Important events of the Civil War and Barry Co 2 Should Slavery Continue? Governor Claiborne Fox Jackson, also a democrat made known he favored secession as the best course for the state. He pushed for a convention to examine Missouri's future with the Union and expected a strong showing for separation. The convention met in Jefferson City and St. Louis during February and March of 1861. Delegates to the convention, chosen by popular ballot from their state senatorial districts, urged approval of the Crittendon Resolutions, then before Congress. These resolutions would have legalized, once and for all, slavery where it already existed, and would let new states decide their own rights and would reimburse slave owners for losses caused by abolitionist raids. The final resolution of the convention declared "At present" there was no adequate cause to impel Missouri to dissolve her connection with the federal government. Some delegates echoed sentiments of most. We disapprove a resort of arms by either side (But should the Federal Government make war upon the south for her subjugate then we do not hesitate to declare that we shall make a common cause with the south and pledge ourselves as a magnanimous people to the maintenance of that cause.) In March of 1861 the southern faction in Missouri was moving forward under Governor Claiborne Jackson. The state of Missouri had a large arsenal at St. Louis. Governor Jackson enlisted the help of General D. M. Frost, who was in command of a small group of militia, to overthrow the arsenal so it would be under Governor Jackson's control and not the United States government. The war started in Missouri on June 17, 1861 at Boonville and had already reached Southwest Missouri. The next four years would prove to be disastrous for all inhabitants including livestock. On July 25 Price's army left the Cowskin Prarie and made a 3 day march eastward across the Ozarks to Cassville. Here was Brigadier General J. H. McBride and his 700 state troops of whom were natives of the Ozark Hill country. (Ref. Goodspeed page 79.) SOLDIERS DUMPED IN OLD WELL IN BARRY COUNTY Source Ruth Brownings Tidbits listed in BCG & H Society's -Ancestors Unlimited, May 1994. Listed from the Cassville Republican of 1899. November 6, article about an old well which Ezekiah Ellis points out on his farm 7 miles south of Verona. He is son of Ben Ellis, living at the head of of Little Flat. His farm adjourns that of William Haynes on east. Event occurred here after Battle of Wilson Creek. General Price made raid through Southern Missouri at Pilot Knob, was defeated and retreated into Kansas. Their army became partly disorganized and troops undertook to make way to home in Arkansas. A company of about 75 men, well armed and well mounted, passed near Verona. The date of the battle of Little Flat Creek tallies nearly exactly with the killing of the editor's grandmother north of Mt. Vernon. She was wife of Hardin Davis, a brother of Elder Riley Davis. Sometime in the night, Price's men called at the gate and she rose and opened it. They, thinking it was the man of the house and having heard that he was a Union sympathizer , fired at the door, killing her instantly. They hurriedly rode away. Two days after a company corresponding to this rode down a little hollow that led to Little Flat Creek. The Union soldiers formed an ambuscade and after one-half hour clash had killed all the Confederates. Zeke Ellis was then six years old and witnessed fight from a high hill on which his house now stands. He helped his father, mother and brother move dead by ox wagon to the above mentioned well. They dumped them in and after three days search for more bodies the well was partially filled up and now it is in the field, an unmarked resting place for a whole company of men who beleived themselves fighting for a principle of right. (From Verona Advocate) Return to Barry County in the Civil War "Running fight at Madry ended the War in Barry County". Scrap took place Oct. 29, 1864. Article written by Bill Snyder, Daily News Staff writer. Interveiwing Emory Melton whom had researched the local stories from area folk. (This incident which may have cost up to a whole company of men for the south their lives, I think it happened in October 1861. TWR This based on reading the actual account of the Upshaw Farm from the Offical Records which did happen on the date in 1864 mentioned; also other casualties happened the same day as reported by General John Sanborn. The Lawrence County Historical Society reported in an article a Mr. Stephens had served with the 15th MO Calvary on this date and had been in a unreported battle that claimed 64 Confederates & they had taken 30 + prisoners. They also had thrown 35 into a well. He had been quoted that they had not wiped out any unit completely nor did they ambuscade them as stated in the earlier incident that I think has been confused with the Upshaw Farm happening. More research is needed as it could be the same as I don't discard this being one and the same. ==================================================================== Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: © Susan Tortorelli - Ted Wayne Roller <> ==================================================================== © 1999 Susan Tortorelli All Rights Reserved