Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1861-11-05
Late Battle at Fredicktown, Mo.

4
the following account OF the defeat of JEFF
Thompson and his followers, near Frederick
town, Oh the 2lst, from the pen of an eve
witness:
When we reached the town, We were an
prlsed by the whole population tha5 General
Jef Thompson and his army hal left II the
day before, 10 consequence of having can
tured Col. Plummer's messenger, informing
Col Carlin Of his approach. We therefore
eucaWped Tor dinner, and awaited the ARRIVAL
Of Col. Plummer's command, which happened
in the course OF an hour
About half-pa two p. n. .he whole bodv
was ready to march III pursuit of Thompson
and before The troops from Cape Girardeau
were all beyond the limits of the town, the
sudden boom OF cannon astonIshed all with
the proof thai n battle was already begun =
The main street Of Fredericktown runs North
and South ; and The road {, Greenville, where
Thompson WAS supposed TO be. proceeds from
this 70 he south west. About a mile from ne
town, the road Intersects a long, irregular
ridge, which crosses the road at an angle Of
about 20 degrees and as this ridge was cho-
sen by the rebel General, behind the top Of
which to form his line-of- battle. the reader
may comprehend my description by rep,sn-
berlng the road and the bridge as basis
Ten minutes before the first gun was fired
the distribution OF the Federal forces was rs
follows body of cavalry and part of
our artillery (thrce guns) were within third
- . mn va ~ IidSe moving uoWh the road,
MI We IN lI9so5,rl ana IN and
and Immediately south of the town. the III
1,, he 2-rb w.. - ~ - II -.
The llIn".s 3}d. not yer in line and farther
wes. was the Illinois 2Ist, ready to march
The 9Th " Iscoasin-the only full regiment
aa,ar..i ,I'. tnr-, - ~ 80 ~. ",e.e t We
heavier pieces Of artillery we're sfan1iin,, in
the cross streets in he centre of the town
The enemy's line of battle heoan b,lfa milo
east ot the road marked bv fence, and tim
Der, 1T some points, and bv the crest of = {.
ridge at others AMI skIrted for nearly a IA lie
10 cross the road at aa acate anr,a. fmuadi-
a.ely Oh cro,sIn, fb. road bjs I,ra hon, suJ-
denly forward. - A. 10 make r ,1r,,,
the road itself His four twenty four pound
crs were stationed. one in tba ,.,oJ ~ III.
rjgbt. auotbp, c,fn.,aod,nt, y laro r,,r,,ir'.,
east from thp r,,ad tfia Ind j., ,Ln -
self iu,, beyond rl.a ,rs.i,.,r az fI,t a,,j ~.
ritl.-a. ana tIe minis ,ras. n III 81 -
hundred 'Fpr,,es.,.a ,.sr,l-,, ,,,,,.;l a., -
itself beyond The third cannon v,Li.s tIa
ArLans,s Aha ,TI,o,,.s, -.
stDbble-ieId behind ne ri'.h, a. nf
line The whole v,as ca a7r,,,,,si -. - -,
co,,,,larel,. ;,,,.;.;l,l,, -, - -;
,ro,cI5 yor IL, "
rerv pear b'.5,,, e,',,ie,,.it, -
tran.
When within \ o,,ar.ar ,fa MIA r.,t,
anemy's line. Cant. Plnnmer frsr learned
of his presence. tbroysb an ola na.rr, m.
Trims, seemed 50 incredible tbat he 6aIted his
command and Sent a sinria o,firar .Lcad =.
recounoitre. He reror,oI tIe rrc,,,y realI,.
there in Great numbers. Five minn1es' con.
sultation determined the t,lsn of baftIa tEa
artillery was ordered "a begin the tieat. and
messengers started Al full speed to coinmu-
uicate with other regiments The Sth Wis
consIn was ordered to remain IN its uosition
in the town. tht. 33l Illinois 10 adyance I.It
a nile to hillside. and as a reserve; the
~ : to pass down the road to suonort the
artillery ii needed.
We oneued with six-pound shot into the
eaemv'S right wing. from one of those fine
brass field pieces Of SchofieId's battery. 1t
was random shot, but elicI.ed a prompt re
ply from = twenty four -pounder, tie shot
passing over our heads. We uow knew the
position Of one Of the cnemv's batteries, and
Itched a she'll into ITS vicinity from a gun
which had been sent flying off 10 the left
through the fields. and taken position in the
lane before alluded to. That she'll killed
about 30 zen. 1t was answered by lrem en-
duUs cacerlug along The enemy's line; an
otherof IS heavy guns opened on our left.