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- Apr 10, 2012
Since July 5th was the 151st anniversary of the battle of Carthage, Missouri, it seems a good time to post about the Blackberry Cavalry. Little known outside of the Trans-Mississippi theater, the term was applied derisively to the cavalry of Brigadier General James S. Rains 8th Division of the Missouri State Guard (and perhaps by outsiders to MSG cavalry in general.) While Missouri's southern cavalry would prove formidable by mid-war, they had an inglorious beginning. Their poor performance would damage early war cooperation between the Missourians and their Confederate allies in Arkansas.
Many secessionist Missourians could claim Kentucky heritage, so it is not surprising that a large number answered the governor's call-to-arms on horseback. Although experienced horsemen, they were not yet cavalry and carried a range of weapons if armed at all. Sabers were rare; shotguns were common, and a few had modern firearms. It takes longer to train and drill the mounted arm into an effective force than infantry or artillery; this would become apparent early in the war in Missouri and Arkansas.
During the battle of Carthage James Rains led the largest portion of the MSG's cavalry in what was home turf for him. Rains was a politician from Jasper County, Missouri and had recruited many of the men in his district. Other than a prior California militia appointment, he lacked military experience/training, organizational skills, and discipline. Moreover, he had a fondness for the bottle. In March of 1862 Rains was relieved of duty by Price and ordered to report to the governor for reasons unknown--although he had been recently arrested by Earl Van Dorn for disparaging comments made in Van Dorn's presence following the defeat at Pea Ridge. In October of 1862 Maj. Gen. Thomas C. Hindman relieved Rains of a joint CSA/MSG command for "incompetence and insobriety." Yet he would continue commanding troops intermittently throughout the war.
The name "blackberry cavalry" originated during the battle of Carthage when some of Parson's Sixth Division MSG infantry accused Rains' cavalry of stopping to pick blackberries during the Union withdrawal--a time when cavalry should have succeeded in cutting off the infantry retreat. The cavalrymen claimed the charge was unfounded, but it stuck. The date of the battle is prime blackberry season in southwest Missouri and the MSG cavalry did little useful in this fight. Sigel's small infantry force conducted a 9 mile fighting withdrawal against MSG infantry to Carthage over mostly open prairie without the thousands of MSG cavalry doing anything of significance to obstruct their path.
Rains' horsemen led the advance as scouts prior to Wilson's Creek, since they were more familiar with the area. As green cavalry they did not distinguish themselves in this capacity and were driven in rout at Dug Springs, giving rise to the term "Rains' scare." As a result CSA Brig. Gen. Ben McCulloch had little but contempt for the mounted Missourians. A few days later the MSG cavalry regiments had the misfortune of absorbing the opening blows of Lyon's surprise attack at Wilson's Creek. McCulloch would dismiss the early reports as another "Rains' scare."
Sources:
History of Jasper County Missouri, 1883, page 232
More Generals in Gray, Bruce S. Allardice
The Battle of Carthage: Border War in Southwest Missouri, July 5, 1861, David C. Hinze and Karen Farnham
Wilson's Creek, William Garret Piston & Richard W. Hatcher III
Sterling Price's Lieutenants, 2nd Ed., Peterson, McGhee, Lindberg, Daleen
Many secessionist Missourians could claim Kentucky heritage, so it is not surprising that a large number answered the governor's call-to-arms on horseback. Although experienced horsemen, they were not yet cavalry and carried a range of weapons if armed at all. Sabers were rare; shotguns were common, and a few had modern firearms. It takes longer to train and drill the mounted arm into an effective force than infantry or artillery; this would become apparent early in the war in Missouri and Arkansas.
During the battle of Carthage James Rains led the largest portion of the MSG's cavalry in what was home turf for him. Rains was a politician from Jasper County, Missouri and had recruited many of the men in his district. Other than a prior California militia appointment, he lacked military experience/training, organizational skills, and discipline. Moreover, he had a fondness for the bottle. In March of 1862 Rains was relieved of duty by Price and ordered to report to the governor for reasons unknown--although he had been recently arrested by Earl Van Dorn for disparaging comments made in Van Dorn's presence following the defeat at Pea Ridge. In October of 1862 Maj. Gen. Thomas C. Hindman relieved Rains of a joint CSA/MSG command for "incompetence and insobriety." Yet he would continue commanding troops intermittently throughout the war.
The name "blackberry cavalry" originated during the battle of Carthage when some of Parson's Sixth Division MSG infantry accused Rains' cavalry of stopping to pick blackberries during the Union withdrawal--a time when cavalry should have succeeded in cutting off the infantry retreat. The cavalrymen claimed the charge was unfounded, but it stuck. The date of the battle is prime blackberry season in southwest Missouri and the MSG cavalry did little useful in this fight. Sigel's small infantry force conducted a 9 mile fighting withdrawal against MSG infantry to Carthage over mostly open prairie without the thousands of MSG cavalry doing anything of significance to obstruct their path.
Rains' horsemen led the advance as scouts prior to Wilson's Creek, since they were more familiar with the area. As green cavalry they did not distinguish themselves in this capacity and were driven in rout at Dug Springs, giving rise to the term "Rains' scare." As a result CSA Brig. Gen. Ben McCulloch had little but contempt for the mounted Missourians. A few days later the MSG cavalry regiments had the misfortune of absorbing the opening blows of Lyon's surprise attack at Wilson's Creek. McCulloch would dismiss the early reports as another "Rains' scare."
Sources:
History of Jasper County Missouri, 1883, page 232
More Generals in Gray, Bruce S. Allardice
The Battle of Carthage: Border War in Southwest Missouri, July 5, 1861, David C. Hinze and Karen Farnham
Wilson's Creek, William Garret Piston & Richard W. Hatcher III
Sterling Price's Lieutenants, 2nd Ed., Peterson, McGhee, Lindberg, Daleen
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