Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1899-03-01
THE BATTLE OF THE BIG BLUE,
Col. Moonlight Disobeyed Orders and
Started the Fight Which
Saved Kansas,

ga Kansas Soldier" writes as fol-
lows, in the Galena Republican: 1t
was my good fortune during the war,
on account of my service in the army
to have reason to report to and meet
Tom Moonlight, and while much has
been said of his valuable service as
a fighter, L will give you a piece of
Gnwritten history to show the true
character of Colonel Moonlight. 1t
has never been in print and is not
mentioned in history, for the reason
the generals f?) who became the ben
eticiaries OF Colonel Moonlight's dar-
ing courage and his disobedience of
orders, never gave him credit for his
distinguished service in fighting the
battle of Big Blue, October, 1864. If
he had failed he would have been
court-martia led and dismissed from
the service. He won. he saved the de-
struction of General Curtis small
army, the sacking and burning of
Kansas City, and the devastation and
numbering of the citizens in the Dor
der counties of Kansas. General Cur
tbs and others who were at the rear
ten miles away got the credit and
were the beneficiaries of Tom Moon
lights success and victory.
General Prices army advanced on
Lexington. Mo-. on the morning of
October Goth, 1864, and attacked Cen
eral Hunts forces at the old fair
grounds. The federal troops were
forced to retreat. and Colonel Moon
nights Eleventh Kansas. and Colonel
Ford's Second Colorado. covered the
retreat, until about 9 o'clock. when
the Big Blue was reached bv our rear
guard. General Curtis sent am order
to Colonel Moonlight about 10 o'c]ocl,
70 remain at the covered bridge ON
the Big Blue, to destroy it and watch
ohe movements of the enemy and re-
port should they attempt to ford the
stream south of the bridge. and not
70 engage the enemy should it force
une bridge, but to fall back to the
main body at Little Blue, and that his
regiment would be relieved early in
THE morning. When this order was
handed to Colonel Moonlight Ed Mon
roe and L were reporting a Colo
mel, having just come from front
or Prices army, he stepped to the
hight of the fire and read the order.
have never forgotten the expression
OF his face, at that time, and it would
be out of place to give his words as
ne destroyed the order. He stepped
on to one side and stood facing the
mills where Prices advance were
hafted and building fires, with his
nands folded at his back. He said
10 us: Come, we will go down to the
DrldSe. AS we were walking down
the hill. talking more to himself than
10 those who were with him. he said.
L will engage Prices army before
daylight, and discibey that order. If
L am dismissed for it. WHY, if he is
not held in check until General Pleas.
ant gets up, General Curtis army
VIII be captured and Kansas will be
Iald in ashes" When he got no the
bridge. he walked to the east end.
where shots were being exchanged be-
tween the pickets. He sent out and
mad three wagon loads of ha.y hauled
onro the bridge after midnight. He
sent olrt scouting parties to learn the
position and movement of the enemy.
and TO try and reach Pleasapton'
command. He had the river patrolled
north and south of the covered bridoe
70 discover if the enemy were effect
ing a crossing. The enemy. near
morning discovered that Moonlight
mad made arrangements to DESTROY
the bridge. and opened a severe fire.
colonel Moonlight, instead of obeying
General Curtis order. at once gave
battle and held Prices whole army
IN check from daylight until near 10
o'clock, when he was reinforced bv
the Second Colorado. Fifteenth and
Sixteenth Kansas and every inch Of
ground from Big Blue to Little Blue
was saragely contested and Kansas
CITY and the state of Kansas saved
from ruin by the gallant Colonel Tom
Moonlight, who fought the battle Of
Big Blue against positive orders,
which sdded another laurel to Gem
eral Curtis war record and gave Gem
eral Blunt greater rank as a gen.
eral. which belonged only to Colonel
Tom Moonlight. He is dead, but his
memory will be ever bonored by every
Kansas soldier. who knew him as q
eeuIeman and q rbusxseAsus Settler.