The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1861-08-30
The Waf in Missouri.
CAMP DEFIANCE, }
CAIRO, August 2l(

In the annals OF this war there is
perhaps, no record of q fiercer figh
than the one which came of a
Charleston, on Monday night. On,
hundred federal troops we're engaged
with five times their number OF re-
bells; and in twenty minutes tim,
succeeded in killing about fifty. cap
turing seventeen horses, taking eight
cen prisoners, and putting the re.
mainder to flight, with loss of but
one man killed and seven wounded
II became known at Birds Point
on Sunday, that the rebels were in
pretty strong force at Charleston
thirteen miles out on the Cairo &
Fulton railway, and Monday morn
ing Colonel Dougherty, OF the 22d
was ordered to detail $50 men from
his command and go rout them
Captain Noleman. with fifty men o
the Centrala cavalry, was also or
dered to proceed by road to place
some three miles this side of Charles
ton, aud join force with Colonel
Doug gherty. DetachDents IRON com.
panies A, B. G, E and G. OF the 22d
Illinois, were detailed for the work.
Colonel Dougherty in command, as
sisted by Lieutenant Colonel Hart, o
the 22d, and Lieutenant Colonel
Ransom, OF the 11th. They went
aboard the cars at seven o'clock, and
in an hours time were at the brid ge
three miles this side Of Charleston
Colonel Dougherty here detached
companies A and B-50 men each
and accompanied by Lieutenant Co.
lionel Raneom, started for q flanl,
march to the left and around the vii
lnge, intending to enter the New
Madrid road one halt mile South Of
the town, and come against the re.
bells in that direction. Lieutenan,
Colonel Hart, at the same time, be-
ing ordered to march along the rail.
road track with the remainder o! the
command, 30 as that the two bodies
should enter the place from opposite
directions. The fighting, as will be
seen, was chiefly done by Colonel
Dougherty's little five score com
msnd- Company A, commanded by
Captain Johnson. and Company B,
commanded by Captain McA lams
The moon was shining brightly, and
they made rapid time around to their
intended point OF entrance into the
Madrid road. A few moments after
getting into the road, and while
marching in close ranks at un.ck
step, they were challenged and fired
upon by the picket guard, who, nitel
firing, turned and made tracks Tor
the town. Our boys, however, paid
no attention to the fire, bu, passed
rapidly forward, intending il possible
to surprise the main body. Just al
the edge Of the village they encoun
tered hody Of rebel cavolry some
two hundred strong, from whom they
received another challenge and. a
pretty sharp fire. The rebels were
evidently doubtful as to the charac
ter OF the new coiners, inasmuch 90
their course WAS from the region o
Madrid. Tie main body OF the en-
emy was encamped on the Corr
House plaza, but two or three hun
drcd yards away from where the cav
airy were encountered. Col. Dough
erty here ordered the boys to ii,
bayonets and prepare for charge
And at command, with a yell and {
shont for the Union, the Lrave hun
dred rushed along the narrow Ian,
leading to the Court House. Ii
about three mlnutes' time they wer,
upon them, shooting right and left
and using their bayone.s with will
Even yet the rebels were in doubt a
to whether our party were friends o
foes, for many Of them cried ont t,
hold firing, as their friends wer
being shot. The mistake was i'm
mensely advantageous to the feder
ais, however, and Iearfully uniortu
nate to the rebels.
The surprise and rout was com
plete, as iE a few moments the al
trighted rebels were flying in ever
, direction. Two or three hundred O
: them, however made a determine,
stand, and tor about twenty minute
there was fierce hand to hand tigll
| between the two parties. But th
impetuosity and superior arms an,
drill OF the federals were too mucI
lor the rebe 8. who, in the short spac
OF time mentioned, were In compIet
rout, every man fighting for himself
|, Many OF them took refuge in til
Court House, and in q brick cLurcl
near by, but only to be driven ou
or Gagged and made prisoners of.
J, During this fight in the town, th
column under command of Lieuten
ant Colonel Hart was not idle
f About the time Colonel Doughert
4 made his attack, Colonel Hart's com
mand was within a half mile of III
town on the railroad. The rebe
cavalry and lot OF Infantry. route
s by Colonel D0lRherty, broke for tn
. . cornhelds, in the direction OF Hart
4 advancing force, and as the fedora
q were marching along the railwa,
+ they were discovered and fired upo
= = by the fugitives. The rebels we,
o on each side of the road, and poure
It in streams OF bullets from the tw
!, quarters. Hart's men returned Il