David....

The Union contingent at Morristown, Missouri, September 17, 1861 consisted of two wings. A scout was ordered by Jim Lane and commanded by Colonel James Montgomery, 3rd Kansas Volunteers, and Colonel Hamilton Perry Johnston, 5th Kansas Cavalry. The plan was to divide up the companies into cavalry (Company A, 5th Kansas Cavalry, Captain Creitz commanding, Company E, 4th Kansas Volunteers, Captain Veale commanding, and one howitzer, Captain Moonlight commanding) under Colonel Johnston and the remaining companies, mostly infantry and another howitzer under Colonel Montgomery. Johnston and the cavalry were to circle northeast of Morristown and arrive at dawn blocking a norteastern retreat of the Missouri State Guard camp. Montgomery was supposed to arrive at the same time from the west. Montgomery was late and Johnston's temper and eagerness prompted a charge against the already alerted MSG recruits who were sheltered in a ravine at the end of the town. Johnston was killed in the ensuing charge.

Captain Veale's company was later transferred to the Sixth Kansas Cavalry as Company A. So the honors were due to Captain Veale and his company's presence at Morristown.