Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1861-12-03
THE BATTLE OF FREDER-
ICKTOWN.
statement ofAdjutant Bradley.
Birds Point. No. Nov. "a. 1861

gnu opportunities ief acquiring lnfOrma-
ton of the details Of the engagement as
airy person upon the ground
My object in furnishing this statement
is 10 correct, "a far possible, the errnne-
Gus accounts that have been discontinued
by means OF the telegraph from Iraut,n
ana ST Louis, and To let our friends in III,
iuoIs know what part their absent ascot
ates and relatives took in the sweeping
from Southeast Missouri of JEFF Thompson
and his rebel horde.
Without further reference to past state
ments will proceed to give, as nearly
a. possible a correct account of the
affair, derived from personal observation.
the reports OF those actually engaged in
the fight. and from official documents.
On Wednesday, the 10th uIt.. at one
O'Clock p. NJ, the 20sh Illinois, CT. G. C.
Marsh, then stationed at Bird's Point, NJ.
received marching orders. Shortly after
midnight, the steamer Louisiana, freiylded
with onr regiment and two brass six pound
ere of Taylor's Chicago battery under com
mand of Lieut., White, steamed 10 the
river the steamer Chancellor f flowed in
our wake, having on board two companies
of cavalry. commander by Capt. Stewart
Shortly before noon of the 18th we arrived
at Cape GirarGeau, and encamped fer the
following night just outside the limits Of
the town on the jackson road.
From the following morning. that Of tie
18th, dates properly the commencement Of
the history of the expedition. The force
that took up the line Of march that norm
ing consisted of the 18th III Col. Ross,
the goth ILL.,, Col. Marsh. the llth Missouri,
Col. Plummer, who was the officer in com.
mand, two pieces of artillery, and two com
panies OF cavalry the aggregate strength
OF the entire detachment did not exceed
seventeen hundred men; rather a small
force, that, to cope with an enemy reported
three thousand strong, and who had made
their boasts that any one among them was
more than a match for the best f.co that we
could muster but our men were elate with
hope, and we knew as we looked upon them
that if ever opportunity offered they would
cram the foul SANDER down the threats of
those who had given utterance to it.
The first day the column marched some
thirteen miles. camping about four miles
northwest of jackson on the Dallas road !:
the evening OF the 10Th saw us in Dallas,
thirty one miles from Cape Guardian, and
about the same distance FROM Fredericks
town on the Goth we approached within
eleven miles of the latter place, where. as
we ali hoped, our bird was Gagged beyond
any contingency.
AT this, our last camping place previous
to the battle. strict watch and word were
maintained, for detachment of the ene>
my's cavalry had passed down the ROAD but
a short time before we arrived, and we
knew not what JEFF. might take it into his
head to attempt.
The morning of the 2lst broke beanti-
frlly olSsr abOve no, 40, with bright hearts
and eager snticipations, we resumed our
tramp. The men were many Of them foot
sore and weary, but no complaints were
heard, nothing but an eager expression of
desire that our trip might bear its wished
for fruit.
About noon we arrived in sight Of our
goal. There it was, pleasantly heated on
elevated ground, the court house cresting
the hill that faced us, and hOmely looking
dwellings IF brick and wood scattered all
around. But where was the enemy?-
Those surely, were not his tattered hordes
of which we had so much heard. That
was not the reptile banner of which treason
boasts. Mo- the glorious flag of the Union
was there, and loyal aud true men filed the
streets, in goOdly array Of uniform and dis
cipline.
1t would be impossible to describe the
feeling OF disaPpoint;neut lhat perva1ej
every bus9m when we learned that our
bird had q wn. Col. Rcss had gone on in
advance few miles befre Ne arrived a;
Fredericktnwu, aud found Col Carire #
the Illinois 3Sth, IN command If the Uni n
iurces from lroEt0n, quietly IN y session
of the town. Col. c. was fdtigued 10y hi.
severe marching Of the night previous
and was indulgipg in little repose -
sure was he that JEFF" was ''uver the b /,
and far away" that not solitary picke
had been thrown out with the exception oil
one on the road by which We were expect
ted to advance. Our gare then, for the
present, WAS up bit CDl Plummer had
expressed determination to torch Thump
son into an engagement or drive him from
Southeast Missouri. So column for pur-
suit was organized. consisting of the entire
force from Cape Gnardeau, a portion oil
Major ScOheld's battery, the 23d, 35tb and
2lst Illinois, aud the first Indiana cavalry,
Col. Baker.
lie whom we sought had left-sc the
good people of y. said-the night before
he doubtless, then, had a good start of US
and Col Piummer, who still retained com
mand, notwithstanding Col. Cabins effort.
to supercede him, ordered US forward afieI
a rest Of an hour and half With flying
colors and beating drums we marched IhrO
town. Our ardor somewhat damued. it il
true. by our want Of success thus far, but
still stimulated by the hope that We shnul1
yet bring the enemy 10 bay.
The road from Fredericktown to Green
vile leads from the former place 10 a d.
rection almost due south, aud along thi.
we marched perhaps a mile when the ell.
umn ives halted in moment every mar
knew that the enemy was there; anothe:
moment and the artillery was ordered tC
the front the two pieces took position, tbs
one in the road Immediately facing jeff,
position, the other. masked in a corn felj
on the left; the 18th Illinois was then de-
ployed in the same field as skirmishers, anC
our regiment, the 10Th Illinois, ordered 4
take position in an open field ON the rish
of the same road.
Scarcely were we formed 10 line of bat.
tie when Col. Plummer rode up to Col
Marsh and ordered him to deplny the regi.
rnenr as skirmishers and advance over The
crest of the hill which separated US fron
the enemy. l was sitting by our Colonies
sue al tHc VINE anu was htuOA ny Tux
GOODNESS ard military bearing of Col Plum
mer. Feel them" said be, "feel them
invite the battle" As we uniermarched
in order to fulfil our instructions. the enc
my, who had evidently got sight of Us
opened upon us with round shot, but, oil
though they struck oil around, no one was
injured.
By this time the rafting Of musketry
and the quick, sharp crack Of rifles on our
left. warned US that the engagement was
becoming general. and we fastened on Il
support the gallant 17th now at close omar
tiers with the rebels 10 the cornfeld.
Meanwhile the section Of artillery undel
Lieut. White had opened on the foe, anc
was dealing death and destruction anon.
them.
As We advanced over the hill the enem,
obtained a fair view Of on. force. and a
l. r. a