Chapter 11
History of the County During 1862
Part 2
The November Elections — Official Canvass, Including the Soldier Vote — The "Gamble Oath" — A Joke on a Carpet-Batter by "Pony" Boyd — Operations of the 14th M. S. M. in December — The Fortifications at Springfield — Organization of the Enrolled Missouri Militia — Roster of the 72d and 74th Regimants, E. M. M.
THE NOVEMBER ELECTION, 1862.
Notwithstanding the presence of hundreds of soldiers in the county, and the thousand and one shocks to law and order incident to "war's alarms," affairs in Greene county during 1862 were reasonably quiet. As has been stated, courts were held and other proceedings gone through with according to the forms of law; and the vote at the election of this year, while not very large and full, was fair and free, and the election itself was conducted without intimidation or any over-awing on the part of the soldiery. So far as this county was concerned, the bayonet protected, and did not attempt to control, the ballot-box.
About the only political issue involved in the election of 1862 was the question of emancipation in Missouri. The emancipationists in this county—that is, those in favor of the gradual emancipation of slaves in the State, compensation to be given to loyal owners—were slightly in the majority, as it turned, out. Everybody was for the Union—that is, everybody allowed to vote, for no one was permitted to cast a ballot without first taking an oath to support the United States Government and the Gamble or provisional government against all enemies, domestic and foreign. But the Union men differed as to emancipation, some favoring, some opposing.
At this election, the soldiers of the county, who would have been qualified voters here, were allowed to vote, no matter where stationed. Those stationed at Springfield and at other points in the county, were not allowed to vote at the ordinary polling places, but each military troop had a ballot-box of its own, presided over by three sworn judges and two clerks, and this polling place was required to be separate from where the civilians voted, in order that the presence of the soldiers might not intimidate the citizens. [420]
The principal candidates voted for in Greene county, at the November election (Nov. 4th), 1862, were:
For Congress —Col. John S. Phelps, conservative Union or anti-Emancipationist, and Col. S. R. Boyd, Emancipationist.
For State Senator—J. W. D. L. F. Mack, Emancipationist, and Col. Marcus Boyd, anti-Emancipationist.
For Representatives— Sam'l W. Headlee and Jared E. Smith, Emancipationists; C. B. Holland and John Dade, conservative Union and anti-Emancipationists.
For Sheriff—Thos. A. Reed and John E. Ernest.
For County Justice—Woodson Howard and W. B. Farmer.
Wm. McAdams, for county treasurer, and John McElhannon, for assessor, had no opposition.
The following is an abstract of the official canvass of the vote in this county, and of the Federal soldiers belonging thereto that voted (many of the Greene county soldiers did not vote, being stationed far away in the South where no polls were opened), at the November election, 1862:
OFFICIAL CANVASS NOVEMBER ELECTION, 1862.
The principal candidates voted for in Greene county, at the November election (Nov. 4th), 1862, were:
For Congress— Col. John S. Phelps, conservative Union or anti-Emancipationist, and Col. S. R. Boyd, Emancipationist.
For State Senator—J. W. D. L. F. Mack, Emancipationist, and Col. Marcus Boyd, anti-Emancipationist.
For Representatives— Sam'l W. Headlee and Jared E. Smith, Emancipationists; C. B. Holland and John Dade, conservative Union and anti-Emancipationists.
For Sheriff—Thos. A. Reed and John E. Ernest.
For County Justice—Woodson Howard and W. B. Farmer.
Wm. McAdams, for county treasurer, and John McElhannon, for assessor, had no opposition.
