Pinkney Lee Powers was born in Lincoln County, North Carolina, in 1823. He was the son of Gilliam and Barbara (Rhyne) Powers, both of whom were born in North Carolina. The father was of pure Irish descent, and the mother Germand (sic) or Holland descent, and dubbed as North Carolina Dutchö. Only two children were born to them, Pinkney Lee, and Matilda (Powers) Cobb. Gilliam Powers died, or was in some way lost sight of while the subject of our sketch was only an infant. His mother came to Perry County, Mo., with her connection while he was quite young. She married William Jones, a native of Hawkins County, east Tenn., but only recently from Ky, up on the Ohio River.
Pinkney Lee remained with his step�father and mother in Perry County, Mo., until he was sixteen years of age when he apprenticed himself to an uncle (by marriage) by the name of Hovis, to learn the blacksmith and wagon making trade, and also cabinet work.
He served his uncle for 3 years, when he set up in business for himself, following his trade in Perry County, Mo., on Apple Creek, at Appleton, and also in Perryville in Perry County, Mo.
In 1845 he married to Miss Elizabeth Butts also of North Carolina Dutch parents. Of this union eleven children were born: Minerva, James F., Matilda C., Mary A., Barbara, Narra A., William H., Albert Grant, Sheridan L., and Alice M. All are now (July 5, 1904) dead, except Julia A. (Powers) Alley, Narra A. (Powers) Kimmingen, William H., and Sheridan L.
In 1850 or 1851 Pinkney L. Powers set aside his trade, and journeyed overland to California where he remained three years, engaging in mining for gold, and in merchandising, but not being very successful in obtaining a fortune as was the case with the greater number of the California Gold Seekers, he came back to Perry County, Mo., coming by ship by way of Panama. Then he bought about 350 acres of land on Cedar Creek in Wayne County, Mo., and moved his family to their new home, and in 1854 he built a grist and saw mill combined, driven by water power, then soon after he built quite an extensive wagon and black smith shop combined with a lathe and other fixtures driven by water power for manufacturing wagons. As then such a thing as manufactured wagon hubs, fellows and spokes were not in existence anywhere near, if at all, in existence in Missouri. There also, cabinet work was done in country shops, so he also made bedsteads, tables, desks, etc.
In the summer of 1858 he had the misfortune to lose his grist mill and saw mill by an incendiary fire. Then in 1859 or 60 he lost by fire his extensive shops. He then erected a temporary blacksmith shop and began his trade again and also having his farm cultivated with hired
help.
He was also somewhat of a politician, being a Douglass Democrat candidate for representative in 1859. Then in 1861 the Civil War came upon us, and Pinkney Lee Powers was a most pronounced, vigorous, active, acting Union Manö. Very soon after Fort Sumpter fell into the hands of secessionists of South Carolina, he, with such men as John M. Wilkinson and his 3 sons, James T. Sutton, James S. and A.G. McMurtry, Dr. Edward Lawrence, John A. McKinnis, Dr. Ira Raney and very many others over a territory of about 14 miles east and west and about 10 miles north
and south, began to organize the Union Home Guards although due credit must be given to James R. Willetter of Greenville, Wayne Co. (a civil engineer and of Irish birth) for his efforts in calling the above named citizens together and urging the organization of the Union home Guards, which was promptly done, and a large Union Flagö run up on a staff 76 feet high amidst the firing of big guns.
During the troubles of the summer of 1861 Mr. Powers and many others retired to the military post of Pilot Knob, as Confederate Cols. Lowe and Bowlin camped their respective regiments on Carters Farm, Cedar Creek, Patterson, Brunot, Fredericktown and Bollingers Mill with the rebel General Hardee at Greenville. Then in the early part of October 1861, Mr. Powers, John M. Wilkinson, Edward P. Settle and William T. Leeper organized a company of volunteers (Union) Mo.State Militia, to serve six months.
It was the intention that this company should be attached to the Fourth Regiment Mo. State Militia, but owing to a hitch or misunderstanding the company was never attached to any regiment but remained independent of any regimental organization, not even being designated other that Capt. Powers Company of Wayne County Cavalry. But, from an incident that occurred soon after organization it was dubbed Powers Haw Eaters.
At the organization of the Haw Eaters, Pinkney Lee Powers was chosen and commissioned Captain. John M. Wilkinson 1Lieutenant and Edward P. Settle 2Lieutenant. It hardly seemed fair though, that William T. Leeper should be left out of a commission, as he had brought with him quite a number of volunteers from the western end of Wayne County, mostly good men.
Capt. Powers led a portion of his company into the Battle of Fredericktown, Mo. On October 21, 1861 while the other portion was being hurried forward by Lieuts. Wilkinson and Settle, but they did not arrive until after the battle or were ordered back to Ironton. The proof that Capt. Powers had in his company as brave men as ever shoulders a musket, three of his men: Allen Ballard, James Cole and Sid Patterson, against orders rushed forward of the Federals firing line in this battle to a hay or straw stack in the field and with their Stout Enfield Rifles they kept Gen. Jeff Thompsons guns silent until they were disabled and captured by Union soldiers. After the Battle of Fredericktown Capt. Powers moved his company south of Pilot Knob some 25 miles or more, and occupied hewn log school�church house on Patterson Branch, 1 mile east of Brunot where they remained some time, doing rigorous work as scouts, and outpost to Pilot Knob. Many were the stragglers�rebels did they bring in and rebel sympathizers to take the oath. Here they passed through the muster without losing a man. Then later in the fall of 61 they moved east 3 or 4 miles and built a fort on the west side of the Ste. Francois River, and named it Camp Coleö. Here they remained some time doing much active scout duty but had the misfortune to lose by capture �� ��, Sid Peterson and �� ��. Then as the winter of 61 began to close in, the company was ordered to Log Town some 3 or 4 miles south of Pilot Knob, as the post commander feared they might be overcome, being so far away from support. It was with reluctance and much complaint they obeyed the order. During the winter of 61�62 they done much active scout duty with the 1Indiana Cavalry Volunteers 40 to 50 miles south of Pilot Knob.
