The Arkansas in the Civil War Message Board

Re: mass desertion?
In Response To: Re: mass desertion? ()

Here is what I know Bill. On page 122 of the TMOB it is shown the findings of a court martial held at Batesville in February 1863 of Captain N. R. Berry of Company H, 6th Missouri (Southwest Missouri Regiment) Shelby's brigade. Berry was charged and found guilty of leaving the field at Prairie Grove on December 7th (the general engagment I am assuming), Springfield on January 8th and Hartville on January 11th. However, this does not tell the whole story. The trial officer was Captain George Ratbun of the 12th Missouri Cavalry (Jackson Co.) The trial transcript clearly states that Berry refused to engage as well as one other company at Prarie Grove. The other company deserted almost in its entirety during Marmadukes first raid the night before Hartville. Therefore there would be no trial record. Based upon the 6th Mo. regiments casualties in comparrison to both the 5th & 12th during the above mentioned engagements clearly indicate there was something amiss. I can understand why Berry and many of the Southwest regiment did not engage at Springfield as many men had family in that town at the time of that battle. However, at Prairie Grove my thinking is that their refusing to engage stems back to when Shelby's Brigade was formed at Newtonia. John Coffee was elected the regimental commander and then relieved by Hindman for Drunkeness and another officer placed in command. This did not set well with the men. Hindmans policy of taking such action, may have been correct, but resented by the independent minded men who chose their own leaders. This is substantiated in a petition to General Holmes by officers of Coloton Green's regiment in February in which they stated their resentment of officers being appointed that they did not elect. Taken together with other situations it would lead me to believe that Hindman had problems in his command going into Prarie Grove that has been carefully guarded over the years.

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mass desertion?
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