One hundred fifty years ago, on July 21, 1864, a report from a raid into Arkansas, along with follow-up reports: HEADQUARTERS SECOND SUB-DISTRICT, In the Field, New Madrid, Mo., July 21, 1864. SIR: I have the honor to report that the north half of this county and south half of Mississippi County have been very thoroughly scouted during the last week by parties from this post, commanded respectively by Captains Preuitt, Edwards, and Vincent, and Lieutenants Burnett, Ralph, and Hodges. No considerable force of guerrillas have been found or heard of in this region, but several small parties whose principal business seemed to be stealing horses and secreting them in the swamps and herding them in the caneries preparatory to their transfer to the rebels southwest have been surprised and routed and their horses captured. The scouting party under Captain Edwards, which left here on the night of the 18th instant, returned last evening, having killed 2 bushwhackers near James Bayou, in Mississippi County, and captured and brought in a lot of horses which they were herding in the canebrake of that vicinity. The party under Lieutenant Burnett were kindly furnished transportation on board the gun-boat Huntress, No. 58, by its gentlemanly and patriotic commander, Captain Dennis. Lieutenant Burnett landed with his detachment on Island No. 8 on the 18th instant, and moved down the island on foot. He came upon a herd of horses, most of which had been stolen or forcibly taken by guerrillas on this side, and swam across onto the island, where three members of the bushwhacking fraternity were guarding them. The bushwhackers escaped, but 18 horses were captured. In the evening the detachment with the horses captured re-embarked on board the gun-boat near the foot of the island and arrived here the same night. The aggregate result of the several movements is 2 bushwhackers killed and 42 horses and mules captured and turned over to the quartermaster here. I remain, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant, JOHN T. BURRIS, Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding Sub-District. Brig. Gen. THOMAS EWING, Jr., Commanding Saint Louis District, Saint Louis, Mo. NEW MADRID, Mo., August 7, 1864. Have been out seventeen days with a battalion of the Second Cavalry Missouri State Militia, under Lieutenant-Colonel Hiller; detachments of the Second and Third, under Major Wilson, and of the First and Sixth Missouri Cavalry Volunteers, under Captain Preuitt. Have skirmished with guerrillas and bushwhackers in Mississippi, Stoddard, New Madrid, Pemiscot, and Dunklin Counties, Mo., and Greene and Mississippi Counties, Ark., killing considerable numbers of them. Had quite a brisk running fight at Osceola, Ark., on the 2d instant, with Bowens and McVeighs companies, of Shelbys command. We captured their camp, killed 7, and took 25 prisoners, including Captain Bowen, their commander. On the 4th, at Elk Chute, we fought the Second Missouri (rebel) Cavalry and Conyers, Guthries, and Darnelles bands of guerrillas, all under command of Colonel Cowen. We routed them completely, killed and mortally wounded about 30, slightly wounded (who escaped in the swamps as I am informed by prisoners subsequently captured) between 30 and 40, and took 28 prisoners. We lost Captain Francis, Third Cavalry Missouri State Militia, mortally wounded, and 2 others slightly wounded. We have killed in all full 50 rebel soldiers and bushwhackers, including 1 captain, 3 lieutenants; wounded between 30 and 40 that we know of, and took prisoners 57, including 2 captains. We also captured full 200 stand of arms and over 200 horses and mules. JOHN T. BURRIS, Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding Expedition. Brigadier-General EWING. HDQRS. SECOND SUB-DISTRICT, SAINT LOUIS DISTRICT, Cape Girardeau, Mo., August 8, 1864. SIR: I have the honor to report that on the 21st of July I moved from New Madrid, Mo., with a battalion of the Second Cavalry Missouri State Militia, under Lieutenant-Colonel Hiller, and a detachment of the First Cavalry Missouri Volunteers, commanded by Captain Preuitt. From the 21st to the 26th we were engaged in scouting the counties of New Madrid, Mississippi, and Stoddard. We routed several parties of bushwhackers during the time, killed 4 of their number, burned a distillery and a grocery at which they were accustomed to meet, and captured some arms and horses. Being joined at Bloomfield by Major Wilson, with a battalion of the Third Cavalry Missouri State Militia, and a squadron of the Sixth Cavalry Missouri Volunteers, we moved on different roads, in a southwesterly direction; crossed the Saint Francis River just below Chalk Bluff, and arrived at Scatterville, Ark., on the evening of the 28th. There we routed a rebel recruiting party, under Colonel Clark, and had a skirmish with Bolins guerrillas. We killed 1 rebel lieutenant, took Captain Lineback prisoner, captured some arms and horses, and burned the houses, under cover of which the guerrillas had fired on my command. No casualties on our side, except the wounding of E. T. Jenkins, chief scout. On the 29th we moved to Browns Ferry. On the 30th marched south through Clarkson and Kennett. On the 31st passed through