*I am posting this because I would like to display both Quantrill's Muster Roll and my Grandfather's Remington Revolver that he used that day.
*Please let me know if you know of a group & person who would be interested in displaying these pieces of NW Missouri Civil War History.
*I already have people interested in AR and KS so I would like to plan as early as I can.
*More details about the list are attached below:
Thanks,
Note: Mr. Joseph Houts, Jr. has written a great book Quantrill’s Thieves (Truman Publishing, 2002) in which he describes a similar list found in his great, great uncle’s papers Major Thomas W. Houts who served with Co. A, 7th Cavalry, Missouri State Militia. It was common to make several copies, and even to send two or three messengers, in case one didn’t make it through. This is one of the only two original surviving copies.
Battle of the Ravines by John Thronton Buckner
A little over one hundred and eight years ago, on the high ground four miles west of Pleasant Hill, occurred one of the blood iest and bitterest contests of the Civil War. The pitched battle which was fought on July 11th, 1862 between Quantrill’s Guerillas and several units of Union Cavalry cannot be looked upon as a major engage ment; but the raw courage, tenacity and willingness to fight shown by the men on both sides has seldom been equaled on any battlefield. The fierceness of the encounter was matched only by the fiery July sun, which beat down with unrelenting fury on both contending forces. Connelly calls this engagement the "hardest yet fought with the guerillas, one of the hardest ever fought".
Quantrill and his men had made camp on the Sorency farm on the tenth and the next morning, the eleventh, were in the midst of their preparations to move on when their pickets were driven in by Union Calvarymen1. Soon a blue-shirted patrol under Captain Martin Kehoe roared down the lane toward the seemingly unsuspecting guerillas. Seeing the charging cavalry, the guerillas ran wildly about the yard of the Sorency home giving all the appearance of a surprised and panic ridden mob. Such was not the case, however. Far from being surprised, the wiley Quantrill had baited and was about to spring a trap for the Captain and his Missouri troopers. Before closing the ring on Quant rill’s men, lets review the men and events leading to this encounter, which raised the curtain on the main fight.
The men under Captain Kehoe were part of a force that had been pursuing Quantrill since July 9th. The pursuit resulted directly from the severe mauling Quantrill had given a force of ninety men belonging to the First Iowa Cavalry, sent out from Clinton (MO), which had occurred on Sugar Creek, near Wadesburg, on the Cass - Johnson county line. Major James C. Gower, commanding officer of the First Iowa, was so incensed by the defeat of his men that he vowed to capture Quan trill dead or alive. He promptly summoned the aid of the Union garrisons in Harrisonville, Warrensburg and Butler. This was good tactics, as he was concentrating Cavalry on Quantrill from all directions of the compass. The units which responded to Gower, with his seventy-five men of the First Iowa Cavalry, were sixty-five more of the First Iowa under Captain William Ankeny from Clinton, sixty-five men of the 7th Missouri under Captain William A. Martin from Warrensburg and sixty-three men of the First Missouri Cavalry under Captain Martin Kehoe and Lt. White from Harrisonville and Butler; making a total of two hundred and sixty-eight men, plus officers, against Quantrill's estimated sixty-five men. Their orders were to meet at the Lotspeich farm, about a mile from Quantrill's camp southeast of Garden City.
The pursuing units, knowing full well the caliber of their opp onent, and having experienced his fury, moved cautiously as they approa ched Quantrill’s camp. Upon their arrival at the camp they found the place deserted and the quarry gone. Finding Quantrill gone only whe tted Gowers desire to bring his forces to grip with the enemy. He divided his command and directed the officers of the various units to fan out in all directions to locate the trail of the enemy. In due course, the Guerillas were reported to be following the Big Creek bottom in an easterly direction. Major Gower assembled his command and pursued the enemy at a gallop. The trail led east of Rose Hill, in Johnson County, then up Big Creek to the Hornsby farm in Cass County.2 The forces were not to meet that day and late on the evening of the tenth, Gower halted his command at the Hornsby farm. Here evidence was found that the Guerillas had eaten and faded into the dusk to make camp, not many hours ahead. Having marched his men fifty miles, and determined to strike the enemy with a rested force, he ordered his men to bivouac for the night, the understanding being that the pursuit would be resumed at daybreak.
