john t

Monument inscription (front)

SAUK RIVER CAMP

Here at the confluence of the Sauk (Sac) and Osage rivers, from October through December, 1861, Major General Sterling Price of the Missouri State Guard maintained a recruitment camp. Of the 12,000 men gathered here, 8,000 went with Price into the Confederate States Army, 2,000 remained with the MSG under Brigadier General M. M. Parsons, and 2,000 went home to protect their families, many to fight in bitter guerrilla warfare.

In March, 1862, Price’s two brigades fought at Pea Ridge, Ark. The next month they crossed the river to Mississippi. After fighting at Iuka, Corinth, Port Gibson, Champion Hill, and Big Black River, they were captured at Vicksburg, in July, 1863. They were exchanged in September and consolidated into a single brigade, receiving in May, 1864, the thanks of the Confederate Congress for their "fidelity to the cause of Southern independence." They afterwards fought in the Atlanta campaign and at Franklin, Tenn., where they participated in the largest, bloodiest charge of the war. They ended the war at Fort Blakely, Ala., in May, 1865, with only some 300 survivors under arms.

These Missourians fought more than a dozen battles in seven states, spending 37 of their 40 months of service outside Missouri. No men served more valiantly, endured more hardship, or sacrificed more for their cause. In discipline and combat effectiveness they had few peers and no superiors. They were the South’s finest.

monument inscription (back)

Prior to October 1861, most of these men foughtas the Missouri State Guard, Missouri’s Army, and under this flag, seeing victories at Carthage, Oak Hills, Lexington Hills, Lexington and Drywood.

From this body of men, fifteen Generals were produced for the Confederate States of America.

John S. Bowen, John Clark, John Clark, Jr., Francis M. Cockrell, Basil Duke, Daniel Frost, Martin Green, Henry Little, James Major, John S. Marmaduke, M. M. Parsons, Sterling Price, James Rains, Jo Shelby and William Slack

"…the finest body of Soldiers ever gazed upon."

-President Jefferson Davis

"I have never seen in battle their equals"

- General Van Dorn , Corinth, Mississippi

"…Missouri troops of the Army of the West were not surpassed by any troops in the World."

- General D. H. Maury, Corinth, Mississippi

The Missouri Brigade, The South's Finest

By: David S. Reif

With the ink barely dry on the Ordinance of Secession former Missouri governor and now General Sterling Price and his entourage rode north from Neosho where the legally elected legislature had just passed the laws necessary to enter the State into the Confederacy. On 1 November 1861 they arrive at the confluence of the Osage and Sac rivers near the ruins of Osceola, Missouri. The town was recently pillaged and burned by Union Gen. Jim Lane and his army from Kansas.

The ashes at Osceola had scarcely cooled. Choosing this place to recruit an army would be a symbol to remind citizens how dire the situation had become. Gen. Price called forth volunteers to join his command and the Confederate States to fight the armies of the night that had come to invade Missouri. Veterans of the small but tough State Guard joined with untrained citizens who brought weapons, horses, wagons, and supplies. The Guardsman had already fought several battles including Booneville, Carthage, Oak Hills (Wilson’s Creek), and Hemp Bales (Lexington). Defeating Col. Franz Sigel at Carthage they would be the first organized force to rout a Marxist lead Union Army unit on American soil.

Venturing south to Springfield the first unit of the Missouri Confederate Brigade was official structured on 28 December 1861. A month later the muster rolls were sent to Secretary of War Judah P. Benjamin. The formalities gone through with this already famous fighting force rode into military history where its legend would be inscribed with gold in the Immortal Book of Valor. Leaving their beloved state the men of the Missouri Brigade would soon fight at scores of major and minor battles across the Confederacy. The first fighting was in Arkansas at Elkhorn Tavern (Pea Ridge). Over the next 40+ months of hard service they were engaged at Iuka and Corinth, Mississippi as well as Pittsburg Landing (Shiloh) in nearby Tennessee. They would fight all across Mississippi at Grand Gulf, Port Gibson, Champion Hill, and others actions in the Vicksburg campaign.

At the conclusion of that fight the Official Record reports that President Davis wrote the following, “The gallant Missourians have my cordial thanks. Their patriotism will be remembered. I hope the others will emulate their heroism and follow their example.” From Mississippi the Missouri Brigade would fight in the battles for Atlanta distinguishing themselves at Kennesaw Mountain. Shifting west they fought at Hood’s crucial but ill-fated attack on Franklin, Tennessee. Missouri Gen. Francis Cockrell led the famous charge that was praised for bravery and valor by both Union and Southern authorities.

In the end the Missouri Brigade literally fought to the finish. Defending Fort Blakely on Mobile Bay in Alabama the Missourians with their backs to the sea repulsed an overwhelming force of Yankees time after time until finally succumbing; fighting gallantly while Lee was at the same time surrendering at Appomattox. After 13 major battles and 6 sieges these fierce warriors were truly, “The South’s finest!”

Much of the information used here is from the famous book In Deadly Earnest: The Missouri Brigade” written by compatriot Phil Gottschalk. His book is out of print these days but can still be had with a little effort. If you can’t find it buy Linda Carlton’s wonderful CD, The Sword of Robert Lee and listen to the song, “A Soldier of the First Missouri Brigade”, she rightfully captures their spirit if not their history in this poignant ballad. –DSR-

David Reif is the Press Release Officer for the John T. Coffee Camp #1934, SCV in Stockton, Missouri. Mr. Reif lives in Eldon, Missouri.

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