VII

THE ERUPTION AND AFTER

Partnership with Senator Henderson at Louisiana Elected to the Legislature-Slavery and AntiSlavery in Politics-I Organize the 49th Missouri Infantry-Commissioned Colonel - The Centralia Massacre- The Siege of Mobile — Lincoln Anecdote -Jefferson City and Reconstruction - Secretary of

the State Senate - The Drake Constitution.

In January, 1862, I removed from Bowling Green, the County Seat of Pike County, to Louisiana, the principal town of the county, and entered the law office of Honorable John B. Henderson, where I continued in discharge of my duties as States Attorney and the general practice of law as well. In the fall of that year, I became a candidate for the Legislature, and was elected in November.

The county was entitled to two representatives and my colleague was Benjamin P. Clifford, a well-to-do banker of Louisiana. This legislature, among other duties, was to elect two United States senators to succeed Henderson and Wilson, who had been appointed by Governor Gamble to fill the vacancies occasioned by the removal of Polk and Johnson. The terms for which senators were to be chosen were six and four years, respectively. Clifford and myself were warm friends and supporters of Henderson for

the long or six year term, but were not committed to any one for the short term.

When the legislature met in the following winter, it was soon discovered that it was divided into three factions of nearly equal strength. One party was composed of those who favored the immediate emancipation of the slaves in the State. This faction was designated as "Charcoals." Another party, of which Clifford and myself were members, was in favor of what was known as "gradual compensated emancipation." This was known as the "Claybank" faction. The third party was composed of those who were opposed to emancipation in any form. This faction was known as the "Snowflake." Each of these parties had its candidate. B. Gratz Brown of St. Louis represented the "Charcoals," John B. Henderson of Pike the "Claybanks," and John S. Phelps of Green the "Snowflakes." The contest was

long and exciting and continued throughout the regular session and well into the second before two senators were chosen.

The legislature was composed of very competent men, and each party had able representatives. The most prominent perhaps of the Brown or "Charcoals" was George Smith of Caldwell; of the Henderson or "Claybanks", Senator George W. Anderson of Pike; and of the Phelps or "Snowflakes", John Wilson of Platte. It was generally understood that Henderson was the strongest candidate for the long term, and could command enough votes to elect for that term. The real contest seemed to be over the four year term. The voting for each had to be done separately.

This being the situation, the supporters of Brown and Phelps combined to elect for the short term first, and so supported a resolution to that effect. It was over the selection for this term that the contest waged. The friends of Henderson, that is, those who held control did not support at first either Brown or Phelps, but cast their votes for various other candidates, viz: Samuel T. Glover, James O. Broadhead, Samuel M. Breckenridge, and possibly one or two others. The deadlock was complete, and day after day the legislature in joint session failed to elect. A few of Henderson's friends held the balance. They were Senator Anderson of Pike, Representatives Bittinger of Buchanan, Poepping of St. Louis, Wommack of Lincoln, Sitton of Gasconade, and Clifford and myself of Pike. A meeting of these seven men was held at eleven o'clock one night when they determined to break the deadlock by voting for B. Gratz Brown for the short term. This action was not known outside of its members.

The next day when the roll was called, each and every one of the above voted for Brown, and he was duly elected for the short term. Immediately after the result was announced by Lieutenant Governor Hall, the presiding officer of the joint session, Smith of Caldwell, the leader of the Brown faction, nominated Henderson for the long term and he was elected by a good margin.

Thus ended one of the most exciting and interesting contests that ever took place in the State Legislature which had an able and distinguished membership. The Lieutenant Governor and presiding

officer of the Senate was Willard P. Hall of Buchanan, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives was Reverend M. Marvin of Henry County. John Wilson of Platte was an able lawyer. He was the father-in-law of Honorable E. H. Norton, who became the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the State, and the father of O. H. P. Wilson, who afterwards became the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and then a member of Congress. His grandson, Francis Wilson, was recently the United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri.

John Wilson's colleague was a man by the name of Wolff. The only failing that Wolff had was in drinking too much whiskey now and then, and getting on "sprees" that lasted for several days. On one occasion he was absent, without leave, for some time and no one seemed to know where he was. Finally a report came that he had died quite suddenly in St. Joseph. The report was accepted as true and his colleague, Mr. Wilson, prepared resolutions of respect, etc., and introduced them in the House. The resolutions referred to the ability and worth of Mr. Wolff, and concluded by declaring that his death was a great loss to the State. In offering the resolutions, Mr. Wilson spoke most feelingly and eloquently of his friend, but just in the midst of the speech Wolff suddenly appeared at the door of the House. His presence was hailed with much delight and with vociferous applause. Mr. Wilson was greatly surprised and seemed quite nonplused. He looked at Wolff for a moment and then turning to the Speaker

said, "Mr. Speaker, I withdraw all I have said about my colleague; he is a d -d sight better man dead than he is alive."

There was among the House membership two or three who were distinguished, not for learning and scholarship, but for possessing good "horse sense." One of these was William Monks of Howell County. He formed a dislike for some reason or other to Charles P. Johnson, a member from the city of St. Louis. Johnson was a young man of great promise, afterwards becoming Lieutenant Governor of the State and its leading criminal lawyer. On one occasion he asked for a few days leave from the House to attend to some private business. Monks at once arose and said, "Mr. Speaker, let him go. If he had made his desires known we could have spore him several days ago. Monks was a great character and lived to be an old man, dying only a few years ago. During the winter of 1862 and the year 1863, there was comparative peace in the State. The Union forces had affairs well in hand and had driven the rebels out. Courts were quite regularly held and order was generally maintained, although the people suffered now and then from marauding parties, especially in the southern parts.

The war continued with increased violence in other States and with varying success. In the early part of 1864, an additional and further call for troops was made from Washington. Missouri was required to furnish ten additional regiments of infantry to serve for one year. I was authorized to recruit and organize one of those regiments, thereafter known as the Forty-ninth Missouri Infantry. The head