Bravery worthy of a better cause

During the Civil War in Missouri and Kansas "Respect" for the enemy was not often expressed because of the respective animosity and hate the "Bushwhackers" (Confederate Guerrillas) and Blue Bellied Billy Yanks had for each other. However, occasionally such verbal respect was given to the enemy, but this of course was usually done after the enemy had been defeated or was dead! Such is the case as described in the following after action report where a "Union" officer in Missouri considered his dead opponents as worthy enemies who were fighting for the wrong cause or reasons. The report is located on Pages 242 and 243 in Series I, Vol. 22, Part I, Reports, in the Official Records of the

War of the Rebellion;

"Headquarters,

Sir: I have the honor to report that, in accordance with your instructions, I left this post on the evening of the 19th instant, for the purpose of making a tour of reconnaissance west of the Saint Francis River. For this purpose, I took with me 75 men, 25 of whom I left at Williams' Crossing on the Saint Francis River, under the command of Lieutenant J. Donahoo, to guard two ferry boats, one of which I captured on the Mingo and the other at Punches' Crossing on the Saint Francis together with several canoes, all of which I floated down stream to the point above indicated, about three fourths of a mile south of the junction of the Mingo with the Saint Francis River.

Shortly after daylight next morning, I crossed my party, arriving that evening at Poplar Bluff. Here we were enthusiastically hailed by the few inhabitants that remain and who express more UNION SENTIMENT and are more truly LOYAL than any people I have yet met with in Southeast Missouri!

Aware of the small force at my disposal and being now 40 miles from any support, I deemed it prudent to withdraw from town and encamp at the foot of the bridge over the Blackwater River, on the east side of the village, there holding a position that no enemy could well force. Not being able to ascertain any information relative to the reported advance of [Confederate General] Marmaduke's Army, I resolved to push still farther in the direction of Pocahontas, Arkansas until I could meet his advance or capture his pickets [guards] or strike his trail in case he had moved north.

About 1 o'clock next day (21st), I surprised a picket, consisting of 5 men, who fled at our approach. They were stationed about 20 miles from Poplar Bluff, at the junction of the Pitman's Ferry and Doniphan roads. I captured 3 of the pickets and killed the remaining 2. I will here state that the two who were killed had good horses and exhibited a degree of "BRAVERY WORTHY of a BETTER CAUSE"! Being well mounted, myself and Captain Perry D. McClanahan, commanding Company C, of this regiment, soon took the lead of our men and each singled out his man and pursued him. Several pistol shots were exchanged during the chase and not until we were within 3 miles of Doniphan could we get fairly up with them. Here my antagonist shot my horse and at the same instant I killed his; both horses fell together and we (my butternut friend and myself) rolled over and over, when he broke loose and attempted to get away on foot, but I soon caught him and put an end to the desperado.

At some distance I found my friend McClanahan, standing over the remains of him he pursued. We were both exhausted and had to wait until our party came up.

I must make special notice of Corporal Blurton, of company B, for his zeal and bravery throughout.

From the pickets captured, I learned that Marmaduke's main force was still encamped in the vicinity of Batesville and that Jeffers', Clarks' and Lewis' men were acting as his advance guard, making their regular reports to him and being guided and instructed from his headquarters. One of the prisoners captured was lately from Little Rock, Ark., and seemed to have been acting in the capacity of Postmaster, as the enclosed package of communications, found upon his person will indicate.

The telegraph constructed by General Steele has been completely destroyed and strewn carelessly along the road. I had several horses thrown by it in the charge and some of the riders were seriously injured.

The road from Bloomfield to the Saint Francis is tolerably good, passing over gentle ridges and plateaus or glades, through which levees have been constructed, with necessary culverts. A train of artillery, in good weather, could easily pass over, with some repairs being done to the bridge over Lick Creek. I would calculate the distance at about 18 miles. Forage [hay & corn for horses & mules] very scarce.

Before concluding this hurried report, I would state that in the neighborhood of Pitman's Ferry, I found Saint Louis newspapers of a more recent date then we could obtain in Bloomfield, thus clearly demonstrating that the Rebels are in direct communication with that city.

My command arrived safely at this post at 1 a.m., having been absent four entire days. We took with us but a limited supply of hard bread; marched 150 miles during that time without either tent or blanket and during the entire trip I never heard a murmur.

Now, this engagement, a small deadly skirmish that was typical of the guerrilla war that was conducted throughout Missouri form 1861 -1865. Both sides were patriotic Americans fighting for what they believed in and more than 600,000 died for their beliefs in our Civil War and of course the war went on.