Arnold W. Schofield

Opinion

Arms, Ammunition and Hard Service

Saturday, October 13, 2007

Arnold W. Schofield ~ Battlefield Dispatches

Early in October of 1864, along the Kansas-Missouri Border, there was worry and concern about the movements of Confederate Major General Sterling Price and his "Army of Missouri." Where was this Confederate force going? That was the big question! By Oct. 11, there was no doubt, the Yankee "Blue Bellies" knew that the Confederates were advancing up the Missouri River Valley on their way to attack Kansas City and Fort Leavenworth. Major General Samuel Ryan Curtis commanded the Department of Kansas at Fort Leavenworth and ordered all available Union forces in eastern Kansas to march north to defend the "Jayhawker" state! This included activating the "Kansas Militia" which was done by the governor at the request of General Curtis. In Fort Scott, Quartermaster Merritt H. Insley did not wait for "orders." He knew that the Confederates needed the supplies and war material that was stored at Fort Scott. Therefore, in order to prevent the capture or destruction of more than $1 million worth of the "Necessities of War" he used all the quartermaster wagons, rented or confiscated all civilian wagons to haul the supplies further "west" in Kansas and safety near Iola so they would be out of "harms way"!

The movement of "Union" troops north to join General Curtis's "Army of the Border", that was another matter! It took time and a matter of days by "forced marches". The following series of telegrams are located in Vol. 41, Part III Correspondence of the Official Records of the War of the Rebellion and describe the successful marshalling of "Union" troops to Kansas City which contributed to the Confederate defeats at the Battles of Westport on Oct. 23 and Mine Creek on Oct. 25, 1864.

Mound City, Oct. 11, 1864.

Col. C. W. Blair (at Fort Scott),

From present indications it is very probable that Price will move in the direction of Fort Scott for the purpose of getting from that place a sufficient amount of subsistence for his command. You will keep scouts out in all directions that there may be the likelihood of an enemy and in compliance with Gen. Orders No. 54 from Headquarters, Dept. of Kansas, you will close all business houses in Fort Scott and oder all, black and white (men) between the ages of sixteen and sixty, under arms at once!

C. R. Jennison, Col., Cmdg., Dist. of South Kansas

Fort Scott, Oct. 11, 1864

Major General Blunt,

Three companies in town are armed and ready for duty; four companies are reported to me from the county; will be in to-morrow and armed. I have also 100 Negroes under drill, but not yet armed. There is also a company of Government employees.

Chas. W. Blair, Colonel, Commanding

Headquarters 1st Sub-District, Mound City, Oct. 13, 1864.

Col. C. Blair: You will move on this place at once with every available mounted man under your command, including State militia.

The stragglers will be left at Fort Scott. You will take six days' rations for your command. You will leave 800 men at Fort Scott, including every citizen in the place and the stragglers who are dismounted. No tents or baggage of any kind will be taken except the rations and the amount of camp kettles and mess pans and one blanket for each man. If you have not sufficient transportation seize all the citizen's (horse or mule) teams you require. Report by telegraph the strength of your command and how soon you will be here. Take all the howitzers (small cannon) and the section of battery (artillery) under Lt. Knowles.

As fast as your companies are ready to march send them on to this place and direct them to wait at this point for the command.

C.R. Jennison Colonel.

Fort Leavenworth, Oct. 15, 1864

Major General Curtis,

Col. Cloud telegraphs that he will leave Fort Scott with 100 dismounted men in wagons to join the "Army of the Border". All Well.

John Williams,

Assistant Adjutant General

Headquarters Army of the Border, Independence, Oct. 15, 1864

Captain Williams,

Troops should hurry forward. Price was last seen at Boonville.

I cannot stop to equip militia: neither have I the power.

Refer them to my request of the Governor (of the state of Kansas) and the governor's order to bring their equipments.

I do not encourage expectations by sending requests which you know I am not authorized to fill. Rations are being rapidly distributed from Wyandotte and Kansas City.

Am doing all I can, but am not authorized to issue clothing. Hurry troops forward. Hard service will keep them warn and will save their homes from destruction!

S.R. Curtis

Major Genera1

Headquarters, In the field, Hickman Mills (near and south of Kansas City), Oct. 15, 1864 -- 6 a.m.

Major General Curtis:

Colonel Jennison arrived last night with 250 men of the 15th Ks. Vol. Cavalry and 700 mounted militia and one mountain howitzer. Col. Blair (from Fort Scott) reports his arrival at Paola last night with 900 mounted men and six pieces of artillery; will be here today.

Upon the arrival of Col. Blair I will have 4,200 men (including Col. Ford's command) and 17 pieces of artillery. Arms and ammunition have arrived and are being distributed. I will soon have everything in fighting trim.

The men are all eager for a fight!

I will keep you promptly informed of everything I learn.

Respectfully, Your Obedient Servant,

Jas. G. Blunt Major General

The "men" who were eager for a fight would have their fill of fighting eight days later at the Battle of Westport on Oct. 23, 1864.

Some have called the battle at Westport the "Gettysburg of the West" and a description of it and the Battle of Mine Creek will be featured in next week's column.