I told you in the the last post that I would expound on the Confederate uniform a little more, it isn't so much the uniform, as it was the battle.
BATTLE AT CARTHAGE, MO
LOCAL ARTIST ANDY THOMAS
The battle at Carthage occurred before the Civil War broke, but it was the first land battle of the Civil War, preceding First Bull Run by 16 days, ,and lasted for a day. The Union was trying to keep Missouri as a Union state, however, the governor was a southern sympathizer, and was attempting take his 6,000 Missouri State Guard, and meet up with the Confederate forces.
The Union was aware of his plan and sent 1,100 German-American Union volunteers to stop him; they left from St. Louis, under the command of Colonel Franz Sigel.
This land skirmish was considered a "running" battle. Colonel Sigel's forces met the governor's forces 9 miles north of Carthage.
The Missouri Guard broke camp around 4 a.m. and headed south. The opposing forces met just north of Dry Fork Creek about 9 am. on 5 July. There was an artillery duel going on for about an hour when Sigel noticed Rebel Calvary heading south on both flanks. He feared that he may be cut off from his supply wagons, withdrawing across Dry Fork, left his rear guard to hold off the Rebels.
Protecting his supply wagons, Colonel Sigel had his men form up into a European-style infantry square; this would be the only time that this formation would be used on U.S. soil. The Rebels did get behind the Union forces, but a daring bayonet charge led by a Union Lieutenant so astounded the Rebel Calvary and their mounts, terrifying them so much that the Union forces were able to break though and escape to the south toward Spring River.
The final major portion of the skirmish took place on the southeastern outskirts of town, at James Spring. The Union forces had camped here the night before. The Rebels were getting the upper hand in this skirmish, and Colonel Sigel had to move his remaining cannon to a bluff overlooking the spring. This was done so that his infantry could escape. As darkness was falling, contact was broken between the forces about two and a half miles southeast of James Spring. The Yanks continued to retreat southeast, leaving the Governor and his men free to meet up the Confederacy.
So lets talk about why Missouri appeared to be a highly desired "border state". First, two major rivers ran through it, the Mississippi, which was its eastern border, and the Missouri, running through St. Louis. Second, it was the starting point for traffic heading west to California, north, then west to other states and territories, and southeast to trade business in the Santa Fe area. Third, it contained vital water routes to move troops.
The Union tried very hard to keep a balance between "free" and "slave" states, thus, the Missouri Compromise, resulting in Missouri being considered a "slave" state, while Maine became a "free" state. Here is how the compromise was worded by congress: slavery would not extend in other regions west of the Mississippi River or north of the southern border of Missouri. The usual Congress mumbo-jumbo saying there would be no slavery in Missouri. Later the Kansas-Nebraska Bill and the Dredd Scott decision by the U.S, Supreme Court nullified this Act.
Settlers in the border states had tougher lives than states that were decidedly Union or Confederate. Many families just wanted to live a neutral live, but in many cases were forced into service on one side or the other, and quite often their choice was serve or hang. All too often family members would join opposite sides, and possibly fight each other. Many of the soldiers on both sides were young men, or boys fighting for something they did not understand.
Over the decades before the Civil War, more than 88,000 Germans immigrated to Missouri, mostly around St. Louis. The reason for immigrating from their home country was because it was torn by strife, despotism, and disunity. Congressman Frank P. Blair, who served as a Union General and Senator from Missouri, made this statement: "I shall always declare that it was the Germans who saved Missouri".
War is never a fair game, no matter what side one is on.
This is what the standard private in the 3rd Missouri Volunteer Infantry may have looked like. This unit was a part of the Union forces, out of St. louis, and primarily made up of Germans eager to prove their patriotism. Notice something different about this uniform... the shirt. In the early stages of the war we did not set up a color code for the sides. As part of the 3rd Infantry, and the 5th Infantry, they made up the forces that fought in Carthage, the sides may have looked like they were fighting each other. Other Union forces in early 1861 wore the gray uniform too. The standard issue for this soldier would have been a canteen, a "haversack" (for rations and personal items), a soldiers belt, cartridge box, cap pouch, and bayonet scabbard. Most of these item were surplus from the Mexican War. You talk about some uncomfortable shoes, his are military issue, called "brogans", and had leather soles with wooden pegs in them; not good for marching, but the were durable.
The battles continued in the area, next was Wilson's Creek in August 1861, and then Pea Ridge in March of 1862. Both of these victories ensured Missouri would be Union.
I mentioned earlier about war not being fair on either side. Both sides used Guerilla warfare, and Carthage was not spared. During this time the North burned down the town at some point. By this time the governor had disbanded the Missouri State Guard, some of the men joined the Confederacy, some went back to their farms, although they found it difficult to stay neutral. The Confederacy took advantage of this and asked several men to act as "partisans", another Southern word for Guerillas. The purpose of these organized Guerillas was to protect Confederate homes from Kansas unionists, defend against Federal advancement in their regions, and to operate in counties that were not controlled by either side. Many of these Guerilla companies served with honor, others had an alternate idea... profiteering.
Here is a name many of us have heard from the movies, and maybe a documentary or two: William C. Quantrill. You might think that it would be hard to go from being a school teacher, to one of the most feared. His group of men were known as Quantrill's Raiders, and was one of the most feared and blood thirsty Guerilla gangs.
Quantrill's gang was best known up and down the Missouri-Kansas border, and throughout the Ozark region. As I mentioned above, they were one of the bloodiest gangs, delivering violence and destruction to wherever they went. This band of no goods were made up of cold-blooded gunmen, the likes of which were: Frank James, Cole Younger, George Maddox, George Todd, "Bloody Bill" Anderson, and many others.
