The following transcriptions are from the Forge newspaper published shortly after the
Civil War in Ironton by Eli D. Ake. Some wording could not be made out, due to the
quality of the microfilm. Transcription by Walt Busch, Fort Davidson State Historic Site
Administrator.
CONTENTS
1. Pilot Knob, Mo.--The Battle Fought there, September 26th and 27th, 1864
2. The Price Raid (Editorialized Assessment of the Raid By Gen. Grant)
3. (Law) Suits Against Rebels.
4. "Big-Bug." (about CSA Gen. John B. Clark)
5. "Jim Lindsay" (About His Lawsuit Against Sterling Price)
6. Marmaduke's Raid in 1863. (Early Yellow Journalism-Missouri Style)
THE FORGE Ironton, MO October 19, 1865 Page 1
[Written for The Forge]
Pilot Knob, Mo.--The Battle Fought there, September 26th and 27th, 1864
By Rob't L. Lindsay.
Pilot Knob is one of the most prominent peaks of the Ozarks range of mountains
in South-east Missouri, and is situated at the present terminus of the Iron Mountain
railroad, eighty-six miles from the city of St. Louis. Its name indicates its physical
character. It rises boldly and steep from its base to an altitude of nearly 600 feet, with its
pinnicles formed by massive pillars of ferruginous rock, which can be seen more readily
than all the other points in the distance; which at an early day served as a pilot or guide to
the pioneer and hunter, when wandering in the gloomy depths of mountain wilderness.
Probably the Indian and the hunter, when they chased the elk, or hunted the bear
though [sic] the labyrinthical windings in those wild and dreary regions; and saw that
towering knob of rock overlooking almost every portion of the country, thought that the
Great Spirit or a benificient [sic] God had made it, in His goodness, only as a landmark to
serve their necessities when wandering in the unknown wilds. The deer and the bear
have gone toward the setting sun, and the Indian and the daring hunter have followed
them. A tide of industrious population, accustomed to the usages and versed in the
requirements of civilization, have settled in the fertile contiguous countries, and have a
necessity for iron which is inseparable from every dwelling, and subserves a thousand
purposes in domestic commercial life; when lo! the votary of Science, in his useful
investigations, soon discoveres [sic] that the lofty peak of rocks formed the apex of a
whole mountain of iron, just at the time that the State of Missouri needed the important
metal.
The amount of iron contained in the area of the elevation known as Pilot Knob
cannot be accurately estimated, but probably exceeds, by ten times, the 13,972,773 tons
estimated by Dr. Litton of St. Louis, in his report published in the Geological Survey of
Missouri. He based his calculation by making the beds of iron which he found exposed
on the northern side of the mountain, at a distance of 141 feet below the summit and 440
above the base, as the lowest point where the solid iron exists. Admitting such to be the
fact, although it is known to exist at lower points on that side, yet there is no calculation
made for the dip of the rock, which doubtless continues through the heart of the
mountain, in a south-western direction.
To a lover of nature-- to one who can readily appreciate her beauties, and whose
delicate emotions will quickly awaken to the impression of scenes of granduer [sic] and
beauty, a view from the summit of Pilot Knob would be hailed with rapture, and would
ever be impressed upon the tablets of his memory. From this point can be seen the lofty
elevations, which invest the prospect with sublimity, with the hard front of the rocks
everywhere visible on their sides, softened by a lichen covering.-- At the base on the
north-west side is the thriving town of Pilot Knob, containing some 1,000 inhabitants,
beautifully situated on a creek of water transparent from its mountain purity. On the
south side is the beautiful Valley of Arcadia, looking away to the south-east and south, in
which is situated the busy little city of Ironton, and the quiet and attractive little village of
Arcadia, at which is located the Arcadia High School, an institution of learning so
favorably known throughout the country.
Shepherd Mountain, which is south-west of Pilot Knob, and eighty-two feet
higher, contains an inexhaustible supply of iron possessing strong magnetic properties,
and particularly adapted to bloomery [thick bar of iron obtained by rolling an ingot, ed.]
purposes, therby [sic] differing from Pilot Knob, which is better suited for foundry iron,
and makes the best steel of any iron yet discovered, and taken all in all, is better adapted
for the purposes for which iron is used, and from the immense amount contained in it, it
will be ages before it is exhausted.
