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The other two columns of the Confederate Army led by Maj. Gen. Sterling Price (a former Missouri governor) were camped in and around Union. Those Confederates, estimated at 10,000, would head west from Union and meet the Washington column west of Hermann.
The Federal Enrolled Missouri Militia (EMM), under the command of Col. Daniel Q. Gale (Washington's first lawyer) had moved across the Missouri River. Outnumbered and outgunned, the Federal troops moved across the river to Warren County with anything that floated, thus depriving the Confederates of the ability to get north of the river. By avoiding battle, Col. Gale also kept Washington from suffering damage from cannon shelling and musket fire as well as the deaths that would have resulted from the conflict.
After burning the Washington railroad depot, and drinking (or dumping into Busch Creek) the beer from the Busch Brewery, the Confederates began plundering throughout the town. A log kept in German by the School Sisters of Notre Dame at St. Francis Borgia Parish says in part, " . . . the plundering began. Everything fit for their use was taken. Stores and shops were emptied. The most destruction and theft took place in the homes of those who had fled . . . Rev. Father Seisl was robbed of his watch and of his purse with its contents just as he left the church . . . "
A group of soldiers looted and damaged the store of Henry C. Eitzen. While this was occurring, Henry's wife Therese (nee Riefenstahl) and children, Emma (age 7), Rosa (age 5) and Henry (age 3), were in the Eitzen residence which was above the store. At one point, the soldiers came upstairs and entered the residence. One of the Confederate soldiers, name unknown, knew the Eitzen family and vouched for them and the soldiers left without bothering the family.
Among the possessions in the Eitzen residence at that time, were two cups with American flags painted on one side. Fortunately, someone had the foresight to turn the cups around in the cabinet so that the flags did not show. When the Confederate soldiers entered the residence, they could not see the flags that would have betrayed the family's Federal allegiance.
Henry Eitzen was not at home. He had been ordered into service the day before with the Union 54th Regiment of the EMM by Capt. Robert Reichard. Henry had served Federal military needs several times during the Civil War.
In June 1861 at the age of 34 he had enlisted for a term of three months with the Franklin County Militia State Reserve Corps as a sergeant under Capt. Francis Wilhelmi and Col. James W. Owens. In 1862 he was appointed by Maj. Gen. John Schofield as provost marshall of Franklin County. Henry resigned that post in July 1863.
In 1863 he was serving as lieutant colonel of the 54th EMM under Col. Daniel Gale until relieved of duty (along with Col. Gale) by the Missouri governor. (No reason was given for the removal, however both Eitzen and Gale were considered "radical" for wanting immediate emancipation, among other things, and they were not in agreement with the governor in regard to the lack of statewide elections.)
By the time the Confederates marched through Washington in 1864, Eitzen was serving as a private in Capt. Reichard's Company A of the 54th EMM.
Most of the Confederates left Washington before nightfall on Oct. 2, moving west and camping in the neighborhood of Newport before moving on into New Haven the next day. The last of the Confederates left Washington on the next day, Oct. 3.
The two cups that were turned around during the Confederate intrusion are still in the possession of Eitzen descendents. Two swords that belonged to Henry Eitzen are also in the possession of Eitzen descendents, and after a good cleaning, one was used in recent years to cut the wedding cake of Henry's great-granddaughter.
Henry Eitzen's store was located in the building that is on the southeast corner of Jefferson and Second streets (currently occupied by Wiemann and Pues Insurance). It was built in 1855 and the Eitzens were there until circa 1890.
Henry Eitzen was born May 30, 1827, in Bremen, Germany, and died Sept. 7, 1910, in Columbia, Mo. Henry, both of his wives (second wife was Mathilde Reichard sister of Robert Reichard), and most of his children are buried in Wildey's Odd Fellows Cemetery in Washington.
Artifacts to Share?
Anyone with information, pictures or material items from ancestors who were in Washington (or Franklin County) during the Civil War are encouraged to contact the Washington Historical Society.
The 150th anniversary of the start of the Civil War will be in 2011 and the Washington Historical Society would like to include local artifacts in a display at the museum. People can either donate or loan the items to the museum or allow a copy to be made.
Contact either Marc Houseman, museum director, at 636-239-0280, or Walt Larson, board member, at 636-239-0977.
