Newtonia, MO 
1861-1865
Driving Directions
Newtonia, MO
Updated Thursday, July 29, 2010 6:55 PM
Clear | 90°F | High: 93°F
Low: 74°F
Wind: 7 mph
Humidity: 62%
|
Friday
92° / 76° | 
Saturday
94° / 77° |
Sunday
93° / 76° | 
Monday
94° / 77° |
|
|
|
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 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 the two 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 First Battle of Newtonia
Sept. 30, 1862
Union: Brig. Gen. James Blunt
Confederate: Col. Douglas Cooper
The Confederate Army in Missouri had made camp in Newtonia to lick its wounds after the Battle of Pea Ridge. The Confederate high command picked Newtonia because of a nearby flour mill and some lead mines; they were going needed both bread and bullets if they were hoped to carry on the fight. The tired and battered Rebel Army made its camp in and around the Richey Barn. The Richey Mansion, across the street, served as their headquarters.
When the Union attacked they did so against orders; the attack came from the north and scored some initial success driving the Confederates from the edge of the Richey property near the old town cemetery back to the stone barn. The Confederate artillerymen drug their cannon into the barn and lifted them into the loft to fire down on the Union attackers while the Confederate infantry made their stand behind a stone wall that still runs along Highway 86. Confederate reinforcements arrived on scene and the Union attack collapsed. The subsequent Union retreat nearly turned into a rout; but, the timely arrival of Union reinforcements stopped the Confederate pursuit, and allowed the attackers a chance to get away.
Like so many Civil War battles in the West the Confederates won the fight and held the field but lost the initiative: they had to retreat in the face of a swelling Union presence. The Confederate Army retreated right out of Missouri into Arkansas leaving only the bushwhackers behind to maintain a presence.
All Civil War battlefields make some claim to fame, the first this or only that. The First Battle of Newtonia was the only Civil War battle where Native American Tribes fought each other. Native Americans fought at many other battles in the west; they fought at Pea Ridge and Wilson’s Creek, they fought black troops at Big Cabin Creek, but they fought each other in Newtonia.
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 Second Battle of Newtonia started near the present day Stark City and ended in the Richey cornfield at the intersection of Hwy 86 and Hwy M. The Confederates arrived in the Newtonia area in full retreat from a failed invasion of Missouri. By the time they made camp the Confederates were exhausted and an initial Union attack on the Confederate wagon train was quite successful but Confederate reinforcements and a desperate counterattack drove the Union forces back to the outskirts of the Newtonia. Union artillery fire finally drove off the Confederates at nightfall. The battle allowed the Confederates to escape Missouri back into Arkansas, not to return again.
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.