A Speck of War.
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Last week our town and county were full of excitement; Price with his forces was somewhere South of here we scarce knew where, our town was full of refugees from Lexington, Richmond and other towns south, they bore their tale of terror which was fanned and heightened by the thousand rumors that came flying through the land. Add to this the crowds of armed, half-armed and no armed militia that went pouring through or started from here in answer to the call from the front and you can imagine something of the feeling and patriotism of the people of Davies County in this our time of trouble.
On Friday morning last, orders came from proper authorities at Hamilton to Captain Folmsbee and Lieut. Richardson to order out their companies here and to come with them immediately and all other arms, men and horses they could press into the service. Folmsbee, Richardson and Davis obeyed with alacrity, runners were started in every direction to notify commands, men horses and arms were being pressed with a vigor that astonished cowards and made the chivalrous refugees who had run away from being conscripted by their friends in Price’s army, hunt their holes, crawl in, and draw said holes after them.
In a few hours after, orders came to press nothing but to come on with the willing; this caused the refugees to poke their heads out, and they thought by a little stretch of vision they could see the tail end of Price’s banner, O, how their little souls rejoiced at the thought, Price was doing valiantly and they were too far off to be conscripted.
It was the intention to leave on Friday night, but the men could not possibly get together. On Saturday we mounted with the rest and were “off to the wars again;” Captain Ballinger’s Company preceded us and on arriving at Hamilton we tied up with Captain Folmbee’s “Silver Greys;” we found the town full of soldiers for Maj. McDonald had just made a masterly advance on the place from Richmond, which he found a little too near Price’s roving thieves.
Lieuts. Richardson and Davis reported to Captain Ballinger, and they then together reported themselves to Major McDonald, who elated with his recent grand maneuver, and who not having the fear of God before his eyes and forgetting his prospects on the Democratic ticket, gave them to say the least, a mild cursing and ordered them home.
These men had been ordered out by the commander at Hamilton, when McDonald was at the front and had he staid there as he evidently ought to have done, would have been sent to him as reinforcements and now to be met almost at home by the commander they went to help and to be abused by him is too much for human nature, and we do not blame these gentlemen if they returned the cursing with compound interest. Rosecrans, Curtis, Fisk and all others at the front and in danger are calling for “every available man,” but McDonald in the rear and out of danger, insults and sends home those who have responded to the call. Lieut. Davis with Ballingers company went home that night.
S.P. Cox, who has received a Lieut. Col’. commission, took command on Monday and ordered the force forward again to Richmond, we intended to go along but Major McDonald made a fuss about the pressed horse we rode and we had to desist.
Captain Folmsbee received better treatment, he obtained arms and ammunition and was sent home on Monday to hurt up some of Price’s thieves who in our absence had stolen horses robbed Jimtown and committed other depredations. The Captain has 150 well armed men ready at a moments warning to take the field — let bushwhackers beware.
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Gallatin North Missourian, October 27, 1864, Page 2. via Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/article/gallatin-north-missourian-civil-war-a/199250640/ : accessed June 9, 2026), clip page for Civil War – A Speck of War by user darryl_gpc54
