Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1861-11-21
COL. oGLEsBY,s EXPEDITION.
Pursuit Of JEFF. Thompson-Marchiny in
to Bloomfield.


Correspondence of the Chicago Tribune
CAIRo. Nov. IL, 1861.
On the third of the month. "a little
over week ago. sn expedition started
from Cairo to overtake and offer battle to
the noted bridge burner. Thompson, and
his band Of wanderers. who were encamp-
ed at Bloomfield. in Stoddard county,
Missouri. The force consisted of portions
OF Colonel Reardon's. Oglesby's, Lswler's.
and Wallace's commands. and o section of
Captain Schwartz's artillery-two guns
with two companies of cavalry. making a
total of about 1900 men. These were to
be joined at Bloomfield by force from
Cape Girardesu. and it was expected the
whole army would finally amount to
1900 men. Ninty seven wagons. with
provisions for fifteen days. accompanied
the expedition, and it bid fair to have q
most important termination. and to re-
suit in the defeat and expulsion, Of
Thompson from the State. Starting
from Cairo at IL o'cock Sunday night on
board the steamers Memphis, Scott and
Chancellor, we reached Commerce the next
morning. having {, lay still during the
night on account of dense fog. AT Com
merce a camp was made, and the forces
were soon busily engaged preparing for
an early start the next morning. During
the afternoon, Carson. the famous scout
Captain. with three companions, rode ont
to Benton. eight miles distant. place rem
dered notorious by having all its inhabit-
ants in the secession army. A charge was
made through the streets by the little
land, and four prisoners We're taken, one
Of whom was an artileryman in Thomp-
sons forces, and dressed in their uniform
of red shirt and grey cap. Another of
those captured was very abusive. and
watching an oportunity. put spurs to his
horse and dashed off over hill near by
He was pursued and shot by Carson after
a chase of mile. On Thursday morning
the little army took up their line of mach
on the road to Bloomfield. and encsmped
that night at Hunters farm. the proprietor
Of which was violent secessionist. Poul-.
try and stock paid the forfeit of his seces-
sion procivities, and being subjected to
a rapid cooking process. served the volun-
teers for the ne xt days march. Two SOL
diers returning to their homes from Bloom
field. We're taken prisoners during the after
noon. each having q muskct and army
blanket. but no uniform. The houses
along the route were inhabited only by
women aud children. the men being absent
and lighting for the cause that has already
blighted their homes and rendered that por-
tion of Missouri nothing but a desolate
waste. Early next morning the march
was resumed. aud Just at evening reached
the bank of Little River. where it was
thought the enemy might dispute the pas
sage. None. however. appeared and >
scouting party, accompanied BY Carson.
wero sent across and through Nigger Wool
Swamp to Running Slough bridge. four
miles beyond. which it was expected the
enemy might attempt to burn. The army
meanwhile. prepared to camp on Little
River. As the scouting party approach
ed the bridge. they discovered . great
smoke and fame proceeding from it. and
almost simultaneously were fred upon from
the opposite side. Carson at once sprung
forward. cheering his men. and in an in
stant the blazing timbers were gained. but
the enemy had fed. An hours hard work
extinguished the flames. and another honr
in the morning repaired the damage and
rendered transit over it easy. Camp pro-
sentsd no particular scenes of interest. but
most uuwarranted and disorderly system
of firing was indulged in by the soldiers.
who wandered off into the woods and shot
their guns off whenever and at whatever
they pleased. If the country for miles
around were not aware of our approach
the fault certainly lay in their ears. An
early start next day led tho soldiers
through marshes over which road had to
be formed for the wagons. On account Of
this. night found the army only seven
miles from Little river and on tho banks
Of Castor, shallow stream easily forded.
During the day messenger arrived from
Rloom6elI with dispatches for COL Oglcs-
By. informing him that Col. Purcell had
arrived tbers sho previous night. from
Cape Girardeau, with his regiments
Ihompson's forces retrsating to West