 |
Barry Co., MO, Civil War Data |
|
| CIVIL WAR CORRESPONDENCE UNION |
| Headquarters Detachment In The Field,
Greenfield, October 27, 1864---4 p. m. Lieutenant-Colonel Brutsche, Commanding District of Southwest Missouri: Colonel: I have just returned from expedition of this morning. Picked up two men directly from Price's army, which they say they left yesterday at about 1 o'clock, thirty five miles north of Carthage. Federals closely pursuing. Intelligence received this place from deserters, who have arrived since I left, state that when they left Price was southwest of Carthage. There is no doubt of the reliability of the report. The squad which I went in pursuit of this morning was doubtless Coffee's escort moving by his home. As soon as my command assembles I will move to Mount Vernon, as I believe you would if situated similarly. I will leave for that point early, leaving only such of my command behind as are unable to march, with Captain Kirby. A messenger has just reported from Captain O'Brien, whose report also corroborates the foregoing, adding the additional that he (Price) will move on Springfield from Carthage, which latter I do not believe. His force is reported about 20,000. I will receive orders from you at Mount Vernon to-morrow morning, if I occupy it in advance of Price. Respectfully, & c., HUGH CAMERON Lieut. Colonel Second Arkansas Cavalry. Commanding Detachment in the field. P. S.--We have about twenty deserters. I hope you will send to me more calvary to Mount Vernon that I may have a respectable command. I desire to join in the pursuit. Paper inclosed speaks for itself. H. C. Headquarters District Of Southwest Missouri, Springfield, Mo., October 27, 1864. Major Melton, Cassville: Colonel Cameron with detachment has gone on a scout. Send dispatch to Major Burch at once. Hold your command in readiness to march at a moment's notice. Use every exertion to keep up the telegraph line. J. D. BRUTSCHE. Lieutenant-Colonel and Acting Assistant Adjutant General. Headquarters District Of Southwest Missouri, Springfield, Mo., October 27, 1864 Major Melton, Cassville: Move with your command at once by forced marches to Mount Vernon. I leave for that place this afternoon. Send operator with instruction to Springfield. J. D. BRUTSCHE Lieutenant-Colonel and acting Assistant Adjutant General. Headquarters District Of Southwest Missouri, Springfield, Mo., October 27, 1864. Major M. Burch, Neosho: It is reported that Price has been badly beaten near Independence; Marmaduke and Cabell and 1,500 prisoners captured. Price is no doubt moving rapidly south on the Kansas border, and may pass near Neosho. Hold your command in readiness to move at a moments notice, and if you receive reliable information that he is moving on Neosho, fall back with your command to Mount Vernon. Give instructions to commanding officer at Newtonia. By order of Brigadier-General Sanborn: J. D. BRUTSCHE, Lieutenant-Colonel and Acting Assistant Adjutant-General. Warrensburg, Mo., October 31, 1864 Brigadier-General Sanborn, Springfield: Dispatch received. It was my intention that you and McNeil should follow the retreating column of the enemy, giving it no time to rest until it was brought within the grasp of Steel's troops at Fort Smith. Make now the most judicious dispositions you can to insure the complete expulsion of Price from the State, and if possible, from Arkansas. To this end you may have to move to Cassville, and probably lower. Make thorough work. You have 1,200 fresh troops. General McNeil's forces will be available to move with you, to whom show this. You will both accept my thanks for your soldiery energy hitherto displayed. W. S. ROSECRANS, Major-General Warrensburg, October 31, 1864 10 a. m. Brigadier-General Sanborn, Springfield: The General commanding directs that you move at once with your command to Cassville and open communications with General Curtis. FRANK S. BOND, Major and Aide-de-Camp Springfield, Mo., October 31, 1864. Major-General Rosecrans, Warrensburg: Lieutenant-Colonel Brutsche has just returned from a scout in Lawrence County, where he attacked a company of General Price's scouts, under Jenkins, and a battallion under Hodge. The rebels