Barry County Missouri Obituary Major Charles Galloway Submitted by: Carol Hattrup (This obituary appeared in the Cassville Democrat newspaper in 1905.) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Major C. Galloway Dead A Noted Character of this Section He Took a Prominent Part in the War In Southwest Missouri. A Brave Soldier. Major Charles Galloway died at his home, near Galloway, a village named in his honor, last night. He had been in bad health for a long time and recently took pneumonia. He leaves a large number of relatives throughout this section. He was one of the characters of the early days of this country and a noted scout. For years he was a striking figure around the streets with his long hair and military beard. He was 80 years old. Leaving Indiana in 1834 Jesse Galloway, father of the deceased, settled upon Flat Creek, in what was then Barry County. The country was wild in the extreme. Deer were abundant on the hills and in the valleys; game of all kinds abounded; the forests were rich in the dainty sweets of the bee trees; grapes hung purpling in the woods ungathered and unsought; the air was vocal with the melody of a thousand songsters, and the climate itself knew neither rigor nor disease. Here Charles Galloway received the impressions that molded his character. The boy of a frontiersman, he soon became bold, daring, venturesome. The ever faithful rifle was his constant companion, and the lonely ramblings of his early manhood became a fitting pupilage for the stirring scenes of his latter life. The Mexican War breaking out he enlisted as a private in Company G, Third Regiment of Missouri mounted volunteers, Col. Rowles was commanding. The company raised in the vicinity of Springfield, Missouri was commanded by Samuel A. Boake then a well known citizen of the Southwest. Rendezvousing for the purpose of Organization at Independence, of the Missouri River, the regiment was ordered thence to Leavenworth. There its commissary stores were supplied and preparations made for war with the Indians. At this time the Apaches, Navajos and other tribes were especially troublesome, and while heavier military operations were going on below, it was necessary that the frontier should be safeguarded. To that end the regiment to which young Galloway belonged was ordered first to Santa Fe. There a post was established and Col. Rawles placed in command. From this point a potion of the regiment moved northward. Boake's company included establishing a post 75 miles higher up the Grande River, and from that time until the close of the war actively employed in operations against the Indians. Young Galloway was frequently detailed for this service and distinguished himself for his intrepidity. In an engagement with the Apaches he was painfully wounded in the foot, an injury from which he never recovered. Alternating thus between extreme peril and the leisure that a soldier often enjoys, when not in action or preparing for it, at one time boldly following the wily sons of the forest, reckless of ambuscade and another down at Santa Fe living in an adobe house and dancing with the Mexican women, he at length returned with his regiment to Independence and was there mustered out. Starting immediately for Springfield he arrived on election day and voted for Cass and Butler. At the start of the Civil War he raised a company from Stone County and tendered his services to General Lyon, then commanding at Springfield. The company was ordered to the duty of home protection and from that time until the battle of Wilson Creek remained in and near Stone County, a portion of the time held together and again separating into small detachments for better protection of families threatened by Bledsoe and his men. Capt. Galloway now bold and defiant, had become especially obnoxious to the confederates and a party of 63 were sent by Gen. Mackintosh commanding. A Texas regiment (was) in the vicinity, to entrap him. Capt. Galloway had been advised of the attack, called to his aid a few home guards thus feebly reinforced took position in the vicinity of Clark's Mills on Flat Creek. About this time he had personally (been) threatened by Wm. McKenny living on Rock House Creek nine miles northeast of Cassville, and he knew a determined effort would be made to take him. The imminence of his danger had only permitted him to gather 45 men and with these he prepared to put up a fight in the most approved bushwhacking method. A man named Peevie accompanied by 'Wild Bill' Price well known in the Southwest was cautious yet he attacked with a spirit and Capt. Galloway's reinforcement fled. His men now reduced to thirty but animated by their intrepid leader fought bravely. For half an hour the woods resounded with musketry. Galloway's men taking every advantage of trees, logs and thickets and only firing when they could draw a 'bead'. The deadliness of their aim soon had its effect; 'Wild Bill' Price vindicated his sobriquet and the recoutable Peevie turned his back on Clark's Mills. A horse had been shot from under him, fifteen of his men killed and a number wounded. Not knowing but that this attack came from the advance of the confederate army ascertained to be near, fell back and moved hastily to Springfield. Reporting in person to Gen. Lyon he was at once employed as a scout and directed to find out accurately the position of Gen. Price and his army, then supposed to be marching towards Wilson's Creek. Starting southward in company with Dr. Phillip Slaughter of Stone County, and avoiding the highways and enemy troops of John J. Smith on the Cassville road 35 miles below Springfield, they advanced under Gen. Kains. Hastily dispatching Dr. Slaughter to Gen. Lyon, Galloway struck again into the woods in that direction. Stealthily moving about here and there now on the flank of the enemy and now in the rear he soon acquired very valuable information as to their disposition and number and made all haste to Gen. Lyon. He met him two miles west of Springfield advancing upon the enemy. During the eventful 10th day of august he was 8 miles south of Wilson Creek, having been sent in that direction after the Dug Spring Skirmish and was making his way back to Gen. Lyon when the battle began. As soon as he learned the day was irretrievably lost and of the death of Gen. Lyon from whom the Southwest expected so much, he sorrowfully turned his steps toward Stone County. There again he gathered a company and when Fremont came to Springfield he tendered its services to him and was frequently employed on scouting expeditions under the superintendence of Col. John M. Richardson. The men who had repeatedly rallied under Galloway became disheartened. The company disbanded and Capt. Galloway was shortly afterwards arrested by a party of men. With