The following is an abstract of the official canvass of the vote in this county, and of the Federal soldiers belonging thereto that voted (many of the Greene county soldiers did not vote, being stationed far away in the South where no polls were opened), at the November election, 1862:
OFFICIAL CANVASS NOVEMBER ELECTION, 1862.
|
Congress |
State Senator |
Representatives |
Sheriff |
Co. Judge |
|||||||
Twp and Mili- |
Phelps |
S. H. Boyd* |
J. F. Mack* |
M. Boyd |
Holland |
John Dade |
S. Headlee* |
J. E. Smith* |
T. A. Reed |
J. R. Earnest |
Howard |
Farmer |
Campbell, 1st |
187 |
144 |
161 |
153 |
152 |
151 |
149 |
153 |
134 |
150 |
135 |
130 |
Campbell, 2d |
45 |
34 |
34 |
36 |
37 |
41 |
31 |
32 |
33 |
34 |
28 |
35 |
Robberson |
9 |
53 |
62 |
5 |
11 |
1 |
68 |
54 |
37 |
25 |
63 |
4 |
Center |
19 |
17 |
33 |
3 |
8 |
16 |
27 |
17 |
35 |
1 |
28 |
7 |
Wilson |
7 |
13 |
13 |
9 |
7 |
5 |
17 |
16 |
15 |
5 |
17 |
2 |
Cass |
12 |
30 |
38 |
0 |
8 |
8 |
40 |
33 |
31 |
9 |
35 |
3 |
Boone |
21 |
5 |
7 |
18 |
21 |
14 |
7 |
4 |
18 |
6 |
14 |
6 |
Jackson |
18 |
21 |
25 |
10 |
17 |
14 |
30 |
25 |
27 |
12 |
19 |
18 |
Clay |
12 |
5 |
13 |
3 |
9 |
7 |
10 |
8 |
11 |
6 |
9 |
1 |
Pond Creek |
0 |
25 |
26 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
26 |
26 |
24 |
0 |
25 |
0 |
Taylor |
5 |
30 |
33 |
2 |
5 |
4 |
32 |
30 |
33 |
4 |
32 |
0 |
Co. G-72d E.M.M. |
2 |
8 |
17 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
17 |
17 |
3 |
9 |
12 |
0 |
Co. F-72d E.M.M. |
3 |
14 |
13 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
5 |
5 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
0 |
Co. E-14th Cav. M.S.M. |
4 |
30 |
21 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
21 |
20 |
7 |
18 |
21 |
0 |
Co. A-74th E.M.M. |
9 |
3 |
7 |
5 |
10 |
5 |
7 |
0 |
10 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Co. D- 6th Mo. Cav. Vols |
0 |
29 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Co. E-72d E.M.M. |
8 |
20 |
24 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
22 |
21 |
20 |
1 |
23 |
1 |
Co. H-74th E.M.M. |
15 |
3 |
4 |
3 |
13 |
5 |
6 |
0 |
11 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Co. G-8th Mo. Cav. Vols |
16 |
18 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
4 |
2 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Co. D-8th Mo. Cav. Vols |
12 |
5 |
15 |
1 |
0 |
4 |
12 |
10 |
4 |
9 |
10 |
0 |
Co. F-8th Mo. Cav. Vols |
16 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
6 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Co. A-8th Mo. Cav. Vols |
14 |
9 |
18 |
1 |
5 |
3 |
11 |
3 |
10 |
1 |
5 |
0 |
Co. B-74th E.M.M. |
15 |
16 |
36 |
1 |
16 |
4 |
12 |
3 |
12 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
Co. A-14thMo.Infy |
1 |
31 |
26 |
3 |
0 |
4 |
32 |
17 |
30 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
TOTAL |
450 |
564 |
630 |
258 |
332 |
289 |
587 |
499 |
513 |
297 |
479 |
207 |
Note: The avowed Emancipationists are marked with a star (*). [421]
For county treasurer, Mr. McAdams received 391 votes, and for assessor John McElhannon, 605. The vote of Co. E, 8th Mo. Cavalry—Boyd 6, and Phelps 1—was rejected for want of proper certification.
The result in the Congressional district was the election of Col. S. H. Boyd, of the 24th Mo., over Col. John S. Phelps, latterly of "Phelps' Regiment," and afterwards colonel of the 72d E.M.M. For State Senator, J. W. D. L. F. Mack was elected over Col. Marcus Boyd. Christian county gave Mack 266 and Boyd 26 votes. The Springfield Missourian, published by A. F. Ingram and edited by Chas. E. Moss was the organ of the Emancipationists of Greene county, and the Journal, Graves & Boren's paper, was the Conservative Union journal.
