Battle of Lone Jack
The hand-written memoirs, in pencil on yellowed notebook
paper, was not signed. There were no paragraphs and few periods.
But from careful review of the contents and language, it is believed
to be written by Corporal William L Roney, 8th Missouri State Militia
Cavalry, Company F.
Transcribed verbatim. Periods, paragraphs added for easier reading.
THE MANUSCRIPT
There was 600 of us when we left Lexington of which I will have
more to say concerning the numbers later on. We marched very
steady during the day and between sundown and dark we passed
through the little hamlet of Lone jack. We went a mile of more south
when the command halted, daylight has disappeared.
After sitting on our horses for probably 15 minutes there was a
volley of something near 100 guns up at the head of the company
and a few moments later the two artillery guns was also fired. There
being no reply from the enemy and after waiting for orders for
probably 30 minutes the first that Co. F knew, the head of the
column was countermarching back to Lone Jack, where the whole
command halter. We remained in that position for probably 10 or 15
minutes when the Adjutant came riding down the column giving the
Captains of each company the order for so many non-commissioned
officers and privates for picket guard duty.
When he reached Co. F. he said Capt. You will furnish one Sergt.
One Corporal and 5 privates to report at Headquarters immediately.
The Capt made the detail by calling the names of those that had
to go. Sergt Kidwell was the fist name called, Corp Roney was the
next, then came the 5 privates.
We rode out of the column until we came to where the guard was
forming in front of the Hotel.
The Officer began at the head of the line which was a little north
of the hotel to assign each squad to eh different directions arround
the Command. When all to my right had been assigned he asked for
the next Corporal, I answered here. He said Corporal you take the
next 3 men and go directly back from this building, meaning eh
Hotel, until you think you have gone far enough there stop and keep
a close wach for the enemy and if you see or hear any of his
moments report to headquarters immediately during the night and if
not come in at day light.
All right Lieut. Where can I get through this fense in front here,
he said there was a gate or bars a little ways south. So I found, took
my men and started directly west from the Hotel and was soon in a
field of high weeds as there had been no crop raised on it that year.
We went some 80 rods west and halted for the night.
We saw nor heard any movements of the enemy and at day light
we started in to Headquarters. When about half way we heard 3 or 4
shots fired to o8ur left. I looked in the direction, saw 4 blue coats on
their horses running east in a lane. I paid no farther attention to
them, thinking eh boys was aiming to get some chickens for
breakfast.
I rode on until I reached the street at the hotel, turned south to
where I had left eh company the night before, found the boys all up
and stiring arround. I turned to the left where there was a rail fense
staked and ridered and where all the companies horses was tied and
eating green corn from the field on the east side of the fense.
I hitched my horse, got over to get a feed for my horse and had
pulled off 5 ears when a volley of about 100 small arms sang out on
the early morning air and a few moments later both the artillery
guns with thunder peals announced the fact that the fight was on.
Excitement prevailed, officers was calling at the top of their
voice, fall in, fall in, fall,in.
By the time I got a feed for my horse Co.F was in line in the street
waiting or orders. The whole command was dismounted or they had
not time to mount.
The fight was raging north of the Hotel at the head of the Column,
somewhere not far from where the Church house now stands.
We did not have to wait long until our Company was ordered a
little south of where the road now turns west toward Russel Grove
that a Cavelry force was coming arround through the corn field on
the east for the purpose of getting into the road. We had not only got
stationed when they came charging whooping and yelling com on
boys.
When they got close enough Co.F let them have a volley which
scattered them and sent them back into the cornfield. The Company
remained here expecting them to renew the attack, which they did
not do.
In a few minutes an order came for the Company to take position
in the rear of the Hotel which we done in double quick time As we
marched in the back of a fense where the weeds was tall, two of the
enemy who had been more venturesome than the rest, had crawled
through the weeds and gained the fence. Some of the company,
who I could name, said look at them g_d d__d rebels lying there, no
sooner said than done, up went some guns and those two enemies
was no more.
We remained here in line a few minutes when w were
ordered back down to our former position that the enemy was
throwing a force arround to the east to cut us off from any outlet and
would have us completely surrounded.
Back we went on double quick time, this gave the enemy a
chance to crall up through the weeds to the position we had just
vacated. They mad a rush for the rear of the Hotel and gained
admission. Our boys from the street me them in the house and there
was furious fighting inside. Sounded like pop corn in c covered
Skillet.
