After reading this I guess my ancestors were quite fortunate. They were southern sympathizers and had an underground corral for the Confederate soldiers. At least this is the story handed down in our ancestory. My great great grandfather served as a legislator in Missouri in the 1830's and according to a map I have was the largest land owner in Fishing River Township, Ray County. Does stories of history intrigue us. Sort of like being there and hearing the hoofs of horses or the sounds of cannons and see the colors in the skies of homes burning. Thrills me to no end. Send more historical stories please. In a message dated 1/4/2009 11:34:42 A.M. Central Standard Time, VanetteHobbs@aol.com writes: According to the book, History of Jackson County Missouri, by W. Z. Hickman, her home (this refers to Laura Harris Flanery, wife of Martin Van Buren Flanery, a Confederate) near Lee's Summit was burned February 28, 1863 by the "White Rags." When Order No. 11 was issued in 1863 she and her sister Mrs. Julia Irwin, with their children accompanied by 63 other families of the neighborhood left for Texas in 23 wagons. At Clinton their horses were confiscated by Federal troops so they procured oxen. Mrs. Laura Flannery, then 25, walked and drove the oxen the entire distance through Arkansas, Louisiana and up the Arkansas River valley to Boggy Depot and on into Texas, traveling a distance of over 1000 miles to Tarrant County. Sometime after Martin was killed in Texas, Laura returned to Independence and married Joseph Powell Bridges. Their daughter, Sarah Lillian "Lillie" Bridges, married William Rinker Randall. Their only child was William Joseph Randall, better known for six terms as Judge Bill Randall and later yet, as U. S. Representative Randall for nine terms. He is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in Independence a short distance south of the entrance gate. His stone is a very modest flat stone inscribed "Wm. J. Randall" then in small letters "U.S. Representative in Congress 3 March 1959- 3 January 1977" and in larger numbers "16 July 1909 - 7 July 2000." The Masonic emblem is in the lower left corner and the Shrine emblem in the lower right. Full text of Order No. 11, issued Tuesday, 25 August 1863 1st. All persons living in Jackson, Cass, and Bates counties Missouri, and in that part of Vernon included in this district, except those living within one mile of the limits of Independence, Hickman's Mill, Pleasant Hill, and Harrisonville, and except those living north of Brush Creek and west of the Big Blue, are hereby ordered to remove from their present places of residence within fifteen days from the date hereof. Those, who within that time, establish their loyalty to the satisfaction of the commanding officer of the military station nearest their present places of residence, will receive from him certificates stating the fact of their loyalty, and the names of the witnesses by whom it can be shown. All who receive such certificates will be permitted to remove to any part of the state of Kansas, except the counties on the eastern border of the state. All others shall move out of this district. Officers commanding companies and detachments serving in the counties named will see that this paragraph is promptly obeyed. 2nd. All grain or hay in the field or under shelter, in the district from which the inhabitants are required to remove, in reach of military stations, after the ninth day of September next, will be taken to such stations and turned over to the proper officers there, and report of the amount so turned over made to the district headquarters, specifying the names of all loyal owners, and the amount of such produce taken from them. All grain and hay found in such district after the ninth of September next, not convenient to such stations, will be destroyed. 3rd. The provisions of general Order No. 10, from these headquarters, will be vigorously executed by officers commanding in parts of the district and at the stations not subject to the operations of paragraph first of this order, and especially in the towns of Independence, Westport, and Kansas City. 4th. Paragraph No. 3, Order No. 10, is revoked as to all who have borne arms against the Government in this district since the twentieth of August, 1863. By order of Brigadier-General Ewing. /s/ H. Hannah, Adjutant **************New year...new news. Be the first to know what is making headlines. (http://www.aol.com/?ncid=emlcntaolcom00000026)