Colonel Lindsey W. Murdoch
Col. Lindsey W. Murdoch (Southeast Missouri State University)
Lawson Monroe Bess, 12th Missouri State Militia Cavalry
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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.
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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.
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.
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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.
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Henry W Werth, Co. G, 12th Missouri State Militia Cavalry & 5th Missouri State Militia Cavalry.
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Samuel Parson Simpson, 12th Missouri State Militia Cavalry
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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.
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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).