Battlefield Dispatches 206: 'Shot & Killed'

By 1864 the "Union" Command in the Departments of Missouri and Kansas realized that one of the most successful ways to wage war against the Confederate guerrillas in the "Show-Me-State" was to send out small expeditions or patrols of approximately 100 men. This enabled the "Yankees" to move fairly quickly, required less logistical support and no or a very small number of wagons. In fact, most of these expeditions "lived off of the land" and if no forage for the horses or food for the troops could be found, both man and beast went hungry until such sustenance was found, bought or stolen! The following after action report describes such a patrol in southwest Missouri and is located on Pages 642 and 643 in Volume 34, Pat I Reports of the Official Record of the War of the Rebellion.

"Hdqrs. 3rd Cavalry, Mo. State Militia,

Pilot Knob, Mo. March 26,1864.

Colonel: In compliance with Special Orders, No. 76, Headquarters Post Pilot Knob, I left this post at 2 p.m. on the 16th of March with 100 men & encamped 3 miles north of Buford's Ford on the Black River.

On the 17th, I passed through Barnesville & encamped 6 miles from the current river on Hen Peck Creek.

On the 18th, took the main Alton Road & encamped 3 miles north of the Eleven Points River. After having encamped I sent a scout of 20 men, under the command of Lieutenant Blain, to look for some desperadoes on Spring Creek. About 4 miles from camp, he discovered 8 to 10 in an old house and charged upon them. The rebels fired a volley from the windows & door, killing 1 private (Thorpe) of Company D and wounding Sergeant Burks of the same company; then availing themselves of some rugged hills in the rear of the house, made their escape, abandoning their horses.

On the morning of the 19th, I scoured the hills of Eleven Points River and then proceeded through Alton to Frederick's Fork and encamped.

On the 20th, I took the Alton and Pocahontas Road and moved forward in the direction of Pocahontas. About noon we came upon a rebel conscripting (recruiting) party. The advance charged upon them, killing 8 & wounding 1 mortally and capturing the remainder of the squad. On the afternoon of the same day, a man was SHOT & KILLED by the advance guard in attempting to make his escape from a house. We encamped at McElroy's, 10 miles from Pocahontas.

On the morning of the 21st, I moved forward to Pocahontas. Finding nothing there I took the road to Warm Sulphur Springs, then a due west course to Eleven Points River and encamped.

On the 22nd, I marched toward the headquarters of the Fourche a' Thomas. Moving up that creek, about 5 o'clock in the afternoon we encountered Captain Payton with his company of HORSE THIEVES and MURDERERS! He drew up in line and fired upon the advance without effect, when bringing my men forward at the GALLOP, I ordered a CHARGE. The men went into them with a [Yankee] YELL, killed 11 and pursued the remainder for miles across the hills, dispersing them in every direction. I encamped at this place for the night.

On the 23rd, I took the Van Buren Road, passed through that place and Patterson, arriving at this post on the evening of the 25th, having been absent nine and a half days, traveled more than 300 MILES, KILLED 21 GUERRILLAS, CAPTURED 11 PRISONERS, SOME 12 HORSES AND SOME ARMS. The whole country which I passed is INFESTED with SMALL BANDS of GUERRILLAS, their principle headquarters being in Oregon County and commanded by Captains Payton, Long and Evens. Kitchen, Freeman and Love have concentrated for some purpose a force of about 500 men east of the Black river, near Jacksonport. Reeves has about 90 men 15 miles southeast of Pocahontas, No considerable force can exist for any length of time near Pocahontas, there being no forage in the country. It was with the utmost difficulty that I could obtain forage for 100 men by taking all I could find. There was about 15 feet of water in the Black River at Pocahontas. I could not find any of Colonel Livingston's scouts, they never came up from the Missouri / [Arkansas} line.

JAMES WILSON

Major, 3rd. Mo. State Militia Cavalry, Comdg. Expd. To Ark."

So ended another successful "Union" expedition in southwest Missouri and northern Arkansas and of course, the WAR WENT ON!