THE "GAMBLE OATH."
Reference has been made to the "Gamble oath," meaning the oath of loyalty required by the provisional government of Missouri by all voters, office holders, etc. The following is a copy:
I, ——, do solemnly swear (or affirm, as the case may be) that I will support, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States, and the Constitution of the State of Missouri, against all enemies and opposers, whether domestic or foreign; that I will bear true faith, loyalty and allegiance to the United States, and will not, directly or indirectly, give aid and comfort or countenance to the enemies or opposers thereof, or of the Provisional Government of the State of Missouri, any ordinance, law or resolution of any State Convention or Legislature, or any order or organization, secret or otherwise, to the contrary notwithstanding; and that I do this with a full and honest determination, pledge and purpose, faithfully to keep and perform the same without any mental reservation or evasion whatever. And I do further solemnly swear (or affirm) that I have not, since the 17th day of December, A. D. 1861, willfully taken up arms or levied war against the United States or against the Provisional Government of the State of Missouri, so help me God. |
After a time the "Gamble oath" was supplemented by one more binding, more exacting, harder to take, and still harder to observe. This was called the "iron-clad oath." [422]
A JOKE ON A CARPET BAGGER.
During the Congressional campaign in this district in 1862, a practical joke was played upon Charles E. Moss, the editor of the Missourian. Mr. Moss was a recent importation to Greene county, having come from Iowa here with the 1st Iowa cavalry. He was a writer of good ability, and a radical Emancipationist. Col. S. H. Boyd was stumping the district as well as he could, and on one occasion was to speak at Mt. Vernon. Moss arranged to accompany the colonel. The commander of the post at Springfield, Col. W. F. Cloud, of the 2d Kansas, sent an escort with them, as the road was thought to be infested with bushwhackers.
On the way Boyd contrived to fill Moss with more than half a pint of Dutch courage, and he was soon declaring his contempt for any kinds and all sorts of danger. Boyd supplied the escort with some of the same article and induced them, after supper, to ride on ahead and arrange a sham ambush. The men did so and when the colonel and Moss rode up—it being pitchy dark, and at a lonesome spot, some 18 miles west of Springfield—opened on them with their revolvers. Moss was mounted on a fine white stallion, and turning hastily about galloped away for Springfield, he and his horse resembling a streak of daylight as they sped along the dusky road. Boyd and the escort chased him four miles or so, and then turned about and rode on to Mt. Vernon. Moss returned to Springfield and announced that Boyd and the escort were either killed or taken prisoners, and that he had barely escaped with his life. Col. Cloud sent out a company to investigate the affair, and when the truth was learned it was made very pleasant for a few days for the Iowa carpet-bagger!
OPERATIONS OF THE 14TH M. S. M. IN DECEMBER, 1862.
At the battle of Prairie Grove, Ark., Dec. 6, 1862, Capt. Julian's Greene county company of the 14th cavalry, Missouri State Militia, fired the first gun on the Federal side discharged by Gen. Herron's division. The entire portion of the regiment engaged, numbering about 100 men, performed valuable service for the Union cause by uniting with 25 men of the lst Arkansas (Union) cavalry and 175 men of Judson's 6th Kansas, and holding a road, thus preventing the Confederate General Hindman from throwing his entire force upon Gen. Herron and crushing him before Gen. Blunt could come up and cooperate. The Confederates were delayed two hours by this small force. [423]
On the 14th of December 40 men of the 14th M. S. M., under Lieut. John R. Kelso, 60 enrolled militia under Capts. Green and Salee, the whole under command of Capt. Milton Birch, of the 14th M. S. M. raided the Confederate saltpeter works on White river, near Yellville, Ark., made prisoners of Capts. Jesse Mooney and P. S. McNamara and 36 men; destroyed 35 stand of arms; a complete supply of provisions for 50 men three months; burnt four buildings, and destroyed machinery, kettles, manufactured saltpeter, etc., to the amount of $30,000 and brought their 38 prisoners to Springfield without the loss of a man.