The company was mustered out perhaps the latter part of Feb. or in early March 1862. Quite a number of the Haw Eaters reenlisted in the three years Mo. State Militia Volunteers, and in this service they ever proved themselves to be men worthy to wear the Blueö. On being mustered out Capt. Powers, Lieuts. Wilkinson and Settle returned to their homes, with the strong Union element they were ever on the watch for the enemy ready night and day to fly to arms and into the saddle to do any kind of military duty as scouts. In fact Capt. Powers and his Lieuts., and their men at home, and their influence made a most excellent indispensable outpost to Pilot Knob and far more effective than a regular military outpost because of the territory they occupied south of Pilot Knob and their devotion to the Union and constant watchfulness. The enemy could make no important move but what Capt. Powers and some of this men at their homes would discover it and immediately report to the Post Commander at Pilot Knob or sally as scouts to look after the Johnnies. Then, should any guerilla band make the mistake of attempting to cross the territory of Powers War, as his men were dubbed, they suffered for it. Or if they escaped with whole hides there ever after shunned Powers War the Black Spot of Wayne County as the rebels called that much dreaded territory. So it is safe to say that territory of about 14 miles east and west and about 10 miles north and south, including Powers War in south Madison Co., and north Wayne Co. were really in the service of the United States, from early in 1861 when the Home Guards were organized until the last guerilla was killed or run out of the country in the summer of 1865. With the exception of the times of the Marmaduke Raid in the spring of 1863, and the Price Raid in the fall of 1864, Powers War held their territory, and just like regular volunteers were ever ready to obey any order that came from the Post Commander of the Union forces. This was an entirely volunteer service, as they never asked pay for their valuable service as soldier citizens, nor did they ever expect or crave and pay whatever. Their lives belonged to their country and the FLAG. The happy conclusion of the War and the salvation of their country and the FLAG was all the pay or reward they wanted for their valuable services, and they GOT it!
In the early summer of 1862, Capt. Powers and Lieut. Wilkinson set about organizing Co. K, 68 Regt. E.M.M. The company was soon organized with Capt. Powers as Company Commander, James T. Sutton 1 Lieut., John M. Wilkinson 2 Lieut., and Edward A. Wilkinson Orderly Sergt. James A. Greenwood, James P. Ellis, R. Frank Lawrence and Samuel Sullivan, Sr. Sgts. and H.C. Wilkinson Camp and Drill Sergts. Then of the old Haw Eatersö were Jacob Cortner, C.A. Bennett, James R. Sullivan and William Reece Corporals. This company was called to Greenville on July 28, 1862 and the organization and enlistment complete. Then from first organization the company met often at Cold Water for the purpose of drilling and also doing much volunteer scout duty, catching up Rebel soldiers as they would come to their homes from Bloomfield and points southward, and also straggling guerilla bands and able bodied men who refused to enroll in the Enrolled Missouri Militia and were hiding out to keep from enrolling (said they would lay out until moss grew on their backs, hence the name Moss Backs). Being organized, but at their homes they could act more in concert, and more effective. Capt. Powers signal to call in his company in haste when the occasion required it, was the firing of Anvil Guns. 2 were the number of guns agreed upon to call his company around him armed equipped and mounted ready for what might follow. Sometimes the matter was of private importance. Then messengers were put going in every direction. One instance was, the keen forethought of Capt. Powers, when the unexpected heavy snow fall came on about October 23 (on Friday night) 1862, led him to foresee that this phenominally (sic) and early heavy snow fall would drive the moss�back skulkers and shirkers in to their homes for shelter and comfort. So, early in the morning after this snow fall the Captain put runners going in every direction gathering his men all ready for anything that might be on hand. Soon as all was ready, he divided his company, taking a part with himself, a part respectively under command of his Lieutenants Sutton and Wilkinson, and they rode in different directions. The house of William Eldridge Miller, near by on Cedar Creek, was designated as a Guard House was packed full to overflowing of a mixed race. Some of Col. Lowes Rebel State Militia, some Rebel soldiers, and some were moss�back citizens who were laying out in the woods to evade the enrollment in the Enrolled Militia. On Monday following, this mixed race of secessionists were marched to Patterson in Wayne County there then being near 15,000 Federal soldiers quartered there, preparatory to a move or moves south. This herd of prisoners were turned over to Col. Boyd, Commander of the Mo. Vols. Many were at once enrolled in the E.M.M. and assigned to companies but not to Powers War Co. K, 68 Regt. E.M.M. as he didnt desire that class of recruits. Some were retained in prison at Patterson, as they were Confederate soldiers, and so recognized. This bold volunteer move of Capt. Powers and his ever faithful subalterns convinced the Rebels and Rebel sympathizers far and wide that there was a POWER in Powers and his War to be dreaded and feared. In fact the surrounding country was henceforward pretty quiet, and quite a display of galvanized loyalty was soon seen all over the country.
