150th anniversary of the Battle of Westport

SUVCW/DUVCW/SCV/UDC,

October 23, 2014 is the 150^th anniversary of the Battle of Westport, a pivotal battle in the Trans-Mississippi Theater.   I’m thrilled our four hereditary organizations (SUVCW, DUVCW, SCV, and UDC) are conducting a joint commemoration Thursday evening, October 23^rd at Loose Park, 5200 Wornall Road, Kansas City, Missouri.

5:30 pm – Informal Meet and Greet

6:15 pm – Commemoration Service

Enclosed is a promotional flyer; feel free to share with your membership, family, friends, and other Civil War enthusiast.  Thanks

Dale Crandell

dcrandell@suvcwmo.org

Remembrance Ceremony at the Pleasant Grove Cemetery

Gentlemen,

 

I wanted to see if anyone would be interested in helping out with a Remembrance Ceremony at the Pleasant Grove Cemetery (outside of Camden Point, Missouri) on June 28 (Saturday) at 2:00 in the afternoon. As some of you may or may not know, there was a small battle fought here in the summer of 1864. It’s said that around 15 Confederate men were killed in this engagement (some of them may have been sympathizers in Camden Point). Six of these soldiers are buried at Pleasant Grove with one of the oldest Confederate Memorial Stones west of the Mississippi located here (placed in 1871).

 

What I would  like to do is have a half hour to one hour ceremony with someone representing the SCV for speeches, prayer, a hymn, and a color-guard (with a gun salute). I would also like to discuss the recognition of the other veterans who are buried in the nearby Camden Point cemetery by having small flags placed by their graves. A handout could be provided so that attendees could walk the short distance from Pleasant Grove cemetery to Camden Point cemetery to view the graves. If possible, a cannon might also be nice to fire (such as at the Handley event). Also, I was curious about the replica “Protect Missouri” flag (Camden Point’s battle flag) that Key Camp has, and wondering if they would be willing to have this on hand as part of the ceremony?

 

There is also opportunity to be in the town parade that afternoon, which is at 5:00 (line-up will be around 4:30 at the school). If anyone would like to bring a car, wear uniforms,or walk with an SCV banner or flags, that would be excellent. I’m planning on walking in period attire with a Missouri battle flag. This would be an great avenue to advertise for the SCV and honor the many Confederates who are at rest in this area. Additionally, there will be space for a booth – for a small fee of around 30 dollars - at the Freedom Festival after the parade (which is located in the town park).

 

This would be covered by local media, and would be attended by local people. It’s also on the agenda as part of Platte County’s 175th line-up of events. So there is potential for a fairly large crowd. If anyone knows of folks (such as JM Herman) who would like to come and pass out small flags or have items for sale, that would be fantastic too. I have been working with the Freedom Festival committee, local media, the 175th committee, and local reenactors for the event.

 

I am hoping to be able to come by and talk with Key Camp and Hughes camp about the event. The more SCV folks we could get to come out for this important marker in the northern part of Little Dixie, the better! Platte County really had a tough time of it in the war. Our county seat was burned twice (including our courthouse the second time around), and many folks were shot on their doorsteps or along the roads for their beliefs – thus the importance in continuing to honor, recognize and educate as to our history.

 

Please let me know if you have any questions. If you think it appropriate to forward this on to anyone who would be interested in helping or participating, please do so.

 

Thank you,

 

Matthew Silber

SKIRMISH AT UPSHAW'S FARM -- OCTOBER 29,1864

Report of Lieut. Col. Huqh Cameron, Second Arkansas Cavalry (Union) to Brig. Gen. John B. Sanborn, Commanding District of Southwest Missouri
HEADQUARTERS DETACHMENT,
http://freepages.history.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cappscreek/civilwar/or/orbarry26.html

In the Field, Mount Vernon, Mo., October 31, 1864.

