Page images
PDF
EPUB

organize those combined naval and military expeditions at St. Louis and Cairo, on the Mississippi, and Paducah on the Ohio, which have since, by their brilliant results, exercised so great an influence on the fate of the war.

General Halleck's order to exclude fugitive slaves from the Federal camps seemed to exhibit such a tenderness for the peculiar institution of the South, and such an indifference to the sympathy of some of the Northern people with its victims, that it was emphatically denounced by the enthusiastic advocates of liberty as a concession to slavery. The General, however, justified his order on the ground that the free communication of the slaves with the camps was inconsistent with good order and the safety of the army, and these negroes were suspected of carrying military information to the enemy.

Determined to check the active sympathy of the wealthy secessionists of St. Louis with the enemy, General Halleck ordered an assessment upon all such for the benefit of the Union refugees who had flocked into the city, on the retirement of the Federal army from the interior of the State. This having been resisted by a Mr. Engel, of St. Louis, a thriving merchant, who appealed to the civil courts, General Halleck ordered him to leave the Department of Missouri. He, at the same time, declared officially, that any attempt to interfere with the execution of an order

• Cairo and Paducah, though the former is in Illinois

and the letter in Kentucky, were included in the department under the command of Halleck.

from headquarters would be regarded and punished as a military offence. By these rigid measures, all expressions and acts of disloyalty within the immediate control of the Federal arms were effectually suppressed.

He

Though General Halleck was awaiting the full organization of his army before attempting to make a clean sweep of the enemy from the State of Missouri, he was determined to keep the marauding bands of secessionists in check. accordingly dispatched General Pope from Sedalia, with a considerable force, to disperse the enemy's encampments in Western Missouri. The result is told in this official report of General Pope :

"HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT CENTRAL MIS

SOURI, OTTERVILLE, Dec. 23, 1861. "CAPTAIN: I have the honor to state that, having replaced by troops from Dec. Lamine the garrison of Sedalia, I 17. marched from that place on Sunday, the 15th instant, with a column of infantry, cavalry, and artillery, numbering about 4,000 men. The first brigade was commanded by Colonel J. C. Davis, Indiana Volunteers; the second by Colonel F. Steele, Eighth Iowa Regiment. The object of the movement was to interpose between Price's army on the Osage and the recruits, escort, and supplies on their way south from the Mississippi River. This body of the enemy was represented to be between four and six thousand strong, with a large train of supplies.

"I encamped on the 15th eleven miles. southwest of Sedalia. That the enemy might be thoroughly misled as to the destination of the expedition, it was

POPE IN WESTERN MISSOURI.

given out that the movement was upon Warsaw, and the troops pursued the road to that place several miles beyond Sedalia. I threw forward on Clinton four companies of the First Missouri cavalry, under Major Hubbard, with orders to watch any movement from Osceola, to prevent any reconnoissance of our main column, and to intercept any messengers to the enemy at Osceola. On the 16th I pushed forward by forced march twenty-seven miles, and with my whole force occupied, at sunset, a position between the direct road from Warrensburg to Clinton, and the road by Chilhowee, which latter is the road heretofore pursued by returning soldiers and by recruits. Shortly after sunset, the advance, consisting of four companies of Iowa cavalry, under Major Torrence, captured the enemy's pickets at Chilhowee, and learned that he was encamped in force (about 2,200) six miles north of that town.

"After resting the horses and men for a couple of hours, I threw forward ten companies of cavalry and a section of artillery, under Lieutenant-Colonel Brown, Seventh Missouri Regiment, in pursuit, and followed with my whole force, posting the main body between Warrensburg and Rose Hill, to support the pursuing column. I, at the same time, reinforced Major Hubbard with two companies of Merrill's horse, and directed him, in order to secure our flank in the pursuit, to push forward as far as possible toward Osceola. This officer executed his duty with distinguished ability and vigor, driving back and capturing the pickets

659

and one entire company of the enemy's cavalry, with tents, baggage, and wagons. One of the pickets and two wagons were captured within the lines of Rains' division, encamped north of the Osage River.