July 11th dawned hot and clear. The angry sun soon bore down with an intensity that previewed the death struggle soon to be begun.
Historians disagree on Captain Kehoe' 5 actions on this eventful morning. By agreement, all units were to take the field at the same time. Some writers contend that Captain Kehoe’s troopers were first to move out but had first sent word to Major Gower of their intention. Receiving no orders to the contrary, Captain Kehoe pushed on. Others maintain that Kehoe, in his desire to punish the hated Quantrill or possibly to gain credit for himself, deliberately disobeyed the orders of Major Gower.3 After several hours in the saddle, Kehoe’s men exchanged shots with Quan trill pickets at the Sorency farm four miles west of Pleasant Hill.4 Ke hoe immediately sent word to Gower that the Guerillas had been located; then led his troopers down the lane toward the Sorency house. There had been a heavy rain the evening before and the Guerillas were thoroughly soaked. Earlier in the morning they had spread their blankets and gear to dry on the fence along the lane. When the pickets were fired on a half mile away, Quantrill called the usual command, “Saddle up”. The horses were at once equipped and tied back of the house. The men were ordered to conceal themselves behind the fence and commanded not to fire until the word was given. When the patrol, with Captain Kehoe leading, roared down the lane they were within thirty yards of the gate before they met the hail of lead. Six troopers were killed and nine wounded, including Captain Kehoe, in the first fire. At Guerilla William Gregg’s suggestion, Quantrill, himself, opened the yard gate and the riderless horses gallop ed into the lot. Captain Kehoe, though wounded, and calming down his shaken command, soon returned to the fray at long range, killing John Hampton and wounding George Mattox and William Tucker. After sending away his wounded, and quickly sensing that the Sorency clearing was too open for adequate defense against a superior force, Quantrill mounted his men and pulled them back to a series of ravines at the north of the house. From this position the Guerillas successfully resisted their opponents, who wanted and needed help. Sometime later, Major Gower and the balance of the pursuing group pounded up to join the fight. With all the Union forces in position, the attack on Quantrill was then vigor ously pressed home. The resulting clash was furious and bloody, with no quarter expected or given by either side. Every tree, bush or ledge of rock that could hide a man spit forth flashes of fire and leaden death. The Union troops dismounted and rushed the ravines in small squads and were soon joined in hand to hand combat with the desperate Guerillas, who pitted their revolvers and knives against the carbines and sabers of the Cavalrymen.
The Guerillas were slowly driven back through the ravine and forced to the opposite side of the thicket. Major Gower, however, had sent a force to that side of the timber and Quantrill and his men were turned back. Their position soon became desperate. They fought back through the weaker line of Captain Kehoe, who followed them back to the ravine and continued the hand to hand struggle. The Guerillas regrouped in another ravine and fought on against Captain Martin, who received some reinforcements. He charged them several times but the Guerillas held their ground well. It was here that Quantrill was wounded in the leg.
Eventually the superior numbers and discipline of the Union forces tilted the scales and the by now slightly wounded Quantrill, who was out of his element fighting on foot, was forced to disperse his command. A few at a time, his hot, thirsty and bone-tired warriors broke out of the ravines, taking most of their wounded with them, as was their custom. Retreating on foot and on horseback, they scattered to the four winds, a tactic they often used to foil pursuit. Major Gower did not follow them. The Union men, worn out by the long march, the fierce heat and the bloody fighting, held the field but failed their objective which was to capture Quantrill himself. Part of their booty included thirty horses, includ ing Quantrill's own. Other booty included the coat, spy glass and other equipment of the intrepid Guerilla chieftain. The equipment belonging to Quantrill was identified as being his by one of the wounded of his command. It is significant that no Guerilla prisoners were brought in. Apparently the brush warrior who gave the information was given the swift death that befell all partisans who came into Federal hands. It is equally true that had positions been reversed the result would have been the same, as neither side was prone to spare those unlucky to fall into their hands.
