NEWS OF 150 YEARS AGO
June 1861
Stephen A. Douglas carried the State of Missouri in the 1860 Presidential contest but lost the election to his fellow Illinoisan Abraham Lincoln. When war commenced, Douglas wholeheartedly threw his support to the new administration’s efforts to preserve the Union. The DEMOCRAT had savaged Douglas in its columns during the 1860 campaign, but, when Douglas died suddenly of typhoid fever in June 1861, the editorial comment was much moderated.
From The Missouri Democrat, Tuesday, June 4, 1861.
DEATH OF DOUGLAS.
Yesterday, Stephen A. Douglas departed this life. Here, the melancholy message was received with emotions of sorrow by all classes of the community, who, we doubt not, were in this respect true exponents of national feeling. Throughout the United States the event is universally mourned; for a great people are ever quick to forget the errors and applaud the virtues of their great men; and among the great men of the Republic, Douglas will never fail to be discerned by the eye of history. When the civil war shall have passed away, and the new order of things arisen, he will be recognized as one of the giants before the flood….
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In the month following the Camp Jackson affair, representatives of both sides attempted to tamp down the smoldering embers of war in Missouri, albeit with an eye toward gaining advantage at the same time. To this end, U.S. Army Gen. Nathaniel Lyon invited Gov. Claiborne Fox Jackson and ex-Gov. Sterling Price to St. Louis for a meeting.
From The Missouri Democrat, Wednesday, June 12, 1861.
IMPORTANT CONFERENCE.
INTERVIEW BETWEEN GEN. LYON AND GOV. JACKSON.
FAILURE OF NEGOTIATIONS.
Gov. Jackson and Gen. Sterling Price having, through T. T. Gantt and Judge Wm. A. Hall, solicited an interview with Gen. Lyon, and agreeing to come to St. Louis for such purpose, General Lyon, at the request of Mr. Gantt, signed the following paper, guaranteeing them from arrest on their journey to and from the city, and during their sojourn here up to the 12th….
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The DEMOCRAT’s account omits Gen. Lyon’s notable closing statement. According to Col. Snead of the State Militia, Lyon declared: “…rather than concede to the State of Missouri for one single instant the right to dictate to my Government in any matter however unimportant, I would see you, and you, and you, and every man, woman, and child in the State, dead and buried. This means war…”. Maj. Conant of Col. Frank Blair’s staff recalled the statement as “Better, sir, far better, that the blood of every man, woman, and child of the State should flow than that she should successfully defy the Federal Government.”
Gen. Lyon wasted no time in turning his words into action. Within a few days of the Planters’ House meeting, his troops were on their way to Jefferson City. Gov. Jackson and his secessionist supporters fled. After securing the capital, Lyon’s troops continued upriver to Boonville, where they encountered elements of the State Militia.
From The Missouri Democrat, Thursday, June 13, 1861.
GOV. JACKSON’S INCENDIARY FLIGHT.
Destruction of the Gasconade and Osage Railroad Bridges.
Advices reached us yesterday that Governor Jackson, on his return to Jefferson City, on Tuesday night, caused the destruction of the Gasconade and Osage railroad bridges. A dispatch to this effect was received at the Arsenal yesterday morning, and by the last evening’s train on the Pacific Railroad, we learn, positively, that the Gasconade bridge was destroyed by fire yesterday morning. The mail dispatched from the post office, yesterday morning, got no further than Hermann, where the news of the disaster was first received. The cutting of the telegraph wires by the same Vandal hand leaves us without any reliable advices from points on the Railroad, above the Gasconade, and from Jefferson City. There was a rumor at Hermann, well credited at that place, that the Osage bridge had also been burned. It is not doubted in this city that both structures are entirely destroyed….
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From The Missouri Democrat, Thursday, June 13, 1861.
THE CAMPAIGN OPENED IN MISSOURI.
Important Movement of United States Troops.
