An Old Favorite Suddenly Seems Appropriate

Somehow this classic performance of The Band singing “The Night They Drove Ole Dixie Down” was fitting after writing about “The Wilson Massacre” in my previous post:

In Memory of the Victims of the Wilson Massacre Christmas Day, 1863

The following article has appeared in the Barnes Review Magazine as well as the John T. Coffee Camp#1934 website:

 

Editor’s Note:

The following essay was originally published on the Show Me South website by John T. Coffee Camp member Clint Lacy. This spellbinding article is a corollary to the riveting essay authored by Australian writer Jim Gray about how the Lincoln administration ran their policy of terror in Missouri. —Editor.

 

 

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THE WILSON MASSACRE
“The Story of Union Brutality in the Southeast Missouri Ozarks”

By: Clint E. Lacy

One of the most controversial pieces of work that late author and historian Jerry Ponder wrote was his account of the Wilson Massacre in Ripley County, Missouri; which occurred on December 25th 1863. On December 23rd, 1863, members of the 15th Missouri Cavalry, CSA, attacked and captured nearly 100 Union prisoners at Centerville in Reynolds County, Missouri; burning the courthouse down before they left. Ponder wrote that:

“An unusual group assembled at the Pulliam farm in southwestern Ripley County, Missouri for Christmas in 1863. Nearly 150 officers and men of the Missouri State Guard’s 15th Cavalry Regiment (Confederate); at least sixty civilians, many of them women and children; and 102 prisoners, officers and men of Company C, Missouri State Militia (Union).

The civilians were family members, friends, and neighbors. Confederate “hosts” and Union “guests” were all Missourians; but they were divided by perhaps the bitterest of all enmities–those of civil war.

The day’s activity was to begin with religious services conducted by the Reverend Colonel Timothy Reeves, commanding officer of the 15th Cavalry and a Baptist preacher of Ripley County. Then would follow Christmas dinner in the afternoon. The group at Pulliam’ s farm numbered above three hundred at the very least, if the figures on the record are to be believed. It was too many for a mere religious service and holiday dinner. Pulliam’s was one of Reeves’s regimental camps.

What began as a festive occasion ended in horror and tragedy. As the celebrants sat at dinner, their arms stacked, they were surprised by two companies of the Union Missouri State Militia, more than 200 mounted cavalrymen. Only those guarding the prisoners, about 35 men, were armed. The Militia attacked without warning, shooting into the crowd, attacking with sabers, and killing at least thirty of the Confederate men instantly and mortally wounding several more. According to local tradition, many–perhaps most—of the civilians were killed or wounded as well.

The immediate cause of the Wilson Massacre was a series of events at Centerville, Reynolds County. Centerville Courthouse was some sixty miles north of Doniphan and twenty-five southwest of Pilot Knob. Late in 1863, Centerville was captured by the Union 3rd Cavalry from Pilot Knob. Company C was left as garrison. On December 21, while engaged in building stables on the courthouse grounds, they were surprised and surrounded by Company N of Reeves’s 15th Missouri Cavalry, under command of Captain Jesse Pratt, before the war the Baptist minister of Centerville. Company N was composed of farmers and merchants of Reynolds County. Probably Pratt and the Reeves brothers, also Baptist preachers, were long-time acquaintances. That Pratt was accorded the honor of recapturing his hometown was not accidental.

Captured were 102 Union men with their horses. Pratt took them south to Ripley County with a small group, leaving most of his men to garrison Centerville. He presented the prisoners to Reeves at Pulliam’s on Christmas morning, and joined his fellows of the regiment for the day’s festivities. One Union soldier had been allowed to escape at Centerville, doubtless to carry news of the event back to Pilot Knob. Reaction there was swift. Colonel R.G. Woodson, commander of the 3rd Missouri, ordered two mounted cavalry companies under Major James Wilson to pursue Pratt. They left Pilot Knob mid-morning on the twenty-third.

Wilson’s force rode swiftly, rising in the darkness of the twenty-fifth to be on the road at 3:00 AM. They passed through Doniphan that morning, and continued west toward Ponder, capturing pickets as they went, and descended on Colonel Reeve’s group and prisoners just as they were eating Christmas dinner” (1)

Mr. Ponder’s research on this subject can be found in his book: “History of Ripley County Missouri” , “A History of the 15th Missouri Cavalry Regiment, CSA: 1862-1865” , in an article published in Ozark Watch magazine (Vol.IV, No.4, Spring 1991) entitled, “Between Missourians: The Civil War in Ripley County”, as well as “The Civil War in Ripley County Missouri” (published by the Doniphan-Prospect News in 1992) His research was also convincing enough that author Paulette Jiles used it in her novel “Enemy Women”.

It was during this time, that the controversy arose concerning Ponder’s research. Most of the criticism appears to have come from Ripley County Historian Ray Burson. 

Mr. Burson contacted me several times and tried to convince me not to believe Mr. Ponder. He even sent me a packet of info that he has created to dissuade those who dare use Ponder’s research in their writings. Among the papers that Mr. Burson included in his “packet” were pieces (that he put together) entitled: “Jerry Ponder’s Sources for the Wilson Massacre and Other Tales” and “Jerry Ponder On Providing His Sources”.

Mr. Burson has also seemingly convinced historian and author Kirby Ross that Ponder’s account of the Wilson Massacre is fictitious. However, Ponder, shortly before his death in 2005 sent me two documents,

The two papers are:

“The Time of the War” By: Lindzy Dudley written in 1918. Dudley appears to have fought under Colonel Reeves. His name does not appear on the official records, however this is not uncommon. Many men “took to the brush” in order to defend their families from Yankee invasion. It is also my understanding that Confederate “Partisans” were not afforded the same pensions later in life as Union and regular Confederate troops were, therefore no pension records would exist to verify their service. In this piece Lindzy Dudley states (of the Wilson Massacre):

“Reeves was a Baptist preacher. He backed up every sermon with his pistol. Reeves men were mean. No quarter was given or asked. He had commanded a company till the end of 1863. 

Colonel Righter was captured with General Thompson and Reeves was put in command of the 15th. In November a field hospital was attacked by colored cavalry and about 100 of Reeves’ men were killed. Reeves collected revenge but he never got over the loss of sick and wounded not able to fight back. Just shot in their beds. He talked about that until he died. On Christmas, a month later, several companies were at the Pulliam farm for a service and feed with their families. This was on the old Tom Pulliam place northwest of Johnston’s Chapel and close to Oregon County and the Arkansas line. There was a big spring there on the Mill Branch where folks in that part had picnics.  Reeves did a sermon and the group was ready to eat. The well known Major Wilson, the Yankee from Pilot Knob called “The Murderer”, surrounded and attacked. The killed and the wounded were all over the field. Soldiers, their families, nearby families. All were killed.  Those that could get across the creek and up the bluff on the south side and into the timber there to hide or keep on running. It was not right to kill the families. Wilson lived up to his name. The loss of sick and wounded at the hospital and the loss of the men and families at Pulliams was pretty hard to take. We were ready to wipe out the blues all the way to St. Louis” (2)

It is interesting that Ray Burson of the Ripley County Historical Society, would question Dudley’s credibility in his account of the Wilson Massacre, yet in the book “History and Families of Ripley County Missouri” the historical society (who along with the publisher holds the copyright to the book) finds Dudley credible enough to relate who the first European settler of Ripley County was:

“In an interview with historian HUME in 1900, Lindzy DUDLEY reported that the first European resident was a “Wees RILEY” who arrived in 1802 with a Delaware Indian wife who soon died in childbirth” (3)

The other document was entitled: “Doniphan- No Man’s Land During the Civil War” By: T. L. Wright Jr. and was written in March ,1929. The paper appears to be one written for a High school assignment by T. L. Wright Jr.. On the copy that Mr. Ponder sent me “DONIPHAN PUBLIC LIBRARY” is stamped on the upper left hand corner of the page.