Some accounts list the Union casualties at twenty-six dead and thirty-five wounded, many seriously; and the Guerillas at least eight een dead and twenty-five to thirty wounded. The forces under Major Cower, battle-worn by the bloody fighting and intense heat, limped into Pleasant Hill. The dead were buried in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery and the wounded conveyed in vehicles to the military hospital at Warrensburg.
The list begins: I have the honor to submit also a copy of a Roll of Quantrills gang, which was found on one of his Sergeants, who was Killed in the action to
wit:... and it is signed Allow me to sign myself / Very Respectfully / Your most obedient Servant / (Signed) Henry J. Stierlin, /Capt. Co A & 1st Mo. Cav.,
/Comdg Batty.
The list includes some names of renown or notoriety: obviously William Clarke Quantrill, himself; George Todd, one of the most notorious of the group; Cole Younger (although spelled "Coal" on the list); William Gregg, who wrote about Jesse James after the war; James Vaugh also wrote a book, but claimed he was Jesse James. What is more striking, however, are the names not on the list. Only one of Quantrill's original "core" group, William Haller, is listed, as are only half of what was thought to be his next group of recruits - Jarrette, Gregg and Todd. It seems to be accepted that this list represents the earliest “incarnation” of Quantrill’s band.Every source indicates that there are no complete lists of all members of this notorious guerilla band. Men came and went throughout the war (other than those killed or wounded).
1. Wm. E. Q[u]antrill Capt.;
2. W. Haller, 1st. Lt.
3. Geor. W. Todd, 2d Lt.;
4. W. H. Gregg, 1st. Sergt.;
5. Jno. Jarrett, 2d Sergt.;
6. J.L. Tucker, 3d Sergt.;
7. Andrew Blunt [Blount], 4th Sergt., Killed;
8. F. M Scott, Commis. Serg.
9. Rich Maddox, Q. Mo.;
10. Aores, Henry
11. Anderson, Hugh L.
12. Atchison, Sylvester;
13. Atchison, Wiley;
14. Atois, John
15. Austin, H.;
16. Burker, J. D.
17. Bowling, Jas. H.;
18. Burnes, Richd.
19. Burgers, U.M.
20. Baker, W.A.;
21. Butler, W.H. (wounded)
22. Barnet, Q.M.
23. Barnet, Jas.
24. Ball, Lee;
25. Bledsow, W.M.
26. Bell, W.C.;
27. Bowers, J.;
28. Barnet, O.S.
29. Cunningham, Jas.
30. Colderune (?), W.
31. Chiles, Kit;
32. Clifton, Samuel;
33. Chumlin, Wm.
34. Coldesrane
35. Cockerell, Syners
36. Cunningham, A.L.
37. Cheatham, W.T. (dead)
38. Campbell, Wm. H.;
39. Dejarinett, J.Q.R.
40. Davenport, Robt.
41. Doke, W.T. ;
42. Dicker, L.W.
43. Doores, W.M.
44. Estie, Noah
45. Freeman, J.G.;
46. George, J.H.;
47. Houx, Mike;
48. Houx, Mat.;
49. Houx, Robt.
50. Hully, W.
51. Hampton, Jno.
52. Hown, Q.W.
53. Hamton, M.
54. Hull, J.F.
55. Houston, M.;
56. Harris, A.;
57. Haire, W.
58. Hull, Rbt.
59. Hendricks, J.A.;
60. Judd, W.J.
61. Koger, J.W.;
62. Longacre, C.A.;
63. Long, B.L.;
64. Lyon, Jas.
65. Muir, B.S.
66. Morris, J. L.
67. Maddox, Geo.
68. Moone, Egory.
69. Olifart, Jno. W.
70. Owing, Q.
71. Ogden, Harry;
72. Offutt, Oath
74. Perdee, L.B.
75. Perdee, Q.R.
76. Pove, D.M.
77. Pemberton, H.C.
78. Robinson, T.M.
79. Rider, L.M.
80. Rider, Geo.
81. Stevenson, Robt.
82. Tucker, W.D.
83. Teugue, Jno.
84. Tery, Q.H.
85. Teugue, J.T.
86. Thompson
87. Leugue, A.B.
88. Vaughn, James;
89. Vaughn
90. Williamson, L.T.
91. Younger, Coal;
92. Yeager, Richard;
93. Doores, J.F.