STODDARD COUNTY HISTORY
  • Home
    • Southeast Mo to 1811
    • Southeast Mo 1820 - 1850
  • Communities
    • Dexter >
      • Castor St.
      • Stoddard St.
      • Walnut St.
      • North of Tracks
      • Locust St & S. Main
      • East Dexter
      • West Dexter
      • Vine Street
      • Poplar Street
      • Prominent Citizens
    • Aquilla
    • Swinton
    • Bloomfield >
      • Bloomfield People
      • Businesses
      • Churches
      • Courthouse
      • Fire - 1912
      • Poor Farm/County Home
      • School
      • Stock Show 1909
    • Buffington
    • Essex >
      • Essex History
    • Bernie
    • Ardeola
    • Bell City
    • Brownwood
    • Dudley
    • Leora
    • Puxico
    • Acorn Ridge
    • Advance
    • Powe
    • Penermon
    • Gray Ridge
    • Stoddard (Town)
    • Rural Stoddard County
    • Communities Outside Stoddard >
      • Butler County >
        • Ash Hill
        • Broseley
        • Fisk
        • Qulin
        • Poplar Bluff
        • Harviell
        • Neelyville
        • Rombauer
        • Lost Towns of Butler County >
          • Poplin
      • Cape County
      • Dunklin County >
        • Kennett
        • Malden
        • Clarkton
        • Wilhemina
      • Mississippi County >
        • Bird's Point
        • Charleston
        • Wyatt
      • New Madrid County >
        • Boekerton
        • Canalou
        • Conran
        • Gideon
        • Kewanee
        • Lilbourn
        • Marston
        • Morehouse
        • New Madrid (Town)
        • Parma
        • Portageville
        • Risco
      • Scott County >
        • Vanduser
        • Oran
        • Chaffee
      • Pemiscot County >
        • Hayti
        • Pascola
        • Caruthersville >
          • 1950 - 1985
      • Wayne County >
        • Piedmont
      • Carter County >
        • Ellsinore
        • Grandin
  • Civil War & Other Periods
    • Stoddard Rangers
    • Post Reconstruction >
      • Swamp Drainage
      • Small Pox Outbreak, 1895
      • Spanish Influenza
      • Yellow Fever Epidemic, 1905
      • Crime & Punishment >
        • Stoddard County Sheriffs
      • Spanish-American War
      • Civil Rights Southeast Missouri
    • Reconstruction Era
    • Pre Civil War >
      • Slavery
    • The Civil War >
      • Union Stoddard County >
        • 2nd Mo State Militia Cavalry
        • 3rd MSM Cavalry
        • 12th MSM Cavalry
      • 1st Division Missouri State Guard >
        • McDonald's Co. C Artillery
      • 2nd Missouri Cavalry
      • 4th Missouri Cavalry (CS)
      • 7th Missouri Cavalry
      • 8th Missouri Cavalry
      • 12th Missouri Cavalry
      • 1st Confederate Infantry Btn
      • 6th Cavalry (Phelan's Regiment)
      • 6th Missouri Infantry >
        • Roster of Company D
        • Stoddard Countians in Company D
        • Roster Company K
      • Pilot Knob
  • Other Categories
  • Sources
  • Mr. Arnold's Classroom
    • Nat'l History Day
    • 7th Grade World History >
      • Unit 1 Intro & Geography
      • Unit 2 Page
      • Unit 3 England's Colonies
      • Unit 4 Colonies To Revolution
      • Unit 5 American Revolution
      • Unit 6 New Nation
      • Unit 7 - Early Republic
      • Unit 8 - Emergence Of American Economy
      • Unit 9 Nat'l & Sect
      • Chapt 10 - The South
      • Unit 11 - The Gathering Storm
      • Unit 12 Civil War
      • Unit 13 - Reconstruction
      • Unit 14 - Bus. & Labor
      • Unit 15 - New South & West
      • Unit 16 - SEMO History
    • 8th Grade American History >
      • Unit 1 - Civil War Reconstruction
      • Unit 2 Bus & Labor
      • Unit 3 - New South
      • Unit 4 Gilded Age & Populism
      • Unit 5 - The Progressive Era
      • Unit 6 - WWI
      • Unit 7 - The 1920s
      • Unit 8 - The Great Depression
      • Unit 9 - WWII
      • Unit 10 Post WWII to Korea
      • Unit 11 The Cold War in the 50s
      • Unit 12 - Turbulent 1960s
      • Unit 13 - Nixon & Ford Years
      • Unit 14 - Conservative Revival
      • Unit 15 - The 90s
      • Unit 16 - 9/11 To Present
      • Unit 17 - Global War on Terror
    • 3rd Hour Gov't >
      • Introduction
      • Chapter 1 - Ideals of Democracy
      • Chapter 2 Types of Democracy
      • Chapter 3 The Constitution
      • Chapter 4 Principles of Constitution
      • Unit 5 - Civil Liberties & Civil Rights
      • Chpt 6 Civic Resp. & Civic Duty
      • Chpt 7 American Political Ideologies & Beliefs
      • Chpt 8 Spec Interest
      • Chpt 9 - EOC Economics
      • Chapter 10 Elections
    • 4th Hour Gov't >
      • Introduction
      • Chapter 1 - Ideals of Democracy
    • DC American History >
      • DC Unit 1 - Exploration/Colonization
      • Unit 2 - English Colonies
      • Unit 3 - F & I War To Revolution
      • Unit 4 - The Early Republic
      • Unit 5 - Age of Jackson
      • Unit 6 - Religion, Romanticism, & Reform
      • Unit 7 Westward Expansion
      • Unit 8 The Gathering Storm
      • Unit 9 The Civil War
      • Unit 10 - Reconstruction
      • Unit 11 The Industrial Era
      • Unit 12 - The New South and New West
      • Unit 13 - Imperialism & Reform
      • Unit 14 - WWI & the 1920s
      • Unit 15 - The Great Depression
      • Unit 16 WWII
      • Unit 17 - The Cold War & 1950s
      • Unit 18 The Vietnam Era
      • 2nd Semester Final

