fought, and also the successful engagement of Colonel Plummer’s command
at Frederickton, Mo., a spirited fight was maintained by a small force
of Federal troops in Kentucky. They were successful in resisting the
attack of a large body of the enemy under General Zollicoffer, who had
made advances into that State from Tennessee, by the Cumberland Gap. The
engagement was unimportant when viewed in reference to the numbers
engaged, or the loss of life, but its moral effects were significant. It
was the first battle thus far that had taken place upon the soil of
Kentucky, and it was bravely fought by her own loyal sons.
To oppose the advance of the rebels, a single Kentucky regiment, under
Colonel Garrard, was stationed at Rock-castle creek, at an encampment
known by the name of “Wild Cat.” General Zollicoffer conceived the
design of cutting off this isolated regiment, and for that purpose was
moving rapidly forward with six regiments of infantry and one of
cavalry, sacking the towns of Barboursville and Loudon in his progress.
General Albin Schoepf, who commanded the Federal troops in this
district, hearing of the advance of the rebel forces, dispatched the
Thirty-third Indiana, Colonel J. Coburn, from the camp at Big Hill,
nineteen miles south of Richmond, with instructions to occupy an
eminence half a mile to the east of Camp Wild Cat, while directions were
also given to the Fourteenth Ohio to proceed to the same place; and two
regiments of Tennessee Federalists, then at Camp Dick Robinson,
forty-four miles from the scene of action, hastened to participate in
the expected fight, and marched the whole distance on the day of the
21st, arriving just after the last feint by the enemy. Colonel
Woolford’s Kentucky cavalry had also arrived, and General Schoepf and
staff reached the scene of action in the course of the day.
At eight o’clock on the morning of the 21st, before the arrival of
Colonel Coburn’s forces at the point designated, the advance of the
enemy, with wild and exultant shouts, attacked Colonel Garrard’s camp,
and anticipated an easy victory over an inferior force, much reduced by
sickness. But the brave Kentuckians met them with an undaunted front,
and poured into their ranks a deadly fire. Having been taught to despise
the little band they were now attacking, the rebels advanced again
gallantly to the assault, but the cool and determined resistance they
met with soon put them to flight, and they retired discomfited, to await
the arrival of the main body of their forces.
Meantime Colonel Coburn, with four companies of the Thirty-third
Indiana, had started at seven o’clock, to reach the hill designated. The
command consisted of Company D, Captain McCrea; Company I, Captain
Hauser; Company E, Captain Hendricks; and Company G, Captain Dille—in
all about three hundred and fifty men. Their arrival was most opportune,
as the rebel forces were on the point of seizing the same position. The
companies were immediately deployed as skirmishers. In about twenty
minutes, the rebels, who were concealed in the woods, commenced firing.
Soon after they appeared in front, half a mile to the south, and below
in the valley. They were in large numbers, and formed in line, near an
open space, and then approached the Federal force under cover of a wood
which concealed them from view, and opened fire. At this moment the
Kentucky cavalry (Colonel Garrard,) came up, and reinforced the
Thirty-third. The enemy charged, but were repulsed under a galling fire.
The front of the rebels approached within a few rods of Colonel Coburn,
with their caps on their bayonets, saying that they were “Union men,”
and were “all right;” and having thus attempted to disarm the suspicion
of the loyal troops, suddenly poured a murderous fire upon them. After
an hour of severe struggle, the enemy were compelled to retreat, leaving
part of their dead and wounded behind them.
At about the close of this attack, another detachment of the forces
under General Schoepf came upon the ground. It consisted of four
companies of the Seventeenth Ohio. Company E, Captain Fox; company C,
Captain Haines; company K, Captain Rea; and company H, Captain Whisson,
all of whom, under Major Ward, promptly formed in line ready for their
part in the contest. But the enemy had retreated only to return with an
increased force. At about two o’clock, P. M., the attack was renewed,
and at the same time, company C, Fourteenth Ohio, Captain J. W. Brown,
appeared on the field. The position was fiercely contested, the Federal
troops rendering the most gallant and effective service in the face of
the largely superior force brought against them. A few discharges of
cannon, three pieces of which were in use, aided by the well-directed
infantry fire, resulted in the total rout and dispersion of the enemy,
who again retreated, and during the night were finally removed by
General Zollicoffer. Captain Stannard’s Ohio battery earned for itself
high commendations in this contest.
