Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1861-11-05
IFrom the Correspondents Of the DemOcral-l
Carr GIRARDrAU. Oct. 28. 1861


Carr GIRARDEAU. Oct. %. 1861.
DEAR DEaocRAT dispatches have al
ready announced to the country, the Drills
sant actTOn. and decisive victory Of the
Federal forces at Fredericktown-
But presuming that the Joliet friends
would be interested in an account by an
eve witness, and participation in the affair,
Transmit you the following hasty sketch
The action was fought on the 2lst inst,
commencing at a quarter past two O'Clock,
p. NJ. and continued about three hours
The Federal forces engaged were the llth
Missouri, the 18th and Goth Illinois, un-
der command of Col Plummer, The 9Th
Wisconsin, 2lst, 33d, and 38th Illinois
were not engaged, but held as reserves.
The force of the enemy, under the noto
rious JEFF Thompson, was about 1000 men.
Ours, actually engaged, was scarcely 900.
After long march Of sixty miles, we
arrived Mt Frederiektown about noon on the
day of battle, and after brief rest, start
ed on in pursuit of the enemy, who, we
learned, had left the day previous, at two
o'clock, p. Nj.
We couversed with several of the citis
zens, and they all disclaimed any knowl'
edge of Thompson's movements, since the
day previous. But in the meantime Thomp.
son had returned, and had taken position
in a complete ambuscade, about mile from
town, on the Greenvile road. lie had
planted four field pieces, skilfully masked
by forest trees. He had about SEQ cavalry.
These and the infantry we're we'll positioned
TO the right and left, and in advance, un-
der cover Of his guns.
Ii was his intention TO draw us within
range Of all his force, and then open upon
us before we were aware of it. But God
ordained it otherwise. An old negro told
as that Thompson and his men were over
the hill. Capt. Stewart. of the Cavaly,
Immediately reinforced Col. Plummer, who
ordered halt, and the plan of battle was
then made. A section of Capt. Taylor's
battery was planted, and one gun of MAJ
jor Schofeld's. The 18th regiment took
the centre, the Goth the right, and the Miss
souri, IIth the left wing. Then silence
succeeded like that of the grave, for per-
baps three minutes. Then Lieut.. White
ordered two rounds of his section of Tay-
lor's battery, which was answered by the
enemy. In few moments cur infantry
advanced and commenced by volley after
yolley of musketry, and the conflict be-
came general with the regiments engaged.
Then il was that realized what bad so
often heard described, the music of Grim
Visaged war;" The balls few whirring
past us, and the six and twelve Founders
ploughed up the turf al about where we
stood One ball, By its conclusion, struck
down horseman by my side. But our
cannon spoke about twice to the enemies
once, and our men fought like heroes
The Goth well sustained the highest ex-
pectations entertained Of them. Colonies
Marsh and Irwin went into the conflict in
full uniform and together With Maj. Good
win, molly led on their men. The two
Colonels were easily distinguished by the
enemy, and we're special targets for the
men. A cannon ball passed under the
horse of Col. Marsh, and struck off shoe
from the horse of the Adiutant. The grape
few thick around Col. Erwin, but he, with
veteran GOODNESS, smiled, and brIvely led
on bis men. Too much praise cannot be
awarded the different officers and men,
You should have seen Capt BartlesOn and
his men bring down from the hill the caps
tured cannon. to have felt just pride in
our Joliet boys.
God graciously spared the lives of our
regiment. Only two were wounded, one
by q slight wound in the head, and the
other by a cavalry horse. Our loss was
biA hllGu uNU uuOub NOuuutu. DuL
we lost the gallant and brave MIjor Gavitt
of Indiana cavalry. The loss of the enc
my in killed. Wounded and prisoners, was
from 900 to 600. About 800 had been
buried when we left, and many will not be
found for week after the battle. The
Surgeon. several Captains, and myself we're
on the ground, the field till about twelve
O'Clock at night, relieving the dying as
best we could. And oh, what sights we
saw The old, grey-headed man, and the
beardless boy, dead and dying around on
the field, was truly a distressing sight
Col Lowe, the terror of all this region, lay
cold in death. Many of the wounded we
took to our hospital and dressed their
wounds, and received the dying blessings
of others But Thompson escaped US
We followed him about four miles that
night, and about twelve miles the next day.
but could not overtake him. His men scat
tesed oAer the hills, to their homes, and
we hope to return no more.
We are now resting few days at the
Cape, before moving on to some other POI
sition.
Yours, for the Stars and Stripes,
CHAs. Burton,
IL