Osceola Monument to Murdered Citizens Dedicated
On Saturday 11 October 2008 in Osceola, Missouri the Col. John T. Coffee Camp, Sons of Confederate Veterans in conjunction with the St. Clair County Historical Society dedicated a monument to citizens murdered by President Lincoln’s Army and his General James H. Lane, 22-23 September 1861. The ceremony was attended by some 250 people. Supporters from Missouri as well as Kansas, Arkansas, and Oklahoma witnessed the unveiling of the seven and one half foot tall gray granite obelisk at Osceola Cemetary that marked a common grave of the12 victims buried there.
The project to erect the monument was the culmination of over a year of planning and fundraising. No state or other government tax money was used in the project and all the funds were raised locally at events like the annual Confederate Heritage Dinner hosted by the Col. John T. Coffee Camp as well as donations from the Historical Society and others.
The ceremony was led by Commander Gary Ayres of the J. T. Coffee Camp who said in his remarks, “Let us remember that these men who were murdered were protecting their own property and the property of their neighbors. What is even sadder, they were murdered by the same forces that were sworn to protect them.” Missouri would not secede from the Union until 31 October 1861 so Lincoln had ordered the destruction of his own people.
Ayres then introduced Historical Society President Mrs. Joann McPeak and the dedication speaker Mr. Jay Jackson, Superintendent of Schools for Missouri City, Missouri, as well as Brother George Eberhardt who gave the benediction. Other notables attending the graveside ceremony were: 119th District State Legislator Larry Wilson of Wheatland; Alderman Clint Lacy, Marble Hill; Mrs. Terry Ramsey, Missouri Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission; Mr. Pat Brophy, Curator of the Bushwhacker Museum Nevada, Missouri; descendants of U.S. Senator Waldo P. Johnson; officials from the Missouri-Kansas Borderwar Network; documentary filmmaker, Mr. Bruce Pollock of Kansas City, Missouri; as well as scores of descendants from Confederate families directly effected by the mass murder.
At the conclusion of the ceremony nearly 200 people assembled at the farm of Mr and Mrs. Rick Reed to participate in a Bar-B-Q dinner, discussion, and fellowship.
Osceola Monument Script
IN MEMORY OF OSCEOLA CITIZENS MURDERED BY KANSAS JAYHAWKERS AND THE UNION ARMY
In June 1861, President Lincoln issued an order making the U. S. Senator from Kansas, James H. Lane, a Brigadier General.
In September 1861, General Lane and his rabble army of Kansas jayhawkers, under questionable authority of Mr. Lincoln, invaded Missouri. His objective was to pillage and destroy peaceable, prosperous Osceola.
On September 21 & 22, the jayhawkers invaded, occupied, sacked, and torched Osceola. Twelve male citizens sought to protect one of the banks from being looted and ultimately burned. General Lane arrested these citizens for “Treason”, and by way of a “Drumhead Court-Martial”, appointed himself prosecutor and judge, condemning the twelve to death.
He mustered a makeshift firing squad, in which he himself took part, murdering all but three of the twelve men, thinking all were dead.
One of the few who survived was Micajah Dark. Thirteen years later, Dark was hunted down by forces of Missouri’s reconstruction regime. Pursued to his home, he was kidnapped, brutally assaulted, murdered, and his body flung into the Osage River. Micajah Dark was 74 years old.
This monument is dedicated to the men and women, known and unknown, who were robbed, brutalized and murdered by Union General James H. Lane through the events he set in motion.
May all who have suffered persecution from the course of action by Mr. Lincoln rest in peace with God.
“Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven”. Matthew 5:10
DEDICATED 11 OCTOBER 2008 IN COOPERATION WITH THE ST. CLAIR COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY AND THE COLONEL JOHN T. COFFEE CAMP #1934 SONS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS
The project to erect the monument was the culmination of over a year of planning and fundraising. No state or other government tax money was used in the project and all the funds were raised locally at events like the annual Confederate Heritage Dinner hosted by the Col. John T. Coffee Camp as well as donations from the Historical Society and others.
The ceremony was led by Commander Gary Ayres of the J. T. Coffee Camp who said in his remarks, “Let us remember that these men who were murdered were protecting their own property and the property of their neighbors. What is even sadder, they were murdered by the same forces that were sworn to protect them.” Missouri would not secede from the Union until 31 October 1861 so Lincoln had ordered the destruction of his own people.
Ayres then introduced Historical Society President Mrs. Joann McPeak and the dedication speaker Mr. Jay Jackson, Superintendent of Schools for Missouri City, Missouri, as well as Brother George Eberhardt who gave the benediction. Other notables attending the graveside ceremony were: 119th District State Legislator Larry Wilson of Wheatland; Alderman Clint Lacy, Marble Hill; Mrs. Terry Ramsey, Missouri Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission; Mr. Pat Brophy, Curator of the Bushwhacker Museum Nevada, Missouri; descendants of U.S. Senator Waldo P. Johnson; officials from the Missouri-Kansas Borderwar Network; documentary filmmaker, Mr. Bruce Pollock of Kansas City, Missouri; as well as scores of descendants from Confederate families directly effected by the mass murder.
At the conclusion of the ceremony nearly 200 people assembled at the farm of Mr and Mrs. Rick Reed to participate in a Bar-B-Q dinner, discussion, and fellowship.
Osceola Monument Script
IN MEMORY OF OSCEOLA CITIZENS MURDERED BY KANSAS JAYHAWKERS AND THE UNION ARMY
In June 1861, President Lincoln issued an order making the U. S. Senator from Kansas, James H. Lane, a Brigadier General.
In September 1861, General Lane and his rabble army of Kansas jayhawkers, under questionable authority of Mr. Lincoln, invaded Missouri. His objective was to pillage and destroy peaceable, prosperous Osceola.
On September 21 & 22, the jayhawkers invaded, occupied, sacked, and torched Osceola. Twelve male citizens sought to protect one of the banks from being looted and ultimately burned. General Lane arrested these citizens for “Treason”, and by way of a “Drumhead Court-Martial”, appointed himself prosecutor and judge, condemning the twelve to death.
He mustered a makeshift firing squad, in which he himself took part, murdering all but three of the twelve men, thinking all were dead.
One of the few who survived was Micajah Dark. Thirteen years later, Dark was hunted down by forces of Missouri’s reconstruction regime. Pursued to his home, he was kidnapped, brutally assaulted, murdered, and his body flung into the Osage River. Micajah Dark was 74 years old.
This monument is dedicated to the men and women, known and unknown, who were robbed, brutalized and murdered by Union General James H. Lane through the events he set in motion.
May all who have suffered persecution from the course of action by Mr. Lincoln rest in peace with God.
“Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven”. Matthew 5:10
DEDICATED 11 OCTOBER 2008 IN COOPERATION WITH THE ST. CLAIR COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY AND THE COLONEL JOHN T. COFFEE CAMP #1934 SONS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS
posted by Chuck Demastus at
3:50 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home