James,

The 1881 history of Johnson County, MO on page 220 gives a good clue as to why William H. McCown would not have readily returned to Warrensburg. It states "on the evening of election day [February 1861],at Warrensburg, an unfortunate difficulty arose between William H. MCown, a young attorney, and son of James McCown, circuit clerk, and Marsh Foster, the then county clerk, which resulted in the killing of the latter." Some more pro-northern versions state this "difficulty" in harsher words. Whatever happened, it sure lit a fire under the surviving Fosters of Warrensburg, as they became dynamos for the northern side and did much to fight the southern cause there for the rest of the war. I'm certain the Fosters would have arrested William H. McCown if he had not fled immediately after the killing, and I understand he stayed away for the duration of the war.

During the tense days in spring 1862 when southern guerrillas and local northern militia fought openly for supremacy of Johnson County, some undisciplined Union soldiers torched "Colonel McCown's" house in Warrensburg out of spite, even though the owner was then off in the southern military. I'm not sure which "Colonel McCown" had his house burned here. I seem to recall from other reading that both James and William were colonels, but I cannot recall the specifics. I know this is mentioned in "O.R." series 1, volume 3 or 13 as a combat report I believe from the 1st Iowa Cavalry Regiment in late March or early April 1862 when part of that regiment was sent to Warrensburg to restore order.

Perhaps I can find more on this. Why the interest in COL McCown? You may answer me privately at Mapmaker3@aol.com.