The Bushwhacker. May 2014 The Civil War Round Table of Saint Louis. Cinders and Silence: Order No. 11 and Western Missouri s Burnt District

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1 The Bushwhacker May 2014 The Civil War Round Table of Saint Louis Cinders and Silence: Order No. 11 and Western Missouri s Burnt District by Tom A Rafiner Tom A. Rafiner grew up in Jackson County, Missouri. He completed his B.A. in English at the University of Missouri in Several years later he completed his M.A., again in English, at UMKC. Tom met his wife, Nancy, at Mizzou, and all three of their daughters are Mizzou graduates. In 2003, after 32 years in business, Tom retired and moved back to Kansas City from Chicago. Shortly after dipping into his family s western Missouri history, Tom moved from simple curiosity, to interested researcher, and finally to dedicated, fulltime researcher. The past 11 years have been completely devoted to uncovering and documenting families and communities contained within what became known as the burnt district. The first of his two western Missouri histories, Caught Between Three Fires: Cass County, Mo., Chaos, & Order No. 11, resulted from seven years of research. Last July his second history, Cinders and Silence: A Chronicle of Missouri s Burnt District was published. This history chronicles events along Missouri s western border from 1854 to Tom has carried the stories and history of Missouri s burnt district into over 35 Missouri counties. Cinders and Silence: Order No. 11 and Western Missouri s Burnt District will provide a documented and complete overview of the historical significance of the burnt district. Between 1854 and 1870 Missouri s western border plunged from prosperity to devastation and finally to oblivion. The violence and destruction were unparalleled in American history. This presentation chronicles the burnt district s history while exploring the reason for its rapid disappearance from Missouri s consciousness. MEETING DATE: May 28, 2014 ROYALE ORLEANS BANQUET CENTER, 2801 South Telegraph Road, Doors open at 5:30; Meal served at 6:30; Presentation at 7:30 Make reservations by May 21 via our Web Site at

2 Bushwhacker deadline: Three weeks prior to each meeting. Please submit items of interest to Walt Bittle Campaign September 24, "Price's 1864 Campaign" by Dr Mark Lause, University of Cincinnati History Professor and Author of Price's Last Campaign October 22, "Lincoln's Happiest Day" by John and Pamela Voehl, one act play of the Lincolns just prior to leaving for Ford's Theater December 3, "Ben Butler in New Orleans" by Dale Phillips, Historian and Superintendent at Lincoln Home National Historic Site January 28, 2015 Varina Davis by Sandi Swift, St Louis Educator and Living Historian, first person account February 25, Abraham Lincoln and the Press by Harold Holzer, Author, Lecturer, and Lincoln Scholar March 25, 2015 Music of the Civil War Border Region, performance by Dave Para and Kathy Barton Para April 22, "The Murder of Bull Nelson" by Chicago Homicide Detective, Author, and, Historian Rob Girardi May 27, 2015 Topic TBD by Thomas Cartwright, Historian and Storyteller Page 1

3 A Note From Our President Friends, Please join me in thanking these new volunteers for the 2014/15 campaign: Paul Hauser, president; Susan Petton, treasurer; Vincent Heier, program chair; Gary Smith, board member. Also thanks to our continuing officers and board members. Special thanks to Phil Baker, Mike Scully and Larry Lapinski for all your service to our Round Table. Please visit our website and register online now for our special group tour of the Missouri Civil War Museum on Saturday, May 17 th. Let s have a big turn-out of support for this excellent museum. Thanks, Bill Page 2

4 Officers for the Campaign President Bill Jackson Board Member Greg Wolk Vice President Murnai Winter Board Member Phil Baker Secretary Gloria Grouzos Board Member Vince Heier Asst. Secretary Ed Rataj Board Member Mike Scully Treasurer Curt Wittbracht Board Member Curtis Fears Asst. Treasurer Larry Lapinski Board Member Bob Schultz Board Member Bob Katsev Bushwhacker Editor Walt Bittle Board Member John Mullen Assistant Editor John Harris Board Member Barry Rinderknecht Webmaster Paul Ullrich Page 3

5 Events of Interest Now Through June 1, 2014 Civil War Missouri: A House Dividing Artifacts and documents. Daily 8:00 am to 5:00 pm except Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, and Easter. Missouri State Capitol Museum, 201 West Capitol, Jefferson City MO. September 13 September 14, 2014 Reenactment of the Battle of Centralia and the Battle of Mount Zion The Battle of Centralia and the Battle of Mount Zion will be reenacted each day at the historic Centralia Battlefield (3 miles SO of Centralia). One time parking fee good for the entire event. For more information, or centraliabattlefield@yahoo.com September 27 September 28, 2014 Reenactment of the Battle of Pilot Knob The Battle of Pilot Knob marked the beginning of Sterling Price's 1864 invasion of Missouri. The reenactment will be held at Fort Davidson State Historic Site in Pilot Knob and will be open to the public each day at 8:00 am. For more information, contact the historic site at October 25 October 26, 2014 Reenactment of the Battle of Albany The Battle of Albany that ended the life of Captain William T Anderson and 10 of his men on October 27, 1864 will be reenacted at the Ray County Fairgrounds in Richmond, MO For more information, or raycohistory@aol.com Check the website for events as they are added. Page 4

