Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1920-08-19
4 VETERAN OF '63 VISITS THE
SCENE OF his FIRST BATTLE

lis first engagement in battle. which
occurred on Jan. II. 1868. and is
locally called the battle of Hartville.
MIR. Lee related the following incl
dents concerning the engagement.
On the Sth day of January 1868.
the 21st Iowa lnfantry, the 99th
Illinois Infantry. Il battalion of the
Srd Missouri cavalry and > guns OF
another battery Were ordered from
Houston Mo-, TO Springfield, to re-
enforce the army there. MIR. Lee
belonged TO the 21st Iowa and was
familiar only with his company.
They were commanded by Col. Samuel
Merrill. Colonel c. w. Dunlop was
Lieutenant Colonel. January lOth
tl.ey marched into Hartville on the
Houston road and stopped for din
nrr on the street just east of the
square. not being aware or any oth-
er forces in the vicinity. A picket
the border until January. 1917. He
vas placed on all roads into town
| Three loads of dressed pork were
stopped by the picket on h Mans
field road and on questioning 1t was
found the pork had been sent into
Iiartville fo- General Marmaduke,
who was in command of the con
ftderate forces. The picket told the
drivers he would take them to head
quarters and brought them into
town. turning them over to the
Federal forces who appreciated the
added ration of fresh pork to their
somewhat stale hard tack and bac-
on. After dinner the army again
took up the march going west along
the school ~housc.idge about s miles
tn Woods Fork. where they camped
for the night.
AT = o'clock a. m. Sunday morn
ing January II. reveille was sound
ca. and the boys in blue arsse and
Lreakfasted on bareback with the re
mans of the fresh pork, and took
up the march toward Springfield. A.
mile south of the Union forces Gen
eral Marmaduke aud his army was
tamped, neither camp having been
;ware up TO This time OF the close
prox nifty OF the other army. The
buglrs warned the Confederate
49,. i., ~, tNnlAp.1 f,rnnc UnIa
hear. if was later learned. The Bird
Missouri was in advance of ",
marching column on this eI:ly Sun
day morning. and soon came upon
a heavy Confederate picket force,
The C~onfederates opend fire, and
the boys of the ed Missouri took IA
number of captivcs.
Marmaduke then reiterated along
what was called the ridge rsId and
took up position on the Steel Hill,
lust east of Hartv lie, locating his
batteries along the bluff.
From the captives the Federal
commander found out the move
nients of General Marmaduke and
his fc.ces, and they likewise re-
treated to Hartville, taking up their
position on the hill where the
school house now stands, just west
OF town. Before the Federal forces
had their guns placed the Confeder-
ates opened fire. The first shot
hit the bluff and rolled along the
ground, the companies opening up
and the ball passing between the
Ines. The second shot exploded, a
fragment striking Col. Dunlap who
held a sword in his hand, and pierre
ed the hand, severing his fingers. A
Tot battle wa6cd for hours, begin
. ming at nine O'Clock in the morning
and lasting until $3.50 in the even'ns
Before the days close both armie:
bad advanced until it was an almos'
hand to hand struggle in the village
| streets. Col. Porter Of the o
| federate army advanced his comp
! any in front of the old court hous'
and almost as soon as he gained tn
position. was shot from his beauti
: full white hose. falling into the dus
) of the street. Immediately he wa
carried to the rear but died on tn
: battle field. Col. Mcdonald at
Y tempted to take up a like position
a and met a like fate. The confeder
ates took a cannon up stairs in tn
court house to fire down into tn
Union ranks but Col. Merrill, bein
apprised of the fact, opened fire o.
= the court house. The first shot wen
thru, killing men on the other SD
ct the building. the second shot eS
G ploded in the building, wrecking tn
cannon there placed and tearing
hole in the -oOf. Neither arm
seems to have been aware Of tn
number of men against them an
about the same time began retreat
= ing. General M%armaduke and hi
forces moved east, the 99th Missouri
9 r~,treated by the way of Lebanon
a, The 21st Iowa, the last to leave tn
battle field came down into tow
with n flag of tcuce, finding nobod
1t here as General Marmaduke had al
so retreated . After being her
about an hour Marmaduke rode int
town oIso under "a flag Of truce.