The Howard union. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1865-1866, 1865-06-29
For the Howard Union.
The Capture of the City of Glasgow by
"Pap Prices" Army during his Raid,
last fall. History of some facts not
heretofore published,

4 dp GllCO . hIluy uuIluB ulb MANU.
last fall. History of some facts not
heretofore published,
For several days previous to the 18th
of October last, Prices army then being in
occupation Of Boonville, this and neigh
boring counties were filed with gangs of
rebels and bushwhackers, ''conscripting"
or recruiting for "old Pap" Our citizens
were cut oil from all communication with
other parts of tho State by stoppage Of the
mails and destruction Of the telegraph lines.
Glasgow being left with a small garrison of
troops of about twenty of the 18th Mo. Vet.
cavalry under command of Capt Mayo,
about twenty men of the Ray county militia
under Capt. Tiffin, about l6 men of oompa-
ny M, 9th NJ. S. NJ Cav, under Capt.
Hunter, and few men Of the l7lh I'll. Cav,
"a part of Gen. Fisk's body guard,) one
company of militia under Capt. John
Vonce, and about 60 men of Capt. Bing-
hams company of Saline county militia that
came 10 this side few days before the
fight. Capt. Mayo being left in command
Of the post with Instructions, to "hold the
post at all hazards" with the promise, also
that all the troops at different posts should
fall back on Glasgow, if required, or COM
PEELED to evacuate their own posts, which
for some cause they failed to do and left the
place to the few men left here by Gen.
Fisk, many of them sick and disabled, ex-
cept the Glasgow militia.
REIYYoRoEMENrs;
On Thursday, (two days before the
tight) our post was reinforced by about
400 men Of the 43rd Mo. Infantry under
Col. Chester Harding, with some of Gen
Fisk's staff on their way to Jefferson City.
They started from St Joseph ten days be
fore but from the low stage Of the river
did not get down in time to pass Boonville
until that place was in the hands Of Gen
Price. Many union refugees from the diff
ferent towns aboYe came down on the two
steamboats,, under Col. Harding; also O
large lot of military stores from Lexington.
Maj Curtis was sent back with one of the
boats TO Leavenworth for reinforcements
and cannon, but too late to reach that point
before the capture Of this place. All the
freight of the two boats, consisting of mill
tary stores was piled on the levee. The
43rd Infantry were encamped on the COM
mon in the eastern part of the town, the
l7th Illinois, 9Th NJ. S. NJ and the Saline
militia were encamped near Mr.. B. w.
Lewis above town, the rest of the troops
were encamped in town. in tho City Hall
and churches.
| FoRTlFIcATInEs, RIFLE PITS, nc.
About ten days before the battle two
small Notifications was erected on Herre-
ford's Hill by one of our citizens, large
enough to hold about 40 men, merely as q
defense against raid of bushwhackers. 1t
was good point for defense against q
small force. A day or two before the fight
Capt. Mayo ordered the two first fortifca-
lions to be connected by rifle pit, and ex-
tended around Herriford's House which
was finished the morning before the fight,
and which would make room for about two
hundred men without crowding them,
These works were all constructed and
proved to be very useful in defence of the
place, but were not in the right place for
the defence of the town against large
force, such as that of Gen. Clark, the as.
sailing general. Another line of works
would have been built on the hill back o.
the principal row Of houses, but the attack
was made the next morning and prevented
further operations in that line.
THE FIGHT,
About day-break on the morning of tn
10Th Of October the rebels under Joe Shelb,
opened on the town from the south side G
the river, Immediately west of town,
with three pieces Of cannon, Gone a rifle
gum with solid shot, grape and shell, with
out any notice to the citizens. The frs
, notice they hnd Of any confederate arm
forces being near was the booming of can
!. on the bursting Of shell and crashing c
timbers, which terrified the sleoping:inhah
itunts, causing many of them to make rath
er a hasiy toilet.
1t was the orders Of Gen. Fisk, that a
citizens capable Of bearing arms should b
formed into companies for defense of th
place. Therefore all the men and boys {
s. a proper age, were formed into two comps
MES, ssone under Capt. steinmetz, the Othe
under Capt Joseph WilhOit. Immediatel
after the commencement of the bombar(
ment from the south side of the river, II
~ citizens and soldiers were formed to pr
d. pare for an attack in the rear Of town.
or little after sunrise, long line OF rebe