23
James Spencer, 76th Enrolled Missouri Militia
October 1864 to February 1865
The last we had heard of James Spencer was at the beginning of 1863. He and his brother William had served in the Militia at Bower’s Mill, Jasper County, from November 1862 until probably March. At that time William was captured by the Confederates and released from U.S. service.
We don’t have any more information on William and don’t know what happened to him. The record is also a complete blank on James during most of 1863 and 1864. He was released from active service sometime during that period, but we don’t know exactly when. That was the normal practice, as the militia was activated only when needed throughout the war. James was called back into active duty for a second period near the end of 1864, probably in response to Price’s invasion of Missouri.
As we saw in earlier sections on the Vinings, southwest Missouri was relatively quiet from October 1863 to September 1864 – most of the Confederate forces were drawn away to larger campaigns in Louisiana and Tennessee. They had returned by the middle of September, and Sterling Price began his final invasion of Missouri. After being defeated by Curtis and Blunt at the Battle of Westport on October 23, the Confederates headed south again, passing through Newtonia on the 28th.
The Missouri Militia was supposedly called out to help fight this invasion. There is no specific mention of the 76th Militia in the records, nor any record on James Spencer for this time, so we don’t know how, if at all, he might have been involved.
According to the muster roll, which is the only record we have, James was enrolled for a second time on October 31, 1864. This was certainly connected somehow with Price’s army passing through this area, although most all of the fighting was already over. James was brought into active service the same day, at Mt. Vernon, Missouri. This time he is listed at the rank of "2nd Sergeant." He is still in Company G, 76th Enrolled Missouri Militia. The company is now commanded by Captain Bowers, and the regiment is commanded by a General Holland.
James remained on active duty for about four months. They probably did not have much to do, since Missouri was quiet again after Price’s army was driven out – but probably the activation of the militia is part of the reason it did stay quiet. There were no more battles in this area for the rest of the war. The militia was used to chase down the few remaining guerillas and to guard against looting in the ruined areas of Jasper County.
James Spencer was finally discharged on February 28, 1865. Company G was dissolved on March 2.
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