In further proof of the activity of Capt. Powers and his War was that probably in Nov. 1862, Lieut. Wilkinson took with him 16 picked men and made a night drive for some Confederate soldiers on Castor River in the western edge of Bollinger Co., and about sunrise (Sunday morning, very sharp and ��) Lieut. Wilkinson scented his game near Rock Point, a short distance below where Marquand now stands on the Belmont Branch St. L., I. M. S. Ry. While hunting the warm nest of the Rebel soldiers (Jefferies men from Bloomfield in Stoddard co.) in a dense thicket in a field east of Bloomfield and Fredericktown Road the guard left there at the road heard Mr. Frank Sitzes dogs barking over west of Castor river near 1 mile away, and the guard recognized the voice of one of the Rebels Fred Whitener as he scolded the barking dogs into silence. Soon as Lt. Wilkenson and his men returned from the search eastward the guard reported to him the discovery. The Lieutenant replied by saying: Eight men remain here on guard, and eight of you follow me. At once he turned his old war horse Salem of Haw Eaters fame for the game. Soon, he was hallowing at the closed doors of Mr. Frank Sitzes house, (they being off for a visit) and after a little delay, out came 2 Rebel soldiers, and they ran as frightened men can run, for the timbered bottom, but as they turned the corner of the smoke house Lieut. Wilkinson let one of them Fred Whitener have a navy six in his hand. He ran only a short distance until he surrendered, as the whole eight men sprang from their horses and leaped the fences and gave hot pursuit firing as they ran. The other fellow Eph Richards got to the timber, but was completely ran down, and surrendered in an open field a mile south of the house as the voice of HALT was so near him, and he completely fagged out, he threw up his hands before he turned around, and when he did turn, he saw he stopped in the nick of time, as he was covered with a revolver (Colts) in the steady hand of a slender youth, not over 35 yards from him! The next three seconds would have been too late to have saved his life, as the youthful fellow told him after he surrendered, that he had a good bead at the cross of his suspenders, and was pressing the trigger, but for mercys sake, he shouted HALT! to give him one more chance for his life, which he gladly accepted.
The other fellow Underwood true to his name, was treed by Fred P. Sherry, (an Irishman, and an old Haw Eater) crammed up between two of the sleepers or floor joists down in the cellar. There was not room in there for his whole body, as the Son of Erin discovered one foot left out, and so exposed to view. Poor Underwood was soon out from under the wood of due course, and a Prisoner of War. These three Confederate soldiers were turned over to the Post Commander at Patton on the following day. The two incidents above must suffice here as samples of the active operations of Powers War while at their homes as Soldier Citizens..
On the 1 of Dec. 1862 Co. K 68 Regt. E.M.M. with 4 other companies were ordered into camp to draw arms, accoutrements, clothing, etc. Co. K, very soon after went to Bollingers Steam Grist and Saw Mill situated in the north east corner of Wayne County, about a mile west of Castor River. Powers War was then in their glory, as game up and down Castor River and on Bear and McGhees Creeks was fairly plenty. Among the first of Capt. Powers moves was to make a drive for the famous leader Dan McGhee at his home on McGhees Creek near the Mingo Swamp.The object of the search was at home, but the men guarding the yard gate somehow permitted Capt. McGhee to rush past him and to his horse, and then for the dense thicket swamp of McGhees Creek. Capt. Powers dashed forward after him, and wounded his fleet horse, and captured him after McGhee had abandoned his wounded horse, and made good his escape on foot into the thicket of the swamp. Soon the horse (a U.S. horse) was well of his wound and being already Loyal he done splendid service without taking the oath of allegiance to the U.S. Government. The boys ever after dubbed him Old Dan McGhee without apparent offence to the faithful old horse.
Other game being plenty not many miles away, Capt. Powers began scouting the country near him, and soon had twelve prisoners in his Guard Houseö at Bollingers Mill. One of the prisoners was Old Man Cobb who lived down some miles below the mill, on Castor River. He was not a Confederate soldier, but was found feeding and harboring them at his house, so he must suffer imprisonment for his dis�loyalty to the U.S. Government. It was at his house on Capt. Powers second visit there that the famous Sam Hildebrand narrowly escaped capture or death. He escaped however, by fast running as Jack Aker (one of Capt. Cahrens men) emptied his carbine at him as he ran. Had it been known that Sam Hildebrand was there, all possible efforts would have been made for his capture. Capt. Powers men found a carabine or musketoon there in Cobbs house, brought there by Hildebrand from Madison or Ste. Francois County, taken from Ad Cunningham of Capt. Finleys company of the 68 E.M.M. Cunningham had gone home from Capt. FinleyÆs camp to visit his family (as we then learned) and had his arms with him, but he was surprised and murdered by Hildebrand, and his arms and acoutrements taken by Hildebrand. The musketoon had a number of notches cut on the stock, said to be the number of men killed by Hildebrand. Among the captives at Capt. Powers first visit to the Cobb house was a young man of Bloomfield named Columbus D. Bailey, then not quite 19 years old. It developed that he was drawn to the Cobb house to see young Miss Cobb. He was well equipped, having a pair of good revolvers, and a U.S. over coat, blankets and other U.S. clothing. One very dark night, he slipped by the sleeping guard at the door of the Guard House and took the robe neck halter bridle of it and H.C. Wilkensons halter, and rode away with Sgt. Wilkinsons mare, but the chain guard discovered the horse coming and called for the Corporal of the Guard, and Bailey slipped off the horse, and made his escape in the dense darkness, to only be captured again on Capt. Powers 2nd raid on the Cobb house, when Sam Hildebrand escaped capture as above related, which raid was going before daylight the next morning after Baileys escape. In 1888 Columbus D.Bailey was living in Dexter, Stoddard Co. He then said he was in the fall of Vicksburg, Miss. On July 4, 1863, and having a leg wound he returned to Bloomfield, Stoddard Co. Mo. And soon after enlisted in Company D, Sixth Mo. Cav. Vols. U.S. Army, and was discharged Sept. 12, 1865. Then on March 15, 1866 he married Miss Hannah J. Lewis, and at once began farming in Stoddard. In 1888 he and his wife were members of the Baptist Church at Dexter, Mo. In the Confederate Army he belonged to Col. Jeffery at Bloomfield (See History of S.E. Mo. Pages 1101�12). On Christmas Day Dec. 1862 Captain Powers took his 12 prisoners and began the march for prison at Pilot Knob.
