The Missouri in the Civil War Message Board

Re: 30 Deserters From Shanks' Regiment?

Heres my own mystery. My gg grandfather James L. Turner lived in Clay tsp., Lafayette county close to the Jackson county line. He joined the Mo. 12th Cavalry Co. D. Upton Hays Col. Then Later Shanks. On July 20 th 1862. Recruited in Lafayette co. by Capt. Tucker. This was Capt. James Tucker also listed as Capt. Of Co. D , there was also a James Tucker listed as a bushwhacker very likely the same man.
Another of James Turners cards say he enlisted again Aug. 1st, 1863 Jackson County by again Capt. Tucker. He spent some time in Colins battery then on Jan. 1, 1864 he was transferred to Co. K Shanks regt. And was the Co. blacksmith.
The last of his cards was his surrender on May 26, 1865, and paroled June 14th at Shreveport, La.
I until now thought that His second enlistment was a mistake that he nor his Company Capt. Would have been in this area at that time. Then I found this in the Lexington Union weekly a strong loyalist paper, because Lexington was a Federal post. This was printed around Aug. 15th, 1863.
"Murder
We learn that Mr. Huffard, living near Greenton in this county, was murdered last week by a man named TURNER, living in the same neighborhood. For sometime a coolness had existed between the parties, and some two or three weeks since, TURNER told some of the bushwackers that HUFFARD had two fine horses, and that they had better go and get them. They accordingly went to his house, and found
that he had but two horses and that they were almost worthless. They did not take them. A few days after, TURNER rode by Mr.HUFFARD's and found him at work in a field. Some words passing between them, Mr. H. struck TURNER with a pitchfolk. TURNER then rode to a camp of buckwackers, where he armed himself with a pistol, and returned to Mr. HUFFARD's house. In the meantime, Mr. H. had gone to the house, and regretting, probably, having struck TURNER, left the house and hid in some woods. In about an hour TURNER rode up and asked his family where he was, and was told that he was not at home. He then commenced a search and found him hid; whereupon he commenced firing upon him, and did not stop until he had shot him five times. When found a few moments after he was
dead. The murderer is still at large. Turner had married Mr. HUFFARD's neice.
These facts we obtained from a gentleman living in the neighborhood."

This was James Turner, William Hufford was his neighbor and his wifes uncle. I havent a clue who the informer to the paper was, apparently a Union man and one smart enough not to let them print his name, I wonder how he came up with the details when he wasn’t there. We know that whenever a raid was planned north into Missouri that recruiters were sent well in advance, I believe that Shelby who had been trying to get permission for the 63 raid for several months, knew the higher ups would limit the amount of men that he could take with him. Id bet that he gave out many furloughs and let others whose enlistment had run out go home especially those from the Lafayette Co. area where everyone including the Feds knew he was headed to. He would of known that these men would had to have stayed in hiding at home, and would reenlist or become partisan rangers. I know that my Grandfather James Turner had a child born while he was gone. So that would be added incentive to return home for a short while.
According to the Lexington paper in this time period the brush especially around clay tsp. was full of bushwhackers.
Could this be some of the 150 recruits that Shelby picked up on his way north? or perhaps they waited there for him.

Bob Turner

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30 Deserters From Shanks' Regiment?
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