Marking history: 160 years later, Confederate soldier's graves marked

Rewind 160 years ago, the American Civil War not only divided the country but the state of Missouri. The state was populated by both Union and Confederate sympathizers.

This resulted in numerous skirmishes between the two, including here in Webster County. On Oct. 20, 1862, a report by Union Lieut.-Col. James Stuart, of Stark County, Ill., then of the Tenth Illinois Cavalry follows:

GENERAL: I have the honor to report that on the evening of the 20th instant I received information of a party of rebels moving up the Niangua (Cantrell) Creek, making toward a point 8 miles east of this post, and en route to join the rebel forces in the southwestern portion of this State. I immediately took 105 men of the Tenth Illinois Cavalry and started at 5 p.m. to intercept them. I came on their pickets about 8.30 o’clock and drove them in, and attacked the main force, about 300 strong, killing 4 of them on the ground, wounding a good many, as I afterward understood, and capturing 27 prisoners. Among them was one captain named William H. Todd, who informs me that Colonel (Caleb) Dorsey was in command. I likewise captured a number of horses, saddles, shot-guns, muskets, and rifles. My loss was 1 man killed and 1 wounded. This party was organized by Rucker and Hughes, who sign themselves majors in the Confederate States Army. They scattered in every direction through the mountains, a large portion returning in the same direction they came; but they were so completely surprised that they never tried to collect together again. The largest trail I could find in one party was 10. I followed it for 50 miles next day, when they likewise scattered in every direction, and I have ordered Captain McMahon’s company of Enrolled Missouri Militia to gather them in. They are completely disorganized.

I am, general, very respectfully,

JAMES STUART,

Lieutenant-Colonel Tenth Illinois Cavalry, Commanding Post.

This report would not hold significance again until it reached the hands of Dale Wrenn. Wrenn, of Marshfield, is also a member of the Sons of the Confederate Veterans and is on a very unique quest: marking and locating every Confederate soldier’s grave in Webster County.

“If we don’t, who will?” Wrenn answered when asked why take on such a large task. “If we don’t… then nobody will. They are American veterans and they deserve respect.”

“Any veteran deserves to have their grave marked and with American military honors over them,” shared Ricky Perry, a Son of the Confederate Veterans. “I don’t care if they are Confederate, Union, Yankee… they deserve to be recognized. They need to be remembered.”

According to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)’s website, the VA furnishes upon request, and at no charge, a Government headstone or marker for the unmarked grave of any deceased eligible Veteran in any cemetery around the world, regardless of their date of death. This includes Confederate soldiers. However, many have been lost to time, forgotten, or in the case of the four who perished here in Webster County, were buried quickly with little to no indication of where they are.

Pouring over old journal entries, action reports and word of mouth led to Wrenn’s discovery of the grave site for the Confederate soldiers. Leading him straight to Ron and Corrine Cole’s flowerbed.

When the Coles moved to the property, they noted that a large rock was located in the yard, however with no markings, or indication that it was, in fact, a Confederate soldier gravesite, the couple built a flowerbed along the site.

“I think it’s exciting,” Ron Cole shared when commenting on the history in his own front yard.

Using dowsing rods, and official documented reports from the skirmish, Wrenn located the grave site. With the help of Perry, the two repurposed a headstone donated by the Springfield Veterans Cemetery to honor the fallen soldiers.

Exactly 160 years to the day, the gentlemen, with the permission of the Coles, dedicated a memorial site to the fallen Confederate soldiers.

The headstone inscription reads:

At this spot lie the remains of four unknown Confederate soldiers killed on Oct. 20, 1862. When a confederate column under the command of Col. Caleb Dorset was attacked by a detachment of the 10th Illinois Calvary under the Command of Lt. Col James Stuart.

For more information, or interested in the Sons of Confederate Veterans contact Rick Perry at 417-861-9485.