MO Bushwhacker Victims

[Booner]

Booner

No telling how many times I've driven past this sight and was never aware. I will be sure to stop by there soon. Thanks for posting.

No blame game...just suffice to say living in MO at that time was very difficult no matter your affiliations. Even trying to remain neutral was hazardous.

Dan

The graves are very easy to find. Once you enter the gate, they are on your left.

And I don't know how many times I've driven by this cemetery, and each time I felt it was calling out to me.

 

[5th MSM]

While some on this site have argued about whether some were victims, or kind of deserved to be killed, I think David Sifford's story is pretty clear. He was killed by Quantrill Raiders in '65. His stepsons were in the Confederate Cavalry. He's buried in the Fagan Cemetery, in Puxico.

 

[Patrick H]

While some on this site have argued about whether some were victims, or kind of deserved to be killed, I think David Sifford's story is pretty clear. He was killed by Quantrill Raiders in '65. His stepsons were in the Confederate Cavalry. He's buried in the Fagan Cemetery, in Puxico.

I'd like to hear Sifford's story. You've given us a good teaser here. Please fill in the details.

 

[5th MSM]

I'll try to fill in what info I've got...

From county records, Jane Bess was born about 1818, and married David Wilfong, born sometime between 1810 to 1815. Both born in North Carolina, but married in Cape Girardeau, Mo. in 1833. If you do the math, you'll realize she was a little young. They had four children, John born in 1836, Martin in 1838, Hannah and Mary in 1844 and 48. In March of 1849, David died, and Jane is 31 years old, with four children.

In 1850, a man named Solomon G. Kitchen was the guardian of these children. Solomon later became a Colonel of the 7th Missouri Cavalry, Marmaduke's Brigade, Price's Division (per Missouri Digital Heritage).

At some point in time, Jane marries David Sifford, who had been born in 1814 in North Carolina.

In February of '62, John and Martin Wilfong enlisted in the 2nd Mo. Cav. CSA
Like many other Missouri Confederates, they deserted some time after they were sent east of the Mississippi.

Per one genealogy record I found, it said that David died in 1863, while his marker says he died in 1865. His marker says that he was killed by Quantrill Raiders in 1865. An 1867 Stoddard county record states 'David was killed by Quantrill Riaders during the Civil War.' He had come from the "Toadsuck" community (near Leora) with two of his cousins as a grown man.

The Stoddard Co. Hist. Soc. says he was killed in 1865 and buried in Fagan Cemetery.

In January of 1867, David's estate was sold by his wife. Martin Wilfong bought his property for $200.

Don't have any other details of how he was killed, and don't live in Missouri, so can't check to see if the Stoddard County Historical Society has anything more on him.

 

[Patrick H]

That's all pretty interesting and I can't discount any of it, but I can't string it together, either. Leora and Stoddard County are in deep southeast Missouri. I don't know of Quantrill's men ever operating in that area, but other bushwhackers did. I don't know of a Toadsuck, Missouri, but that means nothing. I do know of a Toadsuck, Arkansas, but that means nothing, either. The odd thing that I do know is that the 2nd MO Cavalry, CSA was commanded by Col. Robert McCulloch of my home town in central Missouri. He's buried less than a mile from where I sit at this moment.

 

[archieclement]

That's all pretty interesting and I can't discount any of it, but I can't string it together, either. Leora and Stoddard County are in deep southeast Missouri. I don't know of Quantrill's men ever operating in that area, but other bushwhackers did. I don't know of a Toadsuck, Missouri, but that means nothing. I do know of a Toadsuck, Arkansas, but that means nothing, either. The odd thing that I do know is that the 2nd MO Cavalry, CSA was commanded by Col. Robert McCulloch of my home town in central Missouri. He's buried less than a mile from where I sit at this moment.

Yeah a bit bizarre unless happened on way to Ky

Wouldn't base his allegiance on his stepsons service, many families were divided.

Does anyone have last of Nichols books to see if it mentions the incident? Still building my collection have 3 of the 4 now, but not the last that covers 65

 

[5th MSM]

That's all pretty interesting and I can't discount any of it, but I can't string it together, either. Leora and Stoddard County are in deep southeast Missouri. I don't know of Quantrill's men ever operating in that area, but other bushwhackers did. I don't know of a Toadsuck, Missouri, but that means nothing. I do know of a Toadsuck, Arkansas, but that means nothing, either. The odd thing that I do know is that the 2nd MO Cavalry, CSA was commanded by Col. Robert McCulloch of my home town in central Missouri. He's buried less than a mile from where I sit at this moment.

I kind of wonder about the reference to Quantrill myself, so it could easily have been others. I think a lot of stuff got blamed on the most notorious guerrillas. Or, as archieclement says above, it could have happened on the way to Ky, I know nothing about that.

 

[5th MSM]

Yeah a bit bizarre unless happened on way to Ky

Wouldn't base his allegiance on his stepsons service, many families were divided.

Does anyone have last of Nichols books to see if it mentions the incident? Still building my collection have 3 of the 4 now, but not the last that covers 65

I've got all four of Nichol's books, 2 on Kindle, 2 on Kobo. Makes it easier to search for stuff if you have it electronically. Makes it harder to find stuff, if you can't remember which book is on which service...

Sifford isn't mentioned in book 4.

