Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-10-29

(fhe balance. to-Wlt: tw0 hundfed having Deeh
thrown across the river az different points ana lof
otber purposesl, we inside an attack upon the
ene1uy without knowing his strength, but ap-
pused that his position was well selected, and
bfs breastw orks formidable. Lead forward by
our Gallant colonel we rushed upon the enemy,
and taking the best position we could, for there
wss only one way Of reaching them, we opened
FIRE upon them.
knuwing that the nearest point Of assailment
was the best for the dOuble-barrelled shot gun,
with which nv command was armed, | advanced
with the MississiP pi Guerillas within seventy-hve
wards Of the ratification, and posted them, and
there fought for some thirty minutes on the
highest and most exposed position (t being the
summit Of the ridge on which the enemy were
stationed, until the enemy surrendered, which
they did so soon as they heard the order given
20 storm their intrenchments. The force of the
foe consisted Of f0Tty-hve men belonging to the
Normal Illinois regiment, and were protected by
q fort constructed of stone. which could only be
assaulted OF the side BY which We approached
them. The tort on the north was protected by
deep cut in the railway, and on the east and
west by prccpitous decEvities. At no time had
we more than thirty men engaged in the attack,
the balance being unable to gain q position
where they could even see the Notifications OF
the enemy. We lost but two killed and three
wounded-one of the latter belonging to my lit
tie oommand-al of whom ful in my imme-
diate vicinity, ii being the most exposed to the
fire Of the enemy. The loss Of the foe was
double that on our part. Immediately after the
surrender my command was detailed 10 burn the
bridge, which order was promptly Obeyed.
Some hours after this little affair, another por-
ton Of the force under Gen. Thompson, consist
ing Of 3 or 30 men. attacked another detach-
meut Of the enemy, 20 strong, stationed a few
miles south, and drove them from the field in
confusion, dispensing them in the woods. In
this contest we lost not more than two killed
and three wounded. while that of the enemy is
reported 10 have amounted to 20. This last en-
gsgement / did not witness, having reached the
field Of battle after 1t was over. So soon as
these events became known, the different de-
tachments Of the enemy stationed along the rail-
road fed in confusion and dismay, either 70 St.
Loais or Honton, and circulated the rumor that
the force under Gen. Thompson amounted to six
thousand when. in fact, he had in all al
the railroad only 300 men, divided into three
separate parties.
having accomplished the object Of his visit to
the railroad, Gen. Thompson FASTENED to Join the
main body Of his army, which had been ordered
u Efcderickiown- On Wednesday, the 10th in,
stuut, we encamped eight miles from the above
named village, and early On next morning
Thursday, the 18th be received a dispatch
from Col Lowe. informing him that be had
reached FredeTicktown the evening before and
f0und the enemy in force threatening 10 dispute
the possession OF the village, and that the pick.
cts Of the two armies had met about daylight
and after a short struggle the enemy were driver
back. losing five killed andeight wounded, Will,
nj loss had been sustained on our side. In few
minutes we were in our saddles and on the way
to Fr-dericktown at a rapid trot. As we ap
preached the village we learned that there wer1
al FEAST twelve hundred and fifty Of the enemy
although they state their force was only eigh
hundred. six hundred infantry and two hundre,
cavalry. Reschiug the bridge on the west sid
Of the Yillagr, we were ordered 20 charge the cav
airy of til enemy, who lied before rs t0war,
Iront9n. In a few minutes both their infant7
and ca1alry were seized with a panic and rod
and rsn so fast that the fasfest horse in our com
masd could not overtake them. 1 DO not know
what was tie condition of our opponents gtterh
d.ase, but one thing is certain, / never wish O
engage IN another JOuT mile heat with such lit.
success and so much exhaustion.
This disgrsceful flight Of 1850. before only 600
mounted men, is d designated in tie ST. Louis pa
pcrs as n feTceiy contested struggle, from whIcI
lincoln's forces gaiidRdg retired. Pending thu
movement the main body Of the army wer,
quietly resting themselves in EredericktOWn an,
vicinity, and took no part in our chase after Ii,
foe.
