A Breif History Of Wingo`s Regiment by John L. Harris

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE BRIEF HISTORY
OF THE 1ST INFANTRY REGIMENT (WINGO’S)
OF THE 7TH DIVISION (McBRIDE’S)
OF THE MISSOURI STATE GUARD
After US Army Captain Nathaniel Lyon’s May 10, 1861 “capture” of the legally
assembled Missouri Militia at Camp Jackson near Lindell’s Grove in Saint Louis and the
ensuing massacre that left nearly 3 dozen, mostly civilians, dead, the Missouri
Legislature passed the “Military Bill” creating the Missouri State Guard. On May 14,
1861 former governor and Mexican War hero Sterling Price was appointed Major
General and given command of the Guard which was organized in “Divisions” generally
following the existing political districts. Judge James Haggin McBride of Houston,
Missouri was appointed Brigadier General of the 7th Division which stretched south from
Dent County to the Arkansas border and west to include Greene County. Governor
Claiborne Fox Jackson and General Price tried to negotiate “neutrality” with the US
Army and had reached such an agreement with General William Harney. Lyon, by now
a General of Volunteers, maneuvered to get General Harney removed. Governor
Jackson and General Price requested a meeting with Lyon to clarify the status of that
agreement. On June 11, 1861, at a meeting at the Planter’s House in St. Louis
Nathaniel Lyon declared war on the State of Missouri.
Governor Jackson and General
Price
hastily returned to
Jefferson City, called out the
State Guard and abandoned
the capitol. Lyon assembled
his troops and followed, arriving
in Jefferson City via steamboat
around June 14th as General
Franz Sigel arrived in Rolla via
train.
Lyon followed and
engaged the Missouri State
th
7 Division
Guard at Boonville on June 17th
while Sigel continued on to
southwest Missouri where he
engaged and was defeated by
the Missouri State Guard at
th
Carthage on July 5 . The State Guard continued south to Cowskin Prairie in the
southwest corner of Missouri to train and organize and to try to arrange for cooperation
with the Confederate forces under General Benjamin McCulloch.
Page 1 of 5
Meanwhile, State Guard companies had been forming in the 7 th Division. The 1st
Infantry Regiment of the 7th Division of the Missouri State Guard was formed primarily in
Dent and Texas Counties from men mostly from Dent, Phelps, Texas and Shannon
Counties. The Regimental Officers were Colonel Edmund Thomas Wingo, Lieutenant
Colonel Bingham F. Trigg, Major William C. Kelly and Adjutant William O. Coleman. A
total of 8 companies were formed as the regimental organization was completed in
Texas County in June of 1861.
COMPANY ORGANIZATION
1 INFANTRY REGIMENT, 7TH DIVISION, MISSOURI STATE GUARD
st
20 June 1861 – 26 December 1861
Raised primarily in Dent and Texas Counties. Served at Wilson’s Creek and Lexington
Numbered 300 rank and file at Wilson’s Creek (OR Series I, Volume LIII, page 434)
COMPANY
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
OFFICERS
Captain John Wheeler Nichols
Captain William C. Mings
st
1 Lt. John Baker
st
1 Lt. William Campbell
nd
2 Lt. James Cockrum
Captain William Boyd
st
1 Lt. George Akers
Captain James F. Wyatt
Captain Henry Van Fleet
st
1 Lt. William Dority Melton
nd
2 Lt. Stephen S. Darden
Lt. George W. Clift
Lt. William J. Clift
Captain Jesse Bird
st
1 Lt. W. C. Scott
nd
2 Lt. John P. Norvell
rd
3 Lt. James Dean
Captain Benjamin Headrick Frank
st
1 Lt. Silas Headrick
nd
2 Lt. John McAlfresh
Captain Vandever Berry Hill
Captain James King
Lt./Captain Jasper Ellis
nd
2 Lt. William N. Yates
nd
2 Lt. Dick Douglas
rd
3 Lt. Thomas S. Yates
Lt. Ed Harrison
Captain Surkiah Daugherty
Captain Webster
Lt./Captain John B Woods
ST
1 Lt. James C. Cullom
nd
2 Lt. John A. Friels
Captain T. R. Chandler
nd
2 Lt. J. B. Smith
rd
3 Lt. Newton M. Huffman
NOTES
Lost a leg at Wilson’s Creek
Wounded at Wilson’s Creek
Wounded at Wilson’s Creek
Resigned 2 February 1862
Resigned 18 January 1862
Resigned 2 January 1862
Resigned 25 September 1861
Resigned 2 January 1862
Resigned 2 January 1862
Wounded at Wilson’s Creek, Resigned 25
January 1862
Resigned 19 Oct 1861
Resigned 15 January 1862
Resigned 9 January 1862
Mortally wounded at Wilson’s Creek
Severely wounded at Wilson’s Creek
Resigned 25 January 1862
Resigned 5 January 1862
Resigned 5 January 1862
Resigned 5 January 1862
Page 2 of 5
Around July 9, 1861 General McBride and Colonel Wingo met with other companies
forming the 2nd Infantry Regiment commanded by Colonel John A. Foster in Oregon and
Howell Counties. Around July 10, 1861 the two Regiments of the 7th Division moved
south through the southwest corners of Oregon and Howell Counties, crossed into
Arkansas, passing through Yellville, Bellfront, and Berryville, Arkansas before joining
General Price near the state line between Benton County, Arkansas and Barry County,
Missouri arriving in Cassville, Missouri around July 28, 1861. The Missouri State Guard
was joined by Confederate forces under Brigadier General Benjamin McCullough and
Arkansas State Troops under Brigadier General Nicholas Bartlett Pearce as they began
to move north along the Wire Road towards General Lyon’s forces, believed to be in the
area of Springfield, Missouri. On August 2nd, as they reached the area of Dug Springs,
about 10 miles north of Crane Creek, the advance elements of the column consisting of
Missouri State Guard cavalry forces led by 8th Division Commander Brigadier General
James S. Rains encountered advanced elements of Lyon’s force led by Captain
Frederick Steele. Neither side knew the exact strength or position of the other but
aggressive probes by both sides led to a panicked withdrawal of Rain’s men down the
Wire Road that would later be referred to as “Rain’s Scare” as General McCullough lost
confidence in the ability of the Missouri State Guard. Lyon, being unsure of the strength
and position of the enemy, withdrew towards Springfield. McCullough continued north
along the Wire Road, arriving at and camping at Wilson’s Creek near the southern edge
of Greene County on August 6, 1861.
