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The
January 8th, 1863
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Dispatches made during the Battle of Springfield: Dispatch
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Springfield, 1999 with 1863 Battle positions
(Left to Right: General Marmaduke,
Col. McDonald and Gen. Shelby)
(Left to Right: General Brown and Capt. Burch)
The year 1863 opened on
Greene county with the stars and stripes waving fair and free over all her
soil, and with the Federal troops in undisputed possession of all the military
stations, and no vexatious "rebels" near to molest them or make them
afraid. But this altogether pleasant state of affairs for the men and the cause
of Uncle Sam was not long to continue. There was a mustering of the Confederate
clans across the border in
Figure 1: From Harper's
Weekly, Nov. 30, 1861 --
About the 1st of January it
came to be known to the Confederate General John S. Marmaduke,
down in Arkansas, at Louisburg and Pocahontas, that there was a big, fat prize
up in Missouri, and in Greene county, to be had for the taking-namely, the
goodly town of Springfield, with all of its military stores and other
"loot," and with all of its mules and wagons to transport the captures
into Dixie. The weakness of the garrison and the exact condition of the place
were described to the Confederate commander with great exactness. If a sudden
concentration of forces could be effected and a swift march made, the capture
of
Gen. Marmaduke
divided his little army into two columns. One, under Col. Joseph C. Porter, was
to move from
The main column under the
immediate command of Marmaduke himself consisted of
Col. Jo. Shelby's brigade, composed of Shelby's old regiment, then led by Lt.
Col. Gordon, of Lafayette county; Col. Gideon Thompson's regiment, Col. Jeans'
regiment, Col. Ben Elliott's battalion, Col. Emmett McDonald's battalion, or
regiment, and Capt. R. A. Collins' battery of two pieces, the entire brigade
numbering not far from 2,000 men.2 All of the forces, including Porter's, were
mounted. Shelby's brigade was to leave Louisburg, Ark., come north into
Missouri through Taney county, swoop down upon the isolated Federal posts at Forsyth
and Ozark, gobble them up, and be on the south of Springfield by the 10th and
join forces with Jo. Porter.
-----
1 The battle of
2 Edwards' "Shelby and His Men," page 140, fourth line
from the bottom, says
THE REBELS ARE COMING
On the evening of the 7th
there came clattering into Springfield from the south a scouting party composed
of detachments of the 14th Missouri State militia and of the 73d E. M. M., all
under command of Capt. Milton Burch, of the 14th M. S. M., and reported to Gen.
Brown that a large force of Confederates, numbering all the way from 2,000 to
6,000 had come upon Lawrence Mill, Taney county, from Dubuque, Arkansas, and
was on its way to Springfield, as fast as it could travel, to capture the place
and play the mischief with the Federal cause generally! The alarm was given and
Gen. Brown notified.
That officer immediately
sent out swift messengers who scurried over the county calling up the enrolled
militia of Col. Johnson's 26th regiment, Col. Sheppard's 72d, and Col. Marcus
Boyd's 74th, ordering them to concentrate immediately at Springfield. Word was
also sent to detached companies in Webster, Lawrence and Dade counties, and to
All possible preparation was
made in
EXTEMPORIZING ARTILLERY.
Gen. Brown at last gave permission
to "rig up" the cannon. At about 10 o'clock that night Dr. Melcher
went through his hospital and found Lieut. Joseph Hoffman, of Backoff's battery, 1st
A considerable detachment of
the 18th
Gen. Brown at first wanted
to retreat. Other officers, among whom were Cols. Sheppard and Boyd, thought it
might be necessary to surrender the town, but they did not wish to do so
without first making a fight. Col. Crabb and Lieut.
Col. Cook declared that if it came to the worst all should repair to
Meantime Surgeon Melcher had
gone through the hospitals calling for volunteers to defend the town. The
hospitals then consisted of the court-house (the present) with some forty
tents, the Lyon hotel, (now the Southern) with forty tents, the buildings at
the
As to the character and
importance of the service rendered at the battle of Springfield by Dr. Melcher
and his "quinine brigade," Gen. E. B. Brown, under oath, June 6,
1874, before Rufus Campion, notary public of St. Louis, the following being an
extract from his testimony: [433]
During the attack of Gen. Marmaduke, he, the said Melcher, organized the
convalescents under his control into military companies, who, acting under his
(Melcher's) direction, did very efficient duty in the battle and greatly
assisted in the defense of said post, and thereby saved several millions of
dollars to the government of the United States in military stores deposited at
that point for the use of the Army of the Frontier, then in northwest Arkansas.
I have always been and am still of the opinion that, as my command was composed
entirely of irregular troops and militia, without the aid and assistance of
said Melcher, as aforesaid, I could not have successfully defended said post.
All through the night and in
the early morning the members of the enrolled militia kept coming in. During
the night, too, confirmation of the advance of the Confederates was received
from squads that came in from toward Forsyth. The people of the town were
greatly excited. Many of the Unionists were seriously alarmed. It was said that
the town would be taken, and then woe to the Yankee sympathizers and their
property!
The Confederate sympathizers
did not seem cast down with a great burden of sorrow, or plunged into an ocean
of grief at the prospect of a speedy occupation of the town by their friends,
and a sight, brief though it might be, of the bonnie stars and bars. From lip
to lip the message had run that Marmaduke was coming,
and with him were some of the Greene county boys that were wearing the gray,
whom it would be an extra delight to welcome when they should enter with the
gush of victory on their brows. The ladies at that day were almost universally
violent partisans for one side or the other, and they were especially
demonstrative at this time in expressing their glee or their dissatisfaction at
the prospective coming of the "rebels."
Some of the citizens
"packed their traps" and betook themselves to the houses of relatives
and friends in the country; others fled from exposed situations to Fort No. 1
and to the public square; still others went to their cellars; all hid their
money and valuables. It was a night of excitement, alarm, and terror, to be
sure.
"FALL IN! FALL
IN!"
At daylight on the morning
of the 8th there came galloping into town the detachment of the 14th M. S. M.,
which had been stationed at Ozark, and reported that Marmaduke,
Shelby, Emmett McDonald, and other chieftains of equal and lower degree had
attacked them at their post at about 10 o'clock the night before, had driven
them out, and were now upon their heels. They added that the Confederates had
destroyed their fort by giving it to the flames, and burning everything
inflammable. They had ridden all night, they said, and had carefully noted the
movements of their pursuers, and knew that
Immediately Gen. Brown began
to prepare in dead earnest for the fight. Capt. Green B. Phillips' company of
Col. Boyd's regiment of militia, was thrown into Fort No. 4, as were a number
of the convalescents from the hospitals and the volunteer runners under Lieut.
