Blackened Post Marks Four Soldiers' Graves.
1918, History of Johnson County, Missouri
by Cockrell, Ewing
This bridge was built of wood, and timbers of white oak sunk deep in the mud upheld the framework and the floor. Surmounting the floor was another framework some twenty feet high with rafters and roofed with shingles. Taken altogether, it was a massive structure, all built of heavy timbers.
1918, History of Johnson County, Missouri
by Cockrell, Ewing
Remains of First Blackwater Bridge on Lexington Road Reminder of General Price's Raid, 1861.
https://civilwaronthewesternborder.org/encyclopedia/first-battle-lexington-or-battle-hemp-bales
15,000-20,000 MSG Troops
— Just west of the bridge (Old Hwy 13 Bridge) which spans Blackwater, on the road that leads from Warrensburg to Lexington, and only a few yards from the place where Post Oak empties into the mother stream, one may, by creeping down the steep bank, and peering into the water, see the top of a blackened post. The wood is old and decayed, for murky floods have flown over and around it for seventy years. It is a part of the pioneer bridge which spanned the stream.
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| The original shingled, wooden covered bridge over the Blackwater just North of Warrensburg, Mo., could have looked similar, before it was burned down to slow advancing Confederate Army...."(The) bridge was built of wood, and timbers of white oak sunk deep in the mud, upheld the framework and the floor. Surmounting the floor was another framework some twenty feet high with rafters and roofed with shingles. Taken altogether, it was a massive structure, all built of heavy timbers." |
A few yards to the east traffic from the north thunders over a steel bridge and gay parties pass in automobiles who never dream that hidden near are the remains of the old causeway whose blackened stump stands as a monument to the first four Johnson county boys who gave up their lives that the nation might live. Even the names of these martyred heroes have been forgotten and perhaps their bones rest yet in the mold beside the blackened post, for their comrades left them where they fell and hastened on. For at the heels of the retreating Federals were the victorious hordes of General Price.
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Confederate General Sterling Price
Sterling "Old Pap" Price (September 14, 1809 – September 29, 1867) was an American lawyer, planter, soldier, and politician from the U.S. state of Missouri, who served as the 11th Governor of the state from 1853 to 1857. He also served as a United States Army brigadier general during the Mexican-American War, and a Confederate Army major general in the American Civil War. Price is best known for his victories in New Mexico and Chihuahua during the Mexican conflict, and for his losses at the Battles of Pea Ridge and Westport during the Civil War–the latter being the culmination of his ill-fated Missouri Campaign of 1864. Following the war, Price took his remaining troops to Mexico rather than surrender. He unsuccessfully sought military service with Emperor Maximillian there. He ultimately returned to Missouri, where he died in poverty. He was buried in St. Louis.
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After the little army of recruits had passed over the bridge, Colonel Marshall decided it must be burned to stop the progress of the pursuing enemy. Torches were applied and the great structure was soon burning. Colonel Marshall then ordered a company to stay at the bridge and defend it while the balance continued their long march north to Lexington.
The smoke of the burning structure was seen rolling over the hills to the south by the advance guard of Price's army who hastened forward in order to save the bridge. They reached the bluff to the south of the bridge and saw the little company in the bottom beyond guarding their work of destruction. Rifles fast swept the line of blue, and six men fell. Their comrades replied, firing into the dense underbrush which covered the bluff, with such vigor that the advance guard retired. But again advancing the rebels poured a deadly fire into the little company who slowly retreated with their faces to the foe across the broad Blackwater bottom. But four of their men lay at the edge of the burning bridge. They had given their lives for their cause and they did not die in vain, for the bridge at Blackwater burned to the water's edge and the soldiers of General Price were delayed many hours in their victorious march on Lexington. J. M. S.
Confederate attack on Lexington shows the hemp bales at the center, with gun smoke rising above them. The Masonic College is in the right background of this drawing.
Price’s victory at Lexington accomplished much. At the cost of only 97 casualties, 25 dead and 72 wounded, he had captured more than 3,300 enemy troops and inflicted 150 casualties. His poorly armed troops obtained more than 3,000 rifles, seven cannons, 750 horses, and large quantities of wagons and equipment.
Although Price returned all the cash seized by the Federals from the Farmer’s Bank of Lexington, he retained $37,000 in badly needed gold which the state legislature had authorized him to appropriate for military expenses. Most importantly, he had lifted the morale of secessionists and State’s Righters throughout Missouri.
Although Price returned all the cash seized by the Federals from the Farmer’s Bank of Lexington, he retained $37,000 in badly needed gold which the state legislature had authorized him to appropriate for military expenses. Most importantly, he had lifted the morale of secessionists and State’s Righters throughout Missouri.
Drawing of the First Battle of Lexington, aka the Battle of the Hemp Bales. Courtesy of Harper's Weekly.
Drawing of the First Battle of Lexington, aka the Battle of the Hemp Bales. Courtesy of Harper's Weekly.
Event Summary:
Date: September 18-20, 1861, with skirmishing starting September 12
Location: Lexington, Missouri
Adversaries: pro-Confederate Missouri State Guard Maj. Gen. Sterling Price and deposed Missouri Governor Claiborne Fox Jackson vs. Union Col. James A. Mulligan and Maj. Robert T. Van Horn
Size of Forces: 15,000 to 20,000 in the Missouri State Guard (MSG) vs. approx. 3,500 Union soldiers
Casualties: Approx. 100 from the MSG vs. 1,774 Union soldiers killed, captured, wounded, or missing
Result: MSG victory, $900,000 confiscated by the victors
The Battle of Lexington, Missouri, fought on September 18-20, 1861, was a victory for the Missouri State Guard (MSG) in the early stages of the Civil War. In the short term, the victory boosted the spirits of Missouri secessionists, but the State Guard failed to leverage any long-term gains from the “Battle of the Hemp Bales,” so-called because the MSG used hemp bales to encircle the federal position at Lexington.
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| The Civil War-covered bridge would have been in this area, West of the old Highway 13 bridge approximately 200 yards. |