12th Missouri State Militia Cavalry 

Colonel Lindsey W. Murdoch


Picture
Col. Lindsey W. Murdoch (Southeast Missouri State University)

Picture
Lawson Monroe Bess, 12th Missouri State Militia Cavalry

Colonel Lindsey W. Murdoch was born in Dunbarton, Scotland, October 31, 1833.  He moved to Dallas (Marble Hill), Missouri in 1858.  Murdoch was an outspoken Republican and member of the anti-slavery movement.  In August, 1861, he was made Lt. Col. of the Fremont Rangers.  The Freemont Rangers unable to form the required ten companies were broken up, one company became Company A, 12th Missouri State Militia Cavalry, Murdoch was elected captain.  
During the beginning of hostilities, Murdoch used his position as a British subject to outwardly profess his neutrality and used that position in order to gain information that he might report to local authorities in nearby Cape Girardeau.  After an unsuccessful attempt to raise a union company from Bollinger County, Murdoch was chosen to ride to Cape Girardeau to ask assistance from the post authorities under Colonel C. C. Marsh of the 20th Illinois Infantry.  


During the summer, Murdoch was authorized to raise a command of mounted men, which he did.  His men furnished their own mounts, clothes, but received muskets and bayonets from the government. Their objective was to perform general cavalry service including provide security around Cape Girardeau and scout the surrounding region.  He named this organization the Fremont Rangers and was commissioned as its Lt. Col.  
Marsh was ordered to advance along with a column of several thousand men from Cape Girardeau to Bloomfield.  This force acted as screen for Grant's main column that advanced from Cape Girardeau and engaged Confederates at the battle of Belmont.  