Hoffman, who were to work the pieces of artillery in the fort. To the west of
the old graveyard, on
Capt. McAfee organized a
number of men from the convalescent camp and some citizens, armed them, and,
reporting to Gen. Brown for orders, was assigned to the arsenal, the church
building of the M. E. South, which is still standing on South street, and was
then piled full of tons of ammunition of all kinds, cartridges, shot and shell,
and hundreds of stands of arms. Gen. Brown ordered Capt. McAfee to prepare oil,
turpentine, shavings and other inflammables, and be ready to set fire to and
blow up the arsenal and magazine, when ordered or when it became evident that
the town had fallen.
Only one battalion of the
4th M. S. M. was present, commanded by Col. Geo. H. Hall, of
Dr. Melcher states that just
as the last company of the convalescents was being armed, the next morning, the
skirmishing began. Just then a company of citizens, forty-two in number, came
running up and asked to be furnished with arms and ammunition. They were
supplied, joined the "quinine brigade," and Dr. Melcher says fought bravely
throughout the day. [435]
The convalescents and
citizens were distributed in
MARMADUKE'S MARCH.
Leaving
No leisure now! The march
was to be a rush, and
A detachment of the 14th M.
S. M., under Capt. Birch, went down from Ozark to ascertain if the reported
invasion was a fact. Not far from
Striking northward, Capt.
Birch made for the Federal post at Lawrence Mills, on Beaver creek, in the
northwestern part of Taney county, where Maj. Turner, of the 73d E. M. M., had
about 75 Douglas and Taney county men in garrison in a little block-house and
fort. Reaching the fort in good time Birch warned Maj. Turner of his danger and
advised him to evacuate the post and go on to Ozark. But Turner was an old man,
had been long in the service, and had heard a great deal more of the
Confederates than he had ever seen of them, and was incredulous about there
being any more of them then in the country than a squad of bushwhackers.
Scarcely had Maj. Turner
delivered himself of his opinions, when "spat-spat-spat-" the pistol
shots of the Confederate advance firing on his pickets were heard! A few
moments later and Emmett McDonald, with 500 cavalry, dashed up and assaulted
the block house and the men in it and around it, cheering and shouting and
making more noise than a charivari party at a country wedding! The fight was
soon over. The 14th M. S. M. scampered away towards Ozark; Maj. Turner was
wounded; four or five of his men were killed, and very soon nearly the whole
outfit were prisoners of war, had been paroled, and McDonald was clattering
across the country to join the main body under Marmaduke.
Gen. Marmaduke
had come on the main Yellville road, leaving Forsyth to the left and west, and
striking straight for Ozark and Springfield. McDonald had been detached to
"cleanup" the post at Beaver or
In the evening of the 7th,
By daylight the advance
reached Phelps' farm, and, after some discussion as to the propriety of waiting
for Porter, keeping the town closely invested in the meanwhile, a line of fight
was formed between 9 and 10 o'clock. Some skirmishers from the militia,
advancing through some high weeds, were discovered, fired on, and brought down
severely wounded. Preparations were at first made to feel of the Federals at
the southeast corner of their position, on the
Two miles from the public
square, in the edge of the timber, Marmaduke formed
his line for the attack. Gid. Thompson's regiment
held the right; Shelby's regiment, commanded by Lieut. Col. Gordon, held the
left; Jeans' regiment, commanded by Lieut. Col. Chas. Gilkey,
and Collins' battery were in the center. These troops were dismounted.
Elliott's and McDonald's battalions continued to operate as cavalry, Elliott to
the right, and McDonald to the left. The lines were formed in the open prairie,
under fire.
Here Gen. Marmaduke made a fatal blunder. The Federals had been of
the opinion that his force numbered something near 5,000 or 6,000 men, and were
consequently much in fear of him. Now, he came fairly up in sight of them,
displayed his whole force almost so plainly that every man could be counted,
and gave away his weakness showing that he had but a few hundred men more than
they had, and then Gen. Brown, hitherto a little undecided, determined to fight
to the last.
Figure 22 : Also from Harper's Weekly,
BURNING
HOUSES.
Early in the morning, after
it had become apparent that the Confederate attack was to come from the south
and southeast, Gen. Brown ordered to be burned a number of houses that
obstructed the range and sweep of the guns of Fort No. 4, on South street.
Perhaps ten or a dozen buildings were thus destroyed, half of which belonged to
Mrs. J. A. Stephens, widow of the Union citizen killed by accident by Zagonyi's men. Another house destroyed belonged to W. P.
Davis, a Union man, in the Federal service at the time. The expediency of this
action has been called in question, but no doubt Gen. Brown thought it
necessary to prevent a lodgment of the enemy in his immediate front, and the
severe, if not fatal, harassment of his best position. Perhaps the destruction
of these houses was a "military necessity," made so by the exigency
of the occasion, but in that event the government ought long ago to have paid
their loyal owners full value for them, which at this date it has not done.
[438]
The burning of the houses
added not only fuel to the general flame, but distraction to the already
intense excitement among the citizens, numbers of whom began leaving with their
lares and penates for the
sheltering walls of Fort No. 1, and continued to tramp back and forth from that
fortification during the day.
THE FIGHT BEGINS.
On St. Louis street was
Walter King's 3d M. S. M. (which regiment, a month later, was broken up and
distributed among the 6th and 7th M. S. M.) and the 14th M. S. M., numbering at
least 600 men, and they were to the north and south of the street. Near the
public square a huge steam boiler and some other obstructions were placed
across the street.
Upon the front of King's
regiment hovered a force of Confederate cavalry, Elliott's battalion sent to
feel the way and to learn if the route into the city by St. Louis street and
down the valley of Wilson's, creek were practicable. A sharp skirmish ensued.
The Confederate force was small and it fell back. Then King's regiment charged
and drove the force well back on the prairie, but did not follow for fearful of
being cut off. Returning to their original position the Federals with their
carbines at somewhat long range upon such of the Confederates as showed
themselves, and at least one more successful charge was made, the forces not
coming to close quarters, however, and doing but little injury to each other in
the matter of wounds and casualties.
Here Marmaduke
made another serious mistake. Had he concentrated his entire force upon the
southeast and east and made one grand rushing charge, he would have broken
King's line easily and been into town upon the public square in ten minutes
after his bugles had sounded the advance. The force he sent was by far too
small to effect anything, like success. The Federals fought well and made a
display of all their force in that quarter, and did a deal of marching up and
counter-marching to the rear, which had the effect to make the Confederates
believe that there was a very powerful force in their front, and it was known
that it was too strong for the force which had been sent to develop it. The
entire Confederate force then was formed well to the southeast, and the men sat
upon their horses waiting and wondering what was to be done next. [439]
The attack on
COMPLIMENTS RETURNED.
The iron guns in Fort No. 4
now began to reply to the two guns of Shelby's and for a time there was quite a
free interchange of metallic compliments between Lieut. Hoffman and Dick
Collins. Capt. Phillips' company of Marcus Boyd's regiment of militia and the
convalescents in the fort tried the range of their muskets too, and quite a din
arose. Hoffman threw shell, as he had howitzers, and Collins threw solid shot.
