Wallis True: From Benton County to Big Springs and Back

         

Wallis True never intended to move to Kansas, but that was how things worked out.  Wallis was 37 years old in 1862 and did very well for himself as a farmer and a blacksmith on his farm, which was located 5 miles south of Bentonville, Arkansas.  He was an ardent Union man during the Civil War and it was because of his beliefs that he was forced to pack up his family and what few possessions they could carry and leave for Shawnee County Kansas in the fall of 1862.

 

   Ever since the War began the year previous Wallis had been targeted by local groups sympathetic to the Confederate cause: "You're with us or you're against us." - "Join the Rebel cause and your farm will remain safe."  He remained steadfast though and his reputation as a Union loyalist kept Wallis and his family in a perilous and uneasy existence.  Their farm was occasionally raided for corn and fodder by the marauding Rebel Units which haunted the area and Wallis was worried that they would all be killed.  Finally after one of these Bands took seven cows, a pig and three wagon-loads of shucked corn Wallis decided that was all he could take.  He and his wife Golda loaded up their children and a few possessions and headed for Shawnee County under the escort of Union General James G. Blunt and his command.  Soon after arriving in Shawnee County they moved to Big Springs in neighboring Douglas County and waited for the War to end.     

   In May of 1864 Wallis True became a member of the 2nd Kansas Militia: a loosely formed Regiment of men from Shawnee County, most of whom had no military training.  This Unit, which was formed in August of 1863 after the sacking of Lawrence, Kansas, drilled infrequently and was without weapons or uniforms. By the summer of 1864 the threat of Rebel invasion from the east was replaced by news of Indian uprisings to the west.  Although the U.S.  Army sent some cavalry units out to quell the Indian threat, Shawnee County was never in any danger and life went on as usual.

    October of 1864 brought with it The Price Raid and Wallis and many of his neighbors who formed Company F from Big Springs joined the rest of the 2nd Kansas Militia as it left for Jackson County Missouri to defend the Border.  When the 2nd KSM was overwhelmed by Jackman's Brigade at Mockbee Farm, Wallis was among the 70 or so men captured and forced to march roughly 200 miles the next seven days.  Wallis survived the ordeal and returned to his family by the middle of November but was physically never the same man again.

    Wallis True began to suffer from dysentery in the last days of his captivity in southern Missouri.  After he returned to Big Springs he went under the care of Dr. W.H. Brown and waited for the symptoms to disappear, but they persisted and Wallis struggled from loss of appetite and lacked the strength necessary to perform his job as blacksmith.  This "running off at the bowels" as it was called back then would have been a common illness among the prisoners from the 2nd KSM as most of them had to drink contaminated water at some point in their captivity.  Doctors at the time didn't know the proper treatment for dysentery and Wallis continued to suffer, although he tried not to show it.  He was a stubborn man and tried not to let it get the best of him. 

   In 1867 Wallis decided to go back to his farm in Benton County Arkansas and try to reclaim the life he had known before the War.  His house and property were mostly destroyed but with the help of his friends and family he rebuilt it the way it was before.  Wallis' health continued to decline though and he was without a Doctor's care until 1874, when he became completely disabled.  This once strapping blacksmith and self-sufficient farmer would be forced to apply for help from the Government.

   Wallis True finally applied for an Invalid Pension on March 24th, 1879 at the Benton County Courthouse.  He stated in his Declaration for Pension that while in the service of the 2nd Kansas Militia he was taken prisoner and suffered the hardships of being exposed to the weather without proper clothing, was struck with the butt of a rifle above his eye by a guard and had contracted dyspepsia and chronic diarrhea which continued to the present day.  He also said he had never been treated by a doctor while in the service.  But Wallis had waited too long to file; in September of 1883 Wallis' attorney received a letter from the Commissioner of the Pension Office which stated that the cutoff date for filing a claim was July 4th, 1874.
 
   Although Wallis was ineligible for a pension, he did file for and receive compensation of $240 for his livestock and corn that was stolen by the Rebels in 1862.