Other similar "scouts" were made about this time from Springfield into Arkansas, and north and west after Confederate guerilla bands, recruiting companies, and other hostile organizations. Often expeditions were undertaken for the purpose of procuring forage, which, in such cases, was "captured," not bought and paid for.
FORTIFICATIONS AT SPRINGFIELD.
During this year the Federal military commanders constructed heavy fortifications at Springfield to command the town and protect the large stores of government property then in and about the place. Four large forts were built, as follows: Fort No. I (Ft. Brown) was situated a little northwest of the town, about a mile and a quarter from the public square, and is still standing, the walls in tolerable condition; Fort No. 2 was at the west end of Walnut street, near Mrs. Ruth Fulbright's, and its location can still be seen, and its embankment is yet in fair condition; Fort No. 3 was near the residence of Judge Hendrick, in the southwest part of town; it was never fully completed. Fort No. 4 was on South street, nearly opposite the Baptist church, commanded the approaches to the town from the south, and was the fort attacked by Marmaduke. Rifle pits connected No. 4 and No. 2. A covered way led from No. I to the Fulbright spring. Fort No. 5 was in the east part of town on the north side of the St. Louis road, and overlooking the Berry spring.
These forts were built by details from the different military commands, by prisoners, by impressed citizens and negroes, but principally by details from the Federal soldiery. They were very well, supplied with artillery, and Ft. No. I had some heavy siege suits, brought from St. Louis, and also had magazines, quarters, and was by all odds the best and most important fortification in this part of the State. The defenses at Springfield were constructed under the supervision of Col. M. LaRue Harrison, afterward the commanding officer of the 1st Arkansas cavalry. Col. Harrison was a fine civil engineer. As Springfield was the base of supplies for the Federal army of the Southwest, containing the general hospital, the quartermaster's, commissary's, and ordinance departments, etc., it behooved the military commanders to protect it well. But they did not always do it. [424]
ORGANIZATION OF THE ENROLLED MISSOURI MILITIA.
On the 22d of July, 1862,—when Cols. Jo. Porter and J. A. Poindexter were leading large forces of newly-recruited Confederates throughout North and Northeast Missouri, and daily adding to their strength, and Cols. John T. Hughes, John T. Coffee, Vard Cockrell, and others were slashing about through Jackson, Johnson, and Cass counties, and Jo. O. Shelby was raising his fine regiment of cavalry at the Grand Pass, in Saline county, and the devil was to pay with the rascally "rebels," everywhere,—His Excellency Gov. Gamble issued the following order:
Headquarters State of Missouri, Adj. General's Office |
Three days later Gen. Schofield ordered "an immediate organization of all the Militia in Missouri for the purpose of exterminating the guerillas that infest the State." The Militia were further directed to assemble at any post with whatever arms they had, and a good horse each, if they had one, elect officers, and be sworn into service according to the laws of the State. They were to be kept in service such portion of the time as the commanding officer of the district might direct, and while in service were to he paid as volunteers. The "Paw Paw Militia,"1 as the E. M. M. were sometimes called did good service on many occasions, especially in Greene county, and are worthy of honorable mention. [425]
At Springfield the organization of the Enrolled Missouri Militia began about the 1st of August. What a great time there was about the enrolling, to be sure! Many of the "able-bodied men" were Confederate sympathizers; many more detested "those vile guns" and abhorred the smell of villainous saltpeter," and there were a great many ingenious devices resorted to to escape even this sort of military service.
