Thirty-eighth Regiment, Enrolled Missouri Militia

Marion county was represented in two regiments of the enrolled militia, the 38th, Col. Hayward, and the 53d, Col. 0, C. Tinker, of Ralls county. At first, all of the companies from this county but Capt. Drane’s company were in the 38th regiment, which one called “the Railroad Brigade,” because nearly all of the members of the first five companies were in the employ of the Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad. In about a month after the organization of the 38th two of its companies, C and D, were transferred to the 53d. The following, is a partial roster of both regiments, showing the companies from Marion county:

Companies D and E ofthe 38th were transferred to the 53d. Company F was from Macon county, Company G from Linn, Company H from Clinton, Company I from Buchanan. The regiment Was Chiefly employed in guarding and escorting the trains and other property of Hannibal & St. Joseph railroad. Only the Marion companies and the company (G) from Linn ever did any duty worth mentioning never, or rarely, parading or mustering under arms. All, or nearly all, received pay, however.

The 53d was on duty chiefly in Ralls, Monroe, and Marion counties, and some of the companies did considerable scouting and other service.

All of the fall and winter of 1862 the able-bodied citizens of the county, over 18 and under 45, were being enrolled into the E. M. M.

P. C. Lane, at Palmyra, was at first appointed enrolling officer for this county, and he had assistants in the various townships. There was considerable dissatisfaction at this enrollment among the Confederate sympathizers, and those who could escape by the payment of money or otherwise, did so. But the enrolling went on all the same. General McNeil instructed the officers to examine the poll books of the November election and be sure to enroll each able-bodied voter whose name was there recorded.

When Mr. Lane left the county for Jefferson City to claim his seat in the Legislature, Captain W. W. Lair was appointed enrolling officer for this county. He adopted a vigorous policy. On December 24 he issued an order, one paragraph of which read:

All persons subject to military duty according, to the militia laws of the State of Missouri, failing to report for enrollment as commanded by order of Colonel Lane (Nov. 17, 1862), by January 1, 1863, will be arrested and cast into prison, there to remain until they pay a fine of $10 each and duly enroll themselves.

The enrolled militia were liable to be called out at a moment’s warning, each man bringing his horse with him if necessary. Arms were furnished by the United States; uniforms and pay were by the State, the militia-men being, paid only for the actual time they were in service. Allowances were made for the use of horses, equipment, etc.

At first the enrolled militia of this district, when in the field, were subsisted on the country, and assessments were made on the people for their pay and support. Many outrages resulted and there was a great hardship on the county.