On Sunday, the 20th instant, our army lef
Frcdencktown foI this place, (Greenyille, anS
encamped that night some ten miles from N,
former village. Some time during the night in
telligence reached Gen Thompson that the enc
my, IN considerable force, were marching on
F-rederiektowB from Cape GiraTdeau. On Mon
day morning, the Dist instant, taking with hin
eleven hundred and twenty men, he turned
hack 10 meet the foe. IN approaching the town
DE learned that three thousand Of the enemy had
arrived from Cape Girardeau, and at a still Later
hOEr. no obtained satisfactory and certain intel
ligence that az least two thousand more had
Joined them from Pilot Knob OF Ironton, making
their force non than FIVE thousand. In the fac,
Of this overwhelming combination of foes, BE-
= challenged them TO battle. and after a long DELAY
On their part, il commenced at , O'Clock in thl
evening, and lasted two hours and forty minutes.
On our part, Col. Lowe with tro kindred and
fffg Bfca sustained a~nattack from two regiments
of the enemy for one hour andforty minutes. and
did not fail back until he had sustained n CALLING
fire from two other regiments who had outtlankei
him on the left, and had poured A rsking fire on
his gallant command for more than thirty min
utes. In this contest he Tepulsed the enemy
twice with great loss ON their part. The fight
was then continued by Lieut.. Col. Browns bat
tauon. 2UU strong, which had been deploved to
a point stu further 20 the right, for another hour
repulsing the enemy in every charge he made.
On our part we used one i2-pounder and one
6-pohnder. while the enemy employed FIVE rided
cannon AGAINST our ranks. Owing to the supe-
nor numbers of the fee, they had, by - in the
evening. outnanked Us both on the right and LEFT
when It became necessary 70 withdraw from the
field. which we did quiotiF, calmly and in good
order. AZ doing this g large hodyof the enemy )
cavalry @clar-ei yHr retiring column, when they
acre driven back by Col. loves omnan with
terrible slaughter. The history Of no battle in
arraaar4F ar u..Ta-n ffrraa rr-~.rtz . r1.r4 hrrgTa
aud gallant resistance Of a little band OF patriots
70 overwhelming numbers than the glorious con-
tI~t al Frederickt0wu, and long can Missouri
point with honcstprde 10 the noble achievement
performed by her unconquerable sons on this
proud occasion. Our loss cannot exceed
lhfty) inhlled and wounded, while that Of the
enemy must extend totwo hundred, though some
suppose II must amount to four hundred.
Being posted on the extreme right with q nor
ton OF Col. Smiths regiment, to watch the
movements Of the Toe, l had an opportunity to
ss a farrr portion of the fight, and write only
81 such events as came under my own observa-
ton. ! take some pleasure in stating that before
The close of the engagement some Mississippi
powder and bnck>h0t sent some of the oppres-
sors TO their long homes.
We lost one I%2-poundeT by accident, the horses
having become alarmed, ran of with the Timber,
and left the piece on the field. The gallant
Lieut. Samuel Harris, under a calling fire from
eneirclinC foes, labored nobly 10 save his favor
ice. and after dragging IL by hand some $50
wards, was compelled to abandon il.
Thus closed a bright day in the annals Of
Missouri. and long VIII history, with its truthful
and impartial pen, immortalize the memory Of
rho patriots who fought aud died so nobly in her
defouse.
Hoping that Won win excuse this long and
hastily written letter, I beg leave to subscribe
myself. Your friend,
L. L. AcEE.
P s-Whle on the extreme right We observed
oDe OF tie foe coming along the Cape Girardeau
vnss refusing % surrender. ht was moTtally
wounded snd taken prisoner. lie proved 10 be
G. G. \. Jones, 1st lieutenant Of company x.
17tb Illinois regiment. He stated that he had
been detained on the road by sickness, aud
that three full regiments, with three pieces Of