I had a great-great grandfather in this unit, and am trying to learn what I can about the history of the MSM in Missouri, and the 12th, and new 5th in particular. Missouri's Digital Archives have been a huge help in this.

Ran across a document in the archives that sheds some light on the war in SE Mo, and the end of some of the men of the 12th. Don't think I've seen this anywhere else. It looks like over about four weeks, they lost 16 men, but I don't think they were involved in any 'fights'. I wonder if these were guerrilla actions, possibly at home, while men were on furlough.

This comes from the Provost Marshal's papers, and the note is titled in the papers as 'Petition of Southeast Missouri 89 citizens driven from their homes by rebels; description of altercation'. It is dated 15 March, 1862. Reel 1584, Frame 0086, File number 843. While the petition states that it is from citizens, a number of the men on this list were from the 12th MSM, Co. C. And quite of few of them died within weeks of this date. Don't know if the date is when it was written, or when it was received.

The document is at http://www.sos.mo.gov/images/Archives/Provost/f01584.pdf

March 15, 1862
Major General Hallec (sic) commanding
the western division of Missouri.

We the undersigned citizens of
South East Missouri haveing (sic)
been driven from our homes by
the rebels and our families
exposed to their maltreatment
and property to their ravages
which has been carried to an
alarming extent.

Some murdered in their houses
M (e?) Anderson through whose
(politeness ??) we present you with
this petition had his house
surrounded himself and family
assassinated by night, his two
eldest sons shot one killed and
the other mortally wounded, and
he himself slightly wounded,
being shot at several times.

Many of our best citizens have
been put to death, some shot
and others hung.
Several refugees who have just
arrived tell us that it was put

(page 3)
to their choice to join them
suffer death or leave.
There is scarcely a union
man in the field of their
operation left with a horse
to till his ground.
Of all the effects of those that
they have driven from their
homes or put to death is
carried into their camp and
divided as common property.
We therefore importunately (?)
solicit of you in your ju-
dicial capacity to put
forth immediate effort
for the releaf (sic) of our distressed
and bereafed (sic) country and
We your petitioners will
ever pray.
(names follow)

Of the men on the document, the following is known:

William Anderson, died 5 April, 1862 2nd name, p. 5
Lawson M. Bess, captured 15 Mar, 1862 (date of note above) 8th name, p. 5
Peter Bess, deserted 1 Mar, 1862 4th name, LH column, p. 4
William H Black, died 14 Feb 1862
Elijah Coffman, died 1 Mar 1862
William W. Coleman, died 15 Feb 1862
Isaac Hicks, died 24 Mar 1862 18th name, LH column, p. 4
Eldridge Hill, died 23 Mar 1862 10th name, p. 5 (spelled Elijah)
Jeremiah Knee, died 15 Feb 1862
Sam H. Majors, died 19 Mar 1862 2nd name, RH column, p. 4 (spelled Magers)
James McClanahan, died 10 Feb 1862
John G. McMillan, died 19 Mar 1862 2nd name, LH column
Ephraim Miller, died 5 Feb 1862
Reuben Own, died 8 Mar 1862
Andrew Proffer, deserted 4 Mar 1862 9th name, RH column (spelled Prowfer)
Parltan Risley, died 22 Mar 1862 16th name, RH column (spelled Tarlton)
Zacharia Risley, died 10 Feb 1862
Joel Ritter, died 13 May 1862
John Steward, died 28 Feb 1862

Some of these men, including my great-grandfather, Lawson Monroe Bess, were on leave at least part of that time, having mustered in during February. My g-g-grandfather was captured, while everyone else on the list was killed, except for 2 who deserted. The reason I list them is that 1 is Lawson's brother, and the other is his cousin.

Family lore was that Lawson chose to fight for the North, Peter for the South, that Lawson was captured and sent to Andersonville, and that Peter fed him through the fence.. Documents in the Digital Archives show a slightly different story.

Peter enlisted 12 MSM on 21 Jan 1862
Lawson enlisted 12th MSM on 12 Feb 1862
Lawson received furlough 26 Feb (mustered in 28th)
Peter deserted on 1 March
Lawson captured on 15 March (while furloughed)
Peter enlisted Co. A. 1st Bn. Mo. Inf (CSA) 6 April
Andrew Proffer (cousin) enlists Co. A. 1st Bn. Mo. Inf (CSA) 7 April
Lawson enlists Co. A. 1st Bn. Mo. Inf (CSA) 11 April

Peter enlists as Corporal of 79th EMM (Union) 10 August
Lawson deserts CSA at Iuka, 19 Sep
Andrew Proffer deserts CSA at Iuka, 19 Sep

Lawson transferred to 5th MSM (New, says old by error) 2 Feb 1863
Lawson mustered out 4 Mar 1865

Probably boring to most, but to me, it's an interesting story.

You've got two brothers, who enlist to fight for the north. One of them gets captured. The other then enlists to fight for the south. Then his cousin enlists to fight for the south. Then he 'decides' to fight for the south. Then, when they get to Iuka, he and his cousin desert. Except that at Iuka, he also has two other cousins, John and Martin Wilfong, who are in the CSA cavalry, 2nd Reg. They happen to show up at Iuka also. They desert on the 18th of September.

To me, that's a cooler family story, anyway. Apparently, it wasn't always brother against brother.

I apologize if this is boring. On the other hand, if anyone has contributions to what went on here (this is the New Madrid area of Missouri), please chime in.

Thanks,
Ron