   Through all of these travails Wallis True continued to be the cornerstone of his large family and although he never found relief from his illness which he contracted while a prisoner of war, he persevered.  He passed away at his farm in 1907 at the age of 82, still a Union man. 

Fort Simple and the Topeka Home Defenders

   In early October of 1864 while the 2nd Regiment of the Kansas Militia was awaiting the next move of General Price's Army near the Missouri border, a battalion of volunteers was organized to defend Topeka from Rebel invasion should they break the Union defences and cross over into Kansas.   Under the command of Major Andrew Stark of the 2nd KSM, these Home Guards were organized into Companies, trenches were dug and a small fort made from cottonwood logs was hastily erected in the middle of town. The only real firepower the Major could muster was one mountain howitzer, which was placed at the fort under the company commanded by Captain Tobias Billings.  As Price's Army drew nearer to the Border, the nervous citizens of Topeka hid their valuables as best they could and wondered if they were safe from the type of massacre which had occurred at nearby Lawrence only a year previously.  They were under the impression that if the Rebels did succeed in breaking the Union line, they would divide their forces into "raiding parties" and sack every town they came to, for they also believed these bands of Rebels blamed the citizens of Kansas for causing the War. 
   Just before noon on Sunday,the 23rd of October 1864, a solitary rider appeared on the horizon of the outskirts of Topeka and rapidly approached the stockade. Here he gave Major Stark a confused statement of Union defeat at the Big Blue River the day previous and the impending Confederate advance. The Major immediately gave the order for each captain to prepare his men for the coming battle and the force of nearly 300 untrained soldiers found their niches at the wall of the fort or their places in the trench.  There were also a few brave women who donned mens clothing without being asked and helped fill the gaps in the line. 
   The quiet Sunday afternoon slowly faded into evening and still there was no sign of invasion, or word from the front-line.  The sleepless Topekans passed the night in a miserable haze of anticipation, but nothing came. At nine o'clock the next morning (Monday) another lone horsemen appeared with the news that Price and his entire Army had been defeated near Westport Missouri the previous day and were retreating South down the State Line.
   The town of Topeka was spared in a sense that it was not physically assaulted but the mental punishment suffered by it's citizens was severe.  They now had to deal with the loss of the many men from the 2nd Regiment who died or suffered the lasting effects of injury or sickness caused by their imprisonment.  They were a hearty breed though and  soon most had moved on with their lives.  On July 3rd, 1869 an article appeared in the "Daily Kansas State Record" of Topeka which gives an almost cheery description of the Fort and the events surrounding it.

 TOPEKA'S "FORT SIMPLE"

From the Daily Kansas State Record, Topeka, July 3, 1869.

"REMINISCENCES.-We are asked by many as to the meaning of the term "Ft. Simple." We will explain. In 1864 when "Pap" Price was on the border, it was thought not improbable but that he would overrun the State. There is but little doubt that he would have done so had it not been for the Kansas militia, who were ordered out en masse and met him at the Big Blue. Price's army there met a check, but at the sacrifice of many of our people, and among them twenty-two citizens of Shawnee county. During the time that Price was on the border, it was considered proper to take some measures to protect the city should any stragglers from Price's command come this way. For that purpose, logs about sixteen feet in length were set in the ground four feet deep at the corner of Kansas and Sixth avenues. They were set in the form of a circle, enclosing a space of about fifty feet in diameter. Holes were cut in the logs in different places, so that those inside could shoot out, should the ragamuffins come in on either of the streets. A cannon was also inside, and an opening left so it could be used if necessary. Happily there was no necessity for using the fortification, so it remained a mooted question whether it would have done any good or not if there had been any necessity for it. After about a year the logs were sawed off, leaving them about seven feet high, and some trees set out inside. About this time someone gave it the nickname of "Ft. Simple," which stuck to it till it was entirely removed. The trees inside did not thrive, and after a year or two the city authorities ordered the logs removed. At the same time the stockade was made, all of the citizens who were not at the front were detailed a certain number of hours each day to throw up rifle pits or trenches in which sharpshooters could lay and fire at an approaching enemy without being exposed. One of these trenches was east of Monroe Street, between Eighth and Ninth, and the outlines of it can yet be traced; another was east of Washburn College (now site of Memorial building). New comers here can hardly realize in these peaceful times that for months our citizens took turns and did picket duty on all the roads leading into the city. The Quantrill and other raids into other portions of our state made it a part of wisdom to do so. Many amusing things transpired during these months. Several times it was reported that the guerrillas were coming, and we recollect one night in particular when many buried their treasures and some lay out in the ravines around town all night. Did space permit we could fill a page of the Record in telling of these things. At another time we may do so."