Then in Nov. 62 the Captain was elected Representative of Wayne and Butler counties, over his opponent Albert Reeves, a brother of the famous Rebel Tim Reeves. So now he goes to Jefferson City. While Capt. Powers was serving in the legislature his Lieuts., Sutton and Wilkinson were kept busy scouting and watching the enemy at Bloomfield (Col. Jefferys command). But along in the forepart of Jan. 1863 Co. K was ordered to Patterson to Join Co. D 68 Regt., commanded by Capt. Morgan Mace to do post and scout duty, guarding army supplies as the command of 15,000 had moved on south save a remnant of the 23 Iowa Infantry, and 1 Nebraska Cav., who soon moved on south to join their commands. One day some 3 or 4 of Co. K took French Furlough, and went to their homes on the east side of the Ste. Francois River, and Fred P. Sherry?,with a few men, some 3 to 5, went after them. But they remained over night and the river took a sudden rise during the night, and cut them off from Patterson, and possible support. Soon Capt. Ellison came up from Bloomfield and captured them, but stripped and then paroled them. This dash from Bloomfield reached the ears of Lt. Wilkinson (Lt. Sutton being disabled by a bad boil on his cavalry end), and he at once called to arms and mount of his best men, and made all haste to cross the river and give pursuit, but necessary having to go up the river 10 or 12 miles to cross, instead of only 5 miles eastward. The enemy helped themselves to what they could find of mens, women’s and children’s clothing, quilts, blankets, etc. and made good his escape to Bloomfield with their plunder. Lt. Wilkinson crossed his men, although somewhat dangerous as it was yet very deep fording and scoured the whole country round about, but the Johnnies had made good their escape back to Bloomfield. Lt. Wilkinson took up camp in the old church house on Cedar Creek until Lieut. Sutton was able to cross over with the remainder of Co. K. The company then remained in the old church house but continued active scout duty, and it was on one of their scouts down Bear Creek that Jim Cline was mortally wounded at his fathers house on Bear Creek, and Fred Ward, Clines companion was made prisoner and their arms and horses were taken in also. Cline and Ward were of the Confederate Command then at Bloomfield. Orderly Sergt. E.A. Wilkinson led this scout ably assisted by Sergts. James A. Greenwood and James P. Ellis.
While these things were transpiring in Wayne Co. Capt. Powers in Jefferson City thought out and planned an attack on Bloomfield to break up the Confederate Post there as his men were being so annoyed by the raiding bands north from Bloomfield, as well as his neighbors and the homes of his men. Col. James Lindsay of Ironton, Mo., Commander of the 68 E.M.M at once entered into the plan, and soon he was on his way with Cos. A (Capt. Adair), B (Capt. Belkin) and Co. F (Capt. Finley) to join Capt. Mace with Co. D at Patterson. In the meantime Capt. Powers obtained leave of absence from the Legislature at Jefferson City and came to his home in Wayne Co., a few hundred yards east of the church house where his men were quartered, to make preparations for the famous Bloomfield Scout. Then, on about Jan. 23 Col. Lindsay moved with his 4 companies (Capt. Mace going with him) to join Capt. Powers and his company in their quarters in the church house on Cedar Creek. On Sunday morning Jan 25, 1863 the Bloomfield Scout was completely organized, and moved out, but taking no direct Bloomfield road, they finally fell in on a road through a wilderness of pine timber, a ridge leading southward. Capt. Powers and his men in the ��. He was in his glory then, as he had begun to put in execution his long cherished plan of the capture of Bloomfield. The whole command was composed of picked men from Cos. A, B, D, F and K, 68 regt. E.M.M. and probably much less than 200 men with 2 very light steel guns less than 2 inch caliber. These little guns were commanded by Lieut. Hiller, Sergt. Fritz Rickus having charge of one of them as Gun Sergt. They had been purchased by Col. Lindsay with his own means and attached to his Regt. for occasions like the Bloomfield Scout.
Capt. Powers plan was to evade any direct road towards Bloomfield until night set in, as he desired and did baffle the operations of the Grape Vine Telegraph Line to Bloomfield. So, no dispatch reached Bloomfield until on Tuesday morning, Jan. 24, 62 when Col. Lindsay sent forward Capts. Powers and Finley with their brave men as bearers of the Dispatch that: The Yankees are Coming! The dispatch was first announced to the Post Commander of the Confederate force at Bloomfield by the crack of revolvers and carbines in the hands of Capt. Powers and Capt. Finley and their men as they opened fire on the streets of Bloomfield at the fleeing Confederates, and the boom! Boom! of Col. Lindsay’s two little guns back down the bottom the command had just crossed. The surprise was as complete as it could be, as not a single Confederate officer or private there in Bloomfield had even a hint that the Yankees were coming until they opened fire on them as they charged into the town. Their pickets were surprised and captured by Capt. Finley and Drill Sergt. H.C. Winkinson at Mingo 20 miles out while there was considerable firing done at the fleeing Rebels and only a few returned by them. There was little or no bloodshed. The attack on Bloomfield resulted in the capture of 54 Confederates, including several commissioned officers, one of whom was the Confederate Provost Marshall of Bloomfield. There were upwards of 70 horses in the capture, and two wagons loaded with arms of all kinds, but mostly double barreled shotguns and hunting rifles, which were burned with the wagons the following night near the edge of town, as the roads were in such condition they couldn’t be taken along in the thick darkness and mud. A good supply of rations of corn meal and freshly salted pork was destroyed. Col. Lindsay succeeded in landing his prisoners in the guard house at Pilot Knob, and Capt. Powers then returned to his seat in the Legislature. During his time in the Legislature he succeeded in having Wayne County relieved from taxation on account of their loyalty to the U.S. Government, and furnishing so many men as volunteered in several regiments, such as the 31st Mo. Infantry, 6th Mo. Cav., 29th Mo Infantry and the M.S.M. service. Perhaps he had Butler County similarly relieved also.