GENERAL:  I have the honor to report that on the 29th of October, 1864, with a detachment of about 400 men, principally of the Second Arkansas Cavalry, I pursued a body of rebels, supposed to be 800 strong, under command of Colonel Hodge, from Buck Prairie, Lawrence County, and encountered them at the Upshaw farm near Camp Bliss, Barry County.  Routed and dispersed them; killed 50, took 37 prisoners, 58 horses, 4 mules, a large number of saddles, and several stand of arms.  Three wounded only were found; the remainder escaped on their horses or concealed themselves in the brush.  The prisoners report that there were ten captains with Colonel Hodge, viz, Captains Thomas Todd and John Merrick, Captains Sitton, Kimball, Shull, Rudd, Withers, Onam, Arnold, and Annabury.  The last named was killed early in the encounter.  My loss was 1 man slightly wounded, 1 man injured by his horse falling, and a few horses crippled.

The officers and men under my command behaved gallantly.  Captain Mitchell, Seventh Provisional Enrolled Missouri Militia, commanding the advance, deserves to be especially mentioned.

I have the honor to be, general, most respectfully, your obedient servant,

HUGH CAMERON,

Lieut. Col. Second Ark. Cav., Commanding Detachment, in the Field
SOURCE:  OR, Series I, Volume 41 (Part I), Pages 406-407.

Skirmish at Island Mound, Missouri -- October 29, 1862

http://mocivilwar150.com/history/battle/318

The skirmish at Island Mound occurred on Oct. 29, 1862, in Bates County, Mo.  Although the skirmish was a minor encounter, it has larger significance because it was the first combat action by African-American soldiers during the Civil War. 

Battle of Newtonia, Missouri -- October 28, 1864

http://mocivilwar150.com/history/battle/175

The Second Battle of Newtonia was fought on October 28, 1864. The conflict came near the end of Maj. Gen. Sterling Price's celebrated invasion of Missouri. With the Federals still in hot pursuit of Price's retreating Confederates, Maj. Gen. James Blunt observed Price's rear elements ahead of him on a prairie south of Newtonia and ordered a charge. Brig. Gen. Joseph Shelby saw the approaching enemy and immediately sent his division forward to meet them. Outnumbering Blunt, Shelby pushed the Federals back to Newtonia and nearly flanked them. The late arrival of reinforcements saved Blunt's column and allowed a brief counterattack at sunset. Both sides claimed victory. 

Battle of the (Charlot's Farm) Marmaton River, Missouri -- October 25, 1864

http://mocivilwar150.com/history/battle/181

In the fall of 1864, Major General Sterling Price led 12,000 Confederate cavalry on an ill-fated raid through Missouri. He was defeated at Westport on October 23, then pursued south by Federal cavalry. The demoralized Confederates were hindered by a train of approximately 500 wagons, loaded with captured supplies. Disaster struck again on October 25. Nearly half of Price's army was routed while protecting the wagons as they crossed Mine Creek in Kansas. The fugitives and wagons were pursued throughout the afternoon-their trail marked by discarded weapons, abandoned horses, and burning farms. Late in the afternoon, the wagons reached the Marmaton River at Douglass Ford, a mile northeast of Deerfield, Missouri-the only place where wagons could cross. To save his train, Price ordered Brigadier General Joseph O. Shelby to slow the pursuers.

First Battle of (Zagonyi's Charge) Springfield, Missouri -- October 25, 1861

http://mocivilwar150.com/history/battle/185

On Oct. 25, 1861 Maj. Charles Zagonyi led a spectacular cavalry charge against a much larger Missouri State Guard force defending Springfield. The bloody charge was the sole military action of the Frémont Campaign of 1861. While Zagonyi’s Charge yielded no strategic gains, it did garner nationwide publicity as a rare federal triumph in a bleak period marked by Union defeats at First Bull Run, Wilson’s Creek, Lexington, and Ball’s Bluff in Virginia.

