Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1897-06-10
fell back to the command just coming

fell back to the command just coming
out of town. Anderson's pickets also
returned to their command.
"Johnson and his men then turned
due south, going through Yates pas
ture until they reached the west side
of the FuIlenwider farm, forming
line of battle on a ridge about one
half mile west of Anderson's camp.
The men dlsmounted in the open
prairie in plain view of Anderson and
his men. About every fifth man was
left few PAGES back of the line to
hold the horses.
"Anderson formed his eighty men in
line, who, taking a revolver in each
hand, made bold charge on John
sons forces. Part of Johnson's men
fred as Anderson's men dashed down
upon them, while others threw up
their hands and began pleading for
mercy. Others ran for their lives.
Anderson's men dashed right through
the lines, killing about eighty of John
sons men in the first charge while in
line. Others were killed at different
points from there to Centralia, and
some even west of the creek just east
of Sturgeon. Out of the one hundred
and sixty men who marched out to
fight Anderson, only seventeen made
their escape unhurt. Johnson was
killed by the side of his large gray
horse, just in the rear of his line Of
men. A large number of horses were
also killed. Only one prisoner was
taken. He was wounded and was
running southwest when two of An
derson's men rode upon him. The story
goes that he gave Masonic sign and
his life was spared. 1t Is certain,
however, that he was taken up behind
one of Anderson's men who took him
to a ne1ghboring house and gave in
structions to care for him. He finally
got well. Every man that was killed
was shot in the head, either before or
after they had been shot down.
''Three of Anderson's men were
killed, each of them having been shot
by their own comrades in cross firing.
All of them were young men less than
twenty years of age. Each of them
was shot in the face, and had the balls
been shot into one face they would
not have been two inches apart. Two
of these bodies were left by Ander-
sons command in an old house on
Col. Singleton's farm, and the other
was left lying on Fullenwider's front
porch, with instructions to give it
Christian burial. All three bodies
were buried at a church near by on
the following day.
"Anderson broke camp and left with
his men and recruits on the night
after the battle. They went in the
direction of Columbia, but before
reaching that place they turned west,
and crossed the river at Glasgow. A
short time after this Anderson was
shot and killed.
"The day after the battle soldiers
appeared at Centralia and forced the
citizens to bring in the dead of john
sons command. They were hauled to
town and buried in long trench, just
east of the town by the side of the
Wabash railroad track.
"One man was left on the field fol
dead, who was found to be alive when
the bodies were being removed. He
had been shot in the forehead, and the
bullet had gone around under the
scalp. He was badly stunned and lay
on the field all night with the dead
After taking him up he soon revived.
and finally got well.
"About one week after the battle 6
man who was herding mules on ths
prairie came to our house and in.
formed US that he had found a dead
man. Thos. Turner and 1 went out
and finding the body o.be that of I
Union soldier, we buried it right ol
the spot. He had been shot through
the head. We stuck his bayonet a
his head and placed his cartridge boz
at his feet. Doubtless the poor man
bones are there to-day, or at leas
whatever may be left of them"