His company remained at Bollinger’s Mill, after Col. Lindsay marched with his prisoners for Pilot Kob. But while resting up from the Bloomfield Scout, at about 12:20 o’clock A.M., Feb.4th, 1863 Captain Ellison and Dan McGhee coming from Bloomfield stole a march on Co. K coming up in a bright moon light and light snow behind the mill and charged Co. Ks camp, and as it was at Bloomfield with the Rebels, so it was with Co. K. The first they knew of the presence of the Rebels� some 100 men, was the crack of their guns and revolvers and the whine of their bullets, followed by the cries and groans of the wounded. For the moment, all was lost, but as it happened, the Lieutenants Sutton and Wilkinson, and Orderly Sergt. Wilkinson and his brother H.C., the Drill Sergt., and Corporals Sullivan and Costman, two old Haw Eaters, and Sergt. Greenwood and two privates, Yance (an old 29th Mo. Boy) and John Sullivan were quartered in a saw mill house about 75 yards or more from the row of tents. This little handful at once armed and charged the Rebel line, or rather mass, as it closed around the large center tent, and at once staggered them. The Rebels never recovered from the shock, but at once beat a glorious retreat by running as scared me can and do, for timber. They succeeded in mortally wounding one man and severely wounding Lieut. Wilkinson, James Banker (an old Haw Eater boy) and Frank Woods. One of Co. K was mortally wounded by J. R. Sullivan (accident) as he ran away with the Rebels a prisoner. Slightly wounded were Henderson Douglas, Sergt. Greenwood, Sergt. R.F. Lowrance, Joe Hammock, Tho. Stephens, and Drill Sergt. H.C. Wilkinson, but none saw Douglas quit the field (as Stephens was captured after wounded with 3 others, and taken away). It was never ascertained just how many Rebels were wounded in the fight of about 5 minutes, but one Rebel was left dead on the ground, and the remains of another was afterward found not far away on a hill. Some 2 or 3 left a few miles (some 3 or 4 miles) south of the mill, too severely wounded to return to Bloomfield. Many trails of blood were found in the snow at daylight leading away from the mill. In after years some of Capt. Ellis[son’s] men told of about 22 men they lost in killed and wounded. Following this night fight, on the next day, Dan McGhee and his band of 30 men or more, were wiped from the face of the earth by the M.S.M. boys under command of Maj. Lazair. Capt. Ellison lost most of his command also soon after this night attack, so it was said a short time afterwards the Rebel force at Bloomfield was completely destroyed. Co. K lost only one horse captured, and one killed, probably by Sergt. Wilkinson, as he ran into them trying to cut horses loose, as their officers were plainly heard to command. Sergt. Wilkinson had left his brother, the orderly in charge of their wounded father. Lieut. Wilkinson after he fell, handed his Navy Six to Drill Sergt. Wilkinson.
As soon as Capt. Powers heard of the fight at Bollingers Mill, he left his seat and came down to see the wounded boys. All recovered save poor Corporal Cortman and Doc Wray, the one wounded by Corporal Sullivan while running a prisoner.
Co. K soon removed to Gravelton 3 miles north and quartered in a large gravel or concrete house. Thence to the church house on Cedar Creek, thence to Arcadia, where they were retired from active service March 26th, 1863, the order being brought from Gov. Gamble by Capt. Powers on his return home from Jefferson City. Some of Co. K. were permitted to take home with them revolvers that had been issued them when called into service in Dec. ‘62, and captured arms. The Marmaduke Raid was pending, or rather was much talked about the first of April ‘63, and soon Wayne Co. realized that the Marmaduke Raid was a reality. Patterson was attacked and taken. Then the Rebels marched for Fredericktown by way of Cedar Creek. The Union women, Mrs. Capt. Powers among them, lost all of their best home spun dresses and under clothing, as Marmadukes men took them to make me a shirt, they said as they would cut or tear off the skirts. These are facts beyond dispute.
Capt. Powers and Lieut. Sutton were at Ironton and were chosen as Gen. Vandiver’s Staff in his Shoo! pursuit of Marmaduke to Chalk Bluff.
Then as the month of May ‘63 came, preparations were being made to organize the Provisional Enrolled Mo. Militia. Capt. Powers organized Co. M 8th Provisional Regt. E.M.M. and took command of it, with Lt. Jas. T. Sutton as 1st Lieut., and Jas. Robt. Fulton 2nd Lieut., Jas P. Ellis Orderly Sergt. And Jas A. Greenwood, M.P. Tate, R.F. Lowrance and C.B.L. Rowland Duty Sergts. H.C. Wilkinson Corporal as Drill Sergt., again. This company was made up from Cos. of the 68th Regt. E.M.M., Capt. Mace’s, Powers’, Jas. E. Davis’, Joe Wilson’s and W.W. Bungard’s. Col. Wm McLane commanding the Regt. of 3 battalions. Capt. Powers’ company belonged to the 3rd battalion commanded by Felix Laton of Perryville. Very soon after arming of Co. M at Mineral Point, somehow Capt. Powers scented game above. Sam Hildebrand and his band was somewhere up country in Ste. Francois County, and Capt. Powers, true to his instinct as a scout, obtained permit to take with him picked men, and by night marches, reached his home in Wayne County and steal over onto Castor River in the night to watch for Hildebrand to come along on his way south. Co. M armed with the Enfield Carbine, and several revolvers, they left camp at Mineral Point in Washington County late P.M. The 3rd night out of their camp at Mineral Point found them posted on the Bloomfield and Fredericktown Road on Castor River, in the barn shed on the farm of Solomon Whiterun and some 3 miles south of Gravelton. They had hardly settled to business when the guard in obedience to orders stole in, and reported horsemen approaching. Soon they came along side and one made a pass to shoot Capt. Powers’ guard, but, all at once 3 out of the 4 Rebels lay in the road dead men, one of the 4 escaped but cut all over by bullets. Capt. Powers had 17 trusty men with him and their fire proved it. Daylight revealed the fact that Sam Hildebrand was about a hundred yards or more to the rear with some 8 or 10 men with him, but at the fire of Capt. Powers and his men on his advance guard they took to the hills leaving the road. This affair put an end to guerilla bands traveling that road for a long time, or rather to the end of the War, and guerillaing (sic).
