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nanged shots, but could get no fight. There are several hundred thwest of Clinton. I think most in the region I scouted have gone 'e, as the last seen of them they were moving very fast that way. sday 250 attacked Clinton. Seventy militia citizens and negroes ended the place successfully, taking 1 prisoner and severely woundfive others. None of the Union men hurt. I got together about militia, who were in the brush. They now hold Clinton and Caln. They are entirely without orders and wish to be at work. If ce is going that way they could be concentrated at Fort Scott. ould raise about 1,000 pretty well armed to be there by Sunday, if t would be of any use. There are 2,500 militia now at Fort Scott. have heard nothing directly from the army for three days and do know what to do here.

Irs. Phelps is just in from Springfield, and says there are about 1,000 ctive cavalry there anxious to join their commands. Two thousand unted men can be sent from Springfield to Fort Scott in forty-eight urs after the order is received.

S. H. MELCHER,

Lieutenant-Colonel and Aide-de-Camp.

Capt. FRANK ENO, Assistant Adjutant-General,

CTOBER 26-27, 1864. - Scout from Vidalia to the York Plantation, La. port of Maj. George D. Reynolds, Sixth U. S. Colored Heavy Artillery. HDQRS. THIRD BATT., SIXTH U. S. COLORED HEAVY ARTY.,

Vidalia, La., October 27, 1864. LIEUTENANT: I have the honor to report that in obedience to Special ders, No. 14, October 26, I took 100 men of my command, and, leavg this post at 9 p. m., marched to Choteau Plantation, five miles out, riving there at 11.30 o'clock. I camped all night. At daylight this orning I sent the cavalry which accompanied me, six men, three miles 'ther on, to the York plantation, to collect information as to the proedings of the rebels who were on that place on the 26th instant. The Dels, 100 strong, under Captain Lee, came on the York place at 12 -lock, took all the stock, killed 1 refugee, wounded 3 negroes. They en went to the Sycamore place, where they wounded 1 negro, took veral yoke of cattle, and a good deal of negro clothing, and destroyed large quantity of food. They then left, taking all the stock, two gons, and other plunder, going on the Trinity road to Cross Bayou. aving obeyed the instructions given me, I returned to this place at 50 á. m. this day.

GEO. D. REYNOLDS,

Major Sixth U. S. Colored Heavy Arty., Comdg. Third Batt. Lieut. S. M. GUEST, Post Adjutant, Vidalia.

OCTOBER 29, 1864. -Skirmish near Warrenton, Mo.

Eport of Brig. Gen. Thomas Ewing, jr., U. S. Army, commanding Dis

trict of St. Louis.

SAINT LOUIS, October 29, 1864. At dark guerrillas, reported 900 strong, threw off the track a eight train going north, five miles beyond Warrenton, and at last counts were fighting with escort; the escort was but thirty men. The train, I am quite certain, had no Government stores aboard. The messenger who brought the news to Warrenton says the passenge train from the north was then due, and the guerrillas allowed one of the train men to go a short distance up to flag that train to keep it fred being destroyed, and expecting to rob it. I am confident Color Holmes, with 400 or 500 of his command, were on that train comu here. If so, the guerrillas will be roughly handled. Major Montgol ery, with 200 of Sixth Missouri, was sent by me to Cap-au-gris, Lincoln County, four days ago, and is to-night at Wentzville, whers he has just telegraphed me he leaves at once for Warrenton. Ia also sending up some colored troops I have had at Perruque bridge | Telegraph line down beyond Warrenton.

Col. J. V. DU BOIS..

THOMAS EWING, JR.,

Brigadier-General.

OCTOBER 29-NOVEMBER-8, 1864. — Expedition to Quincy, Mo., with skir mishes (November 1 and 2) near Quincy.

Report of Capt. Jacob Cassairt, Eighth Missouri State Militia Cacairy.

LEBANON, Mo., November 15, 1864.