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The Forgotten Prisoners of the 4th Kansas Militia

  In an earlier post in this blog, The Battle of Westport and Beyond, a reference was made to the 4th Regiment of the Kansas State Militia: "Among the prisoners taken on October 22nd were twenty men of the Fourth Regiment, KSM "  Unlike the prisoners of the 2nd KSM, an official list was never made for any of the other prisoners that General Price's Army of Missouri took south with them.  In fact there doesn't seem to be  rosters, official or otherwise, for any of the other Kansas Militia units besides the 2nd Regiment.
    The 4th Regiment KSM was from Jefferson County, which bordered the northeast corner of Shawnee County.  Under the command of Colonel William McCain, the 4th was part of the Army of the Border spread out along the Big Blue River on 22 October, 1864. Sometime that afternoon, Col. McCain ordered a small party of 20 or so men south towards Hickman's Mills in an attempt to make contact with the rest of the Army.  The party was surprised by pickets from Jackman's Brigade and taken prisoner, with the exception of Aaron Cook of Co. B.   Richard J. Hinton writes in his book "Rebel Invasion of Missouri and Kansas...1864":
   

  Aaron Cook was a citizen of Jefferson County, Kansas, and a member of the 4th Regiment Kansas State Militia (Colonel McCain commanding).  This Regiment was ordered from Independence after the engagement near the Little Blue, October 21st, and during the fight were directed to proceed to and hold Byrom's Ford, four miles above the old Independence and Kansas City Road. On arrival here, a party of twenty-one men were sent as scouts and messengers towards Hickman's Mills, where was stationed a militia force under Brigadier-General M. S. Grant, Kansas State Militia. On their return, and when within a mile or two of the Ford, the party were surprised and all but one taken prisoners he escaping by the fleetness of his horse. Aaron Cook was shot down in cold blood after capture, and his body left in the road, where it was found shortly after. In all probability he was murdered by Jackman's Brigade.

   Adjutant Dutton thus writes: "Aaron Cook, taken prisoner by Shelby's men, was one of the early settlers, and a bold, fearless, outspoken champion of the principles of freedom; always active and earnest in the good cause; generous to a fault, but uncompromising in his political faith; a kind husband and father, and left a large family to mourn his sad fate.' 

 The lone escapee from the ill-fated party was named George B.Winans.  After returning to Jefferson County a few days later, George contacted the editor of The Okaloosa Independent with a brief note and a plea to publish his account of the incident and give a partial list of those men from the 4th who were captured.

                              

  Whether these twenty or so men from the 4th KSM left any written account of their ordeals as they were taken south by Price's Army is unknown at this time.  In all probability most of them suffered the lingering effects of the 200 mile march the rest of their days.
  An interesting by-product of my research into the 4th KSM is that I discovered that I am related by marriage to Aaron Cook.  My GG Grandfather, John F. Bell of Co. D, had a younger sister named Margaret.  Her daughter Julia married George Cook, the son of Aaron Cook about twenty years after he was killed by the Confederates near Byrom's Ford.

"It Seems That Those the Rebels Don’t Shoot, They Manage to Kill in Some Other Way."