"The column under Lieutenant-Colonel Brown continued the pursuit vigorously all night of the 16th, all day of the 17th, and part of the night of the same day, his advance guard consisting of Foster's company of Ohio cavalry and a detachment of thirty men of the Fourth regular cavalry, occupying Johnstown in the course of the night. The enemy began to scatter as soon as the pursuit grew close, disappearing in every direction in the bushes and by every bye-path, driving their wagons into farm-yards remote from the road, and throwing out their loads. As these wagons were all twohorse wagons of the country, and had been, in fact, taken by force from the farm-houses, it was impossible to identify them. When our pursuit reached Johnstown, about midnight on the 17th, the enemy, reduced to about 500, scattered completely, one portion fleeing precipitately toward Butler, and the other toward Papinsville.

"The main body of my command moved slowly toward Warrensburg, awaiting the return of the force under Lieutenant-Colonel Brown, which proceeded from Johnstown to scour the country south of Grand River to the neighborhood of Clinton. In these operations, sixteen wagons, loaded with tents and supplies, and one hundred and The fifty prisoners were captured. enemy's force was thoroughly dispersed.

"On the morning of the 18th, Lieutenant-Colonel Brown's forces rejoined the command. Knowing that there must still be a large force of the enemy north of us, I moved forward slowly, on the 18th, toward Warrensburg, and, when near that town, the spies and scouts I had sent out before marching from Sedalia, in the direction of Lexington, Waverly, and Arrow Rock, reported to me that a large force was moving from the two latter places and would encamp that night at the mouth of Clear Creek, just south of Milford.

"I posted the main body of my command between Warrensburg and Knob Noster, to close all outlet to the south between those two points, and dispatched seven companies of cavalry (five of the the Ohio First and two of the Fourth regular cavalry), afterward reinforced by another company of regular cavalry and a section of artillery, all under command of Colonel J. C. Davis, Indiana Volunteers, to march on the town of Milford, so as to turn the enemy's left and rear and intercept his retreat to the northeast, at the same time directing Major Marshall, with Merrill's regiment of horse, to march from Warrensburg on the same point, turning the enemy's right and rear, and forming junction with Colonel Davis.

[blocks in formation]

afternoon came upon the enemy encamped in the wooded bottom land on the west side of Blackwater, opposite the mouth of Clear Creek. His pickets were immediately driven in across the stream, which was deep, miry, and impassable, except by a long, narrow bridge, which the enemy occupied in force, as is believed, under Colonel Magoffin.

"Colonel Davis brought forward his force, and directed that the bridge be carried by assault. The two companies of the Fourth regular cavalry being in advance, under the command respectively of Lieutenant Gordon and Lieutenant Amory, were designated for that service, and were supported by the five companies of the First Iowa Cavalry. Lieutenant Gordon, of the Fourth Cavalry, led the charge in person, with the utmost gallantry and vigor, carried the bridge in fine style, and immediately formed his company on the opposite side. He was promptly followed by the other companies. The force of the enemy posted at the bridge retreated precipitately over a narrow open space into the woods, where his whole force was posted. The two companies of the Fourth Cavalry formed in line at once, advanced upon the enemy, and were received with a volley of small-arms, muskets, rifles, and shot guns. One man was killed and eight wounded by this discharge. With one exception, all belonged to Company D, Fourth Cavalry, Lieutenant Gordon.

"Lieutenant Gordon himself received several balls through the cap. Our forces still continuing to press forward, and the

GALLANTRY OF POPE'S TROOPS.

enemy finding his retreat south and west cut off, and that he was in presence of a large force, and at best could only prolong the contest a short time, surrendered at discretion. His force, reported by colonel commanding, consisted of parts of two regiments of infantry and three companies of cavalry, numbering in all 1,300 men, among whom there were three colonels (Robinson, Alexander, and Magoffin), one lieutenant-colonel (Robinson), one major (Harris), and fifty-one commissioned company officers. About five hundred horses and mules, seventythree wagons heavily loaded with powder, lead, tents, subsistence stores and supplies of various kinds, fell into our hands, as also a thousand stand of

arms.

“The whole force captured, with their train, were marched into the camp of the main body, reaching there about midnight. Many arms were thrown away by the enemy, in the bushes and creek, when he surrendered, and have not yet been found.

