The Lone Jack Fight
The REPUBLICAN'S efforts to bring out the hidden history of the battle of
Lone Jack seem in a fair way to be crowned with success. Several
communications have been received adding materially to the information
already published, and after pursuing those given below the discriminating
reader will probably be able to form a pretty correct idea of what really happened
on that hard-fought field. The widely varying accounts that have been current
for so many years have been largely due to the fact that the troops engaged were
made up of independent commands not thoroughly united into a regular military
organization and the officers not acting in entire harmony.
The Right Wing Heard From
NEVADA, Mo., Sept. 8.-- [Editor Republican.]-- Some time since my
attention was called to an article in the REPUBLICAN written by Maj.
Foster, in which the major drew a great many things from his own imagination.
I was requested to answer it at the time, but declined to answer it at the time,
but declined to do so, as I thought some other would improve the opportunity.
Next came "No. 2," from one Sidney D. Jackman, with a wood cut of his "phiz"
and "general" prefixed his name. This is a particular piece of writing.
For brag and bombast it has not its equal in ancient or in modern history. I do
not think that since Adam was driven from his Eden ever pretended to write the
history of any event and used as many "I's" as did our distinguished
"general" in the very remarkable article. When I was a boy there was a family
fight among the Missouri Democrats, in which the Benton and anti-Benton
factions opposed each other bitterly. In speaking of the arrogance of Thomas H.
Benton, it was the custom of the anti-Benton partisans to denominate that
distinguished worthy "Old I Did" and this
would seem a fitting name for the heroic Jackman. Therefore, I will be pardoned
for referring to him as "I Did."
The magnifying glasses worn by "I Did" makes the "I" very large, while the
"Yous" are correspondingly dimunitive. Yet many things that he relates are as
near to the truth as a mind like "I Did's" can write. It is hardly necessary, then,
to add that very many of his statements are highly
tinctured with "concentrated." Like the novel writer, he must have his hero, and
in this case his hero must be Jackman! In order to accomplish this, however,
there were several other names to get out of the way, and the first
of those was Col. Cockrell. This man was wanting in nerve- showed the white
feather- started to run back, but "I Did" and "I Said," and, finally, we went on;
and had it not been for "I Did," Col. Cockrell would have turned tail and run
back to Troy Bayou! But "I Did" saved him, and we went ahead with flying
colors.
After boasting Col. Cockrell in this style as long as necessary, "I Did" pets him
up again, just as some men fondle a dog after having kicked him out of the path.
As to how Col. Cockrell will appreciate the treatment is not for me to say.
At Lone Jack the first strike "I Did" makes is at Col. Up. Hays, who, I believe,
is dead. Hays must not have even one feather in his hat, so "I Did" boots him
clear out. Hays, out of the way, branded a coward, we will now proceed with
the battle. The lines were formed much as stated by "I Did"
Hunter on the right, Jackman in the center, and Tracy on the left. Thus formed,
we marched up near the sleeping enemy and then waited for an attack by Hays
on the east. When we heard the federals getting up I went to Jackman
and proposed to attack at once, but he would not concent, saying that the order
would not permit [it.] I told him that the circumstances were different from what
Col. Cockrell expected, and in my judgement we should move at once. This he
refused to do. Had he and Tracy concented to a charge at that time, the federal
line would have left the field dressed in white; but we must not take any
advantage; consequently we waited until they had donned the blue, seized their
guns, provided themselves with plenty of
ammunition, formed into line and counted off, as if on parade, and were thus
ready and waiting for a foe to fight. Then it was that "I Did" gave the order to
charge, when the entire line had been waiting all this time for the idea to get
through his head that the proper time to charge had already come.
When the charge was made, my command, being on the right, struck the south
part of the town, my left near the hotel and my right out along the fence, while
the federals were formed in the street. My line and their left being south of the
houses, neither side had any protection. The federals
opposing my line soon gave way and retired down the line further north, forming
behind the houses in front of Jackman and Tracy. It was not long after the fight
began until both parties took advantage of the houses on each side of the street,
and the fight was reduced to sharp-shooting- shooting from behind the houses,
from windows and from behind any objects that would shield a man's carcass
from the bullets of the enemy. After the fight had continued for some length of
time and the federals had been driven behind the houses, it was reported to me
that there was a body of cavalry threatening my right flank and moving, as if it
would attack the boys keeping our horses and our ammunition wagon. When I
heard this, I sent my adjutant, Lieut. Frost of Henry county, to see. He came
back and reported to me that there was quite a body of federal cavalry out there,
and unless immediate steps for protection were taken they would capture our
horses and
ammunition, and also be enable to charge me in the right rear. At this time
Jackman, Tracy, and the federals were all behind the houses, each on his own
side, keeping up a regular sharp-shooting match, neither trying to dislodge
the other and neither doing much damage. I had, by this time, lost seven men
killed dead and many wounded; and when I left Jackman everything was safe,
so far as an advance was concerned, and the enemy could not have turned his
right flank without first coming out from behind the houses. This I knew they
would not do; besides, if they had, I was close enough at hand to meet them
and drive them back.
