COLE CAMP MISSOURI

~~ No pictures -- too much rain!!

Frequently on this trek, it was like meeting up with "old friends." I am finding the same names and military units in the battles that took place throughout Arkansas and Missouri as I found on my trip north last summer though Oklahoma and Kansas. It's always good to see ol' friends again!

I was looking forward to visiting the battlefield monument at Cole Camp (the battlefield has not been preserved), but Mother Nature and the Highway Department had a different idea. The drizzle turned from showers to a gully-washer and as I neared the intersection were I would turn to go to the monument, I was greeted with a ROAD CLOSED sign. It went on to say, “Local Traffic Only,” but not being familiar with the roads, I decided to turn around and head back to the highway. I left the last of my daisies at the Road Closed sign – I guess my 'friends” will understand!

I'll make Sedalia before supper time – it's only about 30 miles north of Cole Camp....wish the rain would stop!

Cole Camp Missouri is situated in Missouri where “the prairie and the Ozarks meet.” South of the Missouri River, in west-central Missouri, the hills 'gently roll' and the inclines aren't quite so steep! Settled by Ezekiel Williams and the southern families that followed him from Virginia, Williams named the town when he established a post office in 1830. By the 1840s, German immigrants arrived.

By the time of the Civil War, crossroads of 4 highly traveled roads came through or passed near Cole Camp. Any information or troop movements about the state would eventually pass through the area. Today, with a rich German heritage, downtown, dating from the late 1800s, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places with many of the 19^th century structures preserved.

Missouri was a state divided; many of the settlers in the area were from the south and held their southern sentiments. Those from the north, east or immigrants tended to be pro-Union abolitionists. Suspicion and hostilities were ever-present.

On June 19, 1861, one of the first Civil War battles in Missouri, was fought just outside town. The “German Regiment, Missouri Volunteers” clashed with units of the Missouri State Guard fleeing south with Governor Jackson. The skirmish is reenacted every 2 years by descendants of those men.

The Battle of Cole Camp showed the brutality of the unconventional warfare of the time, the division and prejudices in small, rural communities, and it was glimpse of what the next 4 years would hold.

Earlier in the year, Missouri had found itself in a conflict between the pro-Union military and the pro-secessionist governor. As negotiations in St. Louis ended, Gov Claiborne Jackson and his general, Sterling Price, hoping for the protection of the Confederacy, were on the run towards the southwestern Missouri.

On June 15, 1861, Union Gen Lyon occupied the capitol, Jefferson City. Two days later, he routed the Missouri State Guard assembling with Gov Jackson at Boonville. As the Governor and his guard headed toward southwest Missouri, Lyon authorized Union-loyal communities to establish and arm Home Guards for protection and to interfere with Jackson's retreat.

At Cole Camp, Abel Cook was commissioned to enlist men for the Home Guard. Rallies were held on June 11 & 12 and over 900 Benton County men, mostly Germans, gathered and established "Camp Lyon." Of the initial 900 men, most were sent home; Cook had access to only 400 smooth-bore muskets.

On a ridge between the farms of John Heisterberg and Henry Harms, the guard established their camp. German immigrants made up the core of the guard and very few had any military experience. There were no officers, so they were elected by popular vote. Lack of experience led to numerous problems, compounded by an abundance of whiskey and lack of discipline. The men were over-confident, poorly trained, lacked weapons and ammunition and in 6 days they would meet a force they were incapable of handling.

Twenty miles south, a pro-secession force was gathered at Warsaw. Captain Walter O'Kane and Major Thomas Murray organized 2 units with a combined force of 350, with 100 mounted. O'Kane was put in command.

With scouting information from Benton County Sheriff B. W. Keown, the State Guard planned a march to open a route for Governor Jackson during his retreat and while they were in the area, they could attack the “hated Dutch.” From the sheriff's reports, they decided to advance at night.

Keown had gone to Camp Lyon to “arrest” Cook and Mitchell; they refused to submit. The "arrest" was actually cover for his real mission of gathering intelligence. A Confederate victory would assure the Governor and the Missouri State Guard, along with their sympathizers, would have clear passage as they fled Union Gen Lyon.

