Battle at Old Fairgrounds in Jackson

On 3 June 2009 the Cash-Book Journal published an article on the account of the Battle at the Old Fairgrounds in Jackson. This running skirmish was a great example of many of the battles that occurred in Missouri. Jackson is a town near to Cape Girardeau, Missouri, my hometown. This is also the home area of many of the men of the 8th MO CAV Regiment. The account below is from that article on 3 June and is taken from the perspective Luther Jenkins from Co. F of the 8th MO CAV Regiment. If you want to read a very in depth description of the activities that day so long ago, follow this link written by Kirby Ross. Also, there is a Federal perspective of the accounts of that day in the news article, but due to length of post and time chose not list it here.

Jenkins Brothers - Co. F 8th MO CAV Regiment

Luther, Edward Jr., James R. and John H
(John is a past Cape Girardeau County Sheriff)

"Two of us followed soon after and, and Lt. McGuire was being chased out Fulenwider's Lane, and Tom Wheeler had jumped in bed at Turnbaugh's Hotel and feigned sickness and actually escaped capture. I was told he did some tall groaning when the soldiers went to look at him. Two of our numbers left without horses just below father's house, which made 22, the number of the scouts.
"Now that pretty spring morning we marched afoot into Jackson to see our friends and we had a jolly day. A number of us went to Mr. Welling's for dinner and let me tell you, it was a dinner to make a soldier smile all over his face. I remember when we came out my haversack had a big pound cake put in it by some of the young ladies, and my hat had been ornamented with a splendid black plume put there Mrs. LaPierre. Wonder if she remembers it?
"When we got to the public square, everything was so still and no one in sight we knew in a minute there was something wrong. When we got to Mr. Schumke's corner we stopped to get a fine bridle-bit he had given me. They told me the command was gone, and Capt. Jeffers left word for us to come on to the Fair Grounds and the Yanks were coming. Well, we lit out, and were doing some lively walking (we were too proud to run) and saw no one till passing Mrs. Brown's when Mollie (God bless her memory) called, 'Lute, run! Look yonder!' and looking up we saw the lane full of blue coats coming down the big hill from toward fathers.
"But I turned and said, 'We don't run, Mollie.' But let me tell you confidently, after we got out of her sight, well we struck just the high places to the Fair Grounds, and we were there none too soon.
"Just as we passed where the old stand was we heard horses' feet coming down the creek, and looking up we saw a citizen on a sack of meal, and we supposed just from the mill, and he was making the best time I ever saw a mill boy make.
"And right after him were three Federal cavalrymen. As they came in range Dick Medley and I opened on them and wheeled and rejoined their command. Then Capt. Jeffers called us and for the first time we knew where our boys were....behind a poplar log about a hundred yards further up the hill.
"So going there we took our position. In a few minutes here they came. Their advance guards were allowed to pass. Lt. Hummel was leading the command that followed closely. When they reached the right place we opened on them and down went Lt. Hummel and his horse on him and nearby another soldier badly wounded. (note...CPT Jeffers ordered the men to hold their fire until his first shot. Lt. Hummel was not seriously wounded, but the other soldier William Brawner, died from his wounds.)
"The Federals immediately wheeled and formed along the old Russel fence and commenced playing marble with us pretty lively. Things looked squally. They were too far back for our buckshot, so the captain ordered a charge, which we did in true Rebel style, yelling every jump and firing as we advanced.
"Capt. Flentge's (US) boys said, 'If this is the kind of friendly reception you are going to give us, we will leave,' and leave they did full tilt. And we were real glad to see their horses' tails sailing up the creek.
"We then returned and pulled the horse from off Hummel and let him up. 'Becky' Moore said, 'ess kill him.' But it was jut to frighten Hummel. (note: and it reportedly did!) But 'Becky' was mad that day, and when he was mad enough to grin, better give him plenty of room.
"We then pulled the other soldier out of the road and I put a chunk under his head for a pillow, for which he thanked me kindly. Having no horses to follow the fleeing and disorganized enemy, we started to camp.
"When about half way father overtook us and ask Capt. Jeffers for Lt. Hummel. Said he would be responsible for him. So taking the lieutenant up behind him, he took him to brother Maple's at the academy where he remained till the next morning, when father hitched up to his buggy and took Hummel to the Cape, and (carrying out Jeffers instructions) exchanged him for Capt. (Sam) Lewis of our command who had been a prisoner for sometime. And the joke was on us. Lewis did not come back to us. This is the only instance that I know of where a civilian acted as an exchange officer during the war.
"Now while this was part of the show was going on at the fair grounds, two side shows were having their attractions. Right over the hill from us the advance guard (which we let pass us) butted up again John Craig, who had been to see his best girl and was on his way to the command and they had it hot and fast, and that is where the Federal was found that was carried to the Turnbaugh Hotel.
"Then away out on the gravel road there went one of the most gallant soldiers who espoused the lost cause, fleeing on horseback and two blue coats right after. But let me tell you, they had no idea who they were following, for no man, without want for a finish would dare follow 'Butt' McGuire. (note, actually 3 riders followed each Confederate soldier. Craig took out 2 with his first rounds of the double barrel shotgun (casualties, not mortalities). The third rider missed with his rifle, and Craig hit him fleeing through the leg with his pistol. He also captured all their small arms and saddles! McGuire hit one soldier square through the head, killing him instantly. The other two riders saw enough and promptly wheeled about and ran for it!)
"Now, Mr. Editor, print this just as I write it and will stand the blame. And I think that crowd wanted anything very sensational. One of them never came back, but stark and still he was found. The man who died at the McGuire House was a local Methodist preacher. Of the Confederates not a man received a scratch." 'Yours truly, L.E. Jenkins'

This battle was a Federal rout, even though the Federal forces had a 69 to 22 man advantage. CPT Flentge never employed his whole group in force, nor were the attacks coordinated. Surely if he had take more time to organize a plan, instead of losing command and control, the outcome may have been completely different. Heck, he might have taken the future COL William Jeffers out of the fight...who knows? Instead CPT Jeffers went on to organize the 8th MO CAV Regiment later that year in December 1862.

Colonel William Jeffers

8th Missouri Cavalry Regiment