The Federal loss was four killed and twenty-one wounded. We have no
record of Zollicoffer’s loss.
While the battle was raging, General Schoepf, who had just arrived, and
had tied his horse to a tree at a short distance, desired a soldier to
go and get him. The man hesitating, the General went himself, and just
as he was unfastening the reins he was greeted with a storm of bullets.
One of them passed through his boot-top, and several struck the tree to
which the horse was tied. With the most perfect coolness the General
mounted his horse, and rode off to his post, as leisurely as if he were
an unconcerned spectator of the scene.
Zollicoffer subsequently had large reinforcements, which he put into a
condition for the best possible service, and commenced fortifying the
strong positions at Cumberland Gap.
BATTLE AT ROMNEY, VA.
OCTOBER 26, 1861.
The town of Romney is located in Hampshire county, Virginia, on the
south branch of the Potomac, one hundred and ninety miles north-west
from Richmond. It had been the theatre of previous military adventures
between the loyal troops and their enemies, who were on several
occasions compelled to retire from the place, but afterwards took
advantage of the absence of the Federal forces to return.
Brigadier-General B. F. Kelley, who commanded a portion of the forces in
the encounter at Phillipi, where he was wounded, was encamped with part
of his command at New Creek. He resolved to dislodge the rebels from
Romney, and ordered his forces to unite in a march on the town on the
morning of the 26th of October. The Fourth and Eighth Ohio, and Seventh
Virginia, were in the brigade, with the addition of the Ringgold
Cavalry.
The forces, after a march along their various routes of from twenty to
twenty-five miles, united, and about half-past two o’clock in the
afternoon, encountered the outposts of the enemy at Mill Creek, five
miles from Romney. These they drove in, and advanced to the Indian Mound
Cemetery, west of the town, where the rebels made a stand, and opened
fire with a twelve-pound rifled gun, placed in a commanding position in
the cemetery, and with a mountain howitzer from the high grounds on the
east bank of the river, at a point which commanded the road for half a
mile. At the east end of the bridge the enemy had thrown up
intrenchments, from which they kept up a constant fire of musketry upon
the head of the column. They were responded to by a twelve-pounder and
two six-pounders, until in about half an hour the General understood the
position, when he gave the command to charge upon the enemy’s
entrenchments. The cavalry, led by Captains Keys and McGhee, dashed
across the river at the ford, with enthusiastic shouts, while the
infantry, under the command of Colonels Mason and De Puy,
Lieutenant-Colonel Kelley, and Major Swearingen, rushed over the bridge
to encounter the enemy at the mouth of his guns. As soon as they saw
this movement, they immediately abandoned their positions, and retreated
precipitately through the town, flying in the direction of Winchester.
General Kelley captured a considerable number of the enemy, among whom
was Colonel Angus McDonald; two hundred horses, three wagon loads of new
rifles, three cannon, a large quantity of corn, wagons, tents, and, in
fact, everything they had.
Colonel Johns, with seven hundred men of the Second Potomac Home
Brigade, under orders from General Kelley, started from North Branch
bridge early in the morning, passing through Frankfort, having been
instructed to make a diversion with his force toward Springfield to
withdraw the attention of a portion of the enemy stationed there from
General Kelley’s movements. When within a mile and a half of Springfield
the rear of his column was fired upon by the rebels, occasioning a delay
of nearly an hour. The march was then renewed through Springfield,
disclosing evidences of the retreat of the enemy on the way. On arriving
at the bridge crossing the south branch of the Potomac, they were
discovered on the opposite side of the river, when a brisk fire was
commenced. After skirmishing half an hour, Colonel Johns determined to
cross the bridge, but found that a portion of the planking had been torn
up and removed. The enemy at the same time kept up a sharp fire, killing
one, and wounding six of his men. The passage of the bridge being
impracticable, and the firing having ceased in the direction of Romney,
Colonel Johns inferred that General Kelley was in possession of the
town. His own purpose having been accomplished in producing a diversion
of the rebel forces, and the necessity of joining Kelley no longer
existing, he withdrew his command to Oldtown, in Maryland, about nine P.
