Camp Bliss Spring from Cassville Missouri in the Civil War
A favored camping place close beside the Old Wire Road was what is known as Camp Bliss Spring north of McDowell. In early times water flowed out through a pool at the foot of a limestone bluff. It is said many unsuccessful efforts were made to plumb its depth. Soldiers who camped there during the Civil War chiseled the name Camp Bliss on the bluff in letters six or seven inches high. If cold, clear, running water meant bliss to sick and weary soldiers or travelers on that road, then it was well named. Many a barrel of water was hauled from it, too, by local residents and in time of severe drought such as 1901 and 1934 and 1936 it saved the lives of countless head of livestock.
In recent years local users of the water thought it advisable to bulldoze a bank of earth and gravel against the bluff to prevent the run-off in the road ditch from muddying and polluting the spring. The carved letters are no longer visible and the beauty is gone forever. A sluggish stream choked with watercress seeps away from it now.
This story taken from Early Barry County History: by Addah Longley Matthews. Other stories abound among local residents and should be recorded for posterity for such an important spring located in a valley where many soldiers ended their tour of duty. Found in a book at the Western Manuscript Collection, Rolla, provided by John Bradbury and Mark Stauter was found the following story in the Fremont Rifles, by Michael Mullin. January 8, 1863 General Marmaduke attacked the supply depot at Springfield, Missouri that was commanded by General E. Brown. General Schofield ordered the 37th Illinois to march towards Missouri from Huntsville, Arkansas. They camped the last part of January, 4 miles south of Keetsville, the campsite designated Camp Sigel (Formerly thought to be Camp Harbin). Three days later they moved to Flat Creek near Cassville and on the 30th relocated eight miles further north up the stream to a campsite near Three Widows, a tavern frequented by members of the 3ih the previous summer. The Camp was designated Camp Schofield. The regiment remained at this location until February 12, when it moved north another three miles, "camping near a beautiful spring with water". The Illinois Greyhounds were so impressed with the peaceful solitude of the area that the site was named Camp Bliss. Many happenings occurred here or nearby during the war. On the morning of March 1, 1863 the Illinois Greyhounds left Camp Bliss and marched 15 miles to the McCullah Spring in Stone County. Then on to Springfield on the old telegraph road. |
