Page:History of Southeast Missouri 1912 Volume 1.djvu/399

 HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 339 were suspended, both sides feeling sure that the fort would not be able to hold out much longer. During the night General Ewiug de- termined to evacuate the fort and if possible to draw his forces off in order to escape what seemed to be the inevitable, defeat and cap- ture. The retreat was made without discov- eiy and after the forces had withdrawn the magazine in the fort was fired and the fort destroyed, this feat was performed by Daniel Flood of the Third Cavalry ^Missouri State Militia. This battle at Pilot Knob was one of the most obstinately contended of any fought within the limits of Southeast Missouri during the war. It was a victory for the Confed- erate forces though both sides lost heavily. After retreating from Pilot Knob General Ewing sent a detachment to Mineral Point where a small troop of Federal troops were, in order to warn them of his reti-eat, these troops, however, were attacked by Confed- erate soldiers under command of General Joe Shelby who had not participated in the battle at Pilot Knob but had marched from Freder- icktown by the way of Farmington. This un- expected check caused General Ewing to change the plans of his retreat. He was no longer certain of being able to retreat in the direction of St. Louis and he turned toward Rolla. At Webster, however, he decided to march for Harrison, here he fought a skirmish with General Shelby and later retreated to Rolla. Price's main force marched through Potosi and Richwoods which place was reached Sep- tember 30. While on the march a number of men had been sent to DeSoto where they fought a skirmish and destroyed a depot of supplies. From Ricliwoods the command turned toward Washington, Hermann and Jefferson City and finally to Lexington and out of the state into Kansas. The war left Southeast Missouri in a very deplorable condition. Its effects were the usual effects of war where it is bi-ought home to the people. As we have said. Southeast ]Iissouri was really on the border between the North and the South and while it was not the scene of great battles nor formed the pathway of great armies, it was ravaged by guerrilla bands from both sides. The fact that neigh- bors and friends and even members of the same family served on opposite sides tended to increase the bitterness that war naturally brings. There were hundreds of non-com- batants who attempted to remain peaceably in their homes and who were killed during the war. The section was overrun by organized bands of lawless men who used the opportu- nity which war brings to live lawless and un- controlled lives. The harried the whole country, they seized property when and where they pleased, and to resist them was almost certain to bring vengeance and per- haps death. A country so disturbed was certain to suffer very greatly. Many flourishing towns were practically depopulated during the war. This was true of Bloomfield, Poplar Bluff, Fred- ericktown and other places in this district. The inhabitants were either killed in war or in the raids of the bands from either side, or else they were driven away from their homes and found shelter in other places. The popu- lation of the entire district was greatly di- minished by the same causes. It is a fact that Southeast Missouri sent as large a pro- portion of its inhabitants into the armies of the North and South as any other part of the country; very many of whom never returned from the war. , But not only was the loss of life appalling and terrible, the country suffered a very great loss of property as well. Houses were