There is not the slightest doubt but what Missouri will, before long, manufacture
her own railroad iron, and it is already understood that preparations are being made, and
rolling mills erected in St. Louis, to be udner the control of Gen. Fremont, for the
manufacture of railroad iron. Already many of the leading States have with success
manufactured their own railroad iron, and Missouri will soon save her millions of dollars
by following their example.
Pilot Knob, and also Shepherd Mountain, we have every reason to believe, is of
igneous origin, and at some distant period beyond human calculation, in some paroxysm
of nature, there was a vast upheaval from the bottom of the [line of about ten words
illegible] rocks were thrown in the towering piles and unnatural position in which we
now find them. The mountains still furnish matter of study and inquiry to the votary of
science; and a thorough investigation of the respective ages of some of the igneous piled
together, would still further dispel the mystery which hangs over the past, and afford
another landmark to the searcher in the scientific world.
The localities which we have above described, was [sic] once the scene of a most
deadly conflict between contending armies. It is already a matter of history familiarly
known to thousands, as having been the most desperate and unequal combat fought at any
time during the late war. The writer of this sketch was an eye witness and participator in
the whole affair, and therefore writes from a personal knowledge of the facts and
incidents connected with the affair.
For many days and even weeks, rumors were rife throughout the whole country,
that Price, Marmaduke, Shelby and other rebel leaders, were certainly marching towards
Missouri with a large army, and estimated at 28,000 stong [sic] with the avowed intention
of invading and laying waste a large portion of the State. These rumors and reports were
little heeded by all, citizens as well as the military, as no definite information could be
obtained as to the exact whereabouts, or the probable point the State would be entered. In
the mean time however, in anticipation of trouble in Missouri, Maj.-Gen. Smith's 16th
Army Corps was moved up the Mississippi, and landed on the Missouri side below St.
Louis, and was afterwards thrown all along down the line of the Iron Mountain Railroad
as far as Mineral Point, which is twenty-six miles from Pilot Knob, and while all this was
being done, Price's army was slowly entering the State by the south-east. General Moury
was also close behind him with 15,000 federal troops, and at one time on the Spring
River, would have attacked Price's whole army, but for the positive orders of Maj.-Gen.
Steele, commanding in Arkansas to the contrary, and ordering a halt of his entire
command for nine days, which gave the rebel army all the time desired to move at its
leisure.
A small federal garrison occupied Patterson, which is thirty miles south of Pilot
Knob, and which was composed of parts of two companies of the 47th Missouri
Volunteers, under command of Lt. McMurtry. As rebels approached, some little
skirmishing ensued, when the detachments fell back to Pilot Knob. Price's whole force
moved from Patterson to Fredericktown, which is twenty miles east of Pilot Knob.
During all this time a dead calmness seemed to prevail over the whole country---nothing
could be seen moving save the brisk stir among the little bands of soldiers around the
fort--- no citizens, either men, women or children came in to bring any intelligence of the
enemy, and we were compelled to await the movement of our foe. In the mean time
however, a large force was detached from the main army and numbering nearly 8,000
men, under Shelby, left Fredericktown and moved off in the direction of Farmington, and
from there to Potosi in Washington county, 26 miles north west of Pilot Knob. At Potosi
they met a company of the 50th Mo. Vols., under Captain Cook (who was afterwards so
ungratefully treated by the bogus hero of Pilot Knob,) who took position in the court
house, and fought the enemy until overwhelmed and compelled to surrender. During all
this time a part of Smith's command lay at Mineral Point, four miles distant. What this
large force was doing that it did not march to the relief of the garrison at Pilot Knob, we
have up to this time failed to discover. It is said however that this force was kept back to
protect 75,000 St. Louis militia, who were securely quartered behind the immense
fortifications of that city.