I was able to talk to Jerry Ponder over the phone, while he was in Texas (a few months before he died) and he told me that he found the documents after they had been discarded. During the time that he found the documents (1990-1991) the Doniphan Public Library and the Ripley County library were being consolidated.

In addition I contacted the Ripley County Library’s Doniphan Missouri location on Friday July 29, 2006 and talked to two separate librarians, Mr. Allen Rife and Mrs. Rebecca Wilcox. Both told me it was possible that the documents could have been discarded during the consolidation. During a second phone interview conducted on August 7th, 2006 I talked to a third librarian Mrs. Patricia Robison, who told me that though she did not work at the library at the time of the consolidation, she is a life long resident of Ripley County it was “entirely possible” that documents were discarded during the consolidation of the two libraries in the early 1990’s.

As a side note, I was also able to check out a book from the Doniphan-Ripley County Library entitled “Doniphan and Ripley County History”. There is no copyright date, but the earliest entries appear to be from the early 1900’s and the last entry appears to be in the early 1970’s and upon examination of the library stamp on this book, and the document that Jerry Ponder sent me, they are the same and one can clearly ascertain that the library stamp on the document Jerry Ponder sent me is valid. 

T. L. Wright Jr.’s 1929 paper also gives long time residents accounts of the Wilson Massacre.  Given the fact that this paper was written in 1929, it is possible that the accounts could have been eyewitness accounts. Certainly they could be accounts written by citizens who were living during the time of the “Wilson Massacre”.

“On Christmas Day, 1863, Major James Wilson, later captured and executed by firing squad at Pilot Knob, and 200 Union troops from Fort Davidson at Pilot Knob, passed through Doniphan, traveling on a southeast course to Pulliam’s Farm, 17 miles from Doniphan where Colonel Reeves and his cavalry were encamped. A vicious, surprise attack ensued and 35 rebels were killed and 112 taken prisoner when the fighting had ended. But worse, families and neighbors were present and, in the heat of battle, Wilson’s soldiers killed over 50 civilians. Mrs. Betty Towell, Tom Pulliam and Ed Cline, long-time residents of the neighborhood, tell that the civilians killed, in camp for a Christmas visit, included women and children who were shot down the same as the rebel soldiers of Reeves’ Regiment. That action attests to the cruelty of the war.” (4)

According to historian Kirby Ross, T.L. Wright Jr. was born in 1912. That would have made T.L. Wright Jr. 17 years of age at the time he wrote this document (which appears to be a high school paper). One of the criticisms that Mr. Ross has made in his attempt to discredit Jerry Ponder was posted on an online forum on August 14th, 2005. In it Mr. Ross states (in reference to the document written by T.L.Wright Jr. in 1929) that:

“…do you realize that this version of the T.L. Wright article has a four year old boy conducting complex historical interviews?” (5)

Ross continues by stating:

“Now as to Mr. Ponder’s fantabulous precocious four year old interviewer/historian, T. L. Wright, I refer you to Mr. Lacy’s posting that says:

“A major set-back was experienced by the Confederate Army on August 24, 1863, when General Jeff Thompson, Colonel William Righter and most of their staffs were captured at the hotel in Pocahontas while holding a planning meeting. General Thompson was taken to a military prison in Ohio and held there for over a year before he was released. Colonel Righter was taken to St. Louis by a circuitous route around Ripley County. He agreed to sign an alliance to the Union and put up $1,000.00 bond as assurance that he would not fight again. The Colonel told me.”

That last sentence bears repeating: “The Colonel told me.”

Ponder is offering this to show that T.L. Wright personally interviewed Col. William H. Righter. This passage is so ridiculously bad that it is laugh out loud funny and begs to be repeated, for you see, T.L. Wright was born Feb. 15, 1912 and William Harmon Righter passed away on November 26, 1916.” (6)

This criticism by Ross bears examination. First of all, as stated before, T.L. Wright Jr. was 17 years of age when he wrote his 1st version of “Doniphan: No Man’s Land in the Civil War” in 1929 and the words “The Colonel told me” seems to be more of a recollection of a story that William Harmon Righter told him when he was a young boy. Nowhere has Jerry Ponder ever wrote that T.L.Wright Jr. was conducting “complex interviews” at 4 years of age. It is also important to note that T. L. Wright Jr.’s 1929 version of “Doniphan: No Man’s Land During the Civil War”, matches Lindzy Dudley’s 1918 version of what occurred at Pulliam’s Farm on December 25, 1863.

On the same online forum posted by Kirby Ross on Wednesday August 31st, 2005, Ross states:

“And with this published account of the document in question, if Jerry Ponder’s version of “the Wilson Massacre” is to be accepted, one must also accept that Wright participated in part of the massive cover-up of the massacre that Jo Shelby and Jeff Thompson would have also been a part of.” (7)

There is no way that Confederate General M. Jeff Thompson of the Missouri State guard could be involved in the Wilson Massacre or have known about it because he was captured on August 22, 1863. The Wilson Massacre occurred on December 25, 1863. General M. Jeff Thompson was in a Yankee prison in the North at the time that the “Wilson Massacre” occurred. (7)

It is possible that after General Thompson’s release in 1864, that he had no doubt heard about the atrocities being committed in Ripley County and the surrounding areas, after he made his way back to Missouri just in time to participate in General Price’s 1864 Missouri Expedition.

On the same August 31’st, 2005 online forum post Kirby Ross offers another version of T.L. Wright Jr.’s “Doniphan: No Man’s Land in the Civil War” which he claims is the “real” T.L. Wright Jr. document and was published in Doniphan Prospect-News Doniphan, Missouri Thursday, April 2, 1970. Ross states:

“By the way, note that Wright doesn’t refer to William H. Righter as being one of his sources in this article, or of having interviewed him when he was four years old.” (8)

This is true, T.L. Wright Jr. does not make mention of Colonel William H. Righter as one of his sources in the 1970 Prospect-News newspaper article. However one must remember that there is a 51 year difference between the article written in 1970 , when T.L. Wright Jr. was 58 years of age and the one written in 1929 when he was 17 years of age. Mr. Ross claims that the 1970 Doniphan Prospect News article is the “real” T.L. Wright Jr. article. Yet there is a third version of the T.L. Wright Jr. article that appeared in the Ripley County Library book, “Doniphan and Ripley County in the Civil War”, there is no date on this piece, but it appears to be written around the same time period as the 1970 article. Like the 1970 article there is no mention of civilians killed or Colonel Righter. But there are areas in which the T.L. Wright Jr. article found in the book “Doniphan and Ripley County in the Civil War” differ from the version published in the Doniphan – Prospect news in 1970. Is it not legitimate as well?

It appears that in later years T.L. Wright Jr. decided to cite more official sources for his revised work, “Doniphan: No Man’s Land in the Civil War” and his version of the Wilson Massacre seems to follow other versions in the “Doniphan and Ripley County in the Civil War” book found in the Ripley County Library. This does not make his original version any less valid. Remember the 1929 version quoted long time residents of Ripley County who lived in the area.

No one knows why T.L. Wright Jr chose not to include these sources in the two other versions of his paper in later years.

Mr. Burson’s criticism seems to be centered around Colonel William H. Righter himself and whether or not he was a real Colonel. In a personal letter sent to me by Ray Burson entitled: “Jerry Ponder’s Sources for the Wilson Massacre and other Tales” Burson writes:

“The tale: That William Harmon Righter was the founder and Colonel of the 15th Missouri Cavalry, CSA , captured at Pocahontas , AR with Gen. Jeff Thompson and then sat out the rest of the war in St. Louis. Righter is a prominent figure in Ponder’s books on the 15th Missouri Cavalry, The Battle of Chalk Bluff and Maj. Gen. John S. Marmaduke.

