Evening star., 1900-08-18
TWO NoRrHERNMosT BATTLES.
They Were Both Fought in Missouri
Near the Iowa Line.

They Were Both Fought in Missouri,
Near the Iowa Line.
From the st. Louis Globe Democrat.
During the last term of the Schuyler
county (Mo) court. discussion arose
among the attorneys one evening as to the
location Of the most northern battle OF
the civil war. Several of the United States
histories refer to Lees attack on Meade
at Gettysburg as the scene of the most
northern battle. There was a skirmish at
Lancaster, Mo-, in November, 1861, and
regular pitched battle at Athens, in Clarke
county. Mo-, in which several were killed
on both sides. The latter fight occurred
the first Monday in August of that year.
Both Of these points sixty or seventy
miles north Of Gettysburg, and very close
to the Iowa line. In all three OF these
northern battles of the war the federais
were victorious
N. T. Roberts of Lancaster was a pri-
vate on the left wing of Colonel Martin
Green's confederate army at Athens, and
he tells the story Of the battle follows:
THE day the fight occurred was election
day in Missouri. We belonged to what was
called the Missouri State Guards. Our regi-
ment was raised almost entirely from the
first congressional district. BY previous
arrangement we met near Edna, In Knox
county, where we went under the COM
mand of Colonel Green. There were about
5000 federals near Edna. who evacuated
without any resistance and went to Macon
City. We ran the confederate flag up on
the court house and began to think we
were able to settle the war ourselves. Our
boys were about LOO 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, old
powder pistols, pitchforks and anything
10 in a i'm m Or
must have looked something like the mob
that stormed the Bastile. only We weren't
near as dangerous
while we were in Edna We learned that
Colonel David Moore, in command of q
gcod-sized federal force, was at Athens.
Our boys were keen for a fight, and they
vocferously 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. 1 was on the left wing.
which was under command Of Captains
Buford and Shacklett. We were held Il.
reserve. and were to reinforce the center
and right in case we were needed We
grow hotter and hotter all the time, though
We were not in 1t. By and by there was
a great cheer from the town. and We
heard the federals had been reinforced by
several companies from Keokuk. John
and VIII Moore. sons of the federal COM
mander, were fighting with the confeder-
ates. When the reinforcements arrived
Colonel Moore ordered them up to the sup
port of the firing line. and yelled out: Come
on. boys: let's give 'em hell"
John Moore. who fighting like a
hero. and had his face covered with dust
and his hands begrimed with powder, when
he heard his fathers vigorous command.
turned to the rest and said: The jig's up,
fellows; the old mans mad and there's no
use bucking against him any longer 1
know him! You all can do you want to,
but I'm goin' away
And he did. The worst of it was the
rest of the confederates did the same
thing. The retreat became rout in short
order. The left wing saw how the center
and right We're behaving, and II prepared
to follow the example. Lieutenant Tom
Russell of our company-as brave man
as ever drew a sword-saw US wavering,
and cried out:
For Gods sake. boys. you are not go
ing to run without firing your guns,
you? Let's give EN- one for luck anyhow!
Let EN- have ii square in the face"
But there few kindred spirits
there. and most of the raw soldiers turned
about and skedaGdled without waiting to
empty their rifles We had with us cou-
pie of cannon and managed to save them.
although the papers next day in giving
account of the battle said they were cap
tured by Colonel Moore's forces. l knew
that was not right because some OF our
men returned few days afterward along
the route taken by the panic-stricken SOL
diers and found the cannon where they
had been hidden among some hazel bushes.
about 700 confederates went into the
fight. large number having dropped out
of the command when started for
Athens. owing to their inability to get guns.
The federals were better equipped and
were better disciplined. Our boys were
holding their own pretty well. but when
they heard of the reinforcements 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, l ran like the rest Of them. but 1
didn't go that far-at that time I didn't
know where Lancaster was 1t was my
first and only battle, and, as Bob Burdette
says, I guess I killed as many federals IS
they did of me- -
Some of the men who were foremost in
the retreat that eventful day Joined the
regular army under General Price and made
first-class soldiers. There were four five
men killed each side, and many con-
federateS wounded.
After the battle of Athens the Union
forces had it pretty much their own way
in northern Missouri. In November Colo
mel David Moore started westward with his
command. He met no opposition until near
Lancaster, where he encountered a small
force of confederates under Captain John
McCully. The confederates, although con-
siderably outnumbered stood their ground
vaiantly for a short time. then retrea ed.
leaving four of their dead behind them.
The fight took place on the 2ith. McCully
and his two sons were killed, and on
In August 1862. Captain William Searcy.
with company Of about eighty men, en-
tered Lancaster and attempted to take the
town. 1t Is said that Searcy belonged to
Prices army and was out recruiting. Cap
tain Robert Mays. who had charge of the
militia at Lancaster. was out OF town. and
1t Is supposed that Searcy invaded the
town on learning Of his absence. The
| greater part of the militia ran away, but
| fourteen dauntless spirits barricaded the
/ court house and prepared to stand a siege.
| Searcy's men killed guard they en-
| tered the town. and negro who was try
| ing to escape Searcy himself was shot In
| the breast by the men in the court house.
| and his companions retreated with their
| wounded leader. Three balls entered his
| breast inside of space that could have
| been covered with one hand. His men took
| him to the home of William C. Taylor. a
mile and half out Of town and there left
! him When the militia returned to Lam
| caster they. learned of Searcys where
/ abouts and went out and captured hin.
! Although badly wounded. he recovered
| rapidly and was soon taken to Macon as a
| prisoner of war.
| on the 25th OF September. 1862. Searcy
| and nine other prisoners were executed al
Macon. the charges against them being
violating their oath of allegiance on at