The sesquicentennial Civil War ceremony for the “Skirmish at Ashley” is 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 25, at the Mount Olive Baptist Church on Highway VV near the Texas County line and four miles west of Montauk at what was then called Stephenson Mill.
Nathanial Stephenson’s Mill is referenced in official Civil War records, histories and newspapers. At Stephenson Mill, a fort was built about 1863 where Union soldiers were stationed. It was burned in 1865 on the Current River at what is now Montauk State Park. Stephenson Mill was located about half way between the “Skirmish of Inman Hollow” and the “Skirmish at Ashley.” The present day Montauk Mill replaced the Stephenson Mill in 1895.
Mount Olive Baptist Church is about a mile northeast from Ashley Creek and Ashley Cave, locally known at the Salt Peter Cave, in the southwest corner of Dent County (with Texas County), where William Ashley mined the mineral for his ammunitions plant in the Potosi/Caledonia area. Ashley was Missouri’s first lieutenant governor. Texas County replaced what was earlier called Ashley County.
The actual “Skirmish at Ashley” took place Aug. 28, 1862.
The event is sponsored by the Missouri Folk Arts Program and the Dent County Historical Society. Mount Olive Baptist Church is hosting the event.
Col. Michael Roderman, commanding officer of the Missouri 2nd Artillery Confederate States, and a three-term president of the Missouri Civil War Re-enactors’ Association and a member of the Sterling Price Camp 145, SCV, a master Mason and vice president of the Friends of Fort Davidson will display a 2,300-pound cannon that can fire a 10-pound shot during the reenactment part of the program.
Those attending are encouraged to bring lawn chairs — if the Dent County burn ban has been lifted — to watch a small Civil War reenactment lead by Roderman and Officer Garrett Gable of the Missouri 2nd Artillery Confederate States. An encampment is also planned the night before the ceremony if the reenactment can be held.
After the ceremony and skirmish, Nichols will show his documentary movie: Civil War in the Ozarks: Battle for Dent County.
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Directions to Mount Olive Baptist Church from Salem is to take Highway 19 South four miles and turn right on Highway K five miles and turn right on Highway E and go about five miles and turn left on Highway 119 and go about four miles and turn right on Highway VV before entering Montauk State Park and go about 4 miles on Highway VV. The church is just before you get to the Texas County line. The church is between Montauk State Park and Licking.
For more information, contact Garrett Gable at 573-201-8840 or Deloris Gray Wood, chairman of the events and president of the Dent County Historical Society, at 573-729-2545.