Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1861-10-31
THE DETAILS OF THE FREDER.
lCTOWN BATTLE.
List of the Killed and Wounded
Interesting Account Of the Burn
Ing of the Town.
The Flight and Pursuit ofthe Enemy

/
FREDERIxrowN, Oct ~.
! The fight at Fredericton was the G,jrest
that has yet taken place be tween the Union
aud Secession forces. The belligerents were
just about equal in numbers and position,
and whatever was gained by the one over
the other must be attributed to courage and
skill rather than to any other cause. 1t was
fair stand up and fight. tf .ft,I
Jeff Thompson was in possession of Fred
ericktown; his bands were pillaging the
country ~ every direction, and it was de.
cided to dlslodge him. A force was ordered
up from Cape Girardeau to cut off his re-
treat to the swamps. This force consisted
OF Col. Plummer's Missouri Eleventh, Col.
koss' Seventeenth, Col. Marsh's Illinois
Twentieth, two pieces of cannon, and two
companies Of cavalry. At the sapo time
force was ordered from Pilot Knob, consist
Ing OF the Illinois Thirty eighth, Col. Car
I'M; Illinois Thirty-third, Col. Hovey; Illi-
nols Iwenty-frst, Col. Alexander; Wiscon-
SIN Eighth, Col Murphy First Indiana
cavalry, Col Baker; Capt. Hawkins In
dependent Missouri Cavalry, and six cannon
two "a Founders and four FOUNDERS
under command Of Major Schofeld, First
Missouri. Artillery. l .H.
Saturday evening, Col. Plummer, in COM
mand 0f the forces from Cape Girardeau,
sent a messenger with dispatches TO Col,
Carln, commander of the forces from Pilot
Knob. This messenger was captured by
Thompson ON Sunday morning, thus putting
him IN possession Of the movements and in-
tentlons OF the Union forces.
lie ordered movement down the road to
Dallas, evidently intending to attack and
cut Col. Plummer off, when he would re-
turn and finish the forces frum the West at
his leisure. But there are two roads from
Dallas to treJericktown-the North and the
South. Thompson went out on the South
road and Plummer came in on the North
road, aud so he missed him. As soon as he
!, ascertained this fact he came back and took
q position about one mile South of Freder-
icktown, Ion tho Greenvlle road) on tho
South side OF a ravine, planting his cannon
in he edge Of a wood. and bearing on the
road, aud placing his infantry in the corn
fields on either side of the lane leading our
Of the rayine or hollow, toward the wood 10
which the artillery was placed. On taking
his. position he sent dispatch to the min
body OF his cavalry, which was then ten
miles South Of Pilot Knob at Judge Nil.
ler's, which dispatch reached them at eight
O'Clock on Monday morning. They hasten
ed of to hia assistance, bat from the num-
ber OF cavalry seen on the battle field, it is
believed they did reach hin, in time to be in
the engagement. The rebel forces consisted
7 of Loo, under COLONEL Lowe 1000 uudol
Jeff. Thompson. Reinforcement fro,n
MISSISSIPPI, Of ,5D0 men, and the riff rafl
: OF the surrounding country, who fought
their own bait in their own way. Thomp-
son has nine cannon, six and twelve pound
ers; three are at New Madrid aud four he
! had at Flederlcktown. I.
! DR.. Mcdowell, formerly of your city, is
his surgeon. l learn these particulars FROM
a spy just in from his camp, and they may
he considered perfectly reidb,e. Tho mum
) ber on each side was about 5000. Il is the
I first time the rebels have not greatly out
! numbered US. .T
Col. Carlin arrived in Fiedcricktown abou,
, eight O'Clock Monday morning, anl wa
told BY the uhibitants that Thompson had
: lett the day before, and that he was pro.
baby thirty miles away by that time. Hav-
ing but two ra'ions IN the haversacks, and
the baggage train being behind, he concud
ed to wait I'LL 1t came up before he pushed
on after the fusacious enemy. The men
bong tired, having marched all the night
previous, many Of ihem laid down and
slept, as did also some of the officers, in
perfect security At eleven O'Clock, Col
: Plummer's command came in. After con
sultation and rest Of two hours, he conclud-
ed to push ON after the enemy in the direc.
tion OF Greenville, hut had not the least
idea OF oyortaking Jolf so soon. as the peo-
pie Of che town were unanimous in their
story that he had gone the day before After
| ho had proceeded down the lane half mile
negro woman told him there were mel,
down the road. This placed him ON his
Guard and Col Rosa who vns in ndv,nc,