Zagonyi led the personal bodyguard of Maj. Gen. John C. Frémont, who was moving with 38,789 soldiers toward Springfield, intending to take that city from the secessionists and crush the forces of Gen. Sterling Price. But as Frémont neared Boliver, Price was a full 100 miles away at Neosho. There were reports that Springfield was lightly defended by 300-400 State Guardsmen. Zagonyi sought and received permission to lead the bodyguard against the Springfield defenders.

Yankees and Rebels clash at the Battle of Westport -- Oct 23, 1864

On this day in 1864, Confederate General Sterling Price's raid on Missouri nearly turns into disaster when his army is pinned between two Union forces at Westport, Missouri, near Kansas City. Although outnumbered, Price's forces managed to slip safely away after the Battle of Westport, which was the biggest conflict west of the Mississippi River.

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/battle-of-westport-missouri

Battle of Westport, Missouri -- October 23, 1864

http://mocivilwar150.com/history/battle/339

The Battle of Westport was fought on Oct. 23, 1864, in what today is Kansas City between the Union forces of Maj. Gen. Samuel R. Curtis and the Confederate troops of Maj. Gen. Sterling Price.

The fight is sometimes referred to as “the Gettysburg of the West’ because it was one of the largest to be fought west of the Mississippi River, with more than 30,000 soldiers involved.

Battle of Fredericktown, Missouri - October 21, 1861

http://mocivilwar150.com/history/battle/182

The Battle of Fredericktown was fought on Oct. 21, 1861. Gen. M. Jeff Thompson set the stage for the Battle of Fredericktown in mid-October 1861 when he led the 1st Division, Missouri State Guard, to disrupt the Iron Mountain Railroad, the main Union artery from St. Louis into the southeastern Ozarks.

Palmyra Massacre -- October 18, 1862

http://mocivilwar150.com/history/battle/176

The Palmyra Massacre was a grim ending to Confederate Col. Joseph Porter’s 1862 recruiting campaign in northeast Missouri. Besides recruiting local men for the Confederate army, Porter attacked Union outposts and patrols all summer long. In mid-September, Porter led his men to Palmyra, where they captured–and later apparently killed–a pro-Union citizen. The next month, on Oct. 18, 1862, 10 Confederate prisoners were executed at Palmyra’s fairgrounds in retaliation for the murder.

Battle of Marshall, Missouri -- October 13, 1863

http://mocivilwar150.com/history/battle/171

The Civil War Battle of Marshall was fought on Oct. 13, 1863. Union Gen. Egbert B. Brown and 1800 soldiers turned back the raid of Confederate Col. Joseph O. Shelby and his 1,200 cavalrymen in a day-long battle. Union forces attempted to encircle and divide Shelby’s troops, but the wily Confederate commander successfully withdrew his raiders and escaped in two columns. The victory by Brown and his Federal soldiers in the Battle of Marshall was the culminating event of Shelby’s raid that had begun more than three weeks earlier in southwest Arkansas.

47TH ANNUAL MAPLE LEAF FESTIVAL

Oct. 11-20, 2013 402 S. Garrison Ave Carthage, MO 64836 Web Site | http://www.visitmo.com/47th-annual-maple-leaf-festival.aspx Facebook Link Phone: 417-358-2373 8 a.m.-9 p.m. (Times vary by activity) Latitude: 37° 10' 33" Longitude: -94° 18' 50"

The 47th Annual Maple Leaf Festival begins Friday, Oct. 11 with an Evening of Jazz with the Crowder Jazz Orchestra and concludes Sun., Oct. 20 with Music, Magic and Mirth. The festival is held in downtown Carthage and throughout town. The festival boasts the largest parade in Southwest Missouri on Oct. 19. Food, craft booths and live entertainment on the Square, the Maple Market at 6th and Main, and Willie Arthur Smith’s Marching Cobras perform in the auditorium will provide a variety of activity for this year’s attendees. In addition to the activities downtown on the day of the parade, the week holds plenty of other events located throughout Carthage including pageants, a car show, lighting contest, adult beverage tastings, gospel sing, quilt show, civil war re-enactment and dog show. The full schedule is available on the festival website.