'Best and Bravest'

Sunday Oct. 25, is the 151st anniversary of five battles that occurred in eastern Kansas and western Missouri during the Civil War. These battles were the Battles of Trading Post, Mine Creek, Little Osage, Charlot's Farm / Shiloh Creek and Newtonia. There are many Union accounts of these battles, but few Confederate descriptions exist. The following is part of after action report was written by Confederate Major General Jo Shelby and describes his command's participation in the Battles of the Little Osage River, Charlot's Farm and Newtonia. General Shelby was one of the finest Cavalry Commanders in the Civil War and this report is included in the 'Official Records of the War of the Rebellion."Series I, Vol. 41, Part I Reports on Pages 659 -661."

"Day and night the retreat was continued until the evening [afternoon] of the 25th [of October], when my division, marching leisurely in front of the train, was ordered hastily the rear to protect it, while flying rumors came up constantly that Maramaduke and Cabell were captured with all their artillery. Leaving Colonel Jackman with his brigade to protect my left flank and guard the train, I hastened forward with Thompson's Brigade and Slayback's Regiment to the scene of action. I soon met beyond the [Little] Osage the advancing Federals, flushed with success and clamoring more victims. I knew from the beginning that I could do nothing but resist their advance, delay them as much as possible and depend on energy and night for the rest.

[Battle of the Little Osage at approximately 2:30 p.m.]

The first stand was made one mile north of the [Little] Osage River, where the enemy was worsted; again upon the river bank and again I got away in good condition. Then taking position on a high hill one mile south of the river, I halted for a desperate struggle. The enemy advanced in overwhelming numbers and with renewed confidence at the sight of the small force in front of them for Captains Langhorne and Adams and Lieutenant Colonel Nichols with their commands were ahead of the train on duty. The fight lasted nearly an hour, but I was at last forced to fall back.

Elliot, Gordon, Slayback, Hooper, Smith, Blackwell, Williams and a host of other officers seemed to rise higher and higher as the danger increased and were always where the tide of battle rolled deepest and darkest. It was an evening to try the hearts of my "BEST & BRAVEST" and rallying around me they even surpassed all former days of high and heroic bearing.

[Battle of Charlot's Farm or Shiloh Creek at approximately sunset]

Pressed furiously and having to cross a deep and treacherous stream, I did not offer battle again until gaining a large hill in front of the entire army, formed in the line of battle, where I sent orders for Colonel Jackman to join me immediately. It was a fearful hour. The long and weary days of marching and fighting were culminating and the narrow issue of life or death stood out all dark and barren as a rainy sea. The fight was to be made now, and General Price, with the pilot's wary eye saw the storm cloud sweep down, growing larger and larger and darker and darker. They came upon me steadily and calm. I waited until they came close enough and gave them volley for volley, shot for shot. For fifteen minutes both lines stood the pelting of the leaden hail without flinching and the incessant roar of musketry rang out wildly and shrill, all separate sounds blending in a universal crash. The fate of the army hung upon the result and our very existence tottered and tossed in the smoke of the strife. The red sun looked down upon the scene and the redder clouds floated away with angry, sullen glare. Slowly, slowly my old brigade was melting away. The high toned and chivalric Dobbin, formed on my right, stood by me in all that fiery storm and Elliot's and Gordon's voices sounded his above the rage of the conflict: "My Merry Men fight On!"

All that men could do had been done. For five days and nights Thompson's and Slayback's commands had fought and now under concentrated and accumulated fire of heavy odds, the left of Thompson's brigade reeled back over the prairie, the Federals following with furious yells, but the right under Colonel Elliot met the advancing wave and broke their front line in every direction by charging furiously the rear of the enemy pressing hard after the left of Thompson's brigade.

Now Colonel Jackman, who had his duty well in another part of the field, came rushing up to avenge his fallen comrades. Going into line at a gallop and opening ranks to let the retreating brigade through, he charged down upon the rushing enemy like a thunderbolt, driving them back and scattering their front line badly. This charge saved us and the day's work was done. The Federals halted, reformed their lines, brought up artillery and fired away at long range. Very slowly the army moved away without molestation and darkness came down alike upon the dying and the dead and the stars came out and a weird and dreary silence hushed the air to stillness and repose.

On the night of the 25th [morning of the 26th], on the Marmaton River, Colonel Jackman, by order burned that portion of the train devoted to the sacrifice and brought up the rear all that day and night to Carthage, [Mo.] where we encamped on the night of the 26th.

[Battle of Newtonia, Missouri, late afternoon Oct. 28th]

On the evening of the 28th, while comfortably resting a few miles south of Newtonia, a large Federal force drove in our outlying pickets quite briskly and came charging on with their usual vitality. Dismounting every man of my division, I formed my line of battle just in time to meet the onset. Jackman held the right and protected two pieces of Collin's artillery, which opened immediately with good effect. Thompson and Slayback were on the left and I sent with a detachment under Major Gordon to watch well my extreme left flank and then moved steadily forward with a loud and ringing cheer. The men never hesitated from the first, but drove the enemy all the time before them and advanced two miles into the prairie, exposed to a heavy artillery fire from the first and if I had had mounted regiment of my own command I could have charged and taken their splendid battery. Two detached companies of Thompson's Brigade (Captain Langhorne's and Adam's) did excellent service on the extreme right.

Night closed the contest and another beautiful victory had crowned the Confederate arms. This success was of eminent advantage to our army, fought as it was when some were urging the old and horrible cry of demoralization, re-enforcements and no ammunition. That night about 12 o'clock I withdrew, leaving Lieutenant Colonel Erwin to watch well the enemy's movements until the next day. He left at 8 o'clock the following morning and our retreat continued to Cane Hill, [Ark.] unmolested and undisturbed."

Now then, General Shelby and his command was the guardian angel of the Confederate Army commanded by Major General Sterling Price during the conclusion General Price's Campaign in Missouri and eastern Kansas in October of 1864. General Shelby and his command successfully defended and protected the rear of General Price's Army after the Battles of the Little Osage, Charlot's Farm and Newtonia as it proceeded south into northern Arkansas, through the Indian Territory (Oklahoma) to its' safe sanctuary in eastern Texas. However, and of course the War Went On!