Historians have not found any record of Righter’s service in the CSA and there is not mention of it in his biographic sketches and three obituaries. He is not mentioned in the OR with the Capture of Thompson or elsewhere. He was merely a Southern sympathizer. Ponder got the VA {Veterans Administration} to provide a headstone which he had placed in the Doniphan City cemetery for Righter without providing Righter’s service record” (9)

A “Post It” note was attached to the letter which reads:

“Mr. Lacy , Here’s the real scope of Ponder’s mischief. See IV- what does creating fake colonels add to the story of Southern valor during the Civil War? Regards, Ray Burson”

The fact that Burson has stated that no service record of Righter in the CSA has been found doesn’t mean that Righter did not serve in some capacity. As stated at the beginning of this article, this was not uncommon, many men “took to the brush” and fought as informal companies of partisans. It is extremely doubtful that the Veterans Administration would have provide a headstone for Colonel Righter, free of charge, without some kind of documentation that Righter served in some capacity during the war.

In Jean Ponder’s story “Doniphan During the Civil War”, she states that:

“There is an amusing anecdote told about a group of southern sympathizers who lived in Doniphan. Living in the town at that time was a man by the name of W.H. Ryder, who claimed he was from Virginia. — ‘A gentleman from Virginia – drunk or sober.’ One day all of these southern sympathizers were gathered in the town. Suddenly, without any warning, a division of the Union Army marched into town. Caught unprepared, the Southerns had to ‘take to the bushes’ for their lives. As Ryder was the fastest runner of them all and got to safety first, the rest of them immediately made him their colonel.” (10)

If these men were ordinary citizens, then why were they afraid, why did they run?  If they were nothing more than ordinary citizens, then why were they gathered in town? What was the intention of the gathering?

The fact that obituaries about Righter did not mention any military service is not proof positive that he did not fight. After all Colonel Timothy Reeves, after the war, was reluctant to discuss his war time experiences, stating that “he wished to be remembered as a good preacher, not a civil war hero”, obituaries about him made no mention of his military experience. (11)

Jerry Ponder said in his research that Righter’s commission came from Brigadier General M. Jeff Thompson. Ponder’s critics state that Thompson made no record of this. Is it possible that this could have happened? It is entirely possible. In his book “This is the War Experiences of Brigadier General M. Jeff Thompson”, Thompson himself writes that:

“About the 1st of July 1861, Cyrus Black and Miles Ponder of Ripley County, Missouri came down to Pocohontas {Arkansas} to inform me that the citizens of Ripley and Carter counties were meeting at Martins-burg to organize a Battalion and desired me to come up and take command” (12)

Thompson further states that he was elected to command the battalion and that Aden Lowe was not a candidate because of the strict discipline that he enforced before Thompson’s arrival. One of Jeff Thompson’s first acts as commander of the Ripley County Battalion, was to, start enlisting men as Partisan rangers. Thompson writes:

“I saw at this time the necessity of mounted troops even for my small command, and I authorized James F. White to raise as many men to act as Partizans and Flankers , as he could find with good horses: (13)

Sam Hildebrand, who later became known as a Missouri Bushwhacker, is another partisan that was given a commission by General M. Jeff Thompson. In his autobiography Hildebrand wrote:

“As soon as I could gain admission to the General’s headquarters I did so, and he received me very kindly.  He listened very attentively to me as I proceeded to state my case to him – how my brother had been murdered, how I had barely escaped the same fate, and how I had finally been driven from the country.

General THOMPSON reflected a few moments, then seizing a pen he rapidly wrote off a few lines and handing it to me he said, “here, I give you a Major’s commission; go where you please, take what men you can pick up, fight on your own hook, and report to me every six months.” (14)

Even though Hildebrand received a Major’s commission from Thompson, the act is not mentioned in “This is the War Experiences of Brigadier General M. Jeff Thompson”. Nor is it mentioned in “General M. Jeff Thompson’s Letter Book July 1861-June1862”, written by Jim McGhee, therefore the fact that there is no record of Righter’s commission, doesn’t mean that he was not given one by Thompson.

Yet there is another possibility in this story. If there was a record of Colonel Righter’s or Sam Hildebrand’s commissions given by M. Jeff Thompson, the records might have very well been destroyed at the time of M. Jeff Thompson’s capture in Pocahontas, Arkansas, on August 22, 1863. In the book, “This is the War Experiences of Brigadier General M. Jeff Thompson”, Thompson writes:

“Kay spread out my maps to examine them and by -the -way I had the best set of maps that I saw during the war, for I had all kinds of military information on them, and the name and status of nearly every man in Southeast Missouri. I sat down in my shirt sleeves to copy some drawings, about 4 P.M.  We heard horses running. I did not look up, but Kay did and shouted ; “By George , here’s the Feds.”  I sprang to my feet, and sure enough they were within forty yards, with a string of them as far as the eye could reach, all coming at full speed. I gasped as if my heart would jump out of my mouth, but instantly sat down again, and said:, Kay, burn those maps.” (15)

The only flaw in the Linzy Dudley, T.L Wright Jr.’s 1929 document, and Ponder’s writings that I could find is the fact that Righter was not captured directly with Thompson. Again quoting “This is the War Experiences of Brigadier General M. Jeff Thompson” Thompson writes of being brought to Doniphan , Missouri in route to Pilot Knob, Missouri that:

“There were only five military prisoners, being Kay, Train, McDonald , Miller and myself, but there were a large number of people , men and boys, brought into camp to prevent them from carrying the news”. (16)

Righter could have very well have been in the latter group. Perhaps this is the reason that Lindzy Dudley told Charles Booker in 1918 that:

“Colonel Righter was captured with General Thompson” (17)

In the book “The Civil War in Ripley County , Missouri” it states that Colonel W.H. Righter following his capture was:

“…was taken to Gratiot Prison in St. Louis. There he agreed not to further take up arms and was paroled. He remained in St. Louis the remainder of the war, reading law. His wife, Anna Wright Righter, died there in February 1864. When the war ended, Colonel Righter returned to Ripley County and, in 1866, was elected as the state representative from Ripley County. Because of his Confederate service, the General Assembly refused to seat him and appointed a “stand -in” to represent the county…In 1867 Colonel Righter went to Mississippi and raised cotton, but he returned to Ripley County the same year and built the Bay City Mils on Current River” and that, “As soon as the Missouri constitution permitted former Confederates to practice law in the state Righter leased the mills and opened a law office in Doniphan. He was considered an excellent lawyer and had a large practice. He was elected prosecuting attorney for Ripley County in 1876” (18)

The Thursday Sept. 2d, 1909 issue of “Twice a Month Magazine” confirms that Righter:

“returned to St. Louis October 1863, planted cotton in Mississippi in 1866-67 and returned to Ripley County in 1868” (19)

“Twice a Month Magazine” also stated that :

“Colonel Righter is a typical Southern gentleman possessing nearly all their strongest characteristics. During the Reconstruction days of the late 60’s and early 70’s he had many “warm skirmishes” with the “carpet baggers” his county contained about 300 Democratic voters who were “slow to come under the ban”. Leaving it in the hands of about 12 Republicans to handle its affairs”. (20)

Righter was elected to the State Legislature in 1882, after Reconstruction, when former Confederates were once again allowed to hold office. (21)

Even without the discussion of what role Colonel William Harmon Righter played in the War Between the States, there is plenty of other evidence that proves the “Wilson Massacre” could have happened.  Yankee atrocities happened throughout the Missouri Ozarks during the war and fighting between warring factions was both personal and brutal.

On a U.S. Forestry Service website entitled, “History of the Irish Wilderness”, a detailed description of Union policy toward Missouri Southerners living in the Southeast Missouri Ozarks is given.

