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.