(It is not certain that Hoffman did not open the fight, by shelling Marmaduke's advance.)
Figure 3: A battle between
Cavalry units occurred during the day at the area near modern
MANEUVERING.
The fighting now slackened
for a time. It was about half-past 11. Marmaduke
conferred with his officers, who examined the field in front as well as they
were able with their field-glasses, and after a great deal of riding about and
consulting, it was finally agreed to assault the Federal position from the
south and southwest. Gen. Marmaduke himself, being
very near-sighted, could tell nothing about the position of his enemy, but
approved the plan of attack, which was begun at once.
The troops had been drawn up
in line and dismounted; they might as well have been disarmed.
The Federals were
maneuvering too. Some of King's men and the 4th M. S. M. were moved out upon
the
Many Union citizens, not
already organized by Dr. Melcher, were willing to fight to defend the town, and
asked for arms. Lietut. Creighton was the officer in
charge of the arsenal proper and he issued muskets to those having orders for
them and made every man that received a gun sign a receipt for it. This
proceeding required so much time that Capt. McAfee says he summarily
interfered, drove Creighton away, and then gave gains to those who asked for them
as fast as he could hand them out. There was no time for red-tape proceedings
then, with an enemy thundering at the gates of the city and the people
clamoring to be allowed to defend them.
GEN. BROWN WOUNDED.
At about 3 p.m. Gen. Brown
was severely wounded in the arm. He had ridden out
------
3 The Confederates, unlike
some of the Federals, gave Gen. Brown great credit for courage and good conduct
at the battle of
------
THE MAIN FIGHT OF THE DAY.
At about 2 in the afternoon
the Confederates dismounted, began moving around toward the southwest part of
town.
One of the guns of Collins',
battery was also sent around and took up a position a little to the west of
Sometime between two and
three o'clock the fight began in earnest. The Confederates advanced from the
south towards the north and northwest, coming up the little valley at the foot
of South and
In front of No. 4 was a
portion of Jeans' regiment of Confederates under Gilkey,
and some of Gordon's men, meaning to storm the fort when there was a good
opportunity, but Hoffman's gunners served their old iron pieces so vigorously,
and the members of the "quinine battalion" popped away with their
muskets so rapidly, pausing occasionally to take a powder or a pill, and both cannoneers and quinineers worked
so effectively that Gordon and Gilkey gave up for a
bad job all attempts at assault, and the Confederates drifted westward and over
about the graveyard.
Some of the sharpest and
hardest fighting of the day was done in and about this graveyard, amid the
tombstones and the cold "hic jacets" of the
dead. Back and forth through the aisles and across the graves of the silent
sleepers ran blue coats and gray jackets, and through the trees, where nothing
but birds had sun and soft breezes had blown aforetime, now whistled the cannon
shot and shrieked the bombshell. [442]
THE 72d RALLIES AND THE
CONVALESCENTS COME TO THE RESCUE.
An incessant fire upon the
Confederate line was kept up from Fort No. 4 and by its supports, and the 72d
regiment, under Sheppard and Jones, came gallantly "to the right
about," and advanced against the enemy driving the enemy back across and a
little to the south of Mt. Vernon street. A number of volunteers from among the
convalescents at the arsenal double-quicked across to
the corner of Market and Mt. Vernon and took possession of the dwelling house
then occupied by Mrs. Toney, and from this point of vantage opened on the
Confederates in front, first driving away Mrs. Toney, who made a sudden
appearance from her cellar, and refused to leave until the soldiers, in
language more forcible than elegant, and inexcusable under any other
circumstances, commanded her to depart, when she ran away, with the Confederate
bullets singing about her ears quite lively. When the fight was over nine of
the convalescents lay weltering in their blood about this house and the
building itself was riddled with bullet holes, the marks of which are plainly
visible at this day. On the vacant lot just east of Mrs. Toney's house known
now as "the show ground," men in blue and men in gray lay scattered
about, some moaning and groaning, and others silent and pulseless
and cold in death.
For an hour or more lively
skirmishing was kept up between the Confederates of Gordon's and Thompson's
regiments and Sheppard's 72d and the convalescents. A little after 4 o'clock
five companies of the 18th
CAPTURE OF THE "IOWA
CANNON."
There were two six-pound
brass field pieces over in
Immediately a battalion of Gilkey's men under Maj. John Bowman, and some of Gordon's
regiment under Capt. Titsworth, sprang away for this
gun, and after a short hard fight captured it and hauled it away in triumph,
after driving back the supports to the fort, and to the left and into and
beyond the graveyard. The hardest fight of the engagement was had here.
Maj. Bowman dashed up and
called out to the Iowans, "Surrender! Surrender!" Capt. Landis
replied, "We were here first; you surrender!" Bowman instantly fired,
the ball taking off Landis' shoulder strap. Almost at the same moment a shot
from the Iowan's revolver struck Maj. Bowman just below the heart. In the
fierce 'fight that followed Captains Blue and Van Meter were mortally wounded,
two or three of their men were killed, and Capt. Landis and a dozen more of the
Hawkeyes were severely wounded, while the
Confederates lost Capt. Titsworth, Lieut. Buffington,
and Lieut. McCoy, and four or five men killed, and perhaps twenty (including
Lieut. Maurice Langhorne, now of Independence) wounded.
The gunner with the primers
of the piece in his possession ran to the rear, and the Confederates were not
able to profit much just then by their capture, and so it was hauled off to the
rear by hand. Before the Confederates had fairly started on the charge, some of
the Iowans said, "Let us get away from here, or they will capture us
sure." Capts. Blue and Van Meter drew their
pistols and threatened to shoot the first men who offered to retreat, and so
saved their reputation for bravery, but lost their gun and their lives'. It is
said that Capt. Blue shot down three of the Confederates before he himself
fell. Capt. Van Meter also fought well, and it is claimed that had not every
officer of the Iowans been stretched upon the ground with fearful bullet
wounds, the Confederates would have been driven back.
Capt. Blue died on the 12th,
and Capt. Van Meter died on the 14th, after the fight. The remains of both are
buried in the
"The next morning after
the fight I found Maj. Bowman at a small house, half a mile east of the Phelps
homestead, and examined his wound. He was past surgical aid-in fact, was dying.
Two of his men had remained, and were tenderly but hopelessly caring for
him."
The particulars of the fight
for the gun have been obtained from actual participants on both sides. [444]
Late in the evening, at
about 5 o'clock, or thereabouts, the Confederates, under the leadership of
Shelby himself, made a charge on, or rather towards,
About sundown and until dark
Collins' battery thundered away spitefully and recklessly at the town, and
several shot and shell fell into the midst of the city, doing no serious
damage, however. One shot passed through the Missourian newspaper office, on
There was some charging and
counter-charging, and a great deal of shooting and skirmishing as long as it
was daylight, and after dark there was desultory firing until midnight. About 8
o'clock and at intervals through the night, Lieut. Hoffman, with his gun in No.
