Buy this book on-line

Captain James Posey Woodside : ORIGINAL, HANDWRITTEN JOURNAL AND DIARY OF A YOUNG CONFEDERATE SOLDIER, HELD PRISONER AND THEN WITNESSING THE LAWLESS AFTERMATH OF THE CIVIL WAR AND THE "BUSHWHACKERS" WHO TERRORIZED THE MISSOURI POPULACE

12mo - over 6¾" - 7¾" tall. On offer is an extraordinary and one-of-a-kind diary written during the Missouri Guerrilla War of 1867. The author of this journal is Capt. James Posey Woodside, a young man who had previously fought as an infantry captain for the Confederacy in the Civil War. His diary details his involvement in the guerilla warfare that continued to occur in certain counties in Missouri shortly after the end of the Civil War. Despite the war being over for two years, certain counties in the state of Missouri, namely Oregon and Shannon, were still controlled by roving bands of outlaws (known as "Bushwhackers") who ruled the counties despotically and refused to enforce the civil law that Missouri was officially under. In the beginning of the diary, Woodside often meets with Martha "Mattie" A. Bumpass, his burgeoning love. He soon buys her a ring, and then asks her sister and brother- in-law for consent to marriage. On May 1st, 1867, he is married by a Capt. R.O. Tribble who is also the Reverend at he ran a Missionary Baptist Church in Oregon County, Missouri. ("May 1,1867. I was married to Mattie Martha A. Bumpass by Rev R.O. Tribble-at Benjamin Gums two miles from Alton - Ceremony about 12- Came home in the evening slept with a woman for the first time in my life.") Woodside is appointed Assistant Enrolling Officer to a Capt. Alley, who was also a former Confederate officer during the war. Capt. Alley was appointed by Governor Fletcher ordering him to enroll and organize the county into militia companies, to form a posse to aid the sheriff in enforcing the law. Alley was known for his resistance to the Bushwhackers and their disregard for law and order in the county. As soon as Woodside received his commission,he rode into the different townships with Alley, attempting to recruit law-abiding citizens to fight against the roving bands of militiamen. ("June 21,1867. I was appointed as assistant enrolling officer to Capt. Ally- to enroll the militia of this Co. We enrolled 93 men in this town only.") Woodside is eventually arrested by well known Union army officer Capt. William Monks. ("Sept 12,1867. I was arrested & than turned lose by Capt. Monks went with him as Deputy Sheriff down on the state line.") Woodside is then recruited (or forced - it is unclear) by the Capt. Monks as a deputy Sheriff to patrol the Missouri state border. A mere few days later he is = arrested again, accused of being a "Son of Liberty," a secret order of former confederates operating in Oregon County, whose principle was that the States were sovereign and that there was no authority in the federal government to coerce a seceding State. The Sons of Liberty may have been an early predecessor of the KKK. ("Sept 13,1867. Camped near A. Breeden - was arrested for being a" Son of Liberty" - something I never heard of before & of which I am as innocent as a babe.") Afterwards the charges change he is than accused of having a portion of stolen money, and held as a prisoner for 43 days. He recounts his internment in the diary in exceptional and thrilling details. He mentions constantly being guarded by men with revolvers. ("Sept 15,1867. I have been accused today of getting a portion of stolen money I am innocent, and god is my witness. We moved to Alton there was some talk of being fired on and we were ordered shot if it was done.") ("Sept 19,1867. We were carried to Thomasville today and I went with two guards to see Ma and the two girls. Ma looks five years older than she did ten days ago. I was carried to the church and closely guarded all night.") There are approximately 10 double sided pages recording his imprisonment. In a particularly poignant entry he bids his dear wife goodbye, thinking he may never see her again, not even six months after marrying her. ("Sept 28, 1867. I bid Mattie adieu. Probably never to meet her again why such trouble is caused in the land. God only knows I don't think there is but few that believes I am guilty & I hope the time may come when they will be satisfied.") Remarkably he somehow clears his name, and he becomes of all things a guard for the judge at Shannon. Woodside then participates in hunting down these lawless "bushwhackers" in Oregon County, Missouri. This is done through the legal system, as it seems that Woodside has some law experience. By the end of the diary he is taking on some cases, prosecuting against "bushwhackers". There are mentions of many trips to the county court house circuit court, writing up the "delinquent list," and talks about night meetings. At the very end of the year, Woodside reflects on what a wild year it was for him. ("December 31, 1867. At home today. 2 bid adieu another year; my troubles and pleasures for this year have both been on the extreme.") After the diary entries there are a number of pages of memoranda and cash account pages where Woodside has recorded the prices for items bought during the year. The diary is handwritten in pencil and easily readable. There are a couple pages where a stain has obscured the writing, but they are few and far between. (Background: James Posey Woodside was born March 18, 1843 in Scott County, Missouri to John Rowlett Woodside and Emily Harris Old. He moved with his parents to Thomasville, MO in Oregon County in the 1850s. He was 18 years old when he enlisted on June 21, 1861 in Company A of the 2nd Regiment 1st Infantry, 7th Div, Missouri State Guard of the Confederate States of America as a Lieutenant, and then eventually Captain. He was wounded in the right arm at the Battle of Oak Hills (Wilson's Creek) then enlisted in Company D of the 4th Missouri Infantry (CSA) on February 8, 1862. He fought at South Fork, Farmington, Luka, and Corinth. He was wounded at Corinth on October 3, 1862 in the left hip and disabled for field service. Eventually Woodside becomes a member of the Missouri House of Representatives in 1876. He was elected again as a representative on the death of his uncle James B. Old in 1895. He served as Treasurer of Oregon County from 1904 till his death in 1912. His father Colonel John R. Woodside was an ardent Democrat, served in the Missouri State Legislature from 1860 to 1861, and as a Circuit Judge from 1871 to 1887. He named the cities of Alton and West Plains. He served during the Civil War as Colonel and commander of the 4th Missouri (Confederate) Infantry, fighting at the Battles of Wilson's Creek and Mammoth Spring.). Manuscript. Book Condition: Good

Bibliophile Bookbase for antiquarian books, maps and prints.