Battlefield Dispatches No. 217: 'Shot Dead'

During the Civil War, death riding a pale horse claimed the lives of soldiers and civilians in many ways. However, disease accounted for most of the deaths that were the result of infections or an illness in which the patient suffered and lingered while waiting for the pale horse to arrive. Others, the lucky ones in any war, died instantly in combat by receiving a mortal messenger in the form of a bullet or artillery fragment and were "SHOT DEAD!"

The following after action reports describe the death of two Union officers, a civilian and four bushwhackers who were killed instantly having been "SHOT DEAD." All of the reports are located on Pages 966-968 in vol. 34, Part I, Reports of the Official Records of the War of the Rebellion.

"Hdqrs. Battalion, 8th Mo. Militia Cavalry

Neosho, Mo., June 3, 1864.

General: this morning at about 8 o'clock 20 bushwhackers ran on 2 men of Company L, 3 miles from this place, killing 1 and capturing the other (Sergeant Rurak). I immediately started out a scout of 30 men under Captain Rurak, who overtook the rebels about 9 or 10 miles from here. The captain as soon as he came in sight of the rebels ordered his men to charge. After the fight was over 4 BUSHWHACKERS were found DEAD on the ground.

Lieutenant Smith of Company M, was pursuing a bushwhacker closely, who turned and SHOT the lieutenant through the HEAD, KILLING HIM INSTANTLY. Sergeant Rurak was released and his life no doubt saved by this speedy pursuit.

Your Obedient Servant,

H. D. MOORE,

Captain, Commanding Post."

"Post Neosho, Mo., June 3, 1864.

Captain: In obedience to your orders, on the 3rd instant, I took command of 30 men of Companies H, L and M, 8th Missouri State Militia Cavalry & Captain Kelso & lieutenants Hunter & Smith, of the same regiment and pursued a band of guerrillas which, under the command of one Goode, had sulked slyly within the vicinity of this post and killed 1 soldier and captured another. I struck their trail and followed them about 10 miles and found them dismounted and seeing that the prisoners in their custody were out of danger, I ordered the men to charge, which they did promptly. The guerrillas scattered in every direction and 3 of their number, Steen, Hickey & Linzy were killed on the spot! We lost John t. Smith, 2nd Lieutenant Co., M, 8th Mo. State Militia Cavalry, who was SHOT DEAD in the charge. Like a brave soldier he died at the post of DUTY & HONOR!

I am, Captain, with great respect, your most obedient servant,

OZIASRURAK,

Captain, co. L, 8th M.S.M. Cavalry."

"Hdqrs. Co. B 4th Cavalry, Mo. State Militia.

June 7, 1864.

Sir: I have the honor to report the results of a scout sent out under me on the 3rd instant, consisting of Lieutenant McClellan & 40 enlisted men of Company B, 4th Cavalry M.S.M. After leaving Sedalia on the above named day I divided the company, sending Lieut. McClellan & 28 men directly to the Willow Ford on La Mine Creek, in Cooper County, Mo., & I proceeded with the remainder toward Mastim's Bridge on La Mine Creek, on the main road from Boonville, Mo., to Georgetown, Mo., until within some 4 miles of the bridge; then taking by-paths and old roads, arrived at said Willow Ford just at sunset without hearing of any guerrillas being in that direction. On the morning of the 4th of June 1864, we started for Pilot Grove, in Cooper County, Mo., where I arrived with the company at 11:30 a.m. with the intention of going intocamp, but on hearing of a band of guerrillas in the vicinity of Pilot Grove Post Office, Cooper County, Mo., started there immediately, but arrived about one hour after they had left.

They killed CAPTAIN MAYO of Cooper County, Mo., who at the time was at the post-office. They also shot Mr. Brownfield of Pilot Grove, Mo., in the hand, but he made his escape into the brush.

After this they took an old road which led into the one I had just come on, which crossed the La Mine Creek at Willow Ford some 10 miles above the named post office. From there they went directly to Longwood, Mo., and ROBBED the citizens of what they wanted, leaving some two hours before sunset. I followed them as fast as possible until 11 p.m. on the same day, when I camped on the farm of Mr. Sellers in Saline County, Mo., until the morning of the 5th instant.

We again started in pursuit, crossing the Blackwater at Buffalo Ford, 5 miles below Brownsville, Mo., with the expectation of getting ahead of the bushwhackers, but they changed their course and passed up south fork of the Blackwater some 9 miles from Brownsville, Mo., where they began to scatter out in small gangs and I think from the information obtained from a reliable citizen that a large portion of the guerrillas live in Johnson County, Mo., above Knobnoster and that the goods they took were for the benefit of their families.

Respectfully, your obedient servant,

W.D. BLAIR

Capt, Co. b, 4th Cavalry, Mo. State Militia."

"Fort Scott, June 6, 1864.

[To General McKean]

About 40 BUSHWHACKERS attacked Captain Craft of the Indian Brigade, who had started up to meet the refugee train at Hudson's Crossing on the Neosho, 80 miles south of this [Fort Scott], on the Military Road to Fort Gibson, day before yesterday morning at daylight, but were soon repulsed.

Following them up, Captain Craft found and burned their camp; released a colored woman and 4 children they had taken from Shawnee Creek last Wednesday. They [the BUSHWHACKERS] were half-breed Cherokees in Federal uniform.

Charles W. Blair,

[Commanding, Fort Scott.]"

It is interesting to note that Lieut. Smith's commanding officer states that "Like a BRAVE SOLDIER he died at the post of Duty & Honor" which can be considered for all the soldiers who died in combat wearing the Blue or the Gray and of course the War Went On!