The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-05-30
Minnesota First Cavalry.
REPORT OF LIEUT.. LEUE IN REGARD TO THE LATE
SKIRMISH IN THE REBEL CAVALRY NEAR FORT
HENRY. KY.

Fort Hermann, KY, May Is.
To Adjutant Genera! Oscar Maimros, st. Paul,
Minnesota
I am pleased to be able to give you the full
report of the skirmish in which the First Nj n-
nesOta Cavalry was engaged. On Monday
evening. the 9Th inst, just before shutdown, as
our men were eating their SUPP er, the pickets
came rushing into camp with the cry, 1.-THE
rebels are on u.s." Our men had scarcely time
to spring into their saddles and form into line,
before they found themselves almost entirely
surrounded. A force of at least $500 being
on them. there was nothing for them left but
to retreat. which they did across the Cbion
river bridge in good order, but had scarce.
ly got on the other side of it, when anoth.
er force came on them from by,road, and
poured deadly volley on them. The horses
soon became wild and unmanageable, SO that
they conld not keep ranks any more, and they
had to fight their way through as best they
could. Our Major being shot just about that
time, there was no more controlling the men
and the horses were soon made to do their
best along the Paducah road, the rebels in
hot pursuit of them. The road was very bad
one, being full of mudhOles and small creeks,
and on both sides of it, for long distance, a
cypress swamp. Every now and then the re-
bells would come up with them and fire into
them. They had got some two or three miles
already when Captain Won Minden was shot.
1t seemed to them as if the whole country
was alive with rebels. Even boys would shoot
along the road. Only about half of the detach.
ment got away. These most all got to Padu.
cab on the second and third day after the at.
tack. The rebels pursued them for over 20
miles. Some of our men were even taken
within ten or twelve miles of paducah, on the
second and third day, when they thought
themselves safe, and were resting themselves
0r,h fhntr hnro onf f,rv
Although our company was not the first to
start and not the first over the bridge, yet We
have lost the least in men, but have the most
in wounded. 10 comparison with other CO mpa
MES Here is q list Of those who are now miss.
ing in the company:
l Captain Won Minden, wounded and a pris-
Oner.
2 Sergeant George Baner, wounded and ly.
ing 10 farm house near Davidson's
Mills.
3 Corporal Henry Mohr at Davidson's Mills.
4 - Christoph John, prisoner.
S Private VIM. Bushin, missing. probably
Private Fred Blasting, missing, probably
7 Private F. ConstiDger, missing. probably
prisoner.
Private John Kuntze, missing, probably
prisoner.
Private Andrew Defel, missing, and said
to be wounded.
10 Private Conrad Henning, missing-last
seen foundering in a mud hole.
IL Private Marion HutckiDgs, missing.
II Private Lauis Vaseur, mlssing-hs horse
came into Paducah without rider.
Is Private Henry Kruzer, prisoner.
IA Private George Phelps, wounded and ly.
ing near Davldson's Mills.
The rest have all come back safe, only four
of them lost their lives. None OF them are
wounded.
They wer, kindly treated in Paducah, and
are now ready for revenge; but they all
mourn the loss of our good Captain.
Respectfully yours,
G. LEUE,
Lieutenant Commanding Co. G, C. H.