Battle of Hartville

On January 10, some of Porter's men raided other Union installations in the area before making contact with Marmaduke's column east of Marshfield.

Early on the morning of January 11 the approaching Confederates under Porter made contact with Merrill's scouts and skirmishing commenced.

Meanwhile, observing this movement, Merrill marched his force directly to Hartville where it took a strong defensive position on covered, high ground west of the courthouse.

A mistaken observation probably by Lt. Dick Collins on the bluff east of town reported a wagon train moving toward the Lebanon Road.

From the Union command's perspective they had repulsed Marmaduke's assaults inflicting heavy casualties, but the Federals had been forced to leave the field.

Additionally, the frontal assaults had resulted in the death or mortal wounding of several senior CSA officers including: brigade commander Col. Joseph C. Porter, Col. Emmett MacDonald, Lt. Col. John Wimer, and Major George R.

[9] The raid itself caused great disruption of Federal forces in the region and a number of small outposts had been overrun, destroyed, or abandoned.

Early morning arrival of the Union Forces down the Marshfield Road and the route of the supply train that continued north toward Lebanon. Merrill's troops were able to archive a 650 yard line of battle with no reserve.
Porters’ men come under fire after turning North on the road to Lebanon, from the 3rd Missouri and the 3rd Iowa with their sharps carbines and become disordered.
Map of Hartville Battlefield core and study areas by the American Battlefield Protection Program .
Major George R Kirtley Grave Marker in the Springfield National Cemetery
Major George R Kirtley Grave Marker in the Springfield National Cemetery