4, practiced on the stockade and different portions of the Confederate line
until late at night, using shell.
THE BUGLES SANG TRUCE AND
THE NIGHT CLOUD LOWERED.
When darkness had settled
down, there was an occasional boom of cannon, a pop of a musket and crack of a
revolver, but no serious fighting. Some Union women made coffee and sent it out
to the skirmishers who had fought so well for the town, and were even yet
keeping watch and ward over it.
The lines of the two forces
after nightfall seem to have been as follows: The Confederates were in two
wings, which formed a very obtuse angle or letter V, with the arms much
extended. The point of this angle rested on the stockade, and the right arm (or
the Confederate left), extended in a southwesterly direction along the
"OH, THAT PORTER WOULD
COME!"
Here Marmaduke
resolved to wait until daylight, hoping and trusting that Porter would come up
or be heard from some time during the night. Along toward midnight, the
skirmishing ceased, the Confederate line fell back or was withdrawn to the
prairie, and at 1 o'clock on the morning of the 9th a venturesome party of
Federals found the stockade abandoned., and they speedily took possession. Some
of Sheppard's regiment also advanced about midnight some distance to the
southward of
MORNING-THE
FIGHT OVER-THE TOWN SAFE.
At daylight all was quiet.
From the top of the, court-house the Confederates could be seen in motion to the
southeast and at Phelps' farm, but whether they were preparing for another
attack or for retreat was not certainly known. Gradually they moved away, and
the Federal line, which had been prepared for either attack or defense, moved
forward, and it was found that the battle was over, that the victory was with
the "boys in blue," and that the town was safe. By and by the Union
prisoners came in, and a message from Marmaduke was
received asking care for the wounded, and a soldier's sepulture for the
Confederate dead. The prisoners had been released on parole. Among them was
Judge J. H. Show, who, with others, had been captured when the advance was made
east of town.
There was a great deal of
satisfaction at the result among the Federal officers and soldiers, to be sure.
The usual cheering and congratulations were indulged in, mingled with
sympathies and regrets for those who had fallen. Maj. Graves, of the militia,
had been mortally wounded; Lieut. McCrosky, of the
72d, had been killed, and Maj. Hornbeak, of the same regiment, wounded. Gen.
Brown was badly hurt, and it was touch and go whether he would lose his arm or
not. The hospitals were well filled with the Federal wounded, while the
Confederates were piled as thick as they could lie in the house of Mrs. Owen,
in the south part of town. [446]
The citizens began to return
from
THE 72d E. M. M. IN THE
FIGHT.
Space forbids a detailed
mention of the part borne by all of the commands in the battle of
From the personal statements
of many of the members of this regiment yet living, and from a private letter
written by Col. Sheppard himself a few days after the fight and kindly
furnished by his son, Frank H. Sheppard, Esq., as well as from Col. S.'s report, this account has been derived.
Col. Sheppard states that
his regiment numbered in the fight, all told, officers and privates, 253 men,
represented in Companies A, B, D, E, F, G, H and I, Company C, Capt. Stone, and
Company K, Capt. Moore, being absent. At daylight the regiment was formed on
the public square. At about 11 it was on
The men were "double-quicked" about over town until they were almost
exhausted before they fired a shot. Gen. Brown had but comparatively few
troops, and these he showed everywhere. When the main fight came off the 72d
was on the right and a little in front of the Federal line, unsupported by
artillery or reserves, with 200 cavalry to the right and rear, north of the
Col. Sheppard states that
the Confederates came on in a line of convex shape, the point nearly opposite
Fort No. 4, and the wings well out. When near State street the line rapidly
concentrated and contracted, advancing with a rush through Dutchtown
and the brushwood and gardens westwardly, cheering
and shouting, and pouring a hot fire upon the 72d, which the colonel had formed
alone, the Fayetteville road, or State street, and behind fences, near the then
residence of Mr. Worley. The men were lying down, but their curiosity to see
what was coming caused every head to bob up and become a fair target. The men
now began to fire and a hot fight was soon in progress. In the midst of the
rattle of musketry and the pattering of' revolvers and all of the noise of
battle, a poor unfortunate calf attempted to run the gauntlet of flying
bullets, and when it was struck by a shot set up a loud bawling. One of the 72d
sprang to his feet and roared out to the advancing Confederates: "You had
better take care of your calf!" A shout of laughter rose audibly over all
the din.
But
Very soon the regiment was
again in disorder, and this time it gave way. The men trotted-back in search of
safer positions. Col. Sheppard shouted at them and tried to stop them until his
voice was gone; Lieut. Col. Jones had lost his horse and was well nigh
exhausted, but by voice and example struggled desperately to rally them; Major
Hornbeak, wounded as he was, worked vigorously; the commander of the militia
and his staff came up and the officers exhorted and threatened, and commanded,
but "backward, still backward," went the militiamen until they got
under the cover of the hill that slopes down to Wilson creek, and stopped along
College street, reformed, and began to load their muskets. One squad, however,
led by a commissioned officer, retreated to
As soon as the regiment
reformed and the men turned their faces again to the south, Col. Sheppard and
Lieut. Col. Jones again ordered them forward. The men set up a shout and moved
forward as readily as they had moved backward a few minutes before. Some of
"When the night came
on," says Col. Sheppard, "my men were placed in the line of buildings
right west of the Baptist church, in the brick Hornbeak house, at the M. E.
church South (then the arsenal), in Fort No. 4, to the command of which I was
assigned. In the night I had the howitzer in the fort, a 12-pounder, pepper,
the rascals in the palisade college building, 250 yards away. The moon shone
beautifully and the Dutch lieutenant (Lieut. Hoffman) made splendid practice.
The secesh vacated it and at 1 a.m. I put a company
in it. All night my boys, in squads, under careful officers, were crawling over
the ground to the front, spying out the land, but daybreak showed only dead and
wounded rebels before us. An hour later, with Gen. Brown's field-glass, I sat
in a bastion and saw the long lines of the enemy working their way eastward
from 'the goose-pond,' where they had withdrawn during the night. To only one
idea did it seem reasonable to attribute this movement-that the attack was to
be renewed from the east and north." [449]
Quoting further from Col.
Sheppard the following extract from the private letter before referred to will
be found of interest:
* * * My regiment was only
238, [privates] strong in the fight. We lost 53 killed and wounded. The advance
of the enemy from Ozark was so rapid that the members of the regiment living in
the country were cut off from town and were unable to join us. We have buried
51 of the enemy. About 80 of their wounded are here; they carried away a good
many of their wounded in wagons, and of course numbers of their slightly
wounded rode off their own horses. Nine prisoners, armed with
Bill Frazier was with them,
and badly shot; he is now in the hospital. Lingow was
also with them, and so exhausted that he lay down in one of the little houses
in Dutchtown, and did not wake until morning. Then,
supposing the rebels had possession of the college, he went in and was kindly
received by Capt. Small, who sent the gentleman over to me. He is a lieutenant
of artillery.
