than any he had encountered in his fighting days. +A question that could be settled sword in hand never had troubled +him much. Alas! this could not be--not then. On the one side were the +lifelong associations and habits of thought of the plain old soldier. +All of his friends were Southerners and Slaveholders, as he himself +was. Nearly all of the public men he knew, the officials of the State +of Louisiana, which he called his home; of Missouri, which was almost +equally his home, had either gone over irrevocably to Secession, or were +preparing to do so. In his real home, the Army, it was almost as +bad. The next Brigadier-General above him, Daniel E. Twiggs, had just +surrendered all the men and property under his command to the State +of Texas. The men who controlled the War Department,--Secretary Floyd, +Adjutant-General Samuel Cooper, Quartermaster-General Joe E. Johnston, +Assistant Adjutants-General John Withers and George Deas, had gone into +the Confederate army. Robert E. Lee, Gen. Scott's prime favorite, was +preparing to do so. + +On the other hand were the deep, ineradicable instincts of soldierly +loyalty to the Flag under which he had fought for 40 years. The man +who had hanged 60 men at one time in Mexico for deserting the Flag was +likely to have a severe struggle before he could bring himself to do the +same. He was deeply incensed at the "Black Republicans" for irritating +the Southerners so that they felt compelled to secede, but did not +believe that the latter should have seceded. At least, until Missouri +seceded he was going to maintain, as best he could, the National +authority in his Department. + + +59 + +A flashlight is thrown on his mental attitude by his reply to +Lieut, (afterwards General) Schofield, when informed by him of the +above-mentioned preparations for seizing the Arsenal under the cover of +a riot. "A -------- outrage," he exclaimed in his usual explosive way. +"Why, the State has not yet passed the Ordinance of Secession. Missouri +has not gone out of the United States." + +The limitations placed by Gen. Harney upon Lyon's assignment to command +were aggravating. Hagner commanded the buildings, the arms, ammunition, +and other stores, and the strong walls surrounding the grounds. Lyon +commanded merely the men. He could not draw a musket, a cannon, or a +cartridge for either, not even a hammer, a spade nor an ax, without +a requisition duly approved by Harney. Nor could he change a single +arrangement of the grounds without Harney's approval. + +Lyon was almost nightly meeting with the Committee of Safety, and +visiting the drill-rooms of the Home Guards, where he advised, +encouraged and drilled the men. The Secessionists were extremely fearful +that in some way he would manage to get the arms and ammunition, and +besought Harney and Hagner to omit no precaution to prevent this. + +When away from his Secessionist environment, Harney's soldierly +instincts asserted themselves. Lyon's vigorous, uncompromising course +was far more to his mind than the dull, shifty Hagner's. + + +60 + +One was zealous in the performance of his duty, and the other a red-tape +bureaucrat, whose first thought always seemed to be to clog and hamper +the men in the field. Harney had suffered too much from these "office +fellows" to be especially enamored of them. Therefore he had moods, when +he gave Lyon a free hand, which the latter made the most of until the +General's mood changed. + +During one of these Lyon had undermined the walls of the buildings, +placed batteries, built banquettes for the men to fire over the +walls, cut portholes, reinforced the weaker places with sandbags, and +established a vigilant sentry system to prevent surprise. + +The Secessionists were equally full of plans, though not of +performances. Minute Men were organizing throughout the State to rush +in at the given day by every train and overwhelm St. Louis, taking the +Arsenal by sheer force of numbers. Many of the Captains of the large +steamboats which carried on the trade between St. Louis and New Orleans +were zealous Secessionists, and mooted plans for assailing the Arsenal +on the river side with cannon mounted on boats, backed up by large +crowds of men. But Gov. Jackson and his coterie still relied mainly upon +inciting some form of riot in the city, which would allow Gen. Frost +to get possession of the Arsenal with his Militia and "protect it from +violence." Once in Gen. Frost's hands--then! + +The Secessionists scored a point and carried dismay to the Unionists by +securing an order from Gen. Scott for Capt. Lyon to attend a Court of +Inquiry at Fort Leavenworth. While he was gone they might carry out +their plans with comparative ease and safety. Blair, however, succeeded +in getting Gen. Scott to revoke the order. + + +61 + +To find out precisely what the position of affairs inside the Arsenal +was, and to spy out its defenses, a number of prominent citizens, among +whom was James S. Rains, afterwards Brigadier-General in the Confederate +army, calling themselves Grand Jurors for the United States District +Court, presented themselves at the Arsenal and attempted an entrance. +The Sergeant of the Guard held them awhile till he could communicate +with Capt. Lyon, and they went away in anger. + +There were other officers in the Arsenal whom Lyon could trust as little +as he could Maj. Hagner, but Capts. Saxton and Sweeny and Lieut. Lothrop +stood firmly by him in every movement, going so far as to mutually agree +that they would shoot Maj. Hagner before he should be allowed to turn +over the arms to the Secessionists. + +The bombardment and surrender of Fort Sumter and the President's call +for troops threw the country into a tumult of excitement, and changed +the political relations everywhere. All over the South the Secessionists +were jubilant, and those in Missouri particularly exultant. Very many +of the waverers at once flocked over to the Secessionists, while others +sided with the Union. To what extent this change took place was as yet +unknown, nor which side had a majority. Public sympathy as voiced by the +leading papers seemed to be that the Union had "been riven asunder by +the mad policy of Mr. Lincoln, and that it was necessary for Missouri to +take a stand with the other Border States to prevent his attempting to +subjugate them." + + +62 + +Gen. Frost submitted a memorial to Governor Jackson, in which were the +following recommendations: + +1. Convene the General Assembly at once. + +2. Send an agent to the South to procure mortars and siege guns. + +3. Prevent the garrisoning of the United States Arsenal at Liberty. + +4. Warn the people of Missouri "that the President has acted illegally +in calling out troops, thus arrogating to himself the war-making power, +and that they are therefore by no means, bound to give him aid or +comfort in his attempt to subjugate by force of arms a people who are +still free; but, on the contrary, should prepare themselves to maintain +all their rights as citizens of Misouri." + +5. Order me (Frost) to form a military camp of instruction at or near +the city of St. Louis; to muster military companies into the service of +the State; and to erect batteries and do all things necessary and proper +to be done in order to maintain the peace, dignity, and sovereignty of +the State. + +6. Order Gen. Bowen to report with his command to me (Frost) for duty. + +He proposed to form a camp of instruction for the Militia on the river +bluffs near the Arsenal, from which it could be commanded by guns and +mortars to be obtained from the South when Frost with his brigade and +that of Gen. John S. Bowen, who was afterwards to be a Major-General +in the Confederate army and command a division at Vicksburg, with what +volunteers they could obtain, would force Lyon to surrender the Arsenal +and its stores. + +While considering these recommendations the Governor received a request +from the Secretary of War for four regiments of infantry, Missouri's +quota of the 75,000 men the President had called for. To this Governor +Jackson replied the next day: + + +63 + +Your dispatch of the 13th instant, making a call upon 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 +revolutionary in his objects, inhuman and diabolical, and cannot be +complied with. Not one man will the State of Missouri furnish to carry +on such an unholy crusade. + +The same day he sent Capts. Greene and Duke to Montgomery with a letter +to the President of the Confederacy, requesting him to furnish the +siege guns and mortars which Gen. Frost wanted, and another messenger to +Virginia with a similar request. He also called the Legislature to meet +at Jefferson City May 2, to take "measures to perfect the organization +and equipment of the Militia and raise the money to place the State in +a proper attitude for defense." He did not dare order Gen. Frost to +establish his military camp of instruction in St. Louis, but he took +the more prudent and strictly legal course of ordering the commanding +officers of the several Militia Districts of the State to assemble their +respective commands at some convenient place, and go into encampment for +six days for drilling and discipline. This order authorized Gen. Frost +to establish his camp wherever he pleased within the City or County of +St. Louis. + +Gen. Bowen, who was in command of a force in the southwest to guard +the State against the marauders from Kansas, was ordered to report with +certain of his troops to Gen. Frost. The Arsenal at Liberty was at once +seized by the Secessionists in that neighborhood, who secured several +hundred muskets, four brass guns, and a large amount of powder. These +proceedings of the Governor disturbed Gen. Harney greatly, and he wrote +at once to Gen. Scott asking him for instructions. + + +64 + +Capt. Lyon did not ask or wait for instructions. He wrote at once to +Gov. Dick Yates, of Illinois, to obtain authority to hold in readiness +for service in St. Louis the six regiments which Illinois was called +upon to furnish. Gov. Yates acted promptly, and received authority to +send two or three regiments "to support the garrison of the St. Louis +Arsenal." Lyon received orders to equip these troops, and to issue +10,000 additional stands of arms to the agent of the Governor of +Illinois. + +Mr. Blair reached St. Louis from Washington, April 17, and at once began +acting with the boldness and foresight that the situation demanded. +By his advice Col. Pritchard and other Union officers of the Militia +resigned. He procured from the War Department an order placing +5,000 stands of arms at the disposal of Lyon for arming "the loyal +citizens"--the Home Guards--and requested orders by telegraph for Capt. +Lyon to muster men into the service to fill Missouri's requisition, and +to have Hagner removed. + +Lyon, determined not to be taken by surprise, had the streets leading to +the Arsenal nightly patrolled and pickets stationed outside the walls. +Gov. Jackson's Police Board complained that this was a violation of +the City ordinances and in direct interference with their duties. They +demanded that he should obey the law, but he refused. When they appealed +to Harney, he at once ordered Lyon to quarter his men in the Arsenal +and forbade him to issue arms to anyone without Harney's sanction. +This brought Blair and Lyon to a parting of the ways with Harney. They +demanded his removal, and April 21 Harney was removed from the command, +and ordered to repair to Washington and report to the General-in-Chief. + + +65 + +On the same day Capt. Lyon was instructed to immediately execute the +order previously given to "arm loyal citizens." He was also ordered to +muster into the service four regiments, which the Governor had refused +to furnish. As the men had long been in waiting, Lyon quickly organized +the four regiments, which elected him their Brigadier-General. Some of +the field officers of these regiments were notable men, and were to have +brilliant careers during the war. The Colonel of the 1st Regiment was +F. P. Blair, afterwards to become Major-General commanding a corps; the +Lieutenant-Colonel was George L. Andrews, afterwards to be a Colonel +in the Regular Army; the Major was John M. Schofield, later to be +Major-General commanding the Twenty-third Corps, and still later +Lieutenant-General commanding the Army of the United States. The Colonel +of the 3d Regiment was Franz Sigel, afterwards Major-General commanding +the Eleventh Corps and the Army of the Shenandoah. + +The four regiments having been filled to the maximum, there were large +numbers yet demanding muster. From these a fifth regiment of Missouri +Volunteers and five regiments of "United States Reserves" were formed. +The most notable among the field officers of these were John McNeil, +Colonel of the 3d Regiment, who afterwards became a Brigadier-General, +and B. Gratz Brown, Colonel of the 4th U. S. Reserves, afterwards Vice +Presidential nominee on the Greeley ticket. These additional +regiments formed another brigade, and elected Capt. Sweeny their +Brigadier-General. After arming these 10,000 men Lyon secured the +balance of the stores from all danger of treachery or capture by +transferring them to Alton, Ill.., where they would be under the +guardianship of loyal men. + + +66 + +Thus, in a few, swift weeks after the inauguration of President Lincoln, +Blair and Lyon, bold even to temerity, and even more sagacious than +bold, had snatched away from the sanguine Secessionists the great +Arsenal, with its momentous contents, which were placed at the service +of the Union. + +More than 10,000 loyal men of Missouri were standing, arms in hand, on +her soil to confront their enemies. + +Above all, the Government showed that it would no longer tamely submit +to being throttled and stabbed, but would fight, then, there, and +everywhere, for its life. + + +67 + + + +CHAPTER IV. THE CAPTURE OF CAMP JACKSON + +Up to the time that Gen. Harney was relieved and ordered to Washington, +and Capt. Lyon was given a free hand, Gen. D. M. Frost's course +and advice were worthy of his reputation as a resolute, far-seeing +commander. With the organized military companies of his district and the +Minute Men he had a good nucleus for action, and had he made a rush +on the Arsenal at any of the several times that he seems to have +contemplated, it would have been backed up by several thousand young +Irishmen and Americans in St. Louis, as well as by tens of thousands +from the country swarming in as fast as they could have gotten railroads +and steamboats to carry them. + +Then the capture of the Arsenal would have opened the war instead of the +firing on Fort Sumter. + +He was then, however, restrained by Gov. Jackson and his coterie, who +expected to gain their ends by intrigues and manipulations which had +proved so successful in the other States. + +After, however, Capt. Lyon had equipped some 10,000 Missourians from +the Arsenal and sent most of the rest of the arms across the river into +Illinois, Frost seems to have suddenly become doddering. The Rev. Henry +W. Beecher used to tell a very effective story about an old house dog +named Noble. Some time in the dim past Noble had found a rabbit in a +hole under an apple tree. Every day ever after, for the rest of his +life, Noble would go to the hole and bark industriously at it for an +hour or so, with as much zeal as if he had found another rabbit there, +which he never did. + + +68 + +There seemed to be something of this in Gen. Frost's carrying out +his idea of establishing a camp ostensibly for the instruction of his +Militia, on the hills near the Arsenal, which he did May 3. It is hard +to reconcile this with any clear purpose. If he intended to assault and +capture the Arsenal, the force that he gathered was absurdly inadequate, +in view of what he must have known Lyon had to oppose him. Accounts +differ as to the highest number he ever had assembled, but it must have +been less than 2,000. + +His camp, which was in a beautiful grove, then in the first flush of +the charms of early Springtime, was quite an attractive place for the +"knightly" young Southerners who, filled with the chivalrous ideas of +Sir Walter Scott's novels, then the prevalent romantic literature of the +South, had made much ado before their "ladye loves" of "going off to +the warres," and the aforesaid "ladye loves," decorated with Secession +rosettes and the red-white-and-red colors then emblematic of Secession, +followed their "true-loves" to the camp, and made Lindell Grove bright +with the gaily-contrasting hues in bonnets and gowns. There were music +and parades, presentations, flags and banners, dancing and feasting, +and all the charming accessories of a military picnic. But some how +the material for common soldiers did not flock to the Camp as the +Secessionists had hoped. Possibly the stern uprising of the loyal +people of the North in response to the firing upon Fort Sumter, and the +mustering of solid battalions in Illinois, Iowa, and Kansas, immediately +around the Missouri borders, had a repressing effect upon those who had +at first thought of going with a light heart into Secession. It began to +look as if there were going to be something more serious than a Fourth +of July barbecue about this work of breaking up the Union. + + +69 + +Certainly, recruits had not come to Camp Jackson, which Frost had so +named in honor of the Governor of the State, as they had flocked into +similar camps farther South. Nor had they come in the numbers which were +assembled around Lyon and Blair, appealing for arms. Still, the men +in Camp Jackson had a resolute purpose, under all the frivolity and +merry-making of the gay camp, and presently Capts. Colton Greene +and Basil Duke returned with the cheering news that their mission to +Jefferson Davis had been entirely successful. Heavy artillery would be +furnished with which to batter down the walls of the Arsenal, and +force the Home Guards to fight or surrender. They brought with them +the following encouraging letter from the President of the Southern +Confederacy: + + Montgomery, Ala., April 23, 1861. His Excellency C. F. + Jackson, Governor of Missouri. + + Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge yours of the 17th + Instant, borne by Capts. Greene and Duke, and have most + cordially welcomed the fraternal assurances it brings. + + A misplaced but generous confidence has, for years past, + prevented the Southern States from making the preparation + required by the present emergency, and our power to supply + you with ordnance is far short of the will to serve you. + After learning as well as I could from the gentlemen + accredited to me what was most needful for the attack on the + Arsenal, I have directed that Capts. Greene and Duke should + be furnished with two 12-pounder howitzers and two 32- + pounder guns, with the proper ammunition for each. These, + from the commanding hills, will be effective, both against + the garrison and to breach the inclosing walls of the place. + I concur with you as to the great importance of capturing + the Arsenal and securing its supplies, rendered doubly + important by the means taken to obstruct your commerce and + render you unarmed victims of a hostile invasion. + + + +70 + + We look anxiously and hopefully for the day when the star of + Missouri shall be added to the constellation of the + Confederate States of America. + + With best wishes, I am, very respectfully, yours, + + JEFFERSON DAVIS. + +This promise was at once made good by a letter to the Governor of +Louisiana to deliver the required war material from the stores in the +lately-captured arsenal at Baton Rouge. These, carefully disguised as +marble, ale, and other innocent stores, were shipped upon the steamboat +J. C. Swan, and consigned to a well-known Union firm in St. Louis, with +private marks to identify them to the Secessionists, who, on the watch +for them, had them at once loaded on drays and taken to Camp Jackson. +Their movements, however, were made known to Blair and the Committee of +Safety by their spies, and Capt. Lyon was urged to seize the stores +upon their arrival at the wharf, but he preferred to allow them to reach +their destination, where they would serve to fix the purpose of the camp +upon those commanding the garrison. + +Lyon, who as a soldier had naturally chafed under the insulting presence +on the hills of a force hardly concealing its hostility under a thin +vail of professed loyalty, at once resolved upon the capture of the +camp. The more cautious of the Union men tried to restrain him. They +argued that the camp would expire by legal limitation within a few days. +To this Lyon opposed the probability that the Legislature would pass the +military bill in some form and make the camp a permanent one. + + +71 + +Then, those timorous ones insisted that the forms of the law should +be employed, and that the United States Marshal, armed with a writ of +replevin to recover United States property, should precede the attack +upon the camp. Lyon fretted under this; The writ of replevin was a +tiresome formality to men who talked of fighting and were ready to +fight; furthermore, if served and recognized, Frost might put off the +Marshal with some trumpery stuff of no value. Still further came the +news that Harney, with Gen. Scott's assistance, had reinstated himself +in favor at Washington, and would return the following Sunday. It was +now Wednesday, the 8th of May. + +Above all, Lyon saw with a clearer insight than the strict law-abiders +the immense moral effect of his contemplated action. Heretofore all the +initiativeness, all the aggressiveness, all the audacity, had been on +the side of the Secessionists. They were everywhere taking daring steps +to the confusion and overthrow of the conservative Unionists, and so +dragging with them hosts of the wavering. He longed to strike a quick, +sharp blow to teach the enemies of the Government that they could no +longer proceed with impunity, but must expect a return blow for every +one they gave, and probably more. + + +72 + +On Wednesday evening, May 8, Capt. Lyon requested Mr. J. J. Witzig, one +of the Committee of Safety, to meet him at 2 o'clock the next day with +a horse and buggy. At the appointed hour Witzig went to Lyon's quarters +and inquired for the "General," by which title Lyon was known after his +election as Brigadier-General of the Missouri Militia. As he entered +Lyon's room, Witzig saw a lady seated near the door, vailed and +evidently waiting for some one. He inquired if she was waiting for the +General to come in, and seating himself near the window awaited the +coming of Lyon. A few minutes later the lady arose, lifted her vail, and +astonished Mr. Witzig with the very unfeminine features of Lyon himself. +Mrs. Alexander had loaned him the clothes, and succeeded in attiring him +so that the deception was complete. Taking a couple of heavy revolvers, +Gen. Lyon entered a barouche belonging to the loyal Franklin Dick, and +was driven by Mr. Dick's servant leisurely out to Camp Jackson, followed +by Mr. Witzig in a buggy. Lyon saw everything in the camp that he wished +to see; noticed that the streets were named Davis Avenue, Beauregard +Avenue, and the like; took in the lay of the ground, and returning +toward the Arsenal, stopped and directed Witzig to summon the other +members of the Committee of Safety to immediately meet him at the +Arsenal. + +He stated to them, when they gathered, the necessity of at once +capturing the camp, and his determination to do so and hold all in it +as prisoners of war. Blair and Witzig warmly approved this; Filley and +Broadhead finally acquiesced, while How and Glover were opposed to both +the manner and time and wanted a writ of replevin served by the United +States Marshal. If Gen. Frost refused to respect this, Lyon could then +go to his assistance. + + +73 + +Lyon yielded so far as to allow Glover to get out the writ of replevin, +but he was not disposed to dally long with that subterfuge, and his line +of battle would not be far behind the Marshal. Even before he went out +to the camp he had sent an Aid to procure 36 horses for his batteries +from the leading livery stables in the city, because he feared that +Maj. McKinstry, the Chief Quartermaster of the Department, could not +be trusted; a doubt which seems to have been well founded, for Maj. +McKinstry afterwards refused to pay for the horses until he was +compelled to do so by a peremptory order from Lyon. The Secessionist +spies were as vigilant and successful as those of the Unionists, and +Gen. Frost was promptly informed of the designs upon him, whereupon on +the morning of the fateful May 10 he dispatched Col. Bowen, his Chief of +Staff, with the following letter to Gen. Lyon: + + Headquarters, Camp Jackson, + + Missouri Militia, May 10, 1861. Capt. N. Lyon, Commanding + United States troops in and about St. Louis Arsenal. + + Sir: I am constantly in receipt of information that you + contemplate an attack upon my camp. Whilst I understand you + are impressed with the idea that an attack upon the Arsenal + and the 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 the lawful performance of 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 poured 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 say positively that the idea has never been + entertained. On the contrary, prior to your taking command + of the Arsenal, I proffered to Maj. Bell, then in command of + the very few 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 Gen. Harney's 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 + + +74 + + Department. I have had no occasion to change any of the + views I entertained at that time, neither of my own volition + nor through orders of my constitutional commander. + + I trust that after this explicit statement we may be able, + by fully understanding each other, to keep far from our + borders the misfortunes which so unhappily afflict our + common country. + + This communication will be handed you by Col. Bowen, my + Chief of Staff, who may be able to explain anything not + fully set forth in the foregoing. + + I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, + + D. M. FROST, + + Brigadier-General, Commanding Camp Jackson, M. V. M. + +It is an almost impossible task for the historian to reconcile this +extraordinary letter with Gen. Frost's standing as an officer and a +gentleman. It certainly passes the limits of deception allowable in war, +and has no place in the ethics of civil life. + +The camp was located where it was for the generally understood purpose +of attacking the Arsenal, and this purpose had been recommended to the +Governor of the State by Gen. Frost himself. Every Secessionist, North +and South, understood and boasted of it. Jefferson Davis approved of +this, and he sent artillery with which to attack the Arsenal, which was +then in Frost's camp. Gen. Lyon refused to receive the letter. He was +busily engaged in preparations to carry its answer himself. He had under +arms almost his entire force. Two regiments of Home Guards were left +on duty protecting the Arsenal, and to be ready for any outbreak in the +city, and a majority of the Regulars were also so employed. + + +75 + +Gen. Lyon was a thorough organizer, and had his work well in hand with +every one of his subordinates fully instructed as to his part. The +previous military training of the Germans here came into good play, +and regiments formed quickly and moved promptly. Col. Blair, with his +regiment and a battalion of Regulars, marched to a position on the west +of the camp. Col. Schuttner with his regiment went up Market street; +Col. Sigel led his column up Olive street; Col. Brown went up Morgan +street; and Col. McNeil up Clark avenue. A battery of six pieces went +with a Regular battalion, at the head of which rode Gen. Lyon. The news +of the movement rapidly diffused through the city; everybody was excited +and eagerly expectant; and the roofs of the houses were black with +people watching events. Not the least important, factor were the +Secessionist belles of the city, whose lovers and brothers were in Camp +Jackson, and who, with that inconsequence which is so charming in the +young feminine mind, were breathlessly expectant of their young heroes +each surrounding himself with a group of "Dutch myrmidons," slain by his +red right hand. + +So admirably had Lyon planned that the heads of all his columns appeared +at their designated places almost simultaneously, and Gen. Frost found +his camp entirely surrounded in the most soldierly way. The six light +pieces galloped into position to entirely command the camp. With a +glance of satisfaction at the success of his arrangements, Gen. Lyon +rode up to Sweeny, his second in command, and said: + +"Sweeny, if their batteries open on you, deploy your leading company as +skirmishers, charge on the nearest battery, and take it." + +Sweeny turned to the next two companies to him, and ordered them to move +their cartridge-boxes to the front, to prepare for action. Lyon then +sent Maj. B. G. Farrar with the following letter to Gen. Frost: + + +76 + + Headquarters United States Troops, + + St. Louis, Mo., May 10, 1861. Gen. D. M. Frost, Commanding + Camp Jackson. + + Sir: Your command is regarded as evidently hostile to the + Government of the United States. + + 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 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 this State, under + whose orders you are acting, and whose purpose, recently + communicated to the Legislature, has just been responded to + in the most unparalleled legislation, having in direct view + hostilities to the General Government and cooperation with + its enemies. + + In view of these considerations, and of your failure to + disperse in obedience to the proclamation of the President, + and of the eminent necessities of State policy and welfare, + 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 demand 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. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, + + N. LYON, Captain, 2d United States Infantry, + Commanding Troops. + + +There were a few anxious minutes following this, but it must be said to +Frost's credit as a soldier that he promptly recognized the situation +and acted upon it. Soon a horseman rode out from the camp, and +approaching Lyon handed him the following note: + + +77 + + Camp Jackson, Mo., May 10, 1861. Capt. N. Lyon, Commanding + U. S. Troops. + + Sir: I, never for a moment having conceived the Idea that so + illegal and unconstitutional a demand as I have just + received from you would be made by an officer of the United + States Army, am wholly unprepared to defend my command from + this unwarranted attack, and shall therefore be forced to + comply with your demand. + + I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, + + D. M. FROST, Brigadier-General, Commanding Camp Jackson, + Missouri Volunteer Militia. + + +Lyon read it, turned to his second in command and remarked: "Sweeny, +they surrender." + +Sweeny turned to his men with the order to replace their +cartridge-boxes, which they did with an air of disappointment. There +had been so much talk during the weeks and months of preparation about +fighting and such irritating threatenings, that the Union troops were +anxious to "take a fall" out of their opponents, and see what would be +the result. Lyon dismounted, and unfortunately the fractious horse of +one of his Aids at that instant kicked him in the stomach, knocking +him senseless. While in this condition, Wm. D. Wood, Frost's +Adjutant-General, rode up and inquired for Gen. Lyon. Gen. Sweeny, +desiring to conceal Lyon's condition from the enemy, replied that he +would receive any message intended for the General. Col. Wood then said: + + "Gen. Frost sends his compliments to Gen. Lyon, and wishes + to know if the officers will be allowed to retain their + side-arms, what disposition shall be made of Government + property, and if a guard will be sent to relieve his men now + on post, and take possession of everything when the camp + shall be evacuated?" + + +78 + +Sweeny replied affirmatively, when Wood rode off and Sweeney returned to +Lyon, to find him slowly recovering. Lyon approved of Sweeny's answer, +and directed Sweeny to take possession of the camp with two companies of +Regulars. Frost's men stacked arms and marched off through a lane formed +by the 1st Mo., which faced inward. Up to this time everything had gone +on peacefully. The surrendered Militia, without any special protest or +demonstration, took their places quietly under guard. Not so with +the immense mob which had gathered, expecting to see the Militia make +sanguinary havoc of their assailants. These were deeply chagrined at the +tame issue of the affair, and after exhausting all the vile epithets +at their command, began throwing stones, brickbats, and other missiles, +which the soldiers received as patiently as they did the contumely, when +the bolder of the mob began firing with revolvers. Presently one of +Co. F, 3d Mo., commanded by Capt. C. Blandowski, was shot dead, several +severely wounded, and the Captain himself fell with a bullet through his +leg. As he fell he ordered his men to fire, which resulted in about 20 +of the rioters dropping under a volley from the soldiers' muskets. The +mob fled in dismay, and Gen. Lyon ordered his troops to cease firing. + +One of the leaders of the mob had deliberately fired three times at +Capt. Saxton, of the Regulars, and had laid his revolver across his +arm for a fourth more deliberate shot, when one of Capt. Saxton's men +bayoneted while another shot him. When the smoke cleared away, it was +found that 15 had been killed. Three of these were prisoners from Camp +Jackson, and two were women whose morbid curiosity, or worse, had led +them to mingle with the mob, One was a child. + +Capt. Blandowski died of his wounds the next day. + + +79 + +At 6 o'clock the troops and prisoners marched back to the Arsenal, +leaving Gen. Sweeny with his Regulars in charge of Camp Jackson. On the +way rioters thronged the line of march and vilely abused the soldiers, +but Lyon was vigilant in restraining his men, and prevented their making +any return by firing upon their assailants. + +During the night and the next day the prisoners were all released, +the privates taking an oath not to serve in any capacity against the +Government during the war, and the officers giving a parole not to serve +in any military capacity against the United States. It was provided +that the parole should be returned upon anyone surrendering himself as a +prisoner of war, and was accompanied with a protest against the justice +of executing it. One exception, Capt. Emmett MacDonald, who had been +efficient in bringing the Irishmen into opposition to the "Dutch," +refused to accept the parole on the ground taken by all the others that +they had done nothing wrong, and finally secured his release through a +writ of habeas corpus. + +The excitement that night in St. Louis was fearful, with the +Secessionists raging. It is to the credit, however, of James McDonough, +whom Governor Jackson's Secessionist Police Commissioners had appointed +Chief of Police, that, whatever his sympathies, he did not allow them to +interfere with his official duties, and exerted himself to the utmost to +preserve the municipal peace. The violent Secessionists started to mob +the offices of the Republican papers, and to attack the residences of +Union leaders, but were everywhere met by squads of police backed up +by an armed force of Home Guards, which, with the appeals of the +conservative men of influence on both sides, managed to stay the storm. + + +80 + +McDonough could not, however, prevent a number of outrages, and several +of the Home Guards caught alone were killed by the rowdies that night +and the next day--Saturday. This incensed the Germans terribly, and +stories reached the Secession parts of the city that they contemplated +fearful revenge, which they could wreak, having arms in their own +hands, while the "natural protectors" of the people--Frost's military +companies--were prisoners of war and disarmed. + +The Mayor issued a proclamation to quiet the people, and requested all +keepers of drinking places to at once close and remain closed during the +excitement. All minors were ordered to remain in doors for three days, +and all good citizens were requested to remain in doors after nightfall +and to avoid gatherings and meetings. + +As was usual, a good many people who meant no evil obeyed this +proclamation, while the mobites, who meant a great deal of harm, paid no +attention to it. Saturday afternoon, the 5th Regiment of United States +Reserves, under the command of Lieut-Col. Robert White, attempted to +go to their barracks, when they were assailed by a mob with stones, +brickbats and pistol shots. The patience of the soldiers finally +gave way, and they fired into the crowd, killing several persons--and +wounding many others. + + +81 + +[Illustration: General John C. Fremont] + +Sunday the Secessionists were in a panic, and began a wild flight +from the city. Every vehicle that could be obtained was employed at +exorbitant prices to carry men, women and children, baggage and personal +effects, to the depots and wharves, where the railroads and steamboats +were ready to receive them. The Mayor attempted to stay the stampede by +a speech at the Planters' House, in which he assured the people that the +Home Guards were entirely under the control of their officers, and would +only be used to preserve the peace and protect property. + +What was more effective was the news that Gen. Harney, hurrying back +from Washington, had arrived the preceding evening and resumed command. +Harney had reached the city on Saturday evening, May 11, and Sunday +morning called at the Arsenal on Col. Blair, not Gen. Lyon, whom he +informed of his intentions to remove the Home Guards from the Arsenal +and disband them. Blair succeeded in convincing him that this was beyond +his authority, and did not hesitate to say that his attempt to do so +would be resisted. Being convinced, Harney sent a messenger to the Board +of Police Commissioners, who were anxiously awaiting the result of his +visit, to the effect that he had "no control over the Home Guards," +which was intended to mean that he could not remove or disband them, but +which the Commissioners and the people understood to mean that he had +lost control over them. + + +82 + +The panic at once resumed its former proportions, and Gen. Harney found +it necessary to issue a proclamation, in which he said that the public +peace must and would be preserved, and the lives and property of the +people protected, but he trusted that he would not be compelled to +resort to martial law. He would avoid all cause of irritation and +excitement whenever called upon to aid the local authorities by using +in preference the Regular troops. Therefore he began by restricting the +Home Guards to the German parts of the city, while he moved about 250 +Regulars, under the command of Capts. Totten and Sweeny and Lieuts. +Saxton and Lothrop, with four pieces of artillery, into a central +position, where they went into quarters, to the great relief of +everybody. + +It will be perceived that a remarkable change had come over the people +since a few weeks before, when the arrival of a little squad of Regulars +at the Sub-Treasury to protect its gold had thrown the city in the +wildest excitement over "the attempt to overawe and cow the people of +Missouri." + +Confidence was restored, and quiet ensued. Gen. Frost lodged a protest +with Gen. Harney, in which he recited the circumstances of Lyon's attack +upon him, claimed that every officer and soldier in his command had +taken, with uplifted hand, the following oath: + + You, each and every one of you, do solemnly swear that you + will honestly and faithfully serve the State of Missouri + against her enemies, and that you will do your utmost to + sustain the Constitution and laws of the United States and + of this State against all violence, of whatsoever kind or + description, and you do further swear that you will well and + truly execute and obey the legal orders of all officers + properly placed over you whilst on duty; so help you God. + +A casual inspection shows how cunningly this was framed. It will be +perceived that every one solemnly swore to "serve the State of Missouri +against all her enemies," and to "obey the orders of the officers" +placed over him, while he was merely enjoined to do his utmost to +sustain the Constitution and laws of the United States and this State +against all violence. + + +83 + +It is easy to see how such an obligation would be construed. + +Gen. Frost recited again that he had offered to help Gen. Lyon protect +the United States property with his whole force, and if necessary +with that of Missouri, and appealed to Gen. Harney not to require the +indignity of a parole, but to order the restoration of all the officers +and men to liberty, and of all the property of the State and of private +individuals. The language of this protest did as little to enhance the +reputation of Gen. Frost as his letter to Gen. Lyon. + +It was an intense disappointment to the Secessionists everywhere that +he made no show of a fight before surrendering. It would have been the +greatest satisfaction to all of them had he chosen to make Camp Jackson +a Thermopylae or an Alamo. Such a sacrifice would have been of priceless +worth in firing the Southern heart, and placing him high among the +world's heroes. Somehow the idea of martyrdom did not appeal to him, as +it has not to millions of other men placed in critical positions. The +wonder to the calm student of history is that, having made such a bold +bluff at Lyon, he did not "fill his hand" better, to use a sporting +phrase, and prevent Lyon from "calling" him so effectually. The frost +which was in his name settled on this "young Napoleon" thereafter--the +country was filled with young Napoleons at that time--and though he +commanded a brigade in the Confederate army for some two years or more, +his name is only "mentioned" afterward in the Rebellion Records. + + +84 + +Lyon's decisive act did not meet with the unanimous approval of the +Union men of the State. There began then that unhappy division between +the "Conservative Union men" and the "Radicals" which led to so many +collisions, and sorely distracted President Lincoln. The "Radicals" who +fell under the lead of F. P. Blair, and had their representative in +the Cabinet at Washington in the shape of Montgomery Blair, the +Postmaster-General, dubbed their opponents "Claybanks," while the +latter, whose representative in the Cabinet was Edward Bates, the +Attorney-General, tainted with the name of "Charcoals" their opponents. +The "Conservatives," who represented a very large portion of the wealth +and education of the State, had for leaders such men as Hamilton R. +Gamble, Robert Campbell, James E. Yeatman, H. S. Turner, Washington +King, N. J. Eaton, and James H. Lucas. They at once sent a delegation to +Washington to represent to Mr. Lincoln that Lyon, while undoubtedly "a +loyal and brave soldier," was "rash," "imprudent," and "indiscreet." +This representation carried great weight, for they were all men of the +highest character and standing, and at their instance Gen. Harney was +pushed further to the front again. + +The "Old Dragoon" now asserted itself in Harney, as it was likely to +when there was the smell of gunpowder in the air. Lyon's course was, in +spite of the intense influence of Harney's Secession convives, very much +to the taste of the old fighter. He wrote to Gen. Scott that he approved +Lyon's action, and replied to the Judge in the habeas corpus writ of +Capt. McDonald, that the man had been properly arrested. May 14 he +issued a proclamation in which he said: + + +85 + + It is with regret that I feel it my duty to call your + attention to the recent act of the General Assembly of + Missouri, known as the "Military Bill," which is the result, + no doubt, of the temporary excitement that now pervades the + public mind. This bill cannot be regarded in any other light + than an indirect Secession ordinance, Ignoring even the form + resorted to by other States. Manifestly, its most material + provisions are in conflict with the Constitution and laws of + the United States. To this extent it is a nullity, and + cannot and ought not to be upheld or regarded by the good + citizens of Missouri. There are obligations and duties + resting upon the people of Missouri under the Constitution + and laws of the United States which are paramount, and which + I trust you will carefully consider and weigh well before + you will allow yourselves to be carried out of the Union + under the form of yielding obedience to this military bill, + which is clearly in violation of your duties as citizens of + the United States. + + It must be apparent to every one who has taken a proper and + unbiased view of the subject that, whatever may be the + termination of the unfortunate condition of things in + respect to the so-called Cotton States, Missouri must share + the destiny of the Union. Her geographical position, her + soil, productions, and, in short, all her material + interests, point to this result. We cannot shut our eyes + against this controlling fact. It is seen and its force is + felt throughout the Nation. So important is this regarded to + the great interests of the country, that I venture to + express the opinion that the whole power of the Government + of the United States, if necessary, will be exerted to + maintain Missouri in her present position in the Union. I + express to you, in all frankness and sincerity, my own + deliberate convictions, without assuming to speak for the + Government of the United States, whose authority here and + elsewhere I shall at all times and under all circumstances + endeavor faithfully to uphold. I desire above all things + most earnestly to invite my fellow-citizens dispassionately + to consider their true interests as well as their true + relations to the Government under which we live and to which + we owe so much. + + In this connection I desire to direct attention to one + subject which, no doubt, will be made the pretext for more + or less popular excitement. I allude to the recent + transactions at Camp Jackson, near St. Louis. It is not + proper for me to comment upon the official conduct of my + predecessor in command of this Department, but it is right + and proper for the people of Missouri to know that the main + avenue of Camp Jackson, recently under the command of Gen. + Frost, had the name of Davis; and a principal street of the + same camp that of Beauregard, and that a body of men had + been received into that camp by its commander which had been + notoriously organized in the interests of the Secessionists, + the men openly wearing the dress and badge distinguishing + the Army of the so-called Southern Confederacy. It is also a + notorious fact that a quantity of arms had been received + into the camp which were unlawfully taken from the United + States Arsenal at Baton Rouge, and surreptitiously passed up + the river in boxes marked "Marble." + + +86 + + Upon facts like these, and having in view what occurred at + Liberty, the people can draw their own inferences, and it + cannot be difficult for any one to arrive at a correct + conclusion as to the character and ultimate purpose of that + encampment. No Government in the world would be entitled to + respect that would tolerate for a moment such openly + treasonable preparations. It is but simple justice, however, + that I should state the fact that there were many good and + loyal men in the camp who were in no manner responsible for + its treasonable character. Disclaiming as I do all desire or + intention to interfere in any way with the prerogatives of + the State of Missouri or with the functions of its executive + or other authorities, yet I regard it as my plain path of + duty to express to the people, In respectful but at the same + time decided language, that within the field and scope of my + command and authority the "supreme law" of the land must and + shall be maintained, and no subterfuges, whether in the + forms of legislative acts or otherwise, can be permitted to + harass or oppress the good and law-abiding people of + Missouri. I shall exert my authority to protect their + persons and property from violations of every kind, and + shall deem it my duty to suppress all unlawful combinations + of men, whether formed under pretext of military + organizations or otherwise. + + WM. S. HARNEY. Brigadier-General, United States Army, + Commanding. + + +These were certainly "brave words, my masters," and had great influence +upon the people of Missouri. Unhappily there was reason to think +afterwards that Gen. Harney was not quite living up to them. + +When the account of stock of the capture of Camp Jackson came to be +taken, the invoice was as follows: + +Three 32-pounders. + +Three mortar-beds. + +A large quantity of balls and bombs in ale barrels. + +Artillery pieces, in boxes of heavy plank, the boxes marked "Marble," +"Tamaroa, care of Greeley & Gale, St Louis--Iron Mountain Railroad." + +Twelve hundred rifles, of late model, United States manufacture. + +Tents and camp equipage. + +Six brass field pieces. + +Twenty-five kegs of powder. + +Ninety-six 10-Inch bombshells. + +Three hundred six-inch bombshells. .. + + +87 + +Six brass mortars, six inches diameter. + +One iron mortar, 10 inches. + +Three iron cannon, six inches. + +Five boxes of canister shot. + +Fifty artillery swords. + +Two hundred and twenty-seven spades. + +Thirty-eight hatchets. + +Eleven mallets. + +One hundred and ninety-one axes. + +Forty horses. + +Several boxes of new muskets. + +A very large number of musket stocks and musket barrels; together with +lots of bayonets, bayonet scabbards, etc. + +One thousand one hundred and ten enlisted men were taken prisoners, +besides from 50 to 75 officers. + +Nothing legislates so firmly and finally as a successful sword-blow +for the right. Gen. Lyon's capture of Camp Jackson was an epoch-making +incident. In spite of the protests of the wealthy and respectable +Messrs. Gamble, Yeatman, and others, it was the right thing, done at +the right time, to stay the surging sweep of the waves of Secession. +It destroyed the captivating aggressiveness of the "Disunionists," and +threw their leaders upon the defensive. Other people than they had wants +and desires which must be listened to, or the Loyalists would find a way +to compel attention. The Secessionists must now plead at their bar; not +they in the court of those who would destroy the Government. + + +88 + +[Illustration: 088-The Scott-Harney Agreement] + + + +CHAPTER V. THE SCOTT-HARNEY AGREEMENT + +The General Assembly of Missouri met at Jefferson City, in obedience to +the Governor's call, on the 2d of May, and the Governor, after calling +attention of the body to the state of the country, made an out-and-out +appeal for Secession, saying that the interests and sympathies of +Missouri were identical with those of other Slaveholding States, and she +must unquestionably unite her destiny with theirs. She had no desire for +war, but she would be faithless as to her honor and recreant as to her +duty if she hesitated a moment to make complete preparations for the +protection of her people, and that therefore the Legislature should +"place the State at the earliest practicable moment in a complete state +of defense." As this is what the Legislature had expected, and what it +had met for, no time was lost in going into secret session to carry out +the program. + + +89 + +The first of these was the odious Military Bill, the passage of which +was stubbornly resisted, step by step, by the small band of Union men. +This, it will be recollected, put every able-bodied man into the +Militia of Missouri, under the orders of officers to be appointed by +the Governor; compelled him to obey implicitly the orders received from +those above him, and prescribed the heinous crime of "treason to +the State," which extended even to words spoken in derogation of the +Governor or Legislature. Offenses of this kind were to be punished by +summary court-martial, which had even the power to inflict death. Other +bills perverted the funds for the State charitable institutions into the +State military chest, seized the school fund for the same purpose, and +authorized a loan from the banks of $1,000,000 and another of $1,000,000 +of State bonds, to provide funds by which to carry out the program. + +On the evening of Friday, May 10, while these measures were being fought +over, the Governor entered the House with a dispatch which he handed to +Representative Vest, afterwards United States Senator from Missouri, who +sprang upon a chair and thrilled all his hearers by reading that "Frank +Blair, Capt. Lyon and the Dutch" had captured Camp Jackson, seized +all the property there, and marched the State troops prisoners to the +Arsenal. The wild scene that followed is simply indescribable. For many +months there had been much talk about "firing the Southern heart," and +here was something of immediate and furnace heat. + +As soon as the members recovered from the stun of the blow, they went +into paroxysms of passion. In a few minutes the Military Bill was rushed +through, followed by the others, and a new one to appropriate $10,000 +for the purpose of securing an alliance with the Indians on the borders +of the State. This done, the members bolted out in search of weapons +with which to arm themselves, as there was a rumor that the awful Blair +and Lyon with their "mercenaries" were on the march to subject the +Legislature to the same treatment that they had Frost's Militia. + + +90 + +Muskets, shotguns, rifles, pistols and pikes were brought out, cleaned +up, bullets molded and cartridges made, and the Governor ordered the +members of his staff to seize a locomotive and press on as fast as +possible towards St. Louis to reconnoiter the advance of the enemy; if +necessary, to destroy the bridges over the Gasconade and Osage Rivers to +obstruct the march. + +No enemy was found, but the zealous Basil Duke, in order not to be +guilty of any sin of omission, burnt a part of the Osage bridge. The +meeting of the Legislature in the evening was grotesque, as every member +came with a more or less liberal supply of arms, usually including +a couple of revolvers and a bowie-knife in belt. During the exciting +session which followed, rifles stood by the desks or were laid across +them, with other arms, and it was good luck more than anything else +that no casualty resulted from accidental discharge of fire-arms. The +excitement grew over the stirring events in St. Louis of Saturday and +Sunday, and the Governor immediately proceeded to the exercise of the +extraordinary powers conferred upon him by the Military Bill. + + +91 + +As the star of Gen. D. M. Frost sank ingloriously below the horizon of +Camp Jackson, that of Sterling Price rose above it to remain for four +years the principal luminary in the Confederate firmament west of the +Mississippi. + +[Illustration: 038-General Sterling Price] + +That does not seem to depend upon intellectual superiority, upon greater +courage or devotion, or even upon clearer insight. A man leads +his fellows--many of whom are his superiors in most namable +qualities--simply because of something unnamable in him that makes him +assume the leadership, and they accept it. There was hardly a prominent +man in Missouri who was not Price's superior in some quality usually +regarded as essential. For example, he was a pleasing and popular +speaker, but Missouri abounded in men much more attractive to public +assemblages. He was a fair politician, but rarely got more than the +second prize. He had distinguished himself in the Mexican War, +but Claiborne Jackson made more capital out of his few weeks of +inconsequential service in the Black Hawk War than Price did out of the +conquest of New Mexico and the capture of Chihuahua. + +He served one term in Congress, but had failed to secure a renomination. +He had been elected Governor of Missouri while his Mexican laurels were +yet green, but when he tried to enter the Senate, he was easily defeated +by that able politician and orator, James S. Green. + +Though he belonged to the dominant Anti-Benton faction of the Missouri +Democracy and the Stephen A. Douglas wing, he never was admitted to the +select inner council, nor secured any of its higher rewards, except one +term as Governor. + +At the outbreak of the war he was holding the comparatively unimportant +place of Bank Commissioner. For all that, he was to become and +remain throughout the struggle the central figure of Secession in the +trans-Mississippi country. + + +92 + +Officers of high rank and brilliant reputation like Ben McCulloch, Earl +Van Dorn, Richard Taylor and E. Kirby Smith were to be put over him, yet +his fame and influence outshone them all. + +Unquestionably able soldiers such as Marmaduke, Shelby, Bowen, Jeff +Thompson, Parsons, M. L. Clark and Little, were to serve him with +unfaltering loyalty as subordinates. + +The Secessionist leaders of Missouri, headed by Gov. Reynolds, were to +denounce him for drunkenness, crass incapacity, gross blundering, and a +most shocking lack of discipline and organization. + +Very few commanding officers ever had so many defeats or so few +successes. He was continually embarking upon enterprises of the greatest +promise and almost as continually having them come to naught; generally +through defeats inflicted by Union commanders of no special reputation. + +Yet from first to last his was a name to conjure with. No other than his +in the South had the spell in it for Missourians and the people west of +the Mississippi. They flocked to his standard wherever it was raised, +and after three years of failures they followed him with as much eager +hope in his last disastrous campaign as in the first, and when he died +in St. Louis, two years after the war, his death was regretted as a +calamity to the State, and he had the largest funeral of any man in the +history of Missouri. + + +93 + +Sterling Price was born in 1809 in Prince Edward County, Va., of a +family of no special prominence, and in 1831 settled upon a farm +in Chariton County, Mo. He went into politics, was elected to the +Legislature, and then to Congress for one term, after which he commanded +a Missouri regiment in Doniphan's famous march to the Southwest, where +he showed great vigor and ability. He was a man of the finest physique +and presence, six feet two inches high, with small hands and feet and +unusually large body and limbs; a superb horseman; with a broad, bland, +kindly face framed in snow-white hair and beard. His name would indicate +Welsh origin, but his face, figure, and mental habits seemed rather +Teutonic. He had a voice of much sweetness and strength, and a paternal +way of addressing his men, who speedily gave him the sobriquet of "Pap +Price." He appeared on the field in a straw hat and linen duster in the +Summer, and with a blanket thrown over his shoulders and a tall hat in +Winter. These became standards which the Missourians followed into +the thick of the fight, as the French did the white plume of Henry of +Navarre. + +He had been elected as a Union man to the Convention, which at once +chose him for President, but his Unionism seemed to be a mere varnish +easily scratched off by any act in favor of the Union. + +Thus, immediately after the occurrences in St. Louis, he went to the +Governor with the remark that "the slaughter of the people of Missouri" +in St. Louis had proved too much for him, and his sword was at the +service of the State. + + +94 + +It is significant of the way men were swayed in those days, that the +murder of the German volunteers