Primary Sources to get one's mind stirring

[Anna Allen]

Re: Primary Sources to get one's mind stirring

Oh wow!

[missourirelics]

Re: Primary Sources to get one's mind stirring

Any that are interested should read Marching with the 1st Nebraska. Also there was an article in the Missouri Historical Review in the 60s on Marmaduke's Raid, but most of that info came straight from the ORs. I have been reviewing the recently acquired Cape Argus, the Civil War newspaper of Cape Girardeau. Although I have primarily been focusing on 1864-65 (due to my independent study), human life was free game for both sides....ESPECIALLY civilians.

Paul Arnold
Marmaduke's Artillery
Curator Stars and Stripes Museum/Library-Bloomfield, Missouri

[Michael Comer]

Secondary research but good overall info

One of the ongoing projects of the Missouri State Park system is marking Civil War sites throughout the state with interpretive panels. Scott House, a resident of Cape Girardeau, has been contracted to write one about the actions that went on around Ft. Benton near Patterson - the area where Marmaduke's Raid will take place. Scott is a reenactor and reads the forum but is not a member. He sent the text for the panel to me and gave permission to post it here for the benefit of forum readers. It will give an idea of just how much went on during the war in this particular part of the state.

Attack on Fort Benton
April 20, 1863
by
Scott House

On April 20, 1863, Confederate General John S. Marmaduke and a force of nearly 5,000 men approached the village of Patterson. Capturing Fort Benton and the Union post at Patterson was an important initial step in Marmaduke’s spring raid, later to be known as the Cape Girardeau campaign. The small Union force occupying Patterson was forced to withdraw and made a fighting retreat northward to eventual safety.

A Federal Post and Fort at Patterson
Patterson, also called the Cross Roads, was located in an area known as the Virginia Settlement, named after the settlers’ state of origin. Located 35 miles south of the railroad terminus at Pilot Knob, Patterson had the potential for being an important outpost of the main Union encampment at the Knob. Local residents such as William Patterson, James English, Henry Hawkins, and Hugh Fulton supported the Union and met in June of 1861, concerned about the secessionist bands in the area. By late summer of 1861, Union troops were occasionally stationed at nearby Greenville, but local independent cavalry under Hawkins moved to Patterson in search of better camping and subsistence. By the summer of 1862 Patterson was a regular camping area and post. Small expeditions, called “scouts” were mounted from Patterson and ranged south to Arkansas and east to Dallas, now known as Marble Hill. Patterson was not a large village or post; one Union cavalry captain commented that “it is not to be found on the map, and scarcely to be seen, when you are in it.”

In late 1862 General Samuel Curtis, Commander of the Department of Missouri, ordered General John W. Davidson to take command of the Army of Southeast Missouri. Davidson ordered General William Plummer Benton of Indiana, south to Patterson to fortify the post and prepare for an expedition into Arkansas. The 25th Missouri Infantry, acting as an engineering regiment, worked on improving the road to Patterson, building bridges and establishing a telegraph line as they went. At Patterson, the O. S. (Old School) Presbyterian Church was turned into a store house surrounded by a palisade and on a hill above it a small earthen fort was built. The square fort measured 100ft on each side and had trenches or a dry moat surrounding it. The inside of the walls were held up by timbers in the style of other Civil War fortifications. Small cannon were likely mounted inside the fort and a magazine was dug in the center. Telegraph wire was strewn on the outside of the fort so as to entangle any attackers. The fort was completed by the end of November 1862 and at some point was named after General Benton. While not large, the fort was a statement of Union power and Confederate major John Edwards later remarked that it “looked ugly and vicious on its elevated position.”

Numerous troops, eventually numbering more than 7,000 men, arrived for Davidson’s expedition, camping north of the fort and village along Camp Creek. The army moved south to Van Buren shortly after the fort was completed and two companies of men were left behind to guard the post. Davidson’s expedition encountered floods, bad roads, and cold weather, but faced few rebels on its wanderings deeper into southern Missouri and northern Arkansas. In March of 1863 the 3rd Regiment of Missouri State Militia, under Colonel Edwin Smart, replaced the Federal units at Patterson.