I marched my command a little west of south, about 150 yards. When we started
in that direction the cavalry retired east, in behind the federal lines. During this
movement we were exposed to a raking fire from the federals in front of
Jackman, and my adjutant, Lieut. Frost, was killed and several others wounded.
When the federals, against whom we were moving, retired from the south, I
ordered my line into column facing the east, intending to march across the road,
south of the two lines, and charged the left wing of the federals and drive them
from behind the houses. When the adjutant started east, some of my officers
told me that the men had no ammunition. We had but a few cartridge boxes and
the men carried their ammunition in their pockets. (Jackman stated that we had
only six rounds to start with.) I halted the
column and passed down the line. I found that some had two cartridges, some
one and some had none, except the one in their guns. In this condition and still
under the fire of of the federals from behind the houses, I thought it best to retire
to the wagon and get ammunition, and I think that I got there about one minute
before the irate "I Did." He came up blustering, but I was busy, and paid but
little attention to him. Probably the electricity vibrating on the bristly red hair of
his head so shocked my shattered nerves
that I was dumb. However, be that as it may, it made no impression on my
mind, or I had forgotten it.
On our return to the town to renew the fight I may have fallen down (for I have
a big foot), but that has also slipped my memory. At all events I went ahead
and got up behind the houses. I got up behind one, and Jackman behind another.
I fired several shots and supposed he was equally busy, But I noticed he was as
careful to shield his carcass as I was to save mine.(By the way, neither of us
died for our country at Lone Jack.)
Finally the federals decamped. It might appear that the said Jackman showed
his fiery red head from behind the house, and the federals, thinking it a
heretofore undiscovered comet threatening them with sure destruction,
fled. But the facts are these: That man, Col. John T. Coffee, that Jackman
said had run off, happened to return just in the nick of time, when victory was
poised over the field, uncertain where to perch. Col. Coffee came up, formed his
line across the road north of town, and moved down on the field in grand style
(and that was one time I was glad to see the gallent colonel), and the federals,
not liking the looks of Col. Coffee's sharp-shooters, fled precipitously down the
road to Lexington.
This is a plain, fair and candid statement of facts. I was one of the boys that
fought at Lone Jack, and only ask my part of the honors.
As to my being a coward, the men that were with me at Lone Jack did not so
believe. When we reached Arkansas my recruits numbered 1,700. By order of
Gen. Hindman these recruits were reduced to ten companies of 125 each,
making 1,250 men, two or three hundred of them having been in the battle of
Lone Jack; and every one of them, by popular vote, voted for D.C. Hunter to be
colonel of the Eleventh Missouri Infantry. These men did not believe me
to be a coward; the men who were with me at Prairie Grove in front of Gen.
Blunt do not believe it; the confederates from Missouri do not believe it, and
now Sidney, "honest injun," laying all jealousy and pride aside, you don't believe
it yourself? Now own up and admit you just wanted to brag a little.
That boy that helped fire the hotel belonged to Capt. Lowe's company. His
name was Lafayette Logan. He was killed before the fight was over and now
sleeps under the Lone Jack tree.
Col. Jackman makes a thrust at Col. Tracy. As to the facts I cannot say, but as
Col. Tracy long ago sleeps under the sod, and cannot reply, I think it was a very
small piece of business to use his vulgar slang to dishonor the dead, that he
might boast of himself. As to Capt. Brewster and Lieut.
Herrill, both of whom he boasts out, I can say nothing as I do not know them.