The website cites the War of the Rebellions: Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, one entry in particular shows proof that the women of the area were looked down upon and treated badly by the occupying Union soldiers. Captain Robert McElroy of the 3rd Missouri State Militia (Union) wrote that:

“I am of the opinion that the women in that region are even more daring and treacherous, and in fact, worse than the men, as we found in their possession a number of newly made rebel uniforms, etc. (22)

Jerry Ponder’s critics cite eye-witness accounts of Union soldiers who were present at the Wilson Massacre and stated that all of the prisoners were well cared for. But reading through the U.S. Forestry Service’s “The History of the Irish Wilderness” , which cites the official records of the War of the Rebellions, one will find that anyone who was even “suspected” of being a “Bushwhacker” was taken prisoner. In Captain Boyd’s (who was a Union Scout) report he states that:

“…found fresh trail of horses, followed them on Jack’s Fork to the residence of Miles Stephens and brother, Jack Stephens, whom’ I’m satisfied were Bushwhackers. Burned the house.” (23)

Anyone “suspected” of harboring or aiding a Bushwhacker had their property burned, furthermore, in Captain John Boyd’s  report of the 6th Provisional Regiment EMM (Union)  one will find between November 4 – 9 , 1863 ,there were over 23 houses burned  , and 10 men killed, by these Union troops, the majority of which were prisoners who “tried to escape” and were shot. (24)

 All of this occurred little over a month before the “Wilson Massacre” and we are supposed to believe that the Union militia treated Reeves men and local civilians any better on December 25, 1863?

There are other pieces of evidence that suggest that the “Wilson Massacre” did happen. At the Stoddard County Civil War Cemetery in Bloomfield, Missouri, there are monuments erected in honor of Southern soldiers and civilians who were killed during the War Between the States. The monuments are unique due to the fact that they have detailed information about the individual on the front of the monument, name, rank unit, etc. and on the back of the monument a detailed description of where and how the individual died.

One states on the front of the monument:  “PVT. , Thomas McKinney, Co. A, 15th Mo. Reg. Cav. CSA. July 16, 1845 – Dec. 25, 1863.” The back of the monument reads: “Killed in Action, Ripley County, Mo”.

Another monument is more specific. The front reads: “In memory of , PVT. , Jacob Foster, Co. A, 15th Mo. Cav. , April 18, 1830- December 25, 1863.”

The back of the monument reads: “Died of Wounds, Received At, Christmas Dinner, Doniphan Mo., “Wilson Massacre” (25)

If one looks at the events following the “Wilson Massacre” a clear picture begins to develop that something “very significant” happened on December 25, 1863 in Ripley County , Missouri. An event so drastic, that the effects of it would be felt throughout the rest of the War Between the States in Missouri, and even after the war had ended.

First of all something must have been weighing very heavily upon Major Wilson’s mind for in March of 1864 he told his nephew, while he was on furlough:

“If you ever hear of me being taken prisoner by the guerilla Tim Reeves you may count me as dead.  I know I shall never get away from him alive.  I have broken up his recruiting operations three times.” (26)

Was Wilson worried about his life because he had broken up Reeves’ recruiting operations? Or did he fear retribution for something much worse, that he did not want his family to know about?

One must not discount the fact that that during the General Sterling Price’s Missouri Expedition of 1864, at the Battle of Pilot Knob, Missouri:

“Maj. James Wilson, Third Cavalry Missouri State Militia, after being wounded was captured on Pilot Knob, and subsequently with six of his gallant men was brutally murdered by order of a rebel field officer of the day.” (27)

In an article entitled: “No Heroes On Either Side” written by Ponder critic Ray Burson and published in the Prospect-News (Doniphan Missouri’s local newspaper) and dated Wednesday, July 16,2003 , another Ponder critic Kirby Ross  attributes Major Wilson’s death to the burning of Doniphan, Missouri.

“Ross , whose article on the burning of Doniphan will be in an upcoming issue of North – South magazine, linked Wilson’s death to the destruction of Doniphan “which had taken place earlier, two weeks to the day.” (28)

However,  in the “Report of Confederate General J.O. Shelby C. S. Army, Commanding Division. AUGUST 29-DECEMBER 2, 1864. Price’s Missouri Expedition.” 

  It appears that General Shelby administered justice to the perpetrators who were responsible for the of burning Doniphan, almost as quickly as the act was committed. Shelby wrote that:

“On the 12th of September I moved camp from Sulphur Rock, Ark., toward Pocahontas in anticipation of the arrival of the army, and on the 19th, after having received my instructions, started for Missouri, and encamped in Doniphan. Before arriving there, however, couriers from Lieutenant-Colonel Johnson, of Marmaduke’s command, brought information that 100 Federals were in the town and pressing him back. I immediately started forward sufficient re-enforcements, but the enemy fled before reaching them, burning the helpless and ill-fated town. That night I dispatched 150 men under Lieutenant-Colonel Johnson to pursue the vandals. They came upon them early the next morning [20th], attacked, scattered, and killed many of them. I pushed on then rapidly for Patterson, destroying on the way the bloody rendezvous of the notorious Leeper, and on the morning of the 22d I surrounded and charged in upon the town. Its garrison, hearing of my advance, retreated hastily, but not before many were captured and killed, and some supplies taken. All the Government portion of Patterson was destroyed, together with its strong and ugly fort.” (29)

Confederate General M. Jeff Thompson offered another reason for the execution of  Major James Wilson. As mentioned earlier in this article, Thompson was in a Union prison at the time of the “Wilson Massacre”, but he was exchanged in time to make his way back to Missouri to join Confederate General Sterling Price’s 1864 Missouri Expedition.

In May of 1865 Thompson surrendered 10,000 men at Jacksonport , Arkansas. Out of those 10,000 men, only one was not paroled. Confederate Colonel, Timothy Reeves, Commander of the 15th Missouri Cavalry, CSA. Thompson wrote that:

” In a few days we finished all the paroles  , except that of Timothy C. Reeves, whom Col. Davis would not agree to parole , considering him outlawed for the shooting of Major Williams { Major Wilson, this was a misprint} and five men on the Price Raid; but I must state for Col. Reeves, that he was as good a man and soldier as any in the command , and his shooting of that party was entirely justifiable; only that it should have been by such an order and form that retaliation would have been avoided.

I solicited to have this party turned over to me, that I might have them shot in due form, and Reeves men refrained from killing them for three days in hopes that I would get them; but responsibilities of this kind were not to our commanders liking , and they were turned over to Reeves to guard, with a pretty full knowledge that they would be shot.

I knew Reeves men , nearly everyone of them, and the provocation was bitter, for I had seen the blackened ruins and lonely graves in Ripley county with my own eyes.” (30)

Is it possible that Jerry Ponder made some mistakes in his research? Yes. Everyone makes mistakes. But Jerry Ponder was a retired military intelligence officer, and far from inept.

Is it possible that his two greatest critics Ray Burson and Kirby Ross are biased in their research?

In an online webpage entitled, “The Military Record of Major James Wilson”, author Willard S. Bacon writes that:

“Mr. Kirby Ross who had many relatives who served in the 3rd MSM, provided immeasurable help, in finding obscure sources and documents, from many repositories.” (31)

(Major Wilson, was the commander of the 3rd Missouri State Militia, which attacked Pulliam’s Farm on December 25, 1863)

Friends of Jerry Ponder have also told me that  Ray Burson, was not originally from Ripley County, Missouri, but from a Northern state, and that it is rumored  his wife is a descendant of one of the 14 families in Ripley, County Missouri that were pro-Union during the war. I have attempted to contact Burson in the hopes that he could shed some light on this subject. But as of yet he has not provided any answers to this question.