Before the fighting ceased inside Smoke began to come out of
the upper window of the house followed a few moments later by
flame. This was the upper South window. No man could have lived
long enough to set fire to the building on the ground at the South
end, for the street was swarming with blue coats.
About this time Maj. Foster was wounded and an order came for
Co.F to mount and make a Cavalry charge upon the enemy which
was locate on the east side of the hedge fence east of where the
battery was located which was playing havoc with the artillerymen.
The company mounted rode up to where the battery was located
turned South knocked down a rail fence that joined onto the huge.
Went on South until a gap was found n the hedge pass through into
another corn field. Went out some twenty or thirty rows turned north
then wheeled into line and made a charge up to the hedge fence just
about where the cemetery now is.
The enemy was packed in there as thick as they could lay on the
ground. They rose up and give Co F a frightful volley, wounded
quite a few. My horse was wounded and began to plunge and buck,
I grabed hold of his mane, left my hat as a Souvenir for the enmey,
The Capt reformed us and we went out the way we had come in.
As we passed back by the artillery it had ceased fiering on account
of the artillerymen all being killed or wounded and the enemy was
coming to them by platoons from the hedge on the east
We went back down to our old position along the rail fence,
hitched horses to it, dismounted and evry man became his own
commander. It was hurrah boys, we will take that battery from the
rebels was the decission of evry man who was able to make the run
back.
By this time there was at least 150 of the enemy arround the gun.
Here began some of the most furious fighting of the day. It was
almost hand to hand encounter. Co. F had gained the rail fence just
Sough of the guns which gave them some protection. The enemy
was in the open, arround the guns. Here the slaughter went on for
quite a while.
I had missed the direction the company had taken when they
went back to retake the guns. Ia had stoped to find out how bad my
horse was wounded. I finaly located the wound and started up the
street thinking I would overtake the company. I did not find it. By
this time the upper story of the Hotel was beginning to fall and
another building across the street had taken fire. I saw three dead
soldiers laying in front of the falling building. Fire was allready
falling on them. I thought I would run in and drag them out and
started to do so, but the fire was so hot between the two buildings I
had to give it up.
I looked out to the side where the battery was and it was
swarming with the enemy. So I had to fire on one sied of me and the
enemy on the other. So I made a run for a house that stood then just
North of where the well is now. The House stood with end to the
street with a door and a window in the end next to the street.
I Saw there was many wounded Union men in there. I went in,
joined in the shooting match across the street at a small house just
south of where the church now stands.
When we had silenced the enemy there, I steped outside. Co. F
was geting the best of the enemy arround the guns and they was
trying to get to the north part of town. There were by this time some
5 or 6 of us in front of the building and we did not let an enemy get
away on that street.
I looked again in the direction of the battery, I saw the enemy all
gone and Co. F was in possession of the guns.
Two of the artillerymen who had not been wounded came to us
also and assisted us in loading them. The last shot that was sent
was directed by one of the artillerymen, he go a sight on the house
which still stands there, motioned to me to pull the lanyard, which I
did and when the ball struck the house it was in the roof. The
artilleryman said a little to high boys, load her up quick, we will get
it next short for we could see plainly that a new force was coming
onto the field.
Just then someone yelled t the top of his voice, everyman to his
horse. I looked in the direction the order had come from. I saw the
street full of cavalrymen coming from about where the church house
now stands. Us of Co. F who were at the funs had to waite until they
had passed before we could get to our horses which was tied to the
fence almost 10 yards south of were the hotel stood.
Three of Co. F boys, all dead now, took hold of one of the funs
and run it by hand a little south of where the road now turns west
toward Russel Grove, and turned into a corn field on the east side,
the route our boys was taking. Here they had stoped with it, it being
too heavy to go any farther. I came up to them, I said Corporal
Palmer, get your horse. The enemy is coming with a fresh force. He
answered with an oath that the rebels should not have that gun, but
he had to leave it.
This is my story of the Lone Jack fight, given for my Company
alone. I have not mentioned any other for I could not give a correct
account of them for the reason, like Co. F, they took many positions
during the fight.
I want to say in conclusion that our whole command after nearly
4 hours fighting, of desperate fighting, had not lost afoot of ground.
We ocupied the same ground that we were on when the fight began
and when we recaptured the guns the day was ours.
So far as to the two contending forces which had been engaged,
there was not a shot coming from the enemy from any direction. But
we did not propose to engage a new and fresh army
Source: United Daughter's of the Confederacy, Independence Chapter
The hand-written memoirs, in pencil on yellowed notebook
paper, was not signed. There were no paragraphs and few periods.
