FLAMES OF REVENGE
On a cold February day in 1862, the Union forces marched out of Missouri and into the Confederate State of Arkansas. Union General Alexander Asboth stormed into Bentonville with the Missouri Cavalry. They arrived just as Colonel Frank Rector’s Arkansas Confederates rushed out of town. A few Confederates were caught and taken into custody. In the confusion, Confederate Lt. George Taylor, Quartermaster of the 17th Arkansas Regiment lost his horse, his account books and narrowly escaped with his life. Union General Asboth ordered the Confederate flag taken down from the top of the Benton County Courthouse.
After declaring the town of Bentonville officially under control, Union General Asboth and his troops thundered along the road out of town heading east toward their Sugar Creek camp. Oliver Young watched from his window as the massive parade of Federal soldiers on horseback passed his farm. Suddenly one soldier turned around and headed back toward the Bentonville square. He had decided to go back and fill his canteen with contraband whiskey. As he rode, alone, beyond the protection of fellow troopers, an unexpected deafening blast of gunfire struck him in the head. He fell from his horse to the ground. Then a second shot up close to his head left a “ghastly ragged wound”. The nameless shooter rode away into obscurity.
As soon as it seemed safe, several Bentonville citizens emerged from hiding and gathered around the lifeless body of the soldier. They feared they could be blamed for his death which would certainly bring severe retribution. The citizens made a quick decision to hide the dead body in a nearby outhouse. They knew the soldiers would soon return looking for the missing man.
The soldiers did indeed return to Bentonville and it was not long before they discovered the dead body in the outhouse. They were naturally shocked and infuriated over their friend’s death. Some of the soldiers gathered on the town square after helping themselves to an abundance of alcohol and cigars in the store across the street. Other soldiers searched nearby houses and interrogated the residents.
Just a half mile away from the Bentonville square, Oliver Young heard the braying of his mules and loud voices coming from his barn. He glanced out the window and saw Union troops in the barnyard. The soldiers were waving their arms and yelling in an effort to catch two frightened mules. Oliver ran outside and pleaded with the soldiers to not take his mules but no one listened. An angry Lt. Montgomery cocked his pistol, pointed it at Oliver and ordered him to calm the mules and immediately turn them over to the soldiers.
Oliver, a Union man, was surprised by Lt. Montgomery’s abusive and unusually aggressive behavior. Later, when Oliver heard the news about the dead man in the outhouse, he figured that must have been the reason for Montgomery’s behavior. After all the dead soldier had met his unfortunate fate not far away from Oliver’s farm.
Meanwhile, on the Bentonville square, word of the dead soldier in the outhouse spread like wildfire. Angry emotions grew hotter as the Missouri troops drank liberal portions of alcohol. They smoked cigars and discussed what should happen next. Confederate Lt. George Taylor, who barely escaped with his life, told his friends what happened that day, “Our old garrison (Bentonville) is one heap of ashes.”
It was true, many of the stores and homes near the Bentonville square burned to the ground that day in February 1862. Whether the fire was set on purpose or carelessly caused by drunken soldiers is not known today. However, there is no question the town of Bentonville went up in flames of revenge in retribution for the death of the soldier found in the outhouse.
After declaring the town of Bentonville officially under control, Union General Asboth and his troops thundered along the road out of town heading east toward their Sugar Creek camp. Oliver Young watched from his window as the massive parade of Federal soldiers on horseback passed his farm. Suddenly one soldier turned around and headed back toward the Bentonville square. He had decided to go back and fill his canteen with contraband whiskey. As he rode, alone, beyond the protection of fellow troopers, an unexpected deafening blast of gunfire struck him in the head. He fell from his horse to the ground. Then a second shot up close to his head left a “ghastly ragged wound”. The nameless shooter rode away into obscurity.
As soon as it seemed safe, several Bentonville citizens emerged from hiding and gathered around the lifeless body of the soldier. They feared they could be blamed for his death which would certainly bring severe retribution. The citizens made a quick decision to hide the dead body in a nearby outhouse. They knew the soldiers would soon return looking for the missing man.
The soldiers did indeed return to Bentonville and it was not long before they discovered the dead body in the outhouse. They were naturally shocked and infuriated over their friend’s death. Some of the soldiers gathered on the town square after helping themselves to an abundance of alcohol and cigars in the store across the street. Other soldiers searched nearby houses and interrogated the residents.
Just a half mile away from the Bentonville square, Oliver Young heard the braying of his mules and loud voices coming from his barn. He glanced out the window and saw Union troops in the barnyard. The soldiers were waving their arms and yelling in an effort to catch two frightened mules. Oliver ran outside and pleaded with the soldiers to not take his mules but no one listened. An angry Lt. Montgomery cocked his pistol, pointed it at Oliver and ordered him to calm the mules and immediately turn them over to the soldiers.
Oliver, a Union man, was surprised by Lt. Montgomery’s abusive and unusually aggressive behavior. Later, when Oliver heard the news about the dead man in the outhouse, he figured that must have been the reason for Montgomery’s behavior. After all the dead soldier had met his unfortunate fate not far away from Oliver’s farm.
Meanwhile, on the Bentonville square, word of the dead soldier in the outhouse spread like wildfire. Angry emotions grew hotter as the Missouri troops drank liberal portions of alcohol. They smoked cigars and discussed what should happen next. Confederate Lt. George Taylor, who barely escaped with his life, told his friends what happened that day, “Our old garrison (Bentonville) is one heap of ashes.”
It was true, many of the stores and homes near the Bentonville square burned to the ground that day in February 1862. Whether the fire was set on purpose or carelessly caused by drunken soldiers is not known today. However, there is no question the town of Bentonville went up in flames of revenge in retribution for the death of the soldier found in the outhouse.
Narration by Matt Slaughter