On August 9, 1861 General McCullough was prepared to advance on Springfield, but
the movement was cancelled due to rain. General Lyon, however, had left Springfield
to engage McCullough and arrived at Wilson’s Creek early on the morning of August 10,
1861 to start the Battle of Oak Hills or Wilson’s Creek. Lyon had been convinced by
Colonel Franz Sigel to divide his force and allow Sigel to take his forces south of the
Confederate position while Lyon attacked from the north. Sigel’s move was successful
initially but McCullough rallied the troops to face Sigel to the south and drove Sigel’s
entire command from the field. Meanwhile, Lyon attacked from the north along what
would soon be referred to as “Bloody Hill”. The Missouri State Guard forces were
brought into line of battle facing north towards “Bloody Hill”. As the 7th Division had
been camped the farthest south of the State Guard troops they were deployed on the
left of the Confederate line, taking positions armed with their squirrel rifles and
shotguns. Captain William O. Coleman, adjutant of Wingo’s Regiment noted that
Colonel Wingo and Colonel Foster (2nd Infantry Regiment) were wounded as the troops
were moving into position and that he and Captain Archibald McFarlane, adjutant of
Foster’s Regiment, directed the troop movements. Coleman had two horses shot from
under him as they resisted multiple attacks. Finally, General Lyon was fatally wounded
and the Union forces withdrew, retreating initially to Springfield and then to Rolla.
Official casualties for the 7th Division’s 645 men (Wingo’s Regiment – 300, Foster’s
Page 3 of 5
Regiment - 305, Campbell’s Greene County Cavalry Company – 40) were 32 killed and
114 wounded (over 22%).
The Confederates moved to Springfield where they stayed until August 24th. General
Price then moved north towards the Missouri River, but General McCullough was not
willing to continue and moved back into Arkansas. On September 2 nd the Confederates
encountered elements of James Lane’s Cavalry from Fort Scott, Kansas in the area of
Big Drywood Creek in Vernon County, Missouri, captured their mules and forced Lane
to withdraw and to abandon Fort Scott in the “Battle of the Mules”.
Continuing north they encountered skirmishers at the outskirts of Lexington, Missouri on
September 13th and pushed Colonel James Mulligan’s forces into their fortifications.
General Price then waited for his supplies and reinforcements to arrive. The assault on
Lexington began on September 18th and Colonel Mulligan was pushed back into his
inner works where he was surrounded and cut off. General McBride’s and General
Thomas Harris’ troops secured hemp bales to use as rolling breastworks that were used
to attack the Union position leading to their surrender. Sometime during the battle
Colonel Wingo was wounded in the side while mounting his horse.
Without additional support General Price could not hold Lexington and withdrew
southwest, initially to Neosho, Missouri and then north to Osceola, Missouri where the
Missouri Legislature met and determined to secede and join the Confederacy on
October 31st. General Price began the process of converting his State forces into
Confederate Volunteers with limited success. By the end of December Price had
organized a 2,500 man Brigade of Confederate Volunteers when he went into winter
camp at Springfield.
Wingo’s Regiment was mustered out on December 26th, 1861. Some members of the
7th Division of the Missouri State Guard remained in service and fought at the Battle of
Elk Horn Tavern (Pea Ridge), Arkansas and later crossed the Mississippi River with
Generals Van Dorn and Price, some joined Confederate units, others returned home,
and many remained to fight in Missouri and Arkansas under leaders like William O.
Coleman, Thomas Roe Freeman, John A. Schnable, and others.
Colonel Wingo was appointed Brigadier General and was the last commander of the 7th
Division of the Missouri State Guard. After Pea Ridge he may have retired due to the
wounds he had received at Lexington.
Page 4 of 5
Sept 18 - 19
June 14
Sept 2
Aug 10
Aug 2
July 9 - 10
July 28
1ST INFANTRY REGIMENT, 7TH DIVISION MISSOURI STATE GUARD
Page 5 of 5