John W. Fisher
Chapters
John W. Fisher’s Missouri State Guard company organized in Westport and marched along western edge of Missouri. They entered secessionist-friendly territory in hopes of raising troops and fueling the fire of Union opposition.
I wrote to you day before yesterday form our camp at Carthage, where we arrived that day, about 150 of our Regiments started from there last night for Humboldt, Kansas
I hard the Governor, Jackson make a speech night before last in which he said he intended to burn Kansas from one end to the other
John Fisher – October 13, 1861
Fisher wrote about his perspective of daily life in the Missouri State Guard. His company moved into Indian Territory, where he recorded the living conditions of Native Americans. His diary notes the beauty of the countryside, the general mood of his company and speculations of General Sterling Price and Governor Claiborne Fox Jackson’s next actions. Governor Jackson and Missouri State Representatives voted to secede from the Union in late October 1861.
We are still encamped near Neosho waiting on the Legislatures which is in session, I was misinformed in regard to their meeting on Wednesday, they did not have a quorum until Friday Oct. 25.1861 we will be passed into the C.S.A. as soon as the necessary legislation can be gone through with, after that I do not know what will be done with us…we are expecting a big fight here or close by in a short time, Fremont is reported to be marching on us with 30000 men, he has Sigel and Lane with their commands with him, we have not as many men as he has but with Gen’s help we will whip them this time too, our number is variously estimated at from 15 to 22,000 but a great many are sick with one thing The legislature passed the ordinance of Secession to day about 10 oclock without a dissenting voice, to night there was a general firing of Cannon and rejoicing and getting drunk generally
John Fisher – October 28, 1861
Fisher commented on the cruel reality of war. He cited scores of burned homesteads, prisoners tormented for their loyalties, and the disgust he barely suppressed for drunken generals and lazy soldiers. The men frequently received news of depredation caused by Jayhawkers like Jim Lane. Many Confederate soldiers with families in the Kansas City area left the service to protect their loved ones.
I walked up into what was the town of Oceloa, it is enough to make a mans blood boil, every business house in the town, bank, court house, church, stores, mill and every thing else except some Union houses, it was a very fine town with a great deal of wealth fine brick stores, steam boats even came here, a great deal of business was done here but it is all over now, they have totally destroyed it, in one place there are several hundred fine stores that are ruined in other, plates and dishes, cups and saucers, large quantities of nails melted together, salt ruined, and every thing else in like condition, and men are anxious to go to Kansas and retaliate, if we are permitted to go the retribution will be awful Lanes men were the destroyers and there will be no me-cy shown them if we ever get hold of them
John Fisher – November 27, 1861
Fisher’s last month in the Missouri State Guard was spent in and around Osceola. Just after the New Year, Fisher and his father-in-law joined Jackson’s Artillery Battery (CS) in Springfield, Missouri. Fisher’s last diary entry was on his 31st birthday, January 5, 1862. His company later participated in the Vicksburg campaign, and Fisher survived the War. He died in 1910, living in a Confederate Veterans home in Harrisonburg, Missouri. Fisher’s diary offers valuable insight to the life of a soldier in the Missouri State Guard in 1861.