On the morning of the 26th of September, the garrison at Pilot Knob, numbering
all told not over 1,000 effective men, began to realize their true situation and resigned
themselves to the chances of battle, and calmly awaited the approach of the enemy. Gen.
Ewing's force consisted of the following troops:
[one or two words illegible ,probably Six companies] of the 47th Mo. Vols.
Under Lt.-Col. A.W. Maupin.
Two companies 14th Ioaw Infantry, under Captain Campbell.
Three companies of the 3rd M.S.M. Cavalry, under Maj. James Wilson.
One company 50th Mo. Vol., Inft'y, under Capt. Rob't L. Lindsay.
One field battery of six guns, underCaptain Montgomery.
The siege guns were in charge of Lieut. David Murphy of the 47th Missouri
Volunteers, who some say was the real hero of Pilot Knob.
Early Monday morning the rebels commenced to advance their skirmish lines
from the direction of the Shut-In on the road leading to Fredericktown, and slight firing
was heard all day long until late in the afternoon, when the enemy advanced in
considerable force and drove our skirmish lines into Ironton, where a running fight
ensued for some time, when the enemy were in turn driven back with some loss. Lt.
Tetley, with a detachment of the 47th Mo., Vol., took position in the court house and held
it for some time, when all the skirmish lines were drawn in, with the exception of a small
detachment of cavalry, posted on the road leading to Fredericktown, and along down
Stout's Creek, which remained until morning (Sept. 27th) when it was hastily driven in by
the advancing enemy. Every movement indicated that the enemy intended to make a
general attack, and if found necessary, to take the fort by storm. But in the mean time
while all these preparations were going on, other scenes were being enacted; robbery,
pilliaging [sic], plundering indiscriminately --- houses broken open, property destroyed,
families were not even spared a sustenance, and were compelled to live here and there as
best they could. By 9 o'clock the enemy had planted a battery in the hollow between
Pilot Knob and Shepherd Mountain, and had already commenced a brisk artillery fire on
the fort, while their lines of infantry were being extended to the right, up the steep sides
of Pilot Knob, and over as far north as the furnaces. On Shepherd Mountain they had
also advanced a portion of their infantry with a battery, from which place they
commenced a heavy fire on the fort, but their guns could not hold any position they
would take, as the fire from our heavy siege guns was too much for them, and would
invariably compel a change of position. The little garrison in the fort were not idle, for
already the rebel lines could now be plainly seen advancing, while fighting was going on
in every direction. South of the fort a short distance, and over against Pilot Knob, was
Major Wilson with his tried little band, fighting as they slowly fell back towards the fort,
but was finally overwhelmed by numbers, when an almost hand to hand fight ensued, in
which Maj. Wilson and six of his brave followers were taken prisoners only to be brutally
murdered. The detachments of the 14th Iowa were sent out to the west of the fort and
under the brow of the mountain to feel for the enemy, and soon the sharp rattle of
musketry told the story. They too were compelled to fall back to the fort for safety.
"Fort Davidson" --- named after a man for whom the people of South-East Missouri have
very little respect--- is apparently a large pile or mound of earth; but, upon closer
observation, it is found to cover a space of about one hundred and fifty yards long, by
seventy-five wide; embankments ten feet high with a ditch all around the outside, twelve
feet deep and 1 feet wide, with long rifle-pits extending north and south. A regiment of
rebel (Freeman's) cavalry could also be seen filing its way down Shepherd Mountain,
away to the west; and charging across an opening of old fields, circling round and
attempting to pass between Cedar Hill on the north, and the rifle-pits leading north from
the fort almost to Cedar Hill; but they had no sooner made this attempt than they were
attacked by the men from the rifle-pits--- parts of Company G, 47th Missouri, and
Company F, 50th Missouri, under Capt. Mace and the writer of this sketch. The enemy's
column was soon broken, while several were killed and wounded. By two o'clock in the
afternoon the engagement had become general: many had already been killed and
wounded, and the dead bodies of men and horses could be seen in every direction. A
heavy column of infantry --- 10,000 strong --- had been formed on the side of Pilot Knob,
and, led by Fagan, Marmaduke, and Cabell, came down the sides of the mountain like a
torrent. On they came, towards the little fort, confident of sweeping every thing before
them, and the fighting for some time was terrific; on they came, even to within a few
yards of the walls of the fort; but the fire of that noble little band was too much for them;
they could not stand so galling a fire, and they began to waver--- their lines became
broken, and soon they began to retreat in utter confusion and disorder. Their officers
could be heard very distinctly, at times, trying to rally their men, but to no purpose; it was
a complete repulse, with a loss of over 1,000 men in that single charge. Nor could they
be induced to attempt it again that day, as the men positively refused to make a second
attack.