Perhaps Jerry Ponder said it best when he said that:

“Some questions will probably never be satisfactorily explained” (32)

Sources:

1. “Between Missourians: Ripley County in the Civil War” , Ponder, Ozark Watch Magazine , Vol. IV, No. 4, Spring 1991 a.Linzy Dudley: The Time of the War pgs. 1,15 1918

2. “Doniphan: No Man’s Land During the Civil War” T.L. Wright Jr. ,1929, Doniphan High School

3. Article entitled “First Settlers of Ripley County” found in the book “History and Families of Ripley County Missouri”, Ripley County Historical Society

4. Kirby Ross post made August 14th ,2005 on the Missouri in the Civil War message board.

5. Ibid.

6. posted by Kirby Ross on Wednesday August 31’st, 2005, Missouri in the Civil War message board.

7. M. Jeff Thompson“This is the Story of the War Experiences of Brig. General M. Jeff Thompson”, pg.103, Kent Library, Southeast Missouri State University

8. posted by Kirby Ross on Wednesday August 31’st, 2005, Missouri in the Civil War message board.

9. Personal correspondence from Ray Burson, Ripley County Historical Society entitled, “Jerry Ponder’s Sources for the Wilson Massacre And Other Tales”

10. Doniphan and Ripley County in the Civil War, Ripley County Library, Doniphan, Missouri

11. “War Hero Timothy Reeves wanted to be remembered as ‘good preecher’,Daily American Republic Newspaper

12. “This is the War Experiences of Brig. General M. Jeff Thompson”, M. Jeff Thompson, Kent Library, Southeast Missouri State University, pgs. 21-22

13. Ibid

14. “The Legend of St. Francois County: Sam Hildebrand’s Confession”, Chapter 6, Reprinted from the County Advertiser by Farmington News Printing Company September 26, 1979

15. “This is the War Experiences of Brigadier General M. Jeff Thompson”, Thompson, Kent Library, Southeast Missouri State University, pg.103

16. “This is the War Experiences of Brigadier General M. Jeff Thompson”, Thompson, Kent Library, Southeast Missouri State University, pg.104

17. “The Time of the War” by: Linzy Dudley as told to Charles Booker, 1918, pgs. 1,15 (document sent to me by Jerry Ponder shortly before his death)

18. “The Civil War in Ripley County Missouri”, The Prospect News, pgs.27-28

19. “Twice a Month” magazine, Sept. 2’cd,1909 pgs. 27-28

20. Ibid.

21. Missouri State Legislators 1820-2000, information obtained from the Missouri Secretary of State office.

22. Information obtained from the U.S. Forestry Service Website entitled, “The History of the Irish Wilderness” found at the following internet web address in pdf format: Irish Wilderness Country.pdf also found in the War of the Rebellions, Official Records, Volumes XXII, Part 1. Page 744

23. Information obtained from the U.S. Forestry Service Website entitled, “The History of the Irish Wilderness” found at the following internet web address in pdf format: Irish Wilderness Country.pdf also found in the War of the Rebellions, Official Records, Volumes XXII, Part 1. Pages 746-747

24. Ibid.

25. Research conducted by author at the Stoddard County Civil War Cemetery, Bloomfield, Missouri

26. “The Military Record of Major James Wilson”, compiled Willard S. Bacon, and found at the following internet web address: http://www.rootsweb.com/~molincol/misc/ms-military-record-wilson.htm and from Dr. Joseph Mudd’s notes for the publication , “The History of Lincoln County”, Powell Memorial Library, Troy , Mo.

27. “Report of Brig. Gen. Thomas Ewing, jr., U. S. Army, Commanding District of Saint Louis. AUGUST 29-DECEMBER 2, 1864 Price’s Missouri Expedition.”, Official Records, War of the Rebellions.

28. “No Heroes On Either Side”, Ray Burson, The Prospect – News, Doniphan , Missouri, Wednesday, July 16, 2003

29. Report of Brig. Gen. Joseph O. Shelby, C. S. Army, Commanding Division. AUGUST 29-DECEMBER 2, 1864. Price’s Missouri Expedition.

30. “This is the War Experiences of Brigadier General M. Jeff Thompson”, M. Jeff Thompson, Kent State Library, Southeast Missouri State University, Pg. 155

31. “The Military Record of Major James Wilson”, compiled Willard S. Bacon, and found at the following internet web address: http://www.rootsweb.com/~molincol/misc/ms-military-record-wilson.htm

32. The Ponder-Bradbury-Flanders Correspondence, Ozark Watch Magazine, Vol. IV, No. 4, Spring 1991/Vol. V, No.1, Summer 1991, Pg. 4.

    For more information about the basis for Reconstruction and the continued reign of terror in Missouri see: Iron Clad Oath

    Mr. Lacy’s website.

    © Clint E. Lacy 2006
    Published on the J. T. Coffee Camp website with permission from the author

Note: I have recently renewed my research into this event and have found records of Arkansas troops that were captured, provost marshall’s records also reveal citizens that we “captured” in Ripley County, December 25, 1863. A book that cites an eye witness account of when Colonel Timothy Reeves caught up with the perpetrators of the Massacre, very interesting facts indeed.

The research is hard work, but a labor of love. We owe it to the victims , soldier and citizen alike to make sure the truth is told and to never forget.

-Clint E. Lacy

 

Detroit finds familiar Whipping Post to blame for its failures

It didn’t take long for Detroit and the liberal media to find a scapegoat for the failure of the “Big Three” automakers. As the December 13th edition of the Detroit Free Press newspaper stated in an article entitled “Republicans Manufacture a Deal Breaker”:

“It just grinds you, doesn’t it?

I mean that a handful of senators from former Confederate states could so summarily sign a death warrant for the Michigan economy. A bunch of self-serving Republicans who will now go around blaming the United Auto Workers for killing the auto industry rescue plan.

Convenient excuse for something they never had any intention of passing. It’s just a coincidence, of course, that they all come from states with non-union auto plants owned by the foreign competitors of GM, Ford and Chrysler.

A former colleague who grew up in the Deep South once told me, “Where I come from, there’s not much difference between union and Union Army.”

Certainly this defeat was payback for the UAW’s traditional support of Democratic candidates. But maybe it ran even deeper, back to 1861 when President Abraham Lincoln exclaimed “Thank God for Michigan!” as 798 men from this state arrived in Washington to defend it against advancing southern troops early in the Civil War.

Thursday’s Senate session gave this southern cabal a chance at long last to say, “To hell with Michigan!”

In an article published in the December 17th, 2008 issue of Detroit‘s Metro Times entitled “No What?” the blame for the “Big Three’s” failure is placed squarely on The South when the paper states:

“President George W. Bush is almost certain to release a few billions to keep the wheels turning. Somewhere in whatever passes for his cerebral cortex, there has to be some realization of how badly he’s screwed up just about everything he’s done. We have a failed war, failed diplomacy, and a deficit out of control. Dubya’s approval ratings are virtually the lowest in history.

The Shrub, in other words, badly needs a high note to shuffle off on. He got that chance when a bunch of Confederate senators unexpectedly derailed aid to the auto industry. Creatures like Richard Shelby of Alabama, “Call Girl Dave” Vitter of Louisiana and Bobby Corker of Tennessee — Republicans all — demanded that in return for loans to their employers, the United Auto Workers immediately agree to non-union wage rates prevailing in the South.