It is curious, with the reputation the confederates have always heretofore
maintained, that the immortalized Jackman should have been thrown among so
many cowards. I am sory that any body of confederate troops should have been
commanded by a set of cowardly officers. And I might ask the "general" some
questions about why he left the army in Arkansas, depriving it of his valuable
services at a most inappropriate moment. The army west of the Mississippi
thus suffered about the same loss that the army of Virginia
did in the death of Stonewall Jackson; the difference was that one went to the
grave, the other back into the brush. Had Jackman remained with the army and
helped Gens. Smith and Holmes, the results of the war would have been far
different.
Col. Jackman said nothing about the cannon. I am surprised that he did not
claim that he captured them. After the fight was over there was a boy belonging
to my command, who lived two miles east of Molcombe's springs in Arkansas (I
have forgotten his name), who came and told me the cannon were down in a
field. I, with others, went back with him. We found that there were two pieces,
and they were bravely defended, but we made a gallant charge and the enemy
surrendered. An old dun horse defended one piece and
a boy and a sorrel the other. They made a gallant defence, but could not resist
our charge and so surrendered to Hunter and the Arkansas boy.
Others may claim the honor of capturing the artillery but it rightfully belongs to
the boy from Arkansas. He wore yellow jeans pants, a checked shirt of
homemade cotton cloth and a white wool hat.
As to the number killed, after the dead had been carried up and laid in rows for
burial, I went along the row and looked at the dead men. I asked the officer in
charge how many there were. He said that he had counted them and
there were 119 federals and 47 confederates. I did not count them, but from
appearances, I thought he was correct. Nine of these belonged to Hunter's
command. I never cound ascertain as to my number of wounded. Several of my
men were left in hospital, and several, who were slightly wounded, went out
with me. Some also returned to their homes and there was no report made of the
battle to my knowledge.
I do not know that it is necessary, at this late day, to answer the charges more
fully than I have, that was never made, to my knowledge, until nearly a quarter
of a century after the battle, when a majority of the participants on both sides
are sleeping in the dust. And with all the social intercourse I have had with
Col. Jackman, and with all the kind regards and personal friendship expressed
through letters from him and from others, I had no idea
that there was any venom secreted in his heart against me, and I cannot now
believe it was anything else than his inordinate love of praise that prompted
him to write as he did. It is unlikely that the appointment of United States
marshal from President Cleveland may have puffed him a
little- but I am done for the present.
Respectfully,
D.C. Hunter
Missouri Republican, September 12, 1885
The REPUBLICAN'S efforts to bring out the hidden history of the battle of
Lone Jack seem in a fair way to be crowned with success. Several
communications have been received adding materially to the information
already published, and after pursuing those given below the discriminating
reader will probably be able to form a pretty correct idea of what really happened
on that hard-fought field. The widely varying accounts that have been current
for so many years have been largely due to the fact that the troops engaged were
made up of independent commands not thoroughly united into a regular military
organization and the officers not acting in entire harmony.
The Right Wing Heard From
NEVADA, Mo., Sept. 8.-- [Editor Republican.]-- Some time since my
attention was called to an article in the REPUBLICAN written by Maj.
Foster, in which the major drew a great many things from his own imagination.
I was requested to answer it at the time, but declined to answer it at the time,
but declined to do so, as I thought some other would improve the opportunity.
Next came "No. 2," from one Sidney D. Jackman, with a wood cut of his "phiz"
and "general" prefixed his name. This is a particular piece of writing.
For brag and bombast it has not its equal in ancient or in modern history. I do
not think that since Adam was driven from his Eden ever pretended to write the
history of any event and used as many "I's" as did our distinguished
"general" in the very remarkable article. When I was a boy there was a family
fight among the Missouri Democrats, in which the Benton and anti-Benton
factions opposed each other bitterly. In speaking of the arrogance of Thomas H.
Benton, it was the custom of the anti-Benton partisans to denominate that
distinguished worthy "Old I Did" and this
would seem a fitting name for the heroic Jackman. Therefore, I will be pardoned
for referring to him as "I Did."
The magnifying glasses worn by "I Did" makes the "I" very large, while the
"Yous" are correspondingly dimunitive. Yet many things that he relates are as
near to the truth as a mind like "I Did's" can write. It is hardly necessary, then,
to add that very many of his statements are highly
tinctured with "concentrated." Like the novel writer, he must have his hero, and
in this case his hero must be Jackman! In order to accomplish this, however,
there were several other names to get out of the way, and the first
of those was Col. Cockrell. This man was wanting in nerve- showed the white
feather- started to run back, but "I Did" and "I Said," and, finally, we went on;
and had it not been for "I Did," Col. Cockrell would have turned tail and run
back to Troy Bayou! But "I Did" saved him, and we went ahead with flying
colors.