patriotically rallying to the defense +of the Arsenal, and the murder and outrages upon the Union people +throughout the State, did not affect Gen. Price at all, but he was moved +to wrath by the shooting down of a few rioters. + +His going over was welcomed as a great victory by the Secessionists, +offsetting the capture of Camp Jackson. Gov. Jackson promptly availed +himself of the offer, and at once appointed Gen. Price Major-General +in command of the forces of Missouri to be organized under the Military +Bill. + +Though even to Gen. Harney's eyes the Military Bill was repugnant and he +denounced it as direct Secession, the Governor proceeded with all speed +to execute it. + +Each Congressional District in the State was made a Military Division. +A Brigadier-General was appointed to the command of each, and ordered to +immediately proceed to the enrollment of the men in it who were fit for +military duty, and to prepare them for active service. + +The able and witty Alexander W. Doniphan--"Xenophon" Doniphan of Mexican +fame--who had made the astonishing march upon New Mexico and Chihuahua, +was appointed to command one of the Divisions, but he was too much of a +Union man, and declined. It was significant from the first that all +the officers commissioned were more or less open Secessionists, and +commissions were refused to some who sought them because they would not +swear to make allegiance to Missouri paramount to that of the United +States. + + +95 + +As finally arranged the Divisions were commanded as follows: + +First Division, M. Jeff Thompson. + +Second Division, Thos. A. Harris. + +Third Division, M. L. Clark. + +Fourth Division, Wm. Y. Slack. + +Fifth Division, A. E. Steen. + +Sixth Division, M. M. Parsons. + +Seventh Division, J. H. McBride. + +Eighth Division, Jas L. Rains. + +All of these were men of decided ability and standing, and Parsons, M. +L. Clark and Slack had served with credit in the Mexican War. Parsons +became a Major-General in the Confederate army, and Clark, Slack, Steen +and Rains Brigadier-Generals. + +A striking figure among them was M. Jeff Thompson, called the "Missouri +Swamp Fox" by his admirers, and who aspired to become the Francis Marion +of the Southern Confederacy. He was a tall, lank, wiry man, at least +six feet high, about 35 years old, with a thin, long, hatchet face, and +high, sharp nose, blue eyes, and thick, yellow hair combed behind his +ears. He wore a slouch white hat with feather and a bob-tailed coat, +short pantaloons, and high rough boots. A white-handled bowie-knife, +stuck perpendicularly in his belt in the middle of his back, completed +his armament, and he was never seen without it. His weakness was for +writing poetry, and he "threw" a poem on the slightest provocation. +Fortunately none of these has been preserved. + + +96 + +Each Brigadier-General soon raised in his Division several regiments and +battalions of infantry, troops of cavalry, and batteries of artillery, +composed of very excellent material, for the young men of the Middle +Class were persuaded that it was their duty to respond to the State's +call to defend her. The strongest political, social and local influences +were brought to bear to bring them into the ranks, and the Missouri +State Guard was formed, which was to fight valorously against the +Government on many bitterly contested fields. + +The White Trash, always impatient of the restrains of law and +organization, did not enter so largely into these forces, but remained +outside, to form bands of bushwhackers and guerrillas, to harry +Union men and curse the State with their depredations, in which the +Secessionists were scarcely more favored than the Union men. + +The influence of Gen. Scott and Attorney-General Bates, added to the +passionate representations of the Gamble-Yeatman delegation, and the +frantic telegrams from Missouri, had restored Harney to full power, with +Lyon, who had been commissioned a Brigadier-General of Volunteers, as +his subordinate. + +Harney was exerting himself to the utmost to restore peace and +confidence in Missouri, and when free from the social influence of +the Secessionists who surrounded him his soldierly instincts made him +perceive that the emergency was greater than he had calculated upon. In +one of these better moods he telegraphed to the Adjutant-General, May +17, that he ought to have 10,000 stand of arms placed at his disposal +to arm the Union men of Missouri; that Iowa be called upon to send him +6,000, and Minnesota 3,000 men. Then the Secessionists would get hold +of him again, and induce another mood, such as brought about a conference +between him and Gov. Jackson and Gen. Price, leading to an agreement +which Gen. Harney published in a proclamation. The agreement was as +follows: + +[Illustration: 090-General Franz Sigel] + + +97 + + Saint Louis, May 21, 1861. + + The undersigned, officers of the United States Government + and of the Government of the State of Missouri, for the + purpose of removing misapprehensions and allaying public + excitement, deem it proper to declare publicly that they + have this day had a personal interview in this city, in + which it has been mutually understood, without the semblance + of dissent on either part, that each of them has no other + than a common object equally interesting and important to + every citizen of Missouri--that of restoring peace and good + order to the people of the State in subordination to the + laws of the General and State Governments. It being thus + understood, there seems no reason why every citizen should + not confide in the proper officers of the General and State + Governments to restore quiet, and, as among the best means + of offering no counter-influences, we mutually recommend to + all persons to respect each other's rights throughout the + State, making no attempt to exercise unauthorized powers, as + it is the determination of the proper authorities to + suppress all unlawful proceedings, which can only disturb + the public peace. + + Gen. Price, having by commission full authority over the + Militia of the State of Missouri, undertakes, with the + sanction of the Governor of the State, already declared, to + direct the whole power of the State officers to maintain + order within the State among the people thereof, and Gen. + Harney publicly declares that, this object being thus + assured, he can have no other occasion, as he has no wish, + to make military movements, which might otherwise create + excitements and jealousies which he most earnestly desires + to avoid. + + We, the undersigned, do mutually enjoin upon the people of + the State to attend to their civil business of whatever sort + it may be, and it is to be hoped that the unquiet elements + which have threatened so seriously to disturb the public + peace may soon subside and be remembered only to be + deplored. + + STERLING PRICE, Major-General Missouri State Guard. + WILLIAM S. HARNEY, Brigadier-General Commanding. + + +Harney was convinced of the sincerity of Jackson and Price in carrying +out this agreement, which he submitted for approval to the War +Department. + + +98 + +F. P. Blair wrote to the Secretary of War urging that the four regiments +assigned to Missouri for three years' service, which Lyon was to +command, should not be officered by the Governor of Missouri, but that +it would be better that they be nominated by Gen. Lyon, subject to the +approval of the President, and he said: "The agreement between Harney +and Gen. Price gives me great disgust and dissatisfaction to the Union +men; but I am in hopes we can get along with it, and think that Harney +will insist on its execution to the fullest extent, in which case it +will be satisfactory." + +In spite of Gen. Harney's faith, he was inundated with complaints from +all parts of the State as to loyal citizens in great numbers being +outraged, persecuted, and driven from their homes. These complaints also +reached the President, and Adjutant-General Thomas called Gen. Harney's +attention to them in a strong letter May 27, in which he said: "The +professions of loyalty to the Union by the State authorities of Missouri +are not to be relied upon. They have already falsified their professions +too often, and are too far committed to Secession to be entitled to +your confidence, and you can only be sure of desisting from their wicked +purposes when it is out of their power to prosecute them." + + +99 + +Two days later Gen. Harney replied that the State was rapidly becoming +tranquilized; that he was convinced that his policy would soon restore +peace and confidence in the ability of the Government to maintain its +authority. He asserted that the agreement between himself and Price +was being carried out in good faith. At the same time he called the +attention of Gen. Price to the reports that the Secessionists had seized +15,000 pounds of lead at Lebanon, a lot of powder elsewhere, had +torn down the American Flag from several post offices, and hoisted +Secessionist flags in their places, and that troops and arms were coming +into Missouri from Arkansas and elsewhere, etc., etc. Price replied that +he was satisfied that the information was incorrect; that neither he nor +the Governor knew of any arms or troops coming into the State from any +quarter; that he was dismissing his troops, and that Gen. Harney had +better not send out any force, as it would exasperate the people. + +Again Gen. Harney wrote Gen. Price reciting fresh acts of disloyalty and +outrage, and saying that unless these ceased, he would feel justified +in authorizing the organization of Home Guards among the Union men to +protect themselves. Price replied at length opposing the organization +of Home Guards as having a tendency to "excite those who now hold +conservative peace positions into exactly the contrary attitude, an +example of which we have in St. Louis. It would undoubtedly, in my +opinion, lead to neighborhood collision, the forerunner of civil war." +Price finished by calling attention to his orders to all citizens to +scrupulously protect property and rights, irrespective of political +opinion, denying the reports which had reached Gen. Harney, and +reiterating that he was carrying out the agreement in good faith. + + +100 + +Lyon, Blair and the other Unconditional Union leaders had become +convinced of what they feared; to wit, that the agreement simply tied +Harney's hands, and prevented any assertion of the Government's power to +protect its citizens, while leaving the Secessionists free to do as they +pleased and mature their organization until they were ready to attack +the Union men and sweep the State into Secession. + +In spite of Gen. Scott and Attorney-General Bates, the Administration +at Washington was rapidly coming to this conclusion, and sent a special +messenger to St. Louis from Washington with dispatches to Col. Blair. +In an envelope was found a notice from the War Department to Capt. Lyon +that he had been appointed a Brigadier-General to rank from the 18th of +May, and there was also an order relieving Gen. Harney from the command +of the Department of the West, and granting him leave of absence +until further orders. There was a private letter to Col. Blair in the +handwriting of President Lincoln, in which he expressed his anxiety in +regard to St. Louis and Gen. Harney's course. He was, however, a little +in doubt as to the propriety of relieving him, but asked Col. Blair to +hold the order until such time as in his judgment the necessity for such +action became urgent. This for several reasons: + + We had better have him for a friend than an enemy. It will + dissatisfy a good many who would otherwise remain quiet. + More than all, we first relieved him, then restored him; now + If we relieve him again the public will ask: "Why all this + vacillation?" + +Col. Blair fully understood and sympathized with the President. He put +the letter and order in his pocket and talked confidentially to Lyon in +regard to it. They decided not to publish the order until it would be +wicked to delay it. They both liked and admired Harney, and if he could +be decisively separated from his Secession environment, he could be +of the greatest possible value. They would give him the opportunity of +thoroughly testing his policy. + + +101 + +Blair tried his best to arouse Gen. Harney to a sense of what was +going on, and particularly to demand suspension of the execution of the +Military Bill, but without effect. He sent to Gen. Harney telegrams +and correspondence, showing that the Brigadier-Generals were rapidly +organizing their forces, that emissaries were stirring up the Indians, +and that Chief Ross, of the Cherokee Nation, had promised 15,000 +well-armed men to help the Secessionists. When Harney called Price's +attention to this, Price calmly pooh-poohed it all as of no consequence. + +Therefore, on May 30, Blair decided that the emergency for the delivery +of the order had come, and sent it to Gen. Harney, and at the same time +wrote to the President in explanation of what he had done. + +Gen. Harney wrote the Adjutant-General of the Army a pathetic letter, in +which he said: + + My confidence in the honor and integrity of Gen. Price, in + the purity of his motives, and in his loyalty to the + Government, remains unimpaired. His course as President of + the State Convention that voted by a large majority against + submitting an Ordinance of Secession, and his efforts since + that time to calm the elements of discord, have served to + confirm the high opinion of him I have for many years + entertained. + + My whole course as Commander of the Department of the West + has been dictated by a desire to carry out in good faith the + instructions of my Government, regardless of the clamor of + the conflicting elements surrounding me, and whose advice + and dictation could not be followed without involving the + State in blood and the Government in the unnecessary + expenditure of millions. Under the course I pursued Missouri + was secured to the Union, and the triumph of the Government + was only the more glorious, being almost a bloodless + victory; but those who clamored for blood have not ceased to + impugn my motives. Twice within a brief space of time have + I been relieved from the command here; the second time in a + manner that has inflicted unmerited disgrace upon a true and + loyal soldier. During a long life, dedicated to my country, + I have seen some service, and more than once I have held her + honor in my hands; and during that time my loyalty, + + +102 + + I believe, was never questioned; and now, when in the + natural course of things I shall, before the lapse of many + years, lay aside the sword which has so long served my + country, my countrymen will be slow to believe that I have + chosen this portion of my career to damn with treason my + life, which is so soon to become a record of the past, and + which I shall most willingly leave to the unbiased judgment + of posterity. I trust that I may yet be spared to do my + country some further service that will testify to the love I + bear her, and that the vigor of my arm may never relax while + there is a blow to be struck in her defense. + + I respectfully ask to be assigned to the command of the + Department of California, and I doubt not the present + commander of the Division is even now anxious to serve on + the Atlantic frontier. + + I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, + + WM. S. HARNEY, Brigadier-General, U. S. Army. + +He started for Washington, but the train on which he was going was +captured at Harper's Ferry by a Secession force, and he was taken a +prisoner to Richmond, where the authorities immediately ordered his +release. + +The Government made no further use of him; he was retired in 1863 as a +Brigadier-General. At the conclusion of the struggle, in which he took +no further part, he was brevetted a Major-General, and died in the +fullness of years May 9,1889, at his home at Pass Christian, Miss. + +Once more Gen. Lyon was in the saddle, this time for good, with Frank +Blair and the Radicals massed behind him. + + +103 + + + +CHAPTER VI. THE LAST WORD BEFORE THE BLOW + +Brig.-Gen. Nathaniel Lyon was now in full command, not only of the City +of St. Louis and the State of Missouri, but of all the vast territory +lying between the Mississippi and the Rocky Mountains, except Texas, New +Mexico, and Utah. + +His sudden elevation from a simple Captain heading a company to wide +command did not for an instant dizzy him as it seemed to McClellan and +Fremont, who had made similar leaps in rank. Where McClellan surrounded +himself with all the pomp and circumstance of glorious war as he had +seen it exemplified by officers of his rank in Europe, where he was +followed at all times by a numerous and glittering staff, resplendent +with military millinery; and where Fremont set up a vice-regal court, +in which were heard nearly all the tongues of the Continent, spoken by +pretentious adventurers who claimed service in substantially every war +since those of Napoleon, and under every possible flag raised in those +wars, Lyon did not change a particle from the plain, straightforward, +earnest soldier he had always been. His common dress was the private +soldier's blouse with the single star of his rank, and a slouch hat. He +was accoutered for the real work of war, not its spectacular effects. +Grant was not simpler than he. Dominated by a great purpose, he made +himself and every one and every thing about him tend directly towards +that focus. He had only enough of a staff to do the necessary work, and +they must be plain, matter-of-fact soldiers like himself, devoting their +energies through all their waking hours to the cause he had at heart. + + +104 + +His first Chief of Staff was Chester Harding, a Massachusetts man, a +thoroughgoing, practical, businesslike Yankee, animated by intense love +of the Union. He preferred, however, service in the field, and became +Colonel of the 10th Mo., then of the 25th, and later of the 43d +Mo., doing good service wherever placed, and receiving at the last a +well-earned brevet as Brigadier-General of Volunteers. + +While Gen. Lyon was organizing the Home Guards into volunteer regiments +at the Arsenal, there came to his assistance a rather stockily-built +First Lieutenant of the Regular Army, who was in the prime of manhood, +with broad, full face and well-developed and increasing baldness, a +graduate of West Point, and of some eight years' experience in the +military establishment. + +John McAllister Schofield was born in Illinois, the son of an itinerant +Baptist preacher, who mainly devoted himself to the cause of church +extension. Schofield's name would indicate Germanic extraction. His face +and figure supports the same theory, as do most of his mental habits. +The McAllister in his name hints at an infusion of Celtic blood, of +which we find few if any intellectual traces. Without any special +enthusiasm or public demonstration of his attachment to principle, with +a great deal of the courtier in his ways, he was yet firm, courageous +and persistent in the policy he had marked out for himself. He was +true to the Union cause, in his own way, from the time he offered his +services to Gen. Lyon, was obedient and helpful to his superiors, always +did more than respectably well what was committed to his charge, and no +failure of any kind lowers the high average of his performance. + + +105 + +When after four years of the most careful scrutiny and tutelage the +Military Academy at West Point graduates a young man, it assumes that it +has absolutely determined his X--that is, has sounded and measured +his moral and intellectual depth, and settled his place in any human +equation. + +It will, therefore, be quite interesting in making our estimate of Gen. +Schofield, to examine the label attached to him upon his graduation from +West Point in the class of 1853. + +At the head of that class was the brilliant James B. McPherson, who was +to rise to the command of a corps and then to the Army of the Tennessee, +and fall before Atlanta, to the intense sorrow of every man in the army +who had come in contact with him. + +The second in the class was William P. Craighill, a fine engineer +officer, who, however, rose no higher during the war than a brevet +Colonel. + +The third in the class was Joshua W. Sill, a splendid soldier, who died +at the head of his brigade on the banks of Stone River. + +The fourth in the class was William R. Boggs, a Georgian, who became +a Brigadier-General in the Confederate army and achieved no special +distinction. + + +106 + +The fifth in the class was Francis J. Shunk, of Pennsylvania, who went +into the ordnance and became a brevet Major. + +The sixth in the class was William Sooy Smith, an Ohio man, who attained +the rank of Brigadier-General, and who achieved prominence in civil life +as an engineer. + +The seventh in the class was John M. Schofield, who was commissioned +in the artillery, and who had had some years of army experience in the +forts along the South Atlantic coast. + +In the 45 who graduated below Schofield were many names afterwards to +become very prominent in history. + +John S. Bowen, of Georgia, who commanded a regiment of the Home Guards, +and who did his utmost to drag his State into Secession, afterward be-. +coming a Major-General in the Confederate army, graduated 13th in the +class. + +William R. Terrill, of Virginia, killed at Perryville while in command +of a Union brigade, was the 16th. + +John R. Chambliss, of Virginia, who was killed while commanding a +Confederate brigade at Deep Bottom, Va., was the 31st, and William McE. +Dye, who commanded a brigade with success in the Trans-Mississippi, +afterwards helped to organize the Khedive's army, and who died while in +command of the Korean army, was the 32d. + +Philip H. Sheridan, one of the most brilliant commanders the world ever +saw, stood 34th in the class, and Elmer Otis, of Philippine fame, was +the 37th. + + +107 + +John B. Hood, who rose to the rank of a full General in the Confederate +army, and commanded the forces arrayed against Sherman and Thomas at +Atlanta and Nashville, was the 44th. + +It is very interesting to study this list and compare it with the +confident markings made by the West Point Faculty when the young men +were dismissed to the active life for which the Academy had prepared +them. It at least shows that, judged by West Point standards, +Schofield's intellectual equipment was of the very best. He had married +the daughter of his Professor of Physics, and children had come to +them; promotion was very slow; he had wearied of the dull routine of +the artillery officer in seacoast forts, and had seriously thought of +resigning and entering the profession of law. Friends had dissuaded +him from this, secured him a position as Professor of Physics in the +Washington University at St. Louis, and Gen. Scott, who liked him, +induced him to remain in the service and obtained for him a year's leave +of absence to enable him to accept the professorship. He was engaged in +his duty of teaching at the University and of writing a work on physics, +of which he was very proud, when the firing on Fort Sumter took place. +His political views were those of the Douglas wing of the Democracy, and +he remained a Democrat ever after. He made no public profession of his +views on the Slavery question or Secession, but immediately wrote to +Washington offering to cancel his leave of absence, and was directed to +report to Gen. Lyon for the duty of mustering in the volunteers. + + +108 + +Inasmuch as the Governor, with much contumely, had refused to supply +the four regiments from Missouri which the President had called for, +Schofield, with his unfailing respect for the law, saw no way to fulfill +his duty, until Gen. Scott, who was dimly perceiving the gigantic nature +of the emergency, reluctantly gave authority to muster in and arm the +Home Guards, adding the indorsement, pathetically eloquent as to his +aged slowness of recognition that old things were passing away and new +being born in volcanic travail--"This is irregular, but, being times of +revolution, is approved." + +Schofield showed his heart in the matter by becoming a Major of the +first regiment organized. + +The whole atmosphere at once changed with Lyon's permanent assignment to +command. + +The Union people of Missouri, those who really believed that the +Government was worth fighting for, no longer had to retire, as they had +from Harney's presence, with cold comfort, and advice to stop thinking +about fighting and attend to their regular business, but were welcomed +by Lyon, had their earnestness stimulated by his own, and were given +direct advice as to how they could be of the most service. They were +encouraged to put themselves in readiness, strike blow for blow, and +if possible to give two blows for one. The work of preparation +was systematized, and everything made to move toward the one great +event--the Government's overwhelming assertion of its power. + +Home Guards were organized in every County where Union men wanted to do +so, and began presenting a stubborn front to their opponents, who were +being brought together under the Military Bill. + + +109 + +Gov. Jackson and Gen. Price did not lose all heart at the change in +commanders. They seemed to have hopes that they might in some way mold +Lyon to their wishes as they had Harney, and sought an interview with +him. Gen. Lyon was not averse to an interview, and sent to Jackson and +Price the following passport: + + Headquarters, Department of the West, + + St. Louis, June 8, 1861. + + It having been suggested that Gov. Claiborne F. Jackson and + ex-Gov. Sterling Price are desirous of an interview with + Gen. Lyon, commanding this Department, for the purpose of + effecting, if possible, a pacific solution of the domestic + troubles of Missouri, it is hereby stipulated on the part of + Brig.-Gen. N. Lyon, U. S. A., commanding this Military + Department, that, should Gov. Jackson or ez-Gov. Price, or + either of them, at any time prior to or on the 12th day of + June, 1861, visit St. Louis for the purpose of such + interview, they and each of them shall be free from + molestation or arrest on account of any charges pending + against them, or either of them, on the part of the United + States, during their journey to St. Louis and their return + from St Louis to Jefferson City. + + Given under the hand of the General commanding, the day and + year above written. + + N. LYON, + + Brigadier-General, Commanding. + + +Accordingly on June 12, 1861, Price and Jackson arrived at St. Louis by +special train from Jefferson City, put up at the Planters' House, and +informed Gen. Lyon of their arrival. The old State pride cropped out +in a little dispute as to which should call upon the other. Jackson as +Governor of the "sovereign and independent" State of Missouri and Price +as Major-General commanding the forces, felt that it was due them that +Lyon, a Brigadier-General in the United States service, should visit +them rather than they him at the Arsenal. Lyon's soul going direct to +the heart of the matter, was above these technicalities, waved them +aside impatiently, and said that he would go to the Planters' House and +call on them. + + +110 + +Accompanied by Col. Frank P. Blair and Maj. Conant, of his Staff, he +went at once to the Planters' House, and there ensued a four hours' +interview of mightiest consequences to the State and the Nation. + +Jackson and Price were accompanied by Col. Thomas L. Snead, then an +Aid of the Governor, afterwards Acting Adjutant-General of the Missouri +State Guards, Chief of Staff of the Army of the West, and a member of +the Confederate Congress. He makes this statement as to the opening of +the conference: + +"Lyon opened it by saying that the discussion on the part of his +Government 'would be conducted by Col. Blair, who enjoyed its confidence +in the very highest degree, and was authorized to speak for it.' Blair +was, in fact, better fitted than any man in the Union to discuss with +Jackson and Price the grave questions then at issue between the United +States and the State of Missouri, and in all her borders there were +no men better fitted than they to speak for Missouri on that momentous +occasion. + +"But despite the modesty of his opening, Lyon was too much in earnest, +too zealous, too well informed on the subject, too aggressive, and too +fond of disputation to let Blair conduct the discussion on the part of +his Government. In half an hour it was he who was conducting it, holding +his own at every point against Jackson and Price, masters though they +were of Missouri politics, whose course they had been directing and +controlling for years, while he was only the Captain of an infantry +regiment on the Plains. He had not, however, been a mere soldier in +those days, but had been an earnest student of the very questions that +he was now discussing, and he comprehended the matter as well as any +man, and handled it in the soldierly way to which he had been bred, +using the sword to cut knots that he could not untie." + + +111 + +Really the interview soon became a parley between the two strong men who +were quickly to draw their swords upon one another. The talking men, the +men of discussion and appeal passed out, and the issue was in the hands +of the men who were soon to hurl the mighty weapons of war. + +Jackson, who was a light, facile politician, used to moving public +assemblies which were already of his mind, had but little to say in +the hours of intense parley, but interjected from time to time with +parrot-like reiteration, that the United States troops must leave the +State and not enter it. "I will then disband my own troops and we shall +certainly have peace." + +Blair, an incomparably stronger man, but still a politician and rather +accustomed to accomplishing results by speeches and arguments, soon felt +himself obscured by the mightier grasp and earnestness of Lyon, and took +little further part. There remained, then, the stern, portentous parley +between Lyon and Price, who weighed their words, intending to make every +one of them good by deadly blows. They looked into one another's eyes +with set wills, between which were the awful consequences of unsheathed +swords. + +Gen. Price stated at some length his proposals, and claimed that he +had carried out his understanding with Gen. Harney in good faith, not +violating it one iota. + + +112 + +Gen. Lyon asked him sharply how that could be, according to Gen. +Harney's second proclamation in which he denounced the Military Bill as +unconstitutional and treasonable? + +Gen. Price replied that he had made no agreement whatever with Gen. +Harney about the enforcement or carrying out of the Military Bill. + +Gen. Lyon answered this by presenting a copy of the following memorandum +which had been sent by Gen. Harney as the only basis on which he would +treat with Jackson and Price: + + Memorandum for Gen. Price.--May 21, 1861. + + Gen. Harney is here as a citizen of Missouri, with all his + interests at stake in the preservation of the peace of the + State. + + He earnestly wishes to do nothing to complicate matters, and + will do everything in his power, consistently with his + Instructions, to preserve peace and order. + + He is, however, compelled to recognize the existence of a + rebellion in a portion of the United States, and in view of + it he stands upon the proclamation of the President itself, + based upon the laws and Constitution of the United States. + + The proclamation demands the dispersion of all armed bodies + hostile to the supreme law of the land. + + Gen. Harney sees in the Missouri Military Bill features + which compel him to look upon such armed bodies as may be + organized under its provisions as antagonistic to the United + States, within the meaning of the proclamation, and + calculated to precipitate a conflict between the State and + the United States. + + He laments the tendency of things, and most cordially and + earnestly invites the co-operation of Gen. Price to avert + it. + + For this purpose Gen. Harney respectfully asks Gen. Price to + review the features of the bill, in the spirit of law, + warmed and elevated by that of humanity, and seek to + discover some means by which its action may be suspended + until some competent tribunal shall decide upon its + character. + + The most material features of the bill calculated to bring + about a conflict are, first, the oath required to be taken + by the Militia and State Guards (an oath of allegiance to + the State of Missouri without recognizing the existence of + the Government of the United States); and, secondly, the + express requirements by which troops within the State not + organized under the provisions of the Military Bill are to + be disarmed by the State Guards. + + Gen. Harney cannot be expected to await a summons to + surrender his arms by the State troops. + + From this statement of the case the true question becomes + immediately visible and cannot be shut out of view. + + Gen. Price Is earnestly requested to consider this, and Gen. + Harney will be happy to confer with him on the subject + whenever It may suit his convenience. + + N. B.--Read to Gen. Price, In the presence of Maj. H. B. + Turner, on the evening of the 21st of May. + +[Illustration: 100-General David Hunter] + + +113 + +Naturally this threw Gen. Price into much confusion, and his face +reddened with mortification, but after a few minutes he said that he did +not remember hearing the paper read; that it was true that Hitchcock and +Turner had come from Gen. Harney to see him, but he could recall nothing +of any such paper being presented. The discussion grew warmer as Gen. +Lyon felt more strongly the force of his position. Gen. Price insisted +that no armed bodies of Union troops should pass through or be stationed +in Missouri, as such would occasion civil war. He asserted that Missouri +must be neutral, and neither side should arm. Gov. Jackson would protect +the Union men and would disband his State troops. + +Gen. Lyon opposed this by saying, in effect, "that, if the Government +withdrew its forces entirely, secret and subtle measures would be +resorted to to provide arms and perfect organizations which, upon +any pretext, could put forth a formidable opposition to the General +Government; and even without arming, combinations would doubtless form +in certain localities, to oppress and drive out loyal citizens, to +whom the Government was bound to give protection, but which it would +be helpless to do, as also to repress such combinations, if its forces +could not be sent into the State. A large aggressive force might be +formed and advanced from the exterior into the State, to assist it in +carrying out the Secession program; and the Government could not, under +the limitation proposed, take posts on these borders to meet and repel +such force. + + +114 + +The Government could not shrink from its duties nor abdicate its +corresponding right; and, in addition to the above, it was the duty of +its civil officers to execute civil process, and in case of resistance +to receive the support of military force. The proposition of the +Governor would at once overturn the Government privileges and +prerogatives, which he (Gen. Lyon) had neither the wish nor the +authority to do. In his opinion, if the Governor and the State +authorities would earnestly set about to maintain the peace of the +State, and declare their purposes to resist outrages upon loyal citizens +of the Government, and repress insurrections against it, and in case of +violent combinations, needing co-operation of the United States +troops, they should call upon or accept such assistance, and in case of +threatened invasion the Government troops took suitable posts to +meet it, the purposes of the Government would be subserved, and no +infringement of the State rights or dignity committed. He would take +good care, in such faithful co-operation of the State authorities to +this end, that no individual should be injured in person or property, +and that the utmost delicacy should be observed toward all peaceable +persons concerned in these relations." + +Gen. Lyon based himself unalterably upon this proposition, and could not +be moved from it by anything Price or Jackson could say. + +Gov. Jackson entered into the discussion again to suggest that they +separate and continue the conference further by correspondence; but +Lyon, who felt vividly that the main object of the Secessionists was to +gain time to perfect their plans, rejected this proposition, but said +that he was quite willing that all those present should reduce their +views to writing and publish them; which, however, did not strike +Jackson and Price favorably. As to the close of the interview, Maj. +Conant says: + + +115 + +"As Gen. Lyon was about to take his leave, he said: 'Gov. Jackson, +no man in the State of Missouri has been more ardently desirous of +preserving peace than myself. Heretofore Missouri has only felt the +fostering care of the Federal Government, which has raised her from the +condition of a feeble French colony to that of an empire State. Now, +however, from the failure on the part of the Chief Executive to comply +with constitutional requirements, I fear she will be made to feel its +power. Better, sir, far better, that the blood of every man, woman and +child of the State should flow than that she should successfully defy +the Federal Government.'" + +Col. Snead has published this account of the close of the conference: + +"Finally, when the conference had lasted four or five hours, Lyon closed +it, as he had opened it. 'Rather,' said he (he was still seated, and +spoke deliberately, slowly, and with a peculiar emphasis), 'rather than +concede to the State of Missouri the right to demand that my Government +shall not enlist troops within her limits, or bring troops into the +State whenever it pleases, or move its troops at its own will into, out +of, or through the State; rather than concede to the State of Missouri +for one single instant the right to dictate to my Government in any +matter however unimportant, I would (rising as he said this, and +pointing in turn to every one in the room) see you, and you, and you, +and you, and every man, woman, and child in the State, dead and buried.' + + +116 + +"Then turning to the Governor, he said: 'This means war. In an hour one +of my officers will call for you and conduct you out of my lines.' + +"And then, without another word, without an inclination of the head, +without even a look, he turned upon his heel and strode out of the room, +rattling his spurs and clanking his saber, while we, whom he left, +and who had known each other for years, bade farewell to each other +courteously and kindly, and separated--Blair and Conant to fight for the +Union, we for the land of our birth." + +When the great American painter shall arise, one of the grandest themes +for his pencil will be that destiny-shaping conference on that afternoon +in June, 1861. He will show the face of Gov. Jackson as typical of that +class of Southern politicians who raised the storm from the unexpected +violence of which they retreated in dismay. There will be more than a +suggestion of this in Jackson's expression and attitude. He entered +the conference full of his official importance as the head of the great +Sovereign State, braving the whole United States, and quite complacent +as to his own powers of diction and argument. He quickly subsided, +however, from the leading character occupying the center of the stage +to that of chorus in the wings, in the deadly grapple of men of mightier +purpose--Lyon and Price, who were to ride the whirlwind he had been +contriving, and rule the storm he had been instrumental in raising. + + +117 + +Even Blair, immeasurably stronger mentally and morally than +Jackson--Blair, tall, sinewy, alert, with face and pose revealing +the ideal leader that he was--even he felt the presence of stronger +geniuses, and lapsed into silence. + +The time for talking men was past Captains of hosts were now uttering +the last stern words, which meant the crash of battle and the death and +misery of myriads. Hereafter voices would be in swords, and arguments +flame from the brazen mouths of cannon hot with slaughter. + +Sterling Price, white-haired, large of frame, imposing, benignant, +paternal, inflexible as to what he considered principle, was to point +the way which 100,000 young Missourians were to follow through a +thousand red battlefields. + +Nathaniel Lyon, short of stature, red-haired, in the prime of manhood +and perfected soldiership, fiery, jealous for his country's rights and +dignity, was to set another 100,000 young Missourians in battle array +against their opponents, to fight them to complete overthrow. + +After they withdrew from the conference, Gov. Jackson, as Price's +trumpeter, sounded the call "to arms" in a proclamation to the people of +Missouri. + + +118 + +[Illustration: 118-The St Louis Levee] + + + +CHAPTER VII. GEN. LYON BEGINS AN EFFECTIVE CAMPAIGN + +Gen. Sterling Price was soldier enough to recognize that Gen. Lyon was a +different character from the talking men who had been holding the center +of the stage for so long. When his trumpet sounded his sword was sure to +leap from its scabbard. Blows were to follow so quickly upon words as to +tread upon their heels. + +At the close of the interview of June 11, Gen. Lyon, with Col. Blair and +Maj. Conant, returned to the Arsenal, while Gov. Jackson and Gen. Price +hurried to the depot of the Pacific Railroad, where they impressed a +locomotive, tender and cars, and urged the railroad men to get up steam +in the shortest possible time. Imperative orders cleared the track ahead +of them, and they rushed away for the Capital of the State with all +speed. + +At the crossing of the Gasconade River they stopped long enough to +thoroughly burn the bridge to check Lyon's certain advance, and while +doing this Sterling Price cut the telegraph wires with his own hands. +The train then ran on to the Osage River, where, to give greater +assurance against rapid pursuit, they burnt that bridge also. + +Arriving at Jefferson City about 2 o'clock in the morning, the rest +of the night was spent in anxious preparation of a proclamation by the +Governor to the people of Missouri, which was intended to be a trumpet +call to bring every man capable of bearing arms at once to the support +of the Governor and the furtherance of his plans. + + +119 + +According to the Census of 1860 there were 236,402 men in Missouri +capable of bearing arms, and if the matter could be put in such a way +that a half or even one-third of these would respond to the Governor's +mandate, a host would be mustered which would quickly sweep Lyon and his +small band out of the State. The proclamation to effect this which was +elaborated by the joint efforts of Gov. Jackson and Col. Snead, +the editor of the St. Louis Bulletin, a Secessionist organ, and the +Governor's Secretary and Adjutant-General, together with Gen. Price. + +Considered as a trumpet call it was entirely too verbose. Col. Snead +could not break himself of writing long, ponderous editorials. The more +pertinent paragraphs were: + + To the People of Missouri: + + A series of unprovoked and unparalleled outrages have been + inflicted upon the peace and dignity of this Commonwealth + and upon the rights and liberties of its people, by wicked + and unprincipled men, professing to act under the authority + of the United States Government. The solemn enactments + of your Legislature have been nullified; your volunteer + soldiers have been taken prisoners; your commerce with your + sister States has been suspended; your trade with your + fellow-citizens has been, and is, subjected to the harassing + control of an armed soldiery; peaceful citizens have been + imprisoned without warrant of law; unoffending and + defenseless men, women, and children have been ruthlessly + shot down and murdered; and other unbearable indignities + have been heaped upon your State and yourselves.... + + They (Blair and Lyon) demanded not only the disorganization + and disarming of the State Militia, and the nullification of + the Military Bill, but they refused to disarm their own Home + Guards, and insisted that the Federal Government should + enjoy an unrestricted right to move and station its troops + throughout the State, whenever and wherever that might, in + the opinion of its officers, be necessary, either for the + protection of the "loyal subjects" of the Federal Government + or for the repelling of invasion; and they plainly announced + that it was the intention of the Administration to take + military occupation, under these pretexts, of the whole + State, and to reduce it, as avowed by Gen. Lyon himself, to + the "exact condition of Maryland." + + +120 + + The acceptance by me of these degrading terms would not only + have sullied the honor of Missouri, but would have aroused + the Indignation of every brave citizen, and precipitated the + very conflict which it has been my aim to prevent. We + refused to accede to them, and the conference was broken + up.... + + Now, therefore, I, C. F. Jackson, Governor of the State of + Missouri, do, in view of the foregoing facts, and by virtue + of the power invested in me by the Constitution and laws of + this Commonwealth, issue this, my proclamation, calling the + Militia of the State, to the number of 60,000, into the + active service of the State, for the purpose of repelling + said invasion, and for the protection of the lives, liberty, + and property of the citizens of this State. And I earnestly + exhort all good citizens of Missouri to rally under the flag + of their State, for the protection of their endangered homes + and firesides, and for the defense of their most sacred + rights and dearest liberties. + +This proclamation was given out to the press, but even before it +appeared the Governor had telegraphed throughout the State to leading +Secessionists to arm and rush to his assistance. + +This did not catch Gen. Lyon at all unawares. He had long ago determined +upon a movement to Springfield, which, being in the midst of the farming +region, was the center of the Union element of southwest Missouri. +Immediately, upon reading the Governor's proclamation, he saw the +necessity of forestalling the projected concentration by reaching +Jefferson City with the least possible delay. Before he retired that +night he had given orders for the formation of a marching column, and +had placed the affairs of his great Department outside of this column, +of which he proposed to take personal command, in the hands of Col. +Chester Harding, to whom he gave full powers to sign his name and issue +orders. + + +121 + +Having thought out his plans well beforehand, Gen. Lyon began his +campaign with well-ordered celerity. Part of the troops he had at +command were sent down the southwestern branch of the Pacific Railroad +to secure it. Others were sent to points at which the militia were known +to be gathering to disperse them. + +Gen. Lyon himself, with his staff, the Regulars, infantry and artillery, +and a force of volunteers, embarked on two steamboats to move directly +upon Jefferson City by the way of the Missouri River. + +They arrived at the Capital of Missouri about 2 o'clock in the afternoon +of June 15, and were met with an enthusiastic reception from the loyal +citizens, of whom a large proportion were Germans. Gov. Jackson had only +been able to assemble about 120 men, with whom he made a hasty retreat +to Boonville, about 50 miles further up the river, which had been +selected by Gen. Price as one of his principal strategic points. +Boonville is situated on the highlands at a natural crossing of the +Missouri, and by holding it communication could be maintained between +the parts of the State lying north and south of the river, and thus +allow the concentration of the Militia, which Gov. Jackson had called +out. The hights on the river bank would enable the river to be blockaded +against expeditions ascending it, and the entire length of the stream to +Kansas City, about 100 miles in a direct line, could be thus controlled. + +The Missouri River divides the State unequally, leaving about one-third +on the north and two-thirds on the south. Of the 99 Counties in the +State, 44 are north of the Missouri River, but these are smaller than +those south. + + +122 + +Gov. Jackson had telegraphed orders for the Brigade-Generals commanding +the districts into which the State had been divided to concentrate their +men with all haste at Boonville and at Lexington, still further up the +river, nearly midway between Boonville and Kansas City. The beginnings +of an arsenal were made at Boonville, to furnish arms and ammunition. + +Gen. Lyon saw the strategic importance of the place, and did not propose +to allow any concentration to be made there. He did not, as most Regular +officers were prone, wait deliberately for wagons and rations and other +supplies, but with a truer instinct of soldiership comprehended that +his men could live wherever an enemy could, and leaving a small squad +at Jefferson City, immediately started his column for Boonville, sending +orders to other columns in Iowa and Kansas to converge toward that +place. + +Progress up the Missouri River was tedious, as the water was low, and +the troops had to frequently disembark in order to allow the boats to +go over the shoals. It was reported to Gen. Lyon that about 4,000 +Confederates had already concentrated at Boonville. + +While Gen. Price was the Commander-in-Chief, several prominent +Secessionists were commanders upon the field of the whole or parts +of the force. The man, however, who was the most in evidence in the +fighting was John Sappington Marmaduke, a native Missourian, born in +Saline County in 1833, and therefore 28 years old. He was the son of a +farmer, had been at Yale and Harvard, and then graduated from West Point +in 1857, standing 30 in a class of 38. He had been on frontier duty with +the 7th U. S. until after the firing on Fort Sumter, when he resigned to +return to Missouri and raise a regiment for the Southern Confederacy. +He was to rise to the rank of Major-General in the Confederate army, +achieve much fame for military ability, and be elected, in 1884, +Governor of the State. + + +123 + +The column immediately under the command of Gen. Lyon consisted +of Totten's Light Battery (F, 2d U. S. Art.); Co. B, 2d U. S.; two +companies of Regular recruits; Col. Blair's Missouri regiment and +nine companies of Boernstein's Missouri regiment; aggregating somewhere +between 1,700 and 2,000 men. On the evening of Sunday, June 16, the +boats carrying the command arrived within 15 miles of Boonville, and +lay there during the night. The next morning they proceeded up to within +about eight miles of the town, when all but one company of Blair's +regiment and an artillery detachment disembarked and began a land march +upon the enemy's position. The remaining company and the howitzer were +sent on with the boats to give the impression that an attack was to be +made from the river side. + +The people in the country reported to Gen. Lyon that the enemy was fully +4,000 strong, and intended an obstinate defense. He therefore moved +forward cautiously, arriving at last at the foot of a gently undulating +slope to a crest one mile distant, on which the enemy was stationed, +with the ground quite favorable for them. Gen. Lyon formed a line of +battle about 300 yards from the crest, with Totten's battery in the +rear and nine companies of Boernstein's regiment on the right, under +the command of Lieut.