St Louis Brigade 1860

[archieclement]

I came across a newspaper picture that shows troops marching down a street being cheered by crowds that says St Louis Brigade on it way to Kansas in Nov 1860.

Off hand not recalling any major jayhawker attack that would have prompted troop deployment in just weeks after 1860 election. Has me bit puzzled as to what it for in 1860

 

[Patrick H]

No idea

 

[Missouri Swampfox]

In December 1859, shortly after John Brown's hanging for his raid in, Virginia, James Montgomery, of Kansas, unsuccessfully attempted to rescue two of Brown's jailed accomplices. Returning to Kansas, from Boston with money and arms, Montgomery recruited troops and publicly vowed to drive all proslavery residents from Kansas and made good on his pledge to take his war of liberation into Missouri. He and his Jayhawkers terrorized Lynn and Bourbon counties and dispersed the Federal Court at Fort Scott. He then began to terrorize Southwestern Missouri. In response, on November 25, 1860, Missouri's Governor Robert M. Stewart ordered General D. M. Frost to send a "Southwest Expedition" of some 600 state militiamen, largely from St. Louis, to the border counties to suppress Montgomery's jayhawking raids. The St. Louis Brigade consisted of: First Regiment of Infantry commanded by A.R. Easton; a Battalion of Engineers, National Guard, commanded by Major Pritchard; First Company of National Guard commanded by Capt. John B. Gray; Second Company National Guards commanded by Captain McKellops; Squadron of Cavalry commanded by Major Schaeffer; Missouri Light Cavalry commanded by Capt. Bendel; and, Missouri Light Infantry commanded by William Jackson. They took the train at the Pacific Railroad Depot to Franklin, MO then another train to Syracuse, then marched to Warsaw in Benton County. They were then scheduled to march to Osceola in St. Clair County. General Harney and another group also headed in that direction.

 

[Patrick H]

They took the train at the Pacific Railroad Depot to Franklin, MO then another train to Syracuse, then marched to Warsaw in Benton County.

This is very interesting, and means they would have crossed the river by ferry at Boonville, and then retrained for Tipton, Missouri. At Tipton, they'd have changed trains again for Syracuse. The north / south line between Boonville and Tipton no longer exists (it used to go down to Versailles) but the east / west line through Tipton and Syracuse is still in operation and is the Union Pacific main line across Missouri. I was aware that troops were used to suppress Montgomery's depredations, but I had NO idea they were routed through Boonville.

 

[Missouri Swampfox]

This is very interesting, and means they would have crossed the river by ferry at Boonville, and then retrained for Tipton, Missouri. At Tipton, they'd have changed trains again for Syracuse. The north / south line between Boonville and Tipton no longer exists (it used to go down to Versailles) but the east / west line through Tipton and Syracuse is still in operation and is the Union Pacific main line across Missouri. I was aware that troops were used to suppress Montgomery's depredations, but I had NO idea they were routed through Boonville.

That was the planned schedule. See the Missouri Democrat of 26 November 1860.

 

[Missouri Swampfox]

See also Phil Tucker's article in the Missouri Historical Review
Missouri Historical Review, Volume 086 Issue 1, October 1991

 

[archieclement]

Its always struck me odd how people who were considered outlaws or terrorist in 1860 by US States and the US Government, could have been given commisisions a year later.

 

[mofederal]

I did find and read a part of an article in a period N.Y. Times issue. The St. Louis Brigade returned to St. Louis on Monday, December 17, 1860. They were led by General Frost, who gave a speech upon their return before he dismissed the assembled NG soldiers. They returned from Southwestern Border of Missouri. At home again, they were greeted by members of the National Guard in St. Louis, who were left home. A gala (their word sumptuous) dinner was held for them in town, including the National Guard Armory, Barnum's Hotel and other places designated.

N.Y Times December 19, 1860.

