18 Dec 61, Milford, Mo - Battleground 4: Shiloh

18 December 1861, Milford, Mo [Curt Cabbage]

Following the Siege of Lexington, Missouri the secessionist Missouri
State Guard withdrew to the southwest portion of Missouri. Some
Southern recruiters such as Colonel Franklin S. Robertson remained,
attempting to fill their regiments. Robertson, a store owner
in Saline County, Missouri born in Kentucky had been granted
his commission by Major General Sterling Price at Lexington.
Meanwhile, Union Brigadier General John Pope, in command of
the District of Central Missouri, was determined to suppress
Southern recruiting in the region. He headed Southwest from Sedalia
before turning the main body north toward Warrensburg. Robertson
collected his recruits at Grand Pass where they elected officers.
On December 16, 1861 the 750 men began their March south. The
plan was to first link up with Colonel J.J. Clarkson’s recruits
near Warrensburg, Missouri before proceeding south to General
Price. They were unable to merge with Clarkson but they were
joined by Colonel Ebenezer Magoffin, who was on parole after
being captured while attempting to recruit his own regiment.
Magoffin is notable as the brother of Kentucky Governor Beriah
Magoffin. General Pope learned on the evening of December 18
that Robertson’s force would be camped at Milford. Early the
next morning Pope’s force marched toward Knob Noster, Missouri.
Pope ordered Colonel Jefferson C. Davis’s brigade to the Blackwater
bridge where he was to force the bridge. Simultaneously a battalion
of the 2nd Missouri Cavalry (“Merrill’s Horse”) moved northeast
to complete the envelopment. Realizing his guardsmen were in
a precarious position, Robertson formed a firing line of approximately
250 men while Colonel Magoffin was detailed with several dozen
men to take possession of the bridge before the Federals arrived.
It was insufficient. Colonel Davis ordered three companies of
the 4th United States Cavalry forward under Lieutenant Charles
Copley Amory, with the 1st Iowa Cavalry in support. Amory dismounted
his men and gave two volleys to the bridge’s defenders causing
them to waver. Amory ordered a charge and the defenders fled.
The now mounted force pursued, encountering some casualties at
they made contact with the second line. They held their positions
as the infantry came up and the envelopment was completed. Robertson's
men recognized their predicament and requested a brief truce
before surrendering.[