-Col. Schaeffer, and the Regulars and Col. Blair's +regiment on the left. It was a momentous period, big with Missouri's +future. + + +124 + +The engagement opened with Capt. Totten shelling the enemy's position +and the well-drilled German infantry advancing with the Regulars, firing +as they went. The question was now to be tried as to the value of the +much-vaunted Missouri riflemen in conflict with the disciplined +Germans. The former had been led to believe that they would repeat the +achievements of their forefathers at New Orleans. + +Under the lead of Col. Marmaduke, the Confederates stood their ground +pluckily for a few minutes, but the steady advance of the Union troops, +with the demoralizing effect of the shells, were too much for them. Col. +Marmaduke attempted to make an orderly retreat, and at first seemed +to succeed, but finally the movement degenerated into a rout, and the +Confederates scattered in wild flight, led by their Governor, who, like +James II. at the battle of the Boyne, had witnessed the skirmish from a +neighboring eminence. The losses on each side were equal--two killed +and some eight or nine wounded. + +Lyon pushed on at once to the camp of the enemy, and there captured some +1,200 pairs of shoes, 20 to 30 tents, and a considerable quantity of +ammunition, with quite a supply of arms, blankets and personal effects. + + +125 + +The detachment which had gone by the river on the boats aided in +securing the victory by a noisy bombardment with their howitzer, +and landing at the town, captured two six-pounders, with a number of +prisoners. The Mayor of Boonville came out and formally surrendered +the town to Gen. Lyon and Col. Blair. Parties were sent out the various +roads to continue the pursuit, and Gen. Lyon issued the following +proclamation, admirable in tone and wording, to counteract that of the +Governor and quiet the people, especially as to interference with slave +property: + + To the People of Missouri: + + Upon leaving the city of St. Louis, In consequence of the + declaration of war made by the Governor of this State + against the Government of the United States, because I would + not assume in its behalf to relinquish its duties and + abdicate its rights of protecting loyal citizens from the + oppression and cruelties of Secessionists in this State, I + published an address to the people, in which I declared my + intention to use the force under my command for no other + purpose than the maintenance of the authority of the General + Government and the protection of the rights and property of + all law-abiding citizens. The State authorities, in + violation of an agreement with Gen. Harney, on the 21st of + May last, had drawn together and organized upon a large + scale the means of warfare, and having made declaration of + war, they abandoned the Capital, issued orders for the + destruction of the railroad and telegraph lines, and + proceeded to this point to put in execution their purposes + toward the General Government. This devolved upon me the + necessity of meeting this issue to the best of my ability, + and accordingly I moved to this point with a portion of the + force under my command, attacked and dispersed hostile + forces gathered here by the Governor, and took possession of + the camp equipage left and a considerable number of + prisoners, most of them young and of immature age, who + represent that they have been misled by frauds ingeniously + devised and industriously circulated by designing leaders, + who seek to devolve upon unreflecting and deluded followers + the task of securing the object of their own false ambition. + Out of compassion for these misguided youths, and to correct + impressions created by unscrupulous calumniators, I have + liberated them, upon condition that they will not serve in + the impending hostilities against the United States + Government. I have done this in spite of the known facts + that the leaders in the present rebellion, having long + experienced the mildness of the General Government, still + feel confident that this mildness cannot be overtaxed even + by factious hostilities having In view its overthrow; but + if, as in the case of the late Camp Jackson affair, this + clemency than still be misconstrued, it is proper to give + warning that the Government cannot be always expected to + indulge it to the compromise of its evident welfare. + + +126 + + Having learned that those plotting against the Government + have falsely represented that the Government troops intended + a forcible and violent invasion of Missouri for the purposes + of military despotism and tyranny, I hereby give notice to + the people of this State that I shall scrupulously avoid all + interferences with the business, rights, and property of + every description recognized by the laws of this State, and + belonging to law-abiding citizens; but that it is equally my + duty to maintain the paramount authority of the United Sates + with such force as I have at my command, which will be + retained only so long as opposition shall make it necessary; + and that it is my wish, and shall be my purpose, to devolve + any unavoidable rigor arising in this issue upon those only + who provoke it. + + All persons who, under the misapprehensions above mentioned, + have taken up arms, or who are now preparing to do so, are + invited to return to their homes, and relinquish their + hostile attitude to the General Government, and are assured + that they may do so without being molested for past + occurrences. + + N. LYON, + + Brigadier-General, U. S. Vols., Commanding. + + +Several thousand of Jackson's Militia had already assembled at +Lexington, nearly midway between Boonville and Kansas City. When they +heard of the affair at Boonville they realized that they were in danger +of being caught between the column advancing from that direction and +the one under Maj. Sturgis, which Gen. Lyon had ordered forward from +Leavenworth through Kansas City, while a third, under Col. Curtis, was +approaching from the Iowa line. They dispersed at once, to fall back +behind the Osage River, at Gen. Price's direction. Thus Lyon gained +complete control of the Missouri River in its course through the State, +enabling him to cut off the Confederates in the northern from those in +the southern part of the State. + + +127 + +Another success which came to him was the seizure of the office of +the St. Louis Bulletin, and the discovery there of a letter from Gov, +Jackson to the publisher, which completely proved all the allegations +that had been made as to the Governor's action, decisively contradicted +the material assertions in his proclamations and vindicated Gen. Lyon +from the charges against him of undue precipitancy. The letter was long, +personal and confidential. In it he said: + + I do not think Missouri should secede today or tomorrow, but + I do not think it good policy that I should so disclose. I + want a little time to arm the State, and I am assuming every + responsibility to do it with all possible dispatch. Missouri + should act in concert with Tennessee and Kentucky. They are + all bound to go out, and should go together, if possible. My + judgment is that North Carolina, Tennessee and Arkansas will + all be out in a few days, and when they go Missouri should + follow. Let us, then, prepare to make our exit. We should + keep our own counsels. Every man in the State is in favor of + arming the State. Then let it be done. All are opposed to + furnishing Mr. Lincoln with soldiers. Time will settle the + balance. + + Nothing should be said about the time or the manner in which + Missouri should go out. That she ought to go, and will go at + the proper time, I have no doubt. She ought to have gone out + last Winter, when she could have seized the public arms and + public property, and defended herself. That she has failed + to do, and must wait a little while. Paschall is a base + submissionist, and desires to remain with the North, if + every Slave State should go out. Call on every country paper + to defend me, and assure them I am fighting under the true + flag. Who does not know that every sympathy of my heart is + with the South? The Legislature, in my view, should sit in + secret session, and touch nothing but the measures of + defense. + + Though in point of fighting and losses this initial campaign + ending with the skirmish at Boonville had been + insignificant, its results far surpassed those of many of + the bloodiest battles of the rebellion. The Governor of the + State was in flight from his Capital; his troops had been + scattered in the first collision; control had been gained of + the Missouri River, cutting the enemy's line in two; and + above all, there was the immense moral effect of the defeat + in action of the boastful Secessionists by the much + denounced "St. Louis Dutch." This alone accounted for the + acquisition of many thousand wavering men to the side of the + Union. Missourians were not different from the rest of + mankind, and every community had its large proportion of + those who, when the Secessionists seemed to have everything + their own way, inclined to that side, but came back to their + true allegiance at the first sign of the Government being + able to assert its supremacy. The Government was now aroused + and striking--and striking successfully. Its enemies were + immensely depressed, and its friends correspondingly elated. + + +129 + + Gen. Lyon's next thought was to drive Gov. Jackson and his + Secession clique out of Missouri into Arkansas, free the + people from their pernicious influence, protect the Union + people, especially in the southwestern part of the State, + and keep tens of thousands of young men from being persuaded + or dragged into the rebel army. + + He would demonstrate the Government's position so + convincingly that there would be no longer any doubt of + Missouri's remaining in the Union. + + +129 + +[Illustration: 129-The Storm Gathers] + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. STORM GATHERS IN SOUTHWESTERN MISSOURI + +The Osage River enters Missouri from Kansas about 60 miles south of the +Missouri River, and flowing a little south of east empties into that +river a few miles below Jefferson City. It thus forms a natural line of +defense across the State, which Gen. Price's soldierly eye had noted, +and he advised the Governor to order his troops to take up their +position behind it, gain time for organization, and prepare for battle +for possession of the State. + +Gen. Lyon had also noticed the strategic advantages of the Osage River, +and did not propose to allow his enemies to have the benefit of them. +He did not intend to permit them to concentrate there, and be joined in +time by heavy forces already coming up from Arkansas, Indian Territory, +and Texas. While he was collecting farm wagons around Boonville +to move his own columns forward, laboring to gather a sufficient stock +of ammunition and supplies, and planning to make secure his holding of +the important points already gained, he began moving other columns under +Gen. Sweeny and Maj. Sturgis directly upon Springfield, the central +point of the southwestern part of the State, which would take the Osage +line in the rear, and compel Jackson and Price to retreat with their +forces across the Missouri line into Arkansas. + + +130 + +This would clear the State of the whole congerie of Secession leaders, +remove the young men from their influence, stop the persecutions of +the Union men in that section, and cement Missouri solidly in the Union +line. He also wrote Gen. B. M. Prentiss, in command of the troops +at Cairo, asking co-operation by clearing out the rebels from the +southeastern portion of the State. Lyon's far-reaching plans did not +stop with Missouri. He also contemplated pushing his advance directly +upon Little Rock, through the Union-loving region in northwestern +Arkansas, and clinching that State as firmly as Missouri. + +The next day after the decisive little victory at Boonville occurred an +event which greatly raised the drooping spirits of the Secessionists, +and was much exaggerated by them in order to offset their defeat at +Boonville by Lyon. + +Benton is one of the interior Counties of the State, lying on both sides +of the Osage River. In 1860 its people had cast 74 votes for Lincoln, +306 for Bell and Everett, 100 for Breckinridge, and 574 for Stephen A. +Douglas. All the County officials and leading men were Secessionists, +and doing their utmost to aid the rebellion; still, the Union people, +under the leadership of A. H. W. Cook and Alex. Mackey, were undaunted +and earnestly desirous of doing effective service for the United States. +Cook and Mackey had been warned to leave the State, and Cook had done +so, but returned to take part in the capture of Camp Jackson, and +afterward went back to his home to organize the Germans and Americans +there for their own defense. + + +131 + +A meeting was held at which the Stars and Stripes were raised, and nine +companies of Home Guards organized, sworn into service, and given arms. +These companies went into camp in a couple of barns some three miles +south of Cole Camp, where their presence and support to the +Union sentiment was the source of the greatest irritation to the +Secessionists, who attempted to disperse them by legal processes, and +failing in this, determined to attack them. In the meanwhile all but +about 400 of the men were allowed to return to their homes to put their +affairs in order for a prolonged absence. + +About 1,000 Secessionists, under the command of Walter S. O'Kane, +marched on June 19 to attack them. Col. Cook was informed of the +intended attack and prepared for it by throwing out pickets and +summoning his absentees. + +At 3 o'clock in the morning of June 20 the Secessionists reached the +pickets, whom they bayonetted to prevent their giving the alarm, and +rushed in upon the sleeping Unionists, pouring volley after volley +into the barns. The men in one of the barns had been warned, but were +prevented from firing by the Union Flag which the Secessionists carried. +Many of them who managed to get out of the barns were rallied behind the +corn cribs, and began an obstinate fight which lasted till daylight. The +absentees, whom Col. Cook had summoned, came up during the engagement, +but not being able to comprehend the situation, rendered no assistance. +Finally all the Union men got together and retreated in good order, +repulsing their pursuers. + + +132 + +The reports as to this affair are so conflicting that it is difficult +to determine the truth. It seems pretty certain that Col. Cook had +only about 400 men. He reports that he was attacked by 1,200, but the +Secessionists say that O'Kane's force was only 350. Cook reports his +loss as 23 killed, 20 wounded, and 30 taken prisoners, while Pollard, +the Secessionist historian, insists that we lost 206 killed, a large +number wounded, and over 100 taken prisoners, with the Secession loss +of 14 killed and 15 or 20 wounded. Probably the truth lies between +these two extremes, the only definite thing being that the Secessionists +captured 362 muskets. + +There were five or six prominent Secessionists among the killed, one of +them being Mr. Leach, the editor of the Southwestern Democrat. + +Col. Cook gathered up his men, received some additional recruits, some +arms and ammunition, and pushed on to Warsaw, on the Osage, one of the +points of concentration indicated by Gen. Price, capturing 1,500 pound +cans and 1,500 kegs of fine rifle powder, many tons of pig-lead, 70 +stand of small-arms, a steamboat-load of tent cloth, a lot of State +Guard uniforms, four Confederate flags, and 1,200 false-faces which +had been used by the "border ruffians" in their political operations +in Kansas. A little further on they surrounded and captured 1,000 +Secessionists, and paroled them on the spot. + +The Secessionists, on the other hand, took much comfort out of the +surprise and defeat and the acquisition of 362 new muskets and 150 more +which they had beguiled from a German company in a neighboring County. + + +133 + +In the meanwhile the Conservatives, aided by Lieut-Gen. Scott, whose +distrust of "Capt." Lyon never abated, secured the addition of Missouri +to the Department commanded by McClellan, whom it was thought would hold +the "audacious" officer in check. Lyon, though he felt that McClellan, +then far distant in West Virginia, could not give matters in the State +the attention they needed, yet loyally accepted the assignment, wrote at +once to McClellan cordially welcoming him as his commander, and giving +full information as to the conditions, with suggestions as to what +should be done. Col. Blair and the Radicals were much displeased at +this move, and began efforts to have Missouri erected into a separate +Department and placed under the command of John C. Fremont, lately +appointed a Major-General, and from whose military talents there were +the greatest expectations. + +As the first Presidential candidate of the Republican Party Fremont +had a strong hold upon the hearts of the Northern people. During the +campaign of 1856 there had been the customary partisan eulogies of the +candidates, which placed "the Great Pathfinder" and all he had done in +the most favorable light before the American people. Above all he was +thought to be thoroughly in sympathy with the policy which Blair and his +following desired to pursue. + +In reality Fremont was a man of somewhat more than moderate ability, but +boundless aspirations. He was the son-in-law of Senator Benton, and +his wife, the queenly, ambitious, handsome Jessie Benton Fremont, was +naturally eager for her husband to be as prominent in the National +councils as had been her father. What Fremont was equal to is one of +the many unsolved problems of the war, but certainly he was not to the +command of the great Western Department, including the State of Illinois +and all the States and Territories west of the Mississippi River and +east of the Rocky Mountains, to which he was assigned by General Orders, +No. 40, issued July 3,1861. + + +134 + +Fremont's father was a Frenchman, who had married a Virginia woman, and +followed the occupation of a teacher of French at Norfolk, Va., but +died at an early age, leaving the members of his family to struggle for +themselves. Fremont became a teacher of mathematics on a sloop of war, +then Professor of Mathematics for the Navy, and later a surveyor and +engineer for railroad lines, and was commissioned by President Van Buren +a Second Lieutenant in the Corps of Engineers. Owing to the opposition +of Senator Benton, his daughter had to be secretly married to Lieut. +Fremont in 1841, but soon after the Senator gave his son-in-law the +benefit of his great influence. + +Fremont was designated to conduct surveys across the continent into the +unknown region lying between the Rocky Mountains and the Pacific, and +made several very important explorations. He was in California prior to +the outbreak of the Mexican War, and became involved in hostilities +with the Mexicans. When the war did break out he assumed command of the +country around under authority from Commodore Stockton, and proceeded +to declare the independence of California. A quarrel between him and +Stockton followed, and later another quarrel ensued with Gen. Kearny, +who had been sent into this country in command of an expedition. + + +135 + +He was court-martialed by Gen. Kearny's orders and found guilty of +mutiny, disobedience, and conduct prejudicial to good order and military +discipline. He was sentenced to be dismissed, but the majority of the +court recommended him to the clemency of President Polk, who refused +to approve the verdict of mutiny, but did approve the rest, though +he remitted the penalty. Fremont, refusing to accept the President's +pardon, then resigned from the Army, settled in California, and bought +the famous Mariposa estate, containing rich gold mines. He became a +leader of the Free-Soil Party in California, and was elected to the +Senate for a brief term of three weeks. He was nominated by the first +Republican Convention in Philadelphia, June 17, 1856, and in his letter +of acceptance expressed himself strongly against the extension of +Slavery, and in favor of free labor. The hot campaign of 1856 resulted +in a surprising showing of strength by the new party. Fremont received +114 electoral votes from 11 States to 174 from 19 States for Buchanan +and eight votes from Maryland for Fillmore. The popular vote was 874,000 +for Fillmore, 1,341,000 for Fremont, and 1,838,000 for Buchanan. + +Lyon welcomed the appointment of Fremont to command, because he felt +the need of having a superior officer at hand who would appreciate the +urgency of the situation, and stand between him and the authorities at +Washington, who apparently did not understand the emergency, were not +honoring his requisitions for money, arms, and supplies, and who were +drawing to the eastward the troops that Lyon felt ought to be sent to +him. It was also satisfactory to him that the State of Illinois was +in the Department, since the important point of Cairo should be +administered with reference to controlling the situation in southeastern +Missouri. + + +136 + + +The first distrust of Fremont came from his deliberation in repairing to +his command. The people of Missouri felt very keenly that no time should +be lost in the General arriving on the spot and getting the situation in +hand, but in spite of all importunities, Fremont lingered for weeks +in New York, and it required a rather sharp admonition from the War +Department to start him for St. Louis, where he arrived as late as July +25. + +Lyon's prompt advance upon Jefferson City now bore fruit in another +direction. The Union people of Missouri decided that as Gov. Jackson, +Lieut-Gov. Reynolds and other State officials had abandoned the State +Capital to engage in active rebellion against the United States, the +State Convention, which had been called to carry the State out of the +Union, but which had so signally disappointed the expectations of its +originators, should reconvene, declare the State offices vacant, and +instate a loyal Government A strong party desired that a Military +Governor should be appointed, and urged Col. Frank P. Blair for that +place, but he refused to countenance the project. The Convention, by a +vote of 56 to 25, declared the offices of Governor, Lieutenant-Governor +and Secretary of State vacant, and elected Hamilton R. Gamble Governor, +Willard P. Hall Lieutenants Governor, Mordecai Oliver Secretary of +State, and George A. Bingham Treasurer. An oath of loyalty was adopted +to be required of all citizens before being allowed to vote, and to be +taken by all incumbents of office and all who should be qualified for +office thereafter. + + +137 + +Gov. Jackson established his Capital at Lamar, in Barton County, about +30 miles south of the Osage, and the men who had been appointed to +command the Militia Districts began to come in with their contingents. +None seemed to know about the flanking columns which had been sent out +toward Springfield, to take the line of the Osage in the rear, and they +were astounded when forces under Sweeny and Sigel, which had dispersed +the gathering Militia before them at Holla, Lebanon, and other +intervening points, reached Springfield, and began sending out from +there expeditions to Neosho, Ozark, Sarcoxie and other towns in the +southwestern corner. Col. Franz Sigel, who had shown much activity and +enterprise, learned at Sarcoxie that several divisions of State Guards +under Gens. Rains, Parsons, Slack and Clark were to the north of him, +and the Governor and Gen. Price were endeavoring to bring them together +in order to turn upon and crush Gen. Lyon in his advance from Boonville. +Sigel's men, who were anxious to accomplish something decisive before +the expiration of their three months' term, brought about a decision +in their commander's mind to march upon the force encamped upon Pool's +Prairie, whip and scatter it, and then attack the other forces in turn. + + +138 + +After making the necessary detachments to guard his flanks and rear, +Col. Sigel had under his command nine companies of the 8d Mo., 550 men +under Lieut.-Col. Hassendeubel; seven companies of the 5th Mo., under +Col. Charles E. Salomon, 400 men, and two batteries of light artillery, +four guns each, under Maj. Backof. + +After a hard day's march of 22 miles in very hot weather, Col. Sigel +came, on the evening of July 4, about one mile southeast of Carthage, +on the south side of Spring River. He made preparations to attack the +enemy, reported to be from 10 to 15 miles in his front. + +That night Gov. Jackson received news of Sigel's advance, and gathered +his forces to resist him. He had already concentrated many more men than +Sigel had expected, and had with him seven pieces of artillery. Most +of his men carried the arms which they had brought from home, and +were arranged, according to the provisions in the Military Bill, into +divisions, of which there were no less than four present. The Second +Division, commanded by Brig.-Gen. James S. Rains, who afterward attained +much reputation in the Confederate army, had present 1,208 infantry and +artillery and 608 cavalry. The Third Division, commanded by Gen. John B. +Clark, also to attain eminence in the Confederate army, had 365 +present. The Fourth Division, commanded by Gen. Wm. Y. Slack, later +a Brigadier-General in the Confederate army, had 500 cavalry and 700 +infantry. The Sixth Division, commanded by Gen. Monroe M. Parsons, who +served with distinction throughout the war, had altogether about 1,000 +men and four pieces of artillery. The official returns show that Gov. +Jackson had thus 4,375 men with seven guns to oppose something over +1,000 men with eight guns under Col. Sigel. The Union force was strong in +artillery, while the Confederates were powerful in cavalry, of which +the Unionists had none. Both sides were poorly supplied with ammunition, +especially for the cannon, and loaded these with railroad spikes, bits +of trace chains, etc. + + +139 + +Early on the morning of July 5 Sigel marched out of camp, crossing the +Spring River about one mile north of Carthage, and soon came upon an +open prairie. He advanced slowly and cautiously along the Lamar Road, +with his wagons under a small escort following a mile or so in the rear. +Nine miles north of Carthage and three miles north of Coon Creek he came +in sight of the Governor's troops drawn up in line of battle on a slight +rise of the prairie, and about one mile and a half away. The enemy's +skirmish line, which was under the command of Capt. J. O. Shelby, of +whom we shall hear much more later, opened fire on Sigel's advance, but +was soon driven across the creek and through the narrow strip of timber +less than one-half mile wide, followed by Sigel's men in line of battle. +They came out on the smooth prairie, covered with a fine growth of +grass, and offering unequalled facilities for manuvering, except that +from the ridge Sigel's line could be accurately observed and its numbers +known. + +Sigel formed his line of battle within a half mile of the enemy's +position, distributed his artillery along it, then ordered an advance, +and opened the battle with a fire from his guns, which was promptly +responded to by the enemy's pieces. The distance was so close that +the Union guns could fire canister and shell very effectively; but the +enemy, perceiving that Sigel had no cavalry, sent out their numerous +mounted force on a flank movement, which soon compelled the retirement +of the line across the creek, where the battle was renewed and +maintained for two hours, during which time the enemy suffered some loss +from the artillery fire. + + +140 + +Again the enemy made a flank movement with their cavalry, reaching this +time back toward the baggage-train, to which Sigel retreated. The Union +men broke up the cavalry formation, and Sigel followed this with a +charge which scattered his enemies and enabled him to continue his +retreat unmolested across the prairie in full sight of his foes. Sigel +could also see the rallied cavalry making a wide circuit over the +prairie to gain the hights of Spring River and cut off his retreat Gen. +Rains, who led this movement, succeeded in reaching the road at Spring +River, but in coming up Sigel at once attacked with his artillery, and +after a brisk little engagement of half an hour drove the enemy out of +the woods, and marched on to Carthage, which he reached about 5 o'clock, +and there prepared to give a short rest to his men, who were worn out by +18 miles of marching under a hot sun and almost continual fighting +and manuvering. The Secessionists renewed their attack, but were again +driven off by the infantry and artillery, and the march was resumed. + +Again Gens. Slack, Parsons, and Clark pushed their men forward on the +Union flank, while Rains renewed his attack, and again they were all +repulsed, largely by the skillful handling of the artillery. As darkness +came on the Secessionists disappeared, but Sigel moved on to Sarcoxie, +12 miles distant, and went into camp. + + +141 + +Gov. Jackson's forces camped in and around Carthage, and the next day +marched to Neosho, where they met Gen. Ben McCulloch coming up from +Arkansas with a force of Arkansans and Texans and also 1,700 of the +State Guards, which Gen. Price had brought forward. In the fighting the +Union side had lost 13 killed and 21 wounded. The Confederates report +74 killed and wounded in the four divisions under the command of Gov. +Jackson. + +[Illustration: 141-Sigel Crossing the Osage] + +The battle of Carthage produced a great sensation over the country, +the Confederates rejoicing that they had cut through the Union line +and forced it to retreat, while Sigel received unstinted praise for his +skillful retreat and the masterly handling of his artillery. While one +battery would hold the enemy in check, another would be placed at the +most advantageous position in the rear, where it would withdraw behind +it to repeat the manuver. Several times during the day the batteries +were cunningly masked, and the enemy rushed up to the muzzle, to receive +the death-dealing discharge full in the faces of the compact mass. + + +142 + +This brings Gen. Sigel prominently before us. Of the many +highly-educated Germans who had migrated to this country in consequence +of their connection with the Revolution of 1848, Franz Sigel had, far +and away, the most brilliant reputation as a soldier. A slight, dark, +nervous man, with a rather saturnine countenance, he was born at +Zinsheim, Baden, Nov. 18, 1824, and was therefore in his 37th year. He +graduated from the Military School at Carlsruhe with high promise, which +he filled by becoming one of the Chief Adjutants in the Grand Duke's +army. He ardently shared the aspirations of the young Germans for German +Unity, and resigned his commission in 1847 to become one of the leaders +in the revolutionary forces. He was appointed to chief command of the +army sent from the Grand-Duchy to the assistance of the revolutionists +in Hesse-Darmstadt, but a disagreement arose, another was appointed to +the command, and Sigel assumed the position of Minister of War. Upon the +defeat of the expedition by the Prussian forces, he resumed the chief +command of the demoralized men, and conducted a brilliantly successful +retreat to a place of safety in the fortress of Rastadt. This +achievement at the age of 24 seemed to stamp the character of his +military career. + + +143 + +At the collapse of the revolution he escaped to Switzerland, which +expelled him, and he then came to New York, where he supported himself +as a teacher of mathematics, later engaging in the same occupation in +St. Louis, where he was living when the war broke out, and rendered +invaluable service in organizing and leading the Germans in support of +Blair and Lyon. + +Unfortunately for his reputation, the war upon which he had now entered +was to be carried on by stern aggressiveness, to which he seemed +unsuited. He had a strong hold on the affections of the Germans, whose +support of the Union was exceedingly valuable, and in spite of repeated +failures to satisfy the expectations of his superior officers, he was +promoted and given high commands, in all of which his misfortune was +the same. After Rastadt he seemed bent only upon conducting brilliant +retreats, and that from Carthage greatly helped to confirm this +tendency. He was finally relegated to the shelf, which contained so many +men who had started out with brilliant promise, and died in New York +in 1902, supported during his later years by a pension of $100 a month +granted him by Congress. + +After resting his men a few hours at Sarcoxie, Sigel marched on to +Springfield, where Gen. Sweeny was, and to which point Gen. Lyon hurried +with all the force he could gather, to forestall the junction of Gen. +Ben McCulloch's Arkansas column with the force that Price and Jackson +would bring to him. + + +144 + +There was strong need of his presence there and of his utmost efforts. +He had rolled back the Secession tide only to have it gather volume +enough to completely submerge him. Not only had Gov. Jackson and +Sterling Price concentrated many more men than he had, but a still +stronger column composed of Arkansans and Texans under the noted Gen. +Ben. McCulloch was near at hand and pushing forward with all speed. + +Benjamin McCulloch, a tall, bony, sinewy man of iron will and dauntless +courage, was easily a leader and master of the bold, aggressive spirits +who had wrested Texas away from Mexico and erected her into a great +State. He had achieved much reputation in the command of the Texan +Rangers during the Mexican War and in the Indian fights which succeeded +that struggle. As a soldier and a fighter he had the highest fame of +any living Texan, except Sam Houston, and when he espoused the cause of +Secession he drew after him many thousands of the adventurous, +daring young men of the State. The Confederate army had immediately +commissioned him a Brigadier-General, and he had set about organizing, +with his accustomed energy and enterprise, a strong column for +aggressive service west of the Mississippi. Warlike young leaders, +ambitious for distinction, hastened to join him with whatever men they +could raise, for such was their confidence that they felt his banner +would point to the most direct road to fame and glory. Many of these, +then Captains and Colonels, afterward rose to be Generals in the +Confederate army. He had proposed to the Confederate Government to aid +the situation in Virginia by active operations in Missouri, and to this +plan the Governors of Louisiana, Texas, and Arkansas gave their hearty +consent and co-operation. McCulloch had another motive for aggressive +action, as it would determine the position of the Indians. + +[Illustration: 145-Genereal Henry W. Halleck] + + +145 + +The wisest among the Chiefs of the Cherokees, Chickasaws, Creeks and +Seminoles desired to remain neutral in the struggle, since they did not +wish to bring down upon them the wrath of the Kansas people, who +were within easy striking distance. By prompt action these wavering +aborigines could be brought into the Confederate ranks and be made to +render important assistance. + +He had already crossed the Missouri line with 3,000 mounted men, and on +the night of the 4th of July came to Buffalo Creek, 12 miles southwest +of Neosho, where he was joined by Gen. Price with 1,700 mounted men, and +he sent urgent messages back to the rest of his men to hurry forward +to him. These were so well obeyed that he shortly had, independent of +Price's men, fully 5,000 men from Arkansas, Texas, and Louisiana, who +were better equipt and organized than the Missourians. + +Gov. Jackson and Gen. Price also sent urgent messages for concentration, +which were as promptly responded to. The result was that there were +shortly assembled Confederates under Gen. McCulloch and "State Guards" +under Gov. Jackson and Gen. Price, a total estimated by Maj. Sturgis and +others at 23,-000 men. For lack of proper arms and organization, many +of these were not very effective. McCulloch says that the great horde of +mounted men "were much in the way," and hindered rather than helped +But they were certainly very effective in harrying the Union people; in +impressing recruits; in embarrassing Lyon's gathering of supplies; in +driving in the small parties he sent out, and confining his operations +to the neighborhood of Springfield. + + +146 + +In the meanwhile the great disaster of Bull Run had occurred to depress +the Union people and fill the Secessionists with unbounded enthusiasm +and confidence. The thoughts of the Government and of the loyal +people of the country became concentrated upon securing the safety of +Washington. Troops were being rushed from every part of the country to +the National Capital. Lyon's forces were constantly dwindling, from +the expiration of the three months for which the regiments had been +enlisted. The men felt the need of their presence at home, to attend +to their hastily-left affairs, and could see no prospect of a decisive +battle as a reason for remaining. Gen. Lyon importuned Gen. Fremont and +the War Department for some regiments, for adequate supplies for those +he had, and money with which to pay them. The War Department, however, +could apparently think of nothing else than making Washington safe, +while Gen. Fremont, deeming St. Louis and Cairo all-important, gathered +in what troops he could save from the eastward rush, for holding those +places. Gen. Scott even proposed to deprive Gen. Lyon of his little +squad of Regulars, and sent orders for seven companies to be forwarded +East. + +Laboring with all these embarrassments, Gen. Lyon confronted the storm +rising before him with a firm countenance. + + +147 + + + +CHAPTER IX. EVE OF THE BATTLE OF WILSON'S CREEK + +Mountainous perplexities and burdens weighed upon Gen. Lyon during the +last days of July. + +The country was hysterical over the safety of the National Capital, and +it seemed that the Administration was equally emotional. Every regiment +and gun was being rushed to the heights in front of Washington, and all +eyes were fixed on the line of the Potomac. + +The perennial adventurer in Gen. Fremont did not fail to suggest to him +that the greatest of opportunities might develop in Washington, and he +lingered in New York until peremptorily ordered by Gen. Scott to his +command. He did not arrive in St. Louis until July 25. + +Like Seward, Chase, McClellan, and many other aspiring men, Fremont +had little confidence that the untrained Illinois Rail Splitter in the +Presidential chair would be able to keep his head above the waves in the +sea of troubles the country had entered. The disaster at Bull Run was +but the beginning of a series of catastrophes which would soon call for +a stronger brain and a more experienced hand at the helm. + +Then? + + +148 + +Mrs. Jessie Benton Fremont was not the only one to suggest that the man +for the hour would be found to be the first Republican candidate for +President--the Great Pathfinder of the Rocky Mountains! + +Upon his arrival at St Louis Gen. Fremont was immediately waited upon by +the faithful Chester Harding and others who had been awaiting his coming +with painful anxiety. They represented most energetically Gen. Lyon's +predicament, without money, clothing or rations, and with a force even +more rapidly diminishing than that of the enemy was augmenting. They +revealed Gen. Lyon's far-reaching plans of making Springfield a base +from which to carry the war into Arkansas, and begged for men, money, +arms, food; shoes and clothing for him. + +Fremont was too much engrossed in forming in the Brant Mansion that +vice-regal court of his--the main requirement for which seemed to be +inability to speak English--to feel the urgency of these importunities. + +The country was swarming with military adventurers from Europe, men with +more or less shadow on their connection with the foreign armies, and +eager to sell their swords to the highest advantage. They swarmed around +Fremont like bees around a sugar barrel, much to the detriment of the +honest and earnest men of foreign birth who were rallying to the support +of the Union. + +Next to his satrapal court of exotic manners and speech, Fremont was +most concerned about the safety of Cairo, Ill., a most important +point, then noisily threatened by Maj.-Gen. Leonidas Polk, the militant +Protestant Episcopal Bishop of Louisiana, and his subordinate, the +blatant Gen. Gideon J. Pillow, of Mexican War notoriety. + + +149 + +Gen. Fremont made quite a show of reinforcing Cairo, sending a most +imposing fleet of steamboats to carry the 4,000 troops sent thither. + +Pretense still counted for much in the war. Later it burnt up like dry +straw in the fierce blaze of actualities. + +Not being Fremont's own, nor contributing particularly to his +aggrandizement, Gen. Lyon's plans and aims had little importance to his +Commanding General. + +Gen. Lyon saw clearly that the place to fight for St. Louis and Missouri +was in the neighborhood of Springfield, and by messenger and letter he +importuned that St. Louis be left to the care of the loyal Germans of +the Home Guards, who had shown their ability to handle the city, and +that all the other troops there and elsewhere in the State be rushed +forward to him, with shoes and clothing for his unshod, ragged soldiers, +and sufficient rations for the army, which had well-nigh exhausted the +country upon which it had been living for so long. + +But Fremont frittered away his strength in sending regiments to chase +guerrilla bands which dissolved as soon as the trail became too hot. + +Two regiments were ordered to Lyon from points so distant that they +could not make the march in less than 10 days or a fortnight, and some +scanty supplies sent to Rolla remained there because of lack of wagons +to carry them forward to Springfield, 120 miles away. + + +150 + +Later Gen. Fremont testified before the Committee on the Conduct of the +War that he had ordered Gen. Lyon, if he could not maintain himself at +Springfield, to fall back to Rolla, but singularly he did not produce +this order. + +Though Gen. Lyon had marched his men 50 miles in one day to prevent the +junction of Gen. Ben Mc-Culloch's Arkansas column with the hosts Gen. +Sterling Price was gathering from Missouri, he was not able to interpose +between them. + +On Saturday, Aug. 3, the Confederates had all gotten together on the +banks of Crane Creek, 55 miles southwest of Springfield, with general +headquarters in and around the village of Cassville. + +How many were concentrated is subject to the same obscurity which +usually envelops Confederate numbers. Lyon estimated there were 30,000. +Later estimates by competent men put the number at 23,000. Gen. Snead, +Price's Adjutant-General, put the number at 11,000, which would be a +severe reflection on the loyalty of the Missouri Secessionists to their +Governor, since Gen. McCulloch certainly brought up about 5,000 from +Arkansas, which would leave only 6,000 to respond to Gov. Jackson's +proclamation, and gather under the standards set up by his seven +Brigadier-Generals--Parsons, Rains, Slack, J. B. Clark, M. L. Clark, +Watkins and Randolph. + +While Lyon had incomparable troubles, there was far from concord in the +camp of his opponents. Like thousands of other men, McCulloch's ambition +far transcended his abilities. He at once assumed the attitude that as a +Brigadier-General in the Confederate army he out-ranked Sterling Price, +who was a Major-General of state troops. This, at that early period +of the war, was a humorous reversal of the State Sovereignty idea, so +flagrant in the minds of those precipitating Secession. + + +151 + +Jefferson Davis and his school of thought had been fierce in their +contention that the part was greater than the whole, and that the +States were greater than the General Government. Yet Gen. McCulloch +was unflinching in his insistence that a Confederate Brigadier-General +outranked a State Major-General. The dispute became quite acrimonious, +but was at last settled by Price's yielding to McCulloch, so anxious was +he that something decisive should be done toward driving back Lyon and +"redeeming the State of Missouri." According to Gen. Thomas L. Snead, +his Chief of Staff, he went to Gen. McCulloch's quarters on Sunday +morning, Aug. 4, and after vainly trying to persuade McCulloch to attack +Lyon, he said: + + "I am an older man than you, Gen. McCulloch, and I am not + only your senior in rank now, but I was a Brigadier-General + in the Mexican War, with an independent command, when you + were only a Captain; I have fought and won more battles + than you have ever witnessed; my force is twice as great as + yours; and some of my officers rank, and have seen more + service than you, and we are also upon the soil of our own + State; but, Gen. McCulloch, if you will consent to help us + to whip Lyon and to repossess Missouri, I will put myself + and all my forces under your command, and we will obey you + as faithfully as the humblest of your own men. We can whip + Lyon, and we will whip him and drive the enemy out of + Missouri, and all the honor and all the glory shall be + yours, All that we want is to regain our homes and to + establish the independence of Missouri and the South. If you + refuse to accept this offer, I will move with the + Missourians alone against Lyon; for it is better that they + and I should all perish than Missouri be abandoned without a + struggle. You must either fight beside us or look on at a + safe distance and see us fight all alone the army which you + dare not attack even with our aid. I must have your answer + before dark, for I intend to attack Lyon tomorrow." + + +152 + +Gen. McCulloch replied that he was expecting dispatches from the East, +but would make known his determination before sundown. At that time, +accompanied by Gen. Mcintosh, in whose abilities Gen. McCulloch had +the highest confidence, and was largely influenced by him, he went +to Price's headquarters and informed him that he had just received +dispatches that Gen. Pillow was advancing into the southeastern part of +the State from New Madrid with 12,000 men, and that he would accept the +command of the united forces and attack Lyon. Price at once published an +order that he had turned over the command of the Missouri troops to Gen. +McCulloch, but reserved the right to resume command at any time he might +see fit. + +Their friends in Springfield kept Price and McCulloch well-informed as +to Lyon's diminishing force and perplexities. + +Brilliant as McCulloch may have been in command of 100 or so men, he was +clearly unequal to the leadership of such a host. He was as much feebler +in temper to Lyon as he was inferior in force and grasp to Sterling +Price. + + +153 + +An audacious stroke by Lyon on Friday, Aug. 2, quite unsettled his +nerves. Getting information that his enemies were moving on him by three +different roads, Lyon formed the soldierly determination to move out +swiftly and attack one of the columns and crush it before the other +could come to its assistance. + +Putting Capt. D. S. Stanley--of whom we shall hear much hereafter--at +the head with his troop of Regular cavalry, and following him with a +battalion of Regulars under Capt. Frederick Steele--of whom we shall +also hear a great deal hereafter--and a section of Totten's Regular +Battery, he marched out the Cassville Road with his whole force and at +Dug Springs, 20 miles away, came up with McCulloch's advance, commanded +by Brig.-Gen. J. S. Rains, of the Missouri State Guards, of whom, too, +we shall hear much. Col. Mcintosh, McCulloch's adviser, was also on the +ground with 150 men. + +Rains attempted to put into operation the tactics employed against Sigel +at Carthage, but Steele and Stanley were men of different temper, and +attacked him so savagely as to scatter his force in wild confusion. + +Lyon marched forward to within six miles of the main Confederate +position, and lay there 24 hours, when, not deeming it wise to attack so +far from his base, retired unmolested to Springfield. + +This startling aggressiveness quite overcame Gen. McCulloch, and +the conduct of the Missourians disgusted him. He was strong in his +denunciation of them and quite frank in his reluctance to attack +Gen. Lyon without further information as to "his position and +fortifications," and complained bitterly that he could get no +information as to the "barricades" in Springfield and other positions +he might encounter. He said that "he would not make a blind attack on +Springfield," and "would order the whole army back to Cassville rather +than bring on an engagement with an unknown enemy." + + +154 + +Gen. Price was strenuous in his insistence upon attack, and +finally McCulloch consented to meet all the general officers at his +headquarters. In the council McCulloch was plain in his unwillingness to +engage Lyon or to enter on any aggressive campaign, but Price, seconded +by Gens. Parsons, Bains, Slack and McBride, were most determined that +Lyon should be attacked at once, and declared that if McCulloch +would not do it he would resume command and fight the battle himself. +McCulloch finally yielded, and ordered a forward movement, and on +the morning of Aug. 6 the entire force was in camp along the bank of +Wilson's Creek, about six miles south of Springfield. This position +was taken largely because of its proximity to immense cornfields, which +would supply the troops and animals with food. + +Wilson's Creek, rising in the neighborhood of Springfield, flows west +some five miles, and then runs south nine or 10 miles in order to empty +into the James River, a tributary of White River. Tyrel's Creek and +Skegg's Branch, which have considerable valleys, are tributaries of +Wilson's Creek. Above Skegg's Branch rises a hill, since known as Bloody +Hill, nearly 100 feet high. Its sides are scored with ravines, the rock +comes to the surface in many places, and the hight was thickly covered +with an overgrowth of scrub-oak. There are other eminences and ravines, +generally covered with scrub-oak and undergrowth, and the Confederates +were camped in an irregular line along these for a distance of about +three miles up and down Wilson's Creek, from the extreme right to the +extreme left. Here they remained three days, with the much-disturbed +McCulloch riding out every day with his Maynard rifle slung over his +shoulder for a personal reconnoissance, which, as far as could be judged +from his conversation on his return, was quite unsatisfactory. + + +155 + +He had little stomach for the attack, and naturally found reasons +against it. + +Price and his Generals, on the other hand, were fretting over the delay. +Price's accurate information of Lyon's condition made him sure that Lyon +would do the obvious thing--retreat. It was the warlike thing to do +to attack at once, which had every chance of success. Success meant as +telling a stroke for Secession in the West as Bull Run had been in +the East It would be quite as sensational, for there was no refuge or +rallying point for the beaten Union army short of Rolla, 120 miles away, +and the rough country, cut by innumerable valleys, gorges and streams, +would enable the swarming mounted force to get in its wild work, and not +permit the escape of a man, a gun or a wagon. + +McCulloch, yielding to Price's importunities, ordered the army forward, +and at dawn of Aug. 19 he and Mcintosh were sitting down to breakfast +with Price and Snead, preparatory to leading their forces forward, when +they were startled by their pickets being driven in. McCulloch, who had +hated Rains from Old Army days, and despised him and his Missourians +since the Dug Springs affair, remarked contemptuously, "O, it's only one +of Rains's scares," and turned to his meal. + + +156 + +But the matter instantly became more pressing than breakfast. Gen. +Lyon had returned to Springfield Monday, Aug. 5, to meet an intense +disappointment. Not a thing had been sent to meet his desperate needs. +Fremont had ordered one regiment from Kansas and from the Missouri River +to go forward to him, but they could hardly reach him in less than +a fortnight. There were at that time some 44 regiments in +Missouri--regiments commanded by men whose names afterward shine in +history--U. S. Grant, John Pope, S. A. Hurlbut, John M. Palmer, John +B. Turchin, S. B. Curtis, Morgan L. Smith, O. E. Salomon, John McNeil, +etc.,--but they were kept garrisoning posts, chasing guerrillas, and at +almost everything else than hurrying forward toward him, as they should +have been. + +Two of his regiments--the 3d and 4th Mo.--took their discharge and +started for St. Louis. The 1st Iowa's time was out, but Lyon asked the +men to stay with him a few days longer, and they did to a man. + +Aside from the military reasons for holding Springfield there were +others which appealed to Lyon's mind with equal power. His heart had +bled over the outrages committed by the Secessionists upon the Union +people in that section of the State. The presence of his army was the +only security that the loyal people had that their farms would not +be robbed and themselves murdered. Hundreds of them had gone into +Springfield to be under his protection. How they could be ever gotten +back to a place of safety in retreat was the gravest of problems. Gen. +Schofield, at that time his Adjutant-General, and who disapproved of +fighting the battle of Wilson's Creek, thinks that this consideration +had more weight with him than the military reasons, and induced him to +fight where the judgment of the soldier was against it. + + +157 + +Four anxious days longer Lyon remained at Springfield. He called a +council of his principal officers, and the unanimous decision was that +the army should retreat. + +On Aug. 9 he sent the following letter to Gen. Fremont, the last he ever +wrote: + + General: I retired to this place, as I before informed you, + reaching here on the 5th. The enemy followed to within 10 + miles of here. He has taken a strong position, and is + recruiting his supply of horses, mules, and provisions by + forages Into the surrounding country, his large force of + mounted men enabling him to do this without much annoyance + from me. I find my position extremely embarrassing, and am + at present unable to determine whether I shall be able to + maintain my ground or be forced to retire. I can resist any + attack from the front, but if the enemy move to surround me + I must retire. I shall hold my ground as long as possible, + though I may, without knowing how far, endanger the safety + of my entire force, with its valuable material, being + induced by the valuable considerations involved to take the + step. The enemy showed himself in considerable force + yesterday five miles from here, and has doubtless a full + purpose of attacking me. + + N. LYON, Commanding. + + +168 + +The simple, soldierly dignity of this is pathetic. There is no murmur of +complaint, such as a man treated as he had been was eminently justified +in making. After sending this note, Gen. Lyon received intelligence that +one of his cavalry parties had been attacked by rebel cavalry, but +after a brief fight had beaten them off. He thereupon sent out a +reconnoitering party to learn if the Secessionists had moved forward, +and the party presently returned with two Texan and two Tennesseean +prisoners, from whom Lyon learned for the first time of the junction of +McCulloch's forces and Price's. He at once decided upon a bold stroke. +Everything was prepared as if in readiness for retreat, with the tents +struck and the Quartermaster's and Commissary's stores in the wagons. +Quartermaster Alexis Mudd went to headquarters and asked Gen. Lyon: + +"When do we start back?" + +The General fixed his keen blue eyes upon the Quartermaster and said, +clearly and firmly: + +"When we are whipped back, and not until then." + +An order was at once issued for every man to be prepared to march at 6 +o'clock that evening, without any luggage, and with all the ammunition +he could carry. + +Calling a council of officers, Gen. Lyon announced his intention to move +out and attack the enemy in his chosen position. Gen. Sigel proposed +that he be allowed to take his regiment and Col. Salomon's to move +independently and take the enemy in flank and rear. The other officers +strongly opposed this, while Gen. Lyon withheld his consent, but finally +yielded to Sigel's entreaties and authorized the movement, giving Sigel +1,400 infantry, two companies of cavalry and six pieces of artillery, to +move along the Fayetteville Road until he should reach the right flank +and rear of the enemy, and at daybreak attack them vigorously. + +Lyon was to retain 3,700 men and 10 pieces of artillery and move down +the Mount Vernon Road and attack in the morning on the left front and +flank simultaneously with Sigel's attack on the right. + + +159 + +A force of 250 Home Guards with two pieces of artillery was left at +Springfield to guard the trains and public property. Col. Sigel's column +moved out at 6:30 o'clock in the evening by the left and arrived at +daybreak of the 10th within two miles of the extreme right and rear of +the enemy's camp, where they proceeded to cut off and bring into camp +some 40 stragglers who were out foraging. This was done to prevent their +carrying intelligence into camp. + +Gen. Lyon with the First, Second and Third Brigades, set out about the +same hour, and by 1 o'clock in the morning came within sight of the +enemy's camp-fires, where they halted until morning. Capt. Plummer was +ordered to deploy his battalion to act as skirmishers on the left, while +Maj. Osterhaus did the same on the right with his battalion of the 2d +Mo. + + +160 + + + +CHAPTER X. BATTLE OF WILSON'S CREEK + +If the idea of an attack by Gen. Lyon was remote from Gen. McCulloch's +thoughts, it was entirely absent from those of Gen. Sterling Price. +Gen. Price's mind was concentrated upon the plan to which he had wrung +McCulloch's reluctant consent of advancing that morning upon Lyon in +four columns, and thereby crushing him, probably capturing his army +entire or driving him into a ruinous retreat The first messengers +bringing the news of Lyon's close proximity were received with +contemptuous disbelief by McCulloch, but on their heels came an Aid from +Gen. Rains with the announcement that the fields in front of Rains +were "covered with Yankees, infantry and artillery." This roused all to +soldierly activity. Neither Price nor McCulloch lacked anything of +the full measure of martial courage, and both at once sped to their +respective commands to lead them into action. + +After breaking up the council of war, the previous afternoon, Gen. +Lyon said very little beyond giving from time to time, as circumstances +called, sharp, precise, practical orders. Naturally talkative and +disputatious, he was, when action was demanded, brief, sententious, and +sparing of any words but what the occasion demanded. He had carefully +thought out his plan of march and battle to the last detail--determined +exactly what he and every subordinate, every regiment and battery +should do, and his directions to them were clear, concise, prompt and +unmistakable. + +[Illustration: 165-Battlefield of Wilson's Creek] + + +161 + +He rode with Maj. Schofield, his Chief of Staff, to the place where they +halted about midnight in sight of the rebel campfires and slept with +him in the brief bivouac under the same blanket. To Schofield he seemed +unusually depressed. The only words he said, beyond necessary orders, +were almost as if talking to himself: + +"I would give my life for a victory." + +Again, in response to Schofield's discreet criticism of the wisdom of +dividing his forces and giving Sigel an independent command, he said +briefly: + +"It is Sigel's plan." + +Sige's theoretical knowledge of war and his experience were then felt to +be so overshadowing to everybody else's as to estop criticism. + +The men of Lyon's little army lay down on their grassy bivouac with +feelings of tensest expectation. With the exception of the few of the +Regulars who had been in the Mexican and Indian wars, not one of them +had ever heard a gun fired in anger. They had been talking battle for +three months. Now it was upon them, but none of them could realize how +sharp would be the combat, nor how exceedingly well they were going to +acquit themselves. + +At the first streak of dawn Lyon was up--all activity and +anticipation--to open the battle. He had wisely selected the two men who +were to strike the first blows. + + +162 + +Capt. Jos. B. Plummer, who commanded the Regulars deployed as +skirmishers on the left, and who sun should set, was a man after Lyon's +own heart He was strongly in favor of the battle, and afterward defended +it as the wisest thing to do under the circumstances. He was born in +Massachusetts, and had graduated in 1841 in the same class with Lyon +and Totten, whose battery was to do magnificent service, and avenge the +insults and humiliations of Little Rock. Rummer's standing in his class +was 22, where Lyon's was 11 and Totten's 25. He had been in garrison in +Vera Cruz during the Mexican War, and so had escaped getting the brevets +"for gallant and meritorious conduct" which had been so freely bestowed +on all who had been "present" at any engagement, but had reached the +rank of Captain in 1862, a year later than Capt Lyon. He was to rise +to Colonel of the 11th Mo. and Brigadier-General of Volunteers, and +everywhere display vigor and capacity in important commands, but to have +his career cut short by his untimely death near Corinth, Miss., Aug. +9,1862, at the age of 43 years. Maj. Peter Joseph Osterhaus, who +commanded the two companies of his regiment--the 2d Mo.--deployed on +the right, was the best soldier in that wonderful immigration of bright, +educated, enthusiastic young Germans who took refuge in this country +after the failure of the Revolution of 1848. At least, he was tried +longer in large commands, and rose to a higher rank than any of them. +Sigel and Carl Schurz became, like him, Major-Generals of Volunteers, +but his service was regarded as much higher than theirs, and he was +esteemed as one of the best division and corps commanders in the Army of +the Tennessee. After long service as a division commander he commanded +the Fifteenth Corps on the March to the Sea. He was born in Prussia, +educated as a soldier, took part in the Revolution, migrated to this +country, and was invaluable to Lyon in organizing the Home Guards among +the Germans to save the Arsenal He still lives, a specially honored +veteran, at Mannheim, in Prussia. + + +163 + +Capt. Jas. Totten, whose battery was placed in the center, was to win a +Lieutenant-Colonel's brevet for his splendid service during the day, but +got few honors during the rest of the war. He became a Brigadier-General +of Missouri Militia, and received the complimentary brevets of Colonel +and Brigadier-General when they were generally handed round on March 13, +1865, but his unfortunate habits caused his dismissal from the Army in +1870. He was then Lieutenant-Colonel and Assistant Inspector-General. + +There were many men among Lyon's subordinates whose conduct during the +day brought them prominence and started them on the way to distinction. + +Maj. Samuel D. Sturgis, of the 4th U. S. Cav., a Pennsylvanian, who was +that day to win the star of a Brigadier-General of Volunteers, and +who commanded the First Brigade, afterward rose to the command of a +division, fought with credit at Second Manassas, South Mountain and +Fredericksburg, for which he received brevets, and was overwhelmingly +defeated, while in command of an independent expedition, by Forrest, +at Guntown, Miss., June 10, 1864, and passed into retirement. He became +Colonel of the 7th U. S. Cav. after the war. He was a graduate of West +Point in 1882. + + +164 + +Lieut-Col. I. F. Shepard, who was Lyon's Aid, became a Brigadier-General +of Volunteers. + +Maj. John M. Schofield, Lyon's Adjutant-General, has been spoken of +elsewhere. + +Capt Gordon Granger, 3d U. S. Cav., a New Yorker and a graduate of the +class of 1841, was Lyon's Assistant Adjutant-General, and won a brevet +for his conduct that day. He was a man of far more than ordinary +abilities--many pronounced him a great soldier, and said that only his +unbridled tongue prevented him rising higher than he did. He became +a Major-General and a Corps Commander, led the troops to Thomas's +assistance at the critical moment at Chickamauga, but fell under the +displeasure of Sherman, who relieved him. He afterward commanded the +army which captured Forts Gaines and Morgan, and received the surrender +of Mobile. + +Capt Frederick Steele, 2d U. S., Gen. Grant's classmate and lifelong +friend, who had won brevets in Mexico, commanded a battalion of two +companies. He was to become Colonel of the 8th Iowa, Brigadier and +Major-General, and render brilliant service at Vicksburg and in +Arkansas. + +Maj. John A. Halderman, 1st Kan., who succeeded to the command of +the regiment when Col. Deitzler was wounded, was commended by all his +superior officers, for his handsome conduct. He had been appointed +by Gen. Lyon Provost Marshal-General of the Western Army, and was +afterwards commissioned a Major-General. He entered the diplomatic +service under President Grant; became Minister to Siam, and was praised +all over the world for his success in bringing that country into touch +with civilization. + + +165 + +Lieut.-Col. G. L. Andrews, who in the absence of Col. F. P. Blair, +commanded the 1st Mo., was a Rhode Island man, who afterward entered the +Regular Army, fought creditably through the war, and in 1892 was retired +as a Colonel. + +In the 1st Mo. was Capt. Nelson Cole, who was severely wounded. He +served through the war, rose to be a Colonel, became Senior Vice +Commander-in-Chief of the Grand Army of the Republic, and was a +Brigadier-General of Volunteers in the war with Spain. + +In the 1st Kan. were Col. Geo. W. Detzler, who later became a +Brigadier-General; Capt. Powell Clayton, who was to become a Colonel, +Brigadier-General, Governor of Arkansas, Senator, and Embassador to +Mexico, and Capt. Daniel McCook, who was to become Brigadier-General, +and fall at Kene-saw. + +In the 2d Kan. were Col. Robert B. Mitchell, of Ohio, who rose to be +Brigadier-General and did gallant service in the Army of the Cumberland; +Maj. Charles W. Blair, who became a Brigadier-General, and Capt. Samuel +J. Crawford, who became a Colonel, a brevet Brigadier-General, and +Governor of Kansas. + +In the 1st Iowa were Lieut.-Col. W. H. Merritt, a New Yorker, who +commanded the regiment and afterwards became a Colonel on the staff, and +Capt. Francis J. Herron, who became a Major-General of Volunteers and +commanded a division at Prairie Grove, Vicksburg, and in Texas. + + +166 + +There were very many in these regiments serving as privates and +non-commissioned officers who afterwards made fine records as +commanders of companies and regiments and became distinguished in +civil life. Taken altogether, Lyon's army was an unusually fine body of +fighting men. The Iowa and Kansas men were ardent, enthusiastic youths, +accustomed to the use of the gun, and who hunted their enemies as they +did the wild beasts they had to encounter. They were free from the +superstition inculcated in the Eastern armies that the soldier's duty +was to stand up in the open and be shot at. When it was necessary to +stand up they stood up gallantly, but at other times they took advantage +of every protection and lay behind any rock or trunk of tree in wait for +the enemy to come within easy range, and then fired with fatal effect. + +The older Regulars trained to Indian fighting were equally effective, +and speedily brought the mass of recruits associated with them into +similar efficiency. + +Nowhere else at that early period of the war was the fire of the Union +soldiers so deliberate and deadly as at Wilson's Creek. + +The Confederates had no pickets out--not even camp-guards. They had +been marched and countermarched severely for days, and were resting +preparatory to advancing that morning on Springfield. Many were at +breakfast, many others starting out to get material for breakfast in the +neighboring fields. Rains's Division was the most advanced, and Rains +reports that he discovered the enemy when about three miles from camp, +and that he put his Second Brigade--mounted men commanded by Col. +Caw-thorn, of the 4th Mo.