 

[Missouri Swampfox]

This is very interesting, and means they would have crossed the river by ferry at Boonville, and then retrained for Tipton, Missouri. At Tipton, they'd have changed trains again for Syracuse. The north / south line between Boonville and Tipton no longer exists (it used to go down to Versailles) but the east / west line through Tipton and Syracuse is still in operation and is the Union Pacific main line across Missouri. I was aware that troops were used to suppress Montgomery's depredations, but I had NO idea they were routed through Boonville.

No, they didn't go through Boonville, to my knowledge. They left St. Louis with 33 cars and 3 engines, then picked up 2 more cars at Jefferson City, continued through California, then arrived at Syracuse the morning of 26 November at 3:30 am in heavy rain. They continued on the Pacific line and finally de-trained at Smithton and set up camp in the rain and mud. From Smithton they marched the rest of the way setting up camps where good water could be found. If you know different I would like to know the source. Thanks for the input.

 

[Patrick H]

No, they didn't go through Boonville, to my knowledge. They left St. Louis with 33 cars and 3 engines, then picked up 2 more cars at Jefferson City, continued through California, then arrived at Syracuse the morning of 26 November at 3:30 am in heavy rain. They continued on the Pacific line and finally de-trained at Smithton and set up camp in the rain and mud. From Smithton they marched the rest of the way setting up camps where good water could be found. If you know different I would like to know the source. Thanks for the input.

This route makes much more sense. I based my first suppositions on the planned route through Franklin shown in your post #3.

 

[Missouri Swampfox]

This route makes much more sense. I based my first suppositions on the planned route through Franklin shown in your post #3.

I was going by letters written back to St Louis during the trip.

 

[Patrick H]

I was going by letters written back to St Louis during the trip.

That's pretty interesting in itself. I imagine the soldiers were pretty ignorant of where the rail lines actually ran, and they probably had a lot of gossip and hearsay flying around their camp. Those letters would probably be interesting to read!

 

[Missouri Swampfox]

That's pretty interesting in itself. I imagine the soldiers were pretty ignorant of where the rail lines actually ran, and they probably had a lot of gossip and hearsay flying around their camp. Those letters would probably be interesting to read!

I might have mislead you. They were not written by the soldiers themselves but the commanders back to the papers in St. Louis. They can be found in the Democrat and Republican from25 November through 20 December.

 

[Booner]

To add some more information regarding the "Southwest Expedition;" on Nov. 21, the War Department ordered General Harley to go to Southeast Kansas to "take summary steps to break up a lawless band of abolitionists" lead by the preacher James Montgomery. One of Montgomery's compatriot's was Charles "Doc" Jennison.

Harley took a train to Ft. Leavenworth and ordered all available troops to Ft. Scott, KS. to find and capture Montgomery and break up the abolitionist activity. Amoung the troops that headed for Ft. Scott was Capt. Lyons with two companies of infantrymen.

Lyons, who hated slavery, thought that Gen. Harney who was a southerner and a slave owner, was also a Southern sympathizer. At the risk of a court-martial, on December 6th Lyon met in secret with Montgomery and Jennison and together, they made their own plans to subvert Harneys activities; Lyon would inform them in advance when the federal authorities came looking for them. When Federal troops searched Montgomery's and Jennison's residences, they and the rumored large amount of weapons the abolitionist were rumored to have had could not be found.

With Montgomery and other abolitionists leaders essentially in hiding, and the large amount of Missouri State Militia and Federal troops in the area, abolitionist activities temporarily ceased.
After several fruitless searches, Harley informed the War Department that the people in the area were in sympathy with the abolitionists and he would need many more troops to accomplish his directive. He suggested that the Government give the Governor of Kansas enough money to subdue the abolitionist activities and by late December, Harley was back in St. Louis and the federal troops back to their former posts. A few days after Harneys' return, South Carolina succeeded. With the escalation of a new Federal Crisis, what had happened along the southern border of Missouri and Kansas was essentially brushed aside.

