The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1861-11-09
Our Regiment in the Battle of Fred-
cciCktoWli.

giving the details OF the part borne b,
that regiment in the brilliant battle 0
Fredericktown Mo on the 2lst ult Thi
regiment, most Of our readers remember
was made up in this congressional district
and contains quite a number of men from
this county. All accounts agree that tn,
Goth Illinois did full half Of the fgiltin!
in the Frederick town battle, and thai
during the whole of it, not a man finched
The following is copy OF Colonel Marsh.
report
HEAD QUARTERS 20riI I'LL RECT,
CAPE GIRARDEAu, OH -, 81.
SIR: In accordance with your request
| have the honor to submit my official
report OF the action of the 2lst inst.
On Monday, the 2lst, the regiment
marched II miles from camp to Frederick
town, where a halt was orde red. After
resting about an hour and a half, | was
ordered, with the rest of the brigade To
march toward Greenville and took my
place III line in rear of the l1lh ILL.,, being
third in position, Capt. Stewart : squadron
/ of cavalry leading. The march had con
tinued scarcely mile, when the column
was halted and information passed along
the line that the enemy were in position
in front
\ moment afterwards, Col. Tlummer.
commanding the brigade, caUeup, ordered
forward Iay lors section Of artillery, and
ordered me to take position on the ex-
treme right While Inoy ny To my place
the battle was commenced by our battery.
which opened on the enemy, and was rn-
IL, s.1 E..l tnt
formed in line of battle when was ordered
to move TO the left aud support the 18th
Illinois and llth Missouri, who were
already engaged with the enemy concealed
in corn-tield on the left. Assuming the
position ordered ] directad the third di-
vision Of my regiment 10 act As reserve,
and deploying the remainder IS skiTInis h
eTs. advanced and engaged the enemy
Shortly after ! came IN action, the in
fantry OF Col. Lowe commenced retreating
from the coru-iIelI and the shelter Of the
fences which had concealed them; they
then exposed themselves to a raking fire
from my left wing, which was poured in
with terrible effect. AT this point / sent
four prisoners and six Of the enemy's
wounded to the rear
While in line of battle and deploying a
shivmishers " were expose to the enemy
batteries, which kept up a constant dis
charge Of grape and round shot which
flew thickly around; hut owing TO the poor
manner in which they handled their guns,
we fortunately escaped uniujured. Two
grape shot passed. through our colols, a
did several rife balls.
Shortly after the retreat Of Col. lowe.
firing ceased from the encmys batteries
and / pushed Oh as rapidly a. pSssille in
pursuit of the forces opposed, who appear
cd to be retreating sa massa.
Lieut. Col ERwIN. with the right wing,
being on the right side of the Greenyi!ie
road. and Major Goodwin, with the left
wing, on the lett side Of the same road.
my C,lors were in the center cf The road
While moving forward n tbs manner.
many OF the enemy were killed or wound
ed a. they retreated. Shortly after pass
ing the place who're the enemy batteries
had been. Col Baker, with the Indiana
cavalry passed mein pursuit Of the rotgeat-
inl forces | Immediately pushed forward
to support him, The cavalry had passed
me but feg moments when / heard
discharge Of artillery and volley Of mus
kerry in front, and almost Immediately
after Col Baker, with a portion Of his
cavalry. returned, requesting me to hurlv
forward, and stating that the enemy had
planted their batteries in font OF him.
and that the infantry were behind fei,oes
in such position that he could not charge
on them. / ut once moved on At q double
quick. passing Col Bakers cavalry, who
were drawn up Oh each side of the road.
At this time. Lieut. Col Erwin discovered.
from the right a battery short distance
in advance, with the Union hag flying.
As he had been concealed from the road
for some distance 10y tLe timber through
which he passed, he supposed them to be
some of our own forces who had passed
VIII le he was out Of sight and feaIiul of
injurng Sienis. he withheld his five
While sill approaching them. they Inn
bered up and moved Oft at q run
At this point. several of the retreating
forces were killed and wounded About
this time Col Carlin. of the 3Sth Illinois,
at the head of not more than two coinpa-
MES, came up the road. ! pushed on
ahead OF him, pursuing the enemy
When about two miles and half from
our starting point, my left wing emerged
from the timber into an open field. Al
this instant discovered. short distance
ahead. number of cavalry, whom sup
posed from their dress, to he Union troops
| rode up to house a short distance in
front, and inquired of a woman who was
there, and was informed that they We're
Union men | Immediately ordered my
left wing who was firing into them, 10
cease firing, fearful that they would Kill
our own forces On riding up 10 the spot.
we ascertained from IA wounded man that
they were the van guard OF the enemy.
and that jeff Thompson in person was
with them. Pur,uing them at double
quick, ! succeeded in getting within long
range of them at turn of the road, and
: fired. killing one At this time | was
about three miles and half from our
original position and received an order to
halt and return to Fredericktown, which
did
! During the enga cement and pursuit my
command behaved with coolnesS and my
orders were obcyed with readiness truly
{ commendable, taking into consideration
the fact that it was the first time they
were under fire.
Where all do well, the mentioning of
Individual names is unnecessary.
! Nv field and staff officers We're in their
proper positions, and afforded me efficient
aid in the discharge of my duties. Rev.
Chas Britton, Chaplain OF my regiment,
was on the field anu was untirine in his
efforts to aid the wounded and dying !
am happy to report only three wounded
and none killed, which, considering the
long time we were under fire, is truly
remarkable.
! ! have the honor TO be,
! . Very respectfully,
Your ob't servant.
G. G. MARSH.
Col Goth Ill Regiment.
! Fms Tn, Cfpn w nv,