Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1903-09-03
OHAP. III. MIssoUR ~ l86l.

pOsTOFFICE: ROUTE y, LADDONlA' no.
CHAP. XXI. MISSOURI IN 1861.
Missouri before the war was a
slave state. Claiborne +. Jackson,
the Governor, was in favor of unit
ing her destinies with the Confed-
eracy. He called the State Legis-
lature together in southwest Mis-
souri, and they passed the Ordi-
nance of secession; elected George
G. Vest and Jno. b. Clark to rep
resent them in Richmond. Gen.
Harris was selected for Confeder-
ate congress. Governor jackson
proclaimed the State as one of the
Confederate States of America. In
the meantime Generals Frank
Blair, Lyon and Siegel had taken
possession of jefferson Barracks,
then JeffersonCity and Springfield.
A convention of Union men was
called and Hamilton r. Gambol
was made governor. Missouri had
double representation and a man
was patriotic on either side as his
convictions dictated. General
Sterling Price commanded the
Southern forces and General Ma
thaniel Lyon the Union soldiers.
A very severe battle was fought
on August 10, 1861 at Wilson's
Greek several miles south of Spring
field. The Union soldiers were
well armed with improved lifles,
and cannon; while many of the
Sout hern soldiers had only shot
guns and their squirrel rifles.
During this battle General Price
would say, Shoot low, boys,
break their legs. Then they will
have to take them from the field
and this will lessen the number to
fight" Rev. John NJ. Robinson
was a major in this battle. One of
his comrades fell wounded He
cried out, Major Robinson, |
want you to work for me-" He af-
terward said the lost thing he re-
membered before he become uu-
conscious was that the Major was
kneeling by his side praying while
the battle was raging all around.
General Lyon was killed. General
Seigle took command and con-
Quoted the retreat. The Confeder-
ates selected some suitable houses
in Springfield and raising the yell
low flag over the buildings placed
the wounded on COTS in these hos
pitfalls.
David Moses had spent the sum
mer in Audraih county at Squire
james S. Keen's home, on Youngs
Creek. He studied the Bible,
Shakespeare and Hardin's Revised
Statutes Of Missouri, besides try
ing to keep posted in the progress
of the war. He had a great de-
sire to go to Louisiana and see
the South, having made a trip to
Iowa in the early spring. His
father bought a good hack and his
aunt, Mrs. Margaret Bass, filed a
large willow basket with a boiled
ham, bread and many delicaeies ia
camp out when necessary. Leav-
ing Boone county in early Septem.
Der, they, with Garrett and Troy
Gray, Robert and Knox Faulk on
horseback, formed little compa-
ny Of six to visit Dixie. Troy
Gray was a great lover Of social
pleasures at parties. while th,
merry gatherers would sing Wee
vii Wheat" he would cry ont
Wceyil Wheat. and then tall
until the song came to Barley
turn TO thee" when his voice aros,
loud and strong on Barley ? Tn,
home Of these young men was neaI
Monroe, Louisiana Troy said b,
expected to make fortune whel
he planted d crop Of corn 4 eoul,
see tie half dollars sticking 81
edeeways 81 over The field, no
room to lie fiat but added
when ! paid ny rents and ali ex
pensee had precious little left