 

[Missouri Swampfox]

To add some more information regarding the "Southwest Expedition;" on Nov. 21, the War Department ordered General Harley to go to Southeast Kansas to "take summary steps to break up a lawless band of abolitionists" lead by the preacher James Montgomery. One of Montgomery's compatriot's was Charles "Doc" Jennison.

Harley took a train to Ft. Leavenworth and ordered all available troops to Ft. Scott, KS. to find and capture Montgomery and break up the abolitionist activity. Amoung the troops that headed for Ft. Scott was Capt. Lyons with two companies of infantrymen.

Lyons, who hated slavery, thought that Gen. Harney who was a southerner and a slave owner, was also a Southern sympathizer. At the risk of a court-martial, on December 6th Lyon met in secret with Montgomery and Jennison and together, they made their own plans to subvert Harneys activities; Lyon would inform them in advance when the federal authorities came looking for them. When Federal troops searched Montgomery's and Jennison's residences, they and the rumored large amount of weapons the abolitionist were rumored to have had could not be found.

With Montgomery and other abolitionists leaders essentially in hiding, and the large amount of Missouri State Militia and Federal troops in the area, abolitionist activities temporarily ceased.
After several fruitless searches, Harley informed the War Department that the people in the area were in sympathy with the abolitionists and he would need many more troops to accomplish his directive. He suggested that the Government give the Governor of Kansas enough money to subdue the abolitionist activities and by late December, Harley was back in St. Louis and the federal troops back to their former posts. A few days after Harneys' return, South Carolina succeeded. With the escalation of a new Federal Crisis, what had happened along the southern border of Missouri and Kansas was essentially brushed aside.

I think you mean General William S. Harney, not Harley in some of the above. You have Harney in the latter portion.

 

[Booner]

I think you mean General William S. Harney, not Harley in some of the above. You have Harney in the latter portion.

Whenever I type Harney into my tablet, it comes up Harley, and I missed it. Thanks for catching the mistake.

 

[Kentucky Derby Cavalier.]

I came across a newspaper picture that shows troops marching down a street being cheered by crowds that says St Louis Brigade on it way to Kansas in Nov 1860.

Off hand not recalling any major jayhawker attack that would have prompted troop deployment in just weeks after 1860 election. Has me bit puzzled as to what it for in 1860
View attachment 422360

In December 1859, shortly after John Brown's hanging for his raid in, Virginia, James Montgomery, of Kansas, unsuccessfully attempted to rescue two of Brown's jailed accomplices. Returning to Kansas, from Boston with money and arms, Montgomery recruited troops and publicly vowed to drive all proslavery residents from Kansas and made good on his pledge to take his war of liberation into Missouri. He and his Jayhawkers terrorized Lynn and Bourbon counties and dispersed the Federal Court at Fort Scott. He then began to terrorize Southwestern Missouri. In response, on November 25, 1860, Missouri's Governor Robert M. Stewart ordered General D. M. Frost to send a "Southwest Expedition" of some 600 state militiamen, largely from St. Louis, to the border counties to suppress Montgomery's jayhawking raids. The St. Louis Brigade consisted of: First Regiment of Infantry commanded by A.R. Easton; a Battalion of Engineers, National Guard, commanded by Major Pritchard; First Company of National Guard commanded by Capt. John B. Gray; Second Company National Guards commanded by Captain McKellops; Squadron of Cavalry commanded by Major Schaeffer; Missouri Light Cavalry commanded by Capt. Bendel; and, Missouri Light Infantry commanded by William Jackson. They took the train at the Pacific Railroad Depot to Franklin, MO then another train to Syracuse, then marched to Warsaw in Benton County. They were then scheduled to march to Osceola in St. Clair County. General Harney and another group also headed in that direction.

This is VERY interesting, I belive the two abolitionists you're speaking of were buried in Perth Amboy NJ after their hanging. I once heard about this in a documentary I'll try to find it.