Capt. Powers was with his company until his company was relieved from active service on the 6th of November 1863. He done a great deal of scout duty, being at Cape Girardeau, Bloomfield, Brunot, Greenville and at Ironton. But after the Marmaduke Raid in April 1863 S.E. Mo., seemed to be more quiet than at any time previous during the War. The M.S.M. Cav. was so dreaded by the Rebels and thieves they kept measurably quite. The latter part of July or early Aug. 1863 Tim Reeves made a night�dark raid into Greenville, and then on north to Patterson, but then turned for Van Buren in Carter Co. They captured Marshall John Whybark, x�Capt. Martindale, and Sergt. Henry Bigerstaff and 6 of his Co. (L, 3rd M..S.M.) about 1 miles south of Patterson on the night, or early morning, and Capt. Powers and his men then lay in a grove 1 miles north of Patterson, and as soon as the word came to him, by Mr. Finley McFadden, a citizen of Patterson, he fell back to the north end of the Stoney Battery, a mountain gorge, and awaited Capt. Hummel’s approach from Brunot a short distance to the north. As soon as Capt. Hummel came up, they dashed forward in pursuit, which was kept up to a distance of 12 miles west of Patterson. Dr. L.M. Pettit informed them that Tim Reeves was then across Black River, as he got a good start from Patterson while Capt. Powers was falling back to await Capt. Hummel. They had already gone far beyond orders, so they necessarily had to abandon further pursuit, and return to Ironton. Poor John Whybark was never more seen by his friends, as he was murdered while a prisoner, only because he had charge of enrolling the militia of his district.
Co. M with the whole 8th Prov. Regt. E.M.M. was mustered out by order on or about Nov. 6th, 1863 (so says Capt. Tacky).
Captain Powers and his men returned to their homes, and as quiet seemed to be measurably restored, his Orderly Sergt. Jas. P. Ellis made up a school of common education for 3 months, and several of his company comrades became school scholars, but they even went to school with their Colt Navys as regularly as they did with their dinner baskets. One day during the school, word came that armed men were at a neighboring farmhouse eating breakfast. School disbanded in a twinkle, and the boys at school buckled on their Navys and soon they were mounted, and with other citizens were in hot chase. The Rebels or Jayhawkers about a half dozen more or less, when they ate their breakfast took to the hills having Cedar Creek to their left, as they were going eastwards. About 4 miles east of Cold Water on Cedar Creek the Rebels were overhauled, one made his escape to the thickets, and it was then thought with a wound in the leg. Then, it was thought by the pursuers he returned fire, but none of Sergt.� Teacher Ellis’ boys were hurt. Two surrendered, but one, a young fellow was pursued so closely by two of the boys, he took to a tree. The two pursuers ordered him to surrender, and he said he would think of it. One brave boy, John B. Willmore, undertook to change trees so as to expose the Rebel to either himself or his mate Dan M. Parker; but in making the change he tripped and fell and lucky was that fall, as the Rebel’s charge passed over him as he fell. The move of the Rebel was watched by Parker, and in shifting to shoot Willmore he exposed his side to Parker, and in the same instant his exposed side was filled with buck shot from Parker’s gun. He was mustered out on the spot.
Through the spring of ‘64 matters were so quiet, the farmers in confidence planted good crops of corn and tobacco. Capt. Powers had turned his attention to this farm also, as no active military operations of importance were being pushed forward.
The month of August 1864 soon came with rumors of the Rebel Army is going to invade Missouri! As time dragged along the first part of Aug. the rumors grew apace, and soon Capt. Powers had military business to St. Louis. Then about Aug. 16th 64 he came to his home on Cedar Creek in Wayne County bearing a recruiting commission as 2nd Lieut., to recruit, or enlist Co. H, 47th Mo. Inft. Vols. Probably a few days before, Capt. McMurtry and Capt. Leeper had called a meeting at Patterson, and had enlisted Co. A, 47th Mo. Inft. Vols. And from the overflow of Co. A, Co. G was enlisted. Soon Capt. Powers’ old boys rushed to him for enlistment. Already, on his way from St. Louis, he had enlisted 25 men from Capt. Morgan Mace’s Co. of some kind of State Militia stationed near Ironton and Pilot Knob. On enlistment orders were to be in the recruiting camp on Stout Creek, 1 mile west of Ironton and Arcadia, in easy reach of Ft. Davidson at Pilot Knob, on Aug. 24th, 1864. A day or two found Cos. A and H overflowing as volunteers kept pouring in from southward. Many though desired to volunteer to evade the much talked of Draft soon to be drawn to fill up Missouri’s quota of soldiers. Some few were examined by the surgeon (Dr Jas. R. McCormack) and received exemption discharges from the oncoming draft, and returned home. Several volunteers were rejected as soldiers by the Post Surgeon on account of physical disability, but could get no exemption from the draft. Several of the rejected went before the surgeon of the 3rd M.S.M Cav., who signed their enlisting papers, and they became members of Cos. A, G and H, 47th Mo. The election of officers made P.L. Powers Captain, Merida P. Tate 1st Lieut., E.P. Settle 2nd Lieut. (an old Haw Eater) H.C. Wilkinson 1st or Orderly Sergt., E.A. Wilkinson, C.A. Burnett, Jas. H. Banker (all Haw Eaters) and Dr. Jas. M. Short Sergts. Besides himself Capt. Powers had in Co. H seven of his Haw Eaters.