exhibited their usual panic and ran from inferior numbers. The enemy's loss is 100 killed and 133 prisoners.Our loss is 4 wounded and 4 horses. General McNeil's command is here shoeingand getting supplies. The enemy is devoting all his energies to the singlepoint of getting away without any more fighting, and I think must succeed.He destroys no property, not even public. It required a march of ninety-twomiles in thirty-six hours to force a battle the last time, and it willrequire more than that now. I have ordered all my servicable cavalry andBoardman's battery to Cassville, and will move this column upon the enemy'strail at the earliest possible moment, although I do not anticipate strikingthe enemy. I shall move this column under command of Colonel Gravely, unlessotherwise ordered by you. I am very decided in my judgment that the interestsof the Government require that all the other cavalry should rest or bereturned to Rolla by slow marches. JOHN B. SANBORN Brigadier-General, Commanding REPORT. 37. Report of Lieutenant Hugh Cameron, Second Arkansas Cavalry (Union). Headquarters Detachment. In the Field, Mount Vernon, Mo., October 31, 1864. General: I have the honor to report that on the 29th of October,1864, with a detachment of about 400 men, principally of the Second ArkansasCalvary, I pursued a body of rebels, supposed to be 800 strong, under commandof Colonel Hodge, from Buck Prarie, Lawrence County, and encountered themat the Upshaw farm near Camp Bliss, Barry County. Routed and dispersedthem; killed 50, took 37 prisoners, 58 horses, 4 mules, a large numberof saddles, and several stand of arms. Three wounded only were found; theremainder escaped on their horses or concealed themselves in the brush.The prisoners report that there were ten captains with Colonel Hodge, viz,Captains Thomas Todd and John Merrick, Captains Sitton, Kimball, Shull,Rudd, Withers, Onam, Arnold, and Anabury. The last named was killed earlyin the encounter. My loss was 1 slightly wounded, 1 man injured by hishorse falling, and a few horses crippled. The officers and men under my command behaved gallantly. CaptainMitchell, Seventh Provisional Enrolled Missouri, commanding the advance,deserves to be especially mentioned. I have the honor to be, general, most respectfully, your obedientservant. HUGH CAMERON Lieutenant-Colonel Second Ark. Cav., Commanding Detachment inthe field. Brig. General John Sanborn, Commanding District of Southwest Missouri. Headquarters District of Southwest Missouri, Springfield, Mo., November 13, 1864 Colonel: I have the honor to submit the following report of the operationsof my command during the late movement of the rebel army under GeneralPrice into and through the state. Preparations for this campaign on the part of the rebels commencedin the valley of the White River about the 10th of June last, General Shelbyarriving there with his division, seizing all mills and horses for thegovernment use, and commencing a rigid conscription, as communicated inmy telegraphic dispatches to department headquarters on the 15th and 16thof that month. On the 29th of October Lieutenant-Colonel Cameron, Second ArkansasCavalry, with a detachment of about 400 men, attacked a force of about800 rebels in Barry County, and by a sudden dash broke the enemy's linekilling 50 of his men, and capturing 37 men prisoners, 58 horses, 4 mules,some small arms, and other property. On the same day Liuentenant ColonelBrutsche attacked a body of rebels, killing a large number and taking alarge number of prisoners. Fortifications were constructed about Springfield and other postsin the district during the time the enemy was in the state. The citizens and enrolled militia are entitled to great credit fortheir zeal and labors in driving the common enemy from the State and preservingthis section of the state from devastation and ruin. These forces withthe U.S troops remaining in the district have captured more than 800 prisoners,and otherwise greatly crippled the enemy. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, JOHN B. SANBORN Col. John V. Du Bois, Chief of Staff. Brigadier-General, Commanding |
Return to |
Return to |
|
Barry County website since Sept. 23, 1996 |
||