My men are by all looked
upon as the men who saved the town, protected the immense accumulations of
government stores for the Army of the Frontier, and preserved the
communications of that army and the quiet of the whole Southwest. I doubt not
that my gallant boys rendered triple more actual valuable service to the
LOSS OF THE 72d E. M. M.
The total loss of the 72d E.
M. M. in the battle of
Field and Staff.- Maj. A. C.
Graves, brigade commissary, mortally wounded; Maj. John Hornbeak, 72d E. M. M.,
slightly wounded.
Company A, Capt. Jackson
Ball commanding.-Killed, 2d Lieut. David J. McCroskey;
Private John N. Cox. Wounded, Corporal Eliisha L.
Elam and Privates Stephen Sink, John Davis, Nimrod P. Ginger, Aaron T. Bacon,
and D. M. Wallace.
Company B, Capt. R. K. Hart
commanding.-Wounded, Sergt. John H. Williams, in
thigh; Privates Levi E. Grimmitt, in the ankle, and
Jackson O. Hale, in leg.
Company D, Lieut. Geo. S.
Patterson commanding.-Wounded, Sergt. John L. Rainey,
in arm, mortally; Corporal J. W. Boren, in head, slightly; Privates Silas Dugger severely, W. J. McDaniel in hip, S. M. Gresham in
shoulder, Thos. Wilson in foot, Elisha Painter in foot, W. R. Russell in face,
H. C. McKee in hip, N. J. Dyer in hip, F. M. Chiping.
[450]
Company E, Capt. Geo. A.
Dillard commanding.- Wounded, 1st Lieut. W. F. Lane, leg broken (died);
Corporals Hiram Vaughn in shoulder and John Hissey in
arm; Privates Charles Crane in leg, severely, George W. Townlin
in head, Clay Leslie in head, Robert P. Ellison in head, Josiah M. Cunningham
in arm.
Company F, Capt. Geo. T.
Beal commanding.-Wounded, Sergts. W. R. M. Campbell
in head (died); P. G. Perkins in leg; Privates, W. H. O'Neal mortally, W.
Braswell severely, Louis Payne in knee, J. M. O'Neal in hand and leg, W. W.
Ward, J. A. Hampton, W. R. Norman, Baker Russell and W. C. MoCroskey,
all slightly.
Company G, Lieut. Irwin W.
Jenkins commanding.-Wounded, Privates W. T. Noblett
mortally, and Russell Stokes slightly.
Company H, Capt. Vincent
Cummings commanding.-Wounded, Private Absalom Wheeler and Henry Goodnight
slightly.
Company I, Capt. J. B.
Perkins commanding. -Killed, Sergt. S. Burling;
wounded, Privates James Adams, John Watson, Joseph Hursh,
John Mills; missing, D. M. Bedell.
NUMBER OF TROOPS AND LOSS ON
EACH SIDE.
According to the official
reports (cited by Col. Sheppard and others) the Federals had 1,566 men, all
told, in the battle. This included convalescents and the men from the
hospitals. The Confederate strength was not far from 2,000.
The Federal loss was 18
killed outright some 12 mortally wounded, who within two months, died from
wounds and disease combined. The wounded numbered about 100. The total killed
and wounded on the Union side, including convalescents, and all was about 125.
The Confederate loss was
much greater-how much cannot now be definitely ascertained. The Missouian newspaper, published January 17th, after the
fight, said that 32 dead Confederates were picked up on the battlefield,
"and those of their wounded who have since died will raise their loss in
killed to over 40." Dr. Melcher says that altogether he knows 80
Confederates were buried from first to last. The doctor further says that there
were left in charge of four of Marmaduke's surgeons
Confederate wounded to the number of 60, of whom only 28 were alive on January
31, showing that only the more dangerously wounded were left behind.
Ex-Confederates say that all of their wounded that could ride away did so. Ten
days after the battle Col. Sheppard says: "We have buried 51 of the
enemy." [451]
The official records show
that on the Federal side the 2d battalion of the 14th M. S. M. lost two men
killed-E. C. Vanbibber, regimental commissary, and
Private S. H. Hyde, Company D-ten wounded, and one missing. The 3d M. S. M. lost
one man killed, Simon McKissick, private Company B.
James T. Harris, of Co. D, was wounded, and James Pennington and H. S. Rickets
were taken prisoners. The 4th M. S. M. had two men killed-Michael Schmidt,
private of Company C, and Reuben H. Parker, private of Company K. The 18th
The Confederate officers
killed were Major John Bowman, of Jeans' regiment; Captain Titsworth
and Lieut. John Buffington, of Gordon's (
INCIDENTS OF THE FIGHT.
Will Ridgely,
a young lad of 16, had his gun and accouterments taken from him by Col.
Sheppard, and was ordered out of the fight, but he mounted the colonel's horse,
which he had been ordered to lead to the rear, and galloped off and served all
day as orderly to the commander of the militia.
It is impossible to describe
the part taken by Col. Marcus Boyd's 74th, for want of information on the
subject. It is believed, however, that only three companies of the regiment
participated in the fight-Capt. Redferan's Capt.
Phillips' and Capt. Small's. Phillips company was in Fort No. 4, and Small's
occupied the college building at 1 o'clock on the morning of the 9th, after the
Confederates had evacuated. Col. Boyd himself was present and assisted in
directing the movements of the troops, etc.
During the fight Col.
Sheppard saw a Confederate officer riding a fine black horse. Calling to Will Gott, who had a Springfield rifle musket, Col. S. bade him
try his hand as a sharpshooter. At the crack of the gun the horse fell.
It was reported that 27 dead
Confederates were buried on Phelps farm; 14 in the graveyard, and that 12 more
died from their wounds in ten days after the fight.
It is said that Gen. Marmaduke came near being taken prisoner. He lingered in
the rear on the morning of the 9th, and when, at about 9, he left Phelps'
house, where he had slept, his command had nearly, all ridden away and left
him, and a company of King's 3d M. S. M. was "fooling around"
unpleasantly near. [452]
Some of the Confederate
sympathizers in Springfield were greatly elated at the prospect of the capture
of the town, until Col. Sheppard, told them that turpentine and gunpowder had
been distributed in such quantities that if the town were captured it would
soon be a miniature Moscow. "I intend to fire my own store with my own
hands," said the colonel.
