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| NEWTONIA CIVIL WAR CEMETERY |
Neosho, the county seat, was seen as THE place to "run up the flag" to show which side was in control. In the fall of 1861, Governor Claiborne Fox Jackson's pro-secessionist government set up a provisional capital and convened in Neosho. On Oct 28, they took up a bill for Missouri's secession from the Union, citing various "outrages" committed against the state and the overthrow of its government by Capt Nathaniel Lyon, Commander of the St Louis Arsenal. The bill was passed on Oct 30, and on Oct 31, 1861 it was signed by Governor Jackson. There were many questions regarding this meeting, but perhaps, the biggest question was whether Jackson's legislature had a quorum to permit it to convene — a mystery that has prompted many historians to dismiss the Neosho government as a "rump" legislature.
Leading to Jackson's move to Neosho, while governor he carried on secret correspondence with Confederate President Jefferson Davis, making plans to deliver Missouri to the Confederacy by a military coup. Jackson planned to seize the St Louis Arsenal and requested support troops from Davis. However, on April 26, 1861, under orders from the Secretary of War, Simon Cameron, Union Capt Lyon, working with the Missouri Volunteers and Illinois troops, secretly moved 21,000 weapons across the Mississippi River to Alton, IL.
On June 13th, Lyon and his forces marched on the state capitol, Jefferson City; Jackson and other pro-Confederate officials fled to Boonville, MO. Union forces routed the State Guard on July 5, and, at Carthage, MO, Jackson took command of 6,000 State Guardsmen, becoming the only sitting Governor to lead troops in battle. Although he drove back the much smaller Union detachment led by Col Franz Sigel, the Union forces were in a dominating position, and Lyon chased Jackson and Price to the far southwest of the state where they ended up in Neosho. Symbolically, Neosho ended up a "prize" take during the war.
Along with numerous small skirmishes at Granby, Oct 4, 1862 saw a significant battle for control of the lead mines.
Many of the Confederate units in the area were members of the state militia, allied with a former governor, Sterling Price, who tried to raise an army to win Missouri for the South. Union forces included some local home guard units as well as several regular army units from Kansas, Wisconsin, and Texas. Both sides had units of Native American soldiers.
The great Cherokee soldier, Confederate General Stand Watie, spent much of his time in Newton County. He led his Second Cherokee Mounted Rifles in the Battle of Shoal Creek near Neosho. Watie fought against Union forces that included Creek and Seminole Indians.
Throughout the war, Native American soldiers moved in and out of Newton County on a regular basis, back and forth from Missouri to Arkansas and back to "the Nation" (Oklahoma). General Watie, has the distinction of being the last Confederate general to surrender.
The two most significant Civil War battles in Newton County took place in Newtonia. Both fought in the fall when food was abundant. The first battle was on Sept 30, 1862 with General James Blunt against Colonel Jo Shelby and his famous "Iron Brigade". Accounts of the battle vary, depending on the author of the report, however, it is widely accepted that the Confederates had at least 4,000 men and the Union at least 6,500. One account reports 16,000 Confederates and 13,500 Union troops.
The Second Battle of Newtonia, Oct 28, 1864, was the final hope of the Confederacy in Missouri. It was the last major Civil War battle fought west of the Mississippi River.
Both of the battles in Newtonia saw action at the home and barn owned by Mathew Ritchey, a Union officer. Built in 1852, on about 20 acres, the Ritchey farm in now owned by the Newtonia Battlefields Protection Association; the remainder of the battlefield remains in private hands.
General Price was being run out of the state by the Union forces of General Blunt. Price continued his retreat at 2:00 AM on Oct 26th, heading toward Carthage; they stopped after marching for 56 miles. They rested and then moved to Newtonia and camped the night of Oct 28th. At Newtonia, General Jo Shelby protected Price's flank in a delaying action which gave Price cover to escape into Arkansas. Against Shelby's objections, Price decided to stay here for a couple of days to rest his army.
After Gen Alfred Pleasonton arrived in Fort Scott he sent a wire to Gen William Rosecrans, who had been assigned to Missouri after his humilitating defeat in Chattanooga, TN, recommending that his division cease its participation in the pursuit of Price. Rosecrans disobeyed. On October 26th, Pleasonton informed Curtis that he was ill and could not continue the pursuit but that the Missouri cavalry was still to be included.
Pursuit was slow. General Blunt's Division didn't move out until noon on Oct 26th, General John McNeil's Brigade followed. General John Sanborn's Brigade left in the afternoon and LtCol Frederick Benteen's Brigade did not get started until Oct 27th. Curtis followed after Benteen and Col John Philips' Brigade stayed in Fort Scott.
Curtis had about 5,000 men. Blunt finally caught up with Price near Newtonia on Oct 28th, catching the Confederates by surprise. Price sent Shelby to fight off the Federal attack. Although he only had about 1,000 men for the initial attack, Blunt's artillery and superior arms kept the more numerous Confederate forces from flanking his position. By afternoon, Blunt's ammunition was running low and his position was again being flanked by the Confederate forces. Sanborn's Brigade came up and attacked the flanking Confederate forces. By dusk, the Confederates withdrew with Price's army to the south.
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