Marmaduke’s 1863 Expedition to Cape Girardeau
In early spring of 1863, Confederate General John Marmaduke received permission to advance into Missouri. Marmaduke had several objectives: he sought provisions, armaments, and mounts for his men; secondly, he wanted to capture Union General John McNeil at Bloomfield; lastly he hoped to destroy the strong Union supply post at Cape Girardeau. Marmaduke had nearly 5,000 men from Missouri, Arkansas, and Texas but his army suffered from quality: some of the men were unarmed, others were without mounts, and still others were not very experienced in battle. Marmaduke split his forces into two wings: the left, under Colonel Jo Shelby, would move through the Irish Wilderness, crossing the Current River at Van Buren. The other, under Colonel Thomas Carter would move northeast from Doniphan. Both wings were supposed to converge on and, meet at, the little post at Patterson. In addition to hopefully capturing a large number of supplies and weapons, Marmaduke’s men would also try to capture, and probably hang, Captain William Leeper of Wayne County, an occasional member of the Missouri State Militia, and a much-hated partisan fighter.

Attack on Patterson
Near midnight on April 19, Carter detached Lieutenant-Colonel D. C. Giddings with his Texas regiment of 450 men, plus Timothy Reeves’ local partisans for guides, and two pieces of J. H. Pratt’s artillery. At dawn on April 20, 1863, these men surprised a sleeping Union picket detail several miles south of the fort, capturing twenty-five of them. Giddings’ Texans now moved toward other pickets two miles south of the fort. Here they made a mistake. As they made their approach, Pratt’s artillery unlimbered and as one Texas soldier commented, “imprudently shelled the woods” in an attempt to scatter the few pickets. Already warned to be ready to move if Marmaduke’s army showed up in force, and now hearing the booming of cannons in the distance, Smart and his 400 men realized that this was no scouting or bushwhacking force. Major Richard Woodson and a battalion quickly re-enforced the pickets, holding the attackers in check until they began to be flanked. Meanwhile the rest of the encampment quickly finished packing and departed with their mounts and numerous wagons, setting fire to their supplies and buildings as they left. The fort was abandoned.

A Running Battle
Smart’s main force headed north toward Pilot Knob along the military and telegraph road. Their departure was soon discovered by Giddings’ men and a poorly disciplined force surged after them. The Confederate cavalry attacked those Union soldiers that were on foot. Confederate Major Buck Walton reported that his cavalry fired their shotguns which “broke the alignment of the enemy and they not only retreated but ran away.” A running battle took place along the road northwards for seven miles to a rugged, narrow gorge known as Stony Battery. Here, in the confines of the rocky gorge, the Union men were able to regroup. Smart formed a line of battle and allowed the rear guard, which had “already suffered severely” to pass to the front. The Union men held off the attackers in a fight that Smart described as “severe in the extreme.” As the battle raged, Union troops moved through the gorge, while the Confederate partisans under Reeves circled west through Aley’s Gap to cut them off. Realizing the threat, Smart sent a battalion forward to cut a route through to the bridge over Big Creek. Dispersing the partisans and reaching the safety of the other side of the creek, Smart’s men reformed their lines and held their ground. The Confederate forces returned to Patterson with a number of prisoners and captured wagons in tow. During the fight, Union troops accessed the telegraph wires and the commander at Pilot Knob, Colonel John Tyler, was able to telegraph superiors in St. Louis that "Smart has fallen back to Stony Battery and is fighting like a hero."

At Patterson, other federal pickets were rounded up by Shelby’s incoming column which also had heard the cannon fire. As the running battle moved north, a Union patrol under Captain Solon Bartlett that was supposed to relieve the captured picket post returned to the fort not having found the missing pickets and not knowing the fort had been abandoned. On their way back they apprehended several Confederates who had no objection to returning to the fort. Upon their arrival in the now-Confederate camp the situation was reversed and Bartlett and his men found themselves captured in turn by those they had previously captured.