Seven resident printers
belonging to the enrolled militia, took part in the fight. Maj. Graves, of the
Journal, was mortally wounded, and Corporal Boren, of the same paper, was
slightly hurt. Capt. W. P. Davis, the veteran publisher, took an active part in
the engagement. Four printers from the Missourian office participated.
The next day after the
battle Col. Jas. W. Johnson, with the 26th E. M. M., from Polk county, came
into town, and his arrival made the forces already in town feel more secure.
The colonel was unable to get in on the 8th, not having time to get his men
together.
When Captains Blue and Van
Meter were shot down in the fight over the cannon, Surgeon Whitney was promptly
with them. Capt. Blue, realizing that he had his death wound, and that his end
was near, asked the surgeon to stay with him while he lived. Surgeon Whitney,
seeing Post Chaplain Fred H. Wines near, excused himself to perform other
duties, saying, "Here is the chaplain; he will stay with you;" but
Wines, who was a very active man, and much interested in the battle, breathed
but a short prayer for the dying officer, and then said: "Now, captain,
put your trust in Jesus; He will stay with you always; I can't." And away
went the chaplain into the fight.
Surgeon Whitney and Chaplain
Wines were both very industriously engaged. When it was the hottest at
One gallant Confederate
evidently considered himself sufficiently armored and fortified to capture
It is said that one Federal
soldier, nominally a member of the 1st
CONFEDERATE MOVEMENTS AFTER
THE FIGHT.
At 10 o'clock on the morning
of the 9th, Marmaduke's command was well out on the
wire road leading to Rolla, seeking to join forces with Col. Porter. At Sand
Springs the advance of Porter was met and a halt was made. Here the prisoners
were all paroled and sent back, and the united command began to retreat
eastward by way of
The death of the brave and
chivalrous Emmett McDonald was learned with regret in the Federal lines as well
as in Confederate camps. A desperate fighter when fighting was to be done, he
was as kind as a brother and as gentle as a woman when it was over. His kind
offices for Federal wounded and prisoners, and his generous conduct regarding
the body of Gen. Lyon, a fellow-hero, though an enemy, had won for him great
respect among the Union troops, and the people of Greene county and
Springfield, Union and Confederate, still admired him for his many heroic,
generous qualities. [454]
BURIAL OF THE FEDERAL DEAD.
On Sunday, January 11th, the
bodies of the Federal dead were buried, pursuant to the following order from
Gen. Brown:
Headquarters S. W. District
of
I. The general commanding is
desirous that the noble dead who have fallen in defense of Springfield should
receive, in their death, that honor which they have purchased with their lives.
It is there fore ordered that the bodies of all officers and men who were
killed in the battle of
II.
III. Two companies of
infantry will be detailed as an escort, and will report to Col. King for
orders.
IV. The procession will form
at four at Fort No. 4, and move through the square and out
By order of Brig. Gen. E. E.
Brown
James H. Steger, Asst. Adj.
General.
Besides the honors thus
shown the Federal Soldiers who fell at Springfield, the fine monument, costing
$5,000, now standing in the National Cemetery, was erected in their memory by
Dr. T. J. Bailey, the well known old citizen of Springfield, whose name so
frequently appears in these pages.
DEATH OF JUDGE HENDRICK.
On the 10th, two days after
the battle, Hon. Littleberry Hendrick
died at his residence in
CONGRATULATIONS.
Upon receipt of the news of
the battle of
Headquarters, etc.,
To Brig. Gen. E. B.
Brown:-Dispatch of the 11th via
S. E. Curtis, Major General.
ARRIVAL OF REINFORCEMENTS.
The news of the
The following are copies of
actual dispatches regarding the A note: Both sides tended to
exaggerate numbers in their favor, such as more enemy fatalities and larger
number of enemy troops that attacked. Actual accounts from Military Dispatches DECEMBER 31, 1862--JANUARY 25, 1863.--Marmaduke's expedition into Missouri. JANUARY 8, 1863 - Defense of Springfield, Mo. Report of Major-General, SAML. R. SAINT LOUIS, Mo., January
8, 1863.Major-General HALLECK, SAML. R. CURTIS, Page 179 -
180 SPRINGFIELD, January 8,
[1863]--10 a.m. GENERAL: The enemy's advance is on James, 7 miles from here, on
the Ozark road. I have our iron 6 and 12 pounder guns
and howitzers, which I mounted last night, in addition to two brass 6-pounders
at E. B. BROWN.[Maj. Gen.
SAMUEL R. CURTIS.] Page 180 E. B. BROWN, Page 180 E. B. BROWN, Page 180 -
181 SPRINGFIELD, MO., January
8, 1863--11.50 p.m. GENERAL: The firing at this post has just ceased. The
attack was made at 10.10 this morning. The fight lasted thirteen hours, under
the command of General Marmaduke, C. S. Army, with
5,000 picked mounted infantry and two pieces rifled field artillery, drawn by
ten horses each. E. B. BROWN, I will add to the general's
dispatch that he was treacherously shot from a secesh
residence, while leading a charge of his body guard when the day seemed to be
lost. JAS. H. STEGER, Page 178 SAML. R. CURTIS, Page 178 -
179 SAML. R. CURTIS, Page 179 JANUARY 8, 1863---9 p.m.General BROWN, Sringfield:
SAML. R. CURTIS, Page 183 -
187 HEADQUARTERS SOUTHWESTERN
DISTRICT OF MISSOURI, B. CRABB, Page 182 -
183 HDQRS. FOURTH DIST.,
ENROLLED C. B. HOLLAND, Page 62 -
63, Part 2 CAMP OPPOSITE FORSYTH, MO., JAMES O. GOWER, Return to the top of the
page: Top
Volume 22, Part 1 & 2
General-in-Chief:
A rebel force is moving from Forsyth against
Major-General.
Report of Brig. Gen. Egbert B. Brown,
Report of Brig. Gen. Egbert B. Brown,
Brigadier-General.Maj.
Gen. SAMUEL R. CURTIS,
Commanding Department of the Missouri.
Report of Brig. Gen. Egbert B. Brown,
Brigadier-General.Maj.
Gen. SAMUEL R. CURTIS,
Commanding Department of the Missouri.
Report of Brig. Gen. Egbert B. Brown,
The expedition was fitted in this manner on the Arkansas River for the special
service of the capture of
General, these troops acted like heroes. I am too weak from the loss of blood
to dictate more.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Brigadier-General.
Maj. Gen. SAMUEL G CURTIS,
Commanding Department of the
Assistant Adjutant-General.
Report of Maj. Gen. Samuel R. Curtis, U. S. Army, commanding Department of the
Missouri.
Major-General.Maj.
Gen. H. W. HALLECK,
General. in- Chief.
Report of Maj. Gen. Samuel R. Curtis,
Major-General.Maj.
Gen. H. W. HALLECK,
General. in- Chief.
Report of Maj. Gen. Samuel R. Curtis, U. S. Army, commanding Department of the
Missouri.
