Pocahontas and the Civil War: #4


Pocahontas:150 years ago today! This episode of Pocahontas and the Civil War offers an amazing first hand report by the man who captured Confederate General Jeff Thompson in the St. Charles Hotel on the Pocahontas court square, 150 years ago today!

The St. Charles Hotel, on the east side of the Pocahontas town square, was built in 1853 and served as headquarters for General Jeff Thompson during the Confederate occupation of Pocahontas, and later as headquarters for the Union army when they occupied Pocahontas.
The St. Charles Hotel, on the east side of the Pocahontas town square, was built in 1853, and one of those ground floor rooms, above, served as headquarters for General Jeff Thompson during the Confederate occupation of Pocahontas. The hotel was later headquarters for the Union army when they occupied Pocahontas.

August 27, 1863

Report of Captain Henry C. Gentry, Second Missouri State Militia Cavalry. CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO.

Left on the morning of August 17th, marching by the way of Jackson and Dallas to Greenfield, Mo., where we arrived on the morning of the 19th, and reported to Colonel [R. G.] Woodson, of the Third Missouri State Militia Cavalry; the whole command marched south in the direction of Pocahontas, Ark., on the morning of the 20th; continuing our march, without molestation, until the morning of the 22nd, when we were informed of a protracted meeting being in progress some 20 miles north of Pocahontas, when I received orders to send forward 25 men to capture any of the enemy that might be there.

I therefore ordered Lieutenant [J. H.] Burnett, of the First Missouri Volunteers, forward with the requisite number of his command, who surprised the meeting. In attempting to escape, 6 were killed and 1 was wounded, many of them having their arms with them, some of which were captured.

Confederate General Jeff Thompson
Confederate General Jeff Thompson

Continuing our march, being in the advance, were informed by a contraband, at a mill 4 miles north of Pocahontas, that General Jeff Thompson and staff were at that time in the town, and a number of rebel soldiers were strolling about the place with their guns. I immediately informed the colonel of the fact, when I was ordered forward and “to catch him if I could.” The advance, consisting of 60 men of the First Missouri Volunteers, and not liking to delay for the others to come up, moved forward rapidly, finding horsemen on the road, who fled in the direction of Pocahontas; but owing to the superiority of our horses, they deemed it prudent “to hunt their holes” in the brush.

When within a mile of Pocahontas, we halted a short time to blow our horses, with a hope that we might be re-enforced, not knowing the number of the rebels; but as there is danger in delay, and the command anxious to “go in and win,” we pushed rapidly into the town, picketing all the approaches. On entering the suburbs of Pocahontas, a lady, seeing our guidons, swung her handkerchief and shouted, “Glory, glory, glory!” when the boys raised a shout that would have done credit to the Chickasaws, and made the straggling rebels shiver in their shoes (those that had any), and brought the general himself to the window of a lower room at the Saint Charles, and, being front of the house, inquired for General Thompson, and he informed me that he was the man. I informed him that he was my prisoner; he replied, “Certainly, certainly.”

When I dismounted and entered the room, he pointed to his saber setting in the corner of the room [military officers surrender by offering their sword to their captor]. He then introduced me to his adjutant-general, and I told him that I was glad to see him; he said he “did not doubt it.”

An ordnance officer, a captain, not knowing that the Feds. were in possession of the town, entered the general’s room, by permission of the guard, and saluted the general, who inquired where he was from; he said from Major Crandall’s camp, and, on seeing me, remarked to General Thompson, “You have a Federal prisoner, I see.”

“Yes,” says the general, “you are a prisoner yourself.” I then ordered him to hand over his dispatches, when he moved toward the door. The guard brought his “sharp” to bear on him; the general told him to fork over – it was no joke – when he handsomely came down with the papers, and seemed to realize his situation.

We also had captured some 15 rebels soldiers. In the mean time Colonel Woodson arrived, when the prisoners were turned over. We remained in Pocahontas until midnight, when we resumed our march northward, having accomplished our mission, and arrived here in Cape  Girardeau on this afternoon at 5 o’clock, without loss or accident.

All of which is respectfully submitted. I have the honor to be, your obedient servant,

H. C. GENTRY,
Captain, Commanding.

Colonel H. M. HILLER, Commanding Second Missouri State Militia Cavalry.

Source: http://ehistory.osu.edu/books/official-records/032/0571

2 Replies to “Pocahontas and the Civil War: #4”

  1. Joyce

    Our area must have been like Alsace or Bosnia. Have you read Enemy Women by Paulette Jiles set in our area?
    Interesting to me that the Fed Captain is named Gentry. Gentry County in NW Missouri is where McFall, Missouri, where my dad’s family is from, is located. Captain Gentry’s family may also have been from there.

    What I find most amazing about the Civil War is that we survived it, and while there are still mainly confused remnants of it, we got past it. I have no memory of conversation about the Civil War and my parents generation must have grown up around vets.
    Another good book: Confederates in the Attic by Tony Horowitz?

  2. Patrick Carroll

    The book Hippocrates In A Red Vest mentions that Captain Henry C. Gentry, who captured General Thompson, was the son of the president of the Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad.

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