--into line to resist the advance. He says that +the brigade maintained its position all day, which does not agree with +the other accounts of the battle. + + +167 + +Before Gen. Lyon--a mile and a half away--rose the eminence, afterward +known as "Bloody Hill," which overlooked the encampment of the +Confederates along Wilson's Creek, and on which substantially all the +fighting was to take place. From it the Confederate trains were in short +reach, and the rout of the enemy could be secured. Its central position, +however, made it easy to concentrate troops for its defense and bring up +reinforcements. + +Capt. Plummer sent forward Capt. C. C. Gilbert, 1st U. S., with his +company to guard the left of the advance, cross Wilson's Creek, and +engage the right of the enemy. Capt. Gilbert was a soldier of fine +reputation, who was to win much credit on subsequent fields; to rise to +the rank of Brigadier-General and the brief command of a corps, and then +to fall under the displeasure of his commanding officers. Capt. Gilbert +moved forward rapidly until he came to Wilson's Creek, where his +skirmishers were stopped by swamps and jungles of brushwood, when Capt. +Plummer caught up with him, and the whole battalion finally crossed +the creek and advanced into a cornfield, easily driving away the first +slight force that attempted to arrest them. + +In the meanwhile quite a number of the enemy was discovered assembling +on the crest of the ridge, and Gen. Lyon forming the 1st Mo. into line +sent them forward on the right to engage these, while the 1st Kan. came +up on the left and opened a brisk fire, with Totten's battery in the +center, which also opened fire. + + +168 + +This was about 10 minutes past 5, when the battle may be said to +have fairly opened. The 1st Iowa and the 2d Kan., with Capt. Steele's +battalion of Regulars, were held in reserve. Rains's Missourians +responded pluckily to the fire, and Gen. Price began rushing up +assistance to them until he says that he had over 2,000 men on the +ridge. The 1st Kan. and the 1st Mo. pressed resolutely forward, +delivering their fire at short range, and after a sharp contest of 20 +minutes the Missourians gave way and fled down the hill. + +There was a brief lull, in which the Union men were encouraged by +hearing Sigel's artillery open two miles away, on the other flank of +the enemy, and Lyon found his line preparatory to pushing forward and +striking the trains. Already there were symptoms of panic there, and +some of the wagons were actually in flames. + +Gen. Rains soon succeeded in rallying his men. + +Gens. Slack, McBride, Parsons and Clark rushed to his assistance with +what men they could hastily assemble, and Gen. Price led them forward in +a line covering Gen. Lyon's entire front. Both sides showed an earnest +disposition to come to close quarters, and a fierce fight lasting for +perhaps half an hour followed. Sometimes portions of the Union troops +were thrown into temporary disorder, but they only fell back a few +yards, when they would rally and return to the field. The enemy strove +to reach the crest of the ridge and drive the Union troops back, but +were repulsed, while the Union troops, following them to the foot of the +ridge, were driven back to the crest. + + +169 + +The Confederates brought up a battery, which, however, was soon silenced +by the fire concentrated upon it from Totten's battery and that of +Lieut. Du Bois. In the meanwhile Capt. Plummer had been pushing his +Regulars thru the corn and oat fields toward the battery which he wanted +to take, and was within 200 yards of it when Capt. Mcintosh, an officer +of the Old Army, and now Adjutant-General for McCulloch, saw the danger +and rushed up the 3d La. and the 2d Ark. against Plummer's left The +Regulars made a stubborn resistance for a few minutes, but their line +was enveloped by the long line of the two regiments, and they fell back +with considerable haste across the creek toward Totten's battery. + +Mcintosh saw his advantage and pursued it to the utmost, sending his +Louisianians and Arkansans forward on the double-quick to prevent +Plummer from rallying. The watchful DuBois saw the trouble the Regulars +were in, and turning his guns upon his pursuers enfiladed them with +canister and shell with such effect that they in turn ran, and were +rallied by Mcintosh behind a little log house, into which DuBois put a +couple of shells and sent them further back. + +By this time the battle was two hours old and the roar of the conflict +died down, except on the extreme right, where the 1st Mo. was still +having a bitter struggle with a superior force of fresh troops with +which Price was endeavoring to turn the Union right flank. + + +170 + +Gen. Lyon, who had watched every phase of the battle closely, ordered +Capt. Totten to move part of his battery to the support of the 1st +Mo., but as the Captain was about to open he was restrained by seeing +a regiment advancing to within a distance of about 200 yards, carrying +both a Federal and a Confederate flag. It was the direction from which +Sigel had been anxiously expected, and as the uniform of the advancing +regiment was similar to that of Sigel's men, both the infantry and the +artillery withheld their fire until the enemy revealed his character by +a volley, when Capt Totten opened all his guns upon them with canister +and inflicted great slaughter. + +Capt Cary Gratz, of the 1st Mo., was so indignant at this treachery that +he dashed out and shot down the man who was carrying the Union flag, +only to be shot down himself almost immediately afterwards by several +bullets from the Confederates. The 2d Kan. was also hurried forward to +support the 1st Mo. Capt Steele's battalion was brought up and the +1st Iowa was sent in to relieve the 1st Kan., which had suffered quite +severely and was nearly out of ammunition. + +The battle was renewed with much greater fierceness than ever, the +Confederates advancing in three or four ranks, lying down, kneeling, +standing, sometimes getting within 30 or 40 yards of the Union line +before they were forced back. + +Gen. Lyon was everywhere where his presence was needed to encourage the +troops, rally them, and bring them back into line. His horse was shot, +and he received a wound in the head and one on the ankle. He continued +to walk along the line, but he was evidently much depressed by the way +in which Price and McCulloch succeeded in bringing forward fresh troops +to replace those which had been driven from the field. He said to +Maj. Schofield sadly, "I fear the day is lost." Schofield replied +encouragingly, dismounted one of his orderlies and gave the horse to +Lyon, when they separated, each to lead a regiment It was now 9 o'clock, +or little after, and there was a lull in the fight, during which +time the enemy seemed to be reorganizing his force, and Lyon began +concentrating his into a more compact form on the crest of the ridge. + + +171 + +Capt. Sweeny called Lyon's attention to his wounds, but Lyon answered +briefly, "It is nothing." + +Schofield moved off to rally a portion of the 1st Iowa, which showed +a disposition to break under the terrific fire, and lead it back into +action. Gen. Lyon rode for a moment or two with the file closers on the +right of the 1st Iowa, and then turned toward the 2d Kan., which was +moved forward under the lead of Col. Mitchell. In a few moments the +Colonel fell, wounded, and Gen. Lyon shouted to the regiment to come on, +that he would lead them. The next instant, almost, a bullet pierced his +breast and he fell dead. Lehman, his faithful orderly, was near him when +he fell, and rushed to his assistance, raising a terrible outcry, +which some of the officers near promptly quieted lest it discourage the +troops. + +After a bitter struggle of fully half an hour the Confederates were +driven back all along the line, and the battle ceased for a little +while. The Confederates retired so completely that it looked as if the +battle was won, and Maj. Schofield, finding Maj. Sturgis, informed him +that he was in command, and the principal officers were hastily gathered +together for a consultation. The first and most anxious inquiry of all +was as to what had become of Sigel. It was all-important to know that. +If a junction could be formed with him the army could advance and drive +the enemy completely from the field. + + +172 + +Sigel had crossed Wilson's Creek and come into line within easy range +of McCulloch's headquarters, where Capt Shaeffer opened with his battery +upon a large force of Arkansan, Texan and Missourian troops who were +engaged in getting breakfast. They were so demoralized by the awful +storm of shells that at least one regiment--Col. Greer's of Texas--did +not recover its composure during the day, and took little if any part in +the rest of the engagement. + +Col. Churchill succeeded in rallying his Arkansas regiment, but before +he could return and engage Sigel he received urgent orders to hurry over +to the right and help drive back Lyon. Sigel's men moved forward into +the deserted camp, but unfortunately broke ranks and began plundering +it. + +McCulloch had rushed over to his headquarters in time to meet the +fugitives, and by great exertions succeeded in rallying about 2,000 men, +with whom he attacked Sigel's disorganized men in the camps, and +drove them out. Sigel succeeded in rallying a portion of his men, when +McCulloch advanced upon them with a regiment the uniforms of which were +so like that of the volunteers under Lyon that his men could not be +persuaded that it was not a portion of Lyon's troops advancing to their +assistance, and they withheld their fire until the Confederates were +within 10 paces, when the latter poured in such a destructive volley +that men and horses went down before it, and Sigel's Brigade was utterly +routed, with a loss of some 250 prisoners and a regimental flag, which +was afterwards used to deceive the Union troops. + + +173 + +With the exception of the two troops of Regular cavalry under Capt. +E. A. Carr, which seem to have done nothing during this time, Sigel's +Brigade disappeared completely from the action, and Sigel and Salomon, +with a few men, rode back to Springfield, where it is said that they +went to bed. This inexplicable action by Sigel bitterly prejudiced the +other officers against him, and was continually coming up in judgment +against him. + +There is no doubt of Sigel's personal courage, but why, with the sound +of Lyon's cannon in his ears, and knowing full well the desperate +struggle his superior officer was engaged in, he made no effort to +rally his troops or to take any further part in the battle, is beyond +comprehension. Col. Salomon, who accompanied him in his flight to +Springfield, afterward became Colonel of a Wisconsin regiment, and made +a brilliant record. + +It was yet but little after 9 o'clock, and despite the stubbornness of +the fighting no decisive advantage had been gained on either side. + +The Union troops were masters of the savagely contested hill, but all +their previous efforts to advance beyond, pierce the main Confederate +line, and reach the trains below had been repulsed. Had they better make +another attempt? + +The hasty council of war decided that it would be unsafe to do so until +Col. Sigel was heard from. The army was already badly crippled, for the +1st Kan. and the 1st Mo. had lost one-third of their men and half their +officers, the others had suffered nearly as severely, and everybody was +running short of ammunition. They had marched all night, and gone +into battle without breakfast, had been fighting five hours, and were +suffering terribly from heat, thirst and exhaustion. + + +174 + +The council was suddenly brought to an end by seeing a large force which +Price and McCulloch had rallied come over the hill directly in the Union +front A battery which Gen. Price had established on the crest of the +hill somewhat to the left opened a fire of canister and shrapnel, but +the Union troops showed the firmest front of any time during the day, +and Totten's and DuBois's batteries hurled a storm of canister into the +advancing infantry. Gen. Price had brought up fresh regiments to replace +those which had been fought out, and it seemed as if the Union line +would be overwhelmed. But the officers brought up every man they could +reach. Capt Gordon Granger threw three companies of the 1st Mo., three +companies of the 1st Kan., and two companies of the 1st Iowa, which had +been supporting DuBois's battery, against the right flank of the enemy +and by their terrible enfilade fire sent it back in great disorder. On +the right Lieut.-Col. Blair, with the 2d Kan., was having an obstinate +fight, but with the assistance of a section of Totten's battery under +Lieut. Sokalski the enemy was at last driven back clear out of sight. + +The battle had now raged bitterly for six hours, with every attempt of +the enemy to drive foe stubborn defenders from the crest of the hill +repulsed. The slope on the eminence was thickly strewn with the dead and +wounded. The Confederates had suffered fearfully. Cols. Weightman and +Brown, who commanded brigades, had been killed, and Gens. Price, +Slack and Clark wounded. The loss of subordinate officers had been very +heavy. They had been clearly fought to a finish, and an attempt of their +cavalry to turn the Union right flank had been repulsed with great loss +by Totten's battery and several companies of the 1st Mo. and the 1st +Kan. The shells produced the greatest consternation among the horses and +men, as they were delivered at short range with unerring aim. The entire +Confederate line left the field, disappearing thru the thick woods in +the valley to their camp on Wilson's Creek, somewhat to the right of the +Union center. + + +175 + +Another brief council of war resulted in an order from Maj. Sturgis to +fall back. Nothing could be heard from Sigel, the men were exhausted, +the ammunition nearly gone, and it seemed best to retire while there was +an opportunity left. As subsequently learned this was a great mistake, +because the Confederate army was in full retreat, and an advance from +the Union army would have sent them off the field for good. + +The Union officers did the best they could according to their light, and +their retirement was in the best order and absolutely unmolested. + +The retreat began about 11:30 and continued two miles to a prairie +northeast of the battleground, where a halt was made to enable the +Surgeons to collect the wounded in ambulances. Gen. Lyon's body had been +placed in an ambulance, but by someone's order was taken out again and +left on the prairie with the rest of the dead. + +About 5 o'clock in the afternoon the army reached Springfield, and +there found Sigel and Salomon and most of their brigade, with the others +coming in from all directions. + + +176 + +In spite of his conduct on the battlefield, Sigel's great theoretical +knowledge and experience in European wars decided that the command +should be turned over to him, and he was formally placed at the head. + +According to official reports the casualties in the Union army were as +follows: + +[Illustration: 176-Table of Union Casualties] + +The official reports give the casualties in the Confederate army as +follows: + +[Illustration: 177-Table of Confederate Casualties] + + +177 + + + +CHAPTER XI. THE AFTERMATH OF WILSON'S CREEK + +An analytical study of the losses in the preceding chapter will aid in a +more thoro appreciation of the most bitter battle fought on the American +Continent up to that time, and by far the severest which had ever been +waged west of the Allegheny Mountains. It will be perceived that the +loss in the Union army was almost wholly in Gen. Lyon's column of 4,000 +men, or less, which suffered to the extent of almost one-third of +its number. In the 1,300 men in Gen. Sigel's command the loss was +insignificant, except in prisoners. + +Both sides fought with a stubbornness absolutely unknown in European +wars, but the regiments of the Union army seemed to be inspired with +that higher invincibility of purpose which characterized their great +leader. + +Judged by the simple equation of losses, the Union regiments displayed a +far greater tenacity of purpose than the Confederates. We have no exact +figures as to the number in each Union regiment, as there were constant +changes taking place; a great many men had served their time out and +more were claiming and receiving their discharges. + +Aug. 4, 1861, six days before the battle, Gen. Lyon gave from +"recollection" the following estimate of the strength of his command, +which must have been considerably reduced in the seven days between that +and the battle, and from which must be deducted some 250 men left to +guard the trains and property in Springfield: + + +178 + +[Illustration: 179-Table] + + +179 + +It is altogether unlikely that the 1st Mo., for example, took into +battle within 100 or more of the 900 men assigned to it, and the same +thing is true of the 900 men given for the 1st Iowa, and the 700 each +for the two Kansas regiments. + +If we assume that the 1st Mo. and the 1st Iowa had 800 men each and the +Kansas regiments 600 each, we find that the loss of 295 for the 1st +Mo., 284 for the 1st Kan., and 154 for the 1st Iowa to be appalling. The +Regulars suffered severely, but not so badly as the volunteers. + +Among those who were noted for gallant conduct in the battle of Wilson's +Creek was Eugene F. Ware, then a private in the 1st Iowa, and who +afterward became a Captain in the 7th Iowa Cav. In civil life +he attained a leading place at the Kansas bar, and was appointed +Commissioner of Pensions by President Roosevelt. + + +180 + +None of the Confederate regiments engaged suffered to anything like +the same extent, and as they were driven from the field, while the +Union regiments maintained their position and were even ready for +further aggression, the palm of higher purposes and more desperate +fighting must be unhesitatingly conceded to the Union volunteers. Few of +the Confederate commanders give reports of the number they carried into +action, but many of their regiments must have been approximately as +strong as those of the Union, and they had many more of them. + +The moral effect of the battle was prodigious on both sides. The Union +troops were conscious of having met overwhelming forces and fought them +to a stand-still, if not actual defeat. Every man felt himself a victor +as he left the field, and only retreated because the exigencies of the +situation rendered that the most politic move. + +It was consequently a great encouragement to the Union sentiment +everywhere, and did much to retrieve the humiliation of Bull Run. The +Confederates naturally made the very most of the fact that they had been +left masters of the field, and they dilated extensively upon the killing +of Gen. Lyon and the crushing defeat they had administered upon Sigel, +with capture of prisoners, guns and flags. They used this to so good +purpose as to greatly stimulate the Secession spirit thruout the State. + + +181 + +Gen. McCulloch's dispatches to the Confederate War Department are, to +say the least, disingenuous. His first dispatch that evening stated +that the enemy was 12,000 strong, but had "fled" after eight hours' hard +fighting. His second official report, dated two days after the battle, +gave his "effective" forces at 5,300 infantry, 15 pieces of artillery +and 6,000 horsemen, armed with flintlock muskets, rifles and shotguns. +He says: "There were, other horsemen with the army, but they were +entirely unarmed, and instead of being a help they were continually +in the way." He repeatedly pronounces the collisions at the different +periods of the battle as "terrific," and says: "The incessant roar of +musketry was deafening, and the balls fell as thick as hailstones." His +next sentences are at surprising variance with the concurrent testimony +on the Union side; for he says: "Nothing could withstand the impetuosity +of our final charge. The enemy fell back and could not again be rallied, +and they were seen at 12 m. fast retreating among the hills in the +distance. This ended the battle. It lasted six hours and a half." + +By this time Gen. McCulloch had reduced the Union force to between 9,000 +and 10,000, and he claims the Union loss to have been 800 killed, 1,000 +wounded and 300 prisoners. He gave his own loss at 265 killed, 800 +wounded and 30 missing. His colleague, Gen. Price, he curtly dismisses +with this brief laudation: "To Gen. Price I am under many obligations +for assistance on the battlefield. He was at the head of his force, +leading them on and sustaining them by his gallant bearing." + + +182 + +Gen. Price's report is more accurate and soldierlike, but he says that +after several "severe and bloody conflicts" had ensued, and the battle +had been conducted with the "greatest gallantry and vigor on both +sides for more than five hours, the enemy retreated in great confusion, +leaving their Commander-in-Chief, Gen. Lyon, dead upon the battlefield, +over 500 killed and a great number wounded." He claims that his forces +numbered 5,221 officers and men, of whom 156 were killed and 517 +wounded. This would make the loss of his whole division of 5,000 men +673, or about the same lost by the 1st Mo. and the 1st Kan., with these +two regiments still maintaining their position, while the enemy retired. + +It seems difficult to understand why, if the enemy "retreated in great +confusion," as reported by Mc-Culloch and Price, the several thousand +horsemen who did little or nothing during the battle were not let loose +to complete the ruin of the Union forces. No matter how poorly armed or +disciplined these might have been, their appearance on the flank of the +retiring column would have been fatal to any orderly retreat such as was +conducted. The universal testimony of the Union officers and soldiers is +that there was no enemy in sight when they started to leave the field, +and that they suffered no molestation whatever, though they halted two +miles from the field and in plain sight for some time. + +It also passes comprehension that this horde of irregular horsemen +were not employed during the long hours of the battle in making some +diversion in the rear of the Union army. + +Both Price and McCulloch seem to have had their attention so fully +engrossed in bringing up new regiments to keep Lyon from breaking thru +their lines and reaching their trains that they had no opportunity to +give orders or organize manuvers by the horsemen, and nobody seems to +have suggested to the mounted men that they could employ their time +better than by standing back and watching the progress of the terrible +conflict between the two opposing lines of infantry. + + +183 + +It appears that the Union officers in the council called by Gen. Sturgis +were not at all unanimous for retreat. Capt. Sweeny, altho severely +wounded, vehemently insisted upon pursuing the enemy, and Capt. Gordon +Granger, also severely wounded, rode up to Sturgis, pointed out that +there was not a man in sight and that the fire could be seen from where +the retreating foe was burning his wagons, and he urged the pursuit so +vigorously that Sturgis had to repeat his order for him to leave the +field. + +Col. Sigel, in his report made at Rolla eight days after the battle, +made a long and labored explanation of his operations during the day. He +thus explained his failure to do more: + + In order to understand clearly our actions and our fate, you + will allow me to state the following facts: + + 1st. According to orders, it was the duty of this brigade to + attack the enemy in the rear and to cut off his retreat, + which order I tried to execute, whatever the consequences + might be. + + 2d. The time of service of the 6th Regiment Mo. Volunteers + had expired before the battle. I had induced them, company + by company, not to leave us in the most critical and + dangerous moment, and had engaged them for the time of eight + days, this term ending on Friday, the 9th, the day before + the battle. + + 3d. The 3d Regiment, of which 400 three-months men had been + dismissed, was composed for the greatest part of recruits, + who had not seen the enemy before and were only + insufficiently drilled. + + 4th. The men serving the pieces and the drivers consisted of + infantry taken from the 3d Regiment and were mostly + recruits, who had had only a few days' instruction. + + 5th. About two-thirds of our officers had left us. Some + companies had no officers at all; a great pity, but a + consequence of the system of the three months' service. + +Later, when Gen. Sigel was seeking promotion, Maj. Schofield, then a +Brigadier-General, sent the following communication to Gen. Halleck: + + +184 + + St Louis, Mo.. Feb. 18, 1862. Maj.-Gen. Halleck, + Commanding Department of the Missouri. + + General: The question of the merits of Brig.-Gen. Franz + Slgel as a commander having assumed such shape as to deeply + involve the interests of the service, I deem it my duty to + make a statement of facts which came to my knowledge during + the campaign of last Summer in the Southwest, ending in the + death of Gen. Lyon and the retreat of his army from + Springfield. + + Soon after the capture of Camp Jackson, in May, Gen. Lyon + sent Col. Slgel, with his two regiments of infantry and two + batteries of artillery, to the southwestern part of the + State, by way of Rolla, to cut off the retreat of Price's + force which he (Lyon) was about to drive from Boonville. Col. + Sigel passed beyond Springfield, reaching a point not far + from the Kansas line, and on the main road used by Price's + men in their movement south to join him. Here he left a + single company of infantry in a small town, with no apparent + object, unless that It might fall in the hands of the enemy, + which it did the next day (6th of July). Sigel met Price the + next day, and fought the celebrated "battle of Carthage." + Sigel had about two regiments of infantry, well armed and + equipped, most of the men old German soldiers, and two good + batteries of artillery. Price had about twice Sigel's number + of men, but most of them mounted, armed with shotguns and + common rifles, and entirely without organization and + discipline, and a few pieces of almost worthless artillery. + Sigel retreated all day before this miserable rabble, + contenting himself with repelling their irregular attacks, + which he did with perfect ease whenever they ventured to make + them. The loss on either side was quite insignificant. Price + and McCulloch were thus permitted to join each other + absolutely without opposition; Sigel, who had been sent + there to prevent their Junction, making a "masterly + retreat." + + Several days before the battle of Wilson's Creek it was + ascertained beyond a doubt that the enemy's strength was + about 22,000 men, with at least 20 pieces of artillery, + while our force was only about 5,000. About the 7th of + August the main body of the enemy reached Wilson's Creek, + and Gen. Lyon decided to attack him. The plan of attack was + freely discussed between Gen. Lyon, the members of his + staff, CoL Sigel, and several officers of the Regular Army. + Col. Sigel, apparently anxious for a separate command, + advocated the plan of a divided attack. All others, I + believe, opposed it. + + On the 8th of August the plan of a single attack was + adopted, to be carried out on the 9th. This had to be + postponed on account of the exhaustion of part of our + troops. During the morning of the 9th Col. Sigel had a long + interview with Gen. Lyon, and prevailed upon him to adopt + his plan, which led to the mixture of glory, disgrace and + disaster of the ever-memorable 10th of August Slgel, in + attempting to perform the part assigned to himself, lost his + artillery, lost his infantry, and fled alone, or nearly so, + to Springfield, arriving there long before the battle was + ended. Yet he had almost nobody killed or wounded. One piece + of his artillery and 500 or 600 infantry were picked up and + brought in by a company of Regular cavalry. No effort was + made by Sigel or any of his officers to rally their men and + join Lyon's Division, altho the battle raged furiously for + hours after Sigel's rout; and most of his men in their + retreat passed in rear of Lyon's line of battle. + + +185 + + On our return to Springfield, at about 5 o'clock p. m., Maj. + Sturgis yielded the command to Col. Sigel, and the latter, + after consultation with many of the officers of the army, + decided to retreat toward Rolla; starting at 2 o'clock a. m. + in order that the column might be in favorable position for + defense before daylight. At the hour appointed for the + troops to move I found Col. Sigel asleep in bed, and his own + brigade, which was to be the advance guard, making + preparations to cook their breakfast It was 4 o'clock before + I could get them started. Sigel remained in command three + days, kept his two regiments in front all the time, made + little more than ordinary day's marches, but yet did not get + in camp until 10, and on one occasion 12 o'clock at night. + On the second day he kept the main column waiting, exposed + to the sun on a dry prairie, while his own men killed beef + and cooked their breakfast. They finished their breakfast at + about noon, and then began their day's march. + + The fatigue and annoyance to the troops soon became so + intolerable that discipline was impossible. The officers, + therefore, almost unanimously demanded a change. Maj. + Sturgis, in compliance with the demand, assumed the command. + + My position as Gen. Lyon's principal staff officer gave mo + very favorable opportunities for judging of Gen. Sigel's + merits as an officer, and hence I appreciate his good as + well as his bad qualities more accurately than most of those + who presume to judge him. Gen. Sigel, in point of + theoretical education, is far above the average of + commanders in this country. He has studied with great care + the science of strategy, and seems thoroly conversant with + the campaigns of all the great captains, so far as covers + their main strategic features, and also seems familiar with + the duties of the staff; but in tactics, great and small + logistics, and discipline he is greatly deficient. These + defects are so apparent as to make it absolutely impossible + for him to gain the confidence of American officers and men, + and entirely unfit him for a high command in our army. While + I do not condemn Gen. Sigel in the unmeasured terms so + common among many, but on the contrary see in him many fine + qualities, I would do less than my duty did I not enter my + protest against the appointment to a high command in the + army of a man who, whatever may be his merits, I know cannot + have the confidence of the troops he is to command. + + I am, General, very respectfully, your obedient servant, + + J. M. SCHOFIELD, Brigadier-General. U. S. Volunteers. + + +This was accompanied by a statement embodying the same facts and signed +by substantially all the higher officers who had been with Lyon. + + +186 + +At the first halt of the army, about two miles from the battlefield, +while the dead and wounded were being gathered up, it was discovered +that Gen. Lyon's body had been left behind. The Surgeon and another +officer volunteered to take an ambulance and return to the battlefield +for it They were received graciously by Gen. McCulloch; the body was +delivered to them and they reached Springfield with it shortly after +dark. The Surgeon made an attempt to embalm it by injecting arsenic +into the veins, but decomposition, owing to exposure to the hot sun, had +progressed too far to render it practicable, and they were compelled to +leave it when the army moved off. + +Mrs. Phelps, wife of the member of Congress from that District, and +a true Union woman, obtained it and had it placed in a wooden coffin, +which was hermetically sealed in another one of zinc. Fearing that it +might be molested by the Confederate troops when they entered the city, +Mrs. Phelps had the coffin placed in an out-door cellar and covered with +straw. Later she took an opportunity of having it secretly buried at +night. + +Thinking that the remains had been brought on, Mr. Danford Knowlton, +of New York, a cousin, and Mr. John B. Hasler, of Webster, Mass., a +brother-in-law of Gen. Lyon, came on at the instance of the Connecticut +relatives to obtain the remains. Not finding them at St. Louis, +they went forward to Rolla, where Col. Wyman furnished them with an +ambulance, with which they proceeded to Springfield under a flag +of truce. They were kindly received by Gen. Price, and also by Gen. +Parsons, whose brigade was encamped on the ground where the body was +buried, and exhuming it, brought it to St. Louis. The city went into +mourning, and the remains were conducted by a military and civic +procession to the depot, where they were delivered to the Adams Express +Company to be conveyed East under an escort of officers and enlisted +men. + + +187 + +At every station on the road crowds gathered to pay their tribute of +respect to the deceased hero and distinguished honors were paid at +Cincinnati, Pittsburg, New York, and Hartford. The body was taken to +Eastford, Conn., where the General was born, and in the presence of +a large assemblage was interred in a grave beside his parents, in +accordance with the desire the General expressed while in life. + +Upon opening Lyons' will it was found that he had bequeathed all his +savings, prudent investments and property, amounting to about $50,000, +to the Government to aid it in the prosecution of the war for its +existence. + +Aug. 25, Gen. Fremont issued congratulatory orders, in which he said: + + The General Commanding laments, in sympathy with the + country, the loss of the indomitable Gen. Nathaniel Lyon. + His fame cannot be better eulogized than in these words in + the official report of his gallant successor, Maj. Sturgis, + U. S. Cavalry: "Thus gallantly fell as true a soldier as + ever drew a sword; a man whose honesty of purpose was + proverbial; a noble patriot, and one who held his life as + nothing where his country demanded it of him. Let us emulate + his prowess and undying devotion to his duty!" + + The order also permitted the regiments and other + organizations engaged to put "Springfield" on their colors, + and directed that the order should be read at the head of + every company in the Department of Missouri. + + +188 + +Dec. 30, 1861, Congress passed a joint resolution, in which it said: + + That Congress deems it just and proper to enter upon its + records a recognition of the eminent and patriotic services + of the late Brig-Gen. Nathaniel Lyon. The country to whose + service he devoted his life will guard and preserve his fame + as a part of its own glory. + + 2. That the thanks of Congress are hereby given to the brave + officers and soldiers who, under the command of the late + Gen. Lyon, sustained the honor of the flag, and achieved + victory against overwhelming numbers at the battle of + Springfield, in Missouri, and that, in order to commemorate + an event so honorable to the country and to themselves, it + is ordered that each regiment engaged shall be authorized to + bear upon its colors the word "Springfield," embroidered in + letters of gold. And the President of the United States is + hereby requested to cause these resolutions to be read at + the head of every regiment in the Army of the United States. + + +189 + + + +CHAPTER XII. A GALAXY OF NOTABLE MEN + +The Union commanders were naturally very apprehensive that as soon as +Price and Mc-Culloch realized that the field had been abandoned they +would precipitate upon them their immense horde of vengeful horsemen. +Such was not the case. Nothing tells so eloquently of the severity of +the blow which Lyon had dealt his enemies than that it was two whole +days before Price and McCulloch were in a frame of mind to move forward +10 miles and occupy Springfield, the goal of their campaign. This delay +was golden to the Union commanders, hampered as they were by hosts of +Union refugees fleeing from the rebel wrath, and incumbering the column +with all manner of vehicles and great droves of stock. Considering the +activity of the Missourians in guerrilla warfare, and the vicious way +they usually harried the Union forces, it is incomprehensible, except on +the theory that the Confederate forces had been stunned into torpor +by the blow. The Union column was able to make its long retreat of +125 miles from Springfield to Rolla and traverse an exceedingly rough +country cut up every few miles by ravines, gorges and creeks, without +the slightest molestation from the six or eight thousand horsemen whom +McCulloch had complained were so much in the way during the battle on +the banks of Wilson's Creek. + + +190 + +Gen. McCulloch made a number of lengthy and labored explanations to the +Confederate War Department of his failure to make any pursuit, but in +the light of facts that then should have been attainable none of these +was at all satisfactory. He admits that he did not enter Springfield +until after his scouts had brought him satisfactory assurances that the +Union army had abandoned the town. Aug. 12 he advanced to Springfield, +and issued proclamations to the people announcing himself as their +deliverer, and that his army "by great gallantry and determined courage" +had entirely "routed the enemy with great slaughter." + +If he expected to be received and feted as a liberator he was sorely +disappointed, and in one of his letters he says in connection with his +customary uncomplimentary allusions to Gen. Price's army, "and from all +I can see we had as well be in Boston as far as the friendly feelings of +the inhabitants are concerned." + +The truth was that the advance of the Confederates had had a blighting +effect upon that large portion of the people which had hoped to remain +neutral in the struggle. + +Gen. Lyon, with all his intensity of purpose, had kept uppermost in mind +that he was an agent of the law, and his mission was to enforce the +law. He had kept his troops under excellent discipline, had permitted +no outrages upon citizens, and had either paid for or given vouchers for +anything his men needed, and had generally conducted himself in +strict obedience of the law. His course was a crushing refutal of the +inflammatory proclamations of Gov. Jackson and others about the Union +soldiers being robbers, thieves, ravishers and outragers. + + +191 + +Quite different was the course of the twenty or more thousand men whom +Price and McCulloch led into Springfield. They were under very little +discipline of any kind, and were burning with a desire to punish and +drive out of the country not merely those who were outspoken Unionists, +but all who were not radical Secessionists. They knew that the sentiment +in Springfield and the country of which it was the center was in favor +of the Union, and they wanted to stamp this out by terror. + +While this brought to their ranks a great many of the more pliant +neutrals, it drove away from them a great number, and put into the ranks +of the Union many who had been more or less inclined to the pro-slavery +element. + +The soreness between Price and McCulloch which had been filmed over +before the battle by Price subordinating himself and his troops to +McCulloch, became more inflamed during the stay at Springfield. In spite +of the fact that the Missouri troops had done much better fighting, and +suffered severer losses in the battle than McCulloch, he persisted in +denouncing them as cowards, stragglers and mobites, without soldierly +qualities. + +The following extracts from a report to J. P. Benjamin, Confederate +Secretary of War, will show the temper which pervaded all his +correspondence, and was probably still more manifest in his personal +relations with the Missourians: + + It was at this point that I first saw the total inefficiency + of the Missouri mounted men under Brig.-Gen. Rains. A + thousand, more or less, of them composed the advance guard, + and whilst reconnoiterlng the enemy's position, some eight + miles distant from our camp, were put to flight by a single + cannon-shot, running in the greatest confusion, without the + loss of a single man except one who died of overheat or + sunstroke, and bringing no reliable information as to the + position or fore of the enemy; nor were they of the + slightest service as scouts or spies afterwards. + + +192 + + As evidence of this I will mention here the fact of the + enemy being allowed to leave his position, six miles distant + from us, 20 hours before we knew it; thus causing us to make + a night march to surprise the enemy, who was at that time + entirely out of our reach. A day or two previous to this + march the Generals of the Missouri forces, by common consent + on their part and unasked on mine, tendered me the command + of their troops, which I at first declined, saying to them + it was done to throw the responsibility of ordering a + retreat upon me if one had to be ordered for the want of + supplies, their breadstuffs giving out about this time; and, + in truth, we would have been in a starving condition had it + not been for the young corn, which was just in condition to + be used. * * * + + The battle over, it was ascertained that the camp followers, + whose presence I had so strongly objected to, had robbed our + dead and wounded on the battlefield of their arms, and at + the same time had taken those left by the enemy. I tried to + recover the arms thus lost by my men, and also a portion of + those taken from the enemy, but in vain. Gen. Pearce made an + effort to get back those muskets loaned to Gen. Price before + we entered Missouri the first time. I was informed he + recovered only 10 out of 615. I then asked that the battery + be given me, which was one taken by the Louisiana regiment + at the point of the bayonet. The guns were turned over by + the order of Gen. Price, minus the horses and most of the + harness. I would not have demanded these guns had Gen. Price + done the Louisiana regiment justice in his official report + The language used by him was calculated to make the + impression that the battery was captured by his men Instead + of that regiment * * * + +McCulloch was a voluminous writer, both to the Confederate War +Department and to personal and official friends, and few of these +communications are without some complaint about the Missouri troops. +Everything that he had failed to do was due to their inefficiency, +their lack of soldierly perceptions, and conduct. They would give him +no information, would not scout nor reconnoiter, and he was continually +left in the dark as to the movements of the enemy. When they were +attacked he claimed that they would run away in a shameful manner. His +dislike of Gen. Rains seemed to grow more bitter continually. + +[Illustration: 195-General Samuel R. J. Curtis] + + +193 + +Gen. Price saw a great opportunity and was anxious to improve it. The +retreat of the Union forces from Springfield opened up the whole western +part of the State, and a prompt movement would carry the army forward to +the Missouri River again, where it could control the navigation of +that great stream, receive thousands of recruits now being assembled at +places north of the river, separate the Unionists of Missouri from the +loyal people in Kansas and Nebraska, and hearten up the Secessionists +everywhere as much as it disheartened the Union people, and possibly +recover St. Louis. + +He pressed this with all earnestness upon Gen. McCulloch, only to have +it received with cold indifference or strong objections. He proposed +that if McCulloch would undertake the movement, that he, Price, would +continue in subordination to him and give him all the assistance that +his troops could give. + +There is no doubt that Price was entirely right in his views, and that +a prompt forward movement with such forces as he and McCulloch commanded +would have been a very serious matter for the Union cause and carry +discouragement everywhere to add to that which had been caused by the +disaster of Bull Run. + +The relations between the two Generals constantly became more strained, +and for the latter part of the two weeks which McCulloch remained at +Springfield there was little communication between them. Gen. Price made +good use of the time to bring in recruits from every part of the State +which was accessible and to organize and discipline them for further +service. + +At the end of a fortnight Gen. McCulloch suffered Gen. Pearce to return +to Arkansas with his Arkansas Division, while Gen. McCulloch retired +with his brigade of Louisianians and Texans, and Price was left free to +do as he pleased. + + +194 + +The death of Gen. Lyon at last aroused Gen. Fremont to a fever of energy +to do the things that he should have done weeks before. He began a +bombardment of Washington with telegrams asking for men, money and +supplies, and sent dispatches of the most urgent nature to everybody +from whom he could expect the least help. He called on the Governors of +the loyal Western States to hurry to him all the troops that they could +raise, and asked from Washington Regular troops, artillery, $3,000,000 +for the Quartermaster's Department, and other requirements in +proportion. He made a requisition on the St. Louis banks for money, and +showed a great deal of fertility of resource. + +Aug. 15, five days after the battle, President Lincoln, stirred up by +his fusillade of telegrams, dispatched him the following: + + Washington, Aug. 15, 1861. To Gen. Fremont: + + Been answering your messages ever since day before + yesterday. Do you receive the answers? The War Department + has notified all the Governors you designate to forward all + available force. So telegraphed you. Have you received these + messages? Answer immediately. + + A. LINCOLN. + + +With relation to his conduct toward Gen. Lyon, Gen. Fremont afterward +testified to this effect before the Committee on the Conduct of the War: + + A glance at the map will make it apparent that Cairo was the + point which first demanded immediate attention. The force + under Gen. Lyon could retreat, but the position at Cairo + could not be abandoned; the question of holding Cairo was + one which involved the safety of the whole Northwest. Had + the taking of St. Louis followed the defeat of Manassas, the + disaster might have been irretrievable; while the loss of + Springfield, should our army be compelled to fall back upon + Rolla, would only carry with it the loss of a part of + Missouri--a loss greatly to be regretted, but not + irretrievable. Having reinforced Cape Girardeau and Ironton, + by the ut-most exertions, I succeeded in getting together + and embarking with a force of 3,800 men, five days after my + arrival in St Louis. + + +195 + + From St. Louis to Cairo was an easy day's Journey by water, + and transportation abundant To Springfield was a week's + march; and before I could have reached it Cairo would have + been taken and with it, I believe, St Louis. + + On my arrival at Cairo I found the force under Gen. Prentiss + reduced to 1,200 men, consisting mainly of a regiment which + had agreed to await my arrival. A few miles below, at New + Madrid, Gen. Pillow had landed a force estimated at 20,000, + which subsequent events showed was not exaggerated. Our + force, greatly increased to the enemy by rumor, drove him + to a hasty retreat and permanently secured the position. + + I returned to St. Louis on the 4th, having in the meantime + ordered Col. Stephenson's regiment from Boonville, and Col. + Montgomery's from Kansas, to march to the relief of Gen. + Lyon. + + Immediately upon my arrival from Cairo, I set myself at + work, amid incessant demands upon my time from every + quarter, principally to provide reinforcements for Gen. + Lyon. + + I do not accept Springfield as a disaster belonging to my + administration. Causes wholly out of my jurisdiction had + already prepared the defeat of Gen. Lyon before my arrival + at St Louis. + + +The ebullition of the Secession sentiment in Missouri following the news +of the battle of Wilson's Creek made Gen. Fremont feel that the most +extraordinary measures were necessary in order to hold the State. He +had reasons for this alarm, for the greatest activity was manifested +in every County in enrolling young men in Secession companies and +regiments. Heavy columns were threatening invasion from various points. +One of these was led by Gen. Hardee, a Regular officer of much ability, +who had acquired considerable fame by his translation of the tactics in +use in the Army. He had been appointed to the command of North Arkansas, +and had collected considerable force at Pocahontas, at the head of +navigation on the White River, where he was within easy striking +distance of the State and Lyon's line of retreat, and was threatening +numberless direful things. + + +196 + +McCulloch and Price had sent special messengers to him to urge him to +join his force with theirs to crush Lyon, or at least to move forward +and cut off Lyon's communications with Rolla. They found Hardee within +400 yards of the Missouri State line. He had every disposition to do as +desired, but had too much of the Regular officer in him to be willing +to move until his forces were thoroly organized and equipped. There was +little in him of the spirit of Lyon or Price, who improvised means for +doing what they wanted to do, no matter whether regulations permitted it +or not. + +Hardee complained that though he had then 2,300 men and expected to +shortly raise this force to 5,000, one of his batteries had no horses +and no harness, and none of his regiments had transportation enough for +field service, and that all regiments were badly equipped and needed +discipline and instruction. + +Later, Hardee repaired many of these deficiencies, and was in shape to +do a great deal of damage to the Union cause, and of this Fremont and +his subordinates were well aware. Gens. Polk and Pillow, with quite +strong forces at Columbus, were threatening Cairo and southeast +Missouri, and an advance was made into the State by their picturesque +subordinate, Gen. M. Jeff Thompson, the poet laureate of the New Madrid +marshes and the "Swamp Fox" who was to emulate the exploits of Francis +Marion. Thompson moved forward with a considerable force of irregular +mounted men, the number of which was greatly exaggerated, and it was +reported that behind him was a column commanded by Pillow, ranging all +the way from 8,000 to 25,000. + + +197 + +Gen. Fremont set an immense force of laborers to work on an elaborate +system of fortification for the city of St. Louis, and also began the +construction of fortifications at Cape Girardeau, Ironton, Rolla and +Jefferson City. He employed laborers instead of using his troops, in +order to give the latter opportunity to be drilled and equipped. +He issued the following startling General Order, which produced the +greatest commotion in the State and outside of it: + + Headquarters of the Western Department, + + St Louis, Aug. 31, 1861. + + Circumstances in my judgment of sufficient urgency render it + necessary that the Commanding General of this Department + should assume the administrative power of the State. Its + disorganized condition, the devastation of property by bands + of murderers and marauders who infest nearly every County in + the State, and avail themselves of the public misfortunes + and the vicinity of a hostile force to gratify private and + neighborhood vengeance, and who find an enemy wherever they + find plunder, finally demand the severest measures to + repress the daily increasing crimes and outrages which are + driving off the inhabitants and ruining the State. In this + condition the public safety and the success of our arms + require unity of purpose, without let or hindrance to the + prompt administration of affairs. + + In order, therefore, to suppress disorders, to maintain, as + far as now practicable, the public peace, and to give + security and protection to the persons and property of loyal + citizens, I do hereby extend and declare established martial + law thru-out the State of Missouri. The lines of the army of + occupation in this State are, for the present, declared to + extend from Leavenworth, by way of the posts of Jefferson + City, Rolla and Ironton to Cape Girardeau, on the + Mississippi River. All persons who shall be taken with arms + in their hands within these lines shall be tried by court- + martial, and, if found guilty, will be shot. The property, + real and personal, of all persons in the State of Missouri + who shall take up arms against the United States, or shall + be directly proven to have taken active part with their + enemies in the field, is declared to be confiscated to the + public use; and their slaves, if any they have, are hereby + declared free men. + + All persons who shall be proven to have destroyed, after the + publication of this order, railroad tracks, bridges or + telegraphs, shall suffer the extreme penalty of the law. + + All persons engaged in treasonable correspondence, in giving + or procuring aid to the enemies of the United States, in + disturbing the public tranquility by creating and + circulating false reports or incendiary documents, are in + their own interest warned that they are exposing themselves. + + +198 + + All persons who have been led away from their allegiance are + required to return to their homes forthwith; any such + absence, without sufficient cause, will be held to be + presumptive evidence against them. + + The object of this declaration is to place in the hands of + the military authorities the power to give Instantaneous + effect to existing laws, and to supply such deficiencies as + the conditions of war demand. But it is not intended to + suspend the ordinary tribunals of the country, where the law + will be administered by the civil officers in the usual + manner and with their customary authority, while the same + can be peaceably exercised. + + The Commanding General will labor vigilantly for the public + welfare, and, in his efforts for their safety, hopes to + obtain not only the acquiescence, but the active support, of + the people of the country. + + J. C. FREMONT, + + Major-General Commanding. + + +Another man who appeared on the scene as Colonel of the 2d Iowa was +Samuel R. Curtis, an Ohio man, who graduated from West Point in 1831, in +the same class with Gens. Ammen, Humphreys and W. H. Emory. He resigned +the next year and became a prominent civil engineer in Ohio. He served +in the Mexican War as Colonel of the 2d Ohio, and at the close of that +struggle returned to his profession of engineering, removed to Iowa, and +at the outbreak of the war was a member of Congress from that State. He +was a man of decided military ability, and the victory won at Pea Ridge +was his personal triumph. He was to rise to the rank of Major-General +and command an independent army, but become involved in the factional +fights in Missouri and have his further career curtailed. + + +199 + +Still another name which appears with increased frequency about this +time is that of U. S. Grant, an Ohio man, who had graduated from West +Point in 1843, and had shown much real enterprise and soldiership in +Mexico, but had fallen under the disfavor of his commanding officers; +had been compelled to resign while holding the rank of Captain in the +4th U. S., and for eight years had had a losing struggle in trying to +make a living in civil pursuits. A happy accident put him at the head of +the 21st Ill., with which he had entered Missouri to guard the Hannibal +& St. Joseph Railroad, and incidentally to dispose of one Thomas A. +Harris, a very energetic and able man who held a Brigadier-Generalship +from Gov. Jackson, and who was making himself particularly active in +the neighborhood of that railroad. Grant showed much energy in chasing +around for Harris, but had never succeeded in bringing him into battle, +though when he left for other scenes Harris was hiding among the knobs +of Salt River, with his command reduced to three enlisted men and his +staff. + +Though he was out of favor with Gen. McClellan and many others who +were directing military operations, in some way a Brigadier-General's +commission came to U. S. Grant, and he was assigned to the District of +Southeastern Missouri, with headquarters at Cape Girardeau, where his +duty was to hold in check the poetical M. Jeff Thompson, the noisy +Gideon J. Pillow and the prelatic Leonidas J. Polk in their efforts to +get control of the southeastern corner of the State and menace Cairo and +St. Louis. + +Maj. Sturgis was promptly made a Brigadier-General to date from Wilson's +Creek, and assigned to the command of Northeast Missouri, where he had +five or six thousand men under him. + +Capt. Fred Steele had accepted a commission as Colonel of the 8th Iowa; +Capt. Jos. B. Plummer shortly took the Colonelcy of a new regiment, the +11th Mo.; Capt. Totten became Lieutenant-Colonel and Colonel of the 1st +Mo. Art., of which Schofield was Major. + + +200 + +Notwithstanding the feeling of the officers and soldiers who had +participated in the battle of Wilson's Creek against Sigel, it was found +so necessary to "recognize the Germans" and hold them strongly for the +Union cause that he was made a Brigadier-General to date from May 17, +1861, which put him in the same class of Volunteer Brigadier-Generals as +Hunter, Heintzelman, Fitz John Porter, Wm. B. Franklin, Wm. T. Sherman, +C. P. Stone, Don Carlos Buell, John Pope, Philip Kearny, Joseph +Hooker, U. S. Grant, John A. McClernand and A. S. Williams, all of whose +volunteer commissions bore the date of May 17. This was subsequently a +cause of trouble. + +There appeared also another of those figures so common among the State +builders of this country, and upholding to the fullest the character +of a leader of pioneers. James H. Lane was an Indiana man, son of a +preacher; had served with credit as Colonel of Indiana troops in Mexico, +and had been Lieutenant-Governor of Indiana and Member of Congress, but +getting at odds with his party had migrated to Kansas, where his natural +talents and fiery, aggressive courage speedily brought him to the front +as the leader of the warlike Free State men, who resisted with force and +arms the attempts of the Pro-slavery men to dominate the Territory. +His instant readiness for battle and the unsparing energy with which he +prosecuted his enterprises so endeared him to the Free State men that +when the State was admitted there was no question about his election as +her first United States Senator. + + +201 + +Kansas had promptly raised two regiments, which had fought superbly +at Wilson's Creek and afterwards joined in the retrograde movement to +Rolla. This left Kansas without any protection, and the people naturally +reasoned that in the advance upon the territory left unguarded by the +retirement of the Union army, Gen. Price and his Missourians would +embrace the opportunity to pay back with interest the debt of vengeance +which had been running since the wars of '56 and '57. Therefore Lane +received the authority to recruit five regiments in Kansas, and went +about his work with his characteristic energy. + +The 3d, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th Kan. at once began organizing, receiving +many recruits from the young Union men who had been forced to leave +Missouri, and within a week or more after the battle of Wilson's Creek +Gen. Lane had mustered an effective force of about 2,500 men, who had +received some clothing and equipment and much instruction from the +Regular officers and men at Forts Scott, Riley and Leavenworth. + +With these forces in hand under a man of Lane's well-known character, +neither Gen. Price nor his men had much disposition to meddle with +Kansas, even if the General had not other and more comprehensive views. + +Gen. Price was not waiting for Fremont's plans to develop before +executing his own. He employed the two weeks after the battle in +diligently organizing his men, and Aug. 26 left Springfield at the head +of a column of about 10,000 enthusiastic young Missourians, who had +in that brief time made great progress in soldiership. He caused great +alarm at Fort Scott, by pointing the head of his column toward that +place, and arriving within 10 miles of it on the night of the 1st +of September, sent Rains's Division, which was made up of men from +southwest Missouri, forward to reconnoiter. + + +202 + +Rains's advance of 30 mounted men under Capt. Rector Johnson pushed +forward to within sight of Fort Scott, on the morning of Sept. 1, and +captured a drove of 80 Government mules which had been sent out to graze +on the prairies. They also carried off all the able-bodied men that they +could find on their line of march. Two companies of the newly-raised +Kansas cavalry promptly attacked Johnson's command, which fell back +across the line toward the main body, encamped at Dry Wood. Gen. Lane +gathered up such of his volunteers as were in reach, and moved to Dry +Wood, where he offered Gen. Rains battle, but the latter declined to be +drawn from the shelter in the woods in which he had formed his lines, +and Lane did not think it was prudent to attack a force the strength of +which he could not ascertain. + +A noisy, long-range skirmish ensued, which terminated at nightfall by +Lane withdrawing his forces to Fort Scott. The next day, leaving Col. +Jennison with 400 cavalry in Fort Scott, Lane crossed the Little Osage +and threw up fortifications on its banks to oppose Price's further +advance and give him battle should he attempt to move into Kansas. + +Gen. Price declined to fight him in his chosen position, but drew his +forces together and started to execute his cherished plan of advancing +to the Missouri River and forming connection there with the troops +which Gens. Harris and Green had been raising in northern Missouri, not +seriously molested in their work by the Union forces under Gens. +Pope and Sturgis. The action at Dry Wood was made the most of by the +Secessionists, who claimed a defeat for the terror-striking "Jim" Lane. +The casualties were insignificant for the forces engaged, as there were +but five killed and 12 wounded on the Union side, and four killed and 16 +wounded on the Confederate. + + +203 + +It was feared that after Gen. Price had moved forward to the Missouri +River McCulloch would come up from Arkansas and take Fort Scott, which +he had been authorized to do by the Confederate Secretary of War; +but McCulloch seems to have had other ideas, and spent the weeks in +inaction. + +The situation of the Union men of southwest Missouri became gloomy in +the extreme. The whole country was overrun with guerrilla bands hunting +down the Union men, and not infrequently shooting them on sight. + +Gen. Fremont had seriously alarmed Polk, Pillow and Thompson by his +showy reinforcement of Cairo with 3,800 men. Though Pillow was reputed +to have about 20,000 troops at his disposal, he was seized with a great +fear, wrote to Hardee at Pocahontas urging him to come to his help, and +limited the sphere of the operations of his dashing lieutenant, M. Jeff +Thompson. Maj.