On December 1, 1861, Murdoch received a dispatch that authorized his Cape Girardeau home guards to enter into state militia service.  He was promised a commission depending on the number of troops he was able to raise. 
 Acting as a recruiting agent, Murdoch mustered in three companies from his former command, he himself taking command as captain of Company A, 12th Missouri State Militia Cavalry.
Murdoch's men were armed with sabers, pistols, and Austrian carbines (which he stated were worthless).  January 19, 1862, Murdoch was ordered with his company, Captain Walker's Company B, Lt. Wolper's Company D, and a company from the 7th Illinois Cavalry to proceed to Bloomfield.  Upon arrival Murdoch's men surprised a number of pro-Southern Missouri State Guard officers and captured several of them.   
Murdoch and his men patrolled the roads from Cape Girardeau to Dallas and Bloomfield during January and February, 1862.  In April, Murdoch and his three companies of Missouri State Militia cavalry were left in charge of the four forts located in Cape Girardeau, all other troops having been pulled out to reenforce General Grant's drive into Tennessee.  During this time Murdoch was made aware that Captain Walker of Company B threatened to desert his post and disband his company.  Walker's men were surrounded by Murdoch's company and the attempted mutiny was snuffed out before it could get started.  Walker soon after resigned his position and returned to his home northwest of Bloomfield where he was killed by his neighbors.  

Picture
Henry W Werth, Co. G, 12th Missouri State Militia Cavalry & 5th Missouri State Militia Cavalry.