M., after a march of twenty-five miles.
BATTLE OF FREDERICKTON, MO.
OCTOBER 21, 1861.
Brigadier-General U. S. Grant commanding at Cairo, Illinois, being
informed that the rebel recruits under Colonel Jeff. Thompson and
Colonel Lowe, were congregating in Madison county, Missouri, ordered
Colonel J. B. Plummer, of the Eleventh Missouri Volunteers, to proceed
to Frederickton. Colonel Plummer was in command at Cape Girardeau, and
on the 18th, the day following the receipt of the order, he marched with
about fifteen hundred men, composed of the Seventeenth and Twentieth
Illinois Volunteers, Colonels Ross and Marsh, the Eleventh Missouri,
under the immediate command of Lieutenant-Colonel Pennabaker, Lieutenant
White’s section of Taylor’s battery, and Captains Steward and Lansden’s
companies of cavalry.
On arriving at Frederickton, Colonel Plummer found that the rebels had
evacuated the town the evening before, and that Colonel Carlin, with
about three thousand Federals from Pilot Knob, had occupied the place a
few hours before him. The enemy had retired in the direction of
Greenville, and Colonel Carlin having reinforced Colonel Plummer with
the Twenty-first and Thirty-third Illinois Volunteers, under Colonels
Alexander and Hovey, six companies of the First Indiana Cavalry, Colonel
Baker, and one section of Major Schofield’s battery, under Lieutenant
Hascock, they started in pursuit. The column, thus reinforced, was put
in motion at about one o’clock, P. M., but had not proceeded more than
three-quarters of a mile when the enemy was discovered a short distance
in advance.
Colonel Ross, whose regiment was the leading one of the column,
immediately deployed it to the left into a lane, and threw forward two
companies as skirmishers, to feel the enemy, whose exact position and
strength it was difficult to determine. Colonel Plummer directed Colonel
Ross to move forward his regiment into the cornfield in support of his
skirmishers, and ordered up Lieutenant White’s section of Taylor’s
battery, which immediately opened fire, and by its effectiveness soon
caused the enemy to respond. Their artillery consisted of four pieces,
masked, upon the slope of a hill about six hundred yards distant. The
principal body of their infantry, under Colonel Lowe, was posted in the
cornfield to the left of the road. With them the Seventeenth Illinois
was soon engaged. The other regiments of the column were deployed to the
right and left of the road as they came up. Colonel Plummer then ordered
forward the Thirty-eighth Illinois from the town, which promptly came
upon the field under one of its field officers, leaving there the Eighth
Wisconsin, under Colonel Murphy, and one section of Major Schofield’s
battery in reserve—a post of honor, though one disagreeable to them, as
all were eager to participate in the engagement.
As soon as it was practicable, Major Schofield, of the First Missouri
Volunteer Light Artillery, brought upon the field two sections of his
battery under Captain Matter and Lieutenant Hascock, which were placed
in position, and did efficient service. Major Schofield rendered
valuable aid in bringing the regiments on the right of the road into
line of battle, and in directing their movements.
In the mean time the enemy were falling back before the steady advance
and deadly fire of the Seventeenth and Twentieth Illinois, and a portion
of the Eleventh Missouri. Their retreat soon became a rout, and they
fled in every direction, pursued by the Union troops.
[Illustration: UNION HEROES GRANT. WALLACE. BUELL. SIGEL. POPE.]
At this time the enemy’s infantry on the right, where Thompson commanded
in person, being in retreat, the Indiana Cavalry charged and pursued
them. Thompson, however, had rallied a portion of his troops, about half
a mile in the rear of his first position, and brought one gun into
battery on the road, supported by infantry on either side. The cavalry
charged and took the gun, being exposed at the same time to a deadly
fire from the enemy’s infantry; but as the column that had been ordered
forward to their support did not reach the point in time, the enemy were
enabled to carry the piece from the field. It was here that Major Gavitt
and Captain Highman fell.
