John A. Poindexter (October 12, 1825 – April 14, 1869) was a

colonel Colonel ( ; abbreviated as Col., Col, or COL) is a senior military Officer (armed forces), officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, a colon ...

in the

Confederate Army The Confederate States Army (CSA), also called the Confederate army or the Southern army, was the military land force of the Confederate States of America (commonly referred to as the Confederacy) during the American Civil War (1861–1865), fi ...

during the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and the Confederate States of A ...

. He and Joseph C. Porter were the primary recruiting commanders in northern

Missouri Missouri (''see #Etymology and pronunciation, pronunciation'') is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. Ranking List of U.S. states and territories by area, 21st in land area, it border ...

during 1862.

Early life and career

Poindexter was born in

Montgomery County, Kentucky Montgomery County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 28,114. Its county seat is Mount Sterling. With regard to the sale of alcohol, it is classified as a moist county—a county in whi ...

, to David and Elizabeth (Watts) Poindexter. He married in Kentucky to Melissa Lucas, who died a few years after the birth of their daughter Mary E. Poindexter (1849–1935). He married again in 1857 to Martha K. "Mattie" Hayes (b. about 1840). The 1860 census lists him as a prosperous merchant in

Scott County, Kentucky Scott County is a county located in the central part of the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 57,155. Scott County is part of the Lexington-Fayette, Kentucky Metropolitan Statistical Area. Its county seat and ...

Descendants

Following the war, his sons Thomas A. Poindexter (1867–1936) and Smith A. Poindexter (1868–1953) were born. Following his death on 14 April 1869, his daughter Mary E. Poindexter married on 12 September 1869 to Andrew J. Hayes (Sep 1846 - 22 Sep 1931), son of Samuel A. Hayes and Jane W. Cloyd.

Civil War

Living in Missouri when the Civil War, Poindexter was commissioned in June 1861 as

captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader or highest rank officer of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police depa ...

of Company A, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Division of the

Missouri State Guard The Missouri State Guard (MSG) was a military force established by the Missouri General Assembly on May 11, 1861. While not a formation of the Confederate States Army, the Missouri State Guard fought alongside Confederate troops and, at variou ...

. He and his men stopped a train in August, seizing federal money. He served at the

Siege of Lexington A siege () . is a military blockade of a city, or fortress, with the intent of conquering by attrition, or by well-prepared assault. Siege warfare (also called siegecrafts or poliorcetics) is a form of constant, low-intensity conflict characte ...

in command of several independent companies. Following the battle he was elected

of the 5th Infantry Regiment, Third Division of the Missouri State Guard on September 24, 1861. While recruiting in

Howard County, Missouri Howard County is located in the U.S. state of Missouri, with its southern border formed by the Missouri River. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 10,151. Its county seat is Fayette, Missouri, Fayette. Settled o ...

, Poindexter and his regiment were surprised and defeated on January 7, 1862, at the Battle of Roan's Tan Yard, scattering his command. Poindexter commanded of a consolidated remnant of the 4th and 5th Cavalry regiments of the Missouri State Guard at the

Battle of Pea Ridge The Battle of Pea Ridge (March 7–8, 1862), also known as the Battle of Elkhorn Tavern, took place during the American Civil War near Leetown, Arkansas, Leetown, northeast of Fayetteville, Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas. United States, Feder ...

, where he was slightly wounded. Following the Confederate defeat, Poindexter resumed recruiting in North Missouri, while Porter recruited in Northeastern Missouri. Poindexter gained recruits, but thereafter was not very successful. After Odon Guitar struck a blow against Porter at Moore's Mill, he turned his attention to Poindexter. In August, Guitar's forces overran and completely scattered Poindexter's green recruits at the

Battle of Compton's Ferry The Battle of Compton's Ferry, also known as Little Compton Ferry, was an action during the American Civil War, occurring along the Grand River in southwest Livingston County, Missouri. The battle lasted from August 10 to August 13, 1862. Batt ...

and a subsequent fight at the Battle of Yellow Creek. Seriously wounded, Poindexter was captured on September 1. He would never again serve the Confederacy.

Post-capture and death

Following his capture, Poindexter was held while Union authorities considered trying and executing him as a

guerrilla Guerrilla warfare is a form of unconventional warfare in which small groups of irregular military, such as rebels, Partisan (military), partisans, paramilitary personnel or armed civilians, which may include Children in the military, recruite ...

either by military tribunal or in a civilian court.

SAINT LOUIS, MO., September 9, 1862. Brig. Gen. LEWIS MERRILL: I think Poindexter had better be tried by military commission. I believe I can secure the execution of a sentence. J. M. SCHOFIELD, Brigadier-General.

Trans-Mississippi commander

Thomas C. Hindman Thomas Carmichael Hindman Jr. (January 28, 1828September 28, 1868) was an American lawyer, politician, and a senior officer of the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. Born in Knoxville, Tennessee, he later moved to Mississip ...

attempted to intervene pointing out that Poindexter was a CSA officer.

James Totten James Totten (September 11, 1818 – October 1, 1871) was a career American soldier who served in the United States Army and retired from active service in 1870 as the Assistant Inspector General. He served as an officer in the Union Army and Mis ...

replied:

I understand the facts to be that when arrested he was in citizen's garb, at a private house, and within our lines. If so, he is by the laws of war a spy and should be treated accordingly.

However, Poindexter eventually publicly disavowed guerrilla warfare and was paroled to his home for the remainder of the war under a bond of $10,000.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE MISSOURI, Saint Louis, Mo., June 15, 1864. General FISK, Saint Joseph, Mo.: I have seen Poindexter, of Randolph, who is under bonds, and written him a note to use his influence in favor of law and order among the rebel sympathizers. Keep the secret and give needful orders to secure him from molestation or outrage. He will do good. W. S. ROSECRANS, Major-General.''The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies'', Series I, Volume 64, page 397.

During August 1864, Poindexter was forced to leave his home fearing both the wrath of Unionists who considered him a

bushwacker Bushwhacker, Bushwhacking was a form of guerrilla warfare during the American Revolutionary War, War of 1812, and American Civil War. Bushwhacker(s), Bushwacker(s), or Bushwhacking may also refer to: * Bushwacker (bull), #13/6, hall of fame bucki ...

and Southern sympathizers who considered him a traitor. He sought the protection of Union authorities from both threats. His health never recovered from his earlier wounds and imprisonment and he died April 14, 1869. He is interred at Antioch Cemetery near

Moberly, Missouri Moberly is a city in Randolph County, Missouri, United States. The population was 13,783 as of the 2020 census. It is part of the Columbia metropolitan area and the 9-county Columbia–Jefferson City–Moberly combined statistical area that h ...

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Poindexter, John 1825 births 1869 deaths People of Missouri in the American Civil War Confederate States Army officers Missouri State Guard People from Montgomery County, Kentucky