Within the fort was a sad sight, never to be forgotten by those who were there---
the dead, the dying, the wounded, the living all piled up here and there, with the
fragments of destruction in every direction. It was the most mournful sight I ever
witnessed. Gen. Ewing saw that it would be useless to attempt to withstand another
attack, so he decided to evacuate the place, as the rebels withdrew out of range of our
guns, and began immediately to prepare ladders to scale the walls of the fort, and I am
confident they would have succeeded, under the circumstances, as our force was
completely worn out with two days' hard fighting and working on the entrenchments all
night.
At two o'clock Wednesday morning the command began to move out. It was hard
for those to do whose homes and all were in possession of the enemy, to be compelled to
retreat and leave everything in the hands of the enemy, was humiliating in the extreme.
There were, also, within the fort, nearly all the Union citizens of the Valley, who stood up
and fought with a desperation equal to veterans; and many of them followed the little
army on its retreat, and shared the hardships common to a soldier's life. When the
command marched out of the fort, and started on the road leading to Caledonia, the
encampment of the enemy could be seen distinctly on either side of the road, and
apparently not over three hundred yards distant. We moved as quietly as possible, and
yet made considerable noise on the rocky road over which we had to pass. Shortly after
we left the fort, a terrific explosion was heard, which shook the earth, and was distinctly
heard for 30 miles around; it was the magazine of the fort blown up, which threw
immense timber for nearly a half mile.--- The dirt was thrown in every direction and fell
like a torrent of rain in the vicinity of the fort. Shells were thrown in every direction, and
from their bursting, one would suppose that an engagement was actually going on. But to
return to the retreating column, which was moving towards Caledonia, and intending to
there take the road leading to Potosi, supposing that General Smith was still at Mineral
Point with his large force. On reaching Caledonia, we met the advance of Shelby, who
had been ordered down with his guerrillas, under Reeves and others, to murder the
garrison if captured. A sharp little fight ensued, when the enemy retreated back to their
main body, which was forming in line of battle, with the intention of attacking Gen.
Ewing's command, but while they were forming their lines, we turned off on the road
leading to Rolla, and by this means gained three hours the [sic] start. We hurried on to
Webster, where we rested a short time, and then started, traveling through the darkness of
the night which was pitchy black. It was the darkest night I ever knew--- you positively
could not see anything, and the column moved slowly on, and kept together by one
holding to the other, and this traveling in the dark is what saved us. It gave us a start, and
instead of following the direct route to Rolla by taking a road which leads over the ridge
between the waters of the Courtois and the Huzzah, which road leads down into a
mountain gorge, through which the Huzzah flows, got on a line of retreat which saved the
command from utter destruction. We reached this mountain ridge, where it was
impossible to be flanked. We had not advanced far on this ridge when the enemy came
yelling on our track; for a time it seemed that all was lost, for the men, worn out and
fatigued, had become reckless, and for a while the whole army seemed on the stampede;
but order was soon restored and lines formed to receive the enemy, who did not seem
disposed to make any considerable attack. The command was soon in order of column
again, and when near Leesburg, on the S.W.B. Pacific Railroad, the enemy came upon us
again, and here a fight in earnest took place, and in which the enemy were driven back
with loss. We reached Leesburg late in the evening, and began at once to fortify
ourselves as best we could, by piling up cord wood and railroad ties on each side of the
track. We had not been there long, however, when we were again attacked, and with the
same success to the enemy--- beaten back. We remained here two days, with more or
less fighting all the time, when the 17th Ill. Cavalry came out from Rolla to our assistance.