It was Sept. 9th, 1864 before the officers were commissioned and mustered in. This delay was caused by the efforts of Capt. Powers to raise his company organized as Cavalry, and had the Price Raid not burst in upon Missouri so soon, he would have succeeded in having his company mounted, armed and completely outfitted as a Cavalry company. Capt. Powers invariably loved the scout service. However, he succeeded in mounting the greater part of his company by the men putting in their horses selling them to the U.S. Government. It was the desire of Capt. Powers to mount his men, and move to Patterson so he could enjoy scouting down below, but Cos. A and G were favored with that perilous duty, as the Price Raid was surely near at hand. It was a bore to Capt. Powers to be cooped up at a station like Pilot Knob. He always desired to be free to take with him chosen men, and scout down below wherever he chose to, and occasion required it have his company some where on the border rather all to himself. It just as well be noted here that: All men who see men in their true element, and can judge of their tastes and capacities, full well know that in action like that at Pilot Knob, Capt. Powers was deficient rather, as in�efficient field officer. To be a good field officer requires the study of Army tactics and to know how to handle men in action. This was too irksome for Capt. Powers. In his own words, he said to his Orderly Sergt, while in line of battle at Pilot Knob: Ah! This don’t suit me. I want to be out well armed and mounted, and pitch in to ‘em! No one acquainted with Capt. Powers ever once thought he was a bit cowardly, but it seemed that in action he couldn’t think quickly, or to see at a glance the situation, and in a critical moment, take in the situation, and shout the command to his men. It seemed that as in his every day affairs, he must have a moment to think and reflect before speaking. A good field officer, by the time he sees the critical situation, has the necessary command already on its way to his men’s ears. Those who saw Capt. Powers where lead flew thickest never saw him flinch for a moment, not even taking to a nearby tree. But here, due credit should be given him for what he was capacitated. He was a true scout and no mistake. Give him a few men of his own pick, and tell him to go in the most dangerous localities near the enemy to obtain information, and he would venture as far as any man in S.E. Mo., and always with good judgment if let alone to execute his own plans. He was commanding Co. H 47th Mo., as his 4th company, but couldn’t put them through drill to save his life. Outside of the scout tactics, he knew but very few field maneuvers, and almost nothing about the manual of arms. But on the scout, he would venture further, and with better judgment, and obtain more information in regard to the enemy and his moves than his superior officers from General down. His devotion to his country and the FLAG was as strong as any other man’s in the whole nation, but his political views, which were rather peculiar, often caused some to look upon him with suspicion that he was not a true patriot. But such suspicions were wrongly entertained. Those who knew the inside track of Capt. Powers knew he was safe and trusty along that line from start to finish.
Few if any in S.E. Mo., done more, or even as much for his country and the FLAG that did Capt. Powers during the 4 long years of the war. He came out the same Patriot as he went in. Then to the non�combatants on the side of the south he was ever kind, and ready at all times to lend a helping hand to the suffering, be they friend or foe. The abuse of prisoners in his presence was never allowed. Then, when he found of his acquaintance Rebels in prison, he would take risks to obtain their freedom, if he had confidence in them. He even went on the bonds of some of his acquaintances Rebels in prison of Col. Lowe’s Regt. to only be betrayed by some of them running south again the first opportunity. It must be of the most extreme cares before he would permit his men to even use fence rails to build camp fires, or to take provisions without putting down pay for them. He even distained the destruction of private property in any way, or of any one, friend or foe, unless absolutely necessary.
On Sunday night, September 25th, ‘64 Capt. Powers was ordered to take a few of his company, and a few of the 3rd M.S.M. Co. A, and go south to obtain the greatly desired information: ascertain if Price is actually in command in person, was the order given him by Maj. Wilson. Shall I go as far as is prudent? was his question. To which Maj. Wilson replied: yes, and a little further. He went to within 7 or 8 miles of his own home, where Price’s headquarters were, and had just been in the church house near his home. He attempted to obtain the requisite information by communicating with Sergt. E.A. Wilkinson then in the woods within Price’s lines, as he was cut off, having run in by some from the attack on Patterson, but the Captain’s Dispatch Bearer failed to reach the end of her journey, as she met the Rebels who at once guessed her mission, but she evaded complete discovery, by hiding the Captain’s dispatch, and Sergt. Wilkinson never received it.