When the union declined, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and his troops refused to allow the full Senate to vote on the package, raising the real possibility of causing the car companies to collapse, and creating millions of jobless”

The Washington Times published an article in its December 13, 2008 issue entitled “UAW sees Northern plants under siege”, in which UAW local 602 President Brian Fredline is quoted as saying:

“This is almost like Confederate senators fighting against the Union Army of the North. The parallels are frightening, and it’s almost this mentality that the South will rise again. They hold hostage the economic recovery of anyone who lives north of the Mason-Dixon line“

The December 12, 2008 edition of Blackvoices.Com was much more dramatic, in its article entitled “Senate to Detroit: Bailout THESE!” when it proclaimed:

“The South rose again, and Alabama Senator Richard “Dick” Shelby waved his confederate flag and led his white hooded mafia to a rousing defeat of the American auto industry — all based on his hatred of unions and his attempt to score points with the foreign automakers who have plants in his state.”

Waiving Confederate flags, a hooded mafia? How could that be? I thought with the election of Barack Obama that everything had changed and America had finally redeemed itself. But I digress…

While I confess I’m no economist, I do consider myself to be somewhat of an historian. For instance while reading a Thomas DiLorenzo article published on the Lew Rockwell.Com website on April 16, 2003, DiLorenzo in his article entitled “The Buy American Myth”, states {in regards to the cause of the Civil War}:

“Southerners clearly understood that they were being made into tax slaves by the North, and by Lincoln“

Perhaps Southern senators are reasserting themselves and finally understand that they represent their constituents, not the Northern press or the purveyors of corporate welfare who have run the “Big Three” automakers into the ground.

Defenders of the “Big Three” have accused Southern senators of placing “American” jobs in jeopardy and protecting “foreign” interests”. It’s an argument that just hold water. 

For instance; in a June 22, 2005 posting on the “Left Coaster” blog {posted at: http://www.theleftcoaster.com/archives/004693.php} the editor writes:

“The New York Times runs a story today on the growth of foreign automaker production facilities and jobs in the United States. Foreign automakers now account for well over 40% of the auto making jobs in the country, with most of their factories and jobs located in the southern states for one big obvious reason: these are non-union states.

Now, an obvious knee-jerk reaction from someone like me would be to oppose what these automakers are doing because these are nonunion jobs in red states. However, when you look at the pay and benefit package offered for example by Toyota, you will see that notwithstanding the physical expectations that Toyota and other automakers demand out of their workers, the end result is still that well-paying jobs are being created in this country, jobs with companies that have a different corporate culture that American firms and some appreciation for long-term employment commitments.”

An article posted June 1, 2007 on the Autoblog.com website, entitled, “Report: Toyota named most productive manufacturer in North American” cites a 2007 Habour Report which contains the following information:

“According to the latest Harbour Report, Toyota leads the way in overall automaker productivity, needing only 29.93 hours to make a car. Nissan came next at 29.97 hours, with Honda third at 31.63 hours. Those numbers cover stamping, engine and transmission production, and car assembly.”

For the Union labor leaders, the Liberal press and the CEO’s crying for corporate welfare, I would like to offer a December 12, 2008 article posted on CNN.com that asks, “What makes a car American?”.  The results might surprise you:

“With the top U.S. automakers in economic survival mode, “Buy American” is a frequent cry among those trying to save jobs at home. But buying a car to benefit the U.S. economy has become an ambiguous, complicated challenge.

“How you define an American car is one of the great conundrums of this world,” said Dutch Mandel, the editor and associate publisher of AutoWeek.

Fewer than half of the parts on some Big Three vehicles are made in the U.S.

Looking at a Ford Fusion? It is assembled in Mexico. The Chrysler 300C is assembled in Canada, but its transmission is from Indiana; the brand’s V-8 engine is made in Mexico. Engines in the Chevrolet Equinox sport utility vehicle are from China.

On the other hand, Toyota’s Camry is comprised 80 percent of parts made in the United States, and 56 percent of Toyota’s vehicles sold in the U.S. also are made here, according to Toyota spokeswoman Sona Iliffe-Moon.

The Toyota Sienna and Tundra also have 80 percent of their parts manufactured in the U.S.“

The liberal media should stop blaming Southern senators for Detroit‘s problems. For once these elected officials are doing their jobs by voting against a bail out that rewards corporations for being inefficient and manufacturing vehicles that few people want. Why should the South once again become tax slaves to keep Lincoln‘s failed Mercantilist ideals alive?

On the other hand, one good thing to come out of this is that perhaps the liberal media and many black publications are finally admitting {inadvertently} that Mr. Lincoln’s war really was about the economy and not slavery.

-Clint E. Lacy is a Southern author and activist that resides in the Ozark foothills of Southeast Missouri.  He is a Historian for the John T. Coffee Camp #1934, Missouri Sons of Confederate Veterans and serves as an Alderman for the City of Marble Hill, Missouri.

H.K. Edgerton receives award from the Mississippi SCV…

“On Saturday morning, December 13, 2008, I would alongside my Compatriot brother Jim who had been the inspirational figure to lead the planting of over 16,000 flags on the graves of the Confederate dead at Elmira, make my way to the Railroad Pavilion in the beautiful downtown of Crystal Springs, Mississippi, where Sons of Confederate Veterans Commander, the Honorable Mike Webb of the SCV Camp #72, would present me with the Mississippi Division Sons of Confederate Veterans John L. Harris Heritage Award. Commander Web would recite the following passage upon presenting the Award: Consider the example of Representative John H. Harris, a Legislator from Washington County, Mississippi. This occurred in 1893 as the House of the State of Mississippi considered a Bill to fund a Confederate Monument.

“Mr. Speaker! I have risen here in my place to offer a few words on the bill. I have come from a sick bed… Perhaps it was not prudent for me to come. But, Sir, I could not rest quietly in my room without…contributing a few remarks of my own. I was sorry to hear the speech of the young gentleman from Marshall County. I am sorry that a son of a soldier could go on record as opposed to the erection of a monument in honor of the brave dead. And, Sir, I am convinced that had he seen what I saw at Seven Pines and in the seven days fighting around Richmond, the battlefield covered with the mangled forms of those who fought for their country’s honor, he would not have made that speech.

When the news came that the South had been invaded, those men went forth to fight for what they believed, and they made no requests for monuments…but they died, and their virtues should be remembered. Sir, I went with them. I too wore Gray, the same color my master wore. We stayed four long years, and if that war had gone on till now, I would have been there yet…I want to honor those brave men who died for their convictions. When my mother died I was a boy.

Who, Sir, then acted the part of mother to the orphaned slave boy, but my “old missus”? Were she living now, or could she speak to me from those high realms where are gathered the sainted dead, she would tell me to vote for this bill. And Sir, I shall vote for it. I want it known to all the world that my vote is given in favor of the bill to erect a monument in honor of the Confederate dead.”

LET IT BE ADDED THAT, ALONG WITH MR. HARRIS, ALL SIX BLACK REPUBLICANS VOTED WITH HIM.

Later in the evening, I would attend the Sons 3rd Brigade Christmas Party in Liberty, Mississippi, and to a packed house receive a standing ovation after delivering a brief speech. I would be remiss in my duties if I did not mention the luncheon that I attended at Louise’s Barbeque with so many of my Southern family who had traveled great distances to greet me.

 Louise’s Barbeque held up to the bragging of the reputation placed upon it by so many of the patrons. It had been a great day in Dixie and I know that my mom, dad and ancestors were proud that such great honors had been bestowed to me.”  –H.K. Edgerton Southern Heritage411.com

INVADE VENEZUELA!

Venezuala President Hugo Chavez has been good for a few laughs, like the picture above when on September 21, 2006 according to CNN.Com…

“Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez tore into his U.S. counterpart and his U.N. hosts Wednesday, likening President Bush to the devil and telling the General Assembly that its system is “worthless.”

“The devil came here yesterday,” Chavez said, referring to Bush, who addressed the world body during its annual meeting Tuesday. “And it smells of sulfur still today.”

Come on y’all, you know that was funny. But now the joke is over and here is the punchline…

Russian warships heading to Cuba, 90 miles away from the United States, of course they’ve just completed a “whirlwind” romance with Hugo Chavez, who invited them.

