Ozarks' History: April 2014

Monday, April 28, 2014

The First Raid & Skirmish at Mountain Home, Part 1

Note: This post is the first of five of articles on the Civil War in the Ozarks. This series contains five installments over the next five weeks. These articles can also be found on the Baxter Bulletin every Monday. Some articles in the Bulletin have been edited down to fit the word count requirements for the newspaper. These articles will be posted here every Tuesday; they are posted in their entirety with pictures & links.

Enjoy your Ozarks' History.

Vincent

The first sharp pangs of the Civil War subsided momentarily in Northern Arkansas on the White River after the death of Lt. Heacock and the Davis family. Scouts & spies loyal to the North sent rumors & reports of the activity across the state-line into Missouri. The Butternut Rebels quickly made inventory of the destroyed saltpeter mine & powder works, and they were quickly mobilized back into a coherent unit in producing Confederate gunpowder. This strategic spot, Bean Cave, was also known as “Barnett’s Bluff,” “Cave Bottom,” or the “Saltpeter Cave.”

On the 23^rd of March, 1862, reports had reached Maj.- Gen. Henry Wager Halleck at Union headquarters in Ozark, Missouri, that the Marion County production of gunpowder, on the White River had recommenced. Additional intelligence was relayed concerning the figure of about 100 slaves working in the mining and production process, along with a company of soldiers set about to guard the premises. Request was made for a detachment of cavalry from Springfield to destroy these works, and free the slaves being employed in enemy's service. It would take eight months for the Union to gather more intelligence and to make plans for a major expedition in order to make a substantive attack on this part of the White River again.

General Henry W. Halleck

Many of the local men in Northern Arkansas, in the 27^th Infantry, were currently stationed near Pocahontas, Arkansas, in the early fall of 1862. Several afflicted and furrowed-browed soldiers had reported to the infirmary as being sick. On the 9^th of October, Friday, the pleasant tidings of new orders, “report to Yellville in 15 days,” rolled throughout the camp. According to S. C. Turnbo, these orders had many drastic & curative effects on many of the homesick soldiers. Mainly, it cured them of their “homesickness.”

On Saturday morning, the 10^th, furloughs for sickness were being distributed. As they left camp, miraculous healings were manifesting themselves for the seemly “unfit for duty.” Eyes were set in the westerly direction to make their destination of Yellville. Some “sick” men would amazingly make the trek of 130 miles in less than seven days. This would give them the luxury of being near home and the chance of seeing family or friends.

Five days into the journey soldiers would constantly look for any fresh spring of water. Some men would journey off the Military Road up to a half mile looking for any source of water. According to reports, evening rations of water were found to have dead lizards and toads in the bottom dregs of their tin cup. Some would be so desperate for a drop of water that they would kneel in the road to lap the last and diluted remnants from mud puddles. Others would place small sooth stones in their mouths and roll them over their tongue to extract any moisture.

For the men who were placed on sick furlough and left ahead of their regiment, they too journeyed down the Old Military Road, cutting through Northern Arkansas. They too would seek fresh springs of water and camp only a short distance off this familiar road, and their eagerness to get to Yellville would prove to be fatal to some of the hopeful soldiers.

Among those who were reported sick, was a man of reputation, Maj. John Woodward “J. W.” Methvin, of the 27^th Arkansas Infantry, Company A. Beyond all doubt, he was sick with a severe case of pneumonia. He was so sick it was determined that he could not make the journey on horseback, and another officer offered to place him in a hack (buggy) and transport Methvin to Yellville.

The 45 year old Confederate Major, originally from Madison County, Alabama, was looking forward to seeing the wife, Corasandra (Nowlin) Methvin, who lived near the small village of Dubuque, Arkansas, on the White River; they had been married for nine years. Additionally, it had been nine months since he had seen his four children Alonzo, Josephine, Hannah, and James. Before the war, Methvin had the honor serving as the Marion County Circuit Clerk from 1858 until his enlistment in the Confederacy. While many men from Marion County joined the Arkansas 14^th Infantry in the first year of the war, Methvin had brief service in the Arkansas State Troops, 5^th Regiment , Company E. By the 30^th of June, 1862, he had returned home to Marion County to lend his effort in forming Company A, of the Arkansas 27^th Infantry; he was elected as the 1^st Lieutenant.

Hardee Pattern Flag of the 5th Arkansas.

Maj. Methvin was a southern gentleman of known reputation to defend his men from other officers such as his commander, Col. Shaler, who attempted to take advantage of those lower in rank. Therefore, in his time of need and sickness, hospitality was extended back to him. He would arrive on his last leg of his journey in Mountain Home, located on Rapp’s or Talbot’s Barrens (Prairie) in only 6 days. Little did he know the plans the Union had been transpiring, and a disheartening surprise that would occur at Col. Casey’s house in Mountain Home, Arkansas, at his arrival.