Results of the Battle
Giddings was criticized by other Confederates for allowing his artillery to announce the supposedly surprise attack, one saying “This is not the way we fight.” Confederate losses during the engagement totaled about 25 while Smart reported his losses at about 50, including missing and captured men. The captured men were paroled at the time except for the officers who were released later in Arkansas. Wounded men of both sides were treated in a makeshift hospital at William Patterson’s home.

Smart’s men, including Captain Leeper whom the rebels did not capture, retreated to Pilot Knob. Marmaduke’s army went on to experience defeat at Cape Girardeau less than a week later but managed to escape to Arkansas by holding off the pursuing Federals at Chalk Bluff on the St. Francis River. The little fort and post at Patterson were soon re-occupied by Union troops and it continued to serve as a staging post for scouts into rebel territory.

Price’s 1864 Raid
In late summer 1864, General Sterling Price received authorization to commence an extended raid into Missouri. Price’s objectives included capturing St. Louis as well as recruiting additional troops for his army. Price’s troops numbered nearly 12,000 including Marmaduke’s and Shelby’s brigades. One of the early objectives was the elimination of the post at Patterson. Shelby’s advance into Missouri was delayed by troops of the 3rd Missouri State Militia at Doniphan who burned the town before retreating to Ponder’s Mill on the Little Black River. Shelby attacked this detachment during the night, routing them and advanced to the home of Captain Leeper on the Black River, destroying “the bloody rendezvous of the notorious Leeper”. On September 22nd Shelby approached the fort and post at Patterson which was manned by two companies of the new 47th Missouri Infantry under Captain James McMurtry and one company of the 3rd Missouri State Militia Cavalry under Captain Robert McElroy. Knowing that rebels were close, the post was anticipating some attack and McElroy’s troopers were mounted and ready to leave. Sergeant Edward Wilkinson of nearby Coldwater, detailed to guard a wagon train, was eating at the fort with McMurtry’s men when he noted that the mounted militia men “had horses saddled all the time, blankets rolled and buckled to their saddles, and arms all buckled on.” He realized “there was great danger close at hand.” Shortly after 10 A.M. as the troopers and wagons left the post headed north toward Pilot Knob they were attacked by Shelby’s men. Reacting quickly, the militia cavalry headed northeast to safety along the St. Francis River. One soldier, Tom Young, was detailed back to the fort with a single word of warning: “Git!” Returning from the fort, Young ran into the Confederate force, and was killed. The men of the 47th abandoned the fort, fighting their way eastward on the Hog-Eye (Lowndes) Road, but about thirty were captured or killed. The survivors struggled east to Cape Girardeau or north to Pilot Knob in the coming days, some arriving just in time for the assault on Fort Davidson. Trying to eliminate the thorny post at Patterson, Shelby ordered the post burnt, along with “its strongly and ugly fort.”

The End of the War
Sterling Price’s army went on to meet defeat at Pilot Knob, Westport, and Mine Creek, Kansas. As Price’s defeated troops wound their way into Oklahoma, Texas, and Arkansas, the Union wasted no time re-occupying Patterson. By November 3rd, 1864, a correspondent of the St. Louis newspaper The Missouri Democrat reported that “a new post has been established at Patterson.” The 47th Missouri had been sent to Nashville, Tennessee, and to help fill a temporary shortage of troops, local militias were called upon to counter the continuing activities of bushwhackers. On November 18, 1864, an expedition of the Union 56th Enrolled Missouri Militia from Cape Girardeau arrived at Patterson and continued on to Arkansas, seeking bushwhackers to fight. By the end of 1864, the post and fort at Patterson was being manned by companies of the 7th Kansas Cavalry. On April 15, 1865, eight days after General Robert E. Lee surrendered at Appomattox, Virginia, and only hours after Abraham Lincoln died, the 7th Kansas Cavalry fought against bushwhackers at nearby McKenzie’s Creek. This was the last action of the war for the little post at Patterson and by summer of 1865 the 7th Kansas was reassigned to the west.

