The Rebellion Record – A Diary of American Events; by Frank Moore
    

A Diary of American Events.

October 13.–Eighteen miles northeast of Lebanon, Missouri, near the Wet Glaze, Major Wright, with two companies of United States cavalry, routed about three hundred mounted rebels. The rebels were gathered on the side of a hill, drawn up in line, with the road in front, and the summit of the hill behind them. Here they remained an hour and a half, evidently awaiting the approach along the road of a Union force, when suddenly two companies of Federal cavalry, under command of Captains Montgomery and Switzler, led by Major Wright, advanced over the brow of the hill, in the rear of the rebels, and plunging forward to within one hundred paces, delivered a murderous volley, which scattered the rebels like chaff before the wind. They fled precipitately up the ravine, toward Lebanon, tearing through the brush, in a perfect rout.

A number of saddles were emptied, and horses were galloping riderless about the field. They were taken so completely by surprise that they had hardly time to return a few strangling shots. The action was over in five minutes–it was a dash; a gleam of firo on tlie Federal side, and a wild scamper for life on the other side. The latter were seen running over a hill half a mile distant. Thirty prisoners were taken, and it is supposed that about Twenty rebels were killed. The United States force lost one man. –(Doc. 82.)

–A skirmish occurred at Beckweth’s farm, about twelve miles southwest of Bird’s Point, Mo., between a squad of twenty men, under command of Lieutenant Tufts, and a body of rebel cavalry, one hundred strong, resulting in the loss of two killed, five wounded, and three missing of the National forces, and twelve killed and wounded on the part of the enemy. The rebels first appeared at the outskirts of the timber in small force, and retreated into the woods upon the approach of the Nationals, who pursued them. As soon as they had entered the woods, the whole rebel force attacked them with vigor, they repelling their attack with an effect worthy of greater numbers; but owing to their inferiority of force a retreat was ordered, but not until they had inflicted serious damage upon their overwhelming foe, the effect of the fire of the little band being such as to prevent their being followed up by the enemy. One of the Federals, who had previously been stigmatized as a coward, here sought and most heroically succeeded in restoring his fair name. He had been noticed to fight with much valor during the action; and, upon Lieutenant Tufts ordering a retreat, he wheeled his horse in the face of the enemy, took deliberate aim at the rebel captain, and brought him from his saddle, after which the National force made good their retreat.–Louisville Journal, October 23.

–The brig Granada, from Nenvitas, for New York, was captured by the privateer “Sallie,” of Charleston. The Sallie is a fore-and-aft schooner, of about one hundred and forty tons, painted black, mounts one long gun amidships, and has a crew of forty men, and is commanded by Captain Libby, formerly of the ship Gondar, of Charleston. She ran the blockade from Charleston on the 10th inst. She was formerly the schooner Virginian, of Brookhaven.–N.Y. Evening Post, October 24.

–A Detachment from the Twenty-ninth Illinois regiment, and the Second Illinois dragoons, went to Shelby Thompson’s farm, near Cairo, Ill., and seized three thousand bushels of corn, a large number of horses, mules, cattle, &c., and took two prisoners. Thompson is an officer in the rebel army.–Captain W. H. Parish was to-day appointed provost-marshal of Cairo, Ill.–Missouri Republican, October 15.

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