Variation on a theme, slightly different characters.
"24th Missouri Infantry Volunteers (UNION) The story in the family goes like this William H CAMERON had 3 kids, when his wife Mary Ann DAUGHERTY died 20 Aug 1861. The following Nov, he enlisted in the 24th Mo Inf Vol. He left his children in the care of a Mr&Mrs PENNELL. While he was home on furlough, he and another fellow by the name of THORNHILL went to a farm where his cattle had moved back to. After starting out with the cattle some guerillas captured them both and took them into Cassville where a man by the name of Bill TURNER, a Capt in the rebel army was running a guerilla war. They were put under guard and the next night were taken into the woods and shot. "
1999 Query for Turner on Barry Co GenWeb site.
SOS files do have a William H Cameron in the 24th Infantry, Enlisting and mustering in at Rolla Nov 30, 1861. He initially was in Co G, He is listed as transferring to Co D then F. His card also states "Taken by enemy, killed, date unknown" There is also an entry for a William H Turner in the 3rd MSM Co Mustering in April 25, 1962, Warrenton MO. This would match the end of a 6 month enlistment in the 24th however there is an entry in the 1890 vet schedule for a widow Martha Cameron of Warrenton that appears to preclude these two being the same man.
Bruce Nichols in Guerrilla Warfare in Civil War Missouri makes note of the following OR entry near Gadfly(now CORSICANA) of a man named Turner in that area.
HEADQUARTERS FOURTH BRIGADE, Mount Vernon, September 20, 1862.
Brigadier General JAMES TOTTEN,
Commanding Southwest District, Springfield, Mo.:
The lasts reports by scouts that arrival to-day do not show any change in their position for the past five days.
Coffee and Shelby are 10 miles south of Newtonia, at widow Witherspoon's; force 2,200. Rains and Carroll camped south of Elkhorn; camped on a flat (the artillery on the hill south of the camp) on both sides of the road. A rumor states that they have moved west and toward Pineville, but it is mere rumor. Force variously stated at 8,000 to 15,000; probably not over 10,000. General Hindman has moved his headquarters to Yellville, and is reported to have gone to Little Rock on business, only temporarily absent. A notorious jayhawking preacher by the name of Turner, of Gadfly, was 7 miles south of this place a few days ago in company with three others and one of our spies. In the night the spy stole part of their arms-two guns, a revolver, and an immense bowie-knife of Turner. With the knife and pistol he attacked the party, stabbed Turner twice fatally, shot one of the others in the breast, and the other two men ran away. The story is true; Turner was taken home in a dying condition. He claimed to the spy that he had killed -- Union men and intended to make it 50, in revenge for the shooting of one of his associates by the name on Montgomery by Captain --, of Third Missouri State Missouri States Militia, in July.
Your messenger to Colonel Salomon passed here last evening about 8 o'clock.
I am, truly, your obedient servant,
E. B. BROWN,
Brigadier-General.
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There are a large number of Turner's in Barry County in 1860 census. I cannot find a John Turner in the list. I do find a William Turner living in McDowell Twshp, Barry Co, (post office Gadfly) with occupation farm laborer age 23 native of TN. I've not found a listing of either a Capt. Turner or a Peter McGee in the SOS files that would fit.
However Cheryl Daughtery has nailed this story down as follows and publised on ancestry.com:
Name: William Hawkins CAMERON
Sex: M
Birth: ABT 1831 in Cocke Co, TN
Death: 23 JAN 1863 in Cassville, MO 1
Note:
In the pension records applied for by William's minor children, it states that William joined the Union forces and was mustered in at Camp Weston, near Rolla Mo. He was a private in Company F, commanded by a Capt SP Barnes, in the 24th Mo Inf Volunteers commanded by a Col S. Boyd.
On or about 15 Dec. 1862, William came home on furlough from the hospital in St Louis, and on 22 Jan 1863 was captured by bushwhackers under the following circumstances: William and Monroe Thornhill left home saying they were going to the place of Joe Rogers for some cattle and were met by Joseph1. They all started homeward with the cattle and after going some distance, were captured by guerillas commanded by John Turner. Joseph1 was sent home and neither Thornhill or Wm Cameron were heard from again. It further states, that the two men were held under guard and the following night taken out into the woods and shot.
Wm's minor children were left in the care of Jane and James Pennel when he enlisted in the army.
1860 MO Census Records for Shoal Creek Township, Barry County, MO,
page 99, line 23:
William H. McCameron, age 29, carpenter, worth $150, POB - TN
Mary A. McCameron, age 28, domestic, POB - TN
Joseph M. McCameron, age 9, POB - MO
Sarah C. McCameron, age 7, POB - MO
Martha C. (or J) McCameron, age 5, POB - MO
One would think with the migration patterns of the Scotch-Irish, some record or document of William H Cameron's family would have survived through the ages and wars. I first find William in Cleveland, Bradley Co, TN the house of Joseph Daugherty asking for the hand of Mary Ann Daugherty. They were married 8 August 1850 in Cleveland, Bradley Co., TN.
