Prairie Thunder

On Oct. 25, 1864. the thunder of artillery echoed down the Marais des Cygnes, Little Osage and Marmaton River Valleys and across the eastern Kansas prairie.

The sounds of Union and Confederate cannons being fired and the explosion of their ammunition caused much consternation, worry and fear on every farm and in every town, including Fort Scott, where the sounds of the big guns were heard.

On Tuesday, Oct. 25, 1864, Colonel Charles W. Blair, the commanding officer of Fort Scott was not in Fort Scott! He had commanded the Brigade of Kansas Militia at the Battle of Westport on Oct. 23, and was now, on this day, an Aide-de Camp (assistant) to Major General Samuel Ryan Curtis who commanded the "Union" Army of the Border that was pursuing the Confederates south from Kansas City on their way to attack Fort Scott.

The following are excerpts from Col. Blair's official report in which he describes the Battles of Trading Post, Mine Creek, Little Osage and Charlot's Farm or Shiloh Creek that occurred on Tuesday, Oct. 25, 1864. The official report is located on Pages 601- 606 of Vol. 41of the Official Records of the War of the Rebellion.

Headquarters: Sub-District No. 2, South Kansas, Fort Scott, Kan., Jan. 1, 1865

Sir: As volunteer aide-de-camp on your staff, I have the honor to transmit, herewith, according to your direction, a brief report of events of the 25th of October last, all of which I saw and part of which I was.

On the march of the night before from West Point, Mo., down, my brigade occupied the rear of the column and when the column halted and no word was sent to the rear to bivouac [camp], I supposed that the advance had come to the timber of the Marais des Cygnes and was clearing the obstructions which all thought the enemy would create to oppose our forward movement.

Accordingly, we waited patiently, standing by our horses's heads without fire, food or forage. Toward morning becoming chilled by the rain and cold night air, I mounted my horse and accompanied by an orderly, rode forward in search of fire. About midway up the column I found a [camp] fire and had scarcely succeeded in warming my benumbed limbs when the sound of artillery called my attention to the front. I immediately started forward and as soon as it was light enough to distinguish objects, I saw that it was impossible for [my command] to get over the [Marais des Cygnes] River till a late hour.

Trading Post

Ascending the high mound [on the north side of the river] overlooking the stream, I saw our skirmish line advancing about midway from its base to the timber pushing steadily to the front. I immediately started forward to overtake them, having been joined by Sergeant-Major Rebstein of my brigade. Pushing forward, I joined the skirmishers just as they received fire from the enemy on the south bank. On crossing the river we found to our surprise, no obstructions, save two trees, which had been felled in the road and were rapidly removed by our advancing troops.

Mine Creek

Arriving on the table-land, which forms the summit level between the Marais des Cygnes and the Little Osage rivers, we again saw the enemy's line and this time it was evident he was in full force, although his whole line was not visible, his right being behind the brow of the hill which descended into Mine Creek. Meanwhile the gallant brigade on our right was steadily advancing, with skirmishers well out in front. The artillery was playing with great rapidity and considerable effect. I looked at the enemy's line close, serried and vomiting fire; I looked at the little brigade that was unflinching and steadfast in its front. It was evident that here the battle was to be fought and the desperate issue joined on which the fate of the south tier of Kansas, including Fort Scott depended.

The enemy's artillery was playing on this line with fearful effect and we had nothing but musketry to reply, but the men were steady and self-possessed and perfectly easy under fire.

When it did come on line the whole command advanced to short range and for a time the fire was incessant and terrific!

Both lines seemed like walls of adamant, one could not advance; the other would not recede! The crash of the musketry, the scream of shell, the hissing sound of canister and balls, mingled with the shouts of soldiers and the cries of the wounded, set off, too, by the walls of fire and girdles of steel behind, which marked both lines, formed a scene more easily remembered than described.

During this terrible conflict I passed along the whole line and met your gallant staff officers everywhere counseling, encouraging, exhorting and commanding and the tenor of the whole was "CHARGE"! It was evident that our only safety was a successful charge by which we might capture the guns. At length the movement commenced slowly at first, but increasing in velocity until it swept on resistless as an avalanche. A rush, a scramble and all was over. The guns were captured, the enemy broken and flying to the rear, while our victorious squadrons were in almost breathless pursuit.

Little Osage

Having rid myself of this responsibility, I again hurried to the front. When I overtook the advance I found it halted at the foot of the precipitous mounds descending into the Little Osage Valley. Almost as far as we could see over the smooth prairie and on arriving there we could plainly see the rebel column moving straight in the direction of Fort Scott. The movement was then very rapid and continuous till the skirmish line was checked near the verge of the Osage timber on the north bank of the Little Osage River. The woods seemed alive with rebel soldiers but in rapid motion. The skirmishers kept up occasional firing at them until the advance brigade came up and we all charged rapidly down into the timber, but the enemy disappeared before our arrival.

We followed down stream some distance, crossed at the ford and just as we were emerging from the timber on the south side, the head of the column was fired on by the enemy's skirmishers.

We soon dislodged them, however, and pushed on toward a corn-field to the left of the road. The head of the column was here checked by a heavy fire from the field and it was evident that another battle was to be fought!

Charlot's Farm / Shiloh Creek

As I had been a sharer in all the fighting and a participant in every charge heretofore during the day, I determined to get a good position and look at one from a safe distance, as I saw the enemy had formed two lines of battle a mile or more to our front.

Accordingly, I secured the highest spot of ground in the vicinity, took out my field-glass, unused in all previous events of the day and deliberately watched the operations. Major-General Pleasonton directed this attack in person assisted by Major McKenny, who as usual, was in the front. Of the perils or particulars I cannot speak, but of the results I can say that both lines broke and fled before our forces got even within respectable distance.

Homeward Bound

So ended Colonel Charles W. Blair's participation in the defense of Kansas during the 1864 Confederate invasion of the Jayhawk State!