The Washington herald., 1914-09-27
CIVIL WAR DAY BY DAY
Fifty Years Ago.
September Cavalry Raiders Under Gen Sterling Price
Small Federal Garrison Pilot Knob No. and Were Re-
pulsed-The Confedaes March on St Louis

= he W dShlnSl ION hcTdlul
| at Fort Davidson to 1,O5l men. Of whom
half were raw troops. There were about
| ten guns in the fort.
Late in the afternoon OF September d
| the Confederates pressed on from Freder-
] iCktown. anxious to gain the railroad. OF
which Pilot Knob was the terminus, and
to follow it into ST. Louis. Near the
| town OF IrOnton, one mile south. Price
men came upon the Federals drawn up
| across their path, and heavy fighting
| ensued.
The firing continued nearly all that
night, the Confederates pushing the de
tenders back, step by step. until. at dawn
OF the 9th, Ironton was in their pos
session and the Federals were gathered
in the valley of Pilot Knob.
Fight in the VALLEY.
Gen. Shelby's Confederate division was
absent on other work. but the division
Of Gems. Pagan and Marmaduke ad-
vanCed to attack Fort Davidson. The
Federals ClUnE tenaciOusly 10 a narrow
gap in the hills through which the road
from IrontOn came down and forced the
, COnfederates to take a roundabout way
to come within range OF the defenses.
Confederate batteries were placed upon
the SUBMITS Of the two most prominent
emincnCes-PiOt Knob from which the
village took its name. and Shepherds
MOuntain-and foT hours an artillery
duel was maintained, the advantage being
with the Federals. in spite OF the su-
perior positions Of Gen. Prices guns
Finally. late in the afternoon. guns
were placed in such positions that the
FeGerals were unable to reach them and.
under cover Of heavy bombRrdment of
the fort. the Confederates' cavalry, who
had dismounted. swept down upon the
work
The charge was met with as great gal
iantry as il was made. and a terrific
struggle RACED along the parapet and
trenches. The Confederates outnum-
bered the FederaIs probably four TO one.
but the latter stuck TO their posts and
repu!sed every advance. Darkness
brought an end to the days fighting.
when the Confederates withdrew, leav-
ing their dead and wounded on the field.
Gen. Price sent hurried messages to
Shelby. ordering him up to renew the
assault the next morning. But when
dawn came round again it was found
that the Federals had disappeared. Feel
ing that he could not hope TO success
fully, meet another attack, Gen. Ewing
had NTuictiy withdrawn his men in the
night
1t was a dangerous undertaking, for
the whole valley was lighted by the
, coal mine near tn" base of the Knob
and a nearby pile of charcoal which
Glowed furiously all night II was found
that Gen. Price had neglected to guard
one of the main roads out OF the val
ley, and, taking advantage of 1t. the
Federals made of in safety. Trains
were laid to the magazines. which blew
up with a fearful crash about o'clock
in the morning. The artillery in the
fort was abandoned to the COnfedeTates,
as was a small supply Of army stores.
The Federals lost about 800 killed,
wounded and captured. while reliable
testimony sets the COnfedeFates' losses
nt more than loco. The delay occasioned
by the OpS ratiuns was of great advan-
taCe to the Federals, and enabled them
10 prepare a warm welcome for the
raiders later in the campaign.
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