-Gen. Polk seems to have also been deeply impressed, +for he wrote to Pillow urging him to put his troops in trenches in the +neighborhood of New Madrid, strongly fortify that place and stretch a +chain across the river to prevent the passage of gunboats. + +Then Polk had another tremor, and ordered Pillow to evacuate New Madrid +at once, taking his men and heavy guns across the river to the strong +works of Fort Pillow. Pillow, however, as insubordinate and self-seeking +as he had been in the Mexican War, and thirsting for the distinction of +taking Cape Girardeau, did not obey his superior's orders, but retained +his forces at New Madrid. He had the audacity to write to his superior, +"Withdraw your control over me for a few hours." + + +204 + +Pillow, merely hanging on to the remotest fringe of the State, assumed +the title of "Liberator of Missouri", and his correspondence, orders and +proclamations were headed, "Headquarters Army of Liberation." + +About the same time an old acquaintance, Lieut-Gov. Thos. C. Reynolds, +he of the ready pen and fluent phrases, taking advantage of a hasty +journey of Gov. Jackson to Richmond, assumed full gubernatorial powers, +set up his capital in Pillow's camp at New Madrid, and proceeded to +clothe him with the most extraordinary prerogatives. He made himself the +whole of the "Sovereign people of Missouri," and issued a proclamation +withdrawing the State from the Union. He said that "disregarding the +forms and considering only realities, I view an ordinance for the +separation from the North and union with the Confederate States as +a mere outward expression giving notice to others of an act already +consummated in the hearts of the people." He then proceeded to establish +a military despotism which made the worst of what had been said of +Fremont pale before it. He clothed all the military commanders--not +merely those of Missouri provided by the odious Military Act, but +such Confederate commanders as Pillow and Hardee, who should enter the +State--with a most absolute power over the lives and property of the +people of Missouri. + + +205 + +The following oath was prescribed which all citizens were to be +compelled to take by any officer of the Missouri State Guards or +Confederate army who might come upon them: + + Know all men, that I------------, of the County of----------, + State of Missouri, do solemnly swear that I will bear + true faith and allegiance to the State of Missouri, and + support the Constitution of the State, and that I will not + give aid, comfort, information, protection or encouragement + to the enemies or opposers of the Missouri State Guards, or + their allies, the armies of the Confederate States, upon the + penalty of death for treason. + +In the meanwhile Gen. Price, more practical and capable than any of +them, with true military foresight was rushing his troops toward the +Missouri River, gaining recruits and arousing enthusiasm with every +day's march. Leading his own advance he hurried towards Warrensburg, the +County seat of Johnson County, about 30 miles south of Lexington, +where he hoped to seize about $100,000 deposited in the State banks. +He arrived too late for this however, because the Union troops had the +same object in view, and had anticipated him, carrying the money off +with them and leaving behind some very clever caricatures, drawn by the +skillful artists among the Germans, which irritated Price and his men +more than it was reasonable they should. + +The Union commander at Warrensburg, Col. Everett Peabody, of the +13th Mo., had kept himself well informed as to Price's movements, and +retreated from Warrensburg to Lexington, burning the bridges after he +had crossed them. He sent notice to Fremont of Price's movements. + +Col. James A. Mulligan, with the 23d 111., an Irish regiment, was +ordered forward to Lexington to Col. Peabdy's assistance, and to hold +the place to the last. + + +206 + +The 1st Ill. Cav., Col. Thos. A. Marshall, and fragments of Home Guard +regiments in process of organization, were drawn back to Lexington, in +face of the advance of Price's columns. There was also a mongrel field +battery, consisting of one 4-pounder, three 6-pounders, one 12-pounder +and two little 4-inch howitzers, the latter being useless on account of +having no shells. + +The cavalry was only armed with pistols and sabers. + +No official Union reports are on file as to the affair, but the total +strength of the garrison is given unofficially at from 2,640 to 3,300. +The correspondent of the Missouri Republican gives these figures: + + 23d 111., Col. Mulligan............................... 800 + + Home Guards, Col. White.......................... 500 + + 13th Mo., Col. Peabody................................ 840 + + 1st Ill. Cav., CoL Marshall........................... 500 + + Total...................................................2,040 + +Col. Mulligan assumed command of the whole by seniority of commission. +He was an Irishman with all his race's pugnacity, and also its +effervescence. He was born in Utica, N. Y., in 1830, had graduated from +a Roman Catholic college, studied law, and edited the principal Roman +Catholic paper in the West, "The Tablet." + + +207 + +Lexington, which is the County seat of Lafayette County, was a +very important place in frontier times, and the center of the great +hemp-growing region of Missouri. It is situated on the south bank of the +Missouri River, about 300 miles by its course above St. Louis, and about +84 miles below Kansas City by water, or 42 miles by rail. It consisted +of two towns, Old and New Lexington, about a mile apart, having +altogether about 5,000 people. It had some manufactories and two or +three colleges, one of which, the Masonic College, situated on high +ground between Old and New Lexington, a half mile from the river, was +taken by Col. Mulligan for his position, which he proceeded to fortify +with high, substantial works to accommodate 10,000 men, inclosing about +15 acres on the summit of the bluffs. Between 2,000 and 3,000 horses and +other animals of the trains were gathered inside this inclosure. + +A week before Col. Mulligan's arrival, on Sept. 9, Gov. Jackson had +briefly set up his Capital there, and held a session of that portion +of the Legislature which adhered to him. The approach of Col. Pea-body +caused a precipitate adjournment, and there was left behind $800,000 in +coin, which was buried in the cellar of the college, with the great seal +of the State of Missouri. + +At dawn on Sept. 12, Gen. Price, riding with his advance, Rains's +Division, struck the Union pickets stretching through the cornfields +outside of Lexington, but though he brought up all his infantry within +reach, and McDonald's, Guibor's, and Clark's batteries, his heads of +columns were beaten back everywhere by the stubborn Union soldiers, who +had been waiting three days for him, and he wisely decided to withdraw +two or three miles and wait for the rest of his forces and ammunition +wagons to come up. + + +208 + +Col. Mulligan telegraphed to Col. Jeff C. Davis, at Jefferson City--120 +miles away--the fact of Price's advance and his need for help, and Davis +sent the news to Fremont, who ordered forward three regiments and two +batteries to Davis, and directed him to reinforce Mulligan, which he +could do by rail and river. Fremont also sent orders to Pope and Sturgis +to help Mulligan out, but there was not much urgency in the orders, and +each of his subordinates seems to have taken his own time and way of +obeying or not obeying. + +Jeff C. Davis had at that time something over 5,000 men at Jefferson +City, and subsequent reinforcements raised this number, it was claimed, +to 11,000--certainly to 8,000. Davis afterward became a valuable +division and corps commander, but he certainly did not show up well in +this transaction. He, also, had too much of the "Regular" in him. He +complained of a lack of wagons and harness, commissary supplies and +ammunition, to enable him to make a forward movement. He had none of the +spirit of Lyon and Price, to impress teams and supplies and make means +to do what ought to be done. + +It was harvest time in that fertile part of Missouri, and his army need +not have suffered for food, wherever he went. But all that he did was +to send forward a couple of regiments to occupy points and prevent the +Secessionists from crossing the river at those places. They had all +either crossed or found other unguarded places. + +Pope showed similar incapacity. He had 5,000 men in easy reach of +Lexington, but he was more engrossed in the Hannibal & St Joseph +Railroad and in matters in Keokuk and Canton than in Lexington. He +telegraphed to Gen. Fremont that he would move forward 4,000 men to +Lexington, and actually did send forward Lieut.-Col. Scott with the 3d +Iowa and Robt. F. Smith with the 16th 111., with instructions to form +a junction at liberty, in Clay County, and then proceed to Lexington. +Lieut-Col. Scott pushed on to the Blue Mills Landing on the Missouri +River, where he came in contact with a large Secession force. Six +regiments of the Missouri State Guard were there, making their way to +Lexington. + + +209 + +D. R. Atchison, former Senator from Missouri, President of the United +States Senate, and of much notoriety during the Kansas and Nebraska +troubles, took command of this force and attacked Col. Scott, compelling +rapid retreat. Atchison reported to Price the usual story about the +small number under his command and the large force of the Yankees +routed, but this does not harmonize with his praises to Cols. Sanders, +Patten, Childs, Cundliff, Wilfley, and Maj. Gause, each of whom he says +handled his "regiment" with great gallantry. + +Col. Smith met Col. Scott in his retreat, learned from him the +overwhelming force in front, and retreated with him, so that portion of +the relief came to naught. + +Gen. Sturgis moved forward from Mexico with about 4,000 men and reached +the Missouri River, but finding no means for crossing, and surveying the +host that was gathered around the city, retired with such haste as to +leave his tents and camp equipage. + +Gen. Price proceeded with astonishing deliberation, when we consider +that he must have known that Fremont had something over 20,000 men +within striking distance. + +Retreat was still open for Col. Mulligan, as he had two steamboats +at his command, but he felt that his orders obliged him to remain in +Lexington for the protection of much public property which had been +gathered there, and that as his situation was known to Gen. Fremont, +relief would be speedily sent to him. + + +210 + +In the meantime, every hour had swelled Gen. Price's forces. Some of +the Secession writers have claimed that there were actually as many as +38,000 men gathered in his camps. Of course, a large proportion of his +force was useless unless to help beat off a relieving column, because, +owing to the small extent of the position occupied by Col. Mulligan, +only a limited number of men could be employed against it, and 10,000 +were as effective as 100,000. A very large portion of Gen. Price's +forces were men who flocked to his camp as to a picnic or a barbecue, +because something was going on, and they fell away from him again when +he began a backward movement, as rapidly as they came. + +Then ensued for six days a very strange battle. Swarms of Missourians +crowded the ravines in the bluffs, behind trees, stones, the walls, +fences and chimneys of the houses, and whatever else would afford +adequate protection, and kept up an incessant fusillade upon the +garrison safely ensconced behind thick banks of earth. When a squad +occupying a secure shelter grew tired, or had fired away all its +ammunition, it would go back to camp for dinner, when their places would +be taken by others eager to share in the noise and excitement and have +a story to take back home of the number of Yankees who had fallen under +their deadly aim. If all these stories of the men "who had been at +Lexington" could have been true, more men would have been sent to +the grave than answered Lincoln's call for 500,000 volunteers. The +artillerists were as enthusiastic and industrious as the men with +"Yager" rifles and shotguns, and banged away with unflagging zeal and +corresponding lack of mortality. The walls of the college were badly +scarred, but the worst effect was that an occasional shell would take +effect among the horses, and drop on the ground carcasses which speedily +putrified under the hot sun, and added an unbearable stench to the +other hardships of the garrison. + + +211 + +This went on day and night, for the moon was bright, and there was +no reason why a man who had powder and shot, and could not get an +opportunity at any of the coverts during the day, should not put in +pleasantly a few hours at night. + +Naturally a rain of bullets, even though they might hit rarer than +lightning strokes, had a wearing effect on the garrison. + +While this noisy fusillade by the mob of truculent bushwhackers was +going on, there were much more soldierly occurrences by the more +soldierly men on both sides. + +There were sorties and counter-sorties in which the greatest gallantry +was displayed on both sides, and in which substantially all the losses +occurred. The Secessionists captured a Union flag in one of these, which +was balanced by a Secession flag captured by the 1st 111. Cav. Owing to +the great superiority of the enemy in numbers, the finality of all these +was against the garrison, which was everywhere pushed back from +the edges of the bluff, and also from some buildings on the bluffs +overlooking the works. + +Gen. Rains's Division invested the eastern and northeastern position of +Mulligan's works; Gen. Parsons the southwestern, with Clark's Division, +commanded by Col. Congreve Jackson, and Steen's Division as reserves. + + +212 + +Col. Rives, commanding Gen. Slack's Division, occupied the west along +the river bank and captured the steamboats by which Mulligan could +escape or receive reinforcements; Gens. Harris and Mc-Bride extended +this line along the north, cutting off the garrison from all access to +the river and water. This became very effective in forcing surrender, as +not only the men but the animals suffered terribly from thirst. + +By the morning of Sept. 18, six days after the first encounter with the +pickets, Gen. Price had all his forces up and properly disposed about +the garrison. He and his principal subordinates were very weary of +the noisy and fruitless bushwhacking, and eager for something more +conclusive. + +Orders were issued for the whole line to close in upon the Union works, +and they were gallantly responded to and met as gallant resistance from +the beleaguered garrison in the 52 hours of stubborn fighting which +ensued. Col. Congreve Jackson, commanding Gen. John B. Clark's Third +Division, reported that he succeeded in getting to within 460 yards of +the College. + +Col. Benj. A. Rives, commanding Gen. Slack's Fourth Division, says +that after having been driven back by a gallant counter-assault, he got +within 100 yards of the College. + +Gen. Steen lays claim for his division of having defeated Lieut.-Col. +Scott, after which he passed back into the reserve. + + +213 + +Gen. Mosby M. Parsons, commanding the Sixth Division, says that he +reached to within 500 yards of the College, and also crossed the river +with 3,000 men, to repel Sturgis, who "retired in confusion, leaving 200 +of their tents." + +Gen. J. H. McBride, commanding the Seventh Division, says that he +succeeded in forming a breastwork with hemp bales "100 yards from the +enemy's works." + +Gen. Jas. S. Rains says that with the Second Division, numbering 3,025 +rank and file, he succeeded in gaining a position 350 yards north and +500 yards east of the College. + +Gen. Thos. A. Harris does not give the point he reached, but the +concurrent testimony is that he was the closest of all, and is supported +by the fact that his division sustained the heaviest loss. To his +division is due the credit of the famous device of hemp bales as +advancing breastworks. + +Gen. Price quietly appropriates the credit for the device to himself, +saying in his report: + +On the morning of the 20th inst I caused a number of hemp bales to +be transported to the river nights, where moveable breastworks were +speedily constructed out of them by Cols. Harris, McBride, Rives and +Maj. Winston, and their respective commands. Capt. Kelly's battery +was ordered at the same time to the position occupied by Gen. Harris's +force, and quickly opened an effective fire under the direction of its +gallant Captain. + +These demonstrations, particularly the continued advance of the hemp +breastworks, which were as efficient as the cotton bales at New Orleans, +quickly attracted attention and excited and alarmed the enemy. They +were, however, repulsed in every instance by the unflinching courage and +fixed determination of the men. + +Gen. Harris says in his report to Gen. Price: "I then directed Capt. +Geo. A. Turner, of my staff, to request of you 132 bales of hemp, which +you promptly credited. + + +214 + +"I directed the bales to be wet in the river to protect them against the +casualties of fire of our troops and the enemy's, and soon discovered +that the wetting was so materially increasing the weight as to prevent +our men in their exhausted condition from rolling them to the crest of +the hill. I then adopted the idea of wetting the hemp after it had been +transported to this position." + +The credit has also been stoutly claimed for Col. Thomas Hinkle, of +Wellington County, Mo., who two years later was killed in command of +a guerrilla organization. No matter whose, the idea was singularly +effective, and despite the most gallant efforts of the garrison, the +hemp bales were steadily rolled nearer, until by 2 o'clock in the +afternoon of the 20th they were in places as close as from 50 to 75 +yards of the Union works. At this distance it would be easy to mass +an overpowering force behind their cover to rush upon and instantly +overwhelm the garrison. + +The garrison, which had now been fighting for eight long days; which was +so short of ammunition that most of the cartridge boxes were empty, and +there was no supply from which to refill them; which was tortured with +thirst, surrounded with hundreds of animals dying from lack of water, at +last raised the white flag. + +After eight days of waiting there was no more sign of rescue than there +was on the first, and everywhere they could look their enemies swarmed +in apparently limitless numbers. Gen. Price granted the garrison +honorable terms. The officers were to remain as prisoners of war, the +men to lay down their arms, take the oath not to fight any more against +Missouri, and to be sent across the river and allowed to go whither they +would. + + +215 + +With shrewd policy he allowed Col. Mulligan to retain his sword and +showed him a great many civilities. Mulligan was a representative +Irishman, and this would bear fruit in the attitude of the Irish toward +the war. In his report to Gov. Jackson Gen. Price sums up the fruits of +his victory as follows: + +Our entire loss in this series of engagements amounts to 25 killed and +72 wounded. The enemy's loss was much greater. + +The visible fruits of this almost bloodless victory are very +great--about 3.500 prisoners, among whom are Cols. Mulligan, Marshall, +Peabody, White, and Grover, Maj. Van Horn and 118 other commissioned +officers, five pieces of artillery and two mortars, over 8,000 stands of +Infantry arms, a large number of sabers, about 750 horses, many sets of +cavalry equipments, wagons, teams and ammunition, more than 8100,-000 +worth of commissary stores, and a large amount of other property. In +addition to all this, I obtained the restoration of the great seal +of the State and the public records, which had been stolen from their +proper custodian, and about $900,-000 in money, of which the bank at +this place had been robbed, and which I have caused to be returned to +it. + +Of Gen. Price's characteristics that of under-statement was certainly +not one; but there is no use caviling about this, since the disaster was +in all conscience bad enough for the Union side. + +Col Mulligan's official report is not included in the Rebellion Records. +It was quite a rhetorical statement of the affair, with unstinted praise +for his own regiment and Irish valor generally, much condemnation for +the Germans, between whom and the Irish there was at that time a great +deal of feeling, and absolutely ignoring all the rest who participated +in the defense. This was particularly unjust to the 1st ID. Cav. While +the 23d 111. had taken the best and strongest part of the line, the 1st +111. Cav. had defended the weakest and most exposed part, that, too, +with only pistols and sabers, and had captured the only flag taken +during the siege. + + +216 + +The total loss of the garrison is usually given as 39 killed and 120 +wounded. + +Probably Gen. Price in his report only mentioned the losses in his +organized forces. If his wounded did not exceed 72, his men showed +unusual ability in keeping under cover. + +While the loss did not approach that of the desperate fight at Wilson's +Creek, yet it was respectably large according to European standards, the +garrison having lost about six per cent before surrendering. + +Gen. Fremont announced this calamity to Washington in the following +telegrams: + + Headquarters Western Department, St. Louis, Sept. 28, 1861. + I have a telegram from Brookfleld that Lexington has fallen + into Price's hands, he having cut off Mulligan's supply of + water. Reinforcements 4,000 strong, under Sturgis, by + capture of ferryboats, had no means of crossing the river in + time. Lane's force from the southwest and Davis's from the + southeast upwards of 11,000, could not get there in time. I + am taking the field myself, and hope to destroy the enemy + either before or after the junction of forces under + McCulloch. Please notify the President immediately. + + J. C. FREMONT, + + Major-General Commanding. Col. E. D. Townsend, Assistant + Adjutant-General, Headquarters of the Army, Washington, D.C. + + + Headquarters Western Department, Sept 23, 1861. Nothing + since my dispatch of this morning. Our loss 39 killed, 120 + wounded. Loss of enemy, 1,400 killed and wounded. Our non- + commissioned officers and privates sworn and released. + Commissioned officers held as prisoners. Our troops are + gathering around the enemy. I will send you from the field + more details in a few days. + + JOHN C. FREMONT, Major-General Commanding. Hon. S. + Cameron, Secretary of War. + +The patient and much enduring President answered as follows: + + Headquarters of the Army, Washington, Sept. 23, 1861. John + C. Fremont, Major-General Commanding, St Louis, Mo.: Your + dispatch of this day is received. The President is glad that + you are hastening to the scene of action. His words are "He + expects you to repair the disaster at Lexington without loss + of time." WINFIELD SCOTT. + +Fremont began to topple to his fall. + + +217 + + + +CHAPTER XIII. FREMONT'S MARVELOUS INEFFECTIVENESS. + +Gen. Sterling Price had scored a victory which gave him an enduring hold +upon the confidence and esteem of the Missourians. With the least means +he had achieved the most success of any Confederate General so far. His +conduct at the battle of Wilson's Creek had endeared him to the men he +commanded. He exposed himself with utmost indifference to the fiercest +firing, showed good judgment as to movements, was not discouraged after +repeated repulses, and was everywhere animating and encouraging the men +and bringing them forward into line of battle. + +He sympathized with those who were wounded, and had them cared for, and +immediately returned to the fighting with fresh troops. + +It is true, however, that he had shown no generalship, but merely +demonstrated himself a good Colonel, in leading up one regiment after +another and putting them into the fight. + +Lexington brought an immensity of prestige to Price and encouragement to +the Secessionists and did a corresponding injury to the Union cause. It +added immeasurably to the burdens which President Lincoln had to bear. +He could make Brigadier-and Major-Generals, but he could not endow them +with generalship. + +The Senate could confirm them, but they were still more confirmed in the +dull, unenterprising routine of camp and administrative regulations. + + +218 + +The modest bars of a Captain on their shoulder straps had been, as it +were, changed in the twinkling of an eye into the refulgent stars of +a General, but they seemed to take this as a deserved tribute to their +personal worth, rather than as an incentive and opportunity for the +greater things which had made their predecessors illustrious. + +Fremont, in the palatial Brandt Mansion, for which the Government was +paying the very unusual rent of $6,000 per year, was maintaining a vice +regal court as difficultly accessible as that of any crowned head +of Europe. His uncounted and glittering staff, which seemed to have +received the Pentecostal gift of tongues--in which English was not +included--was headed by a mysterious "Adlatus,"--a title before unknown +in America or to the dictionaries, and since retired to oblivion. +Naturally, the Adlatus's command of English was limited. His knowledge +of Missouri was even more so. Though commanding Missouri and dealing +intensely with Missouri affairs, the men surrounding Fremont were +everything but Missourians or those acquainted with Missouri affairs. It +would have been surprising to find one of them who could bound the State +and name its principal rivers. + +This, too, in the midst of a multitude of able, educated, influential +Missourians who were ardent Unionists and were burning with zeal to +serve the cause. Not one of them appears in the Fremont entourage. + + +219 + +Gens. Pope, Sturgis, Jeff C. Davis, Hunter,--all Regulars and trained +to war; Sigel, with his profound theoretical knowledge and his large +experience; Curtis, lately returned to the Army with his military +training supplemented by wide experience in civil life; Hurlbut, the +brilliant orator and politician, were all busily engaged in something +or other that kept them from interfering with Price while he lingered on +the Missouri River gathering up recruits and stripping the Union farmers +of that rich agricultural region of cattle and grain sufficient to feed +his army during the coming Winter, and of horses and wagons to haul off +his spoils and thoroly equip his army with transportation. + +The only really soldierly thing done at this time was by the "political +General,"--the erratic, demagogic, trumpet-sounding "Jim" Lane. He +was commanding men who had come out from home to do something toward +fighting the war and not to stay in camp and be drilled into automatons. +He could only maintain his hold on them and his ascendency in Kansas +politics by action. + +Learning that Price had left a large stock of ammunition at the +important little town of Osceola, the head of navigation on the Osage +River, under strong guard, Lane led his brigade a swift march from +Kansas upon the town, and succeeded in surprising the garrison, which, +after a brief resistance, retreated and left it to Lane's mercy, +whereupon he proceeded to not only destroy the very considerable +quantity of stores which Price had accumulated there, but to burn down +the town. This was an exceedingly ill-advised ending to a piece of +brilliant soldiership, because not only was it injustice to an enemy, +but it was a severe blow upon Union men who owned full one-third of the +property destroyed. + + +220 + +A large number of these were engaged in the trade of the Southwest, for +which Osceola was a distributing center. Goods were brought up the river +during the high water and then shipped through the country by wagons. +The town was also the County seat of St. Clair County, and contained the +public records, etc. + +Still more unfortunate was it that Lane's act was taken as an excuse for +the Missouri guerrillas to retaliate upon Kansas towns and the property +of the Union people in their own State. Lane says in his report: "The +enemy ambushed the approaches to the town, and after being driven from +them by the advance under Cols. Montgomery and Weer, they took refuge in +the buildings of the town to annoy us. We were compelled to shell them +out, and in doing so the place was burned to ashes, with an immense +amount of stores of all descriptions. There were 15 or 20 of them +killed and wounded; we lost none. Full particulars will be furnished you +hereafter." + +This shows that even he felt the necessity of apologizing for the act, +but the apology is too transparent. The fact was that the Kansas men +saw an opportunity to pay back some of their old scores against the +Missourians and did not fail to improve it. + +In spite of Gen. Fremont's promise to the President to "take the field +himself and attempt to destroy the enemy," he moved with exceeding +deliberation. It is true that he left St. Louis for Jefferson City, +Sept. 27, a week after Mulligan's surrender, but that week had been +well employed by Price in gathering up all that he could carry away and +making ready to avoid the blow which he knew must fall. + + +221 + +After arriving at Jefferson City, Fremont, instead of taking the troops +which were near at hand and making a swift rush upon his enemy, the +only way in which he could hope to hurt him, began the organization of +a "grande armee" upon the European model, and that which McClellan was +deliberately organizing in front of Washington. + +The impatient people, who were paying the $3,000,000 a day which the war +was now beginning to cost, and who had begun to murmur for results, were +amused by stories of plans of sweeping down the Mississippi clear to +New Orleans, taking Memphis, Vicksburg and other strongholds on the way, +severing the Southern Confederacy in twain, so that it would fall into +hopeless ruin. + +This was entirely possible at that time with the army that had been +given Fremont, had it been handled with the ability and boldness of +Sherman's March to the Sea. + +Two weeks after Mulligan's surrender Fremont announced the formation of +this grand "Army of the West," containing approximately 50,000 men. This +was grouped as follows: + +The First Division, to which Gen. David Hunter was assigned, consisted +of 9,750 men, and was ordered to take position at Versailles, about 40 +miles southwest of Jefferson City, and became the Left Wing of the Army. + +Gen. John Pope was given command of the Second Division of 9,220 men and +ordered to take station at Boonville, 50 miles northwest of Jefferson +City. His position was to be the Right Wing of the army. + +The Third Division, 7,980 strong, was put under command of Gen. Franz +Sigel, and made the advance of the army, with its station at Sedalia and +Georgetown, 64 miles west of Jefferson City. + + +222 + +The Fifth Division, commanded by Gen. Asboth, had 6,461 men, and +constituted the reserve at Tipton, on the railroad, 38 miles west of +Jefferson City. + +The Fifth Division, 5,388 men, under Gen. Justus McKinstry, formed the +center and was posted at Syracuse, five miles west of Tipton. + +Beside these, Gen. Sturgis held Kansas City with 3,000 men and Gen. +Jas. H. Lane, with 2,500 men, was to move in Kansas down the State line, +between Fort Scott and Kansas City, to protect Kansas from an incursion +in that direction, and as opportunity offered attack Price's flank. + +Thus, there were 38,789 effectives in the five divisions, which with +Sturgis's and Lane's forces made a total force of 44,289, not including +garrisons which swell the total of the army to over 90,000. + +Among these Division Commanders were two whom Fremont had discovered and +created Brigadier-Generals out of his own volition, without consultation +at Washington. + +These were Gens. Asboth and McKinstry. Gen. Alexander (Sandor) +Asboth, born in 1811, was a Hungarian and an educated engineer, with +considerable experience in and against the Austrian army. He had entered +ardently into the Revolution of 1848, and built a bridge in a single +night by which the Revolutionary army crossed and won the brilliant +victory of Nagy Salo. He became Adjutant-General of the Hungarian army, +and when the Revolution was crushed by Russian troops, escaped with +Kossuth into Turkey, came to this country, and became a naturalized +citizen. He was by turns farmer, teacher, engineer, and manufacturer of +galvanized articles. He sided with the Union Germans, went on Fremont's +staff, and was appointed a Brigadier-General. The Senate refused to +recognize the appointment, but in consideration of his good service +he was reappointed, served creditably through the war, was brevetted +a Major-General, and after the war sent as Minister to the Argentine +Confederation, where he died in 1868. + + +223 + +The other, Justus McKinstry, was born in New York and appointed to the +Military Academy from Michigan, where he graduated 40th in the class of +1838, of which Beauregard, Barry, Irvin McDowell, W. J. Hardee, R. S. +Granger, Henry H. Sibley, Edward Johnson and A. J. Smith were members. +He had served creditably in the Mexican War, receiving a brevet for +gallantry at Contreras and Churubusco, and at the outbreak of the war +was a Major and Quartermaster at St. Louis, where he did very much to +frustrate Lyon's plans and was regarded by him as a Secessionist +at heart. He continued to hold his position, however, as Chief +Quartermaster of the Department of the West until Fremont appointed him +Brigadier-General. + +Shortly after Fremont's removal he was placed under arrest at St. Louis +and ordered before a court-martial, which did not convene, and he was +at last summarily dismissed for "neglect and violation of duty, to the +prejudice of good order and military discipline." He became a stock +broker in New York City, and afterwards a land agent at Rolla, Mo. + +It will be seen by the map that the disposition of the troops was good, +and that Fremont had the advantage of short lines from Sedalia and Rolla +to cut Price's line of retreat, recapture the spoils he was hastening to +a place of safely, and destroy, or at least disperse, his army. + + +224 + +Fremont, however, made no use of this advantage, and Price seems to have +had no apprehension that he would. Price remained in Lexington until +Oct 1, serenely contemplating the gigantic preparations made for his +destruction, and then having gathered up all that he could readily get, +and reading Fremont's order for a forward movement of the Army of the +West, thought, like the prudent meadow lark, that probably something +would be now done, and the time had come for moving. He began a +deliberate retreat, crossing the Osage River at Osceola, and reaching +Greenfield, 150 miles away, at the very comfortable pace of 15 miles a +day. + +Gen. Fremont ordered the Army of the West forward, but the so-called +pursuit was very much like hunting a fox on a dray. He was encumbered +with immense trains, for which bridges had to be built over numerous +streams and roads made thru the rough country. The trains seemed to +contain a world of unnecessary things and an astonishing lack of those +necessary. Apparently almost anybody who had anything to sell could find +purchasers among the numerous men about Fremont's headquarters who had +authority to buy, or assumed it. + +One astonishing item in the purchases was a great number of half barrels +for holding water, rather an extraordinary provision in a country like +Missouri, where in the month of October water is disposed to be in +excessive quantities. + +Notwithstanding the astonishing purchase of mules by everybody and +anybody, none of the Division Commanders seem to have had mules enough +to pull their wagons. + + +225 + +The division started out like the horses of a balky team. Gen. Pope, of +the Right Wing, left Jefferson City Oct. 11, Sigel got away from Sedalia +with the Third Division Oct. 13, the same day Hunter left Tipton with +the Left Wing, and Asboth followed on Oct 14. Even when they started +their progress was very slow, for the columns were halted at streams +to build bridges and in the rough countries to wait for the sappers and +miners to make passable roads. + +When one column was halted, all the rest had to do likewise, for though +Price kept the safe distance of 100 miles away, Fremont was in constant +apprehension of battle, and held his columns in close supporting +distance. He did not get across the Osage River until Oct. 25, or nine +days after Price's leisurely crossing that important stream, on the +banks of which it was confidently expected that he would give battle. + +Price, with his diminishing forces, had no such intention, but fell +back toward Neosho, to cover as long as possible the Granby Mines, seven +miles from that place, which were the most important source of lead +for the Southern Confederacy, to which they supplied 200,000 pounds per +month. + +Gov. Jackson took advantage of this breathing spell to call the +Legislature together at Neosho, where it held a two weeks' "rump" +session of the small minority of that body which favored Secession. +They passed an ordinance of Secession and elected Senators and +Representatives to the Confederate Congress, adjourning when they heard +that Fremont had at last passed the Osage. + + +226 + +Then Price took up his line of retreat toward the southern boundary of +the State to get near Gen. Ben McCulloch, who had posted his forces at +Cross Hollow, in Benton County, northwest Arkansas. Gen. Price took +up his position at Pineville, in the extreme southwestern corner of +Missouri, where the rough, hilly country offered great chances to the +defense, and again began communication with Gen. McCulloch to induce him +to unite his force with his own and attack the Union army. + +He had correctly estimated Fremont's generalship, and thought there was +a possibility of massing his and McCulloch's forces, to attack a portion +of Fremont's army, drive it back and defeat him in detail. McCulloch, +in spite of his ranger reputation, entirely lacked Price's aggressive +spirit, and thought that it would be much better to fall back to the +Boston Mountain, about 50 miles farther south, and make a stand there. +He so informed Gen. Price. + +While McCulloch had no disposition to enter Missouri and defend it +against the Union troops, he had no hesitation about treating it as +part of Confederate territory. Desiring to embarrass and delay Fremont's +advance as much as possible, he sent forward his Texas cavalry to burn +the mills, forage and grain as far in the direction of Springfield as +they could safely go, and urged Price to do the same. McCulloch's Texans +soon lighted up the southwest country with burning mills, barns and +stacks. + +To this Gen. Price was bitterly opposed. The mills and grain were in +many instances the property of the Secessionists, and to destroy them +would be to inflict worse punishment on his own people than the Union +commanders had ever done, and would embitter them against his cause. + + +227 + +Price repeatedly represented to McCulloch that altogether they would +have 25,000 men, and if McCulloch did not desire to go forward they +could make a good defensive battle inside the State on the hills around +Pineville. To leave it would cause the loss of very many Missourians who +had enlisted in the State Guard to defend Missouri, and who would feel +that they had no cause to fight outside of the State. + +After crossing the Osage Fremont halted near Connersville, about 25 +miles south of Warsaw, where he crossed the river, and then advanced +with Sigel to Bolivar, on the Springfield road, and sent forward Maj. +Charles Zagonyi with 150 of his famous Body Guard and Maj. F. J. White +with 180 men of the 1st Mo. Cav., to make a reconnoissance in the +direction of Springfield. + +Fremont's Body Guard had played a large part in the pomp and +circumstance of his administration. Maj. Chas. Zagonyi was a picturesque +and effervescent Hungarian, who recounted fascinating stories of +his experience as a subordinate to Gen. Bern during the Hungarian +Revolution. Fremont had authorized him to raise a body guard, in +imitation of the famous troops of Europe, and the novelty of the +organization attracted to it a great number of quite fine young men, +most of whom were from the country around Cincinnati--one company being +from Kentucky. They were formed into three companies, mounted on fine +blooded bay horses, showily uniformed and each armed with two navy +revolvers, a five-barreled rifle and a saber. + +All the officers were Americans except three--one Hollander and two +Hungarians. The members of the Guard, in addition to their expensive +and showy outfit, did not conceal from the other soldiers that they were +picked men and considered themselves superior to the ordinary run, which +did not enhance their popularity with their comrades. + + +228 + +Majs. Zagonyi and White marched all that night, and the next day, about +noon, when about eight miles north of Springfield, learned that there +was a force of at least 1,500 Confederates in the town. + +One of the rebel pickets who had not been captured hastened back +to Springfield and gave the alarm, so that the Confederates were in +readiness for them. Feeling that this would be so, Majs. Zagonyi and +White determined to move around the town and approach it from the west +on the Mt. Vernon road. In this movement White became separated from +Zagonyi, who, about 4 o'clock in the afternoon, came most unexpectedly +upon the Secessionists drawn up in line at the end of a long lane. + +A heavy rail fence intervened between Zagonyi and the head of the lane, +and an opening had to be made through this under a heavy fire from the +enemy. The moment a gap was made, Zagonyi shouted to his men to follow +him, and do as he did, raising the battle cry, "Fremont and the Union." +He dashed gallantly forward, straight for the center of the rebel line, +followed at a gallop by his command. The Confederate fire did fearful +execution upon the Guard as it was crowded in the lane, but in a few +seconds the lane was passed and the cavalry saber began doing its wild +work. + + +229 + +The center of the enemy's lines was at once broken by the terrible +impact of galloping horses and the Confederates began a panicky retreat, +followed by the vengeful horsemen shooting and sabering them as they +ran. The infantry ran through the town to the shelter of the woods, and +the Confederate cavalry fell back down the road, pursued by the Guard +until it was getting nightfall, when Zagonyi recalled them and returned +to the Court House, raised the Union flag from it, released the Union +prisoners confined in the jail, gathered up his dead and wounded, and +after dark decided to fall back until he met the advance of the army. + +He had lost 15 men killed and 26 wounded, and reported that he had found +23 Confederates dead after the charge was over. This brilliant action, +which was then compared with the Charge of the Light Brigade at +Balaklava, redeemed the soldiers of the Guards in the eyes of their +comrades, and it became an honor to belong to that organization. + +The next morning Maj. White reached Springfield with a few Home Guards, +where he found the Confederates still dazed by the occurrences of the +day before, and he was careful not to undeceive them as to his strength. +He solemnly received the flag of truce, said that he would have to refer +the matter to Gen. Sigel, threw out his men as pickets, permitted the +people to bury their dead, and then prudently fell back to meet the +advance of the army. + +Fremont took up his quarters in Springfield, and began ostentatious +preparations for an immediate decisive battle, though Price was then +more than 50 miles away from him. This Fremont should have known, for +in some mysterious manner he was within ready communication with him, +so much so as to be able to conclude the following remarkable convention +which was duly published in a joint proclamation: + + +230 + + To All Peaceably-Disposed Citizens of the State of Missouri, + Greeting: + + Whereas a solemn agreement has been entered into by and + between Maj.-Gens. Fremont and Price, respectively, + commanding; antagonistic forces in the State of Missouri, to + the effect that in the future arrests or forcible + interference by armed or unarmed parties of citizens within + the limits of said State for the mere entertainment or + expression of political opinions shall hereafter cease; that + families now broken up for such causes may be reunited, and + that the war now progressing shall be exclusively confined + to armies in the field: + + Therefore, be it known to all whom it may concern: + + 1. No arrests whatever on account of political opinions, or + for the merely private expression of the same, shall + hereafter be made within the limits of the State of + Missouri, and all persons who may have been arrested and are + now held to answer upon such charges only shall be forthwith + released; but it is expressly declared that nothing in this + proclamation shall be construed to bar or interfere with any + of the usual and regular proceedings of the established + courts under statutes and orders made and provided for such + offenses. + + 2. All peaceably disposed citizens who may have been driven + from their homes because of their political opinions, or who + may have left them from fear of force and violence, are + hereby advised and permitted to return, upon the faith of + our positive assurances that while so returning they shall + receive protection from both the armies in the field + wherever it can be given. + + 3. All bodies of armed men acting without the authority or + recognition of the Major-Generals before named, and not + legitimately connected with the armies in the field, are + hereby ordered at once to disband. + + 4. Any violation of either of the foregoing articles shall + subject the offender to the penalty of military law, + according to the nature of the offense. + + In testimony whereof the aforesaid Maj.-Gen. John Charles + Fremont, at Springfield, Mo., on this 1st day of November, + A. D. 1861, and Maj.-Gen. Sterling Price, at Cassville, Mo., + on this 6th day of November, A. D. 1861, have hereunto set + their hands, and hereby mutually pledge their earnest + efforts to the enforcement of the above articles of + agreement according to their full tenor and effect, to the + best of their ability. + + J. C FREMONT, Major-General Commanding. + + STERLING PRICE, Major-General Commanding. + + +The practical effect of this was that Price was allowed to send such of +his men as he wished home for the Winter, with a safeguard against their +being molested by the Union troops, but it had no effect in protecting +Union men from being harassed by guerrilla tormentors, who cared as +little for conventions and proclamations as for the Sermon on the Mount. + + +281 + +In the meanwhile Fremont's astonishing ill success in purely military +matters, the freely expressed opinion of all who came in contact with +him as to his glaring incompetence, added to the fearful stories of +the corruption of the men immediately surrounding him, were making +his position very insecure. President Lincoln sent his intimate and +life-long friend, David Davis, whom he was about to elevate to the +Supreme Bench, to St. Louis with a commission to investigate the +rank-smelling contracts and disbursements. No report was ever made +public, but it was generally known that they found even worse than they +feared. + +The Secretary of War, Simon Cameron, undertook a tour of investigation +on his own account, accompanied by Adj't-Gen. Lorenzo Thomas. Some of +the things which they found are set forth in the following extracts from +the memorandum from Gen. Thomas to his superior officer: + +Gen. Curtis said of Gen. Fremont that he found no difficulty in having: +access to him, and when he presented business connected with his +command, it was attended to. Gen. Fremont never consulted him on +military matters, nor informed him of his plans. Gen. Curtis remarked +that while he would go with freedom to Gen. Scott and express his +opinions, he would not dare to do so to Gen. Fremont. He deemed Gen. +Fremont unequal to the command of an army, and said that he was no more +bound by law than by the winds. + +Col. Andrews, Chief Paymaster, called and presented irregularities in +the Pay Department, and desired instruction from the Secretary for his +government, stating: that he was required to make payments and transfers +of money contrary to law and regulations. Once, upon objecting to what +he conceived an improper payment, he was threatened with confinement by +a file of soldiers. He exhibited an order for the transfer of $100,000 +to the Quartermaster's Department, which was irregular. Exhibited +abstract of payment by one Paymaster (Maj. Febiger) to 42 persons, +appointed by Gen. Fremont, viz: one Colonel, three Majors, eight +Captains, 15 First lieutenants, 11 Second Lieutenants, one Surgeon, +three Assistant Surgeons; total 42. Nineteen of these have appointments +as engineers, and are entitled to cavalry pay. + + +282 + +Maj. Allen, Principal Quartermaster, had recently taken charge at +St Louis, but reported great irregularities in his Department, and +requested special Instructions. These he deemed important, as orders +were communicated by a variety of persons, in a very irregular manner, +requiring disbursements of money. These orders were often verbally +given. He was sending, under Gen. Fremont's orders, large amounts of +forage from St. Louis to.... where corn was abundant and very cheap. The +distance was 160 miles. He gave the indebtedness of the Quartermaster's +Department in St. Louis to be $4,606,809.73. + +By direction of Gen. Meigs, advertisements were made to furnish grain +and hay, and contracts made for specific sums--28 cents per bushel for +corn, 30 cents for oats, and $17.95 per ton for hay. In face of this +another party at St. Louis--Balrd, or Baird A Palmer (Palmer being of +the old firm in California of Palmer, Cook & Co.)--were directed to +send to Jefferson City (where hay and corn abound) as fast as possible +100,000 bushels of oats, with a corresponding amount of hay, at 33 cents +per bushel for grain and $19 per ton for hay. + +Capt Edward M. Davis, a member of his staff, received a contract by the +direct order of Gen. Fremont for blankets. They were examined by a board +of army officers consisting of Capt Hendershott, 4th U. S. Art, +Capt Haines, Commissary of Subsistence, and Capt Turnley, Assistant +Quartermaster. The blankets were found to be made of cotton and were +rotten and worthless. Notwithstanding this decision they were purchased, +and given to the sick and wounded soldiers in hospitals. + +One week after the receipt of the President's order modifying Gen. +Fremont's proclamation relative to emancipation of slaves, Gen. Fremont +by note to Capt McKeever, required him to have 200 copies of the +original proclamation and address to the army, of same date, printed +and sent immediately to Ironton, for the use of Maj. Gavitt, Indiana +Cavalry, for distribution through the country. Capt McKeever had the +copies printed and delivered. The order is as follows: + + "Adjutant-General will have 200 copies of proclamation of + Commanding General, dated Aug. 30, together with the address + to the army of same date, sent immediately to Iron-ton, for + the use of Maj. Gavitt Indiana Cavalry. Maj. Gavitt will + distribute it through the country. + + "J. C. Ft. + + "Commanding General. + + "Sept. 23, 1861." + +As soon as I obtained a view of the several encampments at Tipton, +I expressed the opinion that the forces there assembled could not be +moved, as scarcely any means of transportation were visible. I saw Gen. +Hunter, second in command, and conversed freely with him. He stated that +there was great confusion, and that Fremont was utterly incompetent; +that his own division was greatly scattered, and the force then present +defective in many respects; that he required 100 wagons, yet he was +ordered to march that day, and some of his troops were already drawn +out on the road. His cavalry regiment (Ellis's) had horses, arms +(indifferent), but no equipments; had to carry their cartridges in their +pockets; consequently, on their first day's march from Jefferson +City, in a heavy rain, the cartridges carried about their persons were +destroyed. This march to Tipton (36 miles) was made on a miry, heavy +earth road parallel to the railroad, and but a little distance from it. +The troops were directed by Gen. Fremont to march without provisions or +knapsacks, and without transportation. A violent rainstorm came up, and +the troops were exposed to it all night, were without food for 24 hours, +and when food was received the beef was found to be spoiled. + + +283 + +Gen. Hunter stated that he had just received a written report from one +of his Colonels, informing him that but 20 out of 100 of his guns would +go off. These were the guns procured by Gen. Fremont in Europe. I may +here state that Gen. Sherman, at Louisville, made a similar complaint +of the great inferiority of these European arms. He had given the men +orders to file down the nipples. In conversation with Col. Swords, +Assistant Quartersmaster-General; at Louisville, just from California, +he stated that Mr. Selover, who was in Europe with Gen. Fremont, wrote +to some friend In San Francisco that his share of the profit of the +purchase of these arms was $30,000. + +Gen. Hunter expressed to the Secretary of War his decided opinion that +Gen. Fremont was incompetent and unfit for his extensive and important +command. This opinion he gave reluctantly, owing to his position as +second in command. + +President Lincoln sent the following characteristic letter to Gen. S. R. +Curtis, who, being in command at St. Louis, was directly accessible, and +a man in whose discretion the President felt he might trust: + + + Washington, Oct 24, 1861. Brig.-Gen. S. R. Curtis. + + Dear Sir: On receipt of this with the accompanying + incisures, you will take safe, certain and suitable measures + to have the inclosure addressed to Maj.-Gen. Fremont + delivered to him with all reasonable dispatch, subject to + these conditions only, that if, when Gen. Fremont shall be + reached by the messenger--yourself or anyone sent by you--he + shall then have, in personal command, fought and won a + battle, or shall then be actually in battle, or shall then + be in the immediate presence of the enemy in expectation of + a battle, it is not to be delivered, but held for further + orders. After, and not until after, the delivery to Gen. + Fremont, let the inclosed addressed to Gen. Hunter be + delivered to him. + + Tour obedient servant, + A. LINCOLN. + +The following decisive order was one of the inclosures: + + + Headquarters of the Army, Washington, Oct. 24, 1861. + + General Orders No. 18. + + Maj.-Gen. Fremont, of the U. S. Army, the present Commander + of the Western Department of the same, will, on the receipt + of this order, call Maj.-Gen. Hunter, of the U. S. + Volunteers, to relieve him temporarily in that command, when + he (Maj.