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  During the Civil War, Osage City, Missouri, was strategically important due to its location on the Osage River, which was home to the largest railroad bridge in Missouri and a key part of Jefferson City's defenses. Osage City was situated at the confluence of the Missouri and Osage Rivers, making it a vital point for transportation and communication. The Osage River Railroad Bridge: The six-span, 1,122-foot-long bridge at Osage City was the largest railroad structure in Missouri and a critical part of Jefferson City's outer defense line.  Pacific Railroad Bridge Crossing Osage River at Osage City - 1924 Confederate Activity: A portion of Shelby's Iron Brigade, under Col. David Shanks, was sent to capture or destroy the bridge. Union Efforts: Union troops from St. Louis marched towards the Osage River, aiming to attack Confederate forces there and coordinate with the troops in Jefferson City. On the 3d the rebels held Hermann, an important German settlement on the river, where they captured a train and three locomotives. Colonel Chester Harding, Jr., 43d Missouri Infantry Volunteers, with four hundred men, left St. Joseph on the 4th, on the steamer West Wind, with the intention of proceeding to Jefferson City. General Curtis hoped the rebels might still be checked at the Gasconade and Osage Rivers, and to this end counselled General Brown, at the capital of Missouri, to burn the bridges on those streams. Union troops from St. Louis marched in a leisurely manner considering the imminent peril ahead, and the obvious advantage to be gained by attacking the rebels at or near the Osage River, where the force in Jefferson City could cooperate. On Oct. 5, the Union forces command at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas was advised that the rebel forces under Gen. Price have made a further advance westward, crossing the Gasconade, and are now at the railroad bridge on the Osage, about fifteen miles below Jefferson City. The 7th and 8th of October passed. Sharp fighting was reported by General Fisk in front of Jefferson City ; our forces withdrawing to the trenches. The telegraph lines between Sedalia and Lexington were cut on the evening of the 8th, the guerilla Anderson having been reported the previous day at Lexington, with five hundred men. On the 7th of October, Major Samuel S. Curtis, 2d Colorado Cavalry, A. D. C. to General Curtis, took possession of the steamer Benton for Government purposes. Three Companies of the 43rd Infantry Missouri Volunteers, under Major Davis, were on board. Three more companies were on the steamer West Wind, Colonel Chester Harding being in command. Major Curtis was directed to proceed with them to Jefferson City. The following are excerpts from"Shelby and His Men" From the town of Union, Shelby's division again led the advance, stormed Linn and captured its garrison of three hundred and seventy-two Federals, scouted the country for miles around, and struck terror into the Dutch and militia, surprised almost into idiocy. From Linn, Colonel Shanks was sent with the old brigade to destroy the gigantic bridge over the Osage river, which he did in fine style, dispersed and put to the sword its defenders, fired the wood-work, and beat the blind old piers prone into the water. Then coming swiftly back he reunited at Westphalia with Shelby, who had taken the town, driven out its garrison of one regiment, and made many prisoners. General Price coming slowly on — too slowly, alas ! for the nature and success of the expedition — ordered Shelby to force a passage of the Osage and drive in all outlying detachments into Jefferson City. |
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