The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-10-24
TIE ga7TlsAT FRlDEaiCNroWa, mo.
lrrom the Missouri ncmocrat.l

PiIoT INop, Oct. IS, 1851.
Yesterday, about ten O'Clock A. NJ the news came
10 lhot Knob OF severe bat short engagement having
taken place near freGericktow between forces and
those commanded by Jel Thorn son aud Colone Low II
that Captain Hawkins, commanding the Indepen
dent Missouri cavalry was ordered Tuesday to pro-
coed Win detachment o. forty mon to reconnoitre in
tn NFlMy Q! iFeaefiektcwn. Having proceeded 20
wlin Iyc ard hal miles o, town his atgaaee guard
snld My attacked by tho rchcs ard two Of his
tiken prisoners The enemy werc however, driven
within tie lines. On Wednesday morning. his advance
guard again attacked, and -four of hs captured.
Thay were, however, retaken. While awaiting reinforce
mcns rom lot knob, Captain Hawkins command
thr0 fines attacked By the enemy during the day who
each time was succc fully repused and driven in
Iat0 IN tho evening renInrcemen5 arrived, consisting
q companies o Major Cavtt's Indiana cavalry and
use eopari of iuianry undec Colonel Alexander, u
IN Twenty First illinois, Thursday morning, day gat,
While On the march, The advance guard, Under Lieutenant
r Francis Of Captain Hawkins command, was soon
among the enemy slight skirmshng comm sncea, Cap
tain hawkins coming up with ho balance OF his COM
mand, supported by the whole battalion OF MAJOR
Gayit wien there was somo clcAn running done by
the Fef Ia. For two miles the road WAS stfewn with
Blankets sadd cs, shot gas riff rs. hats, caps, &c
Near town to enemy in considerable force In The
woods thicsets and brush, and attacked our man force
doing considerable damage before they were driven from
tEcr pos ton. MAJOR CAN'T, charged upon them, driving
them in every dleetioD, wopnding many and killing
three; also s. vera, horses were taken.
Ia tbs ct1rxe Captain Hawiinss' company sustained
lie tenant Francis fel from his hofhe and
WIS carried on morally wonnGei. seyeras .. bis
mrn dangerously wounded anu IL IS thought viii
not recover. This company, with but few exceptions,
were recfits having been under before,
yet they stood IKE soldiers, receiving and giving vol
ley acF voay In this t,ack Captain Hawkins rccsiycd
a shot IN the knee. his no shot II twelve places
IN this attack Major Gnl i'll haA man klet and ssYea
wounded The infantry having come up and feeling con
hdent.of Ing attacked by avery superior force Colonel
Acxnde ordered she comnend to fall back on more I'D
vantageous grounds As they were Withdrawing they
founS I've enenay were pursuing in force Colonel Alexan
dor bcn tAtcw out three or four companies in ambush
The remainder then commenced hasty retreat and the
enemy supp osing victory close at hand, into tho
trap and completely routed, leaving the road srown
with doad men and horses. IL impossible to asccr
tain the number killed OF tho enemy in the entire engage
ment, as they scattered all through the woods
though # does not fall short fifty During the nist
The entire force OF Colonel Alexander fell back 10 Pilot
Knob No ndyarcs has since been made in that direction
However, they comp oGey entrapped it Is supp sed
by movements not best to make public. We are expect
ing hot times in tho Southeast soon