-Gen. Fremont) will report to General Headquarters, + by letter, for further orders. + WINFIELD SCOTT. + + +284 + +A special messenger arrived at Springfield, Nov. 2, with the order, +which created consternation at Fremont's headquarters. It is more than +probable that Fremont felt his elevation to be such that he could try +conclusions with the Administration, and refuse to obey the order. + +There was considerable talk at that time about military headquarters as +to a dictator, and this was so rife about McClellan's that his journal +constantly abounds in allusions which indicate that he was putting the +crown away from him with increasing gentleness each time. There was much +of the same atmosphere about the headquarters of the Army of the West, +and it is claimed that Fremont at first decided not to obey the order, +but on Sigel's urgent representations finally concluded to do so, and +issued the following farewell order to his troops: + + Headquarters Western Department, + + Springfield, Mo., Nov. 2, 1861. Soldiers of the Mississippi + Army: + + Agreeably to orders this day received I take leave of you. + Altho our army has been of sudden growth, we have grown up + together, and I have become familiar with the brave and + generous spirit which you bring to the defense of your + country, and which makes me anticipate for you a brilliant + career. Continue as you have begun, and give to my successor + the same cordial and enthusiastic support with which you + have encouraged me. Emulate the splendid example which you + have already before you, and let me remain, as I am, proud + of the noble army which I had thus far labored to bring + together. + + Soldiers, I regret to leave you. Most sincerely I thank you + for the regard and confidence you have invariably shown me. + I deeply regret that I shall not have the honor to lead you + to the victory which you are just about to win, but I shall + claim to share with you in the joy of every triumph, and + trust always to be fraternally remembered by my companions + in arms. + + J. C. FREMONT, + + Major-General, U. S. Army. + + +285 + +He left at once for St Louis, with his Body Guard for an escort. Though +these men had been enlisted for three years, they were ordered by +Gen. McClellan to be mustered out, and Maj. Zagonyi was offered the +Colonelcy of a new regiment. + +The time and manner of the removal enabled Gen. Fremont's ardent +partisans to complain loudly that he was relieved on the eve of a battle +in which he would have accomplished great things, and was thus denied an +opportunity to achieve lasting fame and render essential service to the +country. The evidence, however, is conclusive that at that time Price +was at Pineville, fully 50 miles away, and in the midst of a very rough +country, instead of being in Fremont's immediate front, as Fremont +certainly supposed. + +Whether he would have accepted battle after Fremont had reached him at +Pineville, is a matter of conjecture. The pressure in favor of Fremont +continued strong enough, however, to bring about the offer of a new +command to him the following year, but it was grotesquely shrunken from +the proud proportions of that from which he had been relieved. It was +styled the Mountain Department, and embraced a large portion of +West Virginia. Even in this restricted area he again failed to give +satisfaction. + +June 8, 1862, he fought an indecisive battle against Stonewall Jackson +at Cross Keys, took umbrage at being placed under the command of +Gen. John Pope, whom he had once commanded, asked to be relieved +from command, and joined the ranks of the bitter critics of President +Lincoln's Administration, though still retaining his commission and pay +as a Major-General. + +He still thought his was a name to conjure with, and May 31,1864, +accepted the nomination for President from a convention of dissatisfied +Republicans assembled at Cleveland, resigning his commission at last, +June 4, 1864. + + +286 + +The chill reception with which the country received his nomination at +last disillusionized even him, and in September he withdrew from the +field, to clear the way for Lincoln's re-election. He then became +connected with the promotion of a Pacific railway over the southern of +the routes which he had surveyed, lost his money and property in the +course of time, appealed to Congress for relief, and in 1890 was +by special act put on the retired list of the Army with the rank of +Major-General. + + +237 + + + +CHAPTER XIV. THE SAD RETREAT FROM SPRINGFIELD. + +The partisans of Gen. Fremont bitterly blamed Gen. David Hunter for +having intrigued to succeed Fremont, and they rejoiced that his tenure +of that office proved to be so short-lived. This was both fallacious and +unjust. + +Gen. David Hunter, while not of the highest type of military ability, +was yet far above mediocrity. He was one of the best examples of the Old +Regular Army officer--thoroughly devoted to his profession, a master of +all its details, incorruptible, inflexible, and intolerant to all whose +character and conduct lowered the standard of what Hunter thought an +American officer should be. + +He was born in the District of Columbia, graduated from West Point in +1822, 25th in a class of 40 members, and had an extensive experience in +Indian fighting, commanding for several years a troop of dragoons. He +resigned in 1836, but re-entered the Army in 1842 as a Paymaster and +served as Chief Paymaster of Gen. Wool's Division in the Mexican War. + +At the outbreak of the war of the rebellion he had been made Colonel +of the 6th U. S. Cav.--a new regiment--and commanded a division at Bull +Run, where he showed great gallantry and was wounded. He had been sent +out to Fremont as his second in command and adviser, in the hope that +he would control in some measure the commander's erratic course and be +instrumental in promoting better methods in his administration. + + +238 + +He was true to his duties in communicating to his superiors just what he +found in the Department of the West and properly representing Fremont's +incompetence. It was not intended that he should have permanent command +of the army, and probably no man was less desirous that he should be +than he himself, for he had a modest opinion of his own abilities and +never hesitated to subordinate himself when he thought another man would +do better in the place. + +The command was given him merely as a stop-gap until another commander +could be determined upon. + +In the same envelope which contained Lincoln's letter to Gen. Curtis +inclosing the order for the supersedure of Gen. Fremont, was another +reading as follows: + + Washington, Oct. 24, 1861. To the Commander of the + Department of the West + + Sir: The command of the Department of the West having + devolved upon you, I propose to offer you a few suggestions. + Knowing how hazardous it is to bind down a distant commander + in the field to specific lines and operations, as so much + always depends on a knowledge of localities and passing + events, it is intended, therefore, to leave a considerable + margin for the exercise of your judgment and discretion. + The main rebel army (Price's) west of the Mississippi is + believed to have passed Dade County in full retreat upon + northwestern Arkansas, leaving Missouri almost freed from + the enemy, excepting in the southeast of the State. + Assuming this basis of fact, it seems desirable, as you are + not likely to overtake Price, and are in danger of making + too long a line from your own base of supplies and + reinforcements, that you should give up the pursuit halt + your main army, divide it into two corps of observation, + one occupying Sedalla and the other Rolla, the present + termini of railroad; then recruit the condition of both + corps by reestablishing and improving their discipline and + instruction, perfecting their clothing and equipments, and + providing less uncomfortable quarters. Of course, both + railroads must be guarded and kept open, judiciously + employing just so much force as is necessary for this. 'From + these two points, Sedalia and Rolla, and especially in + judicious cooperation with Lane on the Kansas border, it + would be so easy to concentrate and repel an army of the + enemy returning on Missouri from the southwest that It is + not probable any such attempt to return will be made before + or during the approaching cold weather. + + +289 + + Before Spring the people of Missouri will probably be in no + favorable mood to renew for next year the troubles which + have so much afflicted and impoverished them during this. If + you adopt this line of policy, and if, as I anticipate, you + will see no enemy in great force approaching, you will have + a surplus of force, which you can withdraw from these points + and direct to others, as may be needed, the railroads + furnishing ready means of reinforcing their main points, if + occasion requires. Doubtless local uprisings will for a time + continue to occur, but these can be met by detachments and + local forces of our own, and will ere long tire out of + themselves. + + While, as stated in the beginning of the letter, a large + discretion must be and is left with yourself, I feel sure + that an indefinite pursuit of Price or an attempt by this + long and circuitous route to reach Memphis will be + exhaustive beyond endurance, and will end in the loss of the + whole force engaged. Your obedient servant, + + A. LINCOLN. + + +This letter, undoubtedly dictated by McClellan, who was then +the dominant military influence at Washington, is yet strikingly +characteristic of President Lincoln, and abounds in that profound common +sense which made him easily the first General of the War. + +The army was already 125 miles away from its base of suppliess on the +railroad, with a terrible rough intervening country. Consequently, the +problem of supplying it was of momentous seriousness and the expense +appalling. + +Though in the midst of a region of wonderful fertility, with its crops +gathered in barns, no one seems to have though of utilizing these. They +left them for Price to gather in, while they hauled their supplies from +Rolla. Our officers as yet were only in the primer class in war. + + +240 + +The letter also shows the firm hold of the prevailing opinion that +Secession was only a temporary madness, from which the people would +recover when the Winter gave them time to reflect and reason. Probably +this would have been the case had the Government put forth its power +with crushing effectiveness. But the first year of the war was to end +with the Secessionists successful almost everywhere, and big scores +to their credit in Missouri. The fresh disaster at Ball's Bluff on the +Potomac unnerved many loyal people. + +Possibly President Lincoln did not anticipate that his suggestions would +be carried out so literally. His best information was that Price's army +had virtually gone to pieces, and that by taking post at Sedalia +and Rolla the central and southwestern parts of the State could be +effectually controlled by parties sent out from there. He could not +have conceived that Price had a strong, compact, aggressive army well +in hand, and that the new commander of the Department of the West would +march away from it without striking a blow or making a manuver to reduce +its capacity for harmfulness. + +Certainly some shreds of Lyon's mantle must have fallen on that proud +array of new-made Generals, and they would insist on striking a quick, +sharp blow, as a return for Lexington, for the honor of the Union +army, and to curb Price's rising conviction that he was an irresistible +conqueror. + +But the next day after receiving his assignment to command, Gen. Hunter +made a reconnoissance in force to the battlefield of Wilson's Greek, +where Fremont had persisted in believing that Price was waiting to give +him battle. He found no enemy on the scene of the terrible battle of two +months before. Instead, all his information was to the effect that Price +was among the rugged fastnesses about Pineville, 50 miles away, with +McCulloch still farther off in the Boston Mountains. + + +241 + +Hunter therefore ordered his columns to countermarch and proceeded to +carry out the President's instructions promptly and exactly. + +This backward movement, without a blow at Price, abandoned the whole of +the Union loving country of southwestern Missouri to the Secessionists, +and was a measureless calamity. + +The Union people, taking heart from the advance of Fremont with his +great army, had returned to their homes and attempted to re-establish +themselves upon their farms and in their business. All these hopes were +suddenly dashed to the ground by the retirement of the army, and they +had to flee again in haste before the immediate advance of Price to +occupy the abandoned region. + +It was not his army which was so terrible, but the horde of guerrilla +bands, which rushed out like venomous serpents after a warm rain, intent +upon rapine, outrage and murder. It was the "Poor White Trash" let +loose under such leaders as Quantrill, the Young-ers, Jameses, Haywards, +Freemans, and a thousand others of bandit infamy. + +Aside from these calamities, the retreat, added to Price's victory at +Lexington, was a most stifling moral depression of the Union sentiment +in Missouri. + +While the condition of things in the greater central and southwestern +parts of Missouri had been grievously unsatisfactory for many weeks, +and seemed to be growing steadily more so, it was otherwise in the +southeastern section. + + +242 + +The so-called Ozark Mountains, which are really a series of rough, +picturesque highlands, separating the watersheds of the Missouri and the +Arkansas Rivers, begin on the Mississippi at the mouth of the Meramec +River, 20 miles below St. Louis, and extend along the Mississippi, +rising frequently into cliffs of limestone 350 feet high, to Gape +Girardeau, 44 miles above Cairo, Ill. + +This range, less than 100 miles wide, one of the richest in the world in +minerals, sinks away on the north and west to the valleys of the Osage +and the Missouri and the prairies which stretch across Kansas and the +Indian Territory to the Rocky Mountains. To the southeast it falls into +the lowlands and swamps along the Mississippi, making there a separate +and distinct section--about the size of Connecticut--and of entirely +different character from the rest of the State. Over 3,000 square miles +of this--or nearly three times the size of Rhode Island--are swamps +thickly wooded with towering cypresses, and covered with jungles +impenetrable to man. The principal town In the region was New Madrid, a +fever-smitten little village on the banks of the Mississippi, 44 miles +below Cairo. It had once much promise, but the terrible earthquakes +of 1811-12 had seamed the surrounding country with great crevices and +gulches, adding hopelessly to its forbidding character, and giving a +mortal blow to New Madrid's expectations. + +The region was drained--as far as it was drained--by the St. Francis +River, a considerable stream, navigable nearly to the Missouri line, and +emptying into the Mississippi nine miles above Helena, Ark. + +Besides the Mississippi River there were then two routes of access from +St. Louis to this region. One was by the Iron Mountain Railroad, which +ran through the Ozarks to Pilot Knob, 84 miles from the city, and the +other by common road through Fredericktown, 105 miles from St. Louis. + + +243 + +Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston--regarded by Jefferson Davis as a great +military genius, and appointed to command the entire Confederate army +in the West--had some idea of moving an army up through the swamps to +these roads, flanking the Union position at Cairo and taking St. Louis. +The St. Francis River would aid in supplying the army. His immediate +subordinate, Maj. Gen. Polk, was still more in favor of the plan, and it +went in this proportion down through Gen. Gideon Pillow, with his "Army +of Liberation," to the most enthusiastic advocate, of the scheme, +our poetical acquaintance, Gen. M. Jeff Thompson, file "Swamp Fox of +Missouri." The idea was to move in concert with Price coming up from the +southeast. + +Maj.-Gen. Leonidas Polk, C. S. A., who had been placed in command of +the Mississippi River, and subsequently had the States of Arkansas +and Missouri added to his Department, had gathered about him in the +neighborhood of Memphis some 25,000 or 30,000 Mississippi, Louisiana, +Tennessee and other troops, with which, scorning Kentucky's claim of +neutrality, he advanced to Columbus, Ky., the terminus of the Mobile & +Ohio Railroad, and 20 miles from Cairo, Ill. Upon the high bluff there +he proceeded to construct one of those "Gibraltars" so numerous in the +early history of the war. + +With the force at his command and the opposition he was likely to meet +from the Union commanders in southeast Missouri, a march on St. Louis +by the roads indicated was a promising venture. Besides the forces +immediately around him, he had control of McCulloch's, Pearce's and +Hardee's columns in Arkansas, and potential control of Price's and +Thompson's Missouri forces, making altogether an aggregate approaching +70,000 men. + + +244 + +But he hesitated, while Pillow fretted and fumed, and wrote that while +he honored his superior officer as a prelate and admired him as a +patriot, he had small opinion of his military judgment. + +M. Jeff Thompson, who had no mean opinion of his own abilities, wrote +to Jefferson Davis that what the Southern Confederacy needed in that +quarter was "a first-class leader," and he cast a unanimous vote for +himself for that position. + +In the meantime an event occurred as to the significance of which Polk, +Pillow and Thompson were as unappreciative as the country at large. + +In August, U. S. Grant, lately commissioned a Brigadier-General, was +sent down to Cape Girardeau to look after matters in southeast Missouri, +including Cairo, Ill., and he took with him his former regiment, +the 21st Ill., to the command of which Col. John W. S. Alexander had +succeeded. A peculiarity of Gen. Grant, which President Lincoln speedily +noticed, was that wherever he was "things kept moving." There were no +grand reviews, no sounding proclamations, no sensational announcements +of plans, but somehow everybody about him was found to be speedily +employed in an effective way against the enemy. But little clamor ever +came from Grant for reinforcements or additional strength. If he was +given a thousand men he at once set them to work doing all that 1,000 +men were capable of. Given 2,000 men he would do twice as much, and +so on. If supplies were not furnished him, he gathered them from the +surrounding country, giving vouchers carefully based on the prevailing +market rates. If no wagons or teams were at hand, he impressed them and +gave vouchers. + + +245 + +As unassertive and modest as Grant seemed to be, he had a remarkable +faculty for bringing in everybody near him and securing from them prompt +and energetic obedience to his orders. + +Among Gen. Grant's subordinates was our old acquaintance, Capt. J. B. +Plummer, who had done such good work at Wilson's Creek and who was now +in command of the 11th Mo. There was also Col. W. P. Carlin, a Captain +in the Regular Army, whom the Governor of Illinois had wisely made +Colonel of the 88th 111. Carlin, a graduate of West Point in the class +of 1850, was a somewhat austere, highstrung man, wrapped up in his +profession, an excellent soldier, and feverishly anxious to do his duty +and justify his promotion to the important position he held. + +Like all Regulars he was jealously sensitive about his rank, and one +of his first performances was insistence that he outranked Col. C. E. +Hovey, of the 33d Ill., and should therefore have command of the post. +Hovey, who had been Principal of the Normal Institute before becoming +a Colonel, felt that his position had been quite as high as that of a +Captain in the Regular Army, and his men, who entered warmly into the +dispute, could hardly understand how the Colonel of the 38th Ill. could +outrank the Colonel of the 33d, and though they at last gave way, there +was some bitterness of feeling. + + +246 + +Though Gen. Grant had only about 14,000 men all told, he kept Johnston, +Polk and Thompson, with their 30,000, so well employed guarding points +that he threatened, or might take without threatening, that their +superiority was neutralized and they were kept on the defensive. + +Burning with desire to do something, M. Jeff Thompson, who, in spite of +his gasconade, was really a brave, enterprising man, and a good deal of +a soldier, started out from Columbus early in October with some 2,000 +men, expecting to be joined by other forces on the way, capture Ironton +and Frederick-town, open up the road for Pillow's columns to St. Lous, +and to co-operate with Gen. Price. + +He went down the river in boats to New Madrid and there began a march +across the country toward Bloomfield, which was to become the base of +so many of his subsequent operations. Leaving his infantry under the +command of Col. Aden Lowe, of the 3d Mo. State Guards, a prominent young +attorney and politician, to follow more slowly, Thompson pushed on with +500 mounted men, whom he calls "dragoons," made a wide circuit, and +struck the railroad north of Ironton at Big River Bridge, only about +40 miles from St Louis. He had made astonishing progress so far, and +jubilantly reported to Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston, who had come to +Columbus to watch the movement, that his men were so anxious to fight +that he reached his objective point two days ahead of the appointed +time. + + +247 + +At the Big River Bridge he struck a small company of a somewhat noted +regiment, the 33d Ill. (the Normal Regiment), largely made up of +students and teachers in the Normal Institute of Illinois, who, despite +the disparity in numbers, gave him a sharp little fight, in which he +lost two killed and quite a number wounded. He reported having captured +45 prisoners, with a quantity of supplies, and succeeded in burning +the bridge across the river. While engaged in distributing the supplies, +another company of the 33d Ill., hearing the noise, came up to the +assistance of their comrades, and Thompson had another fight on his +hands, in which he admits he lost four men killed and quite a number +wounded, but insists that he "killed another lot of the enemy and took +10 prisoners." He said he "had the enemy terribly frightened," and that +if Albert Sidney Johnston had the rest of his men in striking distance +that he could take Ironton, with its 12,000,000 rations stored for the +Winter, in an hour. + +Johnston transmitted Thompson's report to Richmond with a complimentary +indorsement. Thompson also reported having received several hundred +recruits and captured about 17,000 pounds of lead. These were destined +to be the last of his rejoicings for some time. + +Thompson sent word to all the commanders of Confederate forces in the +neighborhood to join in his attack on Ironton, promising them victory +and unlimited spoils. + +Gen. Grant ordered Col. Carlin to move forward with his force from Pilot +Knob and attack Thompson's main body, which was then in the neighborhood +of Fredericktown. He also ordered Col. J. B. Plum-mer to march from Cape +Girardeau, strike at Thompson's line of retreat, and endeavor to capture +his whole force. + + +248 + +Thompson had cunningly magnified the number of his troops, and Plummer +and Carlin were both impressed with the idea that he had somewhere in +the neighborhood of 5,000 or 6,000 men and was likely to be joined by +Gen. Hardee's column from Pocahontas, Ark., with many more. + +Grant, with that accurate knowledge of his enemy which was one of his +conspicuous traits and never failed him at any time during the war, +informed them that Thompson had only between 2,000 and 3,000 men. As +usual in Grant's operations, the columns moved on time and arrived when +expected. + +Col. Carlin moved Oct. 20 from Pilot Knob with about 3,000 men made up +of the 21st Ill., Col. Alexander; 33d HI., Col. C. E. Hovey; 38th Ill., +Maj. Gilman; 8th Wis., Col. Murphy; part of the 1st Ind. Cav., Col. +Conrad Baker, and some of the guns of the 1st Mo. Art., under the charge +of Maj. Schofield. + +Col. Plummets column, about 1,500 strong, consisted of the 17th Ill., +Col Ross; 20th Ill., Col. Marsh; 11th Mo., Lieut.-Col. Panabaker; Lieut. +White's section of Taylor's Illinois Battery, and two companies of +cavalry commanded by Capts. Stewart and Lan-gen. + +Col. Plummer moved to Dallas, on Johnston's line of retreat, and there +sent through a messenger to Col. Carlin, stating where he was and +what his intentions were, so that the two forces could cooperate. +The messenger was captured by some of the Missourians, and therefore +Thompson came into possession of the plans of his enemies. He moved back +with his train until he saw it safely on its way to Greenville, and +then returned with his command toward Fredericktown to accommodate his +opponents with a fight if they desired it and to gain time for his train +to get back to Bloomfield and New Madrid. + + +249 + +Not finding Thompson at Dallas, Col. Plummer moved up to Fredericktown, +arriving there at noon, Monday, Oct. 21, and found that Col. Carlin +had arrived with his forces about 8 o'clock in the morning. There was +immediately one of those squabbles over rank which were so frequent +on both sides during the early part of the war and not absent from its +history at any time. + +In spite of being a younger man than Col. Plummer, a younger Captain in +the Regular Army, and in spite of Plummer's experience in the Mexican +War and at Wilson's Creek, Carlin insisted upon the command of the +whole, upon the grounds that he had been commissioned a Colonel Aug. +15, and by the Governor of Illinois; while Plummer's commission was from +Fremont. Carlin insisted that he had a plan by which Thompson's whole +force could be captured, but was at length induced to yield the command +to Plummer, who went ahead with the combined force to attack Thompson, +leaving Carlin, who was exhausted and ill, in town with a portion of his +command. + +Possibly, what helped induce Carlin to yield was the knowledge of an +agreement between Col. Plummer and Col. Ross, of the 17th Ill., who +outranked both of them, that if Carlin persisted in his claim, Ross +should assert his seniority and take command of the whole. Carlin +retained the 8th Wis. and two 24-pound howitzers in Fredericktown to +hold the place, while Plummer took the rest of the force and started out +in search of Thompson. + +He did not have to go very far. + + +250 + +A half mile from town shots were heard, and the cavalry came back with +the information that the enemy was just ahead. The leading infantry +regiment, the 17th Ill., went into line to the left and moved forward +into a cornfield, where the enemy's skirmishers were immediately +encountered. + +Lieut. White came up with his section of artillery and opened fire upon +a hill about 600 yards distant where it was likely that Thompson had his +artillery masked. Thompson's guns could not stand the punishment quietly +and opened up only to be speedily suppressed by other guns which Maj. +Schofield hurried up to join two which had been firing. + +Col. Lowe, commanding the Missouri State Guards, first engaged, was soon +shot through the head and his regiment began falling back before the +steady advance of the 17th Ill., to which was soon added the fire of the +33d Ill. and a part of the 11th Mo. + +At first the Missourians fell back steadily, but after the rough +handling of the artillery their retreat became a rout and Col. Baker +dashed forward with the 1st Ind. Cav. in pursuit.. A half mile in the +rear Thompson succeeded in rallying his men and also brought one piece +of artillery into action, receiving the cavalry with a fierce volley, by +which Maj. Gavitt, who had been active and prominent in the operations +in that section, and Capt. Highman were killed. + +Notwithstanding this, the cavalry rallied, charged, and took the gun, +which they had, however, to soon give up under a charge led by Thompson +himself. + + +251 + +The 17th Ill. had already secured one gun, and now as the infantry +came up Thompson's men broke and retreated rapidly in every direction. +Hearing the noise of the fighting, Col. Carlin arose from a sick-bed, +galloped to the battlefield, and took command of a part of the troops. +The pursuit was continued by the infantry for 10 miles, and by the +cavalry 12 miles farther, when it was decided that Thompson's men had +scattered and gained a refuge in the swamps, and that further pursuit +would be useless. + +Plummer recalled his forces to Fredericktown. He claims that he took 80 +prisoners, of whom 38 were wounded, and buried 158 of Thompson's dead, +with other bodies being found from time to time in the woods. His own +loss he reports as six killed and 16 wounded. + +Thompson reported that he had lost 20 killed, 27 wounded, and 15 +prisoners, but that he "had mowed down the enemy as with a scythe;" +that "they acknowledge a loss of 400 killed and wounded," etc, etc. He +admitted he had lost one cannon by its being disabled so that it could +not be brought from the field. He said that his "dragoons" had stampeded +in a shameful way, but that his infantry had behaved very well. +Later, he reported from New Madrid that his command was "very much +demoralized." + +Gen. Polk seems to have been much depressed by the news of Thompson's +defeat, because he ordered an abandonment of the post at New Madrid and +the bringing over of the men and guns to his "Gibraltar" at Columbus. + +Gen. Grant, though probably disappointed at the failure of his plans to +capture Thompson's force, was careful to write complimentary letters to +all the commanders, recognizing their good services in the expedition. + + +262 + +The fight at Fredericktown quieted things pretty effectually in +southeastern Missouri, and ended for a long while the project of +capturing St Louis by the New Madrid route. + +Gen. Grant was preparing some startling things to occupy the attention +of Johnston, Polk and Pillow in quite another quarter. + + +263 + + + +CHAPTER XI. GEN. H. W. HALLECK IN COMMAND. + +Henry Wager Halleck, who succeeded Gen. Fremont in command of the +Department of Missouri, Nov. 9, 1861, had been pointed to as a +brilliantly shining example of what West Point could produce. He was +born in 1819 near Utica, N. Y., of a very good family, and had graduated +July 1, 1839, from West Point, third in a class of which Isaac +I. Stevens, afterward to conclude a brilliant career by dying a +Major-General on the field of battle, was the head. Other conspicuous +members of the class were Maj.-Gens. James B. Ricketts, E. O. C. Ord, +H. J. Hunt, and E. R. S. Can-by, of the Union army, and A. R. Lawton, a +Confederate Brigadier-General. Halleck was commissioned in the Corps of +Engineers, and during the Mexican War received a couple of the brevets +so easily won in that conflict. + +With his attainments and cast of mind, he made an admirable staff +officer for Commodore Shubrick and Gens. Mason and Riley in their +administration of California while the territory was being reduced to an +American possession. He became a Captain in his Corps in 1852, but the +opportunities in California were so tempting, that he resigned to enter +the practice of the law and embark in various business enterprises of +railroad building and quicksilver mining. He was unusually successful +in all these, becoming Director-General of the New Almaden Quicksilver +Mining Company, President of a railroad, and a member of a leading law +firm. He kept up his military connection by accepting the commission of +Major-General commanding the California Militia. + + +264 + +He was a constant student and a ready writer, and during this time +published a number of military and scientific books, some of which were +original and others translations. + +Intellectually, professionally and socially he stood very high, and +the bestowal of a Major-General's commission upon him, dating from Aug. +19,1861, met with universal approval, though it gave him seniority in +that coveted rank to many distinguished soldiers. At that time Halleck +was in his 46th year and the very prime of his powers. He was tall, +spare, and commanding in figure, with a clean-shaven, authoritative, +intellectual face in which men read great things. He had large, +searching eyes, which seemed to penetrate the one with whom he was +talking. As far as education and observation could go, Halleck was +as complete a soldier as could be produced. Whatever could be done by +calculation and careful operation, he could do on a high plane. He only +lacked military instinct and soldierly intuition. Of that moral force +which frequently overleaps mere physical limitation he seems to have had +little, nor could he understand it in others. + +There was in him none of the fiery zeal of Lyon, or the relentless +pugnacity of Grant; apparently these qualities were so absent in him +that he did not know how to deal with them in others. He never put +himself at the head of his troops to lead them in battle. + + +255 + +He could build up, block by block, with patient calculation, without +comprehension that somewhere might be a volcanic energy suddenly +unloosed which would scatter his blocks like straws. + +If he had political convictions, they were so unobtrusive as to be +rarely mentioned in connection with him. Probably his views were the +same as generally prevailed among the Regular Army officers of that day +which were represented by the attitude of the Douglas Democrats and "Old +Line Whigs." + +He believed, above all things, in law and system, and wanted all the +affairs of this world to go ahead in strict accordance with them. The +soldier epithet of "Old Brains" was bestowed upon him, and he seemed to +relish the appellation. + +In the long and specific letter of instructions accompanying his +assignment to command, Gen. McClellan directed him to carefully +scrutinize all commissions and appointments, and revoke those not +proceeding from the President or Secretary of War; to stop all pay and +allowances to them, and if the appointees gave any trouble, send them +out of the Department, and if they returned, place them in confinement. +He was to examine into the legality of all organizations of troops +serving in the Department, and deal with those unauthorized in a similar +summary way. All contracts were to be rigidly probed, and payment +suspended on those of which there was the slightest doubt. All officers +who had in any way violated their duty to the Government were to be +arrested and brought to prompt trial. + + +256 + +Halleck began at once to justify the high expectations entertained +of him. Order and system followed the erratic administration of his +predecessor. Soldiers were subjected to vigorous discipline, but they +were given the supplies to which they were entitled, and they were made +to feel that they were being employed to some purpose. + +The futile and aggravating marches made in pursuit of the elusive +guerrillas and bushwhackers, who were never caught, were replaced by +well-directed movements striking at the heart of the trouble. + +Acting under Gen. Price's orders sometimes, but frequently under their +own impulses to commit outrages, inflict blows, and create excitement, a +large part of the State was covered by bands of guerrillas who appeared +as citizens, were well armed, rode good horses, and were annoyingly +successful in sweeping down on the railroad stations, water tanks, +bridges, and settlements of Union people, burning, destroying, and +creating havoc generally. + +Gen. Halleck proclaimed martial law, and issued an order that any +man disguised as a peaceful citizen, if caught in the act of burning +bridges, etc., should be immediately shot. The troops proceeded to +execute this order with good hearts. A large number of the offenders +were shot down in the neighborhoods where they had committed their +offenses; others were taken before a military commission and condemned +to the same fate. + +Gens. Pope, Prentiss, Schofield and Henderson were given sufficient +forces and ordered to move directly upon the more important bodies of +Secessionists who formed a nucleus and support for these depredators. +They all did so with good effect. + +Gen. Prentiss moved against a force about 3,000 strong operating in +Howard, Boone and Calloway Counties, and succeeded in striking them very +heavily at Mount Zion Church, where they were dispersed with a loss of +25 killed, 150 wounded, 30 prisoners, 90 horses, and 105 stands of arms. + + +257 + +Gen. Pope operating from Sedalia achieved even better success, capturing +Col. Robinson's command of 1,300 men and about 60 officers, 1,000 horses +and mules, and 73 wagons loaded with powder, lead and supplies and 1,000 +stands of arms. + +Gen. Prentiss very effectually cleaned out the State north of the +Missouri River, and in conjunction with Gen. Pope's operations south of +it, made it so threatening for Gen. Price, who had advanced to the Osage +River to support the Secessionists there, that he broke up his camp and +rather hurriedly retreated to Springfield. + +The year 1861 therefore ended with the Union men again in possession of +nearly four-fifths of the State, with their hands full of prisoners and +supplies captured from the enemy. + +The Secessionists of St. Louis had been encouraged by the untoward +course of events in the East. After Bull Run had come the shocking +disaster of Ball's Bluff, and with Gen. Price only a short distance away +on the Osage threatening Jefferson City and north Missouri, they felt +their star in the ascendant, and became unbearably insolent. Gen. +Halleck repressed them with a vigorous hand, yet without causing +the wild clamor of denunciation which characterized Gen. Butler's +Administration of New Orleans. + + +258 + +It will be remembered that at that time it was thought quite the thing +for young Secessionist women to show their "spirit" and their devotion +to the South by all manner of open insult to the Yankee soldiers. +Spitting at them, hurling epithets of abuse, and contemptuously +twitching aside their skirts were regarded as quite the correct thing +in the good society of which these young ladies were the ornaments. +This had become so intolerable in New Orleans, that Gen. Butler felt +constrained to issue his famous order directing that women so offending +should be treated as "women of the town plying their vocation." This +was made the pretext of "firing the Southern heart" to an unwarranted +degree, and Jeff Davis issued a proclamation of outlawry against Ben +Butler, with a reward for his head. + +Sanguine Secessionists hoped that this "flagrant outrage" by "Beast +Butler" would be sufficient cause for the recognition of the Southern +Confederacy by France and England. + +Gen. Halleck met the same difficulty as Butler very shrewdly. The Chief +of Police of St. Louis had some measure of control over the disreputable +women of the city, and made law for them. Under Gen. Hal-leek's order he +instructed these women to vie with and exceed their respectable sisters +in their manifestations of hostility to the Union cause and of devotion +to the South. Where the fair young ladies of the Southern aristocracy +were wearing Secession rosettes as big as a rose, the women of the +demimonde sported them as big as a dahlia or sunflower. Where the +young belle gave a little graceful twitch to her skirts to prevent any +possible contamination by touching a passing Yankee, the other class +flirted theirs' aside in the most immodest way. It took but a few days +of this to make the exuberant young ladies of uncontrollable rebel +proclivities discard their Secession rosettes altogether, and subside +into dignified, self-respecting persons, who took no more notice of a +passing Union soldier than they did of a lamp-post or tree-box. + + +259 + +Another of Gen. Halleck's orders did not result so happily. It will be +remembered that Gen. Fremont declared free the slaves of men in arms +against the Government, and that their freedom would be assured them +upon reaching the Union lines. + +In the inflamed condition of public sentiment in the Border States on +the negro question this was very impolitic, and the President promptly +overruled the order. + +Gen. Halleck went still further in the issuance of the following +order, which created as intense feeling in the North as Gen. Fremont's +"Abolition order" had excited in the Border States: + +It has been represented that important information respecting: the +number and condition of our forces is conveyed to the enemy by means of +fugitive slaves who are admitted within our lines. In order to remedy +this evil, it is directed that no such persons be hereafter permitted to +enter the lines of any camp, or of any forces on the march, and that any +now within such lines be immediately excluded therefrom. + +It was particularly distasteful to the Radicals in Missouri who had been +represented by Gen. Fremont. During his administration the Union +party in the State had divided into two wings--the Radicals and the +Conservatives, who soon came to hate each other almost if not quite as +badly as they did the Secessionists. The Radicals, or, as their enemies +called them, "the Charcoals," were largely made up, as before stated, of +the young, aggressive, idealistic Germans who had poured into Missouri +after the suppression of the Rebellion of 1848, and who looked upon +slavery as they did on "priest-craft" and "despotism"--all monstrous +relics of barbarism. They had absolutely no patience with the "peculiar +institution," and could not understand how any rational, right-thinking +man could tolerate it or hesitate about sweeping it off the earth at +the first opportunity. Those of them who had gone into the army had only +done so to fight for freedom, and without freedom the object of their +crusade was lost. + + +260 + +The German newspapers attacked Halleck with the greatest bitterness, +meetings were held to denounce him and secure his removal, and strong +efforts were made to obtain Sigel's promotion to a Major-General and his +assignment to the command. + +Gen. Halleck, in a letter to F. P. Blair, explained and justified this +order, as follows: + +Order No. 3 was, in my mind, clearly a military necessity. Unauthorized +persons, black or white, free or slave, must be kept out of our camps, +unless we are willing to publish to the enemy everything we do or intend +to do. It was a military, and not a political order. + +I am ready to carry out any lawful instructions in regard to fugitive +slaves which my superiors may give me, and to enforce any law which +Congress may pass. But I cannot make law, and will not violate it. You +know my private opinion on the policy of confiscating the slave property +of the rebels in arms. If Congress shall pass it, you may be certain +that I shall enforce it. + +Among other well-taken measures was the passage of a law by Congress +authorizing the enrollment of citizens of Missouri into regiments to +be armed, equipped and paid by the United States, but officered by the +Governor of Missouri, and employed only in the defense of the State. +This had many advantages besides giving the services to the Government +of about 13,000 very good soldiers. It brought into the ranks many +wavering young men who did not want to fight against the Union, nor did +they want to fight against the South. To enlist for the "defense of the +State" satisfied all their scruples. + + +261 + +The time had come when every young man in the State had to be lined up +somewhere. He could not remain neutral; if he was not for the Union he +would inevitably be brought into the Secession ranks. + +The law authorized the necessary staff and commanding officers for +this force, and prescribed that it should be under the command of a +Brigadier-General of the United States selected by the Governor of +Missouri. + +Our old acquaintance, John M. Schofield, Gen. Lyon's Chief of Staff at +the battle of Wilson's Creek, who had since done good work in command of +a regiment of Missouri artillery, was commissioned a Brigadier-General +to date from Nov. 21, 1861, and put in command of the Missouri Enrolled +Militia, beginning thus a career of endless trouble, but of quite +extended usefulness. + +It will be remembered that Brig.-Gen. U. S. Grant, recently promoted +from the Colonelcy of the 21st Ill., had been relieved from his command +at Jefferson City, and sent to that of a new district consisting of +southeast Missouri and southern Illinois. He had made his headquarters +temporarily at Cape Girardeau, to attend to M. Jeff Thompson, who was +determined to lead the way for Gens. Leonidas Polk and Gideon Pillow +into St. Louis by the Mississippi River route. Grant, as we have seen, +organized his movements so well that Thompson was driven back from +Fredericktown and Ironton with some loss, and returned to his old +stamping-ground at New Madrid, below Columbus, Ky., where Polk had +established his headquarters and the fighting center of the Confederacy +in the West. + + +262 + +Polk was reputed to have at that time some 80,000 men under his command, +and Grant, following his usual practice of getting into proximity to his +enemy, transferred his headquarters to Cairo, where, also in accordance +with his invariable habit, he begun to furnish active employment for +those under him in ways unpleasant for his adversary. An enemy in the +territory assigned to Gen. Grant was never allowed much opportunity to +loll in careless indolence. This idiosyncrasy of Gen. Grant made him +rather peculiar among the Union Generals at that stage of the war. + +Two days after Grant arrived at Cairo he learned that Gen. Polk was +moving to take Paducah, at the mouth of the Tennessee River, 45 miles +above Cairo. This was a most important point, as a lodgment there would +have stopped navigation on the Ohio, and absolutely controlled that +on the Cumberland and Tennessee. Grant at once decided that he would +anticipate him and telegraphed for permission to St. Louis, but his +telegram and another one still more urgent received no attention, and +he proceeded to act on his own volition, loading his men on the steamers +and starting for Paducah in the night, arriving there in the morning, +thereby anticipating the rebel advance some six or eight hours. This was +characteristic of Grant's other operations around Cairo, and it was not +long until he had that point not only free from apprehension as to what +Polk might do against it with his mighty army, but he had Polk becoming +anxious as to what Grant might do against him at Columbus, which he had +proclaimed as the "Gibraltar of the West." + + +263 + +Everywhere in his district Grant had introduced the best discipline +into the force of 20,000 men which he had collected. He had looked +out carefully for their wants, and had them well supplied, and he was +gaining their confidence as well as his own by well directed movements +which always led to considerable results. + +Fremont, who had at last started out in his grand movement against +Price, was fearful that Price's army might be strongly reinforced by +Polk from Columbus, and it was made Grant's duty to prevent this. + +Grant with his habitual boldness had been desirous of moving directly +against Columbus, but the reputed strength of the works and the force +there made the suggestion carry shivers to the minds of his superiors, +where the memories of Bull Run and Ball's Bluff were so painfully +recent. But if Grant was not allowed to do one thing, he would always +do another. He heard of a force under M. J. Thompson, numbering about +3,000, on the St. Francois River, about 50 miles to the southwest of +Cairo, and promptly started Col. Richard J. Oglesby with about 3,000 men +to beat up Jeff Thompson and destroy him. + +Later he ordered Col. W. H. L. Wallace to take the remainder of the +11th Ill., and some other troops to move after Oglesby, to give him help +should he need it. + +Soon after, believing that Jeff Thompson had gotten out of Col. +Oglesby's reach, he sent another order to Oglesby to move directly upon +New Madrid and take the place. This was a bold performance, for the +capture of New Madrid would have placed him on the Mississippi below +Columbus and cut off Polk's principal line of supplies. + + +264 + +Urgent dispatches continued to come from Fremont to prevent any +reinforcement of Price from Columbus, and Grant started in to impress +Gen. Polk with the idea that he would have quite enough to attend to at +home. He sent orders to Gen. C. F. Smith, commanding at Paducah, to send +a column out to threaten Columbus from that side, and to Col. Marsh to +advance from Mayfield, Ky., and Grant himself, gathering up about 3,000 +men from the troops he had around Cairo, embarking them on steamers, and +under the convoy of two gunboats (the Lexington and Tyler), steamed down +the river directly for Columbus, 20 miles away. + +Nov. 6 the flotilla dropped down the river to within six miles and in +full view of Columbus, and landed a few men on the Kentucky side. This +was to still further confuse the mind of Gen. Polk, and make him believe +that he must expect an attack on the land side in co-operation with the +forces advancing from Paducah and from Mayfield directly in front of +Cairo. + +Gen. Grant says that when he started out he had no intention of making +a fight, and of course did not contemplate any such thing as a direct +attack with the force he had upon the immensely superior numbers at +Columbus, but he saw his men were eager to do something, and that +they would be greatly discontented if they returned without a fight. +Therefore, on learning that the enemy was crossing troops to the little +hamlet of Belmont, opposite Columbus, presumably with the intention +of cutting off and crushing Oglesby, he resolved to strike a blow, and +determined to break up the small camp at Belmont, which would give the +enemy something else to think about. + + +265 + +About an hour after daybreak he began landing his men on the west side +of the Mississippi River, while the gunboats moved down a little further +and waked up the enemy by throwing shells into the works at Columbus. +Grant handled his men with the skill he always displayed on the field of +battle, pushing forward the main body through the corn fields and +woods, but leaving a regiment in a secure position in a dry slough as +a resource for an emergency. They with the gunboats were to protect the +transports. + +Gen. Polk probably saw all this, but interpreted it as a mere feint +to get him to send troops across the river and thus strip his +fortifications so as to make easier the work of the columns advancing +from Paducah and Mayfield. He therefore held his men with him and did +not interfere with Grant's movements. + +Grant pushed on through the cornfields and woods for a mile or more, +and then rearranged his lines and pushed forward a heavy line of +skirmishers. By this time the enemy in camp at Belmont had learned of +the movement, and started out to meet it. The two lines of skirmishers +soon came in contact, and there was a spiteful, bickering fire opened +between them. Both sides were expert woodsmen and riflemen, and thoroly +at home at this kind of work. The Union line pressed the Confederates +slowly back for four hours, receiving and inflicting considerable +losses. Grant's horse was shot under him, but he got another, and kept +his place in the advance, directing and encouraging the men, whom he +says acted like veterans and behaved as well as any troops in the world +could have done. + + +266 + +He pushed the enemy so closely that when the latter reached the abatis +they broke into confusion and rushed over the river bank for shelter, +yielding possession of their camp to the victorious Unionists. + +This triumph completely intoxicated the victors. They broke ranks, threw +down their guns, began rummaging through the camps for trophies, running +up and down and cheering wildly. Their officers were no better than +they. Many of them had been political "spellbinders" in civil life and +very naturally proceeded to "improve the occasion" by getting on +stumps and delivering enthusiastic Union speeches and addresses of +congratulation over the gallantry of their men and the wonderful victory +achieved. In vain did Gen. Grant try to recall them to a sense of +soldierly duty and discipline. He alone appeared to comprehend the +object of the expedition, and what was necessary to be next done. He +could not rally enough men to go down the river bank and capture +the garrison which was sheltered there. A number of the men who were +attracted by the captured cannon began firing them with great jubilation +down the river at steamboats which they saw there, and Grant tried to +have them, since they would fire guns, turn them upon the steamers which +were coming across from Columbus loaded with troops. Polk had at last +waked up to what was being done across the river, and began a fire upon +Belmont from his siege guns, while he hurried troops aboard steamers to +recover the lost position. + + +267 + +The shells began to startle the exultant soldiers, and Grant took +advantage of this to employ them in setting fire to the tents and other +camp equipage. Presently the sky of victory was overcast by the sudden +announcement that the rebels were in line of battle between them and the +transports, and that they were cut off and surrounded. The exultation of +victory was followed by almost a panic, but Grant steadied them with +the quiet assurance "We have cut our way in here, and we can cut it out +again." This was taken up by the officers as they reformed their men for +the battle. + +Again the skirmish line was pushed forward in search of the enemy, but +he offered only a moderate resistance, and the troops made their way +back to the transports with little difficulty, though the excitement was +tremendous. + +The commanders of the gunboats had kept alert, and came promptly forward +to engage the guns on the Columbus bluffs and later to discourage the +pursuing rebels with liberal volleys of grape and canister, which, as +the bend of the river gave them an enfilade on the river line, were +delivered with great effect and considerable slaughter. + +The troops were gotten again on board the transports without any +particular trouble, though about 25 wounded were left in the hands of +the enemy. The Union troops had brought off about 175 prisoners and two +guns, besides spiking four other cannon. + +While the wounded were being gathered up and brought aboard, Gen. Grant +rode out some distance to reconnoiter, and almost rode into a body of +the enemy. He turned and made his way back to the transports, which +were just starting; the Captain recognized him, and held his boat for +a moment while Gen. Grant's horse slipped down the steep bank and then +trotted on board over the single gangway. The expedition returned to +Cairo immediately. + + +268 + +Gen. Grant officially reported his losses as 485 in killed, wounded +and missing. Gen. Polk officially reported his losses as killed, 105; +wounded, 419; missing, 117; total, 641. He estimated the Union losses +at 1,500; "fourteen-fifteenths of that number must have been killed, +wounded or drowned." He also said that he had a stand of colors, +something over 1,000 stand of arms, with knapsacks, ammunition, and +other military stores. + +Medical Director J. H. Brinton gives the following list of losses by +regiments: + + Command. Killed. Wounded + + 27th Ill. Vol.......................... 11 47 + + 80th Ill. Vol......................... 9 27 + + 31st Ill. Vol.......................... 10 70 + + 22d Ill. Vol........................... 23 74 + + 7th Iowa Vol........................... 26 93 + + Cavalry and Artillery................. 1 11 + + Total.................................. 80 322 + +While Gen. Grant and the officers and men under him regarded the +affair as a great victory, and deservedly plumed themselves upon their +achievements that day, there was a decidedly different opinion taken +in the North, and the matter has been the subject of more or less sharp +criticism ever since. It was pronounced by the McClellan-Halleck school +of military men as a useless waste of men in gaining no object, and +probably the most charitable of Gen. Grant's critics could find no +better excuse for him than that he was like the man in the Bible who had +bought two yoke of oxen and wanted to go and try them. All this did not +disturb the equanimity of Gen. Grant and his men in the least. He +knew he had accomplished what he had set out to do, to give Gen. Polk +something else to occupy his mind than capturing Oglesby or reinforcing +Thompson and Price. + + +269 + +Col. Oglesby made his way unmolested back to Cairo. Polk was probably +beginning to think that he would have quite enough to do to stay in +Columbus, and his dreams as to St. Louis were dissipated. + +Gen. Grant's men knew that they had met their enemies on equal terms in +the open field, and had driven them, whether they were in their front or +rear, and so they were content. + +The Confederates of course proclaimed a great victory, and made the +most of it. Albert Sidney Johnston enthusiastically congratulated Polk, +Jefferson Davis did the same, and the Confederate Congress passed +a resolution of thanks to Maj.-Gen. Polk and Brig.-Gens. Pillow and +Cheatham and the officers and soldiers under their commands. + +The battle was the occasion of still further increasing the bitterness +between Polk and his insubordinate subordinate, Gideon J. Pillow, who +resigned his commission, and sent to the Confederate War Department a +long and bitter complaint against Gen. Polk, a large part of which was +taken up with charges against his superior for non-support when he, +Pillow, was engaged in a terrible struggle on the west side of the +river with a force "three times my own." Pillow asserted that he had +repeatedly driven back the Unionists at the point of the bayonet, after +his ammunition had been exhausted, and no more was furnished him by Gen. +Polk. He said that Polk had thus needlessly sacrificed many brave men, +and that a like, if not greater, calamity was possible if he were to +continue in command. "His retention is the source of great peril to +the country." Pillow said: "As a zealous patriot, I admire him; as +an eminent minister of the Gospel, I respect him; but as a Commanding +General I cannot agree with him." + + +270 + +Southeastern Missouri had, therefore, a season of rest for some time. + + +271 + + + +CHAPTER XVI. HUNTER, LANE, MISSOURI AND KANSAS. + +Maj.-Gen. David Hunter felt that fortune was not smiling on him +according to his deserts. He had graduated from West Point in 1822, +and had been in the Army 39 years, or longer than any but few of the +officers then in active employment. He was a thorough soldier, devoted +to his profession, highly capable, inflexibly upright, strongly +loyal, an old-time friend of President Lincoln, and enjoyed his full +confidence. He had done a very painful piece of necessary work for the +Administration in investigating the conditions in Gen. John C. Fremont's +command, faithfully reporting them, and in relieving that officer, +thereby incurring the enmity of all his partisans. Then he had handed +the command over to Maj.-Gen. H. W. Hal-leck, who had graduated 17 years +later than he, and who had been seven years out of the Army. + +Gen. Hunter had been assigned to Kansas, which was created a Department +for him, but it had few troops, and was remote from the scene of +important operations. He was particularly hurt that Brig.-Gen. Don +Carlos Buell, 19 years his junior, should be assigned to the command +of a splendid army of 100,000 men in Kentucky; and Brig.