But from careful review of the contents and language, it is believed
to be written by Corporal William L Roney, 8th Missouri State Militia
Cavalry, Company F.
Transcribed verbatim. Periods, paragraphs added for easier reading.
THE MANUSCRIPT
There was 600 of us when we left Lexington of which I will have
more to say concerning the numbers later on. We marched very
steady during the day and between sundown and dark we passed
through the little hamlet of Lone jack. We went a mile of more south
when the command halted, daylight has disappeared.
After sitting on our horses for probably 15 minutes there was a
volley of something near 100 guns up at the head of the company
and a few moments later the two artillery guns was also fired. There
being no reply from the enemy and after waiting for orders for
probably 30 minutes the first that Co. F knew, the head of the
column was countermarching back to Lone Jack, where the whole
command halter. We remained in that position for probably 10 or 15
minutes when the Adjutant came riding down the column giving the
Captains of each company the order for so many non-commissioned
officers and privates for picket guard duty.
When he reached Co. F. he said Capt. You will furnish one Sergt.
One Corporal and 5 privates to report at Headquarters immediately.
The Capt made the detail by calling the names of those that had
to go. Sergt Kidwell was the fist name called, Corp Roney was the
next, then came the 5 privates.
We rode out of the column until we came to where the guard was
forming in front of the Hotel.
The Officer began at the head of the line which was a little north
of the hotel to assign each squad to eh different directions arround
the Command. When all to my right had been assigned he asked for
the next Corporal, I answered here. He said Corporal you take the
next 3 men and go directly back from this building, meaning eh
Hotel, until you think you have gone far enough there stop and keep
a close wach for the enemy and if you see or hear any of his
moments report to headquarters immediately during the night and if
not come in at day light.
All right Lieut. Where can I get through this fense in front here,
he said there was a gate or bars a little ways south. So I found, took
my men and started directly west from the Hotel and was soon in a
field of high weeds as there had been no crop raised on it that year.
We went some 80 rods west and halted for the night.
We saw nor heard any movements of the enemy and at day light
we started in to Headquarters. When about half way we heard 3 or 4
shots fired to o8ur left. I looked in the direction, saw 4 blue coats on
their horses running east in a lane. I paid no farther attention to
them, thinking eh boys was aiming to get some chickens for
breakfast.
I rode on until I reached the street at the hotel, turned south to
where I had left eh company the night before, found the boys all up
and stiring arround. I turned to the left where there was a rail fense
staked and ridered and where all the companies horses was tied and
eating green corn from the field on the east side of the fense.
I hitched my horse, got over to get a feed for my horse and had
pulled off 5 ears when a volley of about 100 small arms sang out on
the early morning air and a few moments later both the artillery
guns with thunder peals announced the fact that the fight was on.
Excitement prevailed, officers was calling at the top of their
voice, fall in, fall in, fall,in.
By the time I got a feed for my horse Co.F was in line in the street
waiting or orders. The whole command was dismounted or they had
not time to mount.
The fight was raging north of the Hotel at the head of the Column,
somewhere not far from where the Church house now stands.
We did not have to wait long until our Company was ordered a
little south of where the road now turns west toward Russel Grove
that a Cavelry force was coming arround through the corn field on
the east for the purpose of getting into the road. We had not only got
stationed when they came charging whooping and yelling com on
boys.
When they got close enough Co.F let them have a volley which
scattered them and sent them back into the cornfield. The Company
remained here expecting them to renew the attack, which they did
not do.
In a few minutes an order came for the Company to take position
in the rear of the Hotel which we done in double quick time As we
marched in the back of a fense where the weeds was tall, two of the
enemy who had been more venturesome than the rest, had crawled
through the weeds and gained the fence. Some of the company,
who I could name, said look at them g_d d__d rebels lying there, no
sooner said than done, up went some guns and those two enemies
was no more.
We remained here in line a few minutes when w were
ordered back down to our former position that the enemy was
throwing a force arround to the east to cut us off from any outlet and
would have us completely surrounded.
Back we went on double quick time, this gave the enemy a
chance to crall up through the weeds to the position we had just
vacated. They mad a rush for the rear of the Hotel and gained
admission. Our boys from the street me them in the house and there
was furious fighting inside. Sounded like pop corn in c covered
Skillet.
