Dorris Keeven Franke

The war had begun last year. For Archer Alexander in Dardenne Prairie, news from St. Louis of Union soldiers marching into the rebels’ camp excited everyone! A General named Lyons had taken over a Camp named “Jackson” so-called for the Governor and people had been shot and killed. The war had begun. People would choose sides, change sides, and lie about whose side they were on. Things had gotten even worse this past year. Word was that things were changing…

Close to home here many things had changed. In March, the Dardenne Presbyterian Church had burned. Some said Union Soldiers had done it. Some said the Rebels did it. No one knew for sure, but everyone blamed everyone. The families were meeting in the member’s homes now. Last fall the Union soldiers had built two guardhouses, big strange-looking lookout points where the railroad crossed the Peruque. If one did manage…