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Opinion
Patrolling the "Border"
Saturday, April 4, 2009
It's the Kansas-Missouri border again! Previously it has been mentioned that after Quantrill's successful raid and destruction of Lawrence, Kan. on August 21, 1863, the Union Army in Kansas and Missouri established a line of posts or camps to defend their respective borders. Establishing these posts, or camps, was the first step in securing the border and this was accomplished in the late summer & fall of 1863. However, connecting these camps or dots on the map was another matter and this was not accomplished by conducting irregular patrols between these camps until the beginning of April, 1864.
At that time, the district of South Kansas was commanded by Brig. Gen. Thomas J. McKean who had his headquarters at Paola, Kan. and the district was divided into two sub-districts. The first sub-district extended from the Kaw, or Kansas River, south to the Linn-Bourbon County, Kan. line and was commanded by Lt. Col. Thomas Moonlight who had his headquarters at Mound City, Kan. The second sub-district extended from Bourbon County, Kan., south to the Indian Territory (present day Oklahoma) and was commanded by Col. Charles W. Blair who had his headquarters at Fort Scott, Kan.
Irregular patrolling between the individual posts or camps was necessary to discover or prevent the enemy troops, Jayhawkers or Bushwhackers from entering either state, to protect the telegraph line and to provide a sense of security and protection for the farmers and their families who lived along the border in Kansas.
| The following letters and circular indicate how the border was to be patrolled in Kansas and are located on Pages 14-15, 82-83, Series I, Vol. 34, Part III, "Correspondence in the Records of the War of the Rebellion." | "Headquarters District of South Kansas, Paola, Kan., April 1, 1864. | |
| Lt. Col. Thomas Moonlight, | 11th Regt. Kan. Cav., Comdg. 2d Brig., Mound City, Kans.: Colonel: I am directed by the general commanding the district to communicate to you the following instructions: | The district to be occupied by the troops of your brigade and to be more particularly under your immediate supervision, consists of the eastern tier of counties north of Bourbon (County) in the district, together with Douglas County and the country adjacent to these counties on the west and such other territory as may be hereafter specially placed under your charge, You will station your troops at such points and move them in such manner as you may deem best for the security of the border placed under your charge, promptly informing these headquarters by brief reports of all important movements or changes in stations (posts or camps). |
| You will establish an efficient system of patrols to watch the country along the line and it is recommended that courier-lines be also established to insure speedy communication with the stations and detachments in case of emergency. Measures should be immediately taken to keep the troops at all times fully armed and equipped and regularly supplied, and the detachments should always be held ready to move on notice. It is possible that, in consequence of the troops having been heretofore broken up into small detachments, many of your companies are wanting in discipline and will require much labor and great vigilance to become efficient. Some complaints have been made by citizens that depredations upon their property have in times past been committed by soldiers! | ||
| Very respectfully, your obedient servant, | ||
| JOHN GRAY, Lieut. & Acting assistant Adjutant General." |
Hdqrs. 2nd Brigade, Dist. of South Kansas, Mound City, April 7, 1864.
Lt. John Gray, Acting Assistant Adjutant General: Enclosed I have the honor to transmit a printed circular of instructions, issued for the government troops under my command. The system of patrolling was the very best that I could think of. You will observe that the entire line is traveled daily by squads of 11 men, in addition to escorts for forage, etc. Less than 10, I did not think would be safe and more could not be spared from other duties.The commanding officer at Mound City can only send 5 in his turn to the Trading Post as he has another daily patrol east and south. These patrols can carry communication and unless there is something special, I think no messengers will be needed north and south. If I can get hearty cooperation of the officers in wooing the citizens into our confidence, I think the border will be safe!