"It was impossible to furnish any accurate account of the number of prisoners, arms, or horses when I telegraphed, as they surrendered just at dark, and were brought into camp at a late hour of the night. The weather was bitterly cold, and the troops marched as early as possible the next morning for Sedalia and Otterville. As the prisoners and arms were at once sent down to St. Louis, I have not yet had the opportunity of making an accurate count of them. The numbers, as stated, were reported to me by Colonel Robinson, their commander,

661

by Colonel J. C. Davis, and by Major Torrence, Iowa Cavalry.

"The forces under Colonel Davis behaved with great gallantry, and the conduct of Colonel Davis himself was distinguished.

"I desire to present to your special notice Colonel J. C. Davis, Indiana Volunteers; Major Hubbard, First Missouri Cavalry, and Lieutenant Gordon, Fourth regular cavalry. Both officers and men behaved well throughout.

66

Within five days, the infantry composing this expedition have marched one hundred miles, the cavalry more than double that distance-have swept the whole country of the enemy west of Sedalia as far as Rose Hill, to a line within fifteen miles of the Osage-have captured nearly fifteen hundred (1,500) prisoners, twelve hundred (1,200) stand of arms, nearly one hundred (100) wagons, and a large quantity of supplies.

"The march alone would do credit to old soldiers, as it gives me pleasure to state that it has been performed with cheerfulness and alacrity. The troops re-occupied their camps at Sedalia and Otterville just one week after they marched out of them. "I am, Captain,

"To

66

*

[ocr errors]

"Your obedient servant,
"JOHN POPE,

Brigadier-General Commanding.
Captain J. C. KELTON, A. A. G., Depart-

ment of Missouri."

The effect upon the enemy of the success of General Pope's expedition was momentarily very great. General Price's camp at Springfield was seized with a

sudden panic, and a large portion of his disorganized army fled in dismay, destroying the bridges behind them. This destruction of bridges by the disorderly bands of secessionists throughout the State was promptly met by a determination, on the part of General Halleck, to execute all those caught and found guilty of the barbarous act. Some of the perpetrators having been seized, General Halleck resolved upon their execution. This led to a protest on the part of General Price, who claimed for them the rights of military prisoners. General Halleck, however, answered firmly with the declaration, that bridge-burners, while not acting immediately under a duly organized military command, in the course of regular warfare, were not entitled to be treated as soldiers, and that they would be held as criminals.

General Pope's successful expedition was soon followed by other spirited attacks upon the enemy. Colonel Birge, Dec. with a battalion of sharp-shooters 28. and two hundred cavalry under Col. Glover, attacked the enemy encamped near Mount Zion Church, Broome County, and completely routed them.

"The rebels lost in killed, wounded, and missing not less than one hundred and fifty. Ninety horses were taken, and a load of arms, saddles, and all their camp equipage. Our loss, eight or nine killed and about twenty-five wounded."

Again, two hundred of the First Iowa Cavalry, a hundred and fifty of the First Wisconsin Cavalry, under Major Hubbard, and some Ohio Cavalry,

St. Louis Democrat.

1862.

S.

numbering in all four hundred and Jan. fifty troopers, attacked the enemy's 8. camp of a thousand men, posted on Silver Creek. After a struggle of an hour the enemy fled, leaving seven dead on the field, forty prisoners, and all their camp equipage and stores. The whole Federal loss amounted only to four killed and three wounded.*

General Halleck, having finally succeeded in establishing order in a department which he had found in a state of confusion from the loose administration of his predecessor, in checking manifestations of disloyalty within the scope of his military rule, and in organizing and disciplining his army, was prepared to make a grand effort to clear Missouri of the enemy, and to restore the State to the Federal authority.

General Price, presuming on the long delayed advance of the Union troops, had concentrated at Springfield a force estimated at 12,000 men, and pushed his picket guards fifteen miles beyond to the north and east. He was, moreover, in expectation, as it was rumored, of being strengthened by large reinforcements under General McIntosh, from Arkansas.

There was a combined movement of the Federal troops with the view of concentrating at Lebanon. The divisions of Colonel Asboth and General Sigel moved at the beginning of February from Rolla, in that direction. Generals Davis, Curtis, and Prentiss had, with their respective forces, marched for the same point.

The guerrilla character which the war in Missouri assumed at this time, makes it impracticable to trace all its operations in detail.

« PreviousContinue »