  As James and Augusta Griffing continued to correspond over the long distance between Kansas and New York in the fall of 1864, they grew increasingly worried about their friends from Shawnee County.  It was near the end of November, and still James had no news of the fate of many of these people who had only recently shared many happy times with the Griffings.  The newspapers from which James gleaned any pertinent information concerning the 2nd Kansas Militia were frustratingly short on such facts and despite the cold weather, James decided to make the long ride from Nemeha County to Topeka and find out the situation first-hand.

  Lincoln [Kansas]
Saturday, November 26, 1864

My Dear Cutie [Augusta],

  It has been over a week since I sent you a letter. I did not intend to be so long and fully intended to write to you from Topeka but my time was so entirely taken up that I did not find time. I started from here on Friday at two o’clock and reached the timber this side of Topeka at pitch dusk and managed to get through after going co-whop against one stump. Then [I] forded the river when I could not see a little before my horse [due to the darkness] but came out all right. ‘But what did you go down for?’ say you. Well I got a little lonesome and out of variety and I wanted to hear and know about the prisoners and was right glad as it turned out that I went.

  I reached home about two hours after dark, found Bro. Hannum had gone down to Bro.[Osborn] Naylor’s who was very low. Sister Hannum got me a good supper and, after chatting awhile, I went to bed. The next morning after breakfast, [I] went with Bro.[Joshua] Hannum down to Bro. Naylor’s and found him worse. His disease was lung fever brought on by the exposure whilst a prisoner. Like most of the prisoners, he was robbed of his overcoat & boots, and kept on a forced march sometimes 40 miles a day with no food most of the time but roast corn. He was obliged to ford the streams, some of them waist deep, and lie down in their wet clothes nights without even blankets to cover them. They continued in this way for six long weary days before they were paroled and as would be expected, many of them came home entirely broken down. 

  He seemed quite glad to see me and conversed quite freely. He seemed to feel as though he was not long for this world which premonition was alas too true, although he was very careful not to let his angel wife who bent over him with such continued anxiety know but what he was all the time getting better.  I stayed with him through the day and saw that he was a great sufferer and gradually failing. He expressed him as entirely resigned to the will of God [and] seemed to regret that he had not been more useful in the church. About four or a little before sundown he called all the children about his bed and addressed them very prettily beginning with Rolla and talked as calmly as I ever knew him. It did seem as if the little one’s hearts would break. And when he came to bid them all a final farewell, their feelings were uncontrollable. But he seemed as good and pleasant as ever. He spoke and said, “What a beautiful evening it is.” After a little, he seemed drowsy and I thought I would go up to Bro. Hannum’s and get my supper and get Bro. Hannum who had gone home during the day and come down and set up with him. We reached there about six, just fifteen minutes before he died. He was past speaking but had his senses enough to give his companion a last parting kiss and soon sweetly fall asleep in Jesus, dying very easy. It was too much difficult to speak. I thought a more befitting place for me was among the mourners.

Dr. Vaughn buried his little boy the same day Bro. Naylor died. Also Bro.[Robert]Hoback, a fellow prisoner with Bro. Naylor, died the same evening of the same disease brought on in the same way. Bro.[Elias] Williams of Topeka was past speaking when I left there yesterday, dying in the same way. Hib Gale died also Sunday of the same disease. So it seems that those the rebels don’t shoot, they manage to kill in some other way.

 Jesse Stevenson & his wife did not reach there until after [Osborn Naylor] died. Father Jordan had been there most of the day and had left to go & stay with Selah at Tecumseh, who is now left a widow – her husband dying some two weeks ago near Ft. Gibson. A messenger was sent after him but neither he nor William Jordan reached there until after his death. Oh it was a sad night and a house of mourning indeed. Truly a good neighbor and worthy citizen has gone. How often did his sickness recall his great kindness to me [when I was sick in the winter of 1855-1856]. I tried to preach a funeral discourse on Tuesday to a large yet sad audience. Several of his fellow prisoners were in attendance, but my heart was so full at times I found it [very difficult. I feel badly] for his poor wife who, part of the time after he was taken prisoner, was almost distracted. She now went into spasms and for some three hours in spite of rubbing and talking to her. She came very near dying [and] she was unable to be out of bed the day of the funeral.

