, 1864-12-25
TIE MISSOURI CAMPAIGN.
The 18th Illinois Cavalry - Their
VNhnt fllaspuri owes Them.

The !1sh nilno,s GssaiFy t,as r. yn,aa;nS Their
What Missouri owes Them.
In CANT NEAR RoLIA, Dec. 81, 1851
Editors Chicago Tribune: -.,.
The 18th Illinois cavalry, Col. j. s. Bever-
tdge commanding, which WAS sent to the Dr.
partment Of. Missouri last summer, where 1t
yet remains, having been engaged fighting
bushwhackers, and In pursuing Price during
his notable ruid, is now quartered at Rolla. :,
When the fight occurred at Pilot Knob,
where General Ewing and Colonel Fletcher
rcpulsed Price so handsomely and then re-
treated in good order, although dismounted,
more than seventy miles to Lcesburg, the 17ta
were at Ro1la. Not knowing the sequel Of the
Pilot Knob fight, but suppesing detachment
Of; the enemy was moving near Lecs6urg,
General Mcneil ordered Colonel BeverIdge to
10 In that direction and strike hard blow at
The enemy wherever found. Subsequent news
Of Ewing being fntrenehcd at Lecshurg, un-
able to leave lest the enemy should over-
wbclm him, changed the order to this form
e tRelIevs.EMing at all hazards"
With promptnesa, caution and courage tue
18th reached Leesburg- having, when near
rebel cavnlry-and relieved the brave fellows
who had supposed captivity aftcr ali wonld
be their probable fate. To the men Of Illinois
Missouri is indebted for their worthy Govern
OF. Colonel Fletcher, who would have been a
HoiSst. TsiS t. tho State Capitol with 'h' bogus hey
It needs no prophet to forcsce tho disas-
trous results Of IN opposite series Of facts.
Suppose Ewing not relieved-Fletcher cap
o9,Frpr
e1nor and hfs rebel cohorts juhilaut on thei.
way to Jefferson City unopposcdl Colonel
Fletcher was not slow to appreciate and grate-
fully acknowledge his obligations. When at
Rolla he vas introduced to Colonel Bcve1idge
b5 General McNeill, who said, playtully, You
replied, II met Colonel Bevcridge first under
circumstances that will impress him on my
memory q long time"
For these reasons the Illinois men have
fcltmuch pleased with themselves, the more
especially as none can dispute their right to
the honor, being alone on this expedition.
moved 10 Jefferson City and placed On the
right Of the line of defense. The men seemed
to lay hold with the instinct of veterans, get
ting ready for the assault. The I'd battalion
perfected partial breastwork, and the Sd,
under Major Fisher, originated dcfenscs,
which, together, made the most inyplnerable @ ne;
men to back 1t. And, although Price's whole
| army WIS masscd at that point on tho cyen-
| ing Of the day be attacked the center, yet he
moved of without approaching our line.
During the pursuit Of Price, the l7th - had ID
no opportunity t9 do a9y great ,,ssiings: ,sig Iaey
ing Col. Epstein with the 5lh II. $. ~, who
attacked and drove In the rebel lines, and
then covered his return after the fight. On
the 18th the 17tt were IN adsance Of San
born's division Of cayalry ten miles, looking
afler this they were sent, under Major Fisher,
toward and beyond Marshall, to determine, Il
| possible, the direction Of the enemy's move
mcnta. Gen. Clank.a column, from the: cap
ture Of Glasgow, had passed through the
night before. On the I'd Of Oct. the men OF
Illinois were deployed, dismounted, IN sup
Kansas In their splendid charge at !ndepen-
lence. The next day they were ordered )
Gen. McNeln to charEe, as separate column,
on Price's wagon Train to the right OF the
point attacked with artillery one and ball
mile Capt. Austin. Lieut.. Clarke, Lieut.
Black, and a few others, skfsuhisheFs, were
within striking distance when tue regiment
| was recalled to support the battery.
Two days after this, having reached Prices
rear, the Illinois regiment, With others, Wa
In line Of battle three times. The drst tim
tic enemy fell back without Resistance. Ths
second formation was In close column, on th.
tlot, charging by equadrons, at gallon, will
drawn sabrcs, In the face Of a vo!ley from I
covert foe. But on reaching TIC flank AMI
rear of the woods that screened them, tn
rebels were fleeing on swilter stccds thaI
theirs and out Of reach: The third and las
formation WAS after lelsurely march Of twt
miles over prairie broken by heavy undula
tions. Slowly ascending slope. several reg
imcuts were moving III parallel colnmns .
fours, when all At once there stood ont l,
-~ftx T. "a
tlc- supported BY heavy columns. and extend
! ing two mica Calm as statuaEy, fixed to th
, ground, calmly awaiting the small Feder1
I fo1 cn In the advance, large army stood.
. r. That was test Of courage for the i7t6..
! 1900 men In line Of battle, which had forme
. us they advanced With 30 great disprs
portion in the oppasing forces, no fear OF he'
, ftation was seen. Onward steadily, quietly
! handsomely. When tha center Of the briff
. ade wavered, the 17th wheeled by tonEs
: "ieft into iine:'' Of when the rcbsls move
i up to occupy the ground thus vacated, the
!, wheeled again by fours to the LEFT, ohltquin
4 | to the front, and again In line on their ol
y ground, with q promptness and decision "
would hare done them credit at holds
drill. And when Gen. AeNicll had expresss
bis impaticnee at the hesitancy Of the cent
q ESnd right wing, and their failure to keep pa
~ With the left, ind directed Col. B. to " mo-
forward at ones with your regimt Mt any how
away they vent at The Tord aiosTaTn' a;'' = N, n
fu1ronf Of Price's lines, now csumbllng ~
l. hasteu,nE to the woods beyond.
r. Thus briefly is summed up lthe military c
= reer Of the 17th Illinois Cavalry. With
j. tie disposition 10 do hcnoblest things dare
IN The held, the opportunity was not not aaord anD
), strated their identity with the brave men
IS Qllneis and nrc worthy to associate with Il