LINDSAY MURDOCH

Lyndsay Murdoch 

Grave of Lindsay Murdock 

Lyndsay Murdoch was a radical Unionist and immigrant from Scotland. As the story goes, Murdoch left Bollinger County Missouri fearing the wrath of Southern Sympathizers in the area and moved to nearby Cape Girardeau. The History of Southeast Missouri reports:

"In August, 1861, Gen. Fremont gave Lindsay Murdoch of Bollinger County, a commission as lieutenant colonel, with orders to recruit a battalion for the defense of Cape Girardeau. With the assistance of Maj. (Daniel) Abbey he raised four companies which were known as the Fremont Rangers. They were recruited mainly in Bollinger, Scott and Cape Girardeau counties, and were commanded by Capts. J.T. Burk, William P. Harris and Michael S. Eddlemon. From Aug. 4 to Dec. 25, 1861, the Rangers served without pay or clothing, and did nearly all the scouting in Southeast Missouri."

The account then records that of the Missouri State Militia, only one regiment, the 12th Cavalry, was organized in Southeast Missouri composed of eight companies. Co. A was organized at Cape Girardeau Feb. 10, 1862, with Col. Murdock as commanding officer."

The 12th Missouri State Militia was best known for the capture and execution of Captain Daniel McGee on his Uncle Simeon Cato's farm in the Mingo Swamp, Bollinger County. Simeon and his sister Tabitha were murdered along with several unarmed men that McGee had recruited for the Confederacy in February, 1863.

The 12th later became part of the 3'rd Missouri State Militia Cavalry, which murdered soldiers, men , women and children on Christmas Day, 1863 in Ripley County, Missouri. In fact , the 3'rd was plagued with officers known for numerous questionable behavior during the war.

Murdoch himself, was drummed out of the Army for payroll theft. Later in life he owned the Marble Hill Press newspaper which printed NONE of these exploits. As owner of the paper he was free to rewrite history and make himself a hero.

These and other stories can be found in "Blood in the Ozarks: Union War Crimes Against Southern Sympathizers and Civilians in Occupied Missouri"  along with much more information in the forthcoming "Blood in the Ozarks: Second Edition"