-Gen. Thos. W. +Sherman, 14 years his junior, should be selected to lead an important +expedition to the coast of South Carolina and Georgia. + + +272 + +Like the faithful soldier he was, however, he made little plaint of his +own grievances, but addressed himself earnestly to the work to which he +was assigned. He soon had other troubles enough to make him forget his +own. His hardest work was to keep the Kansans off the Missourians. In +the strained and wavering conditions of public opinion, every effort had +to be made to prevent any pretext or incentive to take the young men +of Missouri into the ranks of Price's army. Gen. Halleck estimated that +indignation at the border raids of Lane, Jennison and Montgomery had +given Price fully 20,000 men. The years of strife along the borders +had arrayed the people in both States against one another. Every Kansan +considered every Missourian the enemy of himself and the State, and the +feeling was reciprocated by the Missourians. + +For years Kansas had been inflicted with raids by the "Poor White +Trash," "Border Ruffians," and "Bald Knobbers," who had, beside +committing other outrages, carried off into Missouri horses, cattle, +furniture, farm implements, and other portable property. + +The Kansans held all Missourians responsible for these crimes by +the worser element, and the war seemed a chance to get even. When +opportunity offered, Kansas parties invaded Missouri, bringing back with +them everything which they could load on wagons or drive along the road. + + +273 + +The great mass of the Missourians still held aloof from both sides, +remaining as neutral as they would be allowed. Douglas Democrats, +Bell-and-Everett Old-Line Whigs, two-thirds of the entire population, +were yet halting between their attachment for the Union and their +political and social affiliations. It was all-important that they should +be kept loyal, or at least out of the Confederate camps, hence the +stringency of Halleck's orders against any spoliations or depredations +by Union troops, and hence his orders that the negroes should be kept +out of the camps, and their ownership settled by the civil courts. Every +offense by Union soldiers was made the most of by Price's recruiting +agents to bring into their ranks the young men for the "defense of the +State." + +At the head of the vengeful Kansas element was the meteoric James H. +Lane, who had for years ridden the whirlwind in the agitation following +the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Bill, and the rush of settlers into +those Territories. Volumes have been written about "Jim Lane," but the +last definitive word as to his character is yet to be uttered. Arch +demagogue he certainly was, but demagogues have their great uses in +periods of storm and stress. We usually term "demagogues" those men +active against us, while those who are rousing the people on our +own side are "patriotic leaders." No man had more enemies nor more +enthusiastic friends than "Jim Lane." + +As with all real leaders of men, the source of his power was a mystery. +Tall, thin, bent, with red hair, a rugged countenance and rasping voice, +he had little oratorical attractiveness, and what he said never read +convincingly in print. No man, however, ever excelled him before an +audience, and he swayed men as the winds do the sea. + + +274 + +Lane was born in Lawrenceburg, Ind., in 1814, and was therefore 47 years +of age. His father was Amos Lane, a lawyer of great ability, a member of +Congress, and conspicuous in Indiana. James H. Lane went into politics +at an early age, and entered the Mexican War as Colonel of the 3d Ind., +distinguishing himself at Buena Vista, where he was wounded. Upon the +expiration of the term of service of his regiment he raised the +5th Ind., and became its Colonel. This gave him quite a prestige in +politics, and he was elected Lieutenant-Governor, and Representative +in Congress. The atmosphere of Indiana was, however, too quiet for his +turbulent spirit. He broke with his party, joined in the rush to Kansas, +and speedily became the leader of the out-and-out Free State men. On the +strength of his Mexican War reputation these elected him Major-General +of their troops, in the troubles they were having with the Pro-Slavery +men and the United State troops sent to assist in making the Territory a +Slave State. When the Free State men gained control of the Territory, +he was made Major-General of the Territorial troops. His principal +lieutenants were James Montgomery and Dr. Charles R. Jenni-son, brave, +daring men, colleagues of "Old Osawatomie Brown," entertaining the same +opinions as he with regard to slavery, and with even fewer scruples than +he as to other forms of property. + + +275 + +When the United States troops were assisting the Pro-Slavery men, +Montgomery and Jennison went into active rebellion at the head of some +hundreds of bold, fighting men--"Jayhawkers"--who carried terror into +the ranks of their adversaries. They insisted that they were acting +according to the light of their own consciences and the laws of God. +So terrible did they become that, Nov. 26, 1860, Geo. M. Beebe, +Acting Governor of the Territory, reported to President Buchanan +that Montgomery and Jennison, at the head of between 300 and 500 +"well-disciplined and desperate Jayhawkers," equipped with "arms of the +latest and most deadly character," had hung two citizens of Linn +County, and frightened 500 citizens of that County into flight from the +Territory. One of their number having been captured, was about to be +brought to trial before the United States District Court at Fort Scott, +and what they alleged was a packed jury. They had proceeded to so +frighten the court that the Judge and Marshals incontinently fled to +Missouri, leaving a notice on the door that there would be no session +of the court. Therefore Gov. Beebe humanely recommended to the President +that Montgomery and Jennison be immediately killed, as there would be no +peace in the Territory until they were. + +In spite of Lane's constant prominence, there was always a faction in +Kansas as bitterly his enemies as his friends were enthusiastic for +him, and it was ever a question which of the two were the stronger. It +demanded his utmost activity and cunning to keep himself on top. Upon +the admission of the State, Lane succeeded in having himself elected +Senator, but the legality of the proceeding was questioned and this +called for more activity to keep himself at the front. + + +276 + +When the Union army retreated after the battle of Wilson's Creek, Aug. +10, there went back with it the 1st and 2d Kan.--all the organized +troops the State had in the field. This left the border exposed to the +vengeance of Price's on-sweeping hordes, who made loud threats of what +they proposed to do. Lane sounded the trumpet. Wilson's Creek with Bull +Run had awakened the people to the stern realities of the contest, and +there speedily gathered into camp the men who formed the 3d, 4th, 5th, +6th and 7th Kan., Montgomery becoming Colonel of the 3d Kan.; Jennison +of the 7th (Jennison's Jayhawkers). Lane took command of the troops +assembled at Fort Scott, moved out aggressively on Price's flank, gave +Rains, who was in command there, a sharp skirmish at Dry Wood, and his +manuvers were so menacing that Price called Rains back when within five +miles of the Kansas line, relinquishing his cherished idea of "scourging +the Abolitionist nest," and pushed on to Lexington. Lane then made +a dash into Missouri in Price's rear, fought a lively skirmish at +Papinsville, and followed up the retreating Confederates, capturing +Osceola, as has been previously stated. + +After Gen. Hunter assumed command Lane reappeared with a commission +as Brigadier-General of Volunteers, of which he had beguiled President +Lincoln, and began playing a game which gave intense annoyance to the +bluff, straightforward old soldier. To Hunter he represented that he was +there merely as a Senator and a member of the Senate Military Committee, +which latter he was not. To the President and War Department he +represented that he and Hunter were in brotherly sympathy and +confidence, and planning a movement of mighty importance. The "sympathy" +and "confidence" part were believed so completely, that the War +Department did not take the trouble to communicate with Hunter in regard +to the details of the proposed movement. + + +277 + +To his friends and to the press he talked magniloquently about a grand +"Southern expedition" to be made up of 8,000 or 10,000 Kansas troops, +4,000 Indians, seven regiments of cavalry, three batteries of artillery, +and four regiments of infantry from Minnesota and Wisconsin, which he +would command. It would move from Kansas down into Texas, and there +meet an expedition coming up from the Gulf of Mexico. The War Department +seems to have been impressed with the feasibility of this, and began +ordering troops, officers and supplies to Fort Leavenworth to report to +"Brig.-Gen. James H. Lane." + +Lane's enemies as well as his friends in Kansas heartily approved of +this, as it would take him away from Kansas, and the Kansas Legislature +united in a request to have him appointed a Major-General, as that would +vacate his seat in the Senate. + +General-in-Chief McClellan "invited" Gen. Hunter's attention to the +proposed expedition, and suggested that he prepare for it and report +what might be necessary. Gen. Hunter replied that he had had no official +information as to the expedition, and gently complained that the War +Department seemed entirely unmindful of the Commander of the Department, +and had consistently ignored him. As to the expedition, he regarded it +as impracticable. It was 440 miles from Leavenworth to the nearest point +in Texas, and the road was over a wild, barren country, which would +require an immense train of supplies for the troops. He had in the +Department only about 3,000 men, entirely too few to successfully defend +Fort Leavenworth and its valuable supplies against a raid such as Price +and McCulloch were continually threatening. He said he knew no such +person as "Brig.-Gen. J. H. Lane," to whom so many came with orders +to report. He also said that Lane himself now saw that he had raised +expectations which he could not fulfill, and that he was seeking to +pick a quarrel with the Department Commander to give him an excuse for +dropping the whole business, and was making himself very annoying in a +thousand ways. + + +278 + +Secretary Stanton was profoundly distrustful of Lane, and said that +he would leave the Cabinet rather than put him in independent command. +Finally the matter came to President Lincoln, who wrote the following +characteristic letter: + + Executive Mansion, Washington, Feb. 10. Maj.-Gen. Hunter and + Brig.-Gen. Lane, Leavenworth, Kan.: + + My wish has been and is to avail the Government of the + services of both Gen. Hunter and Gen. Lane, and, so far as + possible, to personally oblige both. Gen. Hunter is the + senior officer, and must command when they serve together; + tho in so far as he can, consistently with the public + service and his own honor, oblige Gen. Lane, he will also + oblige me. If they cannot come to an amicable understanding, + Gen. Lane must report to Gen. Hunter for duty, according to + the rules, or decline the service. + + A. LINCOLN. + + +Lane, who then thought his seat in the Senate safe, decided that he +would rather serve his country in the forum than in the field, and his +commission was cancelled. Five years later, dismayed to find he had lost +his hold on the people of Kansas by his support of Andrew Johnson, he +ended his strange, eventful history with a pistol-shot from his own +hand. + +Gen. Hunter having reported that the division of Kansas from Missouri +was unwise, the Department was merged into Gen. Halleck's command, and +Gen. Hunter assigned to duty in South Carolina. + + +279 + +Gen. Halleck's laboriously elaborate system received a little shock so +ludicrous as to be almost incredible were it not solemnly told in an +official communication by himself to Gen. Sterling Price: + + St Louis, Jan. 27, 1862. Maj.-Gen. Sterling Price, + Commanding, etc., Springfield, Mo. General: A man calling + himself L. V. Nichols came to my headquarters a day or two + since, with a duplicate of your letter of the 12th instant. + On being questioned, he admitted that he belonged to your + service; that he had come in citizen's dress from + Springfield, avoiding some of our military posts and passing + through others in disguise, and without reporting himself to + the Commander. He said that he had done this by your + direction. On being asked for his flag of truce, he pulled + from his pocket a dirty pocket-handkerchief, with a short + stick tied to one corner. + +Gen. Halleck then proceeded to read Gen. Price a lecture on the +etiquette of flags of truce. + +A feature of peculiar pathos was the war storms' reaching and rending of +the haven of refuge which the Government had provided for its wards in +the Indian Territory. More than a century of bitter struggling between +the Creeks, Seminoles, Cherokees, Choctaws, and Chickasaws, and the +Carolinians, Georgians, Floridians, Alabamians, and Mississippians, +marked by murderous massacres and bloody retaliations, had culminated +in the Indians being removed in a body from their tribal domains, +and resettled hundreds of miles west of the Mississippi, where it was +confidently hoped they would be out of the way of the advancing wave of +settlement and out of the reach of the land-hungry whites. Their mills, +churches, and school houses were reerected there, and the devoted +missionaries, the Congregationalists, Methodists, Baptists, Moravians +and Jesuits resumed with increased zeal the work of converting them to +Christianity and civilization, which had been so far prosecuted with +gratifying success. + + +280 + +In their new home they had prospered wonderfully. Their numbers +increased until they were estimated from 100,000 to 120,000. Many of +them lived in comfortable houses, wore white men's clothes, and tilled +fields on which were raised in the aggregate great quantities of wheat, +corn, cotton and potatoes. They had herds of horses, cattle, sheep and +swine large beyond any precedent among the whites. It was common for +an Indian to number his horses and cattle by the thousands, while the +poorest of them owned scores which foraged in the plenty of limitless +rich prairies and bottom land. Churches, school houses and mills +abounded, and they had even a printing press, from which they issued a +paper and many religious and educational works in an alphabet invented +by a full-blood Cherokee. Each tribe constituted an individual Nation +under a written Constitution, with a full set of elective officers. +Slavery had been introduced by the half-breeds, and the census of +1860 shows the following number of slaves and slave-owners in the five +Nations: + + Owners. Slaves. + + Choctaws..........................385 2,297 + + Cherokees.........................384 2,604 + + Creeks............................287 1,661 + + Chickasaws........................118 917 + + Semlnoles..................... ....-- ------. + +One Choctaw owned 227 negroes. + +Into the Territory the Government also gathered other tribes and +remnants of tribes, Quapaws, Kiowas, Senecas, Comanches, etc., mostly +in the "blanket" stage of savagery. + + +281 + +The dominant sentiment in the civilized tribes was strongly averse to +the war and in favor of peace. The memories and traditions as to the +meaning of war were too fresh and grievous. The object lessons as to the +advantage of peace were everywhere striking and overwhelming. They hoped +to maintain a complete neutrality in the struggle, and pleaded to be +allowed to do so. June 17, 1861, John Ross, Principal Chief of the +Cherokees, wrote a long official letter to Gen. Ben. McCulloch, in which +he said that his people had done nothing to bring about the war, were +friends to both sides, and only desired to live in peace. + +As in the rest of the South, the Confederates were not listening to any +talk of neutrality, and they proceeded as energetically to stifle it as +they had the Union and peace advocates in the several Southern States. +All the Indian Agents and officials were ardent Secessionists, and +at the head of them was Superintendent Albert Pike, originally a +Massachusetts Yankee, and the son of a poor shoemaker. He had gone South +as one of the numerous "Yankee schoolmasters" who invaded that section +in search of a livelihood, had become a States Rights Democrat, and, +as usual with proselytes, was the most zealous of believers. He was a +lawyer of some ability, a successful politician, an active worker in +Masonry, and made much pretense as a poet. Nothing that he ever wrote +survives today. + +[Illustration: 281-General Albert Pike] + +Each of the Indian Agents began enlisting men into the Confederate +service and using them to impose Secession ideas upon their +fellow-tribesmen who were either indifferent or actually hostile. + + +282 + +The missionaries, being mostly from the North, were strongly for the +Union, and their influence had to be encountered and broken down. + +The Indian Agents were commissioned Colonels in the Confederate service, +and were expected to raise regiments, with the Chiefs as subordinate +officers. The leader among the Agents was Douglas H. Cooper, Agent for +the Choctaws, a man of courage, decision and enterprise, who raised a +regiment mainly of the half-breeds of the Choctaws and Chickasaws. + +The Cherokee regiment was almost wholly half-breeds, with Stand Waitie, +a half-breed, courageous, implacable, merciless, as its Colonel. Albert +Pike was rewarded for his great service in bringing the Indians into +line with a commission of Brigadier-General, C. S. A., and placed in +command of the whole force. + +Principal Chief John Ross temporarily bowed to superior force and gave +his adhesion to the Southern Confederacy. A large portion of his people +would not do this. They, with a similar element in the other Nations, +gathered around the venerable Chief Hopoeithleyohola, nearly 100 years +old, and whose span of life began before the Revolutionary War. He had +been a dreaded young war leader against Gen. Jackson in the sanguinary +scenes at Fort Mimms, Tallapoosa, and Red Sticks in 1813-14. When he was +a boy his people were allied with the Spaniards in Florida to resist the +British encroachments upon their tribal empire in Georgia. When he was +a War Chief, the British at Pensacola and Mobile had put muskets and +ammunition into his hands for his men to resist the North Carolinians, +Georgians, Tennesseeans and Kentuckians. In every decade he had fought +and treated with the grandfathers and fathers of the same men who were +trying to coerce him. + + +283 + +Every battle and every treaty had ended in a further spoliation of the +"hunting grounds" of his people. He was now to end his career as +he began, and consistently pursued it, in stern resistance to his +hereditary enemies. He calculated that he could put into the field about +1,500 reliable, well-armed warriors, who would be more than a match for +the Indians who had entered into the Confederate service. If the white +Confederates came to their assistance, he could make an orderly retreat +into Kansas, where he hoped to receive help from Union troops, if they +should not have advanced before then. + +Col. Douglas H. Cooper was sent against him, and at first tried +diplomacy, but the wily old Hopoeithleyohola had seen the results of +too many conferences, and refused to be drawn into one. Cooper then +assembled a force of 1,400 men, consisting of some companies of white +Texas cavalry and the Chickasaw, Creek, and Seminole regiments, under +their War Chiefs, D. N. Mcintosh and John Jumper, and moved out to +attack Hopoeithleyohola, who beat them back with considerable loss. + +The advance of Gen. Fremont called for the concentration of every +available man to oppose him, so Hopoeithleyohola was given a few weeks' +respite. As soon, however, as the Union army retreated to Rolla and +Sedalia, Col. Cooper resumed his operations against Hopoeithleyohola, +who at Chusto-Talasah, Dec. 9, inflicted such a severe defeat upon him +that Cooper retreated in a crippled condition to Fort Gibson. There Col. +James Mcintosh, commanding the Confederate forces at Van Buren, Ark., +went to his assistance with some 1,600 mounted Texans and Arkansans, and +the combined force closed in upon the Union Indians at Shoal Greek. + + +284 + +Hopoeithleyohola and his Lieutenant, Haleck-Tustenugge, handled their +men with the greatest skill and courage in an obstinate battle, but +after four hours of resistance the overpowered Union Indians were +driven, pursued by Stand Waitie's murderous half-breeds, who took no +men and but few women and children prisoners. Back over the wide, +shelterless prairie, bitten by the cruel cold and pelted by the storms +of an unusually severe Midwinter, Hopoeithleyohola led his defeated +band to a refuge in far-away Kansas. The weather was so severe that Col. +Cooper reports some his men as frozen to death as they rode along, but +the scent of blood was in the half-breed Stand Waitie's nostrils, and he +pressed onward remorselessly. + +More than 1,000 men, women and children of Hopoeithleyohola's band +left their homes to whiten and mark the dismal trail, and the aged Chief +himself died shortly after reaching Fort Scott, where he was buried with +all the honors of war. + +Upon the fertile Indian Territory descended the war storm which +blighted the work of the missionaries, and completely ruined the +fairest prospects in our history for civilizing and Christianizing +the aborigines. When the storm ended, one-quarter of the people had +perished, the fences, houses, mills, schoolhouses and churches were all +burnt, and the hundreds of thousands of horses, cattle, sheep and hogs +had disappeared so completely that the Government was compelled to +furnish the Indians with animals to stock their farms anew. + + +285 + +Sterling Price had reached his zenith in the capture of Lexington, Sept +20, 1861. In substantial results it was the biggest achievement of the +war that far. Bull Run had been, indeed, a much larger battle, but at +Lexington Price had captured 3,000 prisoners, including five Colonels +and 120 other commissioned officers; 1,000 horses and mules; 100 wagons; +seven pieces of artillery; 3,000 stands of arms; $900,000 in money, and +a very large quantity of Commissary and Quartermaster's supplies. + +Though he was to fight nearly four years longer with the greatest +enterprise and determination, though he was to command vastly stronger +forces, and though he was to be followed by myriads of Missourians with +unfaltering courage and enthusiasm, he was never to approach a parallel +to this shining achievement. + +It was felt that Lexington was only the earnest of incomparably greater +things he was going to do in delivering Missouri from the hated Yankees, +and making hers the brightest star in the Southern Confederacy, paling +with her military glory even historic Virginia. Then McCulloch would +come up with his Texans, Louisianians and Arkansans, and Albert +Pike with his horde of Indians. There would be such an overthrow and +annihilation of their enemies as the world had never before seen, +followed by a race to get to St. Louis before Polk, Pillow and M. Jeff +Thompson could reach her from down the Mississippi. + +Sterling Price was eager to fight Fremont among the rough, high lands +south of Springfield, and his ardent followers wanted a repetition +of the triumph of Lexington; but McCulloch would not come up from his +fastness at Cross Hollows. Without him Sterling Price, his strength +depleted by defections on his long retreat, did not feel warranted in +offering battle, even with the advantage of the defensive hills. + + +286 + +McCulloch was importuned to come forward without success. The best +comfort he could give Sterling Price was to destroy that part of +Missouri and make it worthless to the enemy. McCulloch wanted to advance +into Kansas, however, and utterly destroy that Territory, to strike +terror to the Abolitionists. It speaks very badly for their intelligence +system that both Price and McCulloch maintained, that neither of them +was aware for days that the Union army had left Springfield, Nov. 8, on +its retreat to Rolla and Sedalia. Although their camps were only some 70 +miles from Springfield, they did not learn of the retreat until Nov. 16, +when McCulloch, seized at last with a sudden desire to enter Missouri, +rushed all his mounted men forward in hopes to capture trains and +detachments. They were disgusted to find upon arriving at Springfield +that the last Union soldier and wagon had left there more than a week +previous. + +After some destruction of property, McCulloch sullenly returned to +his old position in Arkansas, where, leaving his command to Col. James +Mcintosh, lately Captain in the United States Army, he departed for +Richmond to give the Confederate War Department his version of the +occurrences in his territory. + +Sterling Price had learned the same day, Nov. 16, of the departure of +the Union army, and set his columns in motion northward, announcing that +he was going to winter on the Missouri River. Again he sent an appeal to +McCulloch to cooperate, but Col. Mcintosh declined, on the ground that +the troops were not properly clad for the rigorous weather so far north, +and, besides, he did not think that the expedition would do any good. + + +287 + +Sterling Price simply let loose his army on the country evacuated by the +Union troops, and a reign of indescribable misery ensued for the Union +people and those who were vainly trying to keep the neutral middle of +the road. The army was spread out as much as possible in order to gather +in recruits and supplies and assert its influence most widely. + +From Marshall, in Saline Co., Sterling Price issued a most remarkable +proclamation to the people, calling for 50,000 volunteers. He reminded +them that their harvests had been reaped, their preparation for Winter +had been made, and now they had leisure to do something to relieve +the people from the "inflictions of a foe marked with all the +characteristics of barbarian warfare." He admitted that the great +mass of the people were not in the war, and especially the +substantial portion of the population, for, he said, "boys and small +property-holders have in the main fought the battles." He begged, +he implored that the herdsman should leave his folds, the lawyer his +office, and come into camp to win the victory. He even dropped into +poetry in his tearful earnestness, quoting the school boy's declamation +from Marco Bozarris: + + Strike, till the last armed foe expires; Strike, for your + altars and your fires! Strike for the green graves of your + sires, God, and your native land! + +An infinitely harmful part of the proclamation was the following: + + Leave your property at home. What if it be taken--all taken? + We have $200,000,000 worth of Northern means in Missouri + which cannot be removed. When we are once free the State + will indemnify every citizen who may have lost a dollar by + adhesion to the cause of his country. We shall have our + property, or its value, with interest. + + +288 + +This was naturally interpreted as meaning that all those not distinctly +favorable to Secession forfeited their property to those who were. + +This seemed ample warrant to the Poor White Trash banditti for seizure +of the property of any man whose principles might not be of exactly the +right shade. + +Experience teaches us that that class of people are pretty certain to +find heterodox the opinions of any man who has something they may want. +It certainly made a very dark outlook for anybody in Missouri to hold +moveable property. + +The turbid thrasonics of the proclamation shows that it was not written +by Price's Adjutant-General, Thomas L. Snead, who was a literary man. He +was then absent at Richmond looking after the fences of his General. The +proclamation sounds the more as if it came from the pen of our poetical +acquaintance, M. Jeff Thompson, the "Swamp Fox" of the Mississippi. It +concluded in this perfervid style: + +But, in the name of God and the attributes of manhood, let me appeal to +you by considerations infinitely higher than money! Are we a generation +of driveling, sniveling, degraded slaves? Or are we men who dare assert +and maintain the rights which cannot be surrendered, and defend those +principles of everlasting rectitude, pure and high and sacred, like God, +their author? Be yours the office to choose between the glory of a free +country and a just Government, and the bondage of your children! I will +never see the chains fastened upon my country. I will ask for six and +one-half feet of Missouri soil in which to repose, but will not live to +see my people enslaved. + +Do I hear your shouts? Is that your war-cry which echoes through the +land? Are you coming? Fifty thousand men! Missouri shall move to victory +with the tread of a giant! Come on, my brave boys, 50,000 heroic, +gallant, unconquerable Southern men! We await your coming. + + +289 + +Sterling Price established his headquarters again at Osceola, on the +banks of the Osage, but sent forward Gens. Rains and Steen to Lexington, +the best point on the Missouri to hold the river and afford a passage +for recruits coming in from the northern part of the State. + +The results of the proclamation were not commensurate with the desperate +urgency of the appeal. Large parties of recruits, it is true, tried to +make their way toward Price's camp, but many of them were intercepted, +and dispersed; strong blows were delivered against Price's outlying +detachments, driving them in from all sides. Meanwhile those he had in +camp were melting away faster than hew ones were coming in. + +Sterling Price had other troubles. He was not a favorite in Richmond. +Jefferson Davis was a man never doubtful as to the correctness of his +own ideas, and he was most certain of those relating to military men +and affairs. He had had extraordinary opportunities for familiarizing +himself with all the fighting men, and possible fighting men, in the +country. He graduated from West Point in 1828, 23d in a class of 33; +none of whom, besides himself, became prominent. He had served seven +years as a Lieutenant in the Regular Army on frontier duty, and as +Colonel of a regiment in the Mexican War, where he achieved flattering +distinction. He had been four years Chairman of the Senate Committee on +Military Affairs, and four years Secretary of War. It must be admitted +that his judgment with regard to officers was very often correct; yet +he was a man of strong likes and dislikes. His reputation was that of +"having the most quarrels and the fewest fights of any man in the Army." + + +290 + +Undoubtedly his partialities drew several men into the Confederate army +who would otherwise have remained loyal, and his antipathies retained +some men in the Union army who would otherwise have gone South. His +reasons for disliking Price are obscure, further than that Price was a +civilian, who had had no Regular Army training or experience, and that +he believed Price to be in conspiracy to set up a Trans-Mississippi +Confederacy. But little evidence of such intention is to be found +anywhere, yet that little was sufficient for a man of Davis's jealous, +suspicious nature. Repeatedly, at the mere mention of Price's name, he +flew into an undignified passion and denounced him unsparingly. + +Price's men were carrying havoc as far as they could reach. Nov. 19 they +burned the important little town of Warsaw, the County seat of Benton +County and a Union stronghold. In 1860 the people of Benton County had +cast but 74 votes for Lincoln and but 100 for Breckinridge, while they +gave Bell and Everett 306 votes and Douglas 574. Dec 16 Platte City, +County seat of Piatt County, was nearly destroyed by them. This was +another Union community, and a large majority of the people were +Bell-and-Everett Unionists or Douglas Democrats. Dec. 20 a concerted +foray of guerrillas and bushwhackers burnt the bridges and otherwise +crippled nearly 100 miles of Northern Railroad. But Halleck's splendid +systematizing had begun to tell. + + +291 + +The northern part of Missouri was made unbearably hot for bridge-burners +and other depredators by the swift execution of a number of "peaceful +citizens" caught red-handed, and the probability that others would be +caught and served in the same way. Gen. John Pope, commanding in Central +Missouri, began at last to show the stuff that was in him, and by a +skillful movement got into the rear of Bains and Steen, compelling them +to hurriedly abandon the line of the Missouri River, and striking them +so sharply in their flight as to capture 300 prisoners, 70 wagons, +with loads of supplies for Price's army, and much other valuable booty. +Another of Pope's columns, under Col. Jeff C. Davis, surprised a camp +at Mil-ford, Dec. 18, and forced its unconditional surrender, capturing +three Colonels (one of whom was a brother of Gov. Magoffin, of +Kentucky), 17 Captains, and over 1,000 prisoners, 1,000 stands of arms, +1,000 horses and mules, and a great amount of supplies, tents, baggage, +and ammunition. In a couple of weeks Gen. Pope, with a loss of about 100 +men, captured 2,500 prisoners. + +Jan. 2 Gen. Fred Steele, commanding at Sedalia, and a level-minded man, +who kept himself well informed, telegraphed to Gen. Halleck: + +Price's whole force not over 16,000. In all 63 pieces of artillery, none +rifled. Horses very poor. Price says he is going to Jefferson City +as soon as they are organized. At present he has no discipline; no +sentinels or picket to prevent passing in and out. Rains drinking all +the time. Price also drinking too much. + +Clearly Price had in him none of the startling aggressiveness which +distinguished Lyon and Stonewall Jackson. He made no effort to suddenly +collect his forces and inflict an overwhelming blow upon one after +another of the columns converging upon him and defeat them in detail. +Instead, he lost heart, and, abandoning the strong lines of the Osage +and the Pomme de Terre, fell back to Springfield, where comfortable +quarters were built for his men, and he gathered in an abundance of +supplies from the Union farmers of the surrounding country, expecting +that he would be left undisturbed until Spring. + + +292 + +Thus the year 1861 ended with some 61 battles and considerable +skirmishes having been fought on the soil of Missouri, with a loss +to the Union side of between 500 and 600 killed, treble that number +wounded, and about 3,600 prisoners. + +The Confederate loss was probably in excess in most of the engagements. +Besides, they had lost fully four-fifths of the State, and were in +imminent danger of being driven from the restricted foothold they still +retained in the southwestern corner. + +The Union State Government, with the conservative, able Hamilton R. +Gamble at the head, was running with tolerable smoothness. Courts were +sitting in most of the Counties to administer justice. Under Halleck's +orders Judges, Sheriffs, Clerks, jurors, parties and witnesses had to +take the oath of allegiance. Gen. Schofield was rapidly organizing his +13,000 Missouri Militia to maintain peace in the State, and incidentally +to keep many of the men enrolled out of the rebel army. + + +293 + + + +CHAPTER XVII. PRICE DRIVEN OUT OF THE STATE. + +When he abandoned the strong line of the Osage and took up his position +at Springfield, Gen. Sterling Price, like the Russians against Napoleon, +relied upon his powerful allies, Gens. January, February and March. At +that time the roads in Missouri were merely rough trails, running over +hills and deep-soiled valleys of fertile loam, cut every few miles by +rapid streams. The storms of Winter quickly converted the hills into +icy precipices, the valleys into quagmires, and the streams into raging +torrents. The Winters were never severe enough to give steady cold +weather, and allow operations over a firmly-frozen footing. Rain, sleet +and snow, hard frosts and warm thaws alternated with each other so +frequently as to keep the roads in a condition of what the country +people call a "breakup," when travel is very difficult for the +individual and next to impossible for an army. + +When, therefore, at the last of December, Gen. Price returned to +Springfield, in the heart of the rich farming district of southwest +Missouri, and 125 miles or more distant from the Union bases--Rolla and +Sedalia, at the ends of the railroads, he had much reason for believing +he would be left undisturbed for at least two months, which rest he +very much needed to prepare for the strenuous campaign that he knew the +industrious Halleck was organizing against him. He wanted the rest for +many reasons. Yielding to the strong pressure of Missourians, Jefferson +Davis had agreed to appoint Price a Major-General, C. S. A., but upon +the condition that he bring in the Confederate service a full division +of Missouri troops. + + +294 + +With his towering influence in Misssouri this would not have been a +difficult thing to do with the whole State to draw from. It was quite +otherwise with three-fourths of Missouri held by the Union troops and +Halleck's well-laid nets everywhere to catch parties of recruits trying +to make their way to Price. + +Still, Price was justified in his confidence that the Union troops +would be satisfied with holding northern and central Missouri during +the Winter, and would not venture far from their base of supplies on the +Missouri River and the termini of the railroads at Rolla and Sedalia. + +Whatever aggressive disposition they might have which the condition +of the roads would not dampen would be quelled by the knowledge that +McCulloch's army of Texans, Louisianians, Arkansans and Indians lay at +Cross Hollow, within easy supporting distance of him. + +Therefore, Price settled down at Springfield, and his men built +comfortable cabins in which to pass the time until Spring. The Union +farmers in the country roundabout were stripped of their grain and +cattle for supplies, and Price proceeded with the organization of his +Confederate division. + +Jefferson Davis's feelings toward Price and Missouri are in a measure +revealed in the following querulous letter, which also indicates Mr. +Davis's tendencies to pose as a much-enduring, martyr-like man: + + +295 + + Hon. W. P. Harris, Confederate States Congress. + + My Dear Sir: Language was said by Talleyrand to be useful + for the concealment of one's thoughts; but in our day it + falls to communicate any thought. If it had been otherwise, + the complaint in relation to Gen. Price of which you speak + could not have been made. The Commissioners of Missouri were + informed that when that State offered troops they would be + organized according to our military laws, and Generals would + be appointed for brigades and divisions. Until then I have + no power to appoint Generals for those troops. The same + statements, substantially, were made to the members of + Congress from Missouri who called on me yesterday. They were + also informed that, from conversation with Informed persons + and from correspondence now on file in the War Department, I + was convinced that it was needful to the public interest + that a General should be sent to the Arkansas and Missouri + Division who had not been connected with any of the troops + on that line of operations; and to the statement that the + Missouri troops would not fully enlist under any one except + Gen. Price, I asked if they required their General to be put + in command of the troops of Arkansas, of Texas, and of the + other Southern States. To bring these different forces into + harmonious co-operation is a necessity. I have sought to + effect it by selecting Gen. Heth to command them in + combination. If it is designed, by calling Heth a West Point + Cadet, merely to object to his education in the science of + war, it may pass for what it is worth; but if it be Intended + to assert that he is without experience, his years of active + and distinguished service on the frontier of Missouri and + the territory west of it will, to those who examine before + they censure, be a sufficient answer. The Federal forces are + not hereafter as heretofore to be commanded by pathfinders + and holiday soldiers, but by men of military education and + experience in war. The contest is therefore to be on a scale + of very different proportions than that of the partisan + warfare witnessed during the past Summer and Fall. I have + long since learned to bear hasty censure, in hope that + justice, if tardy, is sure; and in any event to find + consolation in the assurance that all my ends have been my + country's. + + With high respect, + + JEFFERSON DAVIS. + + +296 + +Gen. Ben McCulloch thought best to go on to Richmond to explain his +course since Wilson's Creek, and also to look after the very tender +subject of his rank and powers. He left Gen. James S. Mcintosh in +command of his troops. Mcintosh had grievances of his own. He was not +being recognized by the Confederate authorities as he thought a man of +his abilities and soldierly experience should have been, and he seems to +have liked cooperation with Gen. Price very much less even than did Gen. +McCulloch. In no very gentlemanly terms he repelled Price's proposition +to combine their forces and push forward to the Missouri River. The best +that Price could get out of him was the assurance that if the Federals +advanced upon him at Springfield he, Mcintosh, would come forward to his +assistance. + +Price had greatly underestimated Gen. Halleck's energy and +aggressiveness. Gen. Halleck was the first of our commanders to really +rise to the level of the occasion and take a comprehensive grasp upon +affairs. Unlike some others, he wasted no time in sounding proclamations +or in lengthy letters of advice to the Administration as to the +political conduct of the war. He was a soldier, proud of his profession, +true to his traditions, and possibly had ambition to be reckoned among +the great commanders. He had been noted for high administrative ability, +and this trait was well illustrated in his grasp of the situation in +Missouri and on the borders of the State. His main communications to the +people were orders, plain, practical, and to the point. Whatever he did +was on the highest plane of the science of warfare as he understood it. + +Proper military discipline and subordination were introduced everywhere +and a rigid system of accountability. He had troubles with his own men +to add to his difficulties with the enemy. We find the most note of this +with reference to the Germans. + + +297 + +The Missouri Germans were a splendid lot of men, taken as a whole, +and had an unusual number of officers who were trained soldiers of +considerable military experience. At the head of this class was Gen. +Peter J. Osterhaus, who had been a private soldier under Lyon in +securing the Arsenal, and had commanded a battalion with high credit to +himself at Wilson's Creek. He was now a Colonel commanding a brigade. + +With this excellent material there was a large per cent that ranged +from worthless to actually criminal. Many adventurers from the European +armies had hastened to this country to sell their swords to the best +advantage, and many black sheep, who had been forced out of their +armies, sought in our troubles and our ignorance of military matters an +opportunity for their own exaltation and profit. Halleck dealt with all +with a firm, unsparing hand. He began to weed out the worthless officers +and to court-martial the rascals. Company, battalion and regimental +organizations which he found too mutinous and disorderly for hopeful +management, he either disarmed and set to hard labor or discharged from +the service. + +The raids of the vengeful Kansans across the Missouri borders gave +him excessive annoyance, and he issued orders that all Kansas parties +entering the State should be arrested and disarmed. That he might +have more complete control of them, however, he recommended that the +Department of Kansas be merged with his command, and as this was in +had mony with Gen. Hunter's ideas, it was subsequently done. In the +meanwhile he had to look out for the Mississippi River and the highly +important point of, Cairo. He started to construct a fleet of gunboats +to help control the river and assist the Army in its operations. + + +298 + +His next neighbor to the eastward was Maj. Gen. Don Carlos Buell, +commanding the Department of the Ohio, which extended from the +Cumberland River to the Allegheny Mountains. Gen. Buell's complete +cooperation was necessary to the management of affairs in the +Mississippi Valley, but this seems to have been difficult to secure. +Buell had his own ideas, and they frequently did not harmonize with +those of Gen. Halleck. Halleck recommended that Buell's Department be +put under his own command, which was also done later. + +Bridge-burning and other outrages by straggling bands claiming to be +Confederates seriously disturbed the peace, embarrassed operations, and +worried the Commanding General. Halleck reported that within 10 days +prior to Jan. 1, 1862, these bridge-burners had destroyed $150,000 +worth of railroad property and that they had concocted a plan to burn, +simultaneously, every railroad bridge in the State, and set fire to +the city of St. Louis in a number of places. In his comprehensive order +advising summary and severe punishment against these marauders he took +careful guards against such being made the pretext for any private +vengeance or official malice, and instituted Military Commissions of not +less than three responsible officers, acting under the solemnity of +an oath, and making written reports of their proceedings. This +order brought down a storm of abuse from the Secessionist and +semi-Secessionist press, which Halleck calmly disregarded. + +Gen. Sterling Price on Jan. 12 wrote Gen. Halleck a strong letter +protesting against the order and asking the question whether +"individuals and parties of men specially appointed and instructed by me +to destroy railroads, culverts, bridges, etc." were, if captured, to be +regarded as deserving of death. + + +299 + +Gen. Halleck in reply said: + + You also complain that "individuals and parties of men + specially appointed and instructed by you to destroy + railroads, culverts and bridges by tearing them up, burning, + etc., have been arrested and subjected to a general court- + martial for alleged crimes." This statement is in the main + correct. Where "individuals and parties of men" violate the + laws of war they will be tried, and if found guilty will + certainly be punished, whether acting by your "special + appointment and instruction" or not. You must be aware, + General, that no orders of yours can save from punishment + spies, marauders, robbers, incendiaries, guerrilla bands, + etc., who violate the laws of war. You cannot give immunity + to crime. But let us fully understand each other on this + point. If you send armed forces wearing the garb of soldiers + and duly organized and enrolled as legitimate belligerents + to destroy railroads, bridges, etc., as a military act, we + shall kill them, if possible, in open warfare, or, if we + capture them, we shall treat them as prisoners of war. + + But it is well understood that you have sent numbers of your + adherents in the garb of peaceful citizens, and under false + pretenses, through our lines into northern Missouri, to rob + and destroy the property of Union men and to burn and + destroy railroad bridges, thus endangering the lives of + thousands, and this, too, without any military necessity or + possible military advantage. Moreover, peaceful citizens of + Missouri, quietly working on their farms, have been + instigated by your emissaries to take up arms as insurgents, + to rob and plunder and to commit arson and murder. They do + not even act under the garb of soldiers, but in false + pretenses and in the guise of peaceful citizens. You + certainly will not pretend that men guilty of such crimes, + although "specially appointed and instructed by you," are + entitled to the rights and immunities of ordinary prisoners + of war. If you do, will you refer me to a single authority + on the laws of war which recognizes such a claim? + + You may rest assured, General, that all prisoners of war not + guilty of crime will be treated with all proper + consideration and kindness. With the exception of being + properly confined, they will be lodged and fed, and where + necessary clothed, the same as our own troops. I am sorry to + say that our prisoners who have come from your camps do not + report such treatment on your part. They say that you gave + them no rations, no clothing, no blankets, but left them to + perish with want and cold. Moreover, It is believed that you + subsist your troops by robbing and plundering the non- + combatant Union inhabitants of the southwestern Counties of + this State. Thousands of poor families have fled to us for + protection and support They say that your troops robbed them + of their provisions and clothing, carrying away their shoes + and bedding, and even cutting cloth from their looms, and + that you have driven women and children from their homes to + starve and perish in the cold. I have not retaliated such + conduct upon your adherents here, as I have no intention of + waging such a barbarous warfare; but I shall, whenever I + can, punish such crimes, by whomsoever they may be + committed. + + +300 + +An examination of the correspondence leads to the conclusion that +Halleck possessed very superior talents as a letter writer. + +Contrasted with Fremont, McClellan, Buell and others, Halleck gave great +satisfaction in Washington, and Secretary Stanton telegraphed him as +follows: + +Your energy and ability receive the strongest commendation of this +Department You have my perfect confidence, and may rely upon the utmost +support in your undertakings. The pressure of my engagements have +prevented me from writing, but I shall do so fully in a day or two. + +Though he made the most of every resource, Halleck was sorely pressed +for money and supplies for his force. His letters and messages mention +the shipment of pantaloons to this one, shoes to another, blankets to a +third, as he could get hold of articles to supply present wants, and of +counsels of patience as to delays in paying off, since the Paymasters +were far behind in their work. Jan. 17 he telegraphed to Gen. Curtis: + +General: Yours of yesterday received. I regret to inform you that +neither the Pay nor Quartermaster's Departments have any money. Troops +are sent from here to Cairo without pay. I can do no better for you. +The moment money is received the forces under your command shall be +supplied. They were all paid to the 31st of October. Some here and +in north Missouri are not paid for September and October. I have done +everything in my power for the troops at Rolla, and they have no cause +to complain of me. + +The truth is that Congress is so busy discussing the eternal nigger +question that they fail to make any appropriations, and the financial +departments are dead broke. No requisitions for money are filled. + +The extra-duty pay will be forthcoming as soon as we get any money. +Assure these men that they will be paid, but they must have patience. I +am doing everything in my power for them. + +We must all do the best we can to make the men comfortable and contented +till we get more means. I rely upon you to use all your powers of +conciliation, especially with the German troops. You told me you could +manage them, and I rely upon you to do it At present we have more +difficulties to conquer with our own men than with the enemy. + + +301 + +While engaged in these numberless activities Gen. Halleck came down with +a severe attack of measles, and was confined to his room for two weeks, +but there does not appear to have been any intermittence in his energy. + +Gen. Halleck's plans contemplated sending forward a column sufficient to +crush Price, if he could be brought to battle, and drive him out of +the State anyway. Another column was to advance from Ironton or +Fredericktown and interpose between Polk at Columbus and Price, to +prevent the former from assisting the latter. In the meanwhile Gen. Polk +would have sufficient to occupy his attention in his "Gibraltar," as +Gen. Grant would make a flank movement up the Tennessee and Cumberland +Rivers. Halleck had come to the conclusion that Columbus would cost too +much in life and blood to be taken by a direct assault, and it would be +better therefore to turn it. + +This plan was an excellent one, as Halleck's plans usually were, at that +time, and it was subsequently carried out substantially as conceived. + +There were the most conflicting reports as to the number of men Price +had with him at Springfield at that time, but it was supposed all the +way from 25,-000 to 50,000, with rather the stronger emphasis on the +greater number. The Secessionists insisted upon the immensity of the +army which had flocked to Price encouraged by the events untoward to the +Union cause of the last half of 1861 and the indignation aroused by the +invasion and depredations of the Kansas Jayhawkers and the "St. Louis +Dutch." + + +302 + +It was reasonable to suppose, from the state of feeling in Missouri, +that Price might have from 40,000 to 50,000 men, but Halleck, who was +unusually well-informed for our Generals at that period of the war, +decided that a column of about 10,000 men would be sufficient for the +work. In this he was at a disagreement with Gen. Curtis and others +in nearer contact with Price, who estimated the Secessionist force at +Springfield in the neighborhood of 20,000 or 25,000. Yielding to their +urgent representations, he increased his force to about 15,000, of which +3,000 were required to guard the lengthening line of communications, +leaving a movable column of 12,000 to move directly against Price. This +force was officially designated the "Army of the Southwest," and there +was assigned to its command our old acquaintance, Brig.-Gen. Samuel R. +Curtis, West Point graduate, lawyer, Mexican veteran, railroad engineer, +and Congressman. This made more or less heart-burning among Brig.