Page:History of Southeast Missouri 1912 Volume 1.djvu/391

 HISTORY OP SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 331 state and that withiu the limits covered was a considerable part of the territory of South- east ilissoiiri. The enforcement of martial law greatly embarrassed the transaction of business and tlie travel of all persons within the limits mentioned. It is one of the things that caused such demoralization and loss of property throughout this part of the state. In October, IStil, Thompson with his forces made an expedition from Stoddard county where he made his headquarters at that time. by way of Fredericktown into Jefferson county. He had. two purposes in view. One was to destroy the Iron Mountain Railroad bridge over Big river and thus hamper the movement of Federal forces south from St. Louis, the other was to seize lead from the lead mines and carry it south for Confederate use. He separated his forces on the march, sending his infantry into Fredericktown while his cavalry made the raid into Jeffer- son county. They found the bridge which was near Blackwell guarded by Union soldiers and a fierce skirmish was fought. The bridge was destroyed and Thompson retreated to re- join his forces at Fredericktown. Here he found that