The "The Civil War in St. Joseph" historical marker talks about
The Flag Incident
Early in the war, both pro-Southern and pro-Northern supporters in the town displayed banners and flags. When John L. Bittinger became St. Joseph's postmaster on May 22, 1861, he raised the U.S. flag on the roof of the post office. During the raising of the flag, former St. Joseph mayor M. Jeff Thompson led an unruly mob that displayed their Southern sympathies by tearing down the flag and flagpole.
Thompson later described the incident, "I drew my Knife and Pistol, ascended the very ladder that they had used to the roof of the building, and amid cheers, groans, shouts and threats, I severed the halyard with my bowie..." The mob tore the flag into pieces and threw the flagpole into the Missouri River. (
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The role of the Pony Express
On April 3, 1860, the Pony Express started from this neighborhood on its historic run to the West. Eight months after the Pony Express joined East and West, the country split North to South when South Carolina seceded. Missouri, including St. Joseph, was as divided as the nation. Almost 2,000 men from Buchanan County fought for the Union. Roughly the same number joined the Confederates. Union troops occupied St. Joseph throughout most of the war to protect the strategically important western terminus of the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad. (
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Union Occupation
In June, both U.S. Dragoons from Fort Leavenworth, Kan., and troops from the 2nd Iowa Infantry under Col. Samuel R. Curtis occupied St. Joseph. In late July, most of the Union troops were reassigned, leaving only a small contingent of soldiers to occupy the town. The remaining troops were sent to central Missouri in August to stop Gen. Sterling Price and the pro-Southern Missouri State Guard. Only two Union recruiting officers remained in St. Joseph.
Within days, Confederate militia rode into town and captured the two remaining Union soldiers. The militia spent two weeks looting the stores and raiding the surrounding countryside. When word came that the Union troops were returning, the militia left. Confederates never gained control of St. Joseph again. (
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The "Paw Paws'
In 1863, a local militia unit helped bring law and order to St. Joseph and the surrounding area. Locals nicknamed the unit the "Paw Paws." There are two stories about the origin of the nickname. Some claimed that they hid in the pawpaw trees rather than fight Confederates. Another story involves a St. Joseph citizen who commented on the men's dirty appearance as they marched into
town. He asked, "Whatcha been doin'?" One of the men replied, "Whatcha think we been doin'? Pickin' Paw Paws?" (
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Fort Smith
In September 1861, the 16th Illinois Infantry entered St. Joseph under the command of Col. Robert Smith and declared martial law. The soldiers set up camp north of the business district on Prospect Hill. They built an oblong circle of earthworks overlooking the Missouri River to the west and the city to the east. The troops named it Fort Smith. Many Southern sympathizers who refused to sign the oath of allegiance to the Union were forced to work on the construction of the fortifications.
The Union troops set up camps around town. They also established barracks in existing buildings, such as the Odd Fellows Hall at 5th and Felix and the Christian Brothers College at 13th and Henry. Many of the buildings occupied by the troops suffered severe damage. Although St. Joseph began recovering toward the end of the war, it was not the prosperous city it had been. It took almost 20 years for St. Joseph to be recognized as a leading commercial center again. (
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