6 May 4 May 5 May 5 7 May 6 May 6 7 May 7 13 May 11 May 8 21 May 9 May 9 May 10 May 10 May 11 May May 13 May May 15 May 16 May 17 May 18 May 19 May 20 May May 24 May May 26 May 26 Jun 1 May 27 May 28 May May 30 May 31 May 31 Jun Years Ago May 1864 The final Spring Campaign of the Civil War began as the Army of the Potomac crossed the Rapidan River in Virginia and three smaller armys (Ohio, Tennessee and Cumberland) pushed deeper into Georgia. Battle of Albemarle Sound, NC; The radical Wade-Davis Reconstruction Act passes in the U. S. House. Battle of Wilderness, VA Robert Louden's execution is postponed by order of President Lincoln only hours before it was to take place. Battle of Port Walthall Junction, VA Battle of Rocky Face Ridge, GA Battle of Dug Gap, GA Battle of Spotsylvania Court House, VA Battle of Cloyd s Mountain, VA Battle of Swift Creek, VA Battle of Cove Mountain, VA Battle of Chester Station, VA Battle of Yellow Tavern, VA, J. E. B. Stuart [CS] is mortally wounded Battle of Proctor s Creek, VA First soldier interred at Arlington National Cemetery Battle of Resaca, GA Battle of New Market, VA Battle of Mansura, LA Battle of Adairsville, GA Battle of Yellow Bayou, LA Congress passes legislation creating the Official Records. Battle of Ware Bottom Church, VA; President Lincoln signs the legislation creating the Official Records Battle of North Anna, VA Battle of Wilson s Wharf, VA Battle of New Hope Church, GA Territory of Montana is formed from the Territory of Idaho Battle of Dallas, GA Battle of Pickett s Mill, GA Battle of Haw s Shop, VA Battle of Totopotomoy (Bethesda Church), VA Battle of Old Church, VA A small convention in Cleveland of Republican abolitionists unhappy with Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation and other things, nominates John C. Fremont for president. Battle of Cold Harbor, VA Page 5

7 Jun 5-6 Jun 6 Jun 9 Jun 9 Jul 3 Jun 10 Jun Jun Jun Jun Jun 18 Jun Jun 22 Jun 24 Jun 25 Jun 27 Jun 28 Jun Years Ago June 1864 Battle of Piedmont, VA Battle of Old River Lake (Lake Chicot), AR Battle of Petersburg I, VA Battle of Marietta, GA Battle of Brice s Cross Roads, MS Battle of Trevelian Station, VA Battle of Cynthiana, KY Battle of Petersburg II, VA Battle of Lynchburg, VA A daring escape attempt is made by the highest security prisoners. Absalom Grimes, William McElheney, and John F. Abshire are all shot and fail to escape (Abshire is executed a few months later). Two men, James A. Colcleazier and Lewis Y. Schultz are killed. Among those who escape are several members of OAK, including William Douglass. Also escaping were William Sebring and J. C. Hill who made their way to Canada and took part in the failed OAK effort to free the prisoners at Camp Douglas in Chicago. Alfred Yates and Col. John Carlin also escaped but Carlin was killed in Illinois a few months later. Battle of Jerusalem Plank Road, VA Battle of Kolb s Farm, GA Battle of Saint Mary s Church, VA Battle of Staunton River Bridge, VA Battle of Kennesaw Mountain, GA Battle of Sappony Church, VA Battle of Ream s Station I, VA Page 6

8 Jul 9 Jul Jul Jul 15 Jul Jul 20 Jul 20 Jul 22 Jul 24 Jul Jul 28 Jul 28 Jul Jul Years Ago July 1864 Battle of Monocacy, VA Battle of Fort Stevens, DC Battle of Tupelo, MS Steamers Cherokee, Northerner, Glasgow, and Sunshine burned in St. Louis Battle of Cool Spring, VA Battle of Rutherford s Station, VA Battle of Peachtree Creek, GA Battle of Atlanta, GA Battle of Kernstown II, VA Battle of Deep Bottom I, VA Battle of Ezra Church, GA The Missouri Democrat publishes long expose of O.A.K. prepared by Provost Marshal J. P. Sanderson Battle of Killdeer Mountain, ND Battle of The Crater (Petersburg), VA Page 7

9 Aug 1 Aug 2 23 Aug 5 7 Aug 7 Aug Aug Aug 16 Aug Aug 20 Aug 21 Aug 21 Aug 25 Aug Aug 31 Sep Years Ago August 1864 Battle of Folck s Mill, VA Battle of Mobile Bay, AL Battle of Utoy Creek, GA Battle of Moorefield, VA Battle of Deep Bottom II, VA Battle of Dalton II, GA Battle of Guard Hill, VA Battle of Globe Tavern, VA Battle of Lovejoy s Station, GA Battle of Summit Point, VA Battle of Memphis, TN Battle of Ream s Station, VA Battle of Smithfield Crossing, WV Battle of Jonesborough, GA Page 8

10 Editorial Cartoon of the Month Harper s, June 4, 1864 Jeff Davis: Is dat you, Butler? Is dat you? Is dat you knockin at my door? General Benjamin Butler s record as a political general had been spotty at best. Grant had ordered Butler s Army of the James to cut off supplies to Robert E. Lee by cutting the Richmond and Petersburg Railroad. Butler became bogged down at Bermuda Hundred near Richmond, and was unable to complete his assigned task. This failure coupled with his later failure to take Fort Fisher near Wilmington, North Carolina ended his military career. Member Bob Schultz has created Political Cartoons of the American Civil War, a 52-page book of contemporary cartoons from many sources. Available to members for $10 each (see Bob Schultz at the next meeting) or for $14.95 postage paid. Contact waltb50@charter.net for further details. Page 9