Battle of Hartville???

[Budracer]

Anyone hunted around Hartville for CW relics? All the places I wanted to hunt the city has claimed for a Historical site (which covers half the town) what really chaps me is where the old mill was and was part of the skirmish I was told that I could not do any digging or disturb the ground and now they have hauled in fill dirt and covered it with about 6 ft of it. I am resolved to asking home owners to hunt their yards in the areas of interest. I do know that behind the Steele Mansion they had a temp hospital but that is off limits too. Any help would be appreciated.

[les]

Hi: Im assuming your wanting info on Hartville Mo. This is the only Battle info on Hartville I found,but,there could have been others?

Les
HARTVILLE, MO.
Jan. 11TH, 1863
============
Hartville, MO., Jan. 11, 1863. Detached Troops,
Department of Missouri. This engagement was an incident of
Marmaduke's expedition into Missouri. Learning that a heavy
force of Confederates was marching Toward Springfield, Brig.-
Gen. Fitz H. Warren, commanding the post at Houston, Sent Col.
Merrill with 800 men of the 21st IA. and 99th Ill. Infantry,
180 of the 3rd IA. and 3rd Mo. cavalry, and 2 guns of Battery
L, 2nd Mo., to reinforce the garrison at Springfield. On the
night of the 1Oth Merrill bivouacked on Wood's Fork, about
9 Miles beyond Hartville, where he was attacked at 4 a.m. on
the IIth. The artillery was immediately brought into action,
the cavalry were deployed as skirmishers and the fighting
continued until about 8 o'clock, when the enemy withdrew by a
circuitous route toward Hartville. Some 30 or 40 prisoners
were taken at Wood's Fork and from them Merrill Learned that
Marmaduke had been reinforced by Porter and Greene Since the
attack on Springfield on the 8th and that his force now
numbered about 5,000 men. Notwithstanding he was outnumbered
five to one, Merrill pushed on to Hartville and reached the
town just as the Confederate advance came up. Merrill Took
position on the brow of A Hill, his line forming the arc of a
circle, the 21st IA. in the center, the 99th Ill. on the
right, and the cavalry, dismounted on the Left. Lieut
Waldschmidt opened on the enemy with shell, and in a few
minutes the Confederate cavalry dismounted and charged along
the whole line. The steady and accurate fire of the Federal
infantry and cavalry repelled the charge and drove them back
to the other side of the town, leaving many dead and wounded
on the field. Fresh troops were added and again they charged,
only to be again repulsed with severe loss. They then made a
desperate attempt to capture the artillery, but were met by a
crossfire from the Illinois and Iowa troops that drove them
back in disorder. Again and again they rallied and tried to
break the Union line, but each time they were repulsed. The
enemy then stationed sharpshooters in the court-house and
other buildings in the town, and the fire from these was
somewhat annoying until Waldschmidt was directed to shell the
town. A few rounds served to dislodge the sharpshooters, when
by some misunderstanding all the Union troops were withdrawn
except the 21st IA. This Left Col. Dunlap with only 250 men
to contend with the entire Confederate force, but by changing
his men in small squads from one position to another and
keeping up a rapid fire he managed to hold on until dark.
Three times the enemy charged that single regiment, but each
time was repulsed at the point of the bayonet. About sunset
Marmaduke commenced falling back and Dunlap moved out on the
Lebanon Road, overtaking the train the next morning. The
Union loss at Hartville was 7 killed, 64 wounded and 7
missing. Five of the missing came in a few days later as
paroled prisoners. The Confederate loss was estimated by
Dunlap as 200 killed and 300 wounded.

Source: The Union Army,

[Boilermaker27]

Forget the battle. Forget the town. I have found lots of civil war artifacts outside of towns. The soldiers camped along creeks and streams; as well as near springs. You can follow the old roads by looking at the age of the houses along the road. Wherever the road crosses a stream with a bridge you can almost be certain that the spot was a ford at one time. Many of todays roads follow the old roadbeds. The roads have been straightened and hills cut down but they basically follow the same route. The old houses will tell you that. I am sure there are numerous campsites outside of the city limits. If you go there bring some mini balls with you and some people might tell you where to go. That is prime country and you should be able to find something in the area. I would love to go there and I know I would find something.