It’s time to invade Venezuela. I know , it sounds imperialistic doesn’t it? 

Well I say it is no more imperialistic than invading Iraq. Pull all of our troops out of Iraq, reequip them, retool, and then invade Venezuela, make a permanent U.S. presence there, and hang that Latin / Marxist/ Socialist bastard!

Only this time, let’s not make the same mistake we did with Saddam. This time, no trial, no ceremonial bureaucratic bull, invade, hang him, and then build our base.

After all if we are to be imperialists, why not be imperialist closer to home, where the oil is more accessible? 

A permanent base would also be beneficial in more than one aspect. If the United States were to station our military on our Southern border, to keep illegals out, and the Mexicans did not cooperate… well guess what? We have our Venezuela base to the South, and our military to the North, to help “persuade” them.

Of course I wouldn’t expect any of this happening in the next four years…according to an email I received from www.grassfire.org :

“With the appointment of Cecilia Munoz, an 18-year veteran of the National Council of La Raza, and Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano, who opposes the border fence, it’s painfully obvious where Obama wants to steer the immigration debate…

These two appointments to key positions in his administration are serious cause for alarm for anyone who is concerned about protecting our safety and sovereignty.  How can someone who worked for an organization whose sole purpose was to systematically dismantle border  enforcement and undermine the immigration system,  suddenly represent the broader national interest?

With these appointments, Obama is tipping his hand and sending a message to Americans who want real border security that it simply isn’t going to happen on his watch.

Instead, we anticipate he will move quickly to press for comprehensive reform that throws open the doors to millions of illegals!”

We {i.e. you and I} may not be able to do anything about Chavez as individuals, but we can fight Obama politically, join the Resistance, click on the link below and sign the petition!

http://www.grassfire.org/111/petition.asp?Ref_ID=2007&PID=19038131

Clint, Missouri Bushwhacker

mobushwhacker@yahoo.com 

The Bush Legacy…

This happened during “W”‘s Farewell Tour of Iraq. I think it pretty much sums up his “Legacy”.

In other news Politico.Com is reporting that former Republican presidential candidate Senator John McCain has stated that:

“In a surprising rebuke to the warriors who fought for him through tough times, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) on Sunday sided with President-elect Barack Obama and scolded the Republican National Committee for fanning the Illinois corruption scandal. 

On ABC’s “This Week,” host George Stephanopoulos asked: “The chairman of the Republican National Committee, Mike Duncan, has been highly critical of the way President- elect Obama has dealt with this. 

“He’s had a statement every single day, saying that the Obama team should reveal all contacts they’ve had with Governor [Rod] Blagojevich. He says that Obama’s promise of transparency to the American people is now being tested. Do you agree with that?” 

“McCain replied: “I think that the Obama campaign should and will give all information necessary. You know, in all due respect to the Republican National Committee and anybody — right now, I think we should try to be working constructively together, not only on an issue such as this, but on the economy stimulus package, reforms that are necessary. And so, I don’t know all the details of the relationship between President-elect Obama’s campaign or his people and the governor of Illinois, but I have some confidence that all the information will come out. It always does, it seems to me.” 

Quick someone get another shoe.

Clint, Missouri Bushwhacker

mobushwhacker@yahoo.com

Blagoi-you-Bitch

Yet another Illinois Governor has been arrested on charges of corruption. According to the Chicago Tribune, this was no ordinary Illinois corruption case…

“Gov. Rod Blagojevich and his chief of staff, John Harris, were arrested Tuesday for what U.S. Atty. Patrick Fitzgerald called a “political corruption crime spree” that included attempts to sell the U.S. Senate seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama.”

Blagojevich and Harris were named in a federal criminal complaint that alleged a wide-ranging criminal conspiracy aimed at providing financial benefits to the governor, his political fund and to his wife, First Lady Patricia Blagojevich.

Blagojevich was taken into federal custody by FBI agents at his North Side home Tuesday morning—one day shy of his 52nd birthday.

The arrests dealt a tumultuous blow to Illinois government, at once raising questions about the leadership of the state and the fate of the open Senate seat—which the governor alone has the power to fill under the state law.”

According to Bloomberg.com President Elect Obama has denied any connection to Blagojevich:

“I had no contact with the governor or his office and so I was not aware of what was happening, ” Obama told reporters today in Chicago. “It’s a sad day for Illinois. Beyond that, I don’t think it’s appropriate to comment.”

But trancripts from secret wiretaps show a clearly jilted Blagojevich.

WARNING IF FOUL LANGUAGE OFFENDS YOU STOP READING NOW!…

According to The Smoking Gun website…

“ DECEMBER 9–The criminal complaint filed today against Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich contains a remarkable section detailing the Democratic politician’s alleged attempt to cash in on his ability to fill the U.S. Senate seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama. Attached to the U.S. District Court complaint is an FBI affidavit, excerpted below, alleging that Blagojevich was caught on wiretaps noting that the Senate seat “is a fucking valuable thing, you just don’t give it away for nothing.”

He was also recorded saying that unless “I get something real good,” he would appoint himself to the vacancy. “I’m going to keep this Senate option for me a real possibility, you know, and therefore I can drive a hard bargain. You hear what I’m saying. And if I don’t get what I want and I’m not satisfied with it, then I’ll just take the Senate seat myself.”

According to surreptitiously recorded conversations, Blagojevich spoke with associates about the possibility of trading the Senate post for either an ambassadorship or a Cabinet post. The politician, according to the affidavit sworn by FBI Agent Daniel Cain, “analogized his situation to that of a sports agent shopping a potential free agent to various teams.”

During a wiretapped November 10 call, a frustrated and financially strapped Blagojevich referred to Obama as a “motherfucker” and said that he would not appoint an ally of the President-elect to the Senate vacancy if “I don’t get anything.” Referring to Obama, Blagojevich exclaimed, “Fuck him. For nothing? Fuck him.”

In a November 11 conversation, Blagojevich remarked that he knew Obama wanted Valerie Jarrett, a longtime confidante, to succeed him, “but they’re not willing to give me anything except appreciation. Fuck them.”

Blagojevich, 51, and his chief of staff, John Harris, were arrested this morning on political corruption charges. While the affidavit does not specifically name the six prospective Senate candidates discussed by Blagojevic, Harris, and the governor’s aides, it appears that several are easily identified. “Senate Candidate 1” is Jarrett. “Senate Candidate 2” is Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan. Emil Jones, an Illinois state legislator, is “Senate Candidate 5.” And “Senate Candidate 6” appears to be J.P. Pritzker, a wealthy Chicago businessman. Additionally, Rahm Emanuel, the incoming White House chief of staff, is referred to in the affidavit as “President-elect Advisor.”

According to the ABC news Political Punch blog even though Obama said there was no connection between himself and Blagojevich:

“on November 23, 2008, his senior adviser David Axelrod appeared on Fox News Chicago and said something quite different.

While insisting that the President-elect had not expressed a favorite to replace him, and his inclination was to avoid being a “kingmaker,” Axelrod said, “I know he’s talked to the governor and there are a whole range of names many of which have surfaced, and I think he has a fondness for a lot of them.”

But wait. Obama’s “Truth Squad” must have been called back to active duty.  The Political Punch blog was later updated stating:

“(UPDATE: An Obama Transition Team aide says that Axelrod misspoke on Fox News Chicago.)

(UPDATE #2:  Axelrod this evening issued a statement saying. “I was mistaken when I told an interviewer last month that the President-elect has spoken directly to Governor Blagojevich about the Senate vacancy. They did not then or at any time discuss the subject.)”