Hornersville. On the 1st of August we marched through the swamps and along Big Lake, in a southerly direction. During the day we surprised a party of bushwhackers and thieves; captured some arms; recaptured some negroes and horses previously stolen by these marauders, and burned five of their houses. On the 2d we marched through an almost continuous swamp for about twenty miles; struck the settlement near Osceola, Ark., late in the afternoon; soon after came upon a rebel picket, who, after firing, retreated. My advance, under command of Captain Preuitt, pursued, the whole command following up closely until we came upon a main rebel force of that vicinity, under Captains Bowen and McVeigh, when a general charge was made. The rebels fled. A running fight ensued, which was kept up for several miles until the enemys forces were scattered in every direction. We killed 7, including a lieutenant, and took 25 prisoners, including Captain Bowen. We also captured a considerable number of arms and horses. No casualty on our side. August 3, marched north to the Chicasawba Settlement, crossed Pemiscot Bayou, and encamped in Cowskin Settlement. During the afternoon a scouting party, under Captain Edwards, surprised a party of the enemy and killed 2 of them, capturing their arms and horses. The same evening a foraging party killed 1 of Conyers bushwhackers. August 4, marched at daylight. Soon came upon a rebel picket commanded by Lieutenant Hedges. The rebels fled, and were pursued by Lieutenant Hiller, commanding my advance guard, and Sergeant Wrights party of scouts. After a chase of two miles, Hedges was overtaken and killed. His men escaped. We pursued the enemy six miles across Dogskin Swamp, when we found him in line of battle in a dense forest, two miles south of Elk Chute, in Pemiscot County, Mo. I immediately formed my battalions in line and attacked him. Our first volley partially broke the rebel line, when I ordered a charge, which was made with spirit. The whole rebel force fell back in confusion. A running fight was kept up for two miles, through the swamp, among the trees, and over logs. The enemy several times succeeded in partially reforming their lines, but each time only to be driven back in greater confusion. The last effort of Colonel Erwin, the rebel commander, to rally his forces was within about 200 yards of the Chute; but the impetuosity of the charge of my battalions on their line, the deadly fire poured into their ranks, and the exultant shouts of my pursuing forces were more than they could stand. They again fled precipitately, many of them rushing, panic-stricken, into the stream, some attempting to swim their horses across, others abandoning their horses and everything else, and seeking to save themselves by swimming, while the rebel colonel, with a portion of his terrified followers, suddenly turned to the right, and, scattering, soon hid themselves in the dense forest and almost impenetrable swamps of that region. Our only loss in this engagement was Captain Francis, of the Third Cavalry Missouri State Militia, mortally wounded, and 2 enlisted men slightly wounded. The rebel loss was 30 killed, 6 mortally wounded, who fell into our hands, about 40 less severely wounded, who escaped, and 28 prisoners. Among the killed was a captain, and with the prisoners a lieutenant. On the morning of the 5th I had scouting parties out in every direction. They killed 2 guerrillas and took 2 of Erwins men prisoners. On the same day marched to Gayoso, and on the 6th reached New Madrid without anything further of interest occurring. We killed in all 47, including 1 captain and 3 lieutenants, mortally wounded 6, not mortally about 40, and took prisoners 57, in-eluding 2 captains and 1 lieutenant. We captured upward of 200 stand of arms, including shotguns and common rifles, most of which, however, we were compelled to destroy for want of transportation. We captured, brought in, and turned over to the quartermaster 230 horses and mules. We also emancipated and brought with us near 20 colored persons who were being held as slaves by rebel masters in Arkansas. Having started out without transportation of any kind, and almost without subsistence, both men and animals subsisted off the enemy. We have, I think, pretty effectually cleared out the guerrillas and punished their accomplices in the Second Sub-District, and seriously checked the operations of the raiders and recruiting parties from Shelbys command in Southeast Missouri said the adjoining counties of Arkansas. It affords me pleasure to report, in conclusion, that the officers and enlisted men of my command, with scarcely an exception, behaved themselves throughout in the most gallant and soldierly manner. And in this connection justice compels me to mention especially Sergt. John R. Wright, Company G, First Cavalry Missouri Volunteers, whom I earnestly recommend to the proper authorities for promotion. I remain, general, with great respect, your obedient servant, JOHN T. BURRIS, Lieut. Col. Tenth Kansas Vols., Commanding Expedition. Brig. Gen. THOMAS EWING, Jr., Commanding Saint Louis District, Saint Louis, Mo.
Posted on: Mon, 21 Jul 2014 11:30:00 +0000
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