By 1851, the couple were located in the southwestern corner of Missouri in Barry Co. On 10 July 1851, their first child Joseph Martin Cameron was born, followed on 15 January 1856 with Martha Jane Cameron and lastly, William H Cameron Jr on 10 July 1861. Ten days later, on 20 July Mary Ann died.
That same year on 16 November 1861, William enlisted in the Union forces mustering in at Camp Weston, near Rolla, MO. He was a private in Company F, commanded by a Capt SP Barnes, in the 24th Mo Inf Volunteers commanded by a Col S. Boyd. At the time of enlistment, this small family were staying at the place of Joe Rogers, after enlisting he left his children in the care of James & Jane Pennel.
William was at the Battle of Pea Ridge with his oldest son Joseph. I've heard rumors that he was well thought of during that battle, but have nothing in writing as I was unable to contact the man writing the book, nor do I know the name of the book or if it was even published.
William left Helena, Arkansas and was admitted to G H Jefferson Barracks St Louis, MO 17 October 1862 with chronic diarrhea and returned to duty 21 November 1862, thereafter he was home in Barry Co, MO on 15 December 1862 on a month long furlough. G.H. at Jefferson would be the General Hospital located at Jefferson Barracks, St. Louis. It was a big hospital and included hospital boats on the river when the wards filled up.
He arrived at the home of Jane & James Pennel on or about 15 December 1862, stating that he was on furlough. On 22 January 1863, he and Monroe Thornhill left the Pennel house saying they were going to Joe Rogers place for some cattle. They met Joseph there and the three started home with the cattle, but after going a short distance William and Monroe were captured by bushwhackers and Joseph sent home.
At the time, Peter McGee a slave owned by Margaret McGee, was present in the camp of the bushwhackers in the capacity of a servant to John Turner, her son-in-law. John Turner was a Captain in the Rebel army carrying on guerilla warfare in Barry Co. Turner's men brought both William and Monroe to the camp and kept them there under guard through the night...taking them out the next evening into the woods and killing them.
All three of the children were placed in the guardianship of F. M. Cowgill until the age of 16 when they reached majority or guardianship changed. Rumor has it, that Joseph lied about his age and enlisted in the Union Army at the age of 14....this is not documented as of yet. In 1871, Joseph filed for a pension from the federal government for his father's death. As late as 1881, he was still arguing his case....in the end, the petition for pension was denied. The denial based on William being on furlough when he was killed.
In the pension records applied for by William's minor children, it states that William joined the Union forces and was mustered in at Camp Weston, near Rolla Mo. He was a private in Company F, commanded by a Capt SP Barnes, in the 24th Mo Inf Volunteers commanded by a Col S. Boyd.
Marriage 1 Mary Ann DAUGHERTY b: 1832
Married: 8 AUG 1850 in Bradley Co, Cleveland, TN 2
Children
Joseph Martin CAMERON b: 10 JUL 1851 in Barry Co, MO
Martha Jane CAMERON b: 15 JAN 1856 in Barry Co, Mo
William Hawkins CAMERON b: 10 JUL 1861 in Barry Co, Butterfield, Mo
Sources:
Title: General Form Of Affidavit for Guardian Pension #207549
Note: Excellent - Sworn statement as to knowledge of the marriage of Wm. H Cameron and Mary Ann Daugherty
Repository:
Note: William H Cameron Pension File # 207549, National Archives
Call Number:
Media: Official Document
Text: Its a sworn statement by James and Jane Pennel of their recollection of the last day they saw William H Cameron and what transpired that day.
Title: General Form Of Affidavit for Guardian Pension #207549
Note: Excellent - Sworn statement as to knowledge of the marriage of Wm. H Cameron and Mary Ann Daugherty
Repository:
Note: William H Cameron Pension File # 207549, National Archives
Call Number:
Media: Official Document
Text: This is an affidavit of Jane Pennel stating that she knew both Wm Cameron and Mary Ann Daugherty and was present in the form of a witness to their marriage.
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The 1860 Slave Schedules for Barry County do include a 13 year old Mulatto male slave belonging to a Margaret McGee.
Following this lead gets us to the 1860 Census for Liberty Township, Barry Co. Missouri, postoffice Hazel Bottom dwelling #471 listing Margaret McGee born 1797 (TN) living with a John G R Turner age 40 (MO) occupation merchandising. John Gilead Rupe Turner is listed in 1850 Andrew county Census Dist 4 married to Hester McGee. There is one unprovenced report he died in California in 1893 but I can find no other census links post 1860.
So the basics of the story appear to be true, reasonablly well documented with contemporanous sources, hopefully answers some questions and generates some more.
John R.