Meanwhile, World Net Daily is asking, “What did Obama know about Blago’s demands?”…

“The corruption arrest of Gov. Rod Blagojevich is raising questions about what Sen. Barack Obama knew of the Illinois Democrat’s alleged activities, including his apparent offer to appoint Obama’s preferred candidate to serve in the U.S. Senate in return for “private sector” help from Obama.

“This is a burgeoning crisis for Obama that should shake his presidency to its core,” said Tom Fitton, chief of the Judicial Watch organization today.

“The criminal complaint filed today indicates that Obama and his team knew about Blagojevich’s efforts to sell Obama’s Senate seat,” he said.”

World Net Daily continues…

“It’s just the latest controversy to surround Obama’s campaign and election victory Nov. 4. There still are legal challenges pending before the U.S. Supreme Court that claim he is not eligible to be president because he fails to meet the Constitution’s requirement that only “natural-born” citizens be president.

Even as the court this week was rejecting one case, Donofrio v. Wells, another case was being scheduled for conference Friday.

The new case, Cort Wrotnowski v. Susan Bysiewicz, Connecticut secretary of state, also makes a dual citizenship argument. The case had been rejected by Justice Ruth Ginsburg Nov. 26 but then was resubmitted to Justice Antonin Scalia. There was no word of its fate for about 10 days, then the court’s website confirmed it has been distributed for Friday’s conference, a meeting at which the justices consider whether to take cases”

Yes, all of this should  shake the Obama administration to the core, but it won’t. Do you know why it won’t?

Because Congress, the Supreme Court, and the Media are afraid of what will happen if OBAMA is held accountable for his  actions and is required to obey the law…

The whole thing reads like a fictional DVD commercial that is pawned on after-hours television entitled “Yankees Gone Wild”.

Rest assured that regardless of the outcome, Illinois is carrying on a long tradition of  producing scum-bag politicians…

Clint, Missouri Bushwhacker

mobushwhacker@yahoo.com 

Supreme Court Rejects Obama Citizenship Case

Thanks Supreme Court!

The Supreme Court refused to hear a case of eligibility regarding Obama’s citizenship today.

According to World Net Daily.Com:

“Not even the U.S. Supreme Court can kill the dispute that has developed over Sen. Barack Obama’s eligibility to occupy the Oval Office based on questions raised over his birthplace and citizenship and his steadfast refusal to provide documentation on the issue.

The high court today denied a request to listen to arguments in a case, Donofrio v. Wells, from New Jersey that addressed the issues. But literally within minutes, the court’s website confirmed that another conference is scheduled for Friday on another case raising the same worries.

The case of Leo C. Donofrio v. New Jersey Secretary of State Nina Mitchell Wells claimed Obama does not meet the Constitution’s Article 2, Section 1 “natural-born citizen” requirement for president because of his dual citizenship at birth.

The new case, Cort Wrotnowski v. Susan Bysiewicz, Connecticut secretary of state, also makes a dual citizenship argument. It had been rejected by Justice Ruth Ginsburg Nov. 26 but then was resubmitted to Justice Antonin Scalia. There was no word of its fate for about 10 days, then today the court’s website confirmed it has been distributed for Friday’s conference, a meeting at which the justices consider whether to take cases. “

OK. What does the Constitution say about who is eligible to run for President of the United States?

“The Constitution requires that a candidate for the presidency must be a “natural-born” citizen of the United States, at least 35 years of age, and a resident of the United States for at least 14 years.”

And what is the job of the Supreme Court?

“The Court is the highest tribunal in the Nation for all cases and    controversies arising under the Constitution or the laws of the United States.”

So, apparently even though the Constitution clearly requires that only a 35 year old, natural born citizen who has resided in the United States for 14 years can be president and despite the fact that the Supreme Court’s job is to tackle, controversial Constitutional issues, the Supreme Court has decided that the issue of Barack Obama’s citizenship is too controversial!

They have agreed to cover the topic of a similar case on Friday, but I hold no great expectations for these black robed activist cowardly jug heads.

PETITION FOR PUBLIC RELEASE OF
BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA’S BIRTH CERTIFICATE

To: Electoral College, Congress of the United States, Federal Elections Commission, U.S. Supreme Court, President of the United States, other controlling legal authorities

Whereas, by requirement of the United States Constitution, Article 2, Section 1, no one can be sworn into office as president of the United States without being a natural born citizen;

Whereas, there is sufficient controversy within the citizenry of the United States as to whether presidential election winner Barack Obama was actually born in Hawaii as he claims;

Whereas, Barack Obama has refused repeated calls to release publicly his entire Hawaiian birth certificate, which would include the actual hospital that performed the delivery;

Whereas, lawsuits filed in several states seeking only proof of the basic minimal standard of eligibility have been rebuffed;

Whereas, Hawaii at the time of Obama’s birth allowed births that took place in foreign countries to be registered in Hawaii;

Whereas, concerns that our government is not taking this constitutional question seriously will result in diminished confidence in our system of free and fair elections;

CLICK HERE TO SIGN THIS PETITION!

CLICK HERE TO FED-EX ELECTORAL COLLEGE MEMBERS!

Screw You “OU”

KISS MY MISSOURI ASS

Chase choked. Mizzou didn’t want it and when I called a buddy on the phone and asked him what in the hell was wrong with Mizzou coach Gary Pinkel, he summed up the situation best when he stated:

“Pinkel got his contract”.

Clint, Missouri Bushwhacker

mobushwhacker@yahoo.com

Mizzou faces tough task against Oklahoma:

GO MIZZOU: YOU CAN DOOOO IT!!!!!!!!

From the Houston Chronicle:

“KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Trying to slow down the high-octane Oklahoma offense is like slamming the brakes in the middle of the Daytona 500.

Just for good measure, Missouri might also want to hide the keys.

The No. 19 Tigers will be standing on pit road as they attempt to derail the Sooners’ BCS championship plans in the Big 12 Championship Game at Arrowhead Stadium. Fourth-ranked Oklahoma is seeking its unprecedented third straight Big 12 title and fifth in the last seven years. A victory would send the Sooners to the Jan. 8 BCS title game in Miami.

Just how good are the Sooners when they have the ball? The numbers would blow the circuits off any X-Box system:

•  The Sooners have scored 62, 66, 65 and 61 points over the last four games.

•  They are averaging an NCAA-best 53.3 points per game.

•  They’ve amassed more than 500 yards of offense in nine games and at least 600 yards three times.

•  In a game against Kansas State this year, the Sooners set a school record with 55 points in the first half.

•  In last week’s win over Oklahoma State, the Sooners scored on their final eight drives (seven touchdowns).

OU coach Bob Stoops doesn’t hesitate when asked if this is the best offense he has coached.

“I don’t think there is any question,” he said. “I wouldn’t have said that early in the year because you’re waiting to see how it goes through the rest of the season.”

OK, that’s about enough of that. Bottom line is Oklahoma is going into this game extremely cocky. Second, they’re not in Texas this time, they’re playing in Kansas City…OUR turf and the most important thing that the Houston Chronicle has to say about the game…

“Missouri wins if: The Tigers can control the ball and keep the Sooners’ big plays to a minimum. If OU has a weakness, it’s on its kickoff coverage, which has allowed four touchdown returns this season. “

Bottom line, let Maclin receive it at kick off, cover for him and let him do what he does best, run the ball. On the defensive side, blitz the Sooners quarterback every chance we get and shake them up , (with the exception of 3’rd and long).

GO MIZZOUI!!!

MISSOURI vs. OKLAHOMA

When/where: 7 p.m. today; Kansas City, Mo.

 

TV/radio: ABC; 97.5 FM and 1430 AM.

 

Records: Missouri (9-3, 5-3 Big 12); Oklahoma (11-1, 7-1).

Clint, Missouri Bushwhacker

mobushwhacker@yahoo.com

 


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