The rout now became general, and the enemy were pursued by the Union
troops several miles, until the approach of night induced Colonel
Plummer to recall them to town. Captain Stewart, however, with his
squadron of cavalry followed them until late in the night, and brought
in several prisoners.
Jeff. Thompson had left Frederickton on the previous evening, marching
ten miles on the Greenville road, and then turning to meet Colonel
Plummer at a point where he had intended to make the attack in the
morning. On learning that the national troops had taken a different
road, he led his force back to the point near Frederickton where the
encounter took place. The rebel force was about two thousand five
hundred. Colonel Lowe, his colleague, was killed, and one hundred and
twenty-five dead were left on the field; the number of their wounded is
not definitely known. Four of their guns and eighty prisoners were
taken. The loss of the Federal army was seven killed, and sixty wounded.
CHARGE OF FREMONT’S BODY-GUARD AT SPRINGFIELD, MO.
OCTOBER 25, 1861.
Subsequent to the death of General Lyon, Springfield had been made a
rebel stronghold, and General Price, when the advancing army of General
Fremont compelled him to retreat from the central part of the State, had
established his headquarters there. During the month of October,
however, being warned by approaching columns of the Federal troops, he
had commenced the withdrawal of his forces and the immense train and
supplies he had accumulated in case he should be compelled to retreat to
Arkansas.
On the 20th of October, General Sigel, who commanded the Federal
advance, was near Bolivar, and General Sturgis’ command was one day
behind. General Lane was at Osceola; Hunter’s and McKinstry’s divisions,
as well as General Ashboth, were at or near Warsaw; General Pope was
near Louisville; while General Fremont and his staff were at Pomme de
Terre river, _en route_ for Quincy.
Having obtained information from his scouts that only about three
hundred of the enemy were at Springfield, General Fremont dispatched
Major Zagonyi, with 150 of his Body-guard, and also an equal force of
Prairie Scouts under Major F. J. White, who was then attached to Sigel’s
command, to combine their forces before reaching Springfield, and attack
the rebel camp by surprise.
The distance from the camp on the Pomme de Terre river to Springfield
was fifty-one miles. The Body-guard started on Thursday, the 24th, at 8½
P. M., and reached the neighborhood of Springfield, at 3 P. M. on the
25th, having overtaken the command of Major White, dispatched from the
camp of General Sigel to take part in this enterprise. Major White, who
was suffering from severe illness, was obliged to stop for an hour or
two to rest, and when he again started to join his command, expecting to
find them in the direct road from Bolivar to Springfield, he was
captured by the rebel scouts, who had been informed of the approach of
the Federal cavalry. Zagonyi had deemed it necessary to change his plan
of attack, and to approach the rear of the rebel camp, of which fact
Major White had not been informed. The change was occasioned by
unexpectedly meeting a small body of the enemy, who thus became aware of
the designed attack.
Major Zagonyi, on approaching within about eight miles of Springfield,
came upon a small foraging party, five of whom he captured, and the
remainder returned to the city and gave the alarm. Proceeding further
on, the Major gained additional information from Union citizens and
learned that the place was held by a force at least five or six times as
large as was supposed. Notwithstanding this he resolved to press on and
examine for himself, but the farther he proceeded the more positive was
the information that the town was held by a large force.
The first that was seen of the enemy was a short distance from the town,
where the advance discovered a full regiment drawn up on selected
ground, near the road, and prepared to receive them. The ground being
unfavorable for offensive operations, Major Zagonyi resolved not to
attack them, but to cross the prairie to the westward and approach the
city by the Mount Vernon road.
This was successfully accomplished, and upon arriving within about a
mile, the citizens notified him that the enemy, two thousand strong,
were awaiting his coming a quarter of a mile distant. Major Zagonyi was
entreated not to risk his little band in the encounter; but he had not
made a forced march of fifty miles to gain possession of a town without
at least making an attempt to fulfil his instructions; and placing the
Body-guard in front, and himself leading, he gave the order to advance.
