Pilot Knob
Pilot Knob, October 18. -- Yesterday about ten o'clock A.M., the news came into Pilot Knob of a severe but short engagement having taken place near Fredericktown, between our forces and those commanded by Jeff. Thompson and Col. Lowe. It seems that Capt. Hawkins, commanding the Independent Missouri Cavalry, was ordered on Tuesday to proceed with a detachment of forty men to reconnoiter in vicinity of Fredericktown.
Having proceeded to within five and a half miles of town, his advance guard was suddenly attacked by the rebels, and two of his men taken prisoners, the enemy were how-ever driven within the lines. Wednesday morning his advance guard was again attacked and four of his men captured. They were however retaken. While awaiting reinforcements from Pilot Knob, Capt. Hawk-ins command was three times attacked by the enemy during the day, who each time was successfully repulsed and driven in.
Late in the evening reinforcements arrived, consisting of six companies of Major Gavitt's Indiana cavalry, and five companies of infantry under Col. Alexander of the 21st Illinois. Thursday morning at day-light, while on the march, the advance guard under Lieut. E. Francis, of Captain Hawkin's command, was soon among the enemy. Slight skirmishing commenced, Capt. Hawkins' coming up with the balance of his command, supported by the whole battalion of Major Gavitt, when there was some clean running done by the rebels. For two miles the road was strewn with blankets, saddles, shot-guns, rifles, hats, caps, & etc.
Near town the enemy were in consider-able force in the woods, thickets and brush, and attacked our main force, doing considerable damage before they were driven from their position. Major Gavitt, charged upon them, driving them in every direction, wounding many and killing three; also, several horses were taken.
In this charge Capt Hawkins' command sustained a severe loss. Lieut. Francis fell from his horse and was carried off mortally wounded. Several of his men were dangerously wounded, and it is thought will not recover. This company, with but few exceptions, were of raw recruits, never having been under fire before, yet they stood up like soldiers, receiving and giving volley after volley. In this attack Captain Hawkins received a shot in the knee; his horse was shot in twelve places. In this attack Major Gavitt had one man killed sad several wounded. The infantry having come up, and feeling confident of being attacked by a very superior force, Col Alexander ordered due command to fell back on more advantageous ground. As they were withdrawing they found the enemy were pursuing in force. Colonel Alexander then threw out three or four companies in ambush. The remainder then commenced a hasty retreat, and the enemy supposing a victory close at hand, ran into the trap, and were completely routed, leaving the road strewn with dead men and horses. It was impossible to ascertain the number killed of the enemy in the entire engagement, as they were scattered all through the woods, though it does not fall short of fifty. During the night the entire force of Col Alexander fell back to Pilot Knob. No advance has since been made in that direction; however, they are completely entrapped, it is supposed, by movements not best to make public. We are expecting-hot times in the South east soon.
Most respectfully, P. R.
The Crisis - October, 31, 1861
Pilot Knob, October 25—Col. Plummer has returned with his command to Cape Girardeau.
Col. Cablin now occupies Fredericktown with a regiment of infantry, a squadron of cavalry and two pieces of artillery.
Thompson and his Regal band were pursued twenty-two miles beyond Fredericktown, on the Greenville road, when the chase was abandoned. They are probably at Greenville now, but they are completely demoralized, and will, doubtless, continue their retreat.
The detail sent out to bury the dead after the battle reported nearly 200 of the Rebels killed and left on the field. Our loss was six killed and about forty wounded—one mortally.
Philadelphia Inquirer – October 28, 1861
The Fight at Fredericktown, Missouri
Further Particulars
Pilot Knob, October 26 -- There are but few additional particulars of the Fredericktown fight. It was a glorious victory on our part, and a disastrous defeat to the enemy.
The battle took place one mile south of Fredericktown, where the road to Greenville crosses a kind of ravine. The enemy were well posted in the corn fields and brush on both sides of the road beyond the ravine. Their cannon were well planted, too, for the purpose of defending the road against our approach. Whilst all the troops were eager for the fray, most of the fighting fell to the share of the Indiana Cavalry and Col Ross' Seventeenth Illinois.
Other regiments could only participate in the chase, which commensed in less than an hour after the first gun was fired.
The enemy was pursued eight or ten miles—they scattering off to the right and left by every practicable route. The retreat was on the line of the Greenville road, and the remnant of Thompson's army is making for Arkansas in double quick time.
Our loss in killed does not exceed six, and there are not more than twenty who are seriously wounded. The loss of the enemy is not less than two hundred in killed and wounded. Twenty five dead bodies were buried from a single field yesterday, and others were found upon the line of the retreat for miles beyond the battle field.
We captured twenty-seven prisoners, together with a lot of guns, etc. Most of the guns are of the most ordinary description of squirrel rifles or shotguns, some of then with the old flint lock.
Our wounded, together with the remains of Major Gavitt and Captain Hyman, were brought to Ironton last night. A few of the wounded, with these two gallant officers, have been sent up to St Louis by today's train. Also, the body of private McClain, of the same regiment.
Our whole force left Fredericktown yesterday noon, in pursuit of the fugitives. It is very questionable whether they will be able to overhaul them this side of the Arkansas line. The people of Fredericktown seem to have united in an attempt to deceive the U S troops as to the whereabouts of Thompson and his army. They stated to the officers that Thompson had left the town on Sunday, and was by that time (Monday noon) thirty miles away. They were at the same time aware that this swamp-fox and his followers had arranged a very pretty ambuscade within a mile of the town, where they expected to aniolate their foes. The troops were greatly exasperated by this attempt at deception, and, after the battle, several houses were fired before the soldiers could be restrained by their officers.
Philadelphia Inquirer – October 28, 1861 |
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