Their timely arrival was greeted with joy by all of the wearied and worn out command of
General Ewing, and while the 17th Cavalry was engaging the attention of the enemy, it
gave the infantry time to get a sufficient start on the road to Rolla, to enable us to reach
that place without further trouble.
There were in that struggle, however, aside from the more stirring incidents of the
fight and pursuit, some very peculiar features. There were gathered within the fort the
new companies that had just been formed, of Col. Maupin's regiment, and others which
had been raised down on the borders of Arkansas--- men who had sternly withstood the
ravages and fierce assaults of civil war, but at last, almost in despair, abandoning their
families and their homes, had joined the service for the purpose of aiding in finishing the
fight. They were the men who had made the borders fearful to the murdering guerrillas;
they were the men who, in many a bloody fray, for the last three years, had watered the
bridle-paths of that region with the blood of the murdered guerrillas.
As I stated above, the command arrived at Rolla; and do not, therefore, propose to
follow it any further in connection with this article. Our loss in killed, wounded, and
missing did not exceed 89. The enemy's loss was heavy, and will not fall short of 1,500
killed and wounded. The enemy held possession of Pilot Knob and the battle-field for
two weeks, and did not, even within that time, bury all their dead, and many can be found
even now, on the sides of the mountain, unburied--- their bones bleaching in the sun to
tell a sad tale of folly.
Ironton, MO. Oct., 17, 1865.
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The Forge, Ironton, MO. December 21, 1865 Page 2 Column 1.
The Price Raid.
Gen. Grant has issued his official report upon the conduct of the war, in 1864.
The General expresses himself freely and fully. Hear what he says about the Price Raid:
"The impunity with which Price was enabled to roam over the State of
Missouri for a long time, and the incalculable mischief done by him, shows
to how little purpose a superior force may be used. There is no reason why
Gen. Rosecrans should not have concentrated his forces and beaten and driven
Price before the latter reached Pilot Knob."
There was no good reason why Gen. Rosecrans did not meet Price on the border,
and defeat and drive him back against Gen. Mower, who was in his rear with a sufficient
force to take him in. But, in our opinion, there was a bad reason why he did not.
Rosecrans had a superior force to Price. He had all the forces, all the means, and all the
time necessary to move forward and meet him. But he held Gen. Smith back, and refused
to allow him even to come to Pilot Knob and re-inforce Gen. Ewing, who was there with
about one thousand effective men. Rosecrans had promised to do it; he had promised
Major Wilson all the men needful in from three to five hours notice, and citizens who had
much to lose relied upon this assurance, only to lose their all. The fact is, General
Rosecrans never intended to try to keep Price out of the State. Every move that he made
was favorable to Price's scheme; just as much so as if there had been a mutual agreement.
It is generally believed through the country that Rosecrans had, by some sort of
arrangement, yielded his command to the Catholic Bishop of St. Louis, and account for
the failure for that reason. Certainly, he nightly and daily caroused and drank deep with
that class of men known as leaning toward the success of the rebels. All this time Gen.
Ewing, with a handful of men was fighting Price's whole command, in one of the most
terrible struggles that occurred during the late war. A reinforcement of three regiments
on the night after the desperate attempt by Price to take the fort, would have sent the
whole force back, topsy-turvy to dixie. The whole proceeding, so far as Rosecrans was
concerned, seemed to be a voluntary surrender of himself into the hands of those who
were friendly to and well-wishers of Price and his gang of robbers and plunders. We are
glad that Gen. Grant has put Rosecrans in his proper light before the world.
________________________________________________________________________
The Forge Ironton, Mo. January 25, 1866 Page 2 Column 3.
Suits Against Rebels.
Certain parties of Iron county, who lost heavily in property by the rebels at the
time of the Price raid upon Pilot Knob have commenced suit against Sterling Price and
company to recover damages. We give below a copy of the Petition in suit, as filed in the
office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Iron county.--- [See Order of Publication, for
Plaintiffs and Defendants:]
"In the Iron County Circuit Court, May Term, 1866.
