Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-10-31
BATTLE I'm MISSOURI.
GEN. JEFF. THoMPsoN'S COMMAND.
Full Particulars by an Eye-wItness.
Especial Correspondence of the Memphis Appeal

q Especial correspondents OF the Nenlpols appeal
GREENyILLE, No, October %. 1861. z
The newspapers at S. Louis bave pu blIshed
so many false and exaggerated statements in
regard TO the numbers. movf menls and &C
tions of the army under the command of Cen
eral NJ. JEFF. Thompson, of this State, that
deem it due to the truth of history to submit
to the public, through the columns of your
interesting Journal, a brief review OF the
same since my connection with il.
q The first important movement took place
on the morning of the II b instant, when
General Thompson at the head of three hun
bred mounted men left Spring Hill, in Stod
dard county, for the Iron Mountain railroad.
directing the main body OF The army under
the command of Col. Lowe. to move toward
FredericktowD, where be intended to join
him. On Tuesday, the 18Th instant, we
reached our paiut Of destination. fowl: the
bridge over Big River. some forty-hve or
fifty mills south from st. Luis. Ar no pc
Rod before our arrival could we learn the
number of the enemy stationed at this place
to protect the bridge, which is one oil The
longest and most imps rtant on the Iron
Mountain railroad, some statements repre-
senting them at one hundred, and Others to
five hundred we'll drilled soldiers. S, ms
thirty minutes before sunrise with a force oi
only one hundred men under the command Of
Col. John Smith. to whose regiment the Ms
sissippi Guerrillas had been attached 1.-THE
balance, to wit: two hundred. having been
thrown across the river at different points
and for other purposes), we made an attack
upon the enemy without knowing bis siren 9Th,
but apprised that bis position Was well Sc
lected and his breastwOrks formidable. Led
forward by our gallant colonel we rushed
upon the enemy, and taking the best position
we could, for there was only one way OF
reaching them, we opened fire upon them.
Knowing that the nearest point OF assail-
ment was the best for the double-barrelled
shot gun. with which my command was arm.
ed. advanced with the Mississippi Guerillasi
within seventy-fye yards of the ratification.
and there fought for some thirty minutes on
the highest and NEST exposed position tit be
ing the summit of the ridge on which the en-
envy were stationed) until the enemy sur
rendered, which they did so soon as they
heard the order given to storm their entrench
| ments The force of the foe consisted OF
foI ty five men, belonging to the Normal Hi
nois regiment. and were protected byea fort
constructed of stone. which could only be
assaulted on the side by which we approach
ed them. The fort on the north. was protect
/ & d by deep cut in the railway, and on the
east and west by PERCEPTIONS decliviti,.s.. a.
| no time had we more than thirty men en-
gagged in the attack. the balance being una
| Bile 10 gain position where thew couid even
| but two kiliid aud three wound d -one of
| the latter belonging tomy little command
| all OF whom tell in my Immediate viciaity, il
| being The most tx. osed TO the fire of The en-
| envy. The loss of the Toe WIS double that
| on our part Immediately after the surren-
der my command was detailed to burn the
bridge, hich order was promptly obtyed.
Some hours after this little afflir, another
portion of the force under G. n. Thompson,
A., - l-.l
detachment of the enemy, 80 strong, station
ed few miles south, and drove them from
the field in confusion, dispensing them ia the
| woods. In this contest we lost not more than
two killed and three wounded, while that of
the enemy is reported to have amounted to
90 This last engagement did not witness,
having reached the field of battle after it was
over. So on as these events became known,
the different, detachmenis CT the enemy sta
TONED along the railroad fled in confusion
and dismay, either to st. Louis or. Ironton,
and circulated the rumor that the furce I'M
der Gen. Thompson amountt to elk thou-
sand when, in fact, he had in all at the rail-
road only 800 men, divided into three sepa
rate parties. 81. lees ~
Having accomplished the object of bis visit
to the railroad, Gen. Thompson FASTENED to
join the main body OF bis army, which had
been ordered to Fredericktown. On Wednes
DAY, Tue lOtn, lustauis we SuCduptu SiSHtn
miles from the above named village. and
early on next morning Thursday, the l7Ib,)
be received adispaich from Col Lowe, I'M
forming him that he had reached Frederick
town the evening befure aud found the enc
my in force threatening to dispute The pos
session of the village, and that The pickets of
the two armies bad met about daylight. and
alter q short struggle the enemy were driven
back, losing Eve killed and eight wounded.
Ed IL.
Ia a few minutes we were in our saddles and
on the way TO Frederick. own at rapid trot.
AS we approached the village. we learned
. that there were at least. twelve hundred and
: fifty of the enemy-althqngh they state their
force was only eight hnddt. d, SIX huudred in-
fanfry and two hundred cavalry Reaching
the bridge on the west side of the. village, W ,
were ordered to charge the cavalry Of the
enemy, who fed before us toward fronton.-s
In a few minutes both their infantry and cav
airy were seized with panic ard rode and
ran so fast that the FASTEST horse in our com.
mand could not oyertake them.1 do not
know what was the condition OF our opp0
nents AFTER THE CHASE, but one tn ng is GER
tain, / never wish to engage in another -FOUR
mile heat with such little success and 50 much
exhaustion. 2 49, - - - -. - -
- This iisgracefli flight of 1850, before. only
800, mounted men, is designated in the st
Louis papers as q FIEReELF contested strng-
gle, from which Lincoln's forces CALAMITY
retired. Pending this movement the main
body of the army, were quietly resting them
selves in Fredericktowa aud vicinity aud
took no part In our chase after the foe.
- On Sunday, the 10Th instant, our army left
FredericktoWn for this place, (Greenville,)
and encanped that night some Ten miles from
the former village. Some time during the
night intelligence reached Gen. Thompson
that the enemy, in considerable force, were
marching on Fredericktown from Cape Cir
ardeau. On Monday NOR ming. the 2lss lust,
taking with him eleven hundred and twenty
men, be turned back 20 meet the toe. 10 aP- !:
= - So - Is s5sszslq sd q iiss st-rse n
- sss4sEffsss a. "a sele ,ssfiainzys4s4 : -