SIR: I have the honor to make the following report:

In compliance with orders received from district headquarters, mysel: and Lieutenant Paxton, with thirty men of Company I, Eighth Missouri State Militia Cavalry, started on a scout to Quincy, Hickory County, Mo... and vicinity, on the 29th ultimo. We reached there on the 30th. O the morning of the 31st, being informed of a force of rebels at WWarsaw, I immediately moved in that direction as far as Pomme de Terre bridge. I there ascertained that they had passed through, shaping their cours southward. I then returned and camped near Quincy. On the morn ing of the 1st instant I was informed by a party of my men who had been out reconnoitering that the rebels were in the prairie some two miles distant from us. I immediately started after them with thirty five men, being joined by five Union citizens of the neighborhood. I came upon their trail in the open woods. After a double-quick mark. of about ten miles I came up with them formed in line of battle ready to receive us. We judged from appearance that they were about 100 strong. They occupied open ground near the prairie. I then ordered a charge, which was executed in good order; not a man swerved frou his duty. A few shots from us broke their line of battle and they fled in great confusion. We pursued them about four miles, killing 6 and wounding 3 others, who made their escape after we had passed them Among the killed was one Captain Vansickle, of Texas. We also cap tured a negro boy and released Judges Owen and Jackman, a Mr. Brown, and two other Union men of Benton County, who were all pris oners in their hands. None of my men were hurt. I returned the same evening to the prairie and took up camp for the night.

On the morning of the 2d instant I again received information that the rebels, about 300 strong, were passing along the skirts of the woods. I immediately started in pursuit of them with a force of forty five men, having been joined by five of my own men and ten Unio citizens of the neighborhood, determined, if possible, to overtake them.

pon struck their trail and received reliable information that they were strong. We came in sight of them about 2 p. m., where the road kes a very short turn. We cut across, striking their line of march ar the rear, cutting off about 100 men from the rear of their column. r men raised the yell and fell in upon them, Lieutenant Paxton, in advance, who, after emptying his revolvers, struck down two of them h his saber. We pushed them so rapidly that they had no time for lying their broken column. Their colonel in attempting to rally em was killed. He proved to be Colonel Groomes, of Shelby's comnd. The enemy in their flight abandoned quite a number of led rses, which the citizens gathered up after the fight. All of the killed, Counting to twenty-five in number, fell into our hands, most of the unded making their escape by crawling into the brush. Several of rmen had their clothes pierced with balls, but none of them were unded. Night closed farther pursuit. Our horses being very much igued, we returned to the prairie again and encamped for the night. ld and hungry we did the best we could for the night.

On the next morning we received information of another large body rebels coming in the same direction, evidently on the trail of the hers. On examination I found that we were nearly out of ammuni n. Bolivar being the nearest post, we set out about noon for that ace. We reached there about 9 p. m. of the same day. On the mornfollowing I dispatched to Springfield stating my condition. I nained at Bolivar until the morning of the 5th. Having received no enforcements I determined to return to Quincy. On reaching that Einity it became evident that the last-mentioned force of rebels had obably changed their course. The force that we had fought on the instant were scattered all over the country, evidently not knowing mich way to run. Nine of them surrendered to Colonel Halbert, a ading man of Hickory County; one even stooped so low as to surder to a free negro.

On the morning of the 6th I received orders to proceed to Lebanon soon as possible, on account of which I was unable to learn the mount of horses, arms, &c., which had been gathered up by the citius through the country. I arrived at this post on the 8th instant. JACOB CASSAIRT,

Captain Company I, Eighth Missouri State Militia Cavalry.

Maj. JOHN COSGROVE,

Commanding Post, Lebanon, Mo.

OVEMBER 1, 1864. -Skirmish on the Big Piney, near Waynesville, Mo. eport of Lieut. D. W. Cantrell, Thirty-fourth Enrolled Missouri Militia.

NOVEMBER 1, 1864.

SIR: In compliance with orders I performed the duty. Near the outh of Big Piney, at old man Black's, I found four bushwhackers d attacked them and wounded 2 and took one prisoner. Started and e prisoner tried to escape, and the guard halted twice and then fired ad killed him. I took 2 horses.

D. W. CANTRELL,

Second Lieut. Company G, 34th Enrolled Missouri Militia.

NOVEMBER 1, 1864. - Skirmish near Lebanon, Mo.

Report of Capt. D. A. W. Morehouse, Provisional Company ER

Missouri Militia.

LEBANON, [November] 2. 1864.

GENERAL: On the evening 1st post train to Dallas County forage, train was attacked by a band of rebels, part of a force strong. Major Cosgrove left with 100 men at 3 o'clock this morning the direction of Springfield. Heard from him by passenger stag Rebels passed between where the two stages stopped last night. Mas is in pursuit; rebel force 600 strong. Captain Turner, Company f Sixth Provisional Enrolled Missouri Militia, has arrived here fr Clinton. Reports camped last night at Lewisburg. Rebels campe night before 600 strong.