You and your troops are heroes. I hope God will spare you strength for
to-morrow. I expect a desperate effort early in the morning. All the troops,
especially the cavalry, should be ready. Herron started with two divisions
eastward from
Major-General.
Report of Col. Benjamin Crabb, Nineteenth
On Wednesday, the 7th instant, about 3 p.m., General Brown received the first
information that the enemy, estimated from 4,000 to 6,000 strong, had forced
our troops to abandon Lawrence's Mill; that they had burned the mill and
block-house there, and were rapidly approaching this place by the way of Ozark.
Not having a force sufficient at that place to contend with the enemy, they
were ordered to fall back on this place, with instructions to destroy what
Government property they could not carry with them, which order was promptly
executed.
The enemy entered Ozark a few minutes after our forces had evacuated it. They
destroyed the block-house, and then continued their march on this place.
Messengers were dispatched to the various stations around
The night of the 7th was spent in making preparations to meet the enemy. Under
the supervision of Lieutenant [J.] Hoffman, of Backof's
First Missouri Light Artillery, two 12-pounder iron howitzers and one 6-pounder
piece were mounted on wheels, as temporary carriages, taken to the blacksmith
shop, repaired, and rolled into the fort, No. 4, by daylight of the 8th
instant.
Dr. S. H. Melcher mustered some 300 convalescents from the various hospitals,
who were armed and equipped; also near 100 soldiers, who had recently been
discharged from the same, under command of Captain McAfee, were armed, and many
loyal citizens turned out willingly, and were armed, to fight in the defense of
their homes.
At an early hour on the morning of the 8th, about 200 or 300 of the Enrolled
In this manner, with skirmishers and sharpshooters thrown forward, they
advanced steadily and slowly, occasionally halting and firing shot from their
rifled piece, apparently trying the range and feeling their way. The cavalry,
under the command of Colonel [W.] King, Third Missouri State Militia, and
Colonel [G. H.J Hall,
Colonel King was ordered to charge with his regiment the enemy's right. He
drove them back, when they turned their artillery and sharpshooters upon him.
At this time Colonel Hall, with the
The cavalry being exposed in the open field to the fire of the enemy's
artillery and infantry, and fearful they would be cut to pieces, they were
ordered to retire under protection of the fort, which order was executed
promptly and in good order, bringing with them their wounded. The enemy threw
forward a regiment of cavalry on our left, which was promptly checked by the
The enemy about 2 p.m. massed their forces and advanced on our center and
right. Captain [J. A.] Landis, with his piece of artillery, was ordered to
advance to the front and right of the fort, which order he promptly executed.
He was supported by parts of three companies of the Eighteenth
It was now between 2 and 3 p.m. The enemy had captured one piece of artillery;
at the same time had taken possession of an unfinished stockade fort that had
been used as a prison, and were pressing hard on our center and right. The
"Quinine Brigade," which was placed under my command, and which up to
this time was stationed in various brick buildings in and around the center of
town, was ordered to move to the front and attack the enemy. I had the honor to
lead them in person, assisted by Lieutenants JaRhid
Root, of the Nineteenth
We advanced to the front and west of the fort, and took a position behind a
fence and about 50 to 75 yards from the rebels, who were likewise posted behind
fences and in and around a house to our front. After fighting for nearly one
hour, the enemy gave way and fled precipitately from this part of the field.
In the mean time they were making strong efforts to turn our right, and, after
being driven from our center, threw their main force forward for that purpose,
when they were met by the Seventy-second Regiment Enrolled Missouri Militia,
under the command of Colonel Sheppard; the "Quinine Brigade," under
the command of' Lieutenants Root, Wilson, and Bodenhammer
and Captain [C. B.] McAfee, who repulsed them. There were also engaged at this
time the Third and Fourth Missouri State Militia Cavalry and the Second
Battalion Fourteenth Missouri State Militia, and five companies of the
Eighteenth Iowa, two of which had recently come to our support, under the
command of Captain [W. H.] Evans. The enemy had gained possession of several
houses, and were pouring into our ranks volley after volley of musketry while
they were endeavoring to dislodge them. The cause became desperate; the enemy
were pressing hard upon our brave men, and they were yielding before the
overwhelming numbers brought against them, when General Brown and staff rode
forward to encourage them, when he was treacherously shot from a house by some
hidden foe, and fell from his horse. He immediately remounted, but was unable
to remain in his saddle, and was carried off the field.
This was about 4 p.m., when I received all order from the general to take
command, which I immediately complied with. The fighting at this time was hard.
It was one continual roar of musketry and artillery. The enemy had advanced to
a point beyond the range of the small-arms of the fort; but the artillery
continued to pour a heavy fire of shot and shell into their midst, which would
cause them to falter, but they would again and again rally. The stockade fort,
which they had previously taken possession of, gave them great protection, and
in and around which they would mass their forces, and from which they would
make their charges. They would drive our men, and then in turn be driven back.
A little after 5 o'clock they made the most desperate effort that they had made
during the day to drive back our forces by throwing their whole force upon our
center and right wing, but mainly upon the center. A part of the Seventy-second
Enrolled Missouri Militia, Fourth Missouri State Militia Cavalry (dismounted),
the Second Battalion Fourteenth Missouri State Militia Cavalry (dismounted),
part of five companies of the Eighteenth Iowa Infantry, and the "Quinine
Brigade," amounting, in all, to about 800 men, had to oppose the major
part of the rebel army, amounting to three or four times their own number; but
our troops met them promptly, and fought them most gallantly for nearly
one-half hour, when a part of our lines began to give back.
At this critical time, an officer commanding a company in the Second Battalion
Fourteenth Missouri State Militia, ordered his men to horse (as I was afterward
informed, and the whole battalion came running in great confusion to the rear,
and took to home. I tried in vain to rally them; they seemed panic-stricken.
This caused a partial giving way among the other troops. I had no difficulty in
rallying them, and they went again into the fight.
It was now near dark, and the enemy were making an additional demonstration on
our left. By this time Lieutenant-Colonel Pound, commanding, had succeeded in
reforming the
Five additional companies of the Eighteenth Iowa, under the command of Lieut. Col.
Thomas Z. Cook, came to the rescue, whooping and cheering, which gave fresh
courage to our brave men, who immediately drove the enemy before them and back
into the stockade fort. Colonel Cook's troops arrived too late to take an
active part in the engagement. Darkness coming on, the firing gradually
ceased, after which all was quiet, save an occasional firing from the
artillery. The enemy, under cover of the darkness, withdrew from the field,
carrying away part of their dead and wounded. I expected them to renew the
attack on the following morning.
