Skirmish at Pulliam Farm

Confederate stones placed at Old Ponder, Old Doniphan and Union Grove Cemeteries

One event, that took place in Ripley County, occurred on Christmas Day, 1863, in the Southwest corner of the county. No other incident, which occurred in Ripley County, has generated as much controversy as this event. The controversy centers around the writings of the late Jerry Ponder, who wrote several books and articles about Ripley County and the Civil War. The biggest controversy is whether civilians were massacred during this incident and if the ultimate fate of US Major James Wilson was because of his actions at Pulliam Farm.

I take great personal interest in the skirmish at Pulliam Farm. Not only because it resulted in the greatest loss of life in a skirmish occurring in Ripley County, but also its location to our family farm. My great-grandparents were married in New Madrid County, MO in 1876 and appear in the 1880 Ripley County census. The family farm is located a mile down the creek from the Pulliam Farm site. They would have moved there 13-17 years after the skirmish. If we are to believe that women and children had been killed during the engagement then surely they would have heard of the horrors and would have passed stories down to their children and grandchildren of the event. None of those stories have been passed down, at least in my family.

C.G. Johnston, b 1850, published a series of articles in the Pocahontas Star Herald in 1924, entitled "Oh, For the Good Old Days of the Long Long Ago." Among his articles is this account of the Pulliam Farm skirmish. "Reeves had been up in Missouri on a raiding trip and had retreated across the line to safety, as he thought, after having ridden day and night traveling a road about 4 miles northeast of Warm Springs near Uncle Tom Pulliam's they left the road and went over a high hill and down in the next hollow where they struck camp. To their surprise, Col. Leeper's men were in hot chase and just at daybreak they crept up on the top of the hill, raised the yell and charged down on Reeve's men, kill and wounding quite a number of them, two of the Phelps brothers of Walnut Ridge, John and Fount as I remember and I knew all of them at that time. A number of others were killed and wounded that I do not remember. They utilized Uncle Tom's house as a hospital until the wounded could be moved. I lived for several years within a mile of this battle ground hollow as it has ever since been called. It was not uncommon for these raiding parties to take innocent parties out and shoot them for no offense at all but such was our great and cruel war." Nowhere does Johnston mention the loss of civilian life. After reading his entire series and the detail with which he writes, I doubt he forgot or overlooked women and children being killed during this skirmish.

I have struggled with whether I should include this controversy on this website, however, no one researching Ripley County Civil War can avoid running into it in their research. Although the term "Massacre" generates more interest than a skirmish, the researcher needs to consider the facts.

From the Official Records:

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE MISSOURI,

Saint Louis, December 28, 1863.

GENERAL: An entire company of the Third Missouri State Militia was captured at Centreville, Reynolds County, by guerrillas, under Reves, on the 23rd instant. Major Wilson, of the Third Missouri State Militia, followed the party, and, at 3 p. m. Christmas day, he overtook and attacked; killed and wounded 35, captured 150 prisoners (13 officers), all equipage and ammunition, and 125 horses; recaptured all prisoners. Our loss, 1 killed and 8 wounded.

OLIVER D. GREENE,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

Major-General SCHOFIELD,

West Point, N. Y.

Numbers 2. Report of Major James Wilson, Third Missouri State Militia Cavalry.

HDQRS. THIRD MISSOURI STATE MILITIA CAVALRY,

Pilot Knob, Mo., December 30, 1863.

SIR: In compliance with your orders of the 23rd instant, I left Pilot Knob, in command of 200 men, about 10 a. m. December 23, 1863, arriving at Patterson at 9 p. m. Left there at daylight on the 24th, and encamped at Long's at 9 p. m., having traveled 35 miles. Marched again at 3 a. m. 25th instant; passed through Doniphan, taking a southwesterly direction toward the Arkansas line. Eight miles from Doniphan, I captured 2 pickets; 2 miles farther I captured one other post, and still 2 miles farther on came upon a rolling picket or patrol, and run them off of the road, capturing 1 and compelling him to lead us to the camp of Reves.* Arriving at the camp, I divided my men into two columns, and charged upon them with my whole force. The enemy fired, turned, and threw down their arms and fled, with the exception of 30 or 35, and they were riddled with bullets or pierced through with the saber almost instantly. The enemy lost in killed about 30; wounded mortally, 3; slightly 2; total killed and wounded, 35. Prisoners captured, 112; horses, besides those of Company C, 75; also all their arms, ammunition, and camp equipage. Not having means of transportation, I was compelled to destroy the bigger portion of the arms and all the tents and other camp equipage.

On the morning of the 26th, I started for Pilot Knob, arriving here about 4 p. m. on the 29th of December, 1863.

I cannot speak in too high terms of praise of the officers and men under my command. There was no loss on our side in killed and wounded.

JAMES WILSON,

Commanding Third Missouri State Militia Cavalry.

The known facts are:

There was a skirmish on Christmas Day, 1863 at the Pulliam Farm. Thirty-five men were killed and 112 were captured.

During the battle of Pilot Knob, Major Wilson was captured and turned over to Colonel Reeves who ordered Wilson and five of his men to be executed.

In retaliation of Wilson and his men being executed, five captured Confederates in Gratiot Street Prison in St. Louis were executed by the Union Army in retaliation. The sixth avoided execution by orders from President Lincoln.

"Sorrowful Revenge by Firing Squad!"

The following are links, for those interested, to follow what has been written about the Pulliam Farm incident. It has also been called the "Wilson's Massacre" or the "Christmas Day Massacre". Feel free to draw your own conclusions but be sure to read both sides. I personally believe those at the History-Sites discussion group have done the best job at defending their view (see Wehmer and Ross letters under attachments), although the stories of a Federal massacre seem to be more abundant on the internet.

Official Record - Wilson's Report

OzarksWatch - The Ponder-Flanders-Bradbury Correspondence Exchanged in the Preparation of "Between Missourians"

OzarksWatch - "Between Missourians"

History-Sites.com - Civil War Discussion Group

CampCoffee.org - A Ponder Supporter

The Barnes Review - Page 11 - Same story from same supporter published in a magazine.

Civil War St. Louis - Execution of Major Wilson

Until verifiable documentation is produced, I believe that the skirmish at Pulliam Farm was nothing more than a skirmish between the 3rd MSM and the 15th MO Cavalry which resulted in the death of approximately 35 Confederate soldiers and NO civilians.