After boasting Col. Cockrell in this style as long as necessary, "I Did" pets him
up again, just as some men fondle a dog after having kicked him out of the path.
As to how Col. Cockrell will appreciate the treatment is not for me to say.
At Lone Jack the first strike "I Did" makes is at Col. Up. Hays, who, I believe,
is dead. Hays must not have even one feather in his hat, so "I Did" boots him
clear out. Hays, out of the way, branded a coward, we will now proceed with
the battle. The lines were formed much as stated by "I Did"
Hunter on the right, Jackman in the center, and Tracy on the left. Thus formed,
we marched up near the sleeping enemy and then waited for an attack by Hays
on the east. When we heard the federals getting up I went to Jackman
and proposed to attack at once, but he would not concent, saying that the order
would not permit [it.] I told him that the circumstances were different from what
Col. Cockrell expected, and in my judgement we should move at once. This he
refused to do. Had he and Tracy concented to a charge at that time, the federal
line would have left the field dressed in white; but we must not take any
advantage; consequently we waited until they had donned the blue, seized their
guns, provided themselves with plenty of
ammunition, formed into line and counted off, as if on parade, and were thus
ready and waiting for a foe to fight. Then it was that "I Did" gave the order to
charge, when the entire line had been waiting all this time for the idea to get
through his head that the proper time to charge had already come.
When the charge was made, my command, being on the right, struck the south
part of the town, my left near the hotel and my right out along the fence, while
the federals were formed in the street. My line and their left being south of the
houses, neither side had any protection. The federals
opposing my line soon gave way and retired down the line further north, forming
behind the houses in front of Jackman and Tracy. It was not long after the fight
began until both parties took advantage of the houses on each side of the street,
and the fight was reduced to sharp-shooting- shooting from behind the houses,
from windows and from behind any objects that would shield a man's carcass
from the bullets of the enemy. After the fight had continued for some length of
time and the federals had been driven behind the houses, it was reported to me
that there was a body of cavalry threatening my right flank and moving, as if it
would attack the boys keeping our horses and our ammunition wagon. When I
heard this, I sent my adjutant, Lieut. Frost of Henry county, to see. He came
back and reported to me that there was quite a body of federal cavalry out there,
and unless immediate steps for protection were taken they would capture our
horses and
ammunition, and also be enable to charge me in the right rear. At this time
Jackman, Tracy, and the federals were all behind the houses, each on his own
side, keeping up a regular sharp-shooting match, neither trying to dislodge
the other and neither doing much damage. I had, by this time, lost seven men
killed dead and many wounded; and when I left Jackman everything was safe,
so far as an advance was concerned, and the enemy could not have turned his
right flank without first coming out from behind the houses. This I knew they
would not do; besides, if they had, I was close enough at hand to meet them
and drive them back.
I marched my command a little west of south, about 150 yards. When we started
in that direction the cavalry retired east, in behind the federal lines. During this
movement we were exposed to a raking fire from the federals in front of
Jackman, and my adjutant, Lieut. Frost, was killed and several others wounded.
When the federals, against whom we were moving, retired from the south, I
ordered my line into column facing the east, intending to march across the road,
south of the two lines, and charged the left wing of the federals and drive them
from behind the houses. When the adjutant started east, some of my officers
told me that the men had no ammunition. We had but a few cartridge boxes and
the men carried their ammunition in their pockets. (Jackman stated that we had
only six rounds to start with.) I halted the
column and passed down the line. I found that some had two cartridges, some
one and some had none, except the one in their guns. In this condition and still
under the fire of of the federals from behind the houses, I thought it best to retire
to the wagon and get ammunition, and I think that I got there about one minute
before the irate "I Did." He came up blustering, but I was busy, and paid but
little attention to him. Probably the electricity vibrating on the bristly red hair of
his head so shocked my shattered nerves
that I was dumb. However, be that as it may, it made no impression on my
mind, or I had forgotten it.
On our return to the town to renew the fight I may have fallen down (for I have
a big foot), but that has also slipped my memory. At all events I went ahead
and got up behind the houses. I got up behind one, and Jackman behind another.
I fired several shots and supposed he was equally busy, But I noticed he was as
careful to shield his carcass as I was to save mine.(By the way, neither of us
died for our country at Lone Jack.)