D. A. W. MOREHOUSE,

Capt. Provisional Co., Enrolled Missouri Militia, Comdg. Post, General SANBORN.

NOVEMBER 1, 1864.--Affair at Greenton, Mo.

Report of Capt. William N. Norville, commanding Post.

POST LEXINGTON, MO.,
November 3, 1861.

CAPTAIN: I have the honor to report that Maj. Samuel Henry, Ass. Surg. John P. Porter, and Lieut. Harles Ashley, regimental quarter master, all of the Eighty-ninth Indiana Regiment Infantry, were taked prisoners on the 1st at Greenton, La Fayette County, Mo., by thre guerrillas, rapidly taken to the bushes, where their bodies were fou yesterday. They were all shot through the head. Their bodies wer brought to this post by a citizen who relates as follows: While the Eighty-ninth Regiment was marching through Greenton these this officers rode up to a house and called for dinner. The lady told the that she had nothing cooked, but that if they could wait she would s have something cooked. They consented to wait; their comman marched on. They had gotten their dinner, left the house for their hors hitched at the gate, where, upon going into the house, they had als left their arms. Before they had reached their horses, three men in Fest eral uniform came dashing up and ordered them to surrender. The of cers at first regarded it as a joke, but upon cocked revolvers bein. presented they surrendered almost within sight of the regiment a were taken to the woods. I have buried them to-day. When broug here they had neither overcoats nor vests on; Major Henry's saber huu. in a tree near his body.

I am, sir, respectfully,

W. N. NORVILLE. Captain, Commanding Post.

v.

NOVEMBER 1-30, 1864. - Operations in Central Arkansas.

SUMMARY OF THE PRINCIPAL EVENTS.

2-3, 1864.-Expedition from Little Rock to Benton, Ark.
17-18, 1864.-Expedition from Little Rock to Fagan's Ford; Saline River.

26-Dec. 2, 1864.-Expedition from Lewisburg to Strahan's Landing, Ark. 28-Dec. 8, 1864.-Expedition from Brownsville to Fairview, Ark. REPORTS.

.1.-Itinerary of the Cavalry Division, Seventh Army Corps, Brig. Gen. Joseph R. West, U. S. Army, commanding.

. 2.-Col. John F. Ritter, First Missouri Cavalry, commanding Second Brigade. . 3.-Maj. George S. Avery, Third Missouri Cavalry.

. 4.-Itinerary of the Third Brigade, Cavalry Division, Seventh Army Corps, Col. Washington F. Geiger, Eighth Missouri Cavalry, commanding.

5. 5.-Maj. Joseph S. McCartney, Tenth Illinois Cavalry.

D. 6.-Maj. George L. Childress, Eighth Missouri Cavalry.

No. 1.

Finerary of the Cavalry Division, Seventh Army Corps, Brig. Gen. Joseph R. West, U. S. Army, commanding.*

November 8.-Detachments of the Second, Third, and Fourth Briades, comprising an aggregate of 3,000 men, were marched under the ivision commander to Norristown, a point on the Arkansas River bout midway between Little Rock and Fort Smith, with the object of overing a supply train then en route to the latter point, and for the arther purpose of intercepting the retreat of the rebel army under Feneral Price from Missouri. The safety of the train was secured, and dvices being received from General West on November 10 that Price ad crossed the Arkansas above Fort Smith, the command returned by etachments to the several brigade camps.

November 21. - The First Brigade, stationed at Pine Bluff, Ark., Colnel Erskine commanding, with 200 men marched down the south side f the Arkansas River to meet and protect a fleet on the way up.

November 23.- Met the advance boat at Arkansas Post, and returned, aving seen no force of the enemy. Captured 2 rebel officers and 8 men, who were home on furlough from Forrest's command. No other xpeditions of importance have been made during the month.

No. 2.

Report of Col. John F. Ritter, First Missouri Cavalry, commanding Second Brigade.

HDQRS. SECOND BRIG., CAV. DIV., SEVENTH ARMY CORPS,

Little Rock, Ark., November 5, 1864.

SIR: I have the honor to report that pursuant to orders I proceeded vith 369 men and officers of this brigade and a detachment of the Third Wisconsin Cavalry of 110 men and officers, at 6 p. m. on the 2d nstant, on the Jenkins' Ferry road, and reached Doctor Morton's place about thirty-five miles) at about 7 a. m. next morning. No enemy at that place, and had not been in that vicinity since a week before.

* From monthly return,

57 R R-VOL XLI, PT I

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