The Massacre at Lone Jack
The Missouri Confederate The Official Newsletter of the Missouri Division - Sons of Confederate Veterans Volume V - Issue I January 2003 IN THIS ISSUE:Report on the Division Commander’s Summit Conference……………………………Page 2 Camp News…………………………...Pages 3&4 The Massacre at Lone Jack………………..Page 5 News & Views…………………………….Page 6 Missouri Division Camps…………………Page 7 The Annual Lee/Jackson Day Dinner will be held on Saturday, January 18th2003
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The Massacre at Lone Jack, Missouri by William K. Brown II
On Sunday morning, September 6, 1863, Captain Charles F. Coleman and a squad of the 9thKansas Volunteer Cavalry were tracking the signs left by hundreds of horses leading back into Missouri. Coleman had spent many days chasing and skirmishing with Quantrill’s raiders during their flight from the devastating raid on Lawrence, Kansas on August 21st. Captain Coleman had retraced Quantrill’s route to a location four miles Southeast of Lone Jack, Missouri. A month earlier (August 19, 1863) Quantrill’s men had camped here at the Benjamin Potter Farm. The men had been well fed from Ben’s smokehouse, and neighbors had brought food and well wishes for the young warriors. The horses were fed a stack and a half of oats and at sundown they proceeded on their way to camp for the night on the Middle Fork of the Grand River before entering Kansas. When Coleman’s men arrived the residents of this area were making preparations to evacuate the area in compliance with General Ewing’s infamous “Order #11" which had been issued on August 25th. The order would de-populate most of Jackson, Bates and Vernon Counties. Coleman and his squad approached from the east on what is now Boswell Road. Before he got to the crossroad of the modern day Outer Belt he arrested David Hunter. Looking westward up a slight incline he saw the Rice Family loading their wagon. Coleman sent his “Sons of Kansas [sic]” to arrest Martin Rice, his son Isaac, and son-in-law William Tate. Martin presented Coleman with his “Loyalty Papers” that he had received the previous day from the garrison at Pleasant Hill. Undeterred, Coleman arrested them anyway. Coleman now had four prisoners (all non-combatants). He called his pack to heal and wheeled back east to the crossroads where he turned South on today’s Outer Belt Road. A few hundred yards down the road, young Andrew Owsley was taken prisoner. He had been riding from his grand father’s farm to see Martin Rice about borrowing one of his wagons to help his grand parents move. Coleman’s gang then stopped at the home of John Cave. He arrested Mr. Cave and William Hunter here and added them to his list of captives. As they were leaving, 75 year old Benjamin Potter rode up and was arrested also. Ben had been out looking for his son and grand son who had been sent to gather a team of oxen to haul their wagon load of household goods. As the Kansans and their prisoners rode past the Potter farm, Ben’s daughter and grand-daughter stood on the porch watching. Ben stared straight ahead so as not to give the Kansas Captain the satisfaction of seeing his pain. The prisoners were marched about a half mile further, to the camp of Lieutenant Colonel Charles S. Clark, and ordered to sit next to a fence row. Colonel Clark appeared and took the name of each prisoner and the “loyalty papers” belonging to Martin Rice. After a brief interlude Colonel Clark spoke briefly with Captain Coleman and returned the “loyalty papers” to Martin Rice. Coleman then released Martin Rice and his son Isaac, after retrieving a hat that had been stolen from Isaac by one of Coleman’s gang. As Martin and Isaac Rice were leaving, a series of shots was heard.....a volley followed by scattered reports. Returning home, Martin assured his family that the shots were probably just some soldiers killing chickens for their breakfast. Later that day Miss Jane Cave and Miss Amanda Potter left from Rice’s to look for the horse that John Cave was riding when he was captured. When they arrived at the camp where the prisoners were held the girls found the bodies of six men, murdered by the Kansans. Some of the men were riddled with bullets. David Hunter, who had broke and run, was found several yards away, shot in the head many times after he had been killed. 75 year old Ben Potter had been “gut shot” and left to die slowly. Andrew Owsley was killed as he tried to jump the fence, and was left hanging there. The girls rushed home to relate the scenes of horror that they had just witnessed. Martin and Isaac Rice went to John Hunter’s farm to get help burying the men. The three dug a shallow trench and gathered the scattered remains from the site. They placed the victims shoulder to shoulder, facing west, and covered them with blankets and then dirt. Elderly John Hunter ( 75 years old) had just buried his only sons, a son-in-law, grandson and two
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The Massacre at Lone Jack, Missouri by William K. Brown II-5- other relatives. * continued on page 6........ * Synopsis* On Sunday morning, September 6, 1863 a squad of the 9thKansas Volunteer Cavalry commanded by Captain Charles F. Coleman, arrested and executed: [1] Benjamin Potter, aged 75 years [2] John S. Cave, aged 60 years [3] John D. Hunter, aged 32 years [4] William C. Tate, aged 32 years [5] William J. Hunter, aged 18 years [6] Andrew W. Owsley, aged 17 years The reason given was that these men had aided and abetted Captain William C. Quantrill and his partisan rangers who on Wednesday August 19, 1863 had camped at the Potter farm while on their way to Lawrence, Kansas. The six Southern men were unarmed non-combatants in the process of moving from their homes in the Southeastern corner of Jackson County, Missouri in compliance with General Thomas Ewing’s Order #11. A rock and concrete wall now encloses the burial site which is located just South of Lone Jack on the Osborn Farm. A single marble obelisk lists the names of the six victims. The author, Bill Brown, serves as aide-de-Camp for the Missouri Division and is the Adjutant for the General J.O. Shelby Camp #191 **** ON HOLY GROUND ****by Compatriot Thomas Guinn, Headquarters Camp I stood this day in fire and blood; On honored fields of grass and mud. This, our land where valor rests; Southern glory stood the test. I walked among those stones of grey; Where gallant warriors here they lay. Into the battle bold and loud; Confederate Legions like a cloud. With pike and saber into the fight; Dixie men with all their might. Passing ages day by day; Southern Knights all clad in grey. Should they arise in grand elation; They would bid us to restore their nation. A grander nation could never stand; Than what they built upon this land.The Major James Morgan Utz Camp #1815mourns the loss of Charter Member Lonnie Charles Gammill. Lonnie passes away October 22, 2002 and was buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. He had served as Lieutenant Commander of the Utz Camp and was a staunch supporter of Heritage defense. The Missouri Division extends their condolences to the Camp and family of Lonnie Gammill.
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Re: The Massacre at Lone Jack
Maranda Jane Cockrell 8/10/08