Before the fighting ceased inside Smoke began to come out of
the upper window of the house followed a few moments later by
flame. This was the upper South window. No man could have lived
long enough to set fire to the building on the ground at the South
end, for the street was swarming with blue coats.
About this time Maj. Foster was wounded and an order came for
Co.F to mount and make a Cavalry charge upon the enemy which
was locate on the east side of the hedge fence east of where the
battery was located which was playing havoc with the artillerymen.
The company mounted rode up to where the battery was located
turned South knocked down a rail fence that joined onto the huge.
Went on South until a gap was found n the hedge pass through into
another corn field. Went out some twenty or thirty rows turned north
then wheeled into line and made a charge up to the hedge fence just
about where the cemetery now is.
The enemy was packed in there as thick as they could lay on the
ground. They rose up and give Co F a frightful volley, wounded
quite a few. My horse was wounded and began to plunge and buck,
I grabed hold of his mane, left my hat as a Souvenir for the enmey,
The Capt reformed us and we went out the way we had come in.
As we passed back by the artillery it had ceased fiering on account
of the artillerymen all being killed or wounded and the enemy was
coming to them by platoons from the hedge on the east
We went back down to our old position along the rail fence,
hitched horses to it, dismounted and evry man became his own
commander. It was hurrah boys, we will take that battery from the
rebels was the decission of evry man who was able to make the run
back.
By this time there was at least 150 of the enemy arround the gun.
Here began some of the most furious fighting of the day. It was
almost hand to hand encounter. Co. F had gained the rail fence just
Sough of the guns which gave them some protection. The enemy
was in the open, arround the guns. Here the slaughter went on for
quite a while.
I had missed the direction the company had taken when they
went back to retake the guns. Ia had stoped to find out how bad my
horse was wounded. I finaly located the wound and started up the
street thinking I would overtake the company. I did not find it. By
this time the upper story of the Hotel was beginning to fall and
another building across the street had taken fire. I saw three dead
soldiers laying in front of the falling building. Fire was allready
falling on them. I thought I would run in and drag them out and
started to do so, but the fire was so hot between the two buildings I
had to give it up.
I looked out to the side where the battery was and it was
swarming with the enemy. So I had to fire on one sied of me and the
enemy on the other. So I made a run for a house that stood then just
North of where the well is now. The House stood with end to the
street with a door and a window in the end next to the street.
I Saw there was many wounded Union men in there. I went in,
joined in the shooting match across the street at a small house just
south of where the church now stands.
When we had silenced the enemy there, I steped outside. Co. F
was geting the best of the enemy arround the guns and they was
trying to get to the north part of town. There were by this time some
5 or 6 of us in front of the building and we did not let an enemy get
away on that street.
I looked again in the direction of the battery, I saw the enemy all
gone and Co. F was in possession of the guns.
Two of the artillerymen who had not been wounded came to us
also and assisted us in loading them. The last shot that was sent
was directed by one of the artillerymen, he go a sight on the house
which still stands there, motioned to me to pull the lanyard, which I
did and when the ball struck the house it was in the roof. The
artilleryman said a little to high boys, load her up quick, we will get
it next short for we could see plainly that a new force was coming
onto the field.
Just then someone yelled t the top of his voice, everyman to his
horse. I looked in the direction the order had come from. I saw the
street full of cavalrymen coming from about where the church house
now stands. Us of Co. F who were at the funs had to waite until they
had passed before we could get to our horses which was tied to the
fence almost 10 yards south of were the hotel stood.
Three of Co. F boys, all dead now, took hold of one of the funs
and run it by hand a little south of where the road now turns west
toward Russel Grove, and turned into a corn field on the east side,
the route our boys was taking. Here they had stoped with it, it being
too heavy to go any farther. I came up to them, I said Corporal
Palmer, get your horse. The enemy is coming with a fresh force. He
answered with an oath that the rebels should not have that gun, but
he had to leave it.
This is my story of the Lone Jack fight, given for my Company
alone. I have not mentioned any other for I could not give a correct
account of them for the reason, like Co. F, they took many positions
during the fight.
I want to say in conclusion that our whole command after nearly
4 hours fighting, of desperate fighting, had not lost afoot of ground.
We ocupied the same ground that we were on when the fight began
and when we recaptured the guns the day was ours.
So far as to the two contending forces which had been engaged,
there was not a shot coming from the enemy from any direction. But
we did not propose to engage a new and fresh army
Source: United Daughter's of the Confederacy, Independence Chapter
 | |  |
 |
| |
 |