[Campjacksonboy]

Re: Primary Sources to get one's mind stirring

Mike
Be sure to thank Scott for me. This is great stuff and I'm glad it will eventually be used as interpretive signage for the site.
I'm glad the state is picking up that end of the project.

Frank Aufmuth

[Possum Stew]

Re: Primary Sources to get one's mind stirring

we need telegraph wire. Where can we get telegraph wire? Great history lesson, thanks Mike. I thought it was great during Prices' raid the 3rd Mo militia was packed up and ready to get the F outa dodge.

[Campjacksonboy]

Re: Primary Sources to get one's mind stirring

Yeah TJ between 1863 and 1864 history really repeated itself. I know the garrison was pretty hacked in '64 when they were ordered to fall back to Pilot Knob. For them it's a good thing they did.
Frank

[MO-Pard]

Re: Primary Sources to get one's mind stirring

we need telegraph wire. Where can we get telegraph wire? Great history lesson, thanks Mike. I thought it was great during Prices' raid the 3rd Mo militia was packed up and ready to get the F outa dodge.

Captain Leeper and the 3rd Missouri State Militia (Federal) were well-known in southeast Missouri. Their was a vast number of accounts/complaints tied to this group. Prior to the war, Leeper's men were thugs who took delight in falsely accusing innocent civilians to get their property. The oncoming war, much like the Kansas Jayhawkers, was used as an excuse and legal umbrella to expand their ways. They had little to do militarily, and like other MSM units in the area, resorted to terrorizing the populace for personal gain. They were also noted cowards and this is yet another instance of their stripe. It it no doubt the CS units, civilians and bushwhackers searched them out. And when anyone in the area was captured they were asked whose men they were. Many if not most times, if not dutch, they were paroled even by bushwhackers. But never a Leeper man. They were generally shot or became "tree ornaments."

[Campjacksonboy]

Re: Primary Sources to get one's mind stirring

There's a painting of Leeper in the Wayne County Historical Society. He did not look like a nice man. Hildebrand's autobiography pretty well goes along with what you mentioned about them not paroling Leeper's men.

On another note my Dad (the property owner) will be down there and I was going to have him dress out with a EMM look just to check out what's going on. Wouldn't that be funny If I told him to tell everyone he was one of "Leeper's" Men.
On second thought Christmas is only three months after the Raid. Maybe I shouldn't do that.
Frank Aufmuth

[MO-Pard]

Re: Primary Sources to get one's mind stirring

There's a painting of Leeper in the Wayne County Historical Society. He did not look like a nice man. Hildebrand's autobiography pretty well goes along with what you mentioned about them not paroling Leeper's men.

On another note my Dad (the property owner) will be down there and I was going to have him dress out with a EMM look just to check out what's going on. Wouldn't that be funny If I told him to tell everyone he was one of "Leeper's" Men.
On second thought Christmas is only three months after the Raid. Maybe I shouldn't do that.
Frank Aufmuth

Well, in gratitude for allowing us to hold such a unique tactical on his wilderness, I think it is a great gesture. Since I am not coming EMM/MSM, I'd be happy to send attire to fill out the impression to allow him to move about the area. Although, knowing your propensity for such period mischief, (ala BGR and "Colonel Suave") I dont' put it past you to give him such an involuntary period moment by making him one of Leeper's men. :) Just hope he doesn't run into the Confederates, any Southern Sympathizers or any mossbacks! Otherwise, he'd be fine.

Actually, it would be pretty cool to have some of the 3rd MSM prowling around as one of the impressions for this event! There are already so many different impressions already heading full-speed ahead on a collision course together, but these guys made their dubious place in the area's history. But maybe the pie-stealing Holler and Iowa boys can be just as rough on the civilians...

Yes, Frank, that is one of the sources I allude to. They (3rd MSM) knew they were marked men. Justice was always on their trail....