Annals of Platte County, Missouri - Paxton
[previous page] [next page]
[previous page] [next page]
1861, AUG. 313 STAMPEDE 3. John S. Lowe 4. Joie A. Lowe 5. Pratt A. Lowe 6. Sadie M. Lowe 7. Jubal E. S. Lowe II. SUSAN LOWE W. S. Hull Aug. 3. - Gen. Fremont issues his proclamation confiscating all property of rebels. and emancipating their slaves. in Missouri. This was qualified by the President. so as to apply only to such as thereafter might take up arms. or should give aid and comfort to the enemies of the United States. SEPTEMBER. Sept. 1 - The Mechanics' Bank at Weston deeming it unsafe to keep their gold. amounting to ll1125.()t)tl. sent it to the parent bank. at St. Louis, in charge of directors Thos. Beaumont, S. P. S. McCurdy and W. M. Paxton. We went by St. Joseph and Macon. McCurdy was boozy a11d gave no attention. While we were in St. Louis, Gen Fremont declared the City and State under martial law. The feeling on both sides was intense. Soldiers were posted in all parts of the city. Ve had much trouble to get passes to leave. Prior to this ti111e secession was freely discussed: but from this day no one dared to declare his sentiments. The Liberty bank also sent its gold in charge of Adkins, Moss, and Field, directors. From this time the banks not only refused to redeeem their currency. but granted no more favors. Though the Weston bank had $150,000 outstanding notes. and the Liberty bank had loaned $17,000 to Platte County customers. yet neither bank lost one cent on a. discounted note. I was agent tor both banks at Platte City. Sept. 3 - Barclay, Coppac, and 18 others are killed by rebels at Platte River bridge. in Buchanan. St. Joseph is occupied by rebels. Sept. 11 - Part of Col. J. H. Winston's command starts for Lexington COL. SMITH AND THE PLATTE CITY STAMPEDE Sept. 16 - Col. R. P. Smith, of the 16th Illinois Infantry, leaves St. Joseph with a. detachment of 300 men and one eannon. for Lexington. to support Mulligan. About 9. oeloek. the advance approached Platte City. Silas Gordon and his lieutenant. Black Triplett. went out to the steam saw-mill. on the turnpike, to meet them. From covert. they red on the advance. when 400 yards distant. and a. physician of St. Joseph fell with a ball in his fore head. The main force came up, and with their cannon fired three shots upon the town. Throughout the afternoon Capt. Carr was busy in the streets of Platte (ity. trying to organize a. motley crowd to go to Huletts Bottom. on the east side of the Platte. and from ambush re upon the Federals as they passed on the opposite side. I stood in my office door on Main Street, and