As the Major was to approach from the west, the rebels had scattered
skirmishers throughout the dense woods or chaparral on either side, who
greeted his approach with a scathing fire which emptied several saddles.
The woods and rough bushy ground to the south of the road, was also full
of their skirmishers, hidden in the branches and behind bushes and
trees. The main body of the force, however, was drawn up in the form of
a hollow square, in a large open field to the north of the road, the
infantry bordering along a high Virginia rail fence, nearly to the
brook, and also at the head of the field bordering on the woods, and the
cavalry on the other side of the field also supported by the forest.
[Illustration:
DESPERATE CHARGE OF FREMONT’S BODY-GUARD.
]
Upon reaching the vicinity of this place, Major Zagonyi ordered an
advance at a trot, and when fairly in the woods, the pace was increased
to a gallop. When the fire opened, the two companies of the First
Missouri Cavalry, and the Irish Dragoons, composing Major White’s
battalion, countermarched to the left. Major Zagonyi’s command alone
proceeded down the road through the fire of the enemy. Upon reaching the
open field, an attempt was made to tear down the fence and charge upon
the enemy. It was soon discovered, however, that this would be
impossible without a heavy loss, and they immediately made a rush down
the road, over a brook, where, in a measure shielded from the enemy’s
fire, they levelled the rails and effected an entrance. Here, in the
midst of the briars and stubble bordering the brook, he succeeded in
forming his men, and with the Major at their head, they gallantly
charged up the hill of the open field, right into the midst of their
foes. As they charged, the command spread out fan-like, some to the
right, some to the left, and others straight up to the woods in front.
The cavalry to the right were scattered almost instantaneously; the
infantry made a somewhat firmer stand, but it was only for a moment. The
charge was so furious, so well directed, and so compact, that the rebel
ranks were quickly scattered. Under the well-directed fire of the
enemy’s sharpshooters, the little band of one hundred and sixty-two rank
and file, contending against one thousand eight hundred, necessarily
suffered severely.
Pursuing a portion of the rebels into town, the Major here assembled his
command, or such portions of it as were at hand, raised the stars and
stripes upon the court-house, detailed a guard to attend to his wounded,
and then fearful that the enemy might become cognizant of his small
force, and rally, determined to retrace his steps toward Bolivar, where
he could meet reinforcements, the more especially as they had ridden
over eighty miles and been over twenty-four hours without food.
In the mean time Major White’s command had made a detour through the
cornfield, and after making a successful charge and defeating the rebel
forces stationed there, he reached the town a little while after Zagonyi
had left, and took possession of it.
The loss of the enemy, as nearly as could be ascertained, was one
hundred and six killed, wounded not known; that of the Federals but
fifteen killed, twenty-seven wounded and ten missing.
THE DEPARTMENT OF MISSOURI.
The death of General Lyon and the defeat of the Federal army at Wilson’s
Creek, on the 10th of August, and the disastrous consequences—followed
on the 20th of September by the loss of Lexington and its noble band of
defenders, filled the whole land with discontent. The commanding officer
of the Department at this time was Major-General Fremont. The public,
asking for success, and confident that it could be achieved, were
impatient of the delays and heavy expenditure of money that seemed at
least to fetter the Missouri Department. From General Fremont the public
had expected the most vigorous and brilliant campaign. The difficulties
and obstacles with which a commander must contend in organizing a
military force sufficient to encounter a large army of dashing and
lawless insurgents, are not always properly understood and considered by
the public; and their expectations, no doubt, led far in advance of the
possibilities of the situation. Occupying a field which had just been
made the scene of open hostilities, and where the Governor and the
Legislature, as a body, were hostile to the General Government, the
entire work was to be done after General Fremont had entered upon it.
The difficulty of supplying reinforcements where needed, with no
reserves upon which he could draw, left no alternative to Lyon and
Mulligan but that of retreat or collision with an overpowering enemy. In
these reverses they suffered a cruel defeat, but won imperishable fame.
[Illustration:
SECTION OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER.
SHOWING THE DISTANCES FROM NEW ORLEANS.
]