 

[Patrick H]

I kind of wonder about the reference to Quantrill myself, so it could easily have been others. I think a lot of stuff got blamed on the most notorious guerrillas. Or, as archieclement says above, it could have happened on the way to Ky, I know nothing about that.

Quantrill did go to Kentucky with a smaller group of his boys at the end of the war, so it might have been as Archie speculated. It's all pretty interesting!

 

[Booner]

Per one genealogy record I found, it said that David died in 1863, while his marker says he died in 1865. His marker says that he was killed by Quantrill Raiders in 1865.....
/QUOTE]

I wonder when in 1865?

The only time I'm aware of Quantrill being in that part of Missouri was when he was on his way east, which would have been in the winter of 1864/5.
So it might have been possible that Q or his men did it, but I'd have to check the dates.

 

[mofederal]

Southeast Missouri was more the operating area of Sam Hildebrand, than Quantrill. There were others operating down here also. Wilfong is a name I have heard about down here. Still a lot of them around.

 

[Patrick H]

Southeast Missouri was more the operating area of Sam Hildebrand, than Quantrill. There were others operating down here also. Wilfong is a name I have heard about down here. Still a lot of them around.

I was speculating about Hildebrand, too, but I didn't write it out. It seems a bit more likely, doesn't it?

 

[5th MSM]

Killing of women. I don't think I've seen killing of women mentioned before, everything else I've read said they were kind of held as non-combatants, a code-of-honor kind of thing. So this was new to me.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Official Records, Chap. XLVI, Part I - Reports, pages 956-957
https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=coo.31924077700288;view=1up;seq=978

May 29, 1864 - Capture of Wagon train at Salem, Ark.
Report of Maj. James Rainsford, Assistant Adjutant-General, Missouri State Militia.
Rolla, Mo., May 30, 1864.

Major : A command of about 70 men, under Captain Crocker, Second Wisconsin Cavalry, left here yesterday for West Plains to escort a train of Union refugees from Jacksonport, Ark. This evening a party of his men, about 5, were sent in by him with the intelligence that the train was attacked at Salem, Ark., by 300 guerrillas. The entire train was burnt and about 80 men and some women killed. They were sent from Jacksonport by Colonel Livingston, with 200 of the First Nebraska as escort, but the escort was called back, and thus left unprotected a force of about 150 men. Start to-morrow with a train; this, with Captain Crocker's command, will make over 200 men. It will leave this place very scant of troops, and it is highly necessary that additional troops should be sent up here. These refugees have lost everything, and if not assisted must starve. I have consulted with Colonel Sigel, and this is the conclusion we have come to. The command starts at 6 a. m. to-morrow.

J. RAINSFORD,
Assistant Adjutant-General.

(to) Maj. O. D. Greene.

 

[archieclement]

Sounds as if they were noncombatants, however if the 150 men decide to fight with women present, not surprising there's collateral damage

This all I found online http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=8615

But as it says during the fighting, it seems the wagon train offered resistance, Havent seen any account name the attackers, which seems a bit odd to me

 

[5th MSM]

Sounds as if they were noncombatants, however if the 150 men decide to fight with women present, not surprising there's collateral damage

This all I found online http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=8615

But as it says during the fighting, it seems the wagon train offered resistance, Havent seen any account name the attackers, which seems a bit odd to me

I have a hunch there were a lot of guerrillas who didn't leave calling cards...

 

[archieclement]

I have a hunch there were a lot of guerrillas who didn't leave calling cards...

Well would think a group of 300 might be noticeable and draw attention, here usually groups of just 15-20 the leader or sub-lieutenant was noted, seems odd a group that size wouldn't be identifiable, but don't study Arkansas a lot, as am closer to Iowa then Arkansas

 

[5th MSM]

Another account of Bushwhacker killings in Missouri...

Brigadier General John McNeil sent the following:

'A party of guerrillas, estimated at thirty, came within seven miles of this post last night; they murdered a man by the name of Darling, stole all the household property of a family named Coloney, now in Saint Louis, including some muskets and revolvers. I send a party of twenty in pursuit; this exhausts my available force at this post. If anything is to be done in this district it will require a thousand mounted men.'

Frank Eno, the Assistant Adjutant General the same day wrote to McNeil:

We are informed that Union farm, six miles from Rolla, owned by Mrs. Tuttle, was visited by bushwhackers last night. Mrs. Tuttle is here anxious for particulars. Please report such facts as may have come in your possession.

McNeil responded with the following:

Union farm is the place I telegraphed Captain Hudson about this morning. Have sent a party out to bury Darling and to pursue the guerrillas. Shall have further particulars this evening.

Adding more details, he wrote:

Last night between 1 and 2 o'clock a party of rebels entered and robbed a house about seven miles from here, killing a Mr. Darling living there. Bill Lennox, son of the former owner of the place, was in the party and said no one should ever live there but of his family, and ordered Mrs. Darling to leave the place. Mr. Darling had left Minnesota on account of the Indian troubles and settled here about ten months ago. There being some signs of life about him after he was shot, his daughter went for water for him, but a rebel ordered her to desist, pointing a gun at her at the same time, but she persisted and moistened the lips of her father dying, while others of the guerrilla band held their guns to him intending again to fire and make sure of his death, should it appear that he might live. They robbed the house of five rifles, two revolvers, one shotgun, $30 in money, one watch, one shawl, and bedclothes.


Official Records, Chap. LIII, Part 2, page 938
https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=coo.31924077730053;view=1up;seq=940