The Warsaw unit carried a Union flag used to get by pickets and soldiers. On June 19th, shortly after midnight, as they marched up the Butterfield Trail, they encountered a Unionist, John Tyree. Tyree reported the incident to Cook, however, Cook did not take his report seriously. As Tyree was returning from Camp Lyon, O'Kane's men captured him, tied him to a tree and shot him as a spy.

Around 3:00 AM the State Guard arrived at Camp Lyon. The cavalry was sent to attack from the southwest, the infantry unfurled a Union flag, confusing the Union guards, who were bayoneted before they could sound the alarm or fire a shot.

The rebels rushed the Heisterberg barn, shouting, “No mercy for the Dutch!” firing into the barn killing 15 to 20 sleeping soldiers and wounding many more. About 400 men were in camp, 125 asleep in the barns, with the muskets stacked outside; the men were caught off-guard. No one had suspected any danger. There had extensive drinking the night before and the men were sleeping when the attack began.

At the sound of gunfire, the soldiers began to fire into the Southerners flank, pushing them back until they regrouped and again attacked the barn, now empty except for dead and wounded. The Union soldiers, out of ammunition, retreated to the woods.

A company of Home Guard under Union Capt Elsinger, just north of the barn, responded. Due to a lack of ammunition, they were forced to withdraw as the State Guard cavalry flanked them and chased them to the woods. Due to dense undergrowth, the cavalry did not follow.

South, at the Harms barn, Union men under Capt Grother and Capt Mueller formed up to join the battle. They saw the approaching Union flag and before they knew what was happening, the Southerners fired on them, killing many, causing the untrained men to retreat.

In the chaos and panic, the Union Home Guard abandoned nearly every weapon; 362 of 400, fell into the hands of the State Guard. The bloodiest battle the Civil War had seen to date was over in 30 minutes. The Confederate victory opened a path for the fleeing governor and the Missouri State Guard.

By dawn, the State Guard troops, managed to confiscate all of the available whiskey! Harassment of the prisoners ensued. One German spoke little English, was shot because he stated he was a cook, not a soldier, and in their drunken state they believed him to be the Home Guard commander, Able Cook.

Women from nearby farms took care of the wounded under under a flag of truce and the “walking wounded' were taken as prisoners back to Warsaw.

Nearly a third of the German’s were casualties, somewhere around 35 to 40 dead, 60 wounded and 25 to 30 had been captured. O'Kane's force captured 362 muskets with bayonets that would prove useful at the battles of Carthage and Wilson's Creek. Secessionist losses were 7 killed and 25 wounded.

Home Guard Commander, Capt Cook, left at the beginning of the fight, stating a need to consult with Capt Totten of Lyon's forces. However, his men believed he fled the fight. His command ended in July and his widow was denied a pension after the war.

When O'Kane's men joined up with other Missouri State Guard units, their experience provided a morale boost to the rest of the force.

Sheriff Keown was captured along with 683 other Missouri State Guardsmen on December 19 in the Skirmish at Blackwater Creek. As a result of his actions at Cole Camp, he was charged with spying and robbing loyal citizens. He died in prison on April 16, 1862 before he could be brought to trial.

People who study the Missouri conflicts know little about the events in Cole Camp. According to historian Robert L. Owens, “The most logical explanation is that the two forces involved were hastily thrown-together, rag-tag outfits with no regular officers or forces involved so there were no reports or details.”

An eyewitness to the event at Cole Camp, Friedrich Schnake, stated that he believed Union Gen Lyon took “no measure to pursue the retreating Confederates” and that he “remained quietly with his men in Camp Cameron, near Boonville, until 3 July, as if nothing happened.” He believed Lyon disliked and distrusted Germans, 95% of the Benton County Home Guard. Although some information 'leaked' out about the skirmish, Lyon did not file an official report. Lyon would meet his fate at Wilson’s Creek; ironically, his battle plan partner was a native German, Col Franz Sigel.

The question remains as to why the Battle of Cole Camp has fallen into obscurity? Why has it never received the attention that other battles have, with equal or less casualties? Larger battles over-shadow the events at Cole Camp and the defeat was seen as an embarrassment. Official reports seem to be non-existent. Cole Camp is not listed as one of the battles by the National Park Services Civil War Battle Summaries, nor has the battlefield been preserved.