Newtonia, MO 
1861-1865
Driving Directions
Newtonia, MO
Updated Tuesday, March 09, 2010 6:35 PM
Cloudy | 57°F | High: 65°F
Low: 49°F
Wind: 15 mph
Humidity: 67%
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Wednesday
72° / 43° | 
Thursday
57° / 38° |
Friday
44° / 36° | 
Saturday
46° / 38° |
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Click on the map for Interactive, Aerial and Birds Eye Views.
What was the nature of most of the fighting in Missouri and Kansas?
Why were there Naive American Units fighting for the Confederacy?
The Richey Mansion in Newtonia, served as the headquarters for both sides during the course of the war. It is currently undergoing restoration.
Philliber House the place to get information.
Newtona, MO
There are two Civil War battles that are officially recognized to have been fought in and round the little Missouri town of Newtonia. The first took place on Sept. 30, 1862 and the second on Oct. 28, 1864. Both of these battles were classic Civil War engagements with cannonades, charges and counter charges; but the story of the Civil War in Southern Missouri is less that of grand sweeping armies and more that of partisan bands and privateers stealing and murdering at will.
Newtonia lies smack in the middle of disputed Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Missouri border area where the Bushwhackers, Jayhawkers and Redlegs held sway. Added to this potent mix were state militias and the formally mustered armies of the North and South. Throughout the Civil War control of Newtonia bounced back and forth between the various factions forcing citizens to live a schizophrenic existence, ready to answer any question in the manner most appropriate to which ever side held sway at that particular moment. In a letter to her daughters, a Mrs. Grabill described an incident that took place in the early days of the war, an officer asked her son:
“What is your name, little man?”
“Lee Roberts Grabill.”
“Robert Lee Grabill isn’t it?”
“No Lee Roberts Grabill.”
“Well, whom do you hurrah for?”
“Jeff David Lincoln.” *
Not a bad answer, if you ask me, when caught in the middle it makes sense to root for both sides. In that same letter Mrs. Grabill mentions that atrocities were committed by both sides and that the Union supporters committed the worst; this from a Union family. Against the backdrop of daily terrorism a couple of battles fought in town probably seemed like a relief.
James Anthony was marched into the Springfield-Newtonia area and participated in a sweep to police up scattered Confederate soldiers after the first battle. While they didn't have much luck James did give his impression of the countryside and the condition of the troops in one of the early letters to his wife.
Springfield September 25, 1862
We are camped about a mile southwest of Springfield. There is supposed to be about twenty five thousand men here at present. The road is reported to be full of troops between here and Rolla on the march for this place. We arrived in this place yesterday being nine days from Rolla including Tuesday last when we laid over to clean up. The country between here and St Louis is almost worthless. There is timber about all the way with rock hills and ravines in abundance. Where there is any dirt in the road it takes the form of fine dust which completely envelopes us at times. We carried our knap sacks for three days and then hired a team to bring them the balance of the way for fifty cents apiece. I am not in favor of any such arrangement and in future shall not be governed by them. We marched into camp with about sixty men in the ranks more or less. We left five sick with the measles at Rolla and our second lieutenant and six or seven more at Lebanon and have one sick in camp. As far as I can learn we have had three deaths in the regiment so far. Some of our company were detailed as teamsters who did not march with us. I have marched in the ranks every day when we have been on a march which is more than some can say. Half of the regiment at times have been scattered along the road but orders are strict to the contrary and we are gradually improving in that respect. James R. Anthony, Army Letters 1862-1865, Plates 19-20
The Confederate infantry counter attacked from behind this wall.
Looking toward town (east). The fight raged in the town proper as well. At times this road marked the front line.
The Second Battle of Newtonia
Oct. 28, 1864
Union: Major General James G. Blunt
Confederate: Major General Sterling Price
The Confederates made their stand behind this wall.
The Richey corn field behind the wall, the Confederates advanced from the right.
The Richey house was a minor player in the second battle, but a Richey corn field served as the key point of the battlefield. The Confederates came out of the trees in the distance.
The intersection marks the limit of the Union retreat. The rock wall is on the right of the road.
A final note
The Newtonia Battlefield is mostly intact, much more than most, there is a serious move afoot to make it a National Park. That would be a good thing.