Picture
Samuel Parson Simpson, 12th Missouri State Militia Cavalry

When the organization of the 12th Missouri State Militia Cavalry was completed, Murdoch expected to receive a commission as major, but was disappointed to find that Bazel F. Lazear had instead been appointed as major of the regiment.  Lazear ordered all officers to remain in camp, Murdoch did not comply with the order and was placed under arrest. It was later proven that political forces were at play and led to his dismissal.  
After his dismissal his services were requested as provost marshal of Cape Girardeau and later as an aid to General John McNeil during Marmaduke's 1863 raid.  In September, 1864, Murdoch was ordered to construct two lines of fortifications in front of Fort A with a force of 200 "colored men."  Murdoch trained and prepared his laborers to defend the city should a Confederate attack appear.  
February 14, 1865, Murdoch was mustered in as captain of Company H, 50th Missouri Volunteers.  During his time with the 50th Infantry his company built a fort in Bloomfield and guarded prisoners in St. Louis.  Murdoch mustered out of service August 5, 1865.  He returned to his home in Bollinger County and began to rebuild what had been destroyed.   He spent the rest of his professional life as a collector for the internal revenue service (Information contained on this page about Murdoch is from the Lindsey Murdoch collection housed in the Southeast Missouri State University Archives).  
Proudly powered by Weebly
Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Home
    • Southeast Mo to 1811
    • Southeast Mo 1820 - 1850
  • Communities
    • Dexter >
      • Castor St.
      • Stoddard St.
      • Walnut St.
      • North of Tracks
      • Locust St & S. Main
      • East Dexter
      • West Dexter
      • Vine Street
      • Poplar Street
      • Prominent Citizens
    • Aquilla
    • Swinton
    • Bloomfield >
      • Bloomfield People
      • Businesses
      • Churches
      • Courthouse
      • Fire - 1912
      • Poor Farm/County Home
      • School
      • Stock Show 1909
    • Buffington
    • Essex >
      • Essex History
    • Bernie
    • Ardeola
    • Bell City
    • Brownwood
    • Dudley
    • Leora
    • Puxico
    • Acorn Ridge
    • Advance
    • Powe
    • Penermon
    • Gray Ridge
    • Stoddard (Town)
    • Rural Stoddard County
    • Communities Outside Stoddard >
      • Butler County >
        • Ash Hill
        • Broseley
        • Fisk
        • Qulin
        • Poplar Bluff
        • Harviell
        • Neelyville
        • Rombauer
        • Lost Towns of Butler County >
          • Poplin
      • Cape County
      • Dunklin County >
        • Kennett
        • Malden
        • Clarkton
        • Wilhemina
      • Mississippi County >
        • Bird's Point
        • Charleston
        • Wyatt
      • New Madrid County >
        • Boekerton
        • Canalou
        • Conran
        • Gideon
        • Kewanee
        • Lilbourn
        • Marston
        • Morehouse
        • New Madrid (Town)
        • Parma
        • Portageville
        • Risco
      • Scott County >
        • Vanduser
        • Oran
        • Chaffee
      • Pemiscot County >
        • Hayti
        • Pascola
        • Caruthersville >
          • 1950 - 1985
      • Wayne County >
        • Piedmont
      • Carter County >
        • Ellsinore
        • Grandin
  • Civil War & Other Periods
    • Stoddard Rangers
    • Post Reconstruction >
      • Swamp Drainage
      • Small Pox Outbreak, 1895
      • Spanish Influenza
      • Yellow Fever Epidemic, 1905
      • Crime & Punishment >
        • Stoddard County Sheriffs
      • Spanish-American War
      • Civil Rights Southeast Missouri
    • Reconstruction Era
    • Pre Civil War >
      • Slavery
    • The Civil War >
      • Union Stoddard County >
        • 2nd Mo State Militia Cavalry
        • 3rd MSM Cavalry
        • 12th MSM Cavalry
      • 1st Division Missouri State Guard >
        • McDonald's Co. C Artillery
      • 2nd Missouri Cavalry
      • 4th Missouri Cavalry (CS)
      • 7th Missouri Cavalry
      • 8th Missouri Cavalry
      • 12th Missouri Cavalry
      • 1st Confederate Infantry Btn
      • 6th Cavalry (Phelan's Regiment)
      • 6th Missouri Infantry >
        • Roster of Company D
        • Stoddard Countians in Company D
        • Roster Company K
      • Pilot Knob
  • Other Categories
  • Sources
  • Mr. Arnold's Classroom
    • Nat'l History Day
    • 7th Grade World History >
      • Unit 1 Intro & Geography
      • Unit 2 Page
      • Unit 3 England's Colonies
      • Unit 4 Colonies To Revolution
      • Unit 5 American Revolution
      • Unit 6 New Nation
      • Unit 7 - Early Republic
      • Unit 8 - Emergence Of American Economy
      • Unit 9 Nat'l & Sect
      • Chapt 10 - The South
      • Unit 11 - The Gathering Storm
      • Unit 12 Civil War
      • Unit 13 - Reconstruction
      • Unit 14 - Bus. & Labor
      • Unit 15 - New South & West
      • Unit 16 - SEMO History
    • 8th Grade American History >
      • Unit 1 - Civil War Reconstruction
      • Unit 2 Bus & Labor
      • Unit 3 - New South
      • Unit 4 Gilded Age & Populism
      • Unit 5 - The Progressive Era
      • Unit 6 - WWI
      • Unit 7 - The 1920s
      • Unit 8 - The Great Depression
      • Unit 9 - WWII
      • Unit 10 Post WWII to Korea
      • Unit 11 The Cold War in the 50s
      • Unit 12 - Turbulent 1960s
      • Unit 13 - Nixon & Ford Years
      • Unit 14 - Conservative Revival
      • Unit 15 - The 90s
      • Unit 16 - 9/11 To Present
      • Unit 17 - Global War on Terror
    • 3rd Hour Gov't >
      • Introduction
      • Chapter 1 - Ideals of Democracy
      • Chapter 2 Types of Democracy
      • Chapter 3 The Constitution
      • Chapter 4 Principles of Constitution
      • Unit 5 - Civil Liberties & Civil Rights
      • Chpt 6 Civic Resp. & Civic Duty
      • Chpt 7 American Political Ideologies & Beliefs
      • Chpt 8 Spec Interest
      • Chpt 9 - EOC Economics
      • Chapter 10 Elections
    • 4th Hour Gov't >
      • Introduction
      • Chapter 1 - Ideals of Democracy
    • DC American History >
      • DC Unit 1 - Exploration/Colonization
      • Unit 2 - English Colonies
      • Unit 3 - F & I War To Revolution
      • Unit 4 - The Early Republic
      • Unit 5 - Age of Jackson
      • Unit 6 - Religion, Romanticism, & Reform
      • Unit 7 Westward Expansion
      • Unit 8 The Gathering Storm
      • Unit 9 The Civil War
      • Unit 10 - Reconstruction
      • Unit 11 The Industrial Era
      • Unit 12 - The New South and New West
      • Unit 13 - Imperialism & Reform
      • Unit 14 - WWI & the 1920s
      • Unit 15 - The Great Depression
      • Unit 16 WWII
      • Unit 17 - The Cold War & 1950s
      • Unit 18 The Vietnam Era
      • 2nd Semester Final