LONE JACK’S GLORY

Grand Celebration at that Point by Ten Thousand People Yesterday,
The Affair One of the Most Successful Ever Held Within the County.
Plenty of Candidates on Hand Who are Victimized Into Speech
Making.

They had a grand celebration down at Lone Jack, in the eastern portion of
the county, yesterday, in commemoration of the battle at that point during
the "late unpleasantness," and it was estimated that between eight and ten
thousand persons were on the ground. The people came from all over the
county, and quite a number camped out in the neighborhood, having reached
the locality on Sunday. A short sketch

OF THE BATTLE

May prove interesting to those who know little of it. Where the town of
Lone Jack now stands, one of the bloodiest battles of the war was fought.
Not the largest number slain, but a larger proportion of those engaged in the
conflict lay dead and dying upon the gory earth at the close of the battle,
than in any other of the four years’ bitter strife. About eight hundred Federal
soldiers, under command of Maj. Emory S. Foster had been for several days
encamped in the town of Lone Jack. On the evening before the battle,
Confederate forces to the number of about 1,200 under the charge of Co.
John T. Coffee, Maj. Upton Hayes and Col. Vard Cockrell, together with
a few of Quantrill’s brigade, encamped near the town, totally unaware of the
proximity of the antagonistic squadron. At daybreak on the 16th of August,
1862, the forces of each army discovered the other and the struggle
commenced, not to end till the retreat of the Federal troops at 3 o’clock p.m.
Old men who were engaged in it say after the first few shots were fired the
fight was hand to hand, and it seemed almost impossible in the smoke and
excitement of the moment to distinguish friend from foe. The Federals left
more that two-thirds of their force behind them when they retreated from the
field before their conquering foes. A jack oak tree stood [ ] upon the plain
overlooking the scene and under its spreading branched the confederate dead
were buried. The tree finally died, and a marble monument was erected in its
stead to mark the grave of the dead. Each year on the 16th of August, the
people of the county assemble to shake each other by the hand and join in
praises that sweet peace once more shed her influence over the country, and
also to keep alive the memory of those who fought and died for the cause
nearest their hearts. This meeting of memoration took place yesterday and
was a most happy one.

Thousands were present, comprising all grades of religious and political
belief, and not a word was spoken to mar the peace and serenity of the
meeting. All were in the best of humor, and came to please and be pleased.
The meeting was held in a lovely grove belonging to Mr. Griffith, about two
miles south of the town of Lone Jack. Everything, which could be done for
the comfort and convenience of guest, was done. Bounteous tables were
spread with the best of the land, and he must indeed be difficult to please
who would not find everything to his taste.

Many persons from Kansas City went by way of Pleasant Hill, and the
long ride over dusty roads was anything but a pleasant one. The main
thoroughfare was crowded with vehicles of all descriptions, and it seemed as
if the entire population of the county had turned out for a grand gala time.
The marshals of the day were Messrs. Col. Bohannon, of Ray County; W.
D. Round, John Koger, David Graham, J.H. Harris, James Meadow, Wm.
Hulse and Daniel Smith. Mr. Meadow participated in the fight at Lone
Jack, as did Col. Bohannon, who received two severe wounds during its
progress. He introduced the speakers and made some very feeling remarks
upon the dead who gave their lives up for the cause they had espoused. The
gentlemen who spoke did not pretend to make elaborate orations, but simply
uttered the overflow of full hearts beating in sympathy with their audience.




Kansas City Times, Tuesday, August 17, 1880