Confederate
Irregulars weakened the lower timbers of the 160 foot long bridge that crossed
the Platte River on September 3rd 1861 on the Hannibal & St
Joseph Railroad. There was no moon that
night when the westbound train from Hannibal, Missouri headed for St Joseph,
Missouri crossed the bridge. The
supports gave way and the train, locomotive, and cars; including two passenger
cars with about 100 passengers plunged 30 feet into the river. The dead, which number about 20, and injured
were carried to the Patee House a luxury hotel in St Joseph, Missouri.
The Union
Army in the area were ordered to hunt down the Irregulars and execute them. Confederate Major General Sterling Price
protested this order stating that under the rules of warfare those captured
should be treated as prisoners of war.
He argued that the train was a military target because it carried Union
soldiers. Union General Henry W
Halleck replied that the Confederate Irregulars were "spies, marauders,
robbers, incendiaries, guerrilla bands".
2 comments:
A wonderful and succint description. Would you object to this being quoted in my forthcoming book about the Stewarts?
Is the photo in copyright?
Please answer by e-mail if possible.
CKB Scotland
A wonderful and succint description. Would you object to this being quoted in my forthcoming book about the Stewarts?
Is the photo in copyright?
Please answer by e-mail if possible.
CKB Scotland
Post a Comment