Hartville MO019

supportedunresolved Britton says Merrill learned from citizens of Porter's capture of the garrison and from prisoners that Marmaduke's combined force was in front, and that Marmaduke had word of a strong Federal cavalry force pursuing him. Marmaduke says that, hearing of a strong cavalry force in his rear, he chose not to fight between two forces.

Attributed knowledge from a history and an interested report; no original messages inspected.

supportedunresolved Britton says Merrill's infantry rode in four-mule government wagons, that the stampede of Porter's caisson horses left his battery without ammunition, and that Dunlap left Hartville for want of provisions. Marmaduke says the retreat crossed a country laid waste, with neither food for men nor horses, and that his horses were mostly unshod and very poor.

A history and an interested report; no supply return inspected.

supportedunresolved Britton says Merrill's column was ordered to reinforce Springfield, that Marmaduke marched around it to keep an open line of retreat south, and that Merrill, knowing his weakness, sought to make the Confederates attack him. Marmaduke says he turned the force in front after securing a safe line of retreat.

Stated aims from a history and an interested report.

disputedpost_outcome The frozen result reads Confederate victory and the live result Confederate Victory. Marmaduke says the enemy gave way and retreated in disorder, leaving dead, wounded and arms. Britton says most of Merrill's command retired on the Lebanon road, but Dunlap's regiment held its position until the Confederates retreated before sunset, leaving their dead and severely wounded. NPS says the Confederates compelled the Union to retreat but abandoned the raid.

Retain the original result and engagement interval; later movements and campaign contribution are different measures. No new probabilities or individual causal credit. The accounts conflict on which side left the field.

disputedpost_outcome The frozen casualty text reads 407 total (US 78; CS 329), as does the live field. Britton gives the Federal loss as 7 killed, 64 wounded, 5 prisoners and 2 missing, and Marmaduke's reported loss as 12 killed, 96 wounded and 3 missing. Marmaduke's January 18 dispatch gives 15 killed and 70 wounded, including MacDonald, Wimer and Kirtley. The Hartville garrison taken on January 9 is given by Britton as thirty-five militia and by Marmaduke as some 50. The expedition total and the No. 9 return are recorded under Springfield and not assigned here.

Original casualty returns were not inspected; preserve totals, categories, cutoffs and differences. No canonical reconciliation or casualty-based opening count; related actions must not be added without resolving population overlap. The frozen CS 329 has no inspected basis.

supportedunresolved Britton says Warren could not accompany the column and put Colonel Merrill in command, that Shelby's and then Porter's brigades attacked, Porter being wounded, and that Dunlap's regiment held the field after the rest of Merrill's command had retired. Marmaduke calls his opponent General Merrill. NPS names Merrill as commander of the Union column. The frozen commanders are Brigadier General John S. Marmaduke and Colonel Samuel Merrill; the live page lists Marmaduke without a rank.

Command roles from a history, an interested report and a summary; the listed commanders do not receive automatic sole credit. Marmaduke's 'General Merrill' differs from Britton's 'Colonel Merrill' and the frozen rank of Colonel.

unknownunresolved

No inspected return establishes matched personnel at a common opening boundary. Imported numerical estimates remain unchanged; this pass does not validate them as simultaneous opening forces.

disputedunresolved The frozen force field reads Detachment of infantry, cavalry, and artillery (approx. 700) [US], and the frozen US bound is 700; the live field reads 700 (US 700; CS 0). Britton says Merrill's column numbered about eight hundred, joined at Hartville by one hundred and eighty cavalry, that prisoners put the Confederates at five thousand, that eight hundred Federal muskets fired the first volley, and that Dunlap was left with his regiment of two hundred and fifty men. Marmaduke's January 18 dispatch gives the enemy as 1,500 infantry and 500 cavalry and Porter's column as 600; his February 1 report gives 2,500 Federal troops and Porter about 700 effective men.

March strengths, a prisoners' estimate and interested enemy estimates at different times. The frozen 700 has no inspected basis. None is adopted as a matched opening strength. The live CS zero is not measured absence.

supportedunresolved Britton says Merrill formed on the brow of a hill about two hundred yards northwest of the town, sheltered by small trees and underbrush, while Confederate sharpshooters used the houses and fences of the town. Marmaduke calls the Federal position very strong.

Ground from a history and an interested report; no map inspected. The Union line was taken up on arrival.