 Please kiss the children for Papa. Don’t let Johnny go down by the railroad. Keep a little eye on him. He has many things to learn yet. Give my love to all and ever believe me your own true husband. – J. S. Griffing

  

The following article appeared in the Thursday, December 1, 1864 edition of the Nemaha Courier, published in Seneca:

"Mr. Griffing, of Lincoln, who has just returned from Topeka, tells us that the Shawnee county militia, who were taken prisoners by Price at Westport, and paroled and sent back at the Arkansas State line, suffered considerably in the campaign, and some of them have died from the hardships and disease contracted while huddled in with Price's retreating rag a-muffins. They were robbed of their blankets, overcoats, and kept in advance of the rebel column when in motion, and whenever any rest was allowed, were obliged to lie down thus exposed to the open air." 

 Owego [New York]
December 11, 1864

My dear husband [James],

Your letter of November 29th I received the past week – just two weeks since receiving the one before it. I had begun to be very anxious about you, but your letter written after your return from Topeka explained it all. I am so glad you went down, but was so sorry to hear the dreadful news it contained. It does not seem possible that poor Mrs. Naylor is left alone. Can it be possible that we shall never more see him or visit him as a neighbor? I have written to her and shall feel very anxious to hear how she gets along & hope Mrs. Hannum will write. It seems Mrs. Naylor is not the only bereaved one – poor women. I feel truly sorry for them.

Did you see Henry Winans? Of course he is all right else you would have written. Did you see Nancy or Jacob [Orcutt], or hear anything about [my brother] James Goodrich? We have not heard from him in a long time and Ma feels quite anxious. How did Mr. Hannum & the rest escape being taken prisoners? Have you heard whether Mr. Williams lived or not? Please write me all you hear about them….Give my love to all who inquire. I often think of them all. Take good care of yourself & not get cold if possible. I hope you will keep well. Write often. Ever your – Augusta
 
   James and Augusta Griffing continued to write frequently to each other until April of 1865, when it became safe for Augusta and their three children to return to Kansas.  The Griffing family returned to Shawnee County and James resumed his career as a circuit-riding minister until he died in 1882.   He was a prolific writer and kept nearly everything he ever wrote: letters, speeches, receipts, journals, ledgers and also photos.  It is rare to find such an extensive collection and most of it can be found at griffingweb.com.
    As the letters relate to the history of Kansas and 2nd Kansas Militia, they are an invaluble insight into the hopes and fears of nearly every Kansan in the fall of 1864.  In their own way, James and Augusta Griffing have paid a fine and lasting tribute to the men of the 2nd KSM and their families who suffered with them.

"Is Price Driven Away For Good, Or Will He Return Again This Winter?"

James and Augusta Griffing continued to send each other letters in November of 1864 with the main topic of discussion being the fates of their friends and neighbors from Shawnee County and the 2nd Kansas Militia who were involved in the "Battle of Westport".   I can only imagine Augusta's distress, not only from the interminable wait for word of the casualties but whether her husband would be called on to protect Kansas again.  As the letters are sent back and forth between James and Augusta, it is apparent that the slowness of the mail is adding to this apprehension.

