The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1863-09-10

.cial Report of the Capture of JEFF
ThOmpsOm.


PnoT KNOB, Mo, Aug. 81, 1868.
Gen. c. B. Fisk, Commanding District Of
Southeast Missouri:
SIR-In obedience to orders from Col r. r.
Livingston, of the 18th inst Che then com
manding the Post of Pilot Knob, | moved
with detachment of my regiment from this
point, on the 10th inst. for Greenville, to form
a junction with battalion from Cape Girar-
deau | arrived at Greenvile at noon on the
goth inst, and had to remain there till the
evening of the 2lst for the troops from the
Cape. When they joined me, on the morning
of Thursday, the 22d, | moved with the whole
force, about 600 strong for Pocahontas, Ark,
by as rapid marches as the extreme heat OF
the weather and the condition Of my stock
would permit, and arrived at Pocahontas Ark,
on Saturday evening, the 24th inst.
When | was within four miles of Pocahon-
tas, ascertancd that Brig. Gen. jeff Thomp-
son was there with little or no force. My col
umn was then scattered over several miles
from the extreme rapidity of my march. Be
ing very DESTROYS of capturing him, and
knowing that | had to act with promptness
or fail i'll that object, ordered Capt Gentry
of the I'd cavalry NJ S. NJ, to move forward
with all possible dispatch, with the advance,
and surprise and capture the General and that
| would support him as soon as | could get
the column up.
So thoroughly and effectually did CAPTAIN
Gentry obey this order that Gen. Thomson.
sitting quietly in his Office, and tracing man
Of Southeast Missouri, as he thought in ah.
soute security, had no idea of any Federal
force within one hundred miles of him until
Capt. Gentry, having occupied all the passes
n Of ,,rvy 10 -, II.
flee and demanded Gen. Thomson.
Capt Gentry deserves the highest credit for
this capture, it deper.ding mainly, if not en-
tirely, upon his r11omptness and efficiency in
obeying my Order to move forward of the col
umn and surprise him. | remained in Poca-
hoiltaSs about six hours and being a good deal
e.lcumbered with prisoners, and fearful of
their escape, camping in the bush, l determ-
ined to move back to this point with all DOS
sble dispatch, and arrived here on the eve
ming of the oath instant, having sent the bat
tallion from Cape Girardeau back there bv
Greenville. In ten days have marched about
$50 miles, and laid still one day and haIfof
the time had no fight, but fred on seve-
raj parties of guerrillas, and killed four of
them, and wounded three that know of I
captured and brought in Brigadier Gen. Jeff
Thompson, his Adjt Gen. Capt KAY. his Med
zeal Director, Dr. France, a Captain of artiI-
lery, Lieutenant Of cavalry, and CAPTAIN
of ordnance, and about fifty other prisoners
mostly deserters, discharged soldiers. and SRA
lers from the Confederate army; also aho1t
thirty horses, the most of them taken to Cane
Girardeau by the other battalion.
| regret exceedingly, to have to report
several cases Of highway robbery. plumber and
theft, by the detachment of the LIST Missouri
volunteers. l am satisfied that some of fiat
detachment stole horses, watches, money
anything they could lay their hands on, from
citizens and prisoners. am respectfully
your obedient servant.
Il. q. WooDsoS.
Colonel Sd Cavalry, NJ S. ~.
Commanding Battalion,
Expedition to Pocahontas,