Mexico weekly ledger., 1921-08-04

wns killed but several badly hurt
The secessionists were compelled to
retire without ever getting the flag
on the pole and the secession flag
never hoated in Mexico.
The first troops stationed at Mex
leo were in June or July, 1861. A
portion of the Second and Eighth Mis-
sour Regiments, in all about six hun
bred men were under the command
of Colonel Morgan L. Smith and Lieu
tenant Colonel G. A Shaefer.
On August 9th Colonel Grant was
ordered to St. Louis, and from there
to Ironton, Missouri. While it is true
that Grants name was sent into the
senate to be made brigadier general
while at Mexico, he did not receive his
commission until he had arrived at
I~ronton. The first order addressed to
him as brigadier general was at that
place August 9Th and the next day,
reporting to General Fremont, he says
IT arrived here yesterday and as
sumed command in pursuance of dir
ections from Major General John G.
Fremont"
He adds, Il received the most mark
ed courtesy from the citizens Of Mex
leo as long as ! remained there" An
account Of his stay in Mexico is found
in Personal Memois, Vol. l, pages ISL
253.
On account of Grants after promin-
ence in the Civil war, his location in
Mexico at the very beginning Of his
career has always been regarded with
great interest by the people here.
There has been some controversy as
10 the location of his headquarters.
It has been claimed that he had his
Headquarters in a house on the lot
which has been purchased by the gov
eminent for the postoffice' building.
Some day, the people Of Mexico, or
some patriotic society may want to
mark the spot where ne was located.
The Union forces were not of suf-
icient numbers in that time to spread
all over and Aake charge of Northeast
Missouri, hence in Audrain, Monroe,
Boone, Marion and Galloway, remote
from the county seats, where Federal
posts had been established, there was
a great deal of recruiting going on for
the Confederates.
D. H. Mcintyre, at that time a stu
dent at Westminster College, raised a
company in Galloway county, COM
posed largely of Audrain county men.
John Murray raised a company in
Audrain county which became a men,
Der of Colonel Braces regiment. The
first officers were captain, John Muir
first lieutenant, James B. Davis;
second lieutenant, Henry Gillispie.
Murray afterward became major OF
the regiment and was succeeded as
by George W. Edmonston.
W. J. Bolts now living in Mexico,
upon the reorganization of the regi-
after the battle Of Lexington
became its ordnance master.
Grant was succeeded at Mexico by
General S. D. Sturgis. Sturgis had
this control about four thons-
and men He arrived at Mexico on
the 9th of September, 1851, and was
ordered to Lexington the 18th. He
left a small force in charge of the
post at Mexico.
The Confederate forces were never
at any time able during the war to
enter Mexico. After the battle at
Moore's Mill the last Of July, 1862,
Col. Odon Guitar, with the Ninth
Missouri moved into Mexico and in
doing so cut off a Confederate force
from entering Mexico and which was
coming in that direction from Con-
cord. Guitar was here a short while
and afterward was promoted to
brigadier general and placed in
charge of the northern district of
Missouri.
In August, 1864, a company Of
Home Guards was organized in Mex
leo, for the pupose Of helping to de-
fend the town from the various guer-
lila bands operating throughout the
county. John M. Gordon was captain;
W. D. H. Hunter, first lieutenant; and
F. M. Shryock, second lieutenant.
There are many living in Mexico and
its vicinity now who were members of
Captain Gordon's company. 1t was
their duty to keep the town picketed
and to keep guards at the blockhouses
at the railroad bridges on either side