WAVERLY TO REENACT CAPTURE OF THE SUNSHINE

Updated at May 05, 2008 11:56

June 28, 2008 – June 29, 2008 Waverly On June 28 the Confederates will capture the “Sunshine” and confiscate her load. On June 29 the Union will recalim their freight. There will be music, skirmishes, antiques, food, plus many more entertaining events. Fireworks on Saturday night. Doublles horseshoe tournament on Sunday. We are also celebrating Founders’ Day. The newly organized General Jo Shelby Iron Brigadde will be having it’s first annual muster. Memberships to the Iron Brigade may be purchased at this eventl The Waverly Arts Council will be re-enacting the following story at their Civil War History Festival on June 28 – 29, 2008 THE WOODEN GUN OR THE CAPTURE OF THE SUNSHINE Battles, fierce, brutal, destructive, peculiarly, Missouri in nature, dotted the state. Wilson’s Creek in Southern Missouri was a Confederate victory. In Neosho the legislature passed an ordinance of secession, and on November 28, Missouri’s star was added to the flag of the Confederacy. Captain Jo Shelby of Waverly, the most “southern” of men in his actions, thoughts, emotions and even looks, was developing into one of the war’s great cavalrymen. At this stage of the war, one of his functions was to ride north to the Missouri River to recruit. And while there one time he hit upon a wild and daring scheme to inflame to patriotism as well as feed his new recruits. Shelby clambered along St. Thomas Wharf near Waverly to the stand of huge cottonwoods which concealed his command of 100 cavalrymen. As he climbed the bank, he could see the big black mock siege gun poking its nose above the brush, and he thought of what effect it might have on the steamboat when it came in sight. “I hope it does the trick,” he said, as he hurried on to the camp. He had been at his home in Waverly to see his wife and two small sons, but only briefly, because the Federal troops were as thick as huckleberries in summer. Under the cloak of early dawn he had reconnoitered the town, spied out the troop strength, and now returning with good news for his battle-weary men. “Boys,” he said, “boys! It’s even better than we figured – they think there’s two or three thousand of us hid out here! It’s rumored – and I don’t say I didn’t have anything to do with the rumor,” and at this the men laughed, “but it’s being told about Waverly that we have a dozen cannon! Big ones! My stars – if we only had one in place of that wooden siege gun we fixed up. But let me tell you, from the river she looks real – and vicious! – sticking her nose through the brush just like some old water moccasin lying a creek bed. I swear it’ll fool the captain of that steamboat. Yes sir,” the flashy young officer continued, “when he sees that black muzzle pointed right at his eyeballs, if he doesn’t give up he’s a braver fool Yankee than I’ve ever seen. And when the ship comes in sight, you know what else to do. Meanwhile, we’ll rest up – but keep a sharp eye for blue-bellies – they’re everywhere!” Shelby had brought his detachment of Lafayette County Calvary 120 miles behind the lines of the enemy. It was the first of many daring raids into enemy territory which would make him famous. He and his hundred men, whom he had mounted and equipped out of his own pocket, had fought their way across six counties to arrive here on the bank of the of the Missouri River. Most of them had families in the Missouri Valley. A week before, they had left Cowskin Prairie south of Springfield, setting out on what they knew might be a suicide mission. Because the Confederate army badly needed recruits, Captain Jo Shelby had volunteered to return to his own countryside where he was well known. “There’s a lot of boys up there,” he told General Sterling Price in Cowskin Prairie, “who are Southern sympathizers – eager to join us. They’re cut off there in the valley, in Lafayette and Jackson counties. If they know they’re needed, they’ll flock to the Banner of the Bars – especially now that it is an out and out Civil War.” General Price had finally assented. Shelby, he knew, was not only a brave officer but a foxy one at that. And then these Missouri Valley boys hadn’t been home for many months. And if Shelby could recruit an army – well, maybe they could retake Missouri and add a state to the Confederacy as well as a star to its flag. The youthful cavalry officer was a born leader of men. Though many enlisted, still a great number held back. He needed something to excite their young fighting spirit – some swift, daring victory right here in the enemy’s stronghold – something they could shout about and rally to. And, more realistically, he had to be able to provision them and give them rifles and ammunition. In short,he needed to capture the Federal steamboat Sunshine that was