The U. S. Government designation of this 90-day Union unit was "Benton County Home Guards, Missouri Volunteers." However, their original discharge certificates, not distributed until 1864-65, read: "German Regiment, Missouri Volunteers" and 95% were either German-born or descendants. Some 200 Morgan County men were included, and many from Pettis County also. When federal pensions were authorized in 1890, surviving veterans or their widows were eligible, and the pension files often provide genealogical data. The index to Union Civil War Pension Applications indicates many of the surviving vets and widows applied. It also includes some applications that were disapproved because the individuals were not found on the unit's rolls, several because the pension board misread the handwritten German names, or a different spelling was used. Those who applied are indicated on the rosters, but some who reenlisted included only their later units on the application for pension. In those cases, another unit has been listed following the pension date for reference.
The Battle of Cole Camp took place dawn of 19 June 1861, just six days after they were mustered in, while they were billeted in neighboring barns east of Cole Camp. Many were killed and wounded, but the numbers claimed varied widely. Some unknown casualties are reportedly buried at Union Cemetery southwest of Cole Camp, and a marker at Monsees Cemetery south of the battle site honors seventeen unknown buried there. Others were taken to their farm sites for burial Confederate casualties were returned to the Warsaw area. Some names listed by the Adjutant General as killed or died appear on the 1890 Union Veterans censuses, so either they survived or there were other individuals with same names who were not recorded on the rolls. One source claims as many as nine hundred men were sworn in on 11th and 12th of June 1861. However although over 600 are listed on muster rolls, an Adjutant General's report of 31 Dec 1865 listed only 526:
There is data suggesting that some may have transferred to units elsewhere after
the battle at Cole Camp.
A passage in the 1881 History of Lafayette County regarding Union forces at Lexington July 1861 relates:
A few names listed only in published battle accounts and veterans' memoirs have also been added.
(If you can identify the unknowns, or have information to supplement or correct what's listed, please write)
Shown also are John Schlüsing's discharge certificate from the "German Regiment" and the replacement certificate for Peter Ficken that was provided to his widow by the Missouri State Adjutant General
in 1893.
(Note that John's name was misspelled "Schliesing" and the Cole Camp battle date listed in error as 1862)
1890 Census of Union Veterans and Widows: Data for veterans residing in rural Williams Township was the most complete, but some who reenlisted recorded only their last unit and dates (link below).
Many of the Home Guards veterans from the Cole Camp area later enlisted in other Union Army units, and a list of some who served in Company C, Fifth Cavalry, Missouri State Militia circa 1862-1865 is included.
"Bitter Times" relates a pastor's record of the battle, and incidents during the lawless years that followed.
Additional Note: Cole Camp native and resident Bob Owens a descendant of the Eding and Boerger families, has studied the battle site and details in depth, and welcomes related correspondence. The Almost Forgotten Battle
- Home Guards Roster -
Discharge Certificate Replacement Certificate