twenty others he was taken to Keetsville, placed in a corncrib and held there two days and a night. Some of his old friends, however, men who were under obligation to him for favors shown before the war, interceded in his behalf and he was permitted to go home. Fourteen days before the battle of Pea Ridge, when he was again employed as a scout, and a few days later was mainly instrumental in saving a large train, then in danger of being cut off before it could reach the army. After the battle of Pea Ridge he returned home and remained, endeavoring to restore his shattered possessions, until the summer of 1862, when he was tendered a captaincy in the First Arkansas Cavalry. Accepting the proffered appointment he speedily raised a full company and on the 7th day of August was mustered into service. In the latter part of the month he signalized himself by daring forage with 100 men into Carroll County, Ark., dealing a severe blow to the opposition in that section and relieving many Union families. Not long afterward the daring Coffee appeared near the Arkansas line moving northward. His destination or number of his men no one seemed to know. Strange stories were told of his movements and wild conjectures indulged in, and shortly came the news that Cassville had been evacuated by order of the general of the district. Coffee, however, kept on until his discomfiture at long Jack compelled him to retreat. The occupation of Cassville by confederate forces shortly after the federal troops retired, was an eyesore to the Union Forces of the worst description. On the other hand, military forces were not long disturbed and a force was sent to Crane Creek with directions to keep out scouts below. Their intelligence was reliable, that Cassville was held by an enemy attachment only, and it was therefore determined to make a descent upon the town. Leaving Springfield on the 19th of Sept. with 100 men of the First Arkansas Cavalry and obtaining at Crane Creek a reinforcement of 75 under Capt. Jesse M. Gilstrap of the same regiment, Captain Galloway passed the federal pickets and struck over the hills for Cassville. All regularity of movement was now disregarded, and dividing his men into two parties he approached the town from opposite directions. Laying in the adjacent woods during the latter part of the night of the 20th, early in the morning of the 21st he dashed into town from a southern direction, Capt. Worthington accompanying him and leading a portion of men, while Capt. Gilstrap hurriedly went forward from the north. Between 150 and 200 confederates reposing in confident security, were holding the town. They were the advance of a much larger force a few miles away to the southwest and having their pickets out on the usual approaches, were unprepared for sudden attack. Had a meteor fallen into their midst, it could not have more thoroughly startled them. On the 18th of Oct. Capt. Galloway was ordered to Elk Horn Tavern. While the battalion to which he was attached remained there, he was almost constantly engaged in this perilous duty of scouting. About the first of Dec. he was sent with 100 men with Lieut. Thomas Wilhite as second in command, who was thoroughly acquainted with the country, to endeavor to break up a company of marauders known as Enyart’s band. Falling in with them on the main fork of White River, fifteen miles southeast of Fayetteville, a spirited skirmish ensued in which Capt. Enyart, captain of the band, and one other were killed and a few wounded. The rest fled towards the Boston Mountains. To repulse the marauders of the southwest, Galloway remained at Elk Horn until the 14th of Dec. when he was ordered temporarily to Cassville. Remaining there but a few days he returned with his company to Fayetteville. Arriving again in Arkansas he was put upon active duty and took a prominent part in the forays made during the winter to the Arkansas River. He dashed into Ozark on the morning of Jan. 4, 1863, was halted by the pickets, but gave his characteristic order to charge and drove a detachment of defenders out of town, captured several prisoners and horses, broke up a score of shot guns and destroyed a quantity of commissary stores. His own force was 22 men. The latent loyalty of northwestern Arkansas breaking out in the most cheering manner in the latter part of Jan. but still requiring the support of the military arm, Capt. Galloway with sufficient force was present at Huntsville on the 31st for which day a public meeting had been called. He left Fayetteville also for another purpose. It had been discovered where Peter Mankin’s band were secreting themselves in the southeastern corner of Crawford County and it was determined to break up the force. This was a part of Capt. Galloway’s duty in the discharge of which he was to receive the cooperation of Capt. Robt. Travis, of the same regiment, who had magnanimously offered to go as a spy into the dangerous cane. The above announcement of the death of Major Charles Galloway, on the night of Feb. 3, will be sad news to his many old time friends, and especially those who had known him so long and well. The Major was a man of highest integrity, honesty, strictly conscientious, brave as a lion, true as steel, and his word was his bond. He was an Andrew Jackson kind of a man. His first wife was Miss Susan Carney a sister of the late Absolom Calvin and John Carney, former well known citizens of this country, and the mother of his children. He was married three times, his first two wives died, while his last survives him. His first residence in this county was where S.A. Peck now resides on Flat Creek. His father Jesse Galloway, deceased, first settled the late Bolin G. Eden farm on Flat Creek, 3 miles south of Jenkins near Blankenship Mill. For many years he was a strict member of the Primitive Baptist Church. He was a brother of Judge Melville A. Galloway of Jenkins and Frank Galloway of near Afton, I.T. Many of the Major’s soldier comrades reside in this and Stone Counties who will be sorely grieved to learn of his passing away. Many that have gone before can meet him around the campfire in the great beyond. Major Galloway was a good man. Southwest Missouri has lost one of her best citizens. He was an uncle of recorder A.L. and Frank Galloway of this city. The Major was a Democrat of the old school and we firmly believe it was the stand that he and others took for Democracy in Barry County after the war that caused the party to have the standing in said county that it now enjoys. He was nominated by the Democrats of Barry County for the legislature in 18__, but was defeated. The election was contested by the Major, but the courts were against him. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- © 1999 Susan Tortorelli All Rights Reserved