Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1885-11-21
AN INCIDENT OF THE CIVIL WAR.

EDITOR INTELLIGENCER: R:-Prominent
among the various kinds of sublime
emotions that stir the human mind, is
that of moral sublimity, and of its diff
ferent sources the strongest is noble self
sacrifice in behalf of others.
This is strongest because rarest :.
Selfishness is SO deeply seated in human
nature, is so universal, that the sight or
recital of self-denial always stirs in the
mind exalted emotions; but vicarious
suffering gives to us the climax of these
emotions.
The cognizance of wrongs endured,
the eloquence OF pen and tongue, and
the moral force of public opinion, call
ing to their aid the auxiliaries OF martial
music and military parade, with the
beacon lights of victory cleaning in
the distance, to say nothing of the vast
array of possibilities that fire the
awakened imagination, have power
to create armies, and send them in re-
sist!ess tide against opposing giants of
strength, but the history of mankind
affords but few instances of voluntary
individual sacrifice. Here and there
they shine along the luminous track of
the ages as stars of the first magni-
tude.
In our own time know of no instance
more striking than one which occurred
during the great civil war, and i'll our
own state. This event stirred the opin-
ions of men at home, swelled into a
bitter correspondence between what
were at that time two comtendiug
heads of governments, and sent its
pulsing waves across the Atlantic until
it stirred the British press.
In the northeast part Of the state OF
Missouri, in the midst of the fertile
blue grass country that stretches away
to the west of the Mississippi, nestled
amid flame-colored naples and grea,
generous armed plumy elms, lies to-day
the fair little city of Palmyra. 81
quiet, and the broad streets, and i,c
large mansion like residences, gives o.,
such an impression OF restiulness, tina,
The traveller who may have been drop
ped from the midnight train into one o
her comfortable hotels, when he step:
abroad in the morning light, eau scare,
realize that he is within hours ride OF
the great metropolitan city, that dranl
of the Mississippi, under the direction
of French traders, long before tn,
railroads had threaded our land viii
their silver cords, and drawn its sur
plus wealth into her lap. But quiet a
Palmyra is to-day she has had her up.
heavals and her times of unrest.
Our incident is connected with tn,
campaign against Col. Joe Porter in '62
About this time number of Missouri
men received from the confederate
army, authority to come into Missouri
on recruiting service. Maj. Uptol
Hays and John Il. Coffey became
colonies under this authority. AT tn
same time came Col. Yard Cockrell
Hughes (whO was killed at Independ
ence), Thompson, Boyd, Shelby, Poin
dexter and Porter. The latter was ;
resident of Lewis county, or had beer
until 1861, when he went into the con
federate service as iieutenant-coloEel il
Martin f. Green's regiment OF Missouri
state guards. At Shelbina, Lexington
Pea Ridge and elsewhere he had siIowl
himself brave, skilltul and possessed o
the indomitable spirit and persever
ance, that aflerward bore him s,
proudly through the campaign o
northeast Missouri.
, Just when Porter made his appear
ance again in this part of the state, Cal
not now be ascertained, but OH the l7ti
of June, 1862, with but forty-thre
mounted men, he began TO strike tcrro
into the hearts of the enemy by arrest
ing federal soldiers and taking thei
arms and horses. After administerin!
to them an oath not TO take up arm
against the confederacy until duly ex
changed, he released them. From III
5 to lip the news of his coming precede,
him, as he made cirouitous mare
! through Marion, Knox, Shelby, Boone
: Galloway and Lewis counties, and me
f tiocked eagerly to his standard. Super
ior numbers of the enemy at Hannibal
LaGrange, Canton and Palmyra, tren
a bled for their safety. They were indie
nant at his audacity, and amazed at hi
a celebrity. The very winds seemed t
l aid him in his marches. The unio
+ soldiers averred that he could fight