Finally the federals decamped. It might appear that the said Jackman showed
his fiery red head from behind the house, and the federals, thinking it a
heretofore undiscovered comet threatening them with sure destruction,
fled. But the facts are these: That man, Col. John T. Coffee, that Jackman
said had run off, happened to return just in the nick of time, when victory was
poised over the field, uncertain where to perch. Col. Coffee came up, formed his
line across the road north of town, and moved down on the field in grand style
(and that was one time I was glad to see the gallent colonel), and the federals,
not liking the looks of Col. Coffee's sharp-shooters, fled precipitously down the
road to Lexington.
This is a plain, fair and candid statement of facts. I was one of the boys that
fought at Lone Jack, and only ask my part of the honors.
As to my being a coward, the men that were with me at Lone Jack did not so
believe. When we reached Arkansas my recruits numbered 1,700. By order of
Gen. Hindman these recruits were reduced to ten companies of 125 each,
making 1,250 men, two or three hundred of them having been in the battle of
Lone Jack; and every one of them, by popular vote, voted for D.C. Hunter to be
colonel of the Eleventh Missouri Infantry. These men did not believe me
to be a coward; the men who were with me at Prairie Grove in front of Gen.
Blunt do not believe it; the confederates from Missouri do not believe it, and
now Sidney, "honest injun," laying all jealousy and pride aside, you don't believe
it yourself? Now own up and admit you just wanted to brag a little.
That boy that helped fire the hotel belonged to Capt. Lowe's company. His
name was Lafayette Logan. He was killed before the fight was over and now
sleeps under the Lone Jack tree.
Col. Jackman makes a thrust at Col. Tracy. As to the facts I cannot say, but as
Col. Tracy long ago sleeps under the sod, and cannot reply, I think it was a very
small piece of business to use his vulgar slang to dishonor the dead, that he
might boast of himself. As to Capt. Brewster and Lieut.
Herrill, both of whom he boasts out, I can say nothing as I do not know them.
It is curious, with the reputation the confederates have always heretofore
maintained, that the immortalized Jackman should have been thrown among so
many cowards. I am sory that any body of confederate troops should have been
commanded by a set of cowardly officers. And I might ask the "general" some
questions about why he left the army in Arkansas, depriving it of his valuable
services at a most inappropriate moment. The army west of the Mississippi
thus suffered about the same loss that the army of Virginia
did in the death of Stonewall Jackson; the difference was that one went to the
grave, the other back into the brush. Had Jackman remained with the army and
helped Gens. Smith and Holmes, the results of the war would have been far
different.
Col. Jackman said nothing about the cannon. I am surprised that he did not
claim that he captured them. After the fight was over there was a boy belonging
to my command, who lived two miles east of Molcombe's springs in Arkansas (I
have forgotten his name), who came and told me the cannon were down in a
field. I, with others, went back with him. We found that there were two pieces,
and they were bravely defended, but we made a gallant charge and the enemy
surrendered. An old dun horse defended one piece and
a boy and a sorrel the other. They made a gallant defence, but could not resist
our charge and so surrendered to Hunter and the Arkansas boy.
Others may claim the honor of capturing the artillery but it rightfully belongs to
the boy from Arkansas. He wore yellow jeans pants, a checked shirt of
homemade cotton cloth and a white wool hat.
As to the number killed, after the dead had been carried up and laid in rows for
burial, I went along the row and looked at the dead men. I asked the officer in
charge how many there were. He said that he had counted them and
there were 119 federals and 47 confederates. I did not count them, but from
appearances, I thought he was correct. Nine of these belonged to Hunter's
command. I never cound ascertain as to my number of wounded. Several of my
men were left in hospital, and several, who were slightly wounded, went out
with me. Some also returned to their homes and there was no report made of the
battle to my knowledge.
I do not know that it is necessary, at this late day, to answer the charges more
fully than I have, that was never made, to my knowledge, until nearly a quarter
of a century after the battle, when a majority of the participants on both sides
are sleeping in the dust. And with all the social intercourse I have had with
Col. Jackman, and with all the kind regards and personal friendship expressed
through letters from him and from others, I had no idea
that there was any venom secreted in his heart against me, and I cannot now
believe it was anything else than his inordinate love of praise that prompted
him to write as he did. It is unlikely that the appointment of United States
marshal from President Cleveland may have puffed him a
little- but I am done for the present.
Respectfully,
D.C. Hunter
Missouri Republican, September 12, 1885
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