Two regiments, the 72d and the 74th, were almost wholly recruited in Greene county. C. B. Holland was the first colonel of the 72d, followed by Henry Sheppard, F. S. Jones, and John S. Phelps. Marcus Boyd was the first and only colonel of the 74th. The Greene county companies and the names of their officers, together with the regimental officers, of these two regiments, taken from the reports or the Adjutant General of the State are here given: [426]
SEVENTY-SECOND REGIMENT E. M. M.Date of Commission |
|
|
|
Sept. 9, 1862 |
C. B. Holland |
Colonel |
Promoted to Brig. Gen. Oct. 27, 1862. |
Nov. 18, 1862 |
Henry Sheppard |
Colonel |
Resigned Sept. 30, 1863. |
Oct. 1, 1863 |
F. S. Jones |
Colonel |
Resigned, Jan. 22, 1864; entered U. S, service, Col. 6th Prov. Regt. |
June 25,1864 |
John S. Phelps |
Colonel |
Vacated March 12, 1865 |
Oct. 1, 1863 |
John F. McMahan |
Lt. Col. |
Entered U. S. service, 6th Prov. Regt. |
Nov. 4, 1864 |
F. S. Jones |
Lt. Col. |
Vacated March 12,1865 |
Nov. 18,1862 |
John Hornbeck |
Major |
Resigned Aug 15,1863 |
Oct. 2, 1863 |
R.. K. Hart |
Major |
Entered U. S. service, 6th Prov. Regt. |
Nov. 4, 1864 |
John Hursh |
Major |
Vacated March 12, 1865 |
Sept. 9, 1862 |
J. W. D. L. F. Mack |
Adjutant |
Resigned Jan. 1, 1864 |
Feb. 27, 1864 |
John B. Waddill |
Adjutant |
Revoked by Special Order 233, 1864 |
Dec. 27,1861 |
James F. Harchin |
Adjutant |
Vacated March 12, 1865 |
Nov. 18, 1862 |
William P. Davis |
Q. M |
Resigned Jan. 22, 1864 |
Jan. 22, 1861 |
Samuel Turner |
Q. M |
Transferred to 6th Provisional Regt. |
Sept. 28, 1864 |
Martin J. Hubble |
Q. M |
Vacated March 12, 1865 |
Dec. 11, 1862 |
Peter Barnes |
Surgeon |
Vacated by Special Order 126, 1864 |
COMPANY A.
Feb. 5, 1868 |
Nathaniel Sink |
2d Lieut. |
Vacated by Special Order 126, 1864 |
—— |
D. J. McCroskey |
2d Lieut. |
Killed at battle of Springfield, Jan.8, '63 |
COMPANY B.
Sept. 19, 1862 |
R. K. Hart |
Captain |
Promoted to Major, Sept. 29, 1863 |
Dec. 8, 1863 |
Wm. F. McCullagh |
Captain |
Revoked by Special Order No. 233 |
Jan. 22, 1864 |
Stephen L. Wiles |
1st Lieut. |
Revoked by Special Order No. 233 |
July 7, 1864 |
S.Pears |
2d Lieut. |
Vacated March 12, 1865 |
COMPANY D.
Oct. 3, 1862 |
J. E. Smith |
Captain |
Vacated March 12, 1865 |
April 2, 1863 |
G. S. Patterson |
1st Lieut. |
Vacated March 12, 1865 |
Oct. 3, 1862 |
S. B. Ranney |
2d Lieut. |
Resigned June 10, 1864 |
June 30, 1864 |
T. J. Kershner |
2d Lieut. |
Vacated March 12, 1865 |
COMPANY E.
Oct. 3, 1862 |
G. A. Dillard |
Captain |
Vacated by Special Order 126,1864. |
Sept. 15, 1864 |
G. A. Dillard |
Captain |
Vacated March 12, 1866. |
Oct. 3, 1862 |
Wm. F. Lane |
1st Lieut |
Died. |
Mar. 11, 1868 |
Andrew J. Potter |
1st Lieut |
Vacated by Special Order 126,1864. |
Mar. 11, 1863 |
Robert Love |
2d Lieut |
Vacated by Special Order 126,1864. |
COMPANY F.
Oct. 3, 1862 |
George T. Beal |
Captain |
Resigned July 16, 1864 |
Oct. 3, 1862 |
Bryant Windfield |
1st Lieut. |
Resigned Jan. 10, 1864 |
Oct. 3, 1862 |
Joseph Windfield |
2d Lieut. |
Vacated by Special Order 126, 1864 |
COMPANY G.
