LAMAR, BARTON CO., MO.

Quantrill going South:
After a successful summer of raiding in Jackson, Johnson and surrounding counties, Quantrill and his men were on the march south to spend the winter in Texas when they fell in with Colonel Warner Lewis of the Missouri State Guard. On November 5, 1863, at 10:00 P.M., Col. William Quantrill and Col. Warner Lewis led their 300+ Confederate guerrillas into the town of Lamar. Quantrill's men entered Lamar from the north and Lewis's men from the south. They were after the Union outpost located there. They rode down the streets to the courthouse where they encountered Union soldiers. Capt. Martin Breeden and a company of the 8th Missouri Cavalry knew of the raid and were waiting for the Confederates. A firefight ensued for 1 1/2 hours. The Confederates were forced out of town but not before setting 1/3 of the town's houses of fire and losing 6 killed & over 20 wounded.
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Quantrill going back North:
May 20, 1864, after spending the winter in Texas as they had the previous year, Quantrill, along with Todd, and his men were headed back to northern Missouri. When they passed through Lamar, Quantrill decided to try to exact some revenge for the failed attack a year and a half earlier. A rumor had circulated that the band planned to attack Neosho and had caused removal of most of a company of Union soldiers stationed at Lamar to Newton County.  A small contingent of the 7th Mo. Provisional Cavalry remained at Lamar.  They numbered about 40, some of whom were Lamar residents and were quartered in their own homes.  At dawn, while the men of the garrison were having breakfast or feeding their horses, all, including the commander Lt. George N. Adler, at ease, Quantrill attacked.  The Union troopers scattered in all directions.  Those who could reach their horses fled to Ft. Scott or Greenfield, while others found hiding places in the timber along Muddy Creek.  One man was shot while attempting escape.  Only nine of the cavalrymen reached their rifles which were stacked in the center of the square behind the walls of the gutted courthouse.  Their ranking officer was Orderly Sgt. Jeff Cavender. The guerrillas charged the courthouse, which was now just a burned-out shell. but the small detachment of Union militia guarding the fortress repelled the assault with a well-aimed volley of fire.  After the first volley, Quantrill called for surrender of the garrison.  A Sgt. Montgomery went out to parley with the raiders while his comrades reloaded their guns.  He refused surrender. The guerrillas dropped back to regroup and then launched another attack. It, too, was turned away, but Quantrill and his men weren't easily dissuaded. In short order, they launched yet a third assault. When it, too, was repelled, the guerrillas finally gave up and continued their journey north.
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The Official Military Reports:
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MAY 20, 1864. Skirmish at Lamar, Mo.
REPORTS.
No. 1. Brig. Gen. John B. Sanborn, U. S. Army, commanding District of South west Missouri.
No. 2. Col. Charles W. Blair, Fourteenth Kansas Cavalry, commanding brigade.
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No. 1.
Report of Brig. Gen. John B. Sanborn, U. S. Army, commanding
District of Southwest Missouri.
SPRINGFIELD. Mo., May 21, 1864.
Lamar was attacked by 100 rebels about daylight yesterday morning, who were repulsed by our troops with the loss to us of a few horses killed only. Enemys loss not reported. This is no doubt the same force that passed through Granby the night of the 18th instant. There are quite a number of rebel troops north of the Arkansas River, and they are constantly moving north in bodies of from 50 to 125. It seems utterly impossible with my reduced stock to intercept them or bring them to an engagement ; still I will keep trying. No attack was made on Neosho, and the troops there pursued this force north until their horses gave out.
JOHN B. SANBORN,
Brigadier- General, Commanding.
Maj. O. D. GREENE.
Assistant Adjutant- General, Saint Louis.
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No. 2.
Reports of Col. Charles W. Blair, Fourteenth Kansas Cavalry, com
manding brigade.
FORT SCOTT, KANS., May 20, 1864 10.30 a. m.
This a. m. at 4 o clock the rebels attacked Lamar. Mo. , 40 miles frem here, and took the place, it being garrisoned by about 25 State militia and the same number of citizens. My orderly and one of my scouts were just outside of town in the edge of the woods, saw the fight, which lasted less than five minutes, and then started for here.
As far as they could hear anything, they heard firing in the town, supposed to be the rebels murdering the soldiers and citizens. The officer at Lamar, in the night, last night received a dispatch from the commanding officer at Newtonia, Mo., 80 miles from here, that at that place they had fought Marmaduke and 500 men all day yesterday, and asking help. In five minutes two companies will be on the road from here to see about the matter. I will keep you advised.
CHAS. W. BLAIR,
Colonel, Commanding First Brigade.
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Brig. Gen. T. J. McKEAN.
FORT SCOTT, May 20, 1864.
I neglected to add to my former dispatch I do not believe it is Marmaduke who is at Newtonia, but if it is, the 500 men are only his advance, as he is not likely to move with less than 5,000 or 6,000.
CHAS. W. BLAIR.
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General McKEAN.
FORT SCOTT, May 21, 1864.
It was Adair that attacked Lamar, and after they got clear into the town, the militia rallied and drove them out at 10:30. My troops and the militia are still in pursuit south of that place. Nothing further heard from Newtonia.
CHAS. W. BLAIR,
Colonel, &c.
General McKEAN.
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MAY 28, 1864. Destruction of Lamar, Mo.
Report of Mr. Nathan Bray.
MOUNT VERNON, Mo., May 30, 1864.
RESPECTED SIR : I have the honor to inform you that the town of Lamar is in ashes. The bushwhackers under Taylor, Marchbanks & Co. entered the town at 2 o clock on the morning of the 28th instant and burnt nearly every house in the place, together with most of the household goods, &c. All the books and records of the county
were again burnt. The women and children were sitting outdoors trying to take care of what they saved until help could be sent. I tried to get some assistance at Carthage, but Captain Walker could spare no men, so I came here, but find the colonel absent. I do not know what the loyal citizens of that place have done that has subjected them to such treatment from the military. We were promised better things; but alas, again we find ourselves the victims of mistaken confidence. I care not for the amount of property destroyed ; the great damage done is that the county cannot again feel organized in two years. The people will be compelled to go to Kansas or else where where they can have the protection that loyal citizens deserve. I am happy to hear that you condemned the moving of the troops
from the town. I hope, general, you will see this matter investigated.
Hoping to hear from you soon, I am, general, with high regard,
your obedient servant,
NATHAN BRAY.
Brigadier-General SANBORN,
Commanding District Southwest Missouri.
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Note: Taylor and Marchbanks were Guerrrillas from Vernon County (jrbakerjr).