Plaintiffs, partners doing business under the name and style of Peck, Trow & Co., at
Ironton, Iron County, Missouri, states, that on the 27th day of September, 1864, they were
the owners of certain property,--- Goods, Wares, Merchandize and Chattels, a bill of
items and particulars of which is herewith filed duly verified by affidavit; and that while
said plaintiffs were the owners and in the possession of said property, the defendants, on
the said 27th day of September, 1864, and during several days following, wrongfully,
willfully, maliciously, forcibly and wickedly seized and carried away and converted to
their own use the property aforesaid, which was of the value of Sixteen Thousand One
Hundred and Twenty-four Dollars and three cents, ($16,124.03) as set forth in said bill of
items.
Plaintiffs further state, that during the early part of the year 1861, an unlawful
conspiracy was formed for the purpose of overthrowing the Government of the United
States; that defendants with a large number of persons, citizens of Missouri and other
States, joined in said conspiracy and encouraged the same; that in the prosecution of the
object of said conspiracy, large numbers of persons were wrongfully and illegally killed,
and large amounts of property were wrongfully taken and appropriated to the use of said
conspirators, and in aid of the unlawful objects of said conspiracy; that said conspirators,
and in aid of the unlawful objects of said conspiracy; that said conspirators, wrongfully,
unlawfully, maliciously and wickedly intending to ijure plaintiffs by force and arms, on
or about the 27th day of September, 1864, seized, took and carried away, a large stock of
Goods, Ware and Merchandize, to the value of Sixteen Thousand One Hundred and
Twenty-four Dollars and three cents, ($16,124.03) property of said plaintiffs and in
plaintiffs lawful custody and possession, and appropriated the same to the use of said
conspirators, and in aid of the general purposes of said conspiracy.
Plaintiffs state that inasmuch as said property was taken and converted willfully,
maliciously and wrongfully, they are entitled to exemplary damages, and they claim
damages in the sum of One Hundred Thousand Dollars, ($100,000) for which they ask
judgment. JAMES LINDSAY
The above named plaintiff James Lindsay, makes oath and says he believes the
above petition and the matters therein stated to be true, and that part of said defendants
are at this time, non-residents of the State. JAMES LINDSAY
Subscribed and sworn to before me, this 23rd day of January, 1866.
JOSEPH HUFF, Clerk."
We have taken some little pains to look into the merits of these suits, and we are
satisfied they will hold good.--- The law is plain and emphatic.
________________________________________________________________________
"Big-Bug."
We learn from the Columbia Statesman that the "early bird" and "big-bug" among
rebels, John B. Clark, has returned, and is now in Howard county, with a pardon in his
pocket.--- We suppose he has a new pair of spectacles by this time. His gold ones were
picked up near one of the stores at Ironton, just after it had been sacked by Sterling Price
and his gang. Of course, where the spectacles were found the owner or wearer had
recently been.
________________________________________________________________________
The Forge Ironton, Mo. February 8, 1866 Page 2 Column 2.
"Jim Lindsay"
The "Perryville Union" hasan article with this caption. Some how or other certain
disloyal people have got it into their heads that "Jim Lindsay" is rich--- worth at least
"$30,000," and wants to know about it. We can give them the information they desire.
In 1863, about the month of August, "Jim Linsday" commenced merchandizing at
Ironton, in connection with others, and borrowed from the School Fund of Iron county,
$3,000 to invest as his part of the stock, for which he mortgaged his real estate, all of
which appears upon the records of the county. He and his partners went on very
successfully in trade, until the 27th day of September, 1864, when Sterling Price, and
those associated with him, and those joining him for the occasion, visited Ironton, to the
number of probably "30,000," and took and carried away all their goods and every other
piece of moveable property he possessed. We happened in the Court House Monday, and
witnesses "Jim Lindsay" pay to County Attorney Vail $650, interest accrued on the debt,
and obtained an extension of time from the Court to meet the principal, $3,000. Inquiries
are therefore answered. By reference to our columns it will be seen that "Jim Lindsay"
has commenced suit against Price and his co-operators to recover damages, and he will
do it.