Oct. 3, 1862 |
S. W. Headlee |
Captain |
Revoked by Special order No. 233 |
Oct. 3, 1862 |
Irwin W. Jenkins |
1st Lieut. |
Vacated by Special order 126, 1864 |
Oct. 3, 1862 |
Alexander Evans |
2d Lieut. |
Vacated by Special Order 126, 1864 |
COMPANY I.
Oct. 3, 1862 |
F. S. Jones |
Captain |
Promoted to Lt. Col. Nov. 11, 1862 |
Feb. 3, 1863 |
John B. Perkins |
Captain |
Vacated March 12, 1865 |
Oct. 3, 1862 |
John L. Holland |
1st Lieut |
Vacated by Special order 126, 1864 |
Feb. 3, 1863 |
James K. Gilmore |
2d Lieut. |
Vacated by Special Order 126, 1864 |
SEVENTY-FOURTH REGIMENT E. M. M.
Feb. 3, 1863 |
Marcus Boyd |
Colonel |
Resigned. |
Dec. 27, 1862 |
John S. Coleman |
Lt. Col. |
Dismissed Oct. 5,1863 |
Dec. 27, 1862 |
J. F. McMahan |
Major |
Promoted to Lt. Col. 72d Regt., Oct. 1, '63 |
Oct. 2, 1863 |
John Small |
Major |
Revoked, to date from Nov. 1, 1863 |
Sept. 1, 1863 |
Fenton Young, Jr. |
Adjutant |
Promoted to Surgeon, Dec. 20, 1862 |
Dec. 27, 1862 |
John R. Cox |
Adjutant |
Resigned Oct. 28, 1863 |
Nov. 17, 1863 |
Alfred G. Lee |
Adjutant |
Vacated March 12, 1865 |
Dec. 27, 1862 |
James L. Rush |
Q. M. |
Vacated by Special Order 126, 1864 |
June 11, 1864 |
F. Young, Jr. |
Surgeon |
Revoked, to date from Aug. 17, 1864 |
Oct. 1, 1863 |
John Hunt |
A. Surg'n. |
Resigned July 16, 1864 |
COMPANY A.
Oct. 3, 1862 |
J. M. Redferan |
Captain |
Vacated by Special Order 126, 1864 |
Oct. 3, 1862 |
John McDaniel |
1st Lieut. |
Vacated by Special order 126, 1864 |
Oct. 3, 1862 |
E. Phillips |
2d Lieut. |
Vacated by Special order 126, 1864 |
COMPANY C.
Oct. 3, 1862 |
Green B. Phillips |
Captain |
Vacated by Special order 126, 1864 |
Oct. 3, 1862 |
Isaac P. Julian |
1st Lieut. |
Vacated by Special order 126, 1864 |
Oct. 28, 1863 |
James C. Robertson |
2d Lieut. |
Vacated by Special Order 126, 1864 |
COMPANY H.
Oct. 3, 1862 |
John Small |
Captain |
Promoted to Major Oct. 1, 1863 |
Nov. 10, 1863 |
Robert M. Hayter |
Captain |
Revoked by Special Order 233, 1864 |
Oct. 3, 1862 |
Lazarus H. Phillips |
1st Lieut. |
Entered U. S. Service |
Jan. 24, 1863 |
Robert M. Hayter |
1st Lieut. |
Promoted to Captain Oct. 24, 1863 |
Oct. 3, 1962 |
M. W. Ackerson |
2d Lieut |
Resigned March 31, 1863 |
Jan. 30, 1864 |
S. A. Harshburger |
1st Lieut. |
Revoked by Special Order 233, 1864 |
Jan. 30, 1864 |
Preston Gillmore |
2d Lieut. |
Resigned Aug. 29, 1864 |
When fully organized the 72d regiment numbered 38 commissioned officers and 1,042 enlisted men; total, 1,080. The Greene county men in this regiment numbered 502.
The 74th regiment numbered 38 officers and 966 men. Number of Greene county men, 278.
—————— [428]
1 So called because up on the Missouri river it was said that a large portion of the members were old "rebels" and bushwhackers, who had lived on paw-paws while hiding in the river bottoms and thickets from the Federals.
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