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MILITARY DISPATCHES
The Civil War in Missouri Transcribed official Messages and reports between Officers in
the field and their Headquarters, and messages from Field Office to
Field Office.
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SEPTEMBER
15-20, 1862. Scout in Ralls
County |
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SEPTEMBER
15-20, 1862. Scout in Ralls County, Mo.
Report of
Capt. George H. Nettleton, Enrolled Missouri Militia.
HEADQUARTERS MISSOURI ENROLLED MILITIA, Hannibal, September 23, 1862. SIR: In accordance with instructions received from Colonel Hayward, to join other forces under his command, on
the morning of the 15th September, for a scout through the county of
Balls, I started with
30 men of my Company (C), of the Bailroad Eegiment, 40 men of Company D, Capt. John Meredith, and 10 men of Company E, Lieutenant Kramer, all under the command of Colonel Hayward, for the neighborhood of Ogle's Mill, encamping for the night on the farm of one Spaulding. . Tuesday morning we scouted through a part of Salt River bottom; returned to the main Paris road, which we followed
as far west as Sidney. While at Sidney Colonel Hayward, who was 4 miles
back toward
Hannibal, on the main road, was taken prisoner by a force of about 80 rebels, under Captain McDonald. From this
time the command of the Hannibal forces devolved upon me. As soon as it
was ascertained
that Colonel Hayward was in the hands of our enemy the column was at once put under motion, with the view of
going to the point where McDonald and his men were last heard from and
giving them chase.
Two miles east of Sidney we met Captain Johnson and two companies of New London militia. My command was joined to his, and during the remainder of the week s scout acted under his orders. Captain Johnson had about an hour before been attacked by McDonald, and his advance guard surprised and scattered. He, however, lost no men, and had but 1 wounded, while McDonald had 1 man killed and 2 wounded. Johnson held the ground, while McDonald fled to the brush, and being better acquainted with the paths and roads, succeeded in making his escape, though so closely pursued as to be obliged to leave his coat and revolver (the same that had been taken from Colonel Hayward) and private correspondence, which fell into the hands of Captain Johnson. . By Captain Johnson s order Captain Meredith went with the New London forces a few miles to the west and scouted through that portion of the country, while I returned with 30 men to Ogle's Mill with the baggage,
which was left under guard; after which we scouted through the timber in
search of McDonald's trail. Tuesday night the whole force went into camp at Ogle's
Mill. Wednesday the whole force was moved to Cincinnati, on Salt Eiver, camping
ground selected, baggage placed under guard, and a scouting party
sent out 6
miles up Salt River. Crossing the river, they came down on the south side
past Goodwins Mill, and recrossed the river to Cincinnati. Thursday
morning 25 men from Company C and 30 men of Captain Meredith's company joined 75 of
Captain Johnson's men and started on another scout up Salt River. When
within 2 miles of the farm of Caleb Hurd, on Sandy Creek, we ran on the
mounted picket of the enemy, who was promptly dismounted by a shot and his horse
captured. The shot fired was sufficient to alarm the camp, which was yet 2 miles
distant. A charge was ordered and the camp soon reached. Maj.
Henry Snider
was in command. He had ordered his men to form in line of battle, but they
would not stand.
. As soon as the advance guard came up with them and discharged their muskets they broke up the hill, having had
their horses already saddled. Before the rear of the column came up they
had all
disappeared,
without firing a gun. From 2 prisoners captured we learned that there were
in the camp
about 120
men, and, besides Major Snider, formerly mentioned, the following
notables: Capts. Clint.
Burbridge,
of Pike County; Ben. Ely, of Ralls County; Knight, of Lincoln County;
Barnard, of Adair
County;
Pollard, of Florida, and Captain White.
. The place selected for an encampment was remarkably secure, and could easily have been defended against 1,000 men. They left guns, blankets, and cooking utensils scattered about the ground in the greatest confusion, showing the extreme haste in which they left. I think our men fired nearly 100 shots, with what result I am unable to state, though it has since been reported that Major Snider was killed. Thursday night we returned to Cincinnati. Friday moved camp to Sidney, and scouted through the hollows west of West Ely, where we found there had been an encampment but twenty-four hours before. It appeared that the rebel forces in that part of Ralls County had fled on horses, and, our men being worn-out with the labor of the past five days, we resolved on Saturday afternoon to break camp and return to Hannibal. . As a proper finale to this report I beg leave to say that the officers and men of my command all did their duty.
We are all proud to have served under Captain Johnson, who we believe
follows the
bushwhackers
to fight them on their own ground.
Very respectfully, GEO. H. NETTLETON, Captain, Commanding. Brig. Gen. LEWIS MERRILL, Commanding Northeastern Missouri. |
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