Respectfully, your obedient servant,
Tho. Moonlight, Lieut. Col. 11th Kans Cavalry, Comdg. 2nd Brigade."
| "Circular of Instructions" | "Hdqrs. 2nd Brigade, Dist. of South Kansas, | Mound City, April 5, 1864. |
| With a view to securing to the citizens of Kansas living in the border counties that protection in lives and property to which they are, as loyal citizens, entitled to receive at my hands, and with which I am entrusted by the general commanding, it is hereby ordered that a continous system of patrols be kept up from station to station throughout the entire border line, as follows, commencing on the 11th instant: | First. From Mound City to the Trading Post, 1 sergeant or corporal & 4 men, returning on the 12th. From Trading Post to Rockville, 1 Sgt. or Cpl. and 10 men, returning on the 12th. Same, from Rockville to Coldwater Grove, from Aubrey to Oxford & from Oxford to Shawnee Mission. |
Second. From Shawnee Mission to Oxford, 1 Sgt. or Cpl. and 10 men on the 13th, returning on the 14th. Same from Oxford to Aubrey, from Aubrey to Coldwater Grove, from Coldwater Grove to Rockville, from Rockville to Trading Post and from Trading Post to Mound City and so on back again up the line as on the 11th and 12th. In addition to patrolling the country in the direction of Trading Post, in turn, the commanding officer at Mound City will patrol daily east and south of his post, so as to complete the chain to the southern boundary line (to the northern Bourbon County line). Daily patrolling will also be made as Colonel Hoyt may deem proper, by the troops at Shawnee Mission and town to the Kaw River.
By this system the entire line from the Kaw River to the north line of Bourbon County will be traversed daily! These patrols will carry communications from station to station and except in urgent cases, it will not be necessary to send other messengers. Commanding officers of the sub-districts and stations will be held responsible for the prompt and faithful execution of these instructions. It will not be considered the duty of these patrols to simply go from station to station, but they will be required to scour the country, searching for armed men in rebellion against the Government of the United States; to thwart the schemes and foil the plans of the enemy, who will doubtless watch these patrols with murderous intent.
Regularity as to the hour of starting will not be observed; sometimes in the morning, sometimes in the evening and again at noon; nor will directness of the route be heeded, but, on the contrary, circuits to the right and left will be made, so that every day there will be a change of direction and time in traveling, thereby preventing the possibility of running into traps likely to be laid for them and at the same time convincing the enemy that there is no safety for him on Kansas soil!
It will also be the special duty of these patrols to make themselves acquainted with the citizens on the (Kansas) border, encouraging them by soldierly conduct and gentlemanly treatment to give timely notice to the nearest military commander of the approach of an enemy and it is hereby enjoined on every officer and soldier in this command to cultivate as far as possible the acquaintance of every citizen residing within his boundary; make each and all of them feel that you are soldiers in the true meaning of the word and that your duty on the border is to protect and not persecute loyal men. By following this rule every farmer will become a sentinel and every homestead a dwelling place of loyalty and happiness.
The patrols will at all times be kept well in hand by the non-commissioned officer in charge and he will be held to a strict accountability for the conduct of his party. A list of these details will be kept by the station commanders for future reference and that praise maybe awarded or punishment meted out as deserved.
This system of patrolling will not be considered sufficient, in itself, for protection, and officers must not be lulled into security of position, but ever watchful and vigilant. A rigid and uniform system of drill must be kept in each squadron or detachment, no matter how few men may be in camp. The regulations require at least one drill each day, which must be complied with. Without regularity in drill there can be no efficiency, but in its stead lawlessness, pillage and demoralization. These are the very evils officers must guard against by a steady and firm yet equitable government.
I sincerely hope I will be spared the degradation of having to bring to justice any officer or soldier of my command for violating the rights and privileges guaranteed to any loyal citizen of the United States.
Uniformity in purpose and action, with an eye to honor and justice, is a sure guide to military fame and renown.
Thomas Moonlight Lieut. Col. 11th Kansas Cavalry, Commanding."
Did these additional patrols prevent incursions into Kansas and Missouri by the Jayhawkers, Bushwhackers & outlaws? No, not completely, but the number of raids was reduced and the war went on!