Skirmish at Island Mound

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Skirmish at Island Mound


caption=
partof=the American Civil War
date=October 29, 1862
place=Bates County, Missouri
result=Union victory
combatant1=United States of America
combatant2=Missouri State Guard & guerrillas
commander1=Captain Richard G. Ward
Captain Henry C. Seaman
commander2=MSG Col. Jeremiah V. Cockrell
Guerrilla Captains Dick Hancock & Bill Truman
strength1=1st Kansas Colored Infantry (250)
strength2=MSG/CSA Cav. recruits & guerrillas (~350)
casualties1=8 killed
11 w
casualties2=unknown

The Skirmish at Island Mound was a skirmish of the American Civil War, occurring from October 27 to October 29, 1862, in Bates County, Missouri. This Union victory was notable as the first known engagement of an African-American regiment during the Civil War.

Background

Even before the Emancipation Proclamation, Captain (soon to be Colonel) James M. Williams had been forming a regiment in Kansas of former slaves from Missouri and Arkansas. In August 1862 these men were mustered into Kansas service as the 1st Kansas Colored Volunteers. [ http://islandmound.tripod.com/casualties.htm , "Skirmish at Island Mound", Chris Tabor, Service records of casualties] The United States was unready to accept Negro troops at the time so they were not mustered into United States service until January 13, 1863. [Dyer, Frederick H., "A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion", Part 3, page 1186] Despite the uncertainty of their future as a military force they were armed with a mix of Austrian and Prussian muskets with bayonets. [Moore, Frank "The Rebellion Record, Volume Six", G.P. Putnam 1863, pages 52-54]

Captain Richard G. Ward's 170-man battalion and Captain Henry C. Seaman's 70 men battalion were ordered by Maj. B.S. Henning to proceed to Bates County, Missouri. They were accompanied by several members of the 5th Kansas Cavalry serving as scouts. The objective was to break up a guerrilla force near the Toothman homestead approximately 9 miles on the other side of the Kansas-Missouri border. John Toothman had been identified as a guerrilla and was imprisoned at Fort Lincoln, Kansas. As the Kansans approached on Monday, October 27, the scouts identified a large party ahead as local Confederate guerrillas under Bill Truman and Dick Hancock, as well as Missouri State Guard recruits under Colonel Jeremiah “Vard” Cockrell (all mounted.) The guerrillas and recruits had been using nearby "Hog Island" (also known as Osage Island) as a base of operations. ["The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies", Series I, Volume 53, pages 455-459]

Siege and Engagement [Condensed from http://islandmound.tripod.com/battle.htm, "The Skirmish at Island Mound", description of battle and interactive map by Chris Tabor]

Finding the enemy in greater force than anticipated, the Kansans fortified the Toothman homestead using the fence rails to create breastworks. The soldiers dubbed the works “Fort Africa.”

Tuesday passed with occasional skirmishing. The superior range of the Austrian muskets kept the indifferently armed guerrilla cavalry at bay.

By Wednesday October 29 the Kansans’ rations were running low. Runners had been sent back to Kansas requesting assistance. A foraging party was dispatched while skirmishers pushed forward to create a diversion. When the foragers returned the men ate.

While the Kansans ate, the guerrilla's set a prairie fire south of the camp, driving in the skirmishers. Seaman responded by back burning to prevent the fire from reaching the camp, and by sending out a scout consisting of a Cherokee named John Six-Killer and his slaves that enlisted with him. The party was to move beyond the edge of the fire, but remain in sight of the camp. Instead, they were drawn into skirmishing and advanced out of sight. A party under Lieutenant Joseph Gardner (soon accompanied by several other officers) was dispatched to their aid and to recall them. This group also soon became engaged out of sight.

Captain Ward was then dispatched to their aid and could soon see the others engaged far from camp in the river bottoms. He called for the rest of the command to be brought up. In response Seaman sent his force forward on the flanks in support.

The mounted guerrillas then appeared in force moving to a point between Gardner and Ward. Gardner's men attempted to make it back to camp. When they could not, they formed a line and fired a volley into the charging cavalry. A general melee ensued in which most of the Kansans losses occurred. Southern cavalry that swept past Gardner found themselves hemmed in by volleys from the rest of the approaching Kansans. Gardner's detachment fled toward the advancing line and the the guerrillas were forced to withdraw.

Casualties and significance

Union casualties were 8 killed (1 white officer, 6 black 1 Cherokee) and 11 men wounded. Among the dead were John Six-Killer and Captain A.G. Crew. [http://islandmound.tripod.com/casualties.htm , "Skirmish at Island Mound", Chris Tabor] Guerrilla losses are unknown although claims of up to 30 killed were made by some Kansans. ["First Kansas Colored Infantry", "Linn County Republican", January 31, 1902, J.H. Stearns (5th Kansas Cavalry)]

The action would be reported in the New York Times. [Moore, Frank "The Rebellion Record, Volume Six", G.P. Putnam 1863, pages 52-54] The 1st Kansas Colored Volunteers would eventually be redesignated the 79th United States Colored Troops on December 13, 1864. [Dyer, Frederick H., "A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion", Part 3, page 1186]

References

External links

* [http://islandmound.tripod.com/index1.htm] "The Skirmish at Island Mound" by Chris Tabor
* [http://old.mocivilwar.org/history/islandmound.swf] Animated battle map with sound.