Captain Powers returned to Pilot Knob only a very short time before Ironton was attacked by Price’s forces at 1 P.M., September 26, ‘64. In the battle of Pilot Knob the 27th, the Captain was in the south rifle pit with his men until they were driven into the fort by the Rebel charge at 2 P.M. Then late P.M. he received a bruise wound on his left shoulder by a well spent ball striking him. On evacuating the fort at 2 o’clock A.M. the 28th, Capt. Powers was assigned to the rear with his mounted men, and in fact for the whole day he had charge of the rear. Then the morning of the 29th his company was assigned to the strong rear guard composed mostly of the 2nd and 3rdM.S.M. and the 14th Iowa Infantry. The enemy came up near 9 o’clock A.M. the 29th, and Capt. Powers and his men formed a part of the line formed of the rear guard to hold back the Rebel host from riding down Gen. Ewing’s whole command. Then after the 3rd M.S.M. 30 to 61 men charged the advancing Rebel column for over 5 miles, or until driven in by a vastly superior force of the enemy. In the last desperate stand Gen. Ewing made before reaching the railroad at Leasburg, Capt. Powers adventured to take his company to Gen. Ewing’s front firing line then giving way before Joe Shelby’s host, but, the disordered cavalry ordered him out of their road or they would run over him (by Azariah Martin only recently; June 24th, 1904). In fact all that awful day and following night Capt. Powers and his men were ever present in the rear next to the enemy, although he only lost one man mortally wounded. Six of his men like many others of Gen. Ewing’s command went back after ammunition, but that was unavoidable, and not Capt. Power’s fault. He hated a coward always.
He was assigned a new unfinished log house at Leasburg early morning of Sept. 30th, which was used as a Block House until Shelby and Marmaduke Raised the Seige of Leasburg themselves and Hauled off for Price’s main Army, then on to Rolla with Gen. Ewing’s command.
Done Out Post duty at Rolla for a month, then back to Pilot Knob until Dec. 13th 1864, when he marched with his Regt. for Nashville, Tenn., to assist in turning Hood, but arrived there 10 days too late, as Hood had completely broken his Army against the Rock of Chickamanga and Stone River.
Capt. Powers final service in Tenn., was guarding Ry bridges between Columbia and Pulaski, Tenn. In the latter part of March 1865 he came with his Regt. to Benton Barracks (Old State Fair Ground) at St. Louis, Mo. On March 29, ‘65 his company was discharged having served over a month beyond the term of enlistment.
At the Nov. election 1864 Capts. Powers and McMurtry were candidates for the Legislature of Mo., but Capt. McMurtry was the favored candidate. Soon after coming home, the War virtually over Capt. Powers turned his attention to repairing his home from the ravages of Prices Army, as a part of it had camped there in Sept. 64 and literally ruined his home.
In 1866�67 he built a grist mill and saw mill combined, driven by water power, and sold every stick of lumber as fast as he could cut it at a good round price, but it seemed that he didnt rise financially. He was appointed to assess Wayne Co. immediately after the War, one term. He was even a candidate for Representative. Democrat but was elected only in 1862 as above noted, and in 1878, defeating Dr. H.J. Webb, the Republican candidate.
The trouble with Capt. Powers as a Democratic candidate after the party line was closely drawn in Wayne Co. was that he had wore the Blue in the sixties, and the Confederate Demoaug (sic) of Wayne Co. had no use for him as a Democratic nominee for office or any other Yank He quit the political field back in the earlier nineties Lost his first wife about 1885, and in 1888 he married Lieut. Sam Kellys widow, but disagreeing some years after, they separated.
Capt. Pinkney Lee Powers was mustered out 1901. During his life he belonged to the A.F. and A.M., and to Mabrey Post G.A.R.
Very respectfully submitted,
H.C. Wilkinson Late Sergt. Co H. 47th Mo. Inft. Vols.
Piedmont, Mo.
(The sketch given of Pinkney L. Powers in the History of S.E. Mo., pages 1114�15 is rather too vague and mixed with some mistakes, to be copied in this sketch, but the writer was guided by the sketch given therein as to his parentage, nativity, etc., in fact his life up to 1859. H.C.W.)
Doctor, here are the facts as know to the writer , very lengthy too, but enough is given that you can sift and write up a good sketch of our sleeping Captain. Among other things I didnt note that he was suffering with paralysis in one side when he died and that probably for 8 years more or less, I forgot to mention it, he was completely broken financially when he died. The trouble with him was that he insisted in being a candidate Democratic (on the outside tho) from Know�Nawthing days until about 1890, with the exception of only one or two terms always for Representative. I think it was in 1870, a mistake occurred at Cold Water by the 2 clerks of the election, so that they had to re�canvas the tickets, and every person present ��� amoung them knows that Capt. Powers vote was the last one cast, as he was just in from Greenville before the polls closed. When that ticket, bearing the highest number was canvassed, it was a Republican ticket from start to finish! The greatest surprise was that Capt. Powers was a self nominated Democrat as candidate for Representation! Col. Wm.T. Leeper was the regular nominee, though Capt. Bradley of Patterson took the Radical Black off of Capt. Powers as he came out on the Radical ticket as he then said O, get a few preliminary votes. In 1868 I know that Capt. Powers stood back (his only time though) while Col. Leeper became the Democratic nominee, because I was one of the election clerks at Cold Water and Capt. Powers was one of the judges of the election. Then in 1870 (if I dont mistake, and I dont think so) Col. Leeper was again the regular Democratic nominee for Representative, Capt. Powers failing in Wayne Co. he went to the Senatorial Convention. Failing there and knowing the hatred of Col.Leeper by the Secesh, Capt. Powers entered into an agreement to run between Col. Leeper, Democratic, and Capt. Bradley, Radical. The extreme Secesh caught on soon as they saw Capt. Powers; name on both tickets, and they repuclinted (sic) Capt. Powers in a twinkle. He had them befogged until then, and would have been elected if his hand had not been seen in the Looking Glass at his back. Well, such is Politics I suppose, but not for this one so persistent. OBSTINANCY was his greatest fault. Capt. Powers spent time and money along ���, but he would not trouble with his financial affairs, he was always in a lawsuit, or 3 or 4 as to that matter, and consequently about always got left. That is what so completely broke him financially. Bitter it is that I pencil this part of that valuable mans life, but facts are facts you know. H.C. W.