Granby Fight. -- During the early part of the Civil War it was a matter of great importance to the Confederates in the Southwest to secure supplies of lead from Missouri, and in the fall of 1862 General Rains, with a force of 2,000 men, was stationed on the old Pea Ridge battle field to cover the transportation of lead from the Granby mines to the Confederate arsenal at Little Rock.  To break up the business a body of Federal troops took possession of Granby and stopped the shipment of lead South.  Colonel Shelby sent a force of Confederates, under Colonel Shanks, to attack the place and secure possession of it at whatever cost.  The attack was made at daylight on the 23d of September, and resulted in the surprise and defeat of the Federals, who lost twenty-seven killed and wounded and forty-three taken prisoners, the Confederates losing only two men wounded.  The mines were then actively worked under the protection of the Confederates, and large quantities of lead were sent to Rains camp to be forwarded to Little Rock.

SOURCE:  Howard L. Conrad, Encyclopedia of the History of Missouri (1901), Volume 3, page 84.

NOTE

This encyclopedia entry was apprently taken almost verbatim from Shelby and His Men, by John Newman Edwards (page 86).  Edwards was Joseph Shelby's adjutant during the war and a notorious liar and drunkard afterwards.  On August 29, 1885, the Neosho Miner and Mechanic had this note, "The 'apoplexy' with which Maj. John N. Edwards of the St. Joseph Gazette was attacked ... at Higginsville, was probably apple-jaxy instead of 'plexy.'"  Bob Schultz and William Shea provided information for this note.

HEADQUARTERS SECOND BRIGADE, ARMY OF KANSAS,
Camp on Jenkins’ Creek, September 27, 1862 -- 12 m.

Brigadier-General SALOMON,
Commanding First Brigade, Sarcoxie, Mo.:

My two scouting parties have returned.  The western one discovered nothing but bushwhackers or scouts; wounded 1 and secured his gun.  The southern party went into Granby.  They found that 400 enemy had arrived at midnight last from Neosho.  They drove in the enemy’s pickets, killed 2, captured 1, dressed in complete United States uniform.  The captain reports the roads cut up with travel made by the rebels concentrating.  I have not yet examined the prisoner just brought, but report to you the intelligence that the commanding officer of the scouting party brings.  That is, Rains, Shelby, and Coffee have effected a junction.  They number 11,000, and say they have been waiting for us to attack, but despairing of it mean to attack us.  To-morrow is the day fixed.  This is the information brought.  What portion of it may or may not be true I of course know not.  Of one thing, however, I am certain, the enemy are moving in united force this way.  They outnumber us.  The accounts as to the condition of their arms are conflicting.  Yet a great military blunder will have been committed if we are forced to retreat in consequence of our scattered condition.  Some point should be selected, there to stand, and the troops in our rear should come forward by forced marches.  If inattention to the warnings that have been sent lead to the sacrifice of our forces a great crime will rest upon some one’s shoulders.

I would be pleased to know as to what you propose to do, and in the event no aid is afforded from the rear, what measures shall be taken to resist the advance of the enemy.  This information of course should be forwarded to Mount Vernon.

Your obedient servant,

WM. WEER,
Colonel, Commanding Second Brigade.

NOTE

The OR chronology shows a skirmish at Granby on September 24, 1862, which I assume refers to this event.

SOURCE: OR, Series I, Volume 13, Page 677.

Back: Timeline of the Civil War in Newton County, Missouri

Home: Historical Items from Barry & Newton Counties, Missouri

© 2004 Robert O. Banks, Jr. All Rights Reserved