 Lincoln [Kansas]
Late Saturday Evening, November 5, 1864

My Dear Cutie [Augusta],

I received a Topeka paper this evening and I knew you would be anxious – as I have been – to hear. I will just enclose the names as furnished by the papers of those killed, wounded, & taken prisoners [at the Battle of Westport]. You will see that James Alverson is among the killed and a great many of our acquaintances and friends are among the numbers, especially the prisoners. Bro. [Osborn] Naylor is a prisoner. Also Bro. Hoback, Mr. Kiser’s son, Frank Dawson, Luther Palmer, John Markham & a host of others. An individual who was taken prisoner & escaped the second night says that there were in the hands of the enemy 105 prisoners, mostly Kansas Militia and Kansas men. Says the prisoners were stripped of their overcoats and in some instances of their boots & other clothing & robbed of their money. They were kept at the head of the column and a great deal of the time on the double quick. Said they suffered much for the want of food & clothing & had no blankets to sleep on. There are, by this paper, some 61 from Shawnee County yet prisoners. How many may get home alive, God only knows. When a wife only knows her husband is dead, then she knows he is free from suffering so far as this world is concerned, but to know that her husband is in the hands of these inhuman wretches, obliged to drag out a life more intolerable than death itself, seems almost past endurance. ….. Good night my dearest. Your husband, -- James

May the good Lord protect you & the children is the prayer of your absent husband. How thankful should we be that it is so well with us & [that I am] not a prisoner at the mercy of the rebels.

P.S. Do you get all my letters? How many have your received up to the present date? Good night. Kisses for my boys [several O’s] & yourself.

 Owego [New York]
November 6, 1864

My dear James,

Your letter written at Kansas City the day of the battle has been received. I had heard that there had been a battle & that [General] Price had been defeated, but I had no idea that your company was in the midst of it. I am thankful you were not engaged in fighting and hope none of our friends and acquaintance are killed or prisoners, but fear Capt. Hannum’s Company was not well treated. Hope you have written about them and that your next letter will tell of their safety. Did you go over the battlefield? I hope you could. Did you see Henry Winans? And did his company fight? I want to hear you tell all about it. And is Price driven away for good, or will he return again this winter? Or will there be enough of the regular soldiers there to keep him back?  …Give my love to all inquirers. I have written to Carrie [Winans] again. – Augusta

Lincoln [Kansas]
November 8, 1864

My Dear Cutie [Augusta],   You will see that it is election day and a very severe wintry day it is – just about as cold or colder as that day when Bro. Curtis sold their things and it has so much reminded me of that day that I have just written them a letter. The hail has fallen to about the depth of an inch and when driven by the piercing North wind, it did seem as if it would cut holes in one’s face every time. The chickens have not been out of the hen house and [my horse] Fanny has shivered as if she would desire a change. Yesterday’s Leavenworth papers state that [Gen.] Blunt has driven [Gen.] Price almost to the Arkansas line [and] that in a battle southeast of Ft. Scott, the Shawnee Co. prisoners made their escape. I hope such is the case. They have had a [Shawnee] County mass meeting and resolved to disinter the dead and bring them to the Topeka Cemetery and bury them and erect a suitable monument to their memory at the expense of the county. Have you had a letter from Sister Hannum or Naylor since the battle? Or from Sister Winans? If so please tell me what they say as all I know is through the papers. Please write as soon as you get this. I would rather you let no one read this.  Ever your own Husband, -- James

   Although the Battle of the Blue occurred two and one-half weeks earlier, James is still unable to relate to Augusta the fates of his friends from the 2nd KSM who were taken prisoner.  This unanswered question will continue to hang in the air until the beginning of December, when James finally writes to Augusta with an account of his visit with Osburn Naylor, a friend of theirs and fellow church member who was taken prisoner and was slowly dying at his home after the two hundred mile march.

J.S.Griffing:"It Is Said The Topeka Boys Fought Like Tigers"

James Griffing and the rest of the 23rd. Kansas Militia returned home to Nemeha County shortly after the Battle of Westport and the retreat of General Price's Army.  He immediately began to search the newspapers for details of the fate of his friends and neighbors of the 2nd Kansas Militia from Shawnee County where he and his wife Augusta had so recently resided.  The sad results are contained in James next letter to Augusta.