FORCES PROCEED OVER THE PACIFIC AND SOUTHWEST BRANCH RAILROADS.
THREE REGIMENTS SENT UP THE MISSOURI RIVER.
ALL THE PARTICULARS.
Our readers are already apprised of the result of the late conference between Governor Jackson and General Price, on the one hand, and General Lyon and Colonel Blair, on the other, wherein the first party graciously offered to promise to desist from the monstrous and causeless crime of treason, if the second party would surrender the absolute and invaluable right of the United States government to have and move troops in the State, in self defence. The reader is further aware that in consequence of the refusal of such surrender on such terms, Jackson has issued his gubernatorial declaration of war against the government of the American people. Also that, the surer and deeper to strike terror into the heart of the American eagle, said Jackson has caused the railroad bridges at the Gasconade and Osage rivers to be subjected to conflagration….
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From The Missouri Democrat, Wednesday, June 19, 1861.
THE WAR IN MISSOURI.
The Latest from Jefferson City.
THE CITY QUIET.
FORMATION OF THE HOME GUARDS.
Arrival of the D. A. January.
Heavy Cannonading Heard Last Night and this Morning in the Direction of Booneville.
[Special Dispatch to the Missouri Democrat.]
JEFFERSON CITY, June 18th.
This city and vicinity still quiet. Col. Boernstein is in command of the place and has already issued his proclamation. All good Union men—even secessionists—are very well pleased with it. There was some little excitement here last night. Jefferson City was to be attacked by the rebels, and Col. Boernstein sent out his men on a scout, who returned this morning without finding anything….
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From The Missouri Democrat, Thursday, June 20, 1861.
THE WAR IN MISSOURI.
The Battle at Boonville Confirmed.
Former Reports of Killed and Wounded Exaggerated.
OFFICIAL REPORTS FROM GEN. LYON.
THE REBELS COMPLETELY ROUTED.
Gen. Price Left Before the Fight.
GOV. JACKSON HAS FLED.
REBEL REINFORCEMENTS DISMAYED AND RETURN HOME.
SECESSIONISTS TAKING THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE AT JEFFERSON CITY.
[Special Dispatch to the Missouri Democrat.]
JEFFERSON CITY, June 19, 1 P. M.—The report of a fight at Boonville has been confirmed by parties from Syracuse, who report that about six hundred of the fugitives are there preparing for defense. It is probable that but few were killed on either side, although the accounts are conflicting. The boats landed five miles below Boonville, and the federal troops proceeded immediately to the attack….
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From The Missouri Democrat, Friday, June 21, 1861.
THE CONTEST IN MISSOURI.
WAR CORRESPONDENCE.
Departure of the Expedition from the Capital.
DEBARKATION OF THE TROOPS EIGHT MILES BELOW BOONVILLE.
THE ENEMY 4,000 STRONG.
Capture of their Battery of Two Guns.
Their Precipitate and Cowardly Retreat.
Gallant Behavior of our Volunteers.
TWO KILLED, ONE MISSING, AND NINE WOUNDED ON OUR SIDE.
From 50 to 75 of the Enemy Killed and Wounded.
HEARTY RECEPTION FROM THE LOYAL CITIZENS OF BOONVILLE.
“We Have Met the Enemy and They Are Ours.”
[From our Own Correspondent.]
HEADQUARTERS DEP’T OF THE WEST.
BOONVILLE, MO., June 17.
The steamers A. McDowell, Iatan and City of Louisiana, left Jefferson City yesterday afternoon, at two o’clock, and reached a point a mile below Providence last night, where it was thought best to lay up a few hours. Three companies of Boernstein’s regiment, under his command, were left to protect the capital. We were cheered enthusiastically by the little town of Marion as we passed there yesterday evening. This morning we took an early start, and reached Rocheport before six o’clock, where we made a short stop, but found the people mostly surly and not disposed to be communicative. We learned, however, that the enemy were in considerable force a few miles below this place, and preparing to make a vigorous defense….