In 1861 and 1862, his band was familiar with the Carthage area, and fought along side regular Confederate forces in several skirmishes. August of 1863 found them ravaging the town of Lawrence, KS, killing 150 Union civilians and setting the town a blaze. Six weeks later this gang, now ranging in size from 300 to 400, head south to the safety of the Confederacy. Sometime in 1864 Quantrill was found on the dead side of a bullet, in Kentucky. "Bloody Bill" Anderson, the most ruthless of Quantrill's lieutenants found death in Richmond, MO; this occurred after a merciless attack on Union soldiers in Centralia, MO.
What happened to some of the other Quantrill gang? The Younger brothers, the James brothers, Jim Reed, and a few others. They found a life robbing banks, trains, and institutions owned by Union interests. Eventually the Younger-James gang was brought to justice. Cole Younger did his time in a Minnesota prison, got out and traveled the country as a speaker, making speeches on "What Life has Taught Me" Cole died of natural causes in 1916.
Frank James originally served in the Confederate Army, he was captured and forced to pledge allegiance to the Union Army, and released, he found Quantrill's Raiders and joined up with them. As for Jesse, he was to young to join the Army, and chose to join Quantrill's Raiders. Apparently Jesse and the Youngers went one way, Frank went another, because in 1865 Frank surrenders at Samuel's Depot in Kentucky. He leaves there, heads back to Missouri, and joins the Younger-James gang.
During their thieving days, it came to a point when a young reward thirsty person killed Jesse. With Jesse's death, Frank turned himself into the Missouri governor. He was tried and acquitted of all earlier crimes. He died of natural causes in 1915.
THE HANGING OF MOSES POWERS
This painting depicts the hanging of a white man because he only had Confederate money. Many times when the Confederate would forage for food, they would leave Confederate money, which was worthless. His wife comes out with a knife to cut him loose. After this hanging Moses carried his head to one side the rest of his life. My impression is that Union Guerilla riders did this, and didn't have a clue what his alliance was with.
The Civil was also a "civilian war". For the town of Carthage, and the county of Jasper, the civilians were being plundered from both sides. Livestock was being slaughtered to feed the troops, troops were foraging in the houses, taking a families winter supplies, and horses and mules were being taken from families. Many families lost their bread winners to the armies on both sides. Mothers and children found themselves homeless, walking the roads. In 1860, the census showed over 6,300 residents lived in Jasper county, by war's end, only 30 called it home.
As I said before, no war is fair.
THE PETTICOAT FLAG
Before the war really heated up, there were Northern sympathizers living in Carthage, one such family was the former sheriff's family, the Hoods. The Hoods had nine children, and lived in a large log house on the west side of the square.
There were probably more Southern supporters than Northern, so it was necessary to be careful displaying our national emblem. The Hood daughters secretly made a flag and hid it under several of Lucy's petticoats because they feared its destruction, or their destruction.
When Colonel Sigel's troops came through Carthage in 1861, Lucy stood up on the fence stile, she removed the red, white and blue petticoat flag, waving it while the troops passed by.
How many of you have heard the name Belle Star? Her given name is Myra Maebelle Shirley. She is was number four of seven children, and the daughter of a Kentucky horse breeder. Her daddy was John "Judge" Shirley, was a horse breeder and political philosopher. Her mama was Eliza Pennington, a relative of the Hatfield clan. You have heard of the Hatfield/McCoy feud.
Anyway, the family moves to Carthage, Missouri, the judge acquires the hotel/tavern on the square. The Shirley's are big time Confederacy supporters. After the assault on Carthage, Belle cared for the wounded soldiers at the courthouse. She encouraged any young man that would listen, to join up with Quantrill. One day her brother John, "Bud", joins up with Quantrill. Unfortunately in 1864 her brother is killed by a Union soldier. It is said the in her anger and suffering, she vowed revenge for her brother's death. She said that she would marry the man that killed the man that killed her brother. Against the wishes of her family, she marries Jim Reed, who supposedly shoot the boy that killed her brother.
What made Belle Star famous was her efforts supplying information regarding Union troop movements to the Confederates, though this is not documented. Living in the area of Carthage, and knowing the terrain, made it easy for her to escape capture.
After the war, her and Jim headed to Texas. After Jim was killed in 1874, she moved on and married Sam Starr, another outlaw. Belle did do some time for a crime, and the time was done in a Detroit prison. In 1887 Sam was killed in a gunfight with one of his cousins that was a law officer. Belle didn't live much longer, she was murdered in 1889, and the case is still unsolved. There is speculation as to possible suspects.
This local museum had a great deal of information to share. Carol and I spent several hours looking and reading, I don't count the 5-minute video. There were other sites to visit in Carthage, several of them were structures that survived the fire. We followed Google's directions for one of them, and couldn't find it, oh well.
I wasn't going to miss out on my Rte.66 pin opportunity, so we headed to the shop recommended by the museum docent.
Many prominent actors and actresses stayed at this motor lodge. The hotel is still active, and the day we came by, a corvette club was driving through the hotel. If you look real hard, behind the police car is the souvenir shop I bought my pin at. The souvenir shop was a gas station. They added a mural on one side of the parking.
If you travel Rte. 66, you will learn some of the sale pitches. In the case of the Boots Court, "they have radios in every room." Now they offer 100% chilled air, better known as air conditioning. Some of the motor lodges did not have this luxury. Also in this town is the Rte. 66 Drive-in Theatre.
When Carol and I go on our Rte.66 trip we plan to get a picture of it, along with as many other attractions and sights as possible. This trip requires some planning, so it may be down the road a year or two... hey that was a pun "the road"...
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