On the morning of the 9th, they appeared in full force to the east, and about 1
mile from town. Preparations were made to receive them. A cavalry force was
sent forward to engage them and check their advance; but they declined another
engagement and retired in haste. We did not have a sufficient force to pursue
them. We did not have at any one time during the day more than 900 to 1,000 men
engaged. The enemy had some 4,000 men, under the command of General Marmaduke, [Colonels] Shelby, Gordon, Gilkey,
Elliott, MacDonald, and others, with three pieces of artillery, who came with
the full expectation of an easy conquest. They had invited their friends in the
country to come and bring their wagons, promising them all the booty they could
carry; but, thanks to a kind Providence, brave hearts, and strong arms, they
were most signally defeated in their designs of plunder.
The Seventy-second Regiment, Enrolled
I cannot forbear to say that to the vigilance of General Brown, his promptness
in preparing to meet the enemy, and to his coolness, courage, and personal
supervision of the troops in battle, while under his command, we are in a great
measure indebted for our success. He has by his conduct endeared himself to those
under his command.
Lieut. Richard Root, Company K, Nineteenth Iowa, who arrived during the fight;
Lieut. S. A. Wilson, Company I, Eighteenth Iowa; Captain McAfee and Lieutenant Bodenhammer, who were in command of the "Quinine
Brigade ;" Capt. W. H. Evans, of Company F, Eighteenth Iowa; Dr. Whitney,
of the Fourth Missouri State Militia Cavalry, who took a gun and fought and the
Rev. Mr. Wynes, post chaplain, who, in the face of
the enemy, assisted in removing the wounded from the battlefield,
deserve great praise for their gallant conduct during the engagement.
I am under many obligations, to Major Steger and Lieutenants Campion and
Blodgett, members of General Brown's staff, for the efficient service they
rendered me. There are many other officers and men deserving of honorable
mention.
We lost 14 killed, 144 wounded, and 4 missing, making a total of killed,
wounded, and missing of 162. The enemy's loss cannot be definitely ascertained.
Their own estimates of their losses range from 200 to 300 killed and wounded.
Among their slain is a major.
We captured several prisoners, and among them are 2 commissioned officers. We
buried a part of their dead, and have some 60 to 80 of their wounded to take
care of.
I send herewith attached a detailed report of the killed, &c.
I have the honor to remain, your most obedient servant,
Colonel, Commanding.Maj.
Gen. SAMUEL R. CURTIS,
Commanding Department of the Missouri.
Report of Brig. Gen. Colly B. Holland,
Sringfield, January 11, 1863. COLONEL :
I have the honor to submit the following report:
On the evening of the 7th instant, Brig. Gen. E. B. Brown, commanding
Southwestern District of Missouri, received intelligence from a scouting party,
composed of detachments of the Fourteenth Missouri State Militia and
Seventy-third Regiment Enrolled Missouri Militia, under command of Captain [M.]
Burch, that a large force of the enemy, said to be 6,000 strong, under command
of General Marmaduke, were moving on Lawrence's Mill,
Taney County, from Dubuque, Ark., with the intention of attacking this place,
to capture the depot of arms and stores, and to destroy all communication with
the Army of the Frontier and Saint Louis.
Immediately orders were dispatched by me to Colonel [J. W.] Johnson,
Twenty-sixth Regiment; Colonel [Henry] Shoppard,
Seventy-second Regiment; Colonel [Marcus] Boyd, Seventy-fourth Regiment
Enrolled Missouri Militia, to call in all their furloughed men and concentrate
them immediately at this post; also to detached companies in Dade and Lawrence
Counties.
In the course of the night information was received confirming the report of
the enemy's advance. At daylight on the 8th, the troops stationed at Ozark
arrived, reporting the enemy had arrived and burned their post, and by 10 a.m.
our pickets were attacked, and he appeared on the edge of the prairie southeast
of town.
The enemy at once planted his battery and commenced firing upon the town and
Fort No. 4, commanding the approach from the south, while the cavalry,
consisting of detachments of the Third, Fourth, and Fourteenth Missouri State
Militia, were formed on the left of the fort, and charged on the enemy's right.
General Brown formed his line of battle, with detachments of cavalry on the
left, southeast of town, a detachment of the Eighteenth Iowa Infantry on their
right, Fort No. 4, mounting two guns, garrisoned with Company C, Colonel Boyd's
Seventy-fourth Regiment Enrolled Missouri Militia, Captain [G. B.] Phillips,
and convalescent soldiers, commanded by Lieutenant [J.] Hoffman, of the First
Missouri Artillery, connected with the Army of the Frontier, and a brick
college, inclosed on three sides with palisades, used
for a military prison, being the center; Colonel Sheppard's regiment Enrolled
Missouri Militia Infantry to the right of the college, flanked on his right by
detachments of car-airy, with Fort No. 1 about one.half
mile to the rear, being the extreme right, which was garrisoned by the
Eighteenth Iowa and citizens.
The skirmishing with cavalry on our left, with artillery firing, continued with
but trifling loss until 2 p.m., when the enemy extended his left, and advanced
his right and whole line toward
Colonel Sheppard was compelled to fall back in the direction of Fort No. 1,
taking advantage of the scattered houses to continue the fight as they retired
After falling back some 300 yards, they were rallied, and made a spirited
charge upon the enemy, driving them back south of the Fayetteville road, being
assisted on their left by a detachment of Iowa troops, under Col. B. Crabb.
The enemy succeeded in gaining possession of the college building, a strong
position, enabling their sharpshooters to check our farther advance until night
closed the contest.
Late in the day, Maj. A. C. Graves, of my staff, brigade commissary, who was
acting as aide-de-camp, was mortally wounded, shot by a musket ball in left
breast; Lieut. D. J. McCrosky, Company A, Seventy
second Regiment Enrolled Missouri Militia, killed; Maj. John Hornbeak wounded
in arm; Lieut. W. F. Lane, Company E, Seventy-second Regiment, leg broken;
Sergeants Burling and Campbell killed, and Sergeant Rainey mortally wounded.
Annexed in hand is a statement of killed, wounded, and missing of my command.
I take pleasure in reporting the valuable aid afforded me by members of my
staff on the field, Majors Sheppard, Bishop, Graves, and Clarke; also volunteer
aide, Lieutenant Matthews, of Eighth Missouri Cavalry Volunteers.
I am proud to report the bravery of my command, being raw troops, who have been
greatly maligned by enemies of the Union and some politicians of the State, and
can assure the Commander-in-Chief of their readiness to defend the Constitution
and support the Government of the United States and this State, not only with
words, but by the sacrifice of their lives, as they have so abundantly proved
by their conduct on the now still more memorable day--the 8th of January.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Brig. Gen., Comdg. Fourth Dist., Enrolled
Acting Adjutant-General, Missouri.
Report of Colonel, James O Gower
January 19, 1863.General SCHOFIELD.
Commanding Army of the Frontier:
GENERAL: We arrived here at 12 o'clock this day. I met Captain Julian,
Very respectfully, your obedient servant.
Colonel, Commanding Third Division.
