Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-12-08
Interesting Report OF the Bas,Ies In Mis-
seuris
RICHMOND, Va, Nov. 20, 1861.
To CoIoxel j. r. P,rUs, AssisiGrt A9jMant General
IE;seo,.-; QtcA.

I
COLONEL: Ny absence from Missouri on business
connected with our State interests prevented my
receiving until TO day your report Of the 2gth ut
During my superintendent under Governor Jack
sons authority, Of the affairs of our suffering
State in its Southeast quarter nothing has occur
red to give such satisfaction as the pePussl of
your account Of General Thompsons short but brils
liant campaign IN the Ozark Mountains To have
Ventured TO advance more than a hundred miles
from the main body Of our forces, pass between
the strongly guarded fortresses Of the enemy at
lronton and Cape Girardsau, distant only a few
hours travel the former by railroad and the lat.
ter by the Mississippi river, from ST. Louis
and burn an important railroad bridge within
fifty miles of that city swarming with Lin.
clon troops would have been rashness in a
laeder less sagacious and viglant than Gen. Thomp-
son, or with soldiers less hardy and daring than
the Swamp Fox Brigade" Of Southeast Missouri
The fight at FredericktoWn justifes the high rep
utation Of that gallant officer and his command
While deplOring the loss of the brave officers and
men who fell in that Campaign | console mvsaN
with the reflection that as long as Missourians can
be found who, half clad and poorly armed success
fully encounter, as at FredericktOwn an arUy
which even the accounts of the enemy admit to
have been four times as large as ours, engaged in
that battle, the expulsion of the foe from our entire
State is Emerely question of time. and, of our
means fully to arm and equip our loyal eitzana
1remain, Colonel, very respectfully, your obedi-
emf servant, THos. c. REYNOLDS
Lieut. Gov. of Missouri.
HEADoUAEfERs FIssr MILITARY DISTRICT.
NJ G., CAMP ALLEN, Oct. IS, 1861. I
Lieut.. Gou T. C. Reynolds:
SIR: am instructed by the General commanding
this brigade to forward you detailed account of
our movements subsequent to the 18th ult, when
we broke camp at Spring Hill, Stoddard county
On tie above date, about O'Clock A. n. the Gen
eral, accompanied by FIVE hundred mounted rife
men, started in 4 direct course toward the Iron
Mountain railroad designing to strike about forty
miles south of Saint Louis, GtBig River Bridge. In
the AbAence OF the General, Col. Andrew Lowe of |
the Sd regiment Of infantry, commanded the re. |
naming forces, which consisted mostly of infantry
he was ordered to make his line Of march on a d.
rect route from Spring Hill to Fredericktown, NOV
ing only short distances each day, to keep the
men in good condition either for fight or hasty /
move, and to halt at that place and await further
orders. BE was ordered to use every exerton to
collect lead and prepare it for immediate shipment
He was successful in shipping Is 900 pounds
which is now safe In New Madrid. The General
with the cavalry, pushed ahead at a rapid rate
arriving at the bridge about daylight of the 18th
He succeeded in surprising, and after 3 short
struggle, capturing Eity.eight of the enemy be-
longing to the Normal regiment, of IlliEois includ
ing one Captain (Elio.t) and three Lieutenants who
had scarce time enough 70 run into low stone
fort which they had established, before our men at
a full run broke in upon them, with the before de-
tailed results. We had two killed and two wound
ed, and the enemy four dead and seven wounded
The bridge was 81 once fred, and was sosn a cons
plete wreck
Our men went to work at once collecting all the
stores Of the enemy, preparing them for trsnspor
tation. About this time new foe appeared upon
the field. Some eighty men from one OF the posts
above, having heard the firing, came in double
haste to the suCcor of their comrades and caught
our forces in a somewhat scattered condition. FOR
= time the battle was evenly wSged, but our men
soon collected togsther and pushed home on them
when they fled in confusion. We here had
three killed and six wounded, and killed SIX
Of the enemy, and wounded quite a number
We captured, among other things fifty muskets
IS oyercoAts, and number of blankets. The pris- !
oners were all liberated on taking the oath not to
Ierve during the war, or until exchanged. During
he march of the infantry towards Fredericktown, ,
bur scouts brought in tzO Federal soldiers, cap :
ured FIVE miles beyond the town, AID reported :
aree party after them. We reached the place on 7
he 18th, and quietly went into camp to await the :
.eturn Of the General Early on the morning of 4
he 18th. the camp was startled by quick success .
ion of musket shots beyond the st. FrsEcis bridge =
which crosses 4 river of the same name quarter :
# : mile beyond the town. We soon discovered :
hat it proceeded from our picket, which had been :
lriTen in by large force Of cavalry. The enemy .
usIaned severe lssS, as the picket which was :
Iuder command of Captain Hemes, consisted of 80 :
n.n. who gave them vOlley at the short distance
# so yards. The captain of the little band, ss the
nemy came on at dsshing gallop, walked delibN
rately to the middle of the road took careful aim
t the leading 0thcer, and shot him through the
,ody. They lost five killed and fifteen Wounded,
While the picket arrived safely to camp.
The enemy msneuVred about all the morning, Z
eeking to find out our numbers, but refrsined from "
stacking us. The Colonel commanding our forces T
i'd not deem it advisable to the offensive :,
ut await she Generals coming, he having been ad
Used that the enemy was at hand, and each mo 81
nent was expected to arrive. About one o'clock {"
be General rode into camp; at the sight Of him T
he whole brigade, though ordered not to cheer
roke into one long continued shout, which, aston
shing to say, so appalled, the enemy, that they Il
nee commenced hasty retreat and from all the ~
eports we can gather from those residing on the
Dad, they seemed in no little confusion. We made 81
ot pursuit, but failed to come up with them and
fter following several miles the whole command u
eturned to camp. The balance Of the dav. and all =
be following, We were left in quiet Cn tbs morn d
lg of the 2Oth our picket arrested just as Il
sy was breaking, while en9eAVJriDg 70 avoid them
hey recovered package which he mad thrown \;
way, which, on inspection proved 20 be q eomuu -
icaion from Col. Plummer, of Cape Girardeau TO &c
be cOmmandant of IrontOn, stating that he wss e
ppIoaehing our enesmpment with large force o,
Cd asked his co operation. Being thus warned in ;.
me we made al the necessary arrangements to "
a., v,ofk h.