-Gens. +Franz Sigel, B. M. Prentiss, S. A. Hurlbut, S. D. Sturgis and others +who had hopes in that direction. Sigel stood no chance for the place, +however, for Halleck had conceived a strong distrust of him growing out +of his action at Wilson's Creek, and also because he was a leader among +the radical Germans who wanted to pull slavery up by the roots. Sturgis +felt that more consideration should have been given to him as commander +of the army at Wilson's Creek after Lyon fell. Curtis, in turn, gave +strong dissatisfaction to some of the brigade commanders by selecting +Jeff C. Davis, a Captain in the Regular Army and Colonel of the 22d +Ind., and Eugene A. Carr, also a Captain in the Regular Army and Colonel +of the 3d Ill. Cav., to command two of his four divisions. + + +303 + +In its forward movement the commanders had the benefit of the burning +zeal of the young volunteers. These, who had enlisted to put down the +rebellion, wanted to lose no time in doing their work. They were not +minded to lie around camps, no matter how comfortable, during the long +Winter months. In the Northern homes from which they came the Winter had +always been a season of great activity. They could not understand why it +should not be so in Missouri and they hungered for active employment to +the great end of suppressing the rebellion. Their recent successes had +inspired them with hopes that they might be able to finish up the work +and get back home in time for their Spring duties. + +Though the Winter of 1861-'62 was an exceptionally hard, disagreeable +one in Missouri, the volunteers left their camps with alacrity, pressing +forward through the storms and mud with sanguine hopefulness that they +were now about to accomplish their great purpose. Gen. Curtis selected +his first base at Lebanon, 55 miles distant from Springfield, and sent +forward Col. Carr with about 1,700 infantry and cavalry to occupy that +point, gain information as to the condition of things in Price's camp, +and to set on foot preparation for supplying the advancing army from the +surrounding country. + +The Union commanders were to learn a lesson from Price, who did not +encumber himself with long trains, but "compelled war to support war" by +drawing his supplies from the country through which he operated. Under +Halleck's orders Gen. Curtis directed that the cavalry should locate +all the mills convenient to the line of march, set them to work grinding +grain, and encourage the Union farmers to bring in their grain, hogs +and cattle, for which the Quartermaster would pay them fair prices. This +work was an admirable education for Halleck's Chief Quartermaster, a +young Captain named Philip H. Sheridan, who was to turn the lessons then +learned to magnificent account afterwards. + + +304 + +Lebanon was taken possession of without more resistance than a running +fight in which a notorious Capt. Tom Craig, of the Confederate army, was +killed. Gen. Curtis arrived at Lebanon Jan. 31, leaving Sigel and Asboth +at Rolla to follow as fast as the roads would permit. The recent severe +storms of sleet and snow had been quite trying to the men and animals, +but the columns were pressed forward, and on Feb. 7 Sigel's and Asboth's +men were all in Lebanon, where they were joined by Jeff C. Davis's +Division marching from Otterville by the way of Linn Creek. + +Halleck's orders to Curtis were clear, comprehending and purposeful. +Curtis seems to have been not a little apprehensive of the force he +might have to encounter, but Halleck constantly urged him forward, at +the same time enjoining him to keep his troops well in hand, and not +allow Price to attack him in detail. He was to "throw out his cavalry +carefully, like fingers to the hands." Most particularly he was not +to allow Sigel to go off on any independent expedition and serve him as +Sigel had served Lyon at Wilson's Creek. Halleck urged Hunter to advance +his Kansas troops down through his department so as to threaten Price's +left flank, and he told Curtis that if he, Curtis, would take care of +Price, that he himself would look out for Johnson, Polk, Beauregard and +Hardee. + + +305 + +The splendid young Missouri, Iowa and Illinois volunteers, welded into +superb regiments by months of service, with the worthless of their +officers removed by Halleck's rigid pruning, pressed forward with +an enthusiasm that no storms could diminish or wretchedness of roads +discourage. They forded swollen, icy streams, pulled their wagons up +steep hills, or pried them out of quagmires, and bore the fury of +the storm with sanguine cheerfulness, believing they were now moving +directly forward to the great end of crushing the enemies of the +Government and closing the war. + +Price's outlying detachments were come up with and struck with a +suddenness and vigor that sent them flying in utter rout. It speaks very +ill for Price, with all his means for accurate information, that he +knew nothing of this rapid advance of the Union army until the heads of +Curtis's columns were at his very pickets. He was entirely unready for +battle, and could only hastily gather his men together and make a quick +retreat to the rough hills south of Springfield, leaving all his stores +and his laboriously-constructed cantonments for the Union army. Feb. 13 +Curtis had the satisfaction of reporting to Hal-leck as follows: + +The Flag of the Union floats over the Court House of Springfield, Mo. +The enemy attacked us with small parties at 10:30 o'clock 12 miles out, +and my front guards had a running Are with them most of the afternoon. +At dusk a regiment of the Confederate cavalry attacked the outer picket, +but did not move it. A few shots from a howitzer killed two and wounded +several. The regiment retreated to this place, and the enemy immediately +commenced the evacuation of the city. I entered the city at 10 a. m. +My cavalry is in full pursuit. They say the enemy is making a stand +at Wilson's Creek. Forage, flour and other stores in large quantities +taken. Shall pursue as fast as the strength of the men will allow. + + +306 + +In Gen. Sheridan's "Memoirs" he gives this sidelight on the advance upon +Springfield: + + By hard work we soon accumulated a sufficient quantity of + flour and corn meal to justify the resumption of our march + on Springfield, at or near which point the enemy was + believed to be awaiting us, and the order was given to move + forward, the Commanding General cautioning me, in the event + of disaster, to let no salt fall into Gen. Price's hands. + Gen. Curtis made a hobby of this matter of salt, believing + the enemy sadly in need of that article, and he impressed me + deeply with his conviction that our cause would be seriously + injured by a loss which would inure so greatly and + peculiarly to the enemy's benefit; but we discovered + afterward, when Price abandoned his position, that about all + he left behind was salt. + + When we were within about eight miles of Springfield Gen. + Curtis decided to put his troops in line of battle for the + advance on the town, and directed me to stretch out my + supply train in a long line of battle, so that in falling + back, in case the troops were repulsed, he could rally the + men on the wagons. I did not like the tactics, but, of + course, obeyed the order. + +The line moved on to Springfield, and took the town without resistance, +the enemy having fled southward, in the direction of Pea Ridge, the +preceding day. Of course, our success relieved my anxiety about the +wagons; but fancy has often pictured since the stampede of six-mule +teams that, had we met with any reverse, would have taken place over the +prairies of southwest Missouri. + +It was felt almost certain that Price had only abandoned Springfield in +order to offer battle more advantageously in the rough hills south of +the town where Wilson's Creek had been fought. The spirit of the army +was up, and it moved promptly forward to engage him in his chosen +fastness. The Secessionist historians and the admirers of Price, +Marmaduke, Shelby and others give thrillingly sanguinary stories of +the fierce resistance offered in the defiles and passes through the +foothills of the Ozarks, but these statements are not supported by +either the official reports or the regimental histories of the Union +army. These all concur in the statement that while there was a great +deal of noisy cannonading, Price's troops yielded ground quite easily, +and all were surprised that no more effective resistance was made at +places that offered such wonderful opportunities for defense. + + +307 + +In his report to Gov. Jackson Gen. Price gives this succinct statement +of his share in the movement: + + About the latter part of January my scouts reported that the + enemy were concentrating in force at Rolla, and shortly + thereafter they occupied Lebanon. Believing that this + movement could be for no other purpose than to attack me, + and knowing that my command was inadequate for such + resistance as the Interest of my army and the cause + demanded, I appealed to the commanders of the Confederate + troops In Arkansas to come to my assistance. This from + correspondence I was confidently led to expect, and, relying + upon it, I held my position to the very last moment, and, as + the sequel proved, almost too long, for on Wednesday, Feb. + 12, my pickets were driven in, and reported the enemy + advancing upon me in force. No resource was now left me + except retreat, without hazarding all with greatly unequal + numbers upon the result of one engagement. This I deemed it + unwise to do. I commenced retreating at once. I reached + Cassville with loss unworthy of mention in any respect. Here + the enemy in my rear commenced a series of attacks running + through four days. Retreating and fighting all the way to + Cross Hollows, in this State, I am rejoiced to say my + command, under the most exhausting fatigue all that time, + with but little rest for either man or beast and no sleep, + sustained themselves and came through, repulsing the enemy + upon every occasion with great determination and gallantry. + My loss does not exceed four to six killed and some 15 to 18 + wounded. That of the enemy we know to be ten times as great. + +Gen. Price's estimate of the losses he inflicted is widely divergent +from that of Gen. Curtis, who does not admit any losses in killed in +the noisy engagements while pushing Price back through the rough gorges, +until he arrived at the Sugar Creek Crossing, six miles into Arkansas, +where he lost 13 killed and 15 or 20 wounded in a very spirited little +fight with the combined troops of Price and McCulloch, and camped that +night upon the battlefield from which the enemy had retreated. Here Col. +Cyrus Bussey joined him with five companies of the 3d Iowa Cav., having +made a forward march from Rolla, Mo., in four days. + + +308 + +Curtis was so encouraged by his success that he kept on pushing Price +back upon McCulloch, even upon the boasted "Gibraltar" at Cross Hollows, +and then, to the astonishment and delight of himself and the whole army, +forced the evacuation of this stronghold by a flank movement The rebels' +abandonment of it was so complete that they burned all their stores and +the great array of cabins built for quarters, leaving only the chimneys +to mark the long rows. + +Thus any expectation of a sanguinary battle fell in disappointment. +So much had been said about Cross Hollows that the Union troops were +certain that they would have to fight a desperate battle at or near it. +It was known that at least 4,000 regularly-organized troops had been +quartered there for months, subjected to thorough drill and discipline. +Gen. McCulloch had boasted that he had prepared a trap in which to catch +and ruin the Federal General if he ventured that far south. McCulloch's +only fear was of being unable to draw the Federal General into the trap. + +The Confederates left their sick and wounded behind them in the +hospitals, and the untiring Gen. Asboth, commanding the cavalry, pushed +the rear guard rapidly through to Bentonville. Returning to Curtis's +camp a day or two later, Gen. Asboth was sent with a force of cavalry to +Fayetteville, a most important town in northwestern Arkansas, where he +learned that his enemies had hid themselves in the Boston Mountains. + + +309 + +Gen. Curtis had completed his work of driving Price from Missouri and +some distance beyond her borders. He then drew his forces together and +established himself at Cross Hollows, with the ultimate intention of +retiring to the better position of Sugar Creek Crossing, in the event of +the enemy concentrating any force against him. In the meanwhile he would +hope that the turning movements which Halleck had planned would occupy +Price's and McCulloch's attention, and draw them away from him. + + +310 + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. GEN. EARL VAN DORN TAKES COMMAND. + +Jefferson Davis carried out his determination to appoint an officer +superior in rank to both Gens. McCulloch and Price. After first +appointing Gen. Harry Heth, and then offering the appointment to Gen. +Braxton Bragg, he selected another of his favorites, Gen. Earl Van Dorn, +who had been a fiery partisan among the officers of the Regular Army +for States Rights and Secession, was a native of Mississippi, and had +graduated from West Point in 1842, 52d in a class of 56. Whatever his +intellectual qualities may have been, he was a man of great force and +energy, and had won two brevets for distinguished gallantry in the +Mexican War. He gained still more distinction by his successful +expeditions against the fierce Comanches, a tribe then in the hight of +its power. In one of these his small command killed 56 Indians. In his +engagements with the Comanches he had received four wounds, two of +which were quite serious. He had been very active in bringing about Gen. +Twiggs's disgraceful surrender of his command in Texas. + +When Jefferson Davis, as Secretary of War, organized the additional +regiments for the Regular Army he took particular pains to promote +into them men of his way of thinking on States Rights, and who would be +useful in the coming contest which he foresaw. + + +311 + +One of these new regiments,--then called the 2d U. S. Cav., later +changed to the 5th U. S. Cav., was quite remarkable for this selection, +as it showed Mr. Davis's thorough acquaintance with the character of +the Regular officers, and what they could be relied upon to do when +Secession should be brought about. He made Colonel of the regiment +Albert Sidney Johnston, later General, C. S. A.; Lieutenant-Colonels, +Robert E. Lee, afterward General, C. S. A.; W. J. Hardee, +Lieutenant-General, C. S. A., and E. Kirby Smith, General, C. S. A., and +the Majors were George H. Thomas, W. H. Emory, Major-Generals, U. S. A., +and Earl Van Dorn, Major-General, C. S. A. + +Mississippi seceded Jan. 9,1861. Earl Van Dorn promptly tendered his +resignation and became active, if he had not been before, in bringing +about the surrender by Gen. Twiggs of the United States troops, stores +and munitions of war in Texas, by which we lost nearly half of the +entire strength of the Regular Army, besides some $2,000,000 of +supplies, the control of the Mexican frontier, and a large portion +of Indian frontier. Van Dorn had been commissioned Colonel in the +Confederate army, and hoped to add the surrendered troops to the +military establishment of the Southern Confederacy. He put a great deal +of pressure upon the officers and men to induce them to change their +allegiance, but was remarkably unsuccessful in the latter, not a single +enlisted man accepting his offers of promotion and increased pay. Only +those officers went over whose course had been predetermined. None of +previous loyalty wavered for an instant. + + +312 + +Gen. Twiggs had made a capitulation with Gen. McCulloch, of Texas, as if +treating with another Nation. The terms were that the troops should be +conveyed to the nearest seaport, and thence sent home. The steamer "Star +of the West," which had come into notoriety as being the object at which +the first gun of the rebellion was aimed, had been sent to Indianola, +Tex., to receive Twiggs's troops. Van Dorn, enraged by his failure +to accomplish his purpose, violated the terms of the capitulation. He +marched his forces upon the unarmed troops gathered near Indianola, +compelled them to surrender, and captured the "Star of the West." The +officers and men were kept prisoners in Texas for months afterwards, and +subjected to much hardship. + +Halleck wrote to Curtis: "Beware of Van Dorn. He is an energetic +officer." + +Van Dorn was not to justify the high expectations entertained of him, +and after several failures to improve great opportunities he finally +fell, in 1863, at the age of 42, before the pistol of an injured +husband. + +Van Dorn promptly repaired to his command, and seems to have been +welcomed with entirely loyal subordination by both Price and McCulloch, +though both were much older than he, and had held higher commands, Gen. +Price having been a Brigadier-General at a time when Van Dorn was only a +First Lieutenant. + + +313 + +At first Van Dorn meditated moving into Missouri by the Pocahontas +route, intermediate between the Mississippi route and that by the way +of Springfield. He began assembling troops at Jacksonport, Ark., to move +directly up through the Ozark Mountains. Then the isolated situation +of Gen. Curtis's little army, with scattered detachments thrown out in +every direction, tempted him to concentrate suddenly his forces and make +the effort to cut off the outlying Union detachments and finally crush +the main body. Therefore, he hastened to the Boston Mountains, sending +messages to the scattered Confederates to meet him there, and was +welcomed on a chilly, snowy March 3 with the Major-General's salute of +40 guns, which were heard by Gen. Curtis at Cross Hollow. + +After driving Gen. Price off into the Boston Mountains and successfully +flanking Gen. McCulloch out of his "Gibraltar" at Cross Hollow, Gen. +Curtis prudently halted his army there to consider his next move. The +line of Sugar Creek offered fine opportunities for defense, and from +there he could hope to maintain his communications along the great road +leading to Springfield and Holla. Not having been able to force either +McCulloch or Price to a decisive battle in which he might destroy or at +least cripple them, it did not seem discreet to venture further forward +where every step made them stronger and him weaker. + +Halleck had relied upon Gen. Hunter sending down a flanking column from +Leavenworth by the way of Fort Scott, but this had not materialized, +owing to the disputes between Gens. Hunter and Jas. H. Lane. Thus 5,000 +men who should have been effectively employed, either in menacing +Van Dorn's flank or increasing Curtis's strength, were held idly, at +Leavenworth. + + [Transcriber's Note: The print copy has a + two page error in numbering.] + + +316 + +Halleck had also relied upon the effect of Gen. Grant's startling +victory at Fort Donelson, which shattered the first Confederate line, +to withdraw a large portion of the forces west of the Mississippi, and +relieve pressure upon Curtis. Nor had this at that time resulted. Though +the general Confederate the roads leading northward crossed Sugar Greek, +and several of them came together some two or three miles north of +a country hostelry known as Elkhorn Tavern on the main road to +Springfield, at the northeastern end of Pea Ridge. + +[Illustration: 316-Battle of Pea Ridge] + +At 2 p. m., March 4, Gen. Curtis was at Gross Hollow with Col. Carr's +Fourth Division. The extreme left of his army was Col. Wm. Vandever, +of the 9th Iowa, at War Eagle Mills, near White River, 42 miles to the +southeast. The extreme right--the First and Second Divisions, under Gen. +Franz Sigel--was at Cooper's Farm, four miles in front of Bentonville +and 14 miles to the southwest of Sugar Creek. The Third Division, under +Col. Jefferson C. Davis, had moved back to the line selected in rear of +Sugar Creek, where Col. Bussey with his regiment was in camp. + +By 2 o'clock scouts and fugitives had convinced Gen. Curtis that Van +Dorn had concentrated his forces, and was in rapid march upon him, only +a few miles away. He sent orders by swift riders to all his outlying +parties to march at once to the designated rendezvous at Sugar Creek, +and started back himself with Carr's Division, arriving on the crest +about 2 a. m. of March 5, and immediately setting his men to work +preparing for the battle. Col. Dodge worked until midnight blockading +with fallen trees the road from Bentonville to Springfield west of +Leetown. + + +317 + +In spite of their wide dispersion, Gen. Van Dorn brought McCulloch's, +Pike's and Price's forces together with great rapidity. How many +fighting men he was able to assemble is a question. Gen. Curtis gravely +estimated it at 30,000. Gen. Van Dorn in his reports after the battle, +when he was putting the best face upon matters, stated his force at one +time at 16,000 men, and again at "less than 14,000." + +Probably if we follow an old arithmetical device, adding Curtis's +overstatement and Van Dom's understatement together and dividing the sum +by two--the number of statements--we may get somewhat near the truth. +This would give Van Dorn 22,000 men. Students since the war have arrived +at the conclusion that he actually had 26,000 men. + +Analysis of the various reports points to this being nearly correct. + +Feb. 24--nine days before the battle--Van Dorn reported to Albert Sidney +Johnston that with the combined forces of McCulloch, Pike and Price, he +would "be able to take about 26,000 men into battle." + +The best organized and drilled troops west of the Mississippi were +McCulloch's. March 2 he reported his "effective total" to be 8,384 men, +with 18 cannon. He received some accessions after that, raising his +whole force to nearly 10,000 men. + +His division was organized as follows: + +FIRST BRIGADE. + +Col. James Mcintosh commanding:--1st Ark. M. R., Col. T. J. Churchill; +2d Ark. M. R., Col. James Mcintosh; 4th (9th) Tex. Cav., Col. W. B. +Sims; 6th Tex. Cav., Col. B. W. Stone; South Kansas-Texas Regiment, Col. +E. Greer; Lamar Cav., Capt. H. S. Bennett. + +SECOND BRIGADE. + +Col. Louis Hebert commanding--4th Ark., Col. E. McNair; 14th Ark., Col. +M. C. Mitchell; 16th Ark., Col. Hill, 17th Ark., Col. Frank Rector; 21st +Ark., Col. D. McRae; 1st Ark. Battery, Maj. W. H. Brooks; 3d La., +Col. Louis Hebert; Tex. Cav., Col. W. C. Young; Tex. M. R., Maj. J. W. +Whitfield; Art. Bat. (four companies), Capt. W. R. Bradfute. + + +318 + +Nothing definite can be ascertained as to Albert Pike's force. A short +time before the battle he wrote confidently about having 10,000 men. The +force he actually brought up is generally stated at 6,000, two of the +regiments being white. + +The following extract from Gen. Sterling Price's report of March +22--eight days after the battle--gives us the best obtainable idea of +the strength and organization of his force: + +My forces consisted of the First Brigade, Missouri Volunteers, +Col. Henry Little commanding; the Second Brigade, Brg.-Gen. Slack +commanding; a battalion of cavalry, under command of Lieut.-Col. +Cearnal, and the State troops, under the command of Brig.-Gens. Rains, +Green, and Frost, Cols. John B. Clark, Jr., and James P. Saunders, and +Maj. Lindsay; numbering in all 6,818 men, with eight batteries of light +artillery. + +Price, most probably, did not differ from other beaten commanders in +minimizing his force to the utmost, so that it is entirely reasonable to +assume that he had 2,000 or 3,000 more than he reported. Probably he and +Van Dorn excluded from their fighting strength thousands, like Pike's +In-lians, who proved themselves worthless in the actual shock of battle. + +Therefore we have the following aggregate of minimum strength: + + McCulloch...................................... 10,000 + + Pike........................................... 6,000 + + Price.......................................... 9,000 + + 26,000 + +It seems, therefore, entirely fair to say that Van Dorn had at least +double Curtis's 10,000 when he left Cove Greek on the morning of March +4, with three days' cooked rations in his men's haversacks, and the +intention of destroying the invaders and recovering the State of +Missouri. + + +319 + +Both sides were keenly eager for battle. The Confederates had been +harangued with stories of great victories in the East, which they +were to emulate; the Indians were fierce for scalps and plunder; the +Missourians burning to march back to their homes m triumph. + +On the other hand, Curtis's men, weary of interminable marching and +skirmishing, longed to deliver a decisive blow which would end all. + +Van Dorn's plan of battle was well-conceived, and if his immense +preponderance of force had been adequately handled it would have won a +crushing victory. + +McCulloch, during his long stay at Cross Hollow, had familiarized +himself with the ground, and Price was also well acquainted with it. In +the conference held in Gen. Van Dorn's tent it was decided not to attack +in front, where Gen. Curtis had prepared, and where he had in addition +to his obstructions the advantage of the steep side of the ridge. +Instead, a movement would be made on Bentonville, to the southwest of +Curtis, where it was hoped to catch Sigel and destroy him before he +could receive assistance, then destroy Curtis before Vandever's +Brigade could reach him from Huntsville. Pike's Indians were to follow +McCulloch's Division, and when Curtis was beaten the wild Indian riders +would be let loose to exterminate the fugitives. + + +320 + +Sigel, with his usual indifference to orders, did not immediately obey +Curtis's command to abandon his camp four miles west of Bentonville and +move back to Sugar Creek. Instead he deferred starting his troops from +Cooper's Farm until 2 o'clock of the morning of the 6th, and stopped +himself with a small force at Bentonville while his troops and train +were passing through the town, and he was attacked about 11 o'clock. Van +Dorn reports that it was 11 o'clock before he could get the head of his +column to Ben-tonville, and "we had the mortification of seeing Sigel's +Division, 7,000 strong, leaving it as we entered. Had we been an hour +sooner we should have cut him right off with his whole force, and +certainly have beaten the enemy the next day." + +Sigel had kept back about 600 men. His troops were part of the 12th +Mo. and seven companies of cavalry, besides five field guns. They were +resting with stacked arms when the rebel cavalry swarmed in upon the +town from various directions. Sigel was able, however, to get his +men together and march out of town to cover of some woods, where his +artillery drove back the Confederates, who charged them, and the retreat +was resumed. + +This performance was repeated several times along the road, which ran +around the ridges through a growth of scrubby blackjacks, which broke up +Sigel's men and also the eager Confederates who were trying to cut them +off. + +Col. Elijah Gates, 1st Mo. Cav., Price's Division, led the pursuers with +great activity and skill. There were incessant assaults with constant +volleys of artillery, until Col. Osterhaus, who had reached Curtis's +line, was ordered back to his relief, preceded by Col. Bussey with the +3d Iowa Cav. When they met Gen. Sigel he had just broken through the +Confederate cavalry, which was still making efforts to surround him, but +the arrival of the reinforcements caused the Confederates to withdraw, +and the Union troops marched back to the camp which had been formed at +Sugar Creek. The Union loss in this affair was reported as 35 killed and +wounded. + + +321 + +After a forced march of 42 miles from Huntsville, Col. Vandever's +Brigade reached Pea Ridge at dusk, and Curtis had his whole army +together. A night attack from the south was confidently expected, and +every preparation was made for it. + +When night came on Van Dorn built fires, pretending to go into camp, +but moved forward until he came upon the blocked road, which halted +him until after midnight, when he moved forward much embarrassed by the +obstructions Dodge had placed in the wretched roads. Dodge on his return +from blockading the roads notified Gen. Curtis of Price's movement to +the rear, but Gen. Curtis did not believe it, as other reports were to +the effect that Van Dorn's attack would be on the Sugar Creek front. + +Price having been delayed until after midnight, did not reach the +telegraph road, a mile or so north of Elkhorn Tavern, until 7 o'clock on +the morning of the 7th. + +McCulloch, in the meanwhile, was forming his men in the fields and woods +near Leetown, west of Pea Ridge, with Albert Pike's Indians behind him. + +While, therefore, Curtis's men were straining their eyes southward from +his strongly fortified position on Sugar Creek for the advance of the +enemy, the whole Confederate army had gained their flank and rear, +with Price's Division directly across their line of communication and +retreat. + + +322 + +Seeing no enemy in front, Curtis's men had a good, leisurely breakfast, +but about 7 o'clock their commander was startled to learn of McCulloch's +position on his right and Van Dorn and Price in his rear. With great +promptness he faced his men about and swung his line back so that his +new right--formerly his left--rested on Elkhorn Tavern, while his left +rested where his old right had been, on the slope above Sugar Creek. +This reversed the order of the divisions--Col. Carr's being the right at +Elkhorn Tavern and Gen. Asboth's the extreme left, with Col. Osterhaus's +and Col. Davis's in the center. + +It was now about 8:80 o'clock, and Gen. Curtis directed Col. Osterhaus +to advance a force of cavalry, artillery and infantry and bring on the +battle. + +There was soon after a swelling up of the firing about Elkhorn Tavern, +where Carr was, which disturbed Curtis. He wanted the battle where he +was preparing for it, and hoped that his opening it would stop any flank +movements to his right. While Osterhaus was getting ready to advance, +Curtis rode over to Elkhorn Tavern to see what the trouble was with +Carr. + +During the early morning Price's troops getting into position on the +main road had run afoul of the Union pickets about a mile northeast of +Elkhorn Tavern. A little after 7 o'clock two companies of cavalry and +one of infantry were sent out in that direction to investigate. They +found a force of cavalry, which they drove back until they saw the woods +full of Confederates, when they took cover behind trees and rocks and +began a noisy skirmish, with the enemy slowly pressing forward and +extending out on both flanks, as Van Dorn and Price brought their troops +up and put them into line. + + +323 + +The affair showed such seriousness that Col. Dodge came up about 9 +o'clock with his brigade, and formed in line of battle to the right +of Elkhorn Tavern, with the 85th Ill. on the left, the 4th Iowa in the +center, the 3d Ill. Cav. on the right, and the pieces of the 1st Iowa +Battery distributed along the line, and immediately moved forward and +engaged the enemy. + +In the meanwhile Van Dorn and Price were placing their strong force +of eight batteries in advantageous positions to crush out the Union +artillery and pave the way for the advance of the infantry. When the +storm burst the Confederate artillery quickly overwhelmed the Union +guns, but Col. Dodge was able, after a sharp struggle, to beat back +across the open fields the advance of the very much superior forces of +the Missouri divisions, commanded by Gens. Steen, Clark, Frost, +Rains and Green. He was so hard pressed, however, that Col. Carr, +who accompanied Col. Dodge, sent back for his other brigade--Col. +Vandever's--a mile and a half away, which arrived and went into position +near Elkhorn Tavern in time to aid in repelling a fresh assault. + +More artillery had been brought up, but not enough to successfully +contend with Van Dorn's massed guns. + +The Union infantry lay behind the cover of fences, logs and stumps, and +when the Confederate infantry was pushed forward waited until it was +within 100 paces, and then poured a deadly fire into it which shattered +the ranks and drove it in retreat. Gen. Slack, one of Price's ablest +brigade commanders, was killed and Lieut.-Col. Cearnal severely wounded. + + +324 + +There was a lull in the battle about 2 o'clock while Van Dorn and Price +were reforming their men for a fresh and more determined assault. The +brunt of it fell upon Col. Vandever on the crest of a hill about 300 +yards north of Elkhorn Tavern. Vandever succeeded in driving back the +enemy, though at a great cost, since the 9th Iowa lost upward of 100 men +and Col. Phelps's 26th Mo. about 75. + +Though the enemy was repulsed, Col. Vandever deemed it better to fall +back to Elkhorn Tavern, leaving the battleground in the possession of +the enemy. + +Col. Carr sent to Gen. Curtis for reinforcements, but Curtis, still +believing that the main fighting was in front of Leetown, could only +spare him his headquarters guard, with two howitzers. He also sent +urgent counsel to Carr to "persevere" and hold his ground with the +utmost obstinacy. + +Another lull in the battle occurred while Van Dorn and Price were +bringing up and forming fresh troops. This time it was Gen. Clark's +Missouri Division, reinforced by other troops. The Union soldiers +received it, as they had the others, lying behind fences and logs and +waiting until the enemy was where every shot would tell. + +It was about 3 o'clock when this charge was repulsed. + +Again Col. Carr sent to Gen. Curtis for reinforcements, and this time +the General sent him five companies of the 8th Ind., under Lieut.-Col. +Shunk, and three rifled cannon. + + +325 + +Van Dorn and Price now brought up everything, and concentrated their +energies for a supreme effort to drive the stubborn Yankees from the +field and achieve a victory before darkness should intervene. Their +artillery speedily overpowered and drove off the Union guns, but when +the infantry advanced it met the same terrific fire. This time the +rebels did not give way, but pressed on around the left flank so that +the Second (Vandever's) Brigade had to fall back. The First Brigade +(Dodge's) held its position until night. The log barricades it had built +enabled it to defeat charge after charge of the enemy, and when they +swung around this flank a part of the 8th Ind. and 3d Ill., in a +countercharge, drove the enemy back, protecting and holding that flank +until dusk. In this bloody melee Lieut.-Col. Herron and Lieut.-Col. +Chandler were wounded and captured, and nearly all the field officers +were more or less severely wounded. Col. Dodge had three horses shot +under him, and was himself wounded, and Col. Carr received the fourth +wound of that day. Three of the Union guns were taken. + +The Second Brigade when it fell back took up a new and strong position +a quarter of a mile to the rear, facing open ground, and resumed the +battle. + +As evening was coming on, Curtis became at last convinced that the +fighting in his front was over, and started the First and Second +Divisions over to the right to the assistance of the Fourth. Gen. Asboth +hurried forward in person with four companies of the 2d Mo. and four +guns of the 2d Ohio Battery, and assisted in checking and driving back +the last assault. + +Gen. Curtis came up, formed a new line along the edge of the timber, +with the fields in front, and the men lay down on their arms for the +night. + +Let us return to the left, in front of Leetown, where the main battle +had been expected by both sides. + + +326 + +Col. Osterhaus does not seem to have formed any very dear plan when +he went out from the center at 9 o'clock to open the battle with +McCulloch's and Pike's forces. Gen. Curtis sent Col. Bussey out in +advance with five companies of the 3d Iowa Cav., four of the 5th Mo. +Cav., four companies of the 1st Mo. Cav., and two companies of the 4th +Mo. Cav., with three pieces of Capt. Elbert's Battery. Col. Greuset's +Brigade of infantry followed the cavalry at a short distance. + +Col. Bussey went out to Leetown and thence to the open fields about half +a mile north. The infantry took position in the fields north of Leetown. +Col. Osterhaus came up to the head of the cavalry column where Col. +Bussey was, and they saw the Confederates in plain view about a quarter +of a mile away. It was Van Dorn's trains and cavalry guards which +they saw moving towards the telegraph road. They did not see, however, +McCulloch's troops, Mcintosh's Brigade of cavalry and Pike's Indians +formed in heavy masses to the right and close to them. + +Col. Osterhaus ordered Capt. Welfley to open on the men in front, and +the shells caused a very visible stampede. Osterhaus then ordered Col. +Bussey to send two companies down the road to investigate the position. +Col. Bussey ordered Lieut-Col. Trimble, who commanded the 3d Iowa Cav., +to execute this order, while he gave his attention to the Fremont and +Benton Hussars, then coming forward and forming line in rear of the +guns. + +Lieut-Col. Trimble started with five companies of the 3d Iowa Cav., only +to run into a heavy line of battle at close musket range, receiving a +deadly fire which killed several of his men and was himself severely +wounded in the face. + + +327 + +A minute later Mcintosh, at the head of five regiments of cavalry, +and Pike leading three Indian and two Texas regiments, burst upon the +cavalry and over the guns with appalling yells and a tempest of bullets. +The Union cavalry was simply ridden down by overwhelming numbers and +mixed up in a hand-to-hand conflict, but fought their way out and +retreated through the open field to Osterhaus's infantry, where Col. +Bussey rallied them and formed in line. + +The yelling Confederates rushed on until they came upon Greusel's line, +where their yells were hushed by a storm of canister and bullets which +stopped their advance. The Union line moved into the timber, where +McCulloch was found working his way towards Curtis's camp. A terrible +battle was fought with varying success until at 11 o'clock Col. Jeff +Davis came to Osterhaus's assistance with the Third Division. The +fighting was obstinate and bloody, generally duels between opposing +regiments which crept slowly toward one another until they got within 60 +or 70 yards, when they would open fire, maintaining it until one or the +other gave way. The irregular lines thus surged back and forward for +perhaps an hour, with the Union troops generally gaining ground. + +During this fighting Gens. McCulloch and Mcintosh were both shot +through the heart by Union sharpshooters. Gen. McCulloch, who was easily +distinguished by his peculiarly-colored clothes, was killed by Peter +Pelican, of Co. B, 36th Ill. How Gen. Mcintosh was killed does not +appear, further than he was shot through the heart. The shooting that +day was remarkably accurate. The men who held the rifles were perfectly +accustomed to their use. + + +328 + +After four hours of constant and desperate fighting there was a +noticeable fading in the vim of the Confederate assaults and diminishing +stubbornness of resistance to the Union blows. When the Union soldiers +pushed on through the woods after their enemies they found them falling +back across the fields beyond in great disorder. A few shells from the +Union guns frustrated all attempts to rally them. Osterhaus and Davis +pushed their skirmishers through the woods for a mile, and the cavalry +went still further, finding the three guns of the flying battery with +the carriages burned off, and reporting back that everything seemed to +be in full retreat for Bentonville. + +One squad of cavalry came back with Col. Hebert, the next in command to +Gen. Mcintosh; Col. Mitchell and Maj. W. F. Tunnard, of the 3d La., of +the same division; a Major, two Captains and 33 privates, all having +been separated from their commands in the rush through the woods, and +unable to regain them. + +After the fall of Gens. McCulloch and Mcintosh the command in that part +of the field devolved upon Gen. Albert Pike, and it is rare that so +great a responsibility falls upon one so unfit. Something of a poet Pike +certainly was; much more of a successful politician and place-hunter, +but nothing of a leader of men upon the battlefield. His soldiership +became sicklied o'er when he went beyond the parade ground. Apparently +he did not know what to do, nor, if he did, how to do it. + +Regimental commanders reported that they were unable to find him. + + +329 + +His own verbose report, made six days after the battle, is quite full of +unintentional humor. He says that after the first charge the field was +"a mass of the utmost confusion, all talking, riding this way and that, +and listening to no orders from any one." He could get no one to pay any +attention to what he said. His Indians, who had stopped in the charge to +scalp the dead and wounded, would at once stampede whenever a shell was +thrown in their direction. He devoted himself for a couple of hours to +what has been described as "heavy standing around." + +Then he fell back with some of the troops a short distance and did some +more standing around, until a Union artillerist noticed him and threw a +shell in his direction, when he fell back out of range, and again stood +around until some one informed him that a body of 7,000 Federals was +moving around the left flank. He quickly decided that the "position was +not tenable," and fell back still more, "when the officers assured me +that the men were in such condition that it would be worse than useless +to bring them into acton again that day." Such is the demoralization of +"standing around." + +Finally, it occurred to him to take what troops he could gather and join +Gen. Van Dorn, whose cannon had been thundering two or three miles +away all this time. First, however, he decided to march them back some +distance to a creek, "where they could all get a drink, and join Gen. +Van Dorn in the morning." + +Col. E. Greer, 3d Tex. Cav., who became the senior officer of +McCulloch's Division, reported that he gathered up fragments of +regiments to the number of 3,000 after the casualties to his superiors, +and being informed that Gen. Pike had left the field with the remainder +of the command, retired some distance, sending word to Gen. Van Dorn +that, unless he ordered otherwise, he would march to join him at 1:30 in +the morning. Van Dorn approved of this. + + +330 + +The night of March 7 closed down with a tumult of widely-varying +emotions in the 33,000 men who joined battle in the morning. All of +Gen. Pike's Indians, except a portion of Col. Standwaitie's regiment +of Cherokee half-breeds, and several thousand whites were rushing off +toward the Arkansas River at full speed. The remnant of McCulloch's +Division, which Col. Greer had rallied, and which had some fight left +in it, unutterably weary, hungry and depressed, bivouacked near the +battlefield, awaiting Van Dora's orders. Price's Missourians, who were +no less weary and hungry than their comrades, from a night of severest +marching and a day of sharp fighting, camped on the ground which they +had wrung from Carr's Division by seven hours of bitter struggling and +the cost of a number of prominent officers and several hundred men. +Their success, though dearly bought, was sufficient to encourage them. +They had captured several hundred prisoners and two pieces of artillery. +They had driven Carr's Division back a quarter of a mile, were across +the Union line of retreat, and Van Dorn had his headquarters at Elkhorn +Tavern. + + +331 + +Price had greatly endeared himself to his troops by his conduct during +the day. He was everywhere at the front, leading and encouraging his +men, and though wounded in the arm had refused to quit the field. His +generalship was not so conspicuous as his soldiership. With him and Van +Dorn it was the story of Wilson's Creek over again. Instead of lining up +their superior force and sending all forward with a crushing solidarity, +they had personally led detachments, and when these had been fought out, +gone back and brought up fresh forces, Van Dorn had shown generalship +only in the concentration of his artillery. He had been so engrossed +in this, and in pushing forward detachments he had better left to the +Missouri leadership that he neglected his powerful right wing, which had +gone to pieces, as there was no one left to take the place of McCulloch +and Mcintosh. He hoped, though, with the aid of 3,000 men whom Greer was +bringing to him, to complete his victory in the morning. + +There was much to depress Curtis's men in their tireless bivouac south +of Elkhorn Tavern. Dodge's and Vandever's Brigades had been very roughly +handled in the long struggle. Rebel bullets had made sad havoc in their +ranks. They had lost two guns and over a quarter of their force in +killed and wounded. Osterhaus's and Davis's Divisions, in the center, +had had costly encounters with the enemy, and had lost five pieces +of artillery. They did not then know that in reality the victory was +theirs, but believed that most of the enemy had merely left their front +to augment the mass which was formed across their line of retreat They +therefore looked forward to the morrow with well-grounded apprehension. +They had no rations in their haversacks, and their animals had been +without forage for two or three days. Unless the enemy could be driven +from their "cracker line" the very next day, starvation for man and +beast stared them in the face. + + +332 + + + +CHAPTER XIX. THE VICTORY IS WON. + +Gen. Curtis's army was far from realizing as the night closed down on +that exciting March 7 how completely it had whipped the overwhelming +numbers of Van Dorn, Price, McCulloch, Mcintosh and Pike. Those of Jeff +C. Davis's and Osterhaus's Divisions, who had done the heavy fighting on +the Leetown front, knew that they had driven away the mass of the enemy +in their front until there was no longer any show of opposition. They +of Carr's Division, on the extreme right, the brigades of Dodge and +Vandever, realized that they had had a terrible fight, in which they had +generally defeated the enemy, inflicting great slaughter, though they +had suffered heavily themselves. Still, the enemy had gained a little +ground. The men of Carr's Division felt that now, since the rest of the +army was coming to their help, they would undoubtedly win a victory +in the morning, and clear the rebels from the road leading back to +Springfield. This confidence was shared by the men of Jeff C. Davis's +and Osterhaus's Divisions, who had come to their assistance, and they +all felt more hopeful than did Sigel and Asboth's Division, which had +taken little or no part in the fighting. The following remarkable letter +from Gen. Asboth to Gen. Curtis, written at 2 o'clock in the morning of +March 8, reveals the general belief of that portion of the army that the +condition was desperate and it would require extraordinary efforts to +release the army from a very hazardous situation: + + +333 + + Headquarters Second Division, Camp Near Sugar Creek, Ark., + + March 8, 1862; 2 a. m. General: As Oen. Sigel, under whose + command you have placed me, with my division, has not yet + returned to our camp, I beg to address you, General, + directly, reporting that all the troops of the Second + Division were yesterday, as well as now, in the night, + entirely without forage; and as we are cut off from all + supplies by the enemy, outnumbering our forces several + times, and as one more day without forage will make our + horses unserviceable, consequently the cavalry and artillery + as well as the teams, of no use at all, I would respectfully + solicit a decided concentrated movement, with the view of + cutting our way through the enemy where you may deem it more + advisable, and save by this, if not the whole, at least the + larger part of our surrounded army. + +Gen. Curtis seems to have realized quite early in the afternoon the +condition of affairs on his left in front of Leetown, and that the fight +there was over. He therefore directed the cavalry under Col. Bussey to +take up the best positions, holding the ground. All the infantry and +artillery were ordered over toward the Springfield road to form a new +line of battle, substantially a prolongation of that established at +the close of the fighting by the stubborn resistance of Dodge's and +Vandever's Brigades, which had so decisively repulsed the last attacks +upon them the previous evening. + + +384 + +Sigel, who had a remarkable faculty for incurring criticism in every +battle, had not made use of Gen. Asboth's Division at any time to +relieve the pressure upon Davis and Osterhaus, so that it had hardly +fired a shot. He now had trouble about getting his troops into line, and +it was 8 o'clock in the morning before he finally took his place on the +left, notwithstanding the fact that he was ordered to have his divisions +in line before daylight. Curtis had now all his artillery up, and though +it was not so numerous as that opposed to him, it was better equipped +and drilled, and promptly opened the battle with a fire to which the +Confederate guns could make no adequate reply. The whole line then +moved forward with blazing rifles, sweeping unchecked up the hillsides, +straight for the enemy's front. In a few minutes the Confederate line +parted in the center and disappeared. Most of the Missourians fell back +toward Keetsville, directly north. Greer and his remnants ran around our +left toward Bentonville, pursued by Col. Bussey's cavalry. Van Dorn +and Price with another remnant broke around our right, going through +an obscure hollow and taking the road to Huntsville. Like most men of +impetuous initiative, Van Dorn when he was whipped was badly whipped. He +sent riders post haste to order his trains burned, but Gen. Green, +who commanded the train guard, was of cooler mettle, and succeeded in +getting the trains away safely. + +Gen. Sigel pursued the central portion through Keetsville, seven miles +to the north, capturing nearly 200 prisoners and a great quantity of +arms and stores. He believed Curtis would retreat, and was well on his +way to Springfield when ordered back by Curtis to make his camp on the +battlefield with the rest. Gen. Curtis officially reported his loss as +follows: + + +335 + +UNION LOSSES. + +Command. + +Killed. + +Wounded + +It will be noticed by the above figures that Davis's Division lost +four officers and 42 men killed, 18 officers and 256 men wounded, while +Sigel's two divisions lost only three officers and 28 men killed, seven +officers and 149 men wounded. + +The heaviest loss fell upon the 9th Iowa, which had 39 killed, 176 +wounded and four missing. The next heaviest was upon the 4th Iowa, which +had 18 killed, 139 wounded and three missing. + +Gen. Van Dorn estimated his loss at 1,000 killed and wounded and 300 +missing. This is known to be inaccurate, because more Confederate than +Union dead were buried on the battlefield, and Gen. Curtis sent 500 +prisoners to the rear. + +The question naturally occurs: Why did Van Dorn relinquish such a +supreme effort with such a small loss? + + +336 + +Our amusing acquaintance, Gen. Pike, does not conceal the fact that he +and those around him were very badly whipped. After joining Van Dorn +he resumed his old habit of standing around "observing the enemy." He +reports that he did this for two hours at a stretch when Curtis was +delivering the final crushing blows upon Van Dorn. He then moved +with much promptness toward the rear, for an officer came up with the +stunning intelligence, "You are not safe here, for the enemy's +cavalry are within 150 yards of you." This seemed to have escaped his +"observation" up to that time. He rode on, and his pace was accelerated +by hearing another officer cry out "Close up; close up; or you will all +be cut to pieces." + +He halted presently, but had to start again, for a shell was sent by the +enemy up the road from the point of the hill around which he had just +passed. The cry of "The cavalry are coming was raised, and everything +became confusion." He escaped the "enemy's cavalry by rapid riding," +but was unable to get ahead of his fastgoing troops and stop them, +until they reached Elm Spring, many miles away. He came to this sage +conclusion: + + The enemy, I learn, had been encamped at Pea Vine Ridge for + three weeks, and Sigel's advance was but a ruse to induce + our forces to march northward and give them battle in + positions selected by themselves. + +There were others who shared his feelings; for he says: + + Just before night, Saturday afternoon, I had met Col. Rector + in the hills, who told me he had about 500 men with him; + that they were in such condition that they could not go more + than six or eight miles a day, and that he thought he would + take them into the mountains, hide their arms in a secure + place, and, as he could not keep them together and feed + them, let them disperse. He asked my opinion as to this, and + I told him that no one knew where the rest of the army was; + that Gens. Van Dorn and Price were supposed to be captured + and the train taken; that if his men dispersed with their + arms they would throw them away, and that I thought the + course he proposed was the wisest one under the + circumstances. The enemy were pursuing on all the roads, and + as it was almost impossible for even a dozen men in a body + to procure food, I still do not see what better he could + have done. + + +337 + +Curtis's cavalry found these guns and brought them into camp; also, all +the artillery that was captured the day before from Davis's and Carr's +Divisions. + +Gen. Van Dorn made several reports which are strangely inconsistent +with one another, and seem the natural efforts of a man to find the best +excuses that will present themselves from day to day for his failure +in a great effort. His first report, which was to Gen. Albert Sidney +Johnston and the Confederate War Department, and sent two days after the +battle, reads as follows: + + Headquarters Trans-Mississippi District, March 9, via Hog + Eye; March 10, 1862. + + Fought the enemy, about 20,000 strong, 7th and 8th, at + Elkhorn, Ark. Battle first day from 10 a. m. until after + dark; loss heavy on both sides. Gens. McCulloch and Mcintosh + and Col. Hebert were killed; Gens. Price and Slack were + wounded (Gen. Price flesh wound in the arm); the others + badly wounded, if not mortally; many officers killed and + wounded; but as there are some doubts in regard to several I + cannot yet report their names. Slept on the battlefield + first night, having driven the enemy from their position. + The death of Gens. McCulloch and Mcintosh and Col. Hebert + early in the action threw the troops on the right under + their commands in confusion. The enemy took a second and + strong position. Being without provisions and the right wing + somewhat disorganized, determined to give battle on the + right on their front for the purpose only of getting off the + field without the danger of a panic, which I did with + success, but with some losses. + + I am now encamped with my whole army 14 miles west of + Fayetteville, having gone entirely around the enemy. I am + separated from my train, but think it safe on the Elm + Springs road to Boston Mountains. The reason why I + determined to give battle at once upon my arrival to assume + command of the army I will give in report at an early day. + + +338 + +In this it will be seen that he disclaimed any intention on the second +day of making more than a fight to cover his retreat. This is clearly an +afterthought to excuse the poor battle that he put up. There is no +doubt that he had still hoped to whip Curtis's army, and that he had men +enough to do it, if they had been handled properly and had fought with +the same determination and aggressiveness that the Union troops did. For +some weeks he continued to send in reports, explanatory and partially +contradictory of his first. + +Gen. Sterling Price's report, made March 22, gives no idea that the +retreat was determined on after the events of the first day, but says +with relation to the close of the struggle on the evening of March 7: + + The fiercest struggle of the day now ensued; but the + impetuosity of my troops was Irresistible, and the enemy was + driven back and completely routed. My right had engaged the + enemy's center at the same time with equal daring and equal + success, and had already driven them from their position at + Elkhorn Tavern. Night alone prevented us from achieving a + complete victory of which we had already gathered some of + the fruits, having taken two pieces of artillery and a + quantity of stores. + + My troops bivouacked upon the ground which they had so nobly + won, almost exhausted and without food, but fearlessly and + anxiously awaiting the renewal of the battle in the morning. + + The morning disclosed the enemy strengthened in position and + numbers and encouraged by the reverses which had unhappily + befallen the other wing of the army when the brave Texan + chieftain, Ben McCulloch, and his gallant comrade, Gen. + Mcintosh, had fallen, fearlessly and triumphantly lead-. ing + their devoted soldiers against the Invaders of their native + land. They knew, too, that Hebert--the accomplished leader + of that veteran regiment, the Louisiana Third, which won so + many laurels on the bloody field of the Oak Hills, and which + then as well as now sustained the proud reputation of + Louisiana--was a prisoner in their hands. They were not slow + to renew the attack; they opened upon us vigorously, but my + trusty men faltered not. They held their position unmoved + until (after several of the batteries not under my command + had left the field) they were ordered to retire. My troops + obeyed it unwillingly, with faces turned defiantly against + the foe. + + +339 + +It will be noticed that Price is not as frank as usual in giving reasons +for his rapid retirement at the moment when, he claims, he was in the +full flush of victory. "The retirement of several batteries not under my +command" is a conspicuously inadequate excuse. + +In the course of a month or so Van Dorn managed to gather himself +together again so as to begin voluminous communications with Richmond, +explaining that "I was not defeated, but only foiled in my intentions." + +He proposed to return to his old Pocahontas plan, "relieve Gen. +Beauregard by marching my army upon the Federals at New Madrid or Cape +Girardeau, and thence on to St. Louis." He would turn his cavalry loose +on Gen. Curtis's long line of communications, and send Gen. Pike with +his Indians to harry southwestern Missouri and Kansas. + +The Confederate War Department did not think highly of this, but shortly +transferred him and his troops east of the Mississippi. + +Gen. Price was also transferred east of the Mississippi, with the +Missouri troops he had taken into the Confederate army, and his farewell +to the Missouri State troops is worth reproducing as a specimen of the +heated rhetoric customary in those days: + + Headquarters Missouri State Guard, + + Des Arc, Ark., April 8, 1862. (General Orders No. 79.) + + Soldiers of the State Guard: I command you no longer. I have + this day resigned the commission which your patient + endurance, your devoted patriotism and your dauntless + bravery have made so honorable. I have done this that I may + the better serve you, our State and our country--that I may + the sooner lead you back to the fertile prairies, the rich + woodlands and majestic streams of our beloved Missouri--that + I may the more certainly restore you to your once happy + homes and to the loved ones there. + + Five thousand of those who have fought side by side with us + under the Grizzly Bears of Missouri have followed me into + the Confederate camp. They appeal to you, as I do, by all + the tender memories of the past, not to leave us now, but to + go with us wherever the path of duty may lead, till we shall + have conquered a peace and won our independence by brilliant + deeds upon new fields of battle. + + +340 + + Soldiers of the State Guards! Veterans of six pitched + battles and nearly 20 skirmishes! Conquerors in them all! + Tour country, with Its "ruined hearths and shrines," calls + upon you to rally once more In her defense, and rescue her + forever from the terrible thraldom which threatens her. I + know that she will not call In vain. The Insolent and + barbarous hordes which have dared to Invade our soil and to + desecrate our homes have Just met with a signal overthrow + beyond the Mississippi Now Is the time to end this unhappy + war. If every man will but do his duty, his own roof will + shelter him In peace from the storms of the coming; Winter. + + Let not history record that the men who bore with patience + the privations of Cowskln Prairie, who endured + uncomplainingly the burning heat of a Missouri Summer and + the frosts and snows of a Missouri Winter; that the men who + met the enemy at Carthage, at Oak Hills, at Fort Scott, at + Lexington and on numberless lesser battlefields In Missouri, + and met them but to conquer them; that the men who fought so + bravely and so well at Blkhorn; that the unpaid soldiery of + Missouri were, after so many victories and after so much + suffering, unequal to the great task of achieving the + Independence of their magnificent State. + + Soldiers, I go but to mark a pathway to our homes. Follow + me! + + +Very few but those who had already been cajoled into the Confederate +service followed. + +A great deal of bitterness was developed from the discovery upon the +battlefield of a number of Union dead who had been scalped by +Pike's Indians. Many of these belonged to the 3d Iowa Cav., and the +investigation of the matter was conducted by order of Col. Bussey, by +his Adjutant, John W. Noble, afterwards Secretary of the Interior. Col. +Bussey became Assistant Secretary of the Interior. + + +341 + +The bodies of at least eight of the 3d Iowa Cav. were exhumed and found +to have been scalped and the bodies otherwise maltreated after their +deaths by the scalping knives and tomahawks of merciless Indians. The +matter was made subject of a strong communication from Gen. Curtis +to Gen. Van Dorn, and the latter's Adjutant-General, Dabney H. Maury, +replied, cordially condemning any such deeds, but claiming that, on +the other hand, many prisoners of war had been killed in cold blood by +Curtis's men, who were alleged to be Germans. The letter said: + +The General commanding feels sure that you will do your part as he will +in preventing such atrocities in the future, and that the perpetrators +of them will be brought to justice, whether Germans or Choctaws. + +Gen. Curtis was promoted to Major-General for his victory, and well +deserved that honor, in spite of some bitter critics. Sigd was also +made a Major-General, with much less reason. Asboth had his withheld +Brigadier-Generalcy confirmed to him. Cols. Carr, Davis and Dodge were +made Brigadier-Generals, but Cols. Osterhaus, White and Bussey, who had +done conspicuous fighting, had to wait some months for their promotion, +and Cols. Greusel and Pattison never received it. + +Among those who received praise for their gallantry that day was +Maj. John Charles Black, of the 37th Ill., later a Colonel and +Brigadier-General, Commissioner of Pensions under President Cleveland, +Representative-at-large from Illinois, Commander-in-Chief of the Grand +Army of the Republic, and now President of the United States Civil +Service Commission. Maj. Black was severely wounded in the sword arm in +the fight, but refused to leave the field until Gen. White ordered him +to do so. + +Another was Maj. Phillip Sidney Post, of the 59th Ill. He later became +Colonel and Brigadier-General; was left for dead on the field at +Nashville, but recovered, to be Consul-General at Vienna and represent +Illinois for many years in Congress. He was also wounded in the sword +arm, and also refused to leave the field until he was peremptorily +ordered to do so. + + +342 + +The moral effect of the victory was prodigious and far-reaching. High +expectations had been raised by Van Dora, McCulloch, Mcintosh, Price +and Albert Pike, which were abjectly prostrated. The mass of fugitives, +white and red, who scattered over Missouri, Arkansas and the Indian +Territory, each with his tale of awful slaughter and disheartened +defeat, had a blighting effect upon the Secessionists, and greatly +strengthened the Union sentiment. + +It was a desperate two-days' wrestle between the very best that the +Southern Confederacy could produce west of the Mississippi River--the +ablest commanders and the finest troops--and a small Union army. It was +breaking, test, under the fairest conditions, of the fighting qualities +of the two combatants. + +Though bitter, merciless, sanguinary fighting was to perturb the State +for three years longer, it was no longer war, but guerilla raiding and +bandittism, robbery and murder under a pretext of war. Price, indeed, +made an invasion of the State two years later, but it was a hurried +raid, without hope of permanent results. + +At the conclusion of the battle Missouri was as firmly anchored to the +Union as her neighbors, Illinois, Iowa and Kansas. + +The battle for Missouri had been fought and won. + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Struggle for Missouri, by John McElroy + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STRUGGLE FOR MISSOURI *** + +***** This file should be named 31770.txt or 31770.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/1/7/7/31770/ + +Produced by David Widger + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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