The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1863-10-31
The Defeat of Shelby-ORcial Report of
General Brown.
HEADQUARTERS IN THE FIELD,
Marshall, Mo-, October I8. ISe

HEADQUARTERS IN THE FIELD,
Marshall, Mo-, October 10, 1853
GENERAL: / have the honor to report that,
after following the enemy through Cole
Camp, Syracuse and Boonville, diminishing
with his rear all the distance, he was forced
to make a stand at Merrills Crossing OF
Salt Fork, point eight miles southwest of
Arrow Rock, and about the same distance
from Marshall, and commenced skin mish-
ing fight at six O'Clock on the evening OF
the 18th. in the midst of cold driving rain.
We fought him as long as we could see,
and lay down on our arms in the rain during
the night.
At three o'clock in the morning 1 de-
tached Lieut.. Col. Lazear, with about nine
hundred men, with orders to move to the
south. avoiding the route of the enemy,
and intercept him, il possible. at Marshall.
and bring on an engagement. while L fol-
lowed him (the enemy with the balance
of my command. The result was as l had
hoped; Lieut.. Colonel Lazear drove in t be
the advance of the enemy, and an engage
ment commenced at eight O'Clock. A. NJ.
The enemy had possession of the ford on
my arrival, and checked my advance for a
few moments, but by making a detour to
the left found one of these crossings and
gained position 10 their rear, on the bank OF
the creek, along which they were formed.
They soon gave way, and broke through the
dense timber and brush which for mile and
half fringed the borders of the creek By
throwing force through their centre their
forces were divided. part being driven east
toward Arrow Rock, and part, under Shell
by. to the northwest-both bodies pursued
by our victorious troops.
/ was misinformed when l reported TO
you by telegraph to- day that the enemy IS
artillery had been captured. We got his
best gun, an iron ten FOUNDER Parrot pat
tern }, originally in Bledsoe's Battery; but
be succeeded in getting away with one piece,
a brass six FOUNDER (sinced captured) J. that
was captured at Springfield on the 9th OF
January.
I am unable to give you correct &C
count of the killed and wounded. Ours,
including all our losses from Cole Camp to
the place and the fight of oday. will not
exceed thirty. Of the enemy, l am official
y advised that fifty three dead have been
found in the brush, and seventy wounded
who have been left at the hospitals here and
st the houses on the road in the vicinity.
They losta considerable number in the diff
ferent attacks we made on the march. AT
Merrills We found sixteen dead in the morn
ing after the skirmish. At Lamine Cross
ing they lost nine killed. We having taken
number of prisoners, and they are coming
in hourly. A portion of their train was
captured. think they are effectually bro
ken up, and shall not give them time to rally
CT concentrate. The pursuit and fighting
has been done by the NJ S. NJ. and E. M. NJ
can only point to the result of their gal
lantry and endurance. For the past three
days they have followed and engaged the
enemy night and day in the rain without
subsistence, except that gathered by the
wayside. or protection from the storm.
The enemy numbered nearly two thou.
sand men. My own force was about six.
teen hundred.
At an early day viii make more full
report.
am, very truly, your ob't serx't.
(Signed) E. B. BROWN,
Brigadier General Volunteers, Com
handing.
To Major General J. NJ. soHor1ELD
Commanding Department of the Missouri
st. Louis.