Lincoln [Kansas]
October 30, 1864

My Dear Cutie [Augusta],

You will be glad to hear that your husband is at home again safe and sound. My last letter was written to you whilst we were in the trenches at Kansas City amidst the greatest confusion & excitement in sight of the smoke of a  most tremendous battle and if it reaches you, I want you to be sure & keep it, that I may know what I wrote, when I may see you again. The night before it was written, I thought it not improbable that I might never see you again and as my place in the ranks was next to Brother [John] Hodgins of Centralia, we had agreed with each other – as we lay sleeping upon our arms in the city of Wyandotte – if we should be spared to see about the other’s family. The Good Being averted the battle, which threatened to take place at Kansas City, and caused it to take place at another point. And the consequence is that instead of the citizens of Nemaha being thrown into the deepest mourning, our acquaintances and friends in Shawnee County suffered as much as any one county in the great conflict. I have not as yet received the full particulars but enough to convince me that it is dreadful. Not only as the Topeka Battery taken, but a great many were either killed, wounded, and taken prisoners, or are missing. Among the killed, I notice Lieut. Col. [H. M.] Greene* (United Brethren preacher on Wakarusa), Mac Martin (Dr. Martin’s brother), W. P. Roberts (Judge Robert’s son at Big Springs), Mr. [Samuel Allen?], James Eagle, Tavern keeper at Big Springs, Dan Handley of Topeka, John Ward* (the Ward’s son above Topeka), H. C. Coville living above Topeka, Harvey Young, N. Brown, L. Selkin, M. D. Race, R. McNown, Mr. Rake, Charles Budd, Mr. Chapman, and two others unknown reported up to Monday as killed/wounded. I have concluded to cut out the piece and send you. Please preserve it.  

 *Henry M.Greene and John Ward both survived but suffered major injuries

  As to Brother [Joshua]Hannum’s Company, I am almost afraid to hear the particulars. Those killed living at Big Springs must have been in his Company. I saw (Ishiel)Tyler a moment at Kansas City. He says they were right in the fight and had plenty to do. Says that he (Tyler) lost a horse. I am anxious to learn the fate of Bro. Hannum, [James]Taylor, [Jesse] Stevenson, Lewis Clogston, John Ward & all our old neighbors. Also to hear the fate of the many taken prisoners. It is most dreadful to think of. Had we been residing at Topeka, I might have been in the thickest of the fight and helped to do something for the salvation of my state, and the good of my country. It is said the Topeka boys fought like tigers. They held the advancing columns of Price’s advancing legions at bay for about an hour until they were surrounded and their battery taken. I have been away from home so much or I would go right down there and see and sympathize with my old neighbors. I am anxious to hear from Harry Winans. I expect he was in the midst of the fight. I learn the mail is about to start. I will write again soon as I get more particulars. I found two letters from you when I came home. One written with a pencil from Hartford, the other written after returning [to Owego]. Was glad to hear [from you]. I think Missouri will be safer now. I may come for you directly after my Quarterly Meeting, or preacher’s meeting, starting about the 20th of November if you deem best. Write and let me know. Buy just as little as you must at present prices. Everything is bound to change after [the presidential] election. – J. S. Griffing

 Owego [New York]
October 30, 1864

My dear husband [James],

I see by one of the New York papers that [General] Price has been defeated & has retreated. I hope it is true and that there will be no need of you or any others of the militia to be sent after him again. I received a letter written at Atchison and was in hopes to get another yesterday but none came. I hope to hear soon that all are safe…. I hope this will find you well and that the next letter will bring me good news from you. The boys often talk of you and want to see you very much. Write often as you can. Ever your, -- Augusta

 Augusta was hopeful that James would have good news in his next letter, but it wasn't meant to be. 

