Mexico weekly ledger., 1921-08-04
The Narrow Escape OF DIR.
w. w. McFarlane, Of
Mexico, Who Was AL
most Executed By Federal
Soldiers.

SAoh6 AL July NNSPSAolS SHNAS
Were made by the Confederates and
citizens who were secessionists to
destroy the North Missouri Railroad,
20 as to break up the line of commun-
Scations established by the Union for
ees. They succeeded in practicallydes-
4rOying the railroad from Wellsville
70 within a short distance of Mexico,
destroying the bridge west of Mexico
on the 9th day of July. In the des-
truction of this bridge "a number Of
citizens of Mexico were engaged
They acted under a commission from
General Price who sent men along the
line Of the North Missouri Railroad
for that purpose commissioned to des-
troy the railroad with authority to
procure assistance from the citizens.
A great many citizens Of Audrain
county were arrested for their patti
cipation in this matter but none were
ever tried for it by court-martial al
though a great number were sent to
st. Louis and Alton as prisoners on
account of it.
John B. Henderson of Pike county,
prominent before the war as a DEM
Ocrat and distinguished as a lawyer,
raised a regiment of militia for the
Union side. Colonel jefferson F. Jones
equally prominent as a lawyer, in Cal
laway county, raised a regiment I'M
der the call Of Givernor Jackson for
troops to prevent invasion of the
state. These two distinguished men
being we'll acquainted and having
probably met as antagonists often in
court, concluded to effect a comprom-
Use and so far as they and their sec
tons were concerned, bring about a
fghtless, bloodless war. In August
1851, they met at Benton City about
six miles east of Mexico and signed a
paper providing that the Union
forces should after that date, keep
out of Collaway county and the Mis-
souri, defense or Confederate forces
should after that date keep out of
Pike county. 1t is needless to say
that when this compromise was
brought to the attention of the Fed
eral authorities it was promptly re-
pudiated Colonel Jones' force soon
SURRENDERED and disbanded. He was
taken a prisoner by the Federal forces
and put under bond for good behavior
during the remainder of the war. He
was tried by court-martial, but moi
ound guilty of violation of any Of The
Aticles of War.
Colonel Henderson continued il
charge of his command but changed
his views as TO warfare. He became
brigadier general and was placed II
charge. of a section of the country in
north Missouri. He was located al
Mexico in the early part of January
1862, and on January 9th reports hav-
ing captured forty prisoners, ten Oh
whom he took in battle. They were
held by the Federal authorities fol
bridge burning.
After Henderson came Major H. C
Caldwell Third Iowa Cavalry. He
and different dettachments of his mer
were located at Mexico for somt
time.
Another attempt to organize a com.
pany for the Confederate forces was
made by William o. johnson, in tht
northern part of Audrain county, il
the early winter of 1861. On the 24tl
of December, a company of Colone
John w. Burgess Sharp Shooters, ther
called, afterward the Thirteenth Mis-,
souri, Infantry, was on its way from
Palmyra to Sturgeon and in ordeI
to avoid the timbers and thus escap'
chances of ambush, they detouret
south through Audrain county owe,
the prairie and stopped to rest in
barn known as Nc lintock's barn, sit
uated on the northeast corner of sec
ton 16, township 81, range 8, Thi
presented a splendid opportunity +
the mind of Captain johnson for
battle OF surrender His company wa
mostly undisciplined farmers of TIL
neighborhood- He approached the bar
from the east and when within a shor
distance Of it, halted, lined up hi
men, to give the Federals IN oppor
tunorty to surrender. They filed on
of the barn, formed a line Of battle
swung around in front of johnson
company, to use the language Oh
johnson, like a gate" and when a
this military precision was observed
before any one had time 10 fire, hi
men broke. The Federal ,compan
fired a volley or two after them, prob
ably not aiming to hit anybody an
continued on their way to Sturgeon
arriving there the next day in time TO
the battle Of Mount Zion, in Boon
county. This resulted in the Gssolu
ti0n of Captain Johnson's company.
In the battle of Mount Zion, on tn
Union side, Captain John D. Macfar
Lane Of Mexico distinguished himsel
d. action and was mentioned in tn
report Of the battle, for meritoricu
services. Latter on account Of hi
spiessdid services IN She Ninth Mis-
sosxi Cavalry MS brother VIM. "
Macfarlane, q Confederats soldier
vyf.dhad been taken prisoner at tn
Eaftla IL Mooress Mill, and ordere,