By way of opening the eyes of those who in any manner encouraged the rebellion,
either by word, act, or deed, or even by sympathy, we quote you the law in part, applying
to the matter, and both the chaps who have no more honor than to make insinuations, are
liable under the law, and damages could be recovered of them in the same manner. By
their own mouths they could be convicted as accessory to the conspiracy.
3d Vol. of Chitty on Criminal Law, 1832, 2d and last London Edition, page 1143:
"Where several persons are proved to have combined together for the same illegal
purpose, any act done by any one of the party, in pursuance of the original concerted
plan, and with reference to the common object, is, in the contemplation of the Law, the
act of the whole party; and therefore, proof of such act would be evidence against any of
the others who were engaged in the same conspiracy; and further, declarations made by
one of the party at the time of doing such illegal act, seems not only to be evidence
against himself as tending to determine the criminality of the act, but to be evidence also
against the rest of the party, who are as much responsible as if they had themselves done
the act."
Bishop 2d, on Criminal Law, pages 165 and 164, says:
"There is no need that the defendant in conspiracy should have been an original
contriver of the mischief, for he may become a partaker in it by joining the others while it
is being executed. If he actually concurs, no proof is requisite of an agreement to concur,
and this joint assent of minds may be established by an influence of the Jury from other
facts proved."
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The Forge Ironton, Mo. February 22, 1866 Page 1 Column 3.
[Transcriber's Note: Price had just returned to the Trans-Mississippi in April and had
been given a small command, which did not include Marmaduke's. General Holmes's
directive to Marmaduke prior to the raid was simply to go to Missouri and relieve the
good people of Arkansas from the need of supplying your troops. Fictitious writings
such as this were written as newspapers reports to merely keep the flames of anti-
Southern feelings ablaze To me, it is an antecedent of yellow journalism.]
Marmaduke's Raid in 1863.
The following are extracts from instructions from Sterling Price to Marmaduke,
previous to his visit to Southeast Missouri in April 1863, and were captured from the
latter General at Little Rock. A Little Rock paper says:
"After directing him to move as rapidly as possible on Patterson, to capture Col.
Smart's command, which is encamped there carelessly enough, from all accounts, he
directs him to send his infantry and heavy guns directly on Cape Girardeau, by way of
Bloomfield, to take the cavalry with the two light guns, and advance on Fredericktown,
without loss of time, where there are no troops at present. Having reached that point, or
sooner if thought safe, dispatch a dozen or twenty trusty men to destroy one or more of
the railroad bridges. The people of Fredericktown are all friend - to us, and will give you
any information or assistance you may need. If the post and stores at Pilot Knob are not
better guarded than our spies represent, advance boldly on the place and destroy
everything destructible of a public nature. Should they be better guarded as is most
likely, you will send small parties over the country to collect horses and recruits. Should
you have sufficient time while there, you will dispatch a regiment to Perry county for the
same purposes. One company or two at most may be sent to Perryville. If possible send
in a spy the day before, that we may make sure of a few of the most obnoxious, but
otherwise treat the town tenderly, for most of the leading men there are heart and soul
with us, seize a few wagons, load them with corn and provisions, and at all hazards be at
Cape Girardeau in time to co-operate with Burbridge. Should the attack on the Cape
succeed, as seems almost certain, hold it to the last moment as a diversion in favor of
Johnson and Pemberton. I shall do my utmost to sustain you, but you will have to depend
mainly on foraging, and our friends in Perry county, as the only chance, must stand a
share that I fear will not be very agreeable. Send well organized foraging parties in
command of discreet, prudent officers, and let our friends see that they are justly though
hardly dealt by.
The Germans in the lower part of the county are represented to be well off, and,
excepting the Saxions [sic] about Altenberg, are not friendly to us. The Carolinians and
their descendants are all with the South, so also many of the Kentuckians. Be cautious
that none are alienated. Exercise due care for the E.M.M. [Enrolled Missouri Militia],
though as many friends as we have throughout the county, and the rottenness of the thing
itself, there need be little danger."