Confederate guerrillas attack Dr. Jaquillian M. Stemmons, an early settler, town leader and staunch Union man, organized a company of local men and neighbors in Avilla for the protection of their own homes from roaming bands of bushwhackers. In 1861 this town militia, also known as the "Avilla Home Guard", was one of the first in the area and consisted predominantly of the oldest citizens, as most of the younger men were leaving to join regular military forces. This action was strongly opposed by local secessionists, and it was even rumored that a price had been placed on the doctor's head. By March 1862, the town militia had been tipped off about an impending assault and General James G. Blunt at Fort Scott, Kansas, had pledged reinforcements, but they had not yet arrived. After nightfall on March 8, 1862, a group of over a hundred pro-Confederate guerrillas believed to have been led by William T. Anderson attacked northeast of Avilla, routed perimeter sentries and engaged defenders at Dr. Stemmon’s home. Defending were about twenty five town militiamen and some men from Carthage who were there attending a meeting about the organization of a county-wide patrol. A US Cavalry officer named Captain Tanner was also there recruiting men for the Union Army. The rebels surrounded the two-story log home and were met with heavy gunfire, but the doctor and three of his sons, Bud, Pole and Jimmie were trapped inside with many of the men. After numerous attempts to penetrate the defense, amidst flying buckshot and bullets, the attackers managed to ignite the cabin and it eventually burned to the ground. Dr. Stemmons and Lathan Duncan, an Avilla militiaman, were killed, several others shot and burned, and two were taken prisoner (the number of guerrilla casualties was not recorded). After the house was lost to flames, the heavily out-numbered militia withdrew and scattered in the darkness. They re-formed near the north edge of Avilla and braced for another onslaught, but it did not occur. The guerrilla force instead ended the attack and rode east toward Springfield, where the two elderly prisoners were later "given stern warnings to leave the state" and released.
Confederate guerrillas attack Dr Jaquillian M Stemmons an early settler town leader and staunch Union man organized a company of local men and neighbors in Avilla for the protection of their own homes from roaming bands of bushwhackers In 1861 this town militia also known as the "Avilla Home Guard" was one of the first in the area and consisted predominantly of the oldest citizens as most of the younger men were leaving to join regular military forces This action was strongly opposed by local secessionists and it was even rumored that a price had been placed on the doctor's head By March 1862 the town militia had been tipped off about an impending assault and General James G Blunt at Fort Scott Kansas had pledged reinforcements but they had not yet arrived After nightfall on March 8 1862 a group of over a hundred pro-Confederate guerrillas believed to have been led by William T Anderson attacked northeast of Avilla routed perimeter sentries and engaged defenders at Dr Stemmon’s home Defending were about twenty five town militiamen and some men from Carthage who were there attending a meeting about the organization of a county-wide patrol A US Cavalry officer named Captain Tanner was also there recruiting men for the Union Army The rebels surrounded the two-story log home and were met with heavy gunfire but the doctor and three of his sons Bud Pole and Jimmie were trapped inside with many of the men After numerous attempts to penetrate the defense amidst flying buckshot and bullets the attackers managed to ignite the cabin and it eventually burned to the ground Dr Stemmons and Lathan Duncan an Avilla militiaman were killed several others shot and burned and two were taken prisoner (the number of guerrilla casualties was not recorded) After the house was lost to flames the heavily out-numbered militia withdrew and scattered in the darkness They re-formed near the north edge of Avilla and braced for another onslaught but it did not occur The guerrilla force instead ended the attack and rode east toward Springfield where the two elderly prisoners were later "given stern warnings to leave the state" and released