Battlefield Dispatches No. 219: 'Burning, Pursuing and Killing'

During the Civil War, the burning of homes, barns and towns in eastern Kansas and western Missouri was a common practice before it became part of the "total war" that was waged east of the Mississippi River. Very often, here on the "western frontier of civilization", the perpetrators of the "burnings" were not pursued, apprehended or killed because they could not be located in this a perpetual "Guerrilla War." However, there were exceptions to this and one of these exceptions is described in the following after action reports. All of these reports are located on Pages 1006, 1007, 1009 and 1010 in Vol. 34, Part I Reports of the Official Records of the War of the Rebellion.

"Springfield, Mo, June 14, 1864.

Melville, in Dade County, was entered this morning by a force of the enemy, estimated at 400 and mostly burned. The enemy came from the northwest and moved off in the same direction. Our troops are following them. I respectfully request permission to come to Saint Louis for a conference with the General commanding as soon as condition here will allow me to leave.

JOHN B. SANBORN,

Brigadier General, Commanding."

"Headquarters,

Greenfield, Mo., June 14, 1864.

General: Melville was attacked this morning about sunrise by about 75 BUSHWHACKERS; they succeeded in BURNING THE TOWN and killing several men mostly citizens. I think there were only a few militia there and I think they were completely surprised.

Major Morgan, with most of the men there, was on a scout in the Horse Creek country. The rebels came in from the northwest direction and were commanded by Pete Roberts. The rebels left there about 8 o'clock before I got information of the direction they went. I then immediately sent Lieutenant Clevenger in pursuit of them with 50 men. The rebels went in a northwest direction toward White Hare or Sons Point; burned several houses on the Sac River as they went. I have some hopes that Lieutenant Clevenger will overtake them; if he does, I expect to hear a good account of him.

Captain Higgenbotham's company has just moved in here from the Pennsylvania Prairie. The captain with 20 of his men, have gone after them. I will call the citizens tonight; enough men here to defend this place. I think the commanding officer at Melville is to blame for not informing me sooner than he did of the affair and the direction the BUSHWHACKERS went.

I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

C.S.MOORE,

Captain, Commanding.

[To:] Brigadier Gen. J. B. Sanborn

Commanding, Dist. S. W. Mo., Springfield, Mo.

P.S. Major King, inspector, arrived here last evening. He will probably remain until the 161 instant.

C.S.M."

"June 15, 1864 Skirmish near White Hare, Mo.

Springfield, Mo., June 17, 1864.

Major: Major Mitchell, 7th Provisional Regiment, with a portion of Company E, 6th Missouri State Militia and a portion pfhis own command, came upon the force that BURNED MELVILLE, near White Hare, on the 15th instant and immediately made a charge upon it and KILLED 6 of the ENEMY DEAD ON THE SPOT. wounded a large number and captured 11 horses and scattered the force in all directions. This force was made up of PETE ROBERT'S and HINCH WEST BAND'S, numbering only about 80 men and not 400 as was first estimated and reported. Our troops are still destroying them.

JOHN B. SANBORN,

Brigadier General Commanding.

[To:] MAJOR. O. D. Greene,

Assistant Adjutant General."

"Headquarters Post,

Greenfield, Mo., June 16, 1864.

General: I have the honor to report that the command that left here on the 14th instant in pursuit of the BUSHWHACKERS that BURNED MELVILLE. MO., on the 14th instant, formed a junction with apportion of the Enrolled Missouri Militia and citizens from Melville and vicinity about 4 o'clock and followed it [their trail] until dark, when the rebels scattered. The command then went 15 miles in the direction of Lamar to try to strike the trail of the rebels and camped on Horse Creek about midnight. Started in pursuit again on the morning of the 15th and came on the rebels in camp about 12 o'clock on the 15th. The rebels were selling off at auction to one another the goods they had stolen at Melville before they burned the town. They [the rebels] were taken completely by surprise. Our men immediately charged them and routed them, KILLING 7 rebels and wounding a number more, and capturing all most all the goods they had stolen, together with about 15 horses.

Our troops did well. The rebels scattered. Our men were too much fatigued to pursue them.

A large portion of the captured property was turned over on the spot to the citizens at Melville that claimed them. A portion of it is in the hands of the Enrolled Missouri Militia that participated in the fight. A portion of it my men brought off, consisting of dry goods & etc., which I have taken possession of and will turn over to the legal owners upon their identifying the same. Our loss was none killed, 1 or 2 Enrolled Missouri Militia slightly wounded.

C. S. MOORE

Captain, Commanding Post.

June 17, 1864.

Yesterday I sent Lieutenant Murphy with 40 men to the Horse Creek country, to try to ascertain, if he could, whether the rebels were still in the country. He retuned this morning, stating that he thinks that they have left the country.

C. S. MOORE,

Captain Company E, 6th Cavalry, Missouri State Militia,

[To:] Brig. Gen. J. B. Sanbom,

Springfield, Missouri."

Now then, was the burning of Melville, Mo., completely avenged? No, not completely, because a number of the Confederate guerrillas did not meet "Death Riding a Pale Horse" on June 15 and managed to escape to fight another day and of course the War Went On!