HISTORY TO BE REVISITED IN CAPE AREA THIS WEEK

An inpour of strangers darkened the Cape Girardeau countryside 128 years ago this weekend. The sound of firearms and cannon could be heard in the western fringe of the river city from early morning until late in the afternoon as soldiers in the Northern and Southern armies pitted their marksmanship in the Battle of Cape Girardeau on April 26, 1963.

Both Jackson and Cape Girardeau were pro Union, although Jackson was the home of a Confederate general, Nathaniel Watkins. But by the time of the battle the general had relocated his family to Arkansas for safety because he feared Union Scouts would burn his home.

There was also a price on the Union general, John H. McNeil's head, in Cape Girardeau, since he was the commander of Camp Fremont and the four forts, A, B, C and D, that guarded the city. Gen. McNeil's prompt execution of rebel guerrilla bans in Missouri and the facts that the Cape forts were not heavily manned made him aware of his personal safety as much as was General John S. Marmaduke of the Confederate Army in Missouri, who was leading a large force of southern soldiers against Gen. McNeil's Camp Fremont, assisted by Gen. Joe Shelby.

By Friday, April 24, one of Gen. Marmaduke's scouts brought the news of the southern general's plans for attacking Cape Girardeau that weekend unless Gen. McNeil agreed to surrender. The answer was a firm, "No surrender." The battle took place but lasted only from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Union army of 2,000 suffered a small loss of life, but the Confederate loss was substantial.

The Battle of Cape Girardeau was not a major conflict but it marked the end of future battles in Southeast Missouri. The Civil War ended less than a year later, April 9, 1865.

On the 128th anniversary of the Battle of Cape Girardeau tourists are touring again the Southeast Missouri area to see, learn and appreciate the landmarks in a 131-mile scenic drive through the towns that comprise this historic section of Missouri. The event is called "Mississippi River Valley Scenic Drive" and is sponsored and coordinated by the Center for Regional History and Cultural Heritage at Southeast Missouri State University. Dr. Frank Nickell, director of the center, is coordinating the event.

This is the second year of this promotional event, which has been enlarged and extended, and is promoted in St. Louis and Memphis as well as in publications and on radio and television in other cities. Areas of interest along the route will be indicated by guide markers that will eventually become permanent. Booklets containing information about the area will be distributed to visitors as they exit I-55 at Biehle and Cape Girardeau, and at Marble Hill.

There will be many interesting things to see and even displays and concession stands to visit. It will be a fun as well as a learning event that will increase participants' knowledge of the interesting things that have taken place and continue to occur on our doorstep, as our history expands daily.

Jackson, the county seat of Cape Girardeau since 1814, and named for Gen. Andrew Jackson, the seventh president of the United States, has several landmarks of special interest to visitors.

The city cemetery was once a cornfield that belonged to George Ferguson. He died in 1858 and left the property to his wife, Sarah Ann McGuire Ferguson, and their only child, Bernard, who sold the land to the city of Jackson March 26, 1873.

Mrs. Ferguson later married Dr. David T. Pace, and her son, Bernard, married Connie Petermann, and they were all included in the transaction. Bernard installed the first long-distance telephone line in Missouri between Jackson and Cape Dec. 18, 1877.

The cemetery is the final resting place of many important forefathers of Cape Girardeau County. The entrance marker erected at Jackson's first Homecomers Sept. 25, 1908, by the local U.D.C. and the Chamber of Commerce is for Confederate Col. W.L. Jeffers of the Civil War.

The Ferguson home, 224 W. Adams, was sold in 1881 by Dr. and Mrs. Pace to state senator R.B. Oliver and wife, Marie Watkins Oliver, who retained the property until 1919. Mrs. Oliver was chairman of the committee who designed the state flag of Missouri, which was made after the Olivers moved to Cape Girardeau in 1893. The house was built before the Civil War and resided in in 1847 by a family named Cramer. It was on the underground railroad system to aid runaway slaves during the Civil War. The house is now restored and open to the public for a small charge.

Other places included on the scenic drive are Sedgewickville, Marble Hill, Patton, Trail of Tears State Park, Fruitland, Pocahontas, Biehle, Bollinger Mill at Burfordville, Jackson, Cape Girardeau, Altenburg, Frohna, the Black Forest, Tom Runnels' Cat Ranch, and the Apple Creek Presbyterian Church.

The tour is exceptional and is free.