Mansfield, MO

[5fish]

October 20, 1862 - Skirmish near Marshfield, MO

Here a OR...

OCTOBER 20, 1862.- Skirmish near Marshfield, Mo.

Report of Lieutenant Colonel James Stuart, Tenth Illinois Cavalry.

HEADQUARTERS,

Marshfield, Mo., October 22, 1862.

GENERAL: I have the honor to report that on the evening of the 20th instant I received information of a party of rebels moving up the Niangua Creek, making toward a point 8 miles east of this post, and en route to join the rebel forces in the southwestern portion of this State. I immediately took 105 men of the Tenth Illinois Cavalry and started at 5 p. m. to intercept them. I came on their pickets about 8.30 o'clock and drove them in, and attacked the main force, about 300 strong, killing 4 of them on the ground, wounding a good many, as I afterward understood, and capturing 27 prisoners. Among them was one captain named William H. Todd, who informs me that Colonel Dorsey was in command. I likewise captured a number of horses, saddles, shot-guns, muskets, and rifles. My loss was 1 man killed and 1 wounded. This party was organized by Rucker and Hughes, who sign themselves majors in the Confederate States Army. They scattered in every direction through the mountains, a large portion returning in the same
direction they came; but they were so completely surprised that they never tried to collect together again. The largest trail I could find in one party was 10. I followed it for 50 miles next day, when they likewise scattered in every direction, and I have ordered Captain McMahon's company of Enrolled Missouri Militia to gather them in. They are completely disorganized.

I am, general, very respectfully,

JAMES STUART,

Lieutenant-Colonel Tenth Illinois Cavalry, Commanding Post.

 

[5fish]

Here another take....

The skirmish of October 20, 1862, near Marshfield, was reported two days later by Lieut.-Col. James Stuart, of Stark County, Ill., then of the Tenth Illinois Cavalry. He states that, on the evening of October 20, a party of Confederates moved up Niangua Creek, so as to strike a point eight miles east of Marshfield, whence they could proceed to join their comrades in Barry or McDonald Counties. On learning of their approach, Col. Stuart, with 105 men of the Tenth Illinois Cavalry, rode forward to intercept them, and struck their pickets at 8:30 that evening. The latter was driven in, and of the total Confederate force present four were killed, several wounded and twenty-seven made prisoners, among them Capt. William H. Todd, who stated that Col. Dorsey was in command. His party was organized by Confederate Majs. Rucker and Hughes. The Federal lost one man killed. During the terrible charge the little band of Confederates scattered in every direction, leaving horses, saddles, bridles, shot-guns, muskets and rifles in possession of the Illinois men. Col. Stuart's men pursued them fifty miles on October 21, scattered the little refugee squads completely, and left the work of gathering them in to Capt. McMahan and his Enrolled Missouri Militia.