Col. Casey’s house on the corner of the Baxter County Fair Grounds.

Part 2 Next Week.

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Crude Invitations to the Civil War, Part 3

Note: I will be posting an Ozark Civil War series on this post for the next several weeks. These articles can also be found on the Baxter Bulletin every Monday. Some articles in the Bulletin have been edited down to fit the word count requirements for the newspaper. These articles will be posted here every Tuesday; they are posted here in their entirety with pictures & links.
Enjoy your Ozarks' History.
Vincent

Before reading Part 3, the Conclusion, make sure to read Part 1 & 2.

Crude Invitations to the Civil War, Part 1

Crude Invitations to the Civil War, Part 2

Originally, the “Butternuts” did not appear to be regular soldiers. Heacock attempted to have a small conference with the guards in the hope of securing the ferry without a skirmish. After young lieutenant failed in his negotiations, and seeing that his counterparts were unreasonable and considered themselves on the rebel side in the war, Heacock brought out his men and fired several volleys upon them. The Confederates immediately returned fire, and a lead mini-ball struck Heacock in the forehead and killed him instantly on the Baxter County side of the White River.

Lt. Heacock’s First Sergeant, Chaney, succeeded to the command, and retired his men, sending back a report to Col. McCrillis of the tragedy of Lt. Heacock. The other 4^th Iowa companies were then ordered forward under Capt. Drummond, with a howitzer “to pound the Rebel works on the White River.” After hammering the works with the howitzer, the day wore on with no success. As the shadows of night advanced, Capt. Drummond gave orders to return to camp and regroup for the next day. 2^nd Lt. William A. Heacock, age 23, was the first member of the 4^th Iowa Cavalry to be killed in action, and the company was demoralized.

The banks of the White River where Lt. Heacock was killed

According to the records of the Gratiot Street Military Prison, operated in St. Louis, Missouri, by the Union Army, a few minutes after the incident, a local man by the name of Capt. Jesse Mooney, C.S.A., was identified and spotted performing an amazing deed of jumping on his horse and safely swimming across the swollen river. This exploit was noted and would almost cost him his life in the future. To the Union officers, this would make him culpable with the murder of Lt. Heacock. In the future, Capt. Mooney will have a different account of his death-defying feat and the man who pulled the trigger.

The next morning the rebels returned to their post on the opposite bank, and the Union opened fire upon them again. Along with the small-arms, the howitzer was again used to pummel the bluff of the former powder-works. After the “Butternuts” were finally driven back, Col. McCrillis noted, “the White River was fully engorged from the rains, and a crossing was deemed too dangerous, even with the boat.” He therefore ended the expedition and moved across the county eastward, towards Bennett’s Bayou, and then turned north to rejoin the Union Army at Rockbridge, Missouri. The army moved slowly northeastward, the cavalry was constantly active in front and on the flanks, until safety was reached. This was the first strike at the Confederate powder-works on the White River.

According to local historian Mary Ann Messick, there were three local people killed who were working at the powder-works. Mr. Charles Davis, his 16 year old daughter, Charlotte, and an unnamed gentleman were left dead in the melee. Later that evening at the Davis home, Mrs. Davis waited for the husband and daughter to return that even for supper in vain. The next morning she arrived at the destroyed works to discover the body of her husband, daughter, and neighbor. Alone, she hauled the bodies across the river to a nearby field located on the bluffs near present day Monkey Run, Arkansas, and scratched out shallow graves for the dead.

With the retreat of the 4^th Iowa, the widow and bereaved mother, Mrs. Davis, returned to the powder-works cave and continued the alchemy of producing gunpowder. Upon hearing of the destruction, the Marion County Provost Guard approached the shock ridden and tearless lady, and she relayed her sad account. She requested the officer in charge to say a few words over the graves, in which the officer graciously granted. She guided the officer to her family’s new resting place. As he spoke the 23^rd Psalms over the freshly etched ground, Mrs. Dais finally gave way to her grief and bathed the rocky soil with her tears. This abandoned cemetery is today known as the Old Dilbeck Cemetery.

Lt. Heacock’s body was carried back through Ozark County toward Rockbridge, Missouri. The 4^th Iowa finally crossed into the safe Union haven of Douglas County, Missouri. His body was temporarily buried nearby at Lawrence’s Mill, also known as Vera Cruz. According to Lt. Scott, “Lt. Heacock’s death stirred a great deal of feeling in the regiment. Heacock was much admired for his fine, brave spirit, and he was the first man of the regiment killed in battle. His popularity, his courage, the picturesque scene and manner of his fall, and his being the first man killed, all contributed to make his death the most impressive of all that occurred in the regiment during the war.”

After the Civil War, Lt. Heacock's body was exhumed, brought back to his family, and buried at the Highland Cemetery, in Mahaska County, Iowa.

The Great War had finally started on our local banks of the White River. There were no winners for those left behind, and the raids, destruction, and deprivation had just begun.