, 1861-07-22
BATTLE IN GALLOWAY COUNTY.
MISSOURI
Gen. Harris Defeated by Col. Mcneil.

From ths St.Louis Democrat, a0th-l
We have been furnished BY Captain George
E. Leighton, Of the Sd regiment q. s. r. c.
Missouri volunteers, with the following &C.
cGaEt Of the action between that regiment
aid Harris's band Of rebels On the 17th::
We struck our tents befoEe tour O'Clock
Tuesday morning ard resumed our march, be.
ing constantly tn view Of mounted scouss Of
The enemy. They did not fire upon US, how
eyer, until We arrived at Middle Aux Edu1
Creek, about eeyen miles this side Of Bloom
field, when cur rear guard, Company E, WAS
fttd upon, a1d one man severely wounded
The fire was instantly returned, We have rea-
son TO belive with effect. Just at the top Of
the hill this side Of the creek, large nuoloer
had ercsmped the night previons. Some
They still hoVered around Us on all sidss,
keeping, however, at respectful. distance, for
: some three and half miles.
At this point, eighteen miles south Of Full
.on, Harris had assembled lis men in full
fcree, and, as We approached, from conceal
ed position in the woods, IN attack WAS made
al along our tank from front to reaT. Our
adva-ce guard they had suffered to pass with
opt molestation. The firing WAS most severe
near the head Of the column "a perfect storm
Of balls flying around Colonel Mcneil and
Lieutenant Colonel Fritz. The whole com.
maud faced to the lett and formed in lin. Of
battle Instantly, promptly returning the tise
into the ambuscade.
must coy I w:ss agreeah1y astonished 1T tue
ccolness with which cur troops hehayei-;t
was the first exposure Of many Of them to the
fire Of an enenly: Notwithstanding the severc
t1e upon them from g concealed enemy, the
| confusion as scarcely notleeatle--hs Nhole
| lire did not retire more than twenty feet.
FlaLkiBg companies were thrown out on each
| side Immediately, a1d the woods secured for
| tie enemy. Slota were exchanged freely all
alcEg the line. The action then became i
FAM
eEeny rendering it Impossible to meet the
| Enemy In column. 1t was from the ambus-
! eaIe that we sustained our heaviest loss. The
t action lasted abou: hall an -Four, when the
| ENEMY entirely disappeared, leaving US in pos
session Of the tield,a number OF shot guns,
| rifles, hcrses, etc. Neremained on the ground
| long enough to provide for own wounded,
| when we pushed Un our column towards Full
1 ten, throwing out ous scouts in large force gu
! our Hanks.
| In few moments We saw scattered parties
| Of the enemy agsin aeysrins around our
surrounded BY the force OF Harris, which
! must have been luitelarge- They we're nearly
! ail mounted. Firing WIS kept up upo2 on.
scouts and line, and srcn this poiat we were
t compelled to 1gLt our way rod By rod, almost,
! to Fulton, distance Q: three miles. The Last
/ city, which Was Il II. The psi1clpa. part OF
| Ia1r:s's force, himself at their head, pass ID
tbrc ugh Fnlter but 1 fer minutes before "
sntered.
A large portion OF Harr!s'E force was in our
rear as Ne enttrel the city. T. became con-
sideIatIy scattered during the c 'ntinued
lighting. Our force was but about 400; Hls-
RS, Us ntar as We GIN ascertain, had about
from zoo to 1,2oo. As Harris pissed here yes
terdhy, be was d2u:nioy his men because tGey
would net stand.
Our loes vas twelve wounded. Of which
three are wounded severely, four dangerously
and five slightly. They belong to companies
| e, F, l and e. They are Ill well ea1ei for,
| ard ire getting alo5s well. Harris5 loss we
have not yet ascert@!ned, but it must have
b; ;en much greater One Of his k:1lel-she
| City Marshal OF Fultcn, George Nlchols-will
| be brought In tor burial day. lie WAS the
| leader ef the secessi3nists in this city. An
| other, named 0lds, Was badly wounded IN the
nsxf sfance o Ssrs
| took some twenty prisoners, shout thirty
shot guns and rifles, and ten or twelve h1rses