heading this way, loaded with Federal supplies and bound for Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. She was scheduled to pass Waverly in just four to five days. He sent word that all who elected to ride with him and General Sterling Price in the Confederate States of America should join him in five days for the trip south. He would have the necessary arms and mounts for them. The next day his men felled a cottonwood tree, carved it, and painted it black to look like a monstrous cannon. Shelby hoped he could trick the steamboat captain into thinking a deadly siege gun was trained on him. It looked deadly, all right, thought Shelby. It must work. The plundering of the Sunshine meant success or failure for his new army – indeed, it meant the death or life of his present men. They were five score miles from their own lines, with the enemy in between. Meanwhile the river was golden in the summer days, and Waverly, for all the war preparations and the marching Federals, basked sleepily in the late July sun. Each night Shelby and a detachment of troops raided the Federals, stirred up commotion and confusion, and thus drew the attention of more and more young sympathizers. He made recruiting speeches all along the river, in Lafayette and Jackson counties, and even dared to ride into Kansas City to see old friends and gather information. On the bright morning of August 2, 1861, a down-river lookout galloped into the cottonwood camp and up to Captain Shelby. “She’s a comin’! That old steamboat’s comin’ along like she never heard of war. Be here before noon!” Shelby’s black eyes gleamed with excitement. “Take your places,” he bellowed to his men. “Let go the rafts there – you men get along to the other side of the river and make that hempline secure.” A half dozen small, hastily made rafts, covered and lashed at the river’s edge, slid into the water. One, carrying fifteen men armed with rifles, stretched a heavy hemp rope across the stream. When Shelby saw everything was in readiness and that the men had once again faded into the brush and trees, he said, “The rest of you make sure what you have to do. If this trick is going to work, every man has to do his share – and then some!” The hot sun was rising high in the blue heavens when a lookout gave the warning. It was an anxious moment – the men tense with excitement , but silent as they watched the heavily loaded steamboat sailing along as gaily and brightly as her name, “Sunshine.” When she was almost opposite St. Thomas Wharf, Shelby gave the command to commence firing. The steamboat, turning quickly to the far bank where it met more rifle fire, made a zig-zag course. From the bushes the snout of the formidable looking siege gun followed her every turn. And then, rising behind the black cannon were great clouds of dust, as if made by a full cavalry regiment racing for the river – a very useful storm made only by a squad of Shelby’s horsemen dragging small trees through a parched clearing. Right in front of the vessel, rifle fire cracked from small rafts strung on the huge hemp line across the river. The river seemed full of Confederate troops and on shore, behind every cottonwood, there appeared to be a dozen riflemen. Then, when the vexed steamboat had slowed her progress midstream, Shelby gave the command to cease firing, and strode to the wharf. “Captain!” he shouted, “I am Captain Jo Shelby, under the command of General Sterling Price of the army of the Confederate States of America. You have exactly three minutes to surrender your vessel. If you choose not to surrender, my siege guns will blow you out of the water. You have three minutes.” He returned to the cover of the trees, crossed his fingers, and waited. Then, shouts of victory went up from 100 throats – the steamer was flying the white flag and moving toward the wharf! Shelby took 60 of his men and quickly boarded her to confiscate the cargo. The booty would be sorely missed by the enemy. The “Sunshine” carried 100 army wagons and horses, 1,500 sacks of flour, nearly 500 Sharps rifle and enough ammunition to see his men and new recruits through to their lines. Most of the wagons had to be abandoned, but there was plenty of free flour in Waverly that afternoon. When the day’s work was done the jubilant Captain had supper with his family. Then, in the night when raw but well equipped recruits had joined his troops, the small army started on the long journey south, to arrive finally with victory and fervor in their hearts. Later the Federals returned to reclaim, what was left of, their load of freight. Shortly after this incident the Federals decided to burn Shelby’s home, ropewalk and wharf. Decade of Decision 1855 – 1865 Published by Kansas City Life Insurance Co. 1960.

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