Biography of Capt William Marchbanks

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Submitted by: James R Baker Jr <jrbakerjr@hotmail.com>
        Date: 6 Oct 2011
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
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History of Vernon County, Missouri 1887

CAPTAIN WILLIAM MARCHBANKS.

Capt. Marchbanks was born in Overton county, Tenn., August 26, 1834. He came to
Vernon county with his father, Esq. N. R. Marchbanks, in 1841, locating on the
north side of the Osage, in what is now Henry township. According to his own
statement, after service in Bowen's battalion, he entered the State Guard
service as captain of a company, his commission bearing dated April 10, 1861. He
was in the engagements at Carthage, Wilson's Creek, Drywood, and Lexington,
besides the skirmish at Ball's Mill. After the close of his term of service in
the Missouri State Guard, he entered the Confederate service, and came up into
Missouri to recruit.

In January, 1862, Marchbanks and Capt. S. D. Jackman defeated a force of State
militia up in Bates county; but in March following Capt. Marchbanks was
captured by a detachment of the 1st Iowa Cavalry, carried to Alton, Ill., and
kept a prisoner until September 20, when he was exchanged at Vicksburg, Miss.
Soon after he returned to Missouri and recruited another company, then went
South and entered the Confederate service at Batesville, Ark.

In April, 1863, Marchbanks left the army in Arkansas and came north into
Missouri again. He had to fight every jump in the road. Near Cassville he met a
Federal company, which he fought and defeated, losing one man killed and two
wounded, while the Federal loss was 3 killed and 8 captured. Later in the month
he had a "brush" in Bates county with some State militia. Soon after he had a
skirmish with a detachment of federal cavalry who were in a store house at
Balltown, and he had two of his men wounded. In May, as detailed elsewhere, he
attacked Maj. Pugh and his party in Nevada and killed Whitley and Shuey, Capt.
Marchbanks, with his own hand, killed Whitley. Soon after came the surprise and
rout on the Marais des Cygnes, in Bates, already noted, as well as the skirmish
and running fight on and from the Blue Mounds, in this county, wherein, on both
occasions, the Federals were a part of the 1st Cavalry, Missouri State militia,
under Maj. Mullens.

In July Marchbanks skirmished with a force of Federals from Ft. Scott, in the
fork of the Osage and the Marmaton, and killed one and wounded two, without
having a man of his own killed or injured. Another skirmish is reported as
having occurred south of Cephas ford, in the fall of 1863, between Marchbanks
and 40 men of the 3d Wisconsin under Capt. Carpenter. From Mr. Waddell, of
Deerfield, it is learned that Marchbanks had one man killed.

In September Capt. Marchbanks, with his company of 40 men, attacked about half
that number of militia stationed at Quincy, Hickory county. Four of the
militiamen were killed, Seven captured, and the remainder driven away,
Marchbanks lost John Rafter killed and Weightman and Scott wounded, Soon after
he returned to the Confederate army on the Arkansas river.

In 1864 his company, belonging to Hunter's regiment, was on the Price raid,
where it did its full duty. Capt. Marchbanks was a brave and skillful fighter.
For one of his years (only 27 when the war broke out) he was remarkably
successful in his career.

Though he fought as a bushwhacker, it is said of him that he never murdered a
prisoner or a private citizen. The Federals who fought him generally respect
him. He now resides near Paris, Texas, a quiet reputable citizen.