Cival War Battle

The Cival War Years were very difficult for the citizens and the town of Hartville.  On January 11, 1863, the scene in Hartville was a bitter, day-long fight, in which some 2,500 Confederates, under General John S. Marmaduke, encountered about 1,000 Federals from General Fitz Henry Warren's command. 

Colonel Joseph C. Porter led one column, comprising his Missouri Cavalry Brigade, out of Pocahontas, Arkansas, to assault Union posts in Hartville.

When he neared Hartville, on January 9, he sent a detachment forward to reconnoiter. It succeeded in capturing the small garrison and occupying the town. The same day, Porter moved on toward Marshfield.

On the 10th, some of Porter's men raided other Union installations in the area before catching up with Marmaduke's column east of Marshfield. Marmaduke had received reports of Union troops approaching to surround him and prepared for a confrontation. Colonel Samuel Merrill, commander of the approaching Union column, arrived in Hartville, discovered that the garrison had already surrendered and set out after the Confederates.

Marmaduke feared being cut off from his retreat route back to Arkansas so he pushed Merrill's force back to Hartville, where it established a defense line. Here, a four-hour battle ensued in which the Confederates suffered many casualties but compelled the Yankees to retreat.  

Victory was claimed by both sides, but Confederate loss was heavy.  Among colonels on Marmaduke's staff were Joseph O. Shelby and Joseph C. Porter who was mortally mounded.  In the battle, the courthouse and many other buildings and residences sustained extensive damage. 

Campaign: Marmaduke's First Expedition into Missouri (1862-63)

Date(s): January 9-11, 1863

Principal Commanders: Colonel Samuel Merrill [US]; Brigadier General John S. Marmaduke [CS]

Forces Engaged: Detachment of infantry, cavalry, and artillery (approx. 700) [US]; 4th Division, I Corps, Trans-Mississippi Department [CS]

Estimated Casualties: 407 total (US 78; CS 329)


Grovespring

On September 26, 1959, a tornado swept through the town and destroyed most of the business district.  Someone had seen it coming and sounded an alarm, so no major injuries occured.  The post office was blown away, but a plywood letter rack was left with letters still neatly in place. 

In 1965 Grovespring joined the Hartville R-2 school district and a new elementary school was built along Highway 5.