During the Civil War, Major Andrew Vern Emen Johnston (called Āve, by his men), was in charge of volunteer detachments of Union Army Companies A. G. and H., of the newly formed 39th Missouri mounted Infantry Regiment, (mostly new recruits riding farm mules and horses). Under his command the regiment left Paris, Missouri, in the late evening of September 26, 1864. The next morning, on September 27, 1864, after riding all night, they came upon a trail that they thought was that of "Bloody" Bill Anderson and his guerillas. They had information from that morning, that Anderson and his rebels had burned the depot and, attacked 2 trains, at Centralia, Missouri, robbed and terrorized passengers, and killed 24 soldiers who were returning to their homes in northwest Missouri and Southwest Iowa after the Battle of Atlanta. It turned out to be an ambush, for around 3 p.m., as Johnston and his 155 men went Southeasterly from Centralia, Johnston ordered his men to dismount, and form a line of battle, but they were charged by Anderson's mounted forces, each carrying several Colt revolvers. Johnston's men, carrying Enfield muskets, which was a heavy, muzzle loading single shot rifle, were defenseless, after one shot each, having no time to reload. Johnston and over 120 soldiers and 3 guerrillas of his 155 soldiers, were reported as killed in the battle.
Seventy-nine of the soldiers were buried on the railroad right-of-way east of Centralia until 1873, when the War Department removed the bodies to the (Major AVE Johnston), Jefferson City National Cemetery in Jefferson City, Missouri, where he has a cenotaph.
According to outlaw, Frank James, his younger brother Jesse, fired the shot that killed Major Johnston. The battlefield where the incident occurred, known as The Centralia Massacre and Battle, has been preserved, Southeast of Centralia, Boone County, Missouri.
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The following was suggested by Larry&Sharon EASTERDAY:
Please ADD links or numbers to:
Pvt George Bragg,
Major AVE Johnston,
Albany Monument,
to complete the history of the Centralia Massacre and Battle of 1864.
There is a note in a NE Missouri county history that the body of Col. A.V.E. Johnston "was taken back to Marion County" (would actually be closeby in Monroe County). There is record and graves of several mens' bodies buried in the home county areas of Adair, Knox, Marion and Shelby Counties from the 39th Infantry after Centralia September 27, 1864.
Seventy-nine of the soldiers were buried on the railroad right-of-way east of Centralia until 1873, when the War Department removed the bodies to the (Major AVE Johnston), Jefferson City National Cemetery in Jefferson City, Missouri, where he has a cenotaph.
According to outlaw, Frank James, his younger brother Jesse, fired the shot that killed Major Johnston. The battlefield where the incident occurred, known as The Centralia Massacre and Battle, has been preserved, Southeast of Centralia, Boone County, Missouri.
-------------------------------------------------------
The following was suggested by Larry&Sharon EASTERDAY:
Please ADD links or numbers to:
Pvt George Bragg,
Major AVE Johnston,
Albany Monument,
to complete the history of the Centralia Massacre and Battle of 1864.
There is a note in a NE Missouri county history that the body of Col. A.V.E. Johnston "was taken back to Marion County" (would actually be closeby in Monroe County). There is record and graves of several mens' bodies buried in the home county areas of Adair, Knox, Marion and Shelby Counties from the 39th Infantry after Centralia September 27, 1864.
During the Civil War, Major Andrew Vern Emen Johnston (called Āve, by his men), was in charge of volunteer detachments of Union Army Companies A. G. and H., of the newly formed 39th Missouri mounted Infantry Regiment, (mostly new recruits riding farm mules and horses). Under his command the regiment left Paris, Missouri, in the late evening of September 26, 1864. The next morning, on September 27, 1864, after riding all night, they came upon a trail that they thought was that of "Bloody" Bill Anderson and his guerillas. They had information from that morning, that Anderson and his rebels had burned the depot and, attacked 2 trains, at Centralia, Missouri, robbed and terrorized passengers, and killed 24 soldiers who were returning to their homes in northwest Missouri and Southwest Iowa after the Battle of Atlanta. It turned out to be an ambush, for around 3 p.m., as Johnston and his 155 men went Southeasterly from Centralia, Johnston ordered his men to dismount, and form a line of battle, but they were charged by Anderson's mounted forces, each carrying several Colt revolvers. Johnston's men, carrying Enfield muskets, which was a heavy, muzzle loading single shot rifle, were defenseless, after one shot each, having no time to reload. Johnston and over 120 soldiers and 3 guerrillas of his 155 soldiers, were reported as killed in the battle.
Seventy-nine of the soldiers were buried on the railroad right-of-way east of Centralia until 1873, when the War Department removed the bodies to the (Major AVE Johnston), Jefferson City National Cemetery in Jefferson City, Missouri, where he has a cenotaph.
According to outlaw, Frank James, his younger brother Jesse, fired the shot that killed Major Johnston. The battlefield where the incident occurred, known as The Centralia Massacre and Battle, has been preserved, Southeast of Centralia, Boone County, Missouri.
-------------------------------------------------------
The following was suggested by Larry&Sharon EASTERDAY:
Please ADD links or numbers to:
Pvt George Bragg,
Major AVE Johnston,
Albany Monument,
to complete the history of the Centralia Massacre and Battle of 1864.
There is a note in a NE Missouri county history that the body of Col. A.V.E. Johnston "was taken back to Marion County" (would actually be closeby in Monroe County). There is record and graves of several mens' bodies buried in the home county areas of Adair, Knox, Marion and Shelby Counties from the 39th Infantry after Centralia September 27, 1864.
Seventy-nine of the soldiers were buried on the railroad right-of-way east of Centralia until 1873, when the War Department removed the bodies to the (Major AVE Johnston), Jefferson City National Cemetery in Jefferson City, Missouri, where he has a cenotaph.
According to outlaw, Frank James, his younger brother Jesse, fired the shot that killed Major Johnston. The battlefield where the incident occurred, known as The Centralia Massacre and Battle, has been preserved, Southeast of Centralia, Boone County, Missouri.
-------------------------------------------------------
The following was suggested by Larry&Sharon EASTERDAY:
Please ADD links or numbers to:
Pvt George Bragg,
Major AVE Johnston,
Albany Monument,
to complete the history of the Centralia Massacre and Battle of 1864.
There is a note in a NE Missouri county history that the body of Col. A.V.E. Johnston "was taken back to Marion County" (would actually be closeby in Monroe County). There is record and graves of several mens' bodies buried in the home county areas of Adair, Knox, Marion and Shelby Counties from the 39th Infantry after Centralia September 27, 1864.
Inscription
Tribute from the Friends and Comrades in Arms who Loved Him Living and Mourn Him Dead.
39th. Missouri Voluntary Infantry
KILLED IN BATTLE WITH THE GUERILLAS AT CENTRALIA, MO.