The Letters of James and Augusta Griffing:"Excuse the Dirt, Grease and Writing"

                                                 James and Augusta Griffing in 1855

                                                      photo courtesy of W.J.Griffing
  I recently discovered a website griffingweb.com which features the personal letters of James Griffing, a Methodist Minister who in the fall of 1864 was living in the now defunct town of Lincoln in Nemeha County Kansas.  These letters provide an insight into the lives of the men of the 2nd KSM and their families around the time of the Battle at Mockbee Farm which so many were wounded, killed or captured.
   James had his wife Augusta had recently rented out their homestead in Shawnee County and moved to temporary quarters in Lincoln, Kansas. After a Cheyenne uprising on the central Kansas plains threatened  the family's safety it was decided that Augusta and her three children should return to the Griffing's home state of New York . This meant that they would have to venture through the volatile state of Missouri which was rife with guerrilas and outlaws.  The plan was carried out anyways and by August 1864 Augusta and the children were safely in Owego, New York.  James meanwhile was called to join the Nemeha Home Guards in response to the Cheyenne threat and when Price's Army invaded Missouri, he mobilised with his unit toward the Border area should the Confederates threaten Kansas.  James served with the 22nd Regiment of the Kansas State Militia, Co. G and was encamped with his unit at Kansas City when he took time to write to Augusta.
 

  In camp, Kansas City
October 23, 1864

My Dear Wife [Augusta],

We came here last evening. [General] Price is reported to have entered Westport last evening and [is] said to have a force of from 20 thousand to 40. If so, and as he is pretty well surrounded, I am looking for a pretty severe contest today. Our company may be in the midst of a most terrible slaughter. The thing has become more of a reality than I was expecting when I started. I hope everything will be for the best.

 Half past two o’clock. I commenced writing [you] this morning [when] an order came that we must drop everything and march at once. So we came over to the breastworks which Col. Jennison had thrown up for the protection of Kansas City. Col. Jennison was driven in by the rebels last evening into the entrenchments where we are at present quartered. They are at present fighting a tremendous battle five miles south of this [location]. The wounded are being brought in, in large numbers. We can see the smoke of the battle very plainly, but the wind is quite unfavorable, and the continued talking and cheering as the dispatches come in prevents our hearing much of the thunder of the artillery.

Still later. Our men have cut off his long train of commissaries, taken a large amount of his pillage, and Price is going South just as fast as he can. An order has come requiring just as many of our men as possible to get horses and pursue him. I have not yet been down to the hospital to see the wounded. Our regimental surgeon, Dr. Hidden, just told me they were generally slightly wounded; he thought but few cases would prove fatal. You can form no idea of the amount of Militia here – especially the infantry. I was just down where the Topeka boys were camped. They told me the Topeka battery was taken by the enemy yesterday and Col. Veale’s cavalry company was cut off from the main body, and they had not as yet heard from them.

 Next morning. Dreary from standing guard most of the night. News comes that the enemy are retreating [as] fast as they can go with our men in hot pursuit, fighting him with the artillery and cavalry. A great many hundred have already been killed and taken prisoners. Yesterday, whilst a portion of the men were packing up to leave on the retreat, they were surprised by a battery planted in their front which mowed down a large number of them. Our Captain, who was ordered down to assist in guarding prisoners, says he thinks we will be ordered home again today. I do hope it will be so that I can go out to the battlefield before I return. Returning cavalry militia state that the “Rebs” are scattered quite thickly over the ground. Preparations are making for a drill so I will leave this and hope to write again soon. Hoping I may be able to tell you good news about the Topeka Cavalry, as Capt. [Joshua B.] Hannum’s Company was away then. Now I would like to hear how you all are this morning. Ever your own affectionate husband, -- James   NB. excuse the dirt, grease and writing as it has been done mostly as I could catch it on my knee in camp.

 Owego [New York]
October 27, 1864

My dear husband [James],

I hope to hear soon that the militia are not engaged in fighting. I cannot bear to think that you have got to be in battles. It is dreadful to think of the poor families left desolate & alone this time of the year. I am glad we are here if there is to be trouble in Kansas. People have said ever since I came that they would not think of going back this winter & now they think it would be foolish & unwise. Ever your affectionate wife, -- Augusta

 The letters in the next post between James and Augusta discuss the fate of those they knew from the 2nd KSM.