Bates County has more than St. Clair County, but I will give you what I have been using for my writing pertinent to both.

Let's start with Bates County:

The Bushwhacker Museum in Nevada has books for sale at rather reasonable prices mostly about Vernon County and Patrick Brophy's books available there have merit both for Vernon County and the region. Study the list of books for sale they have and ask questions either of the Museum or in this forum, if you wish. This would be even better if your Bates County ancestors lived close to the Osage River in south Bates County.

Two old books Bates County book s NOT available for sale, but you can view via Interlibrary Loan from your own library are:

--National Historical Company, "The History of Cass and Bates County, Missouri, St. Joseph, MO: National Historical Company, 1883.

--S. L. Tathwell, "The Old Settlers History of Bates County, Missouri," Amsterdam, MO: publisher not identified, 1897.
There is a strong chance that libraries will not allow these old beauties to be sent on Interlibrary Loan, so you may request a photocopy of just the Civil War chapter for the National Historical Company book, but I cannot narrow down a range of page numbers for Tathwell, as his Civil War stuff is mixed throughout. His take is more on the Union side, if that doesn't bother you. After all, you didn't say which side your Weddle and Lewellen favored, but it is good reading, nevertheless.

Also a few decades back, Bates County issued a pamphlet with a lot of material about the Civil War there, but it is long out of print. What I know about it is this:

--"Civil War Years in Bates County," for 3rd Butler Re-enactment, printed by unknown in Butler, Bates County, year about 1960s, 17 pages, but I cannot identify the author, publisher, or year of publication. You may wish to contact:

--Bates County Historical Society, Museum of Pioneer History, 100 West Fort Scott, Butler, MO 64730
and see if they have a copy lying around that they would please, please photocopy for you for expenses and postage since you descend from Bates County pioneers. Emphasize that last part.

If the historical society is still around, they may assist you with lots of other things, too, so they could be a wonderful contact for you. If that historical society is defunct, ask the Bushwhacker Museum in Nevada about either a Bates County historical of genealogical society you may contact, or even ask the Museum is they happen to have a copy of that old 17 page "Civil War Years in Bates County" pamphlet lying around.

Now for St. Clair County, which will be harder.

On the topic of historical and genealogical societies that cover St. Clair County ancestors, I find none listed, but ask the other societies you find nearby and the Bushwhacker Museum if St. Clair County may have one of those you could contact.

Two old out-of-print books you will want to see include:

--Kathleen White Miles, "Bitter Ground. The Civil War in Missouri's Golden Valley (Benton, Henry, and St. Clair Counties)" Clinton, MO: The Printery (out of business years ago), 1971.

--National Historical Publishing Company, "History of Henry and St. Clair Counties, Missouri," St. Joseph: National Historical Publishing Company, 1883

Richard, there is an online site where you can read these county histories from your computer, but I seem to have lost that link. I hope another reader sees this and comes to my rescue to offer that link to you.

Bruce Nichols