The Missouri in the Civil War Message Board

Battle of Athens, Missouri

Battle of Athens

N. T. Roberts, of this city [Lancaster, Missouri], was a private on the left wing of Col. Martin Green’s Confederate army at Athens, and he tells the story of the battle as follows:

“The day the fight occurred was election day in Missouri. We belonged to what was called the “Missouri State Guards.” Our regiment was raised almost entirely in the First congressional district. By previous arrangement we met near Edina, in Knox County, where we went under the command of Col. Green. There were about 500 Federals near Edina, who evacuated without any resistance and went to Macon City. We ran the Confederate flag up on the courthouse and began to think we were able to settle the war ourselves. Our boys were about 1700 strong at that time, but there was no attempt at discipline, and they came and went pretty much as they pleased. They were armed with single and double-barreled shotguns, corn knives, powder pistols, pitchforks, and anything that could be used in a scrimmage. We must have looked something like the mob that stormed the Bastille, only we weren’t nearly as dangerous.

While we were in Edina we learned that Col. David Moore, in command of a good sized Federal force, was at Athens. Our boys were keen for fight, and they vociferously demanded to be led against the enemy. So we started out on the march, and when the center and right wings charged into the town we supposed our banner would soon be floating from the church spire. I was on the left wing, which was under command of Capts. Buford and Shacklett. We were held in reserve, and were to re-enforce the center and right in case we were needed. We could hear the firing, which seemed to grow hotter and hotter all the time, though we were not in it. By and by there was a great cheer from the town, and we heard that the Federals had been re-enforced by several companies from Keokuk. John and Will Moore, sons of the Federal commander, were fighting with the Confederates. When the re-enforcements arrived Col. Moore ordered them up to the support of the firing line, and yelled out: “Come on boys; let’s give’em hell!”

John Moore, who was fighting like a hero, and had his face covered with dust and his hands begrimed with powder, when he heard his father’s vigorous command, turned to the rest and said: “The jig’s up fellows; the old man’s mad, and there is no use bucking against him any longer. I know him! You all can do as you want to, but I’m goin’ away!”

And he did. The worst of it was, the balance of the Confederates did the same thing. The retreat became a rout in short order. The left wing saw how the center and right were behaving and it prepared to follow the example. Lieut. Tom Russell, of our company – as brave a man as ever drew a sword – saw us wavering, and cried out: “For God’s sake, boys, you are not going to run without firing your guns are you? Let’s give’em one for luck anyhow! Let them have it square in the face!”

But there were few kindred spirits there, and most of the raw soldiers turned about and skedaddled without waiting to empty their rifles. We had with us a couple of cannon and managed to save them, although the papers next day in giving an account of the battle said they were captured by Col. Moore’s forces. I know that was not right, because some of our men returned a few days afterward along the route taken by the panic stricken soldiers and found the cannon where they had been hidden among some hazel bushes.
About 700 Confederates went into the fight, a large number having dropped out of the command when we started for Athens, owing to their inability to get guns. The Federals were better equipped and better disciplined. Our boys were holding their own pretty well, but when they heard of the re-enforcements coming to the support of the enemy they were overcome with stage fright, and nothing could stop them. One poor fellow didn’t stop running until he reached Lancaster. Yes, I ran like the rest of them, but I didn’t go that far – at the time I didn’t know where Lancaster was. It was my first and only battle, and, as Bob Burdette says, I guess I killed as many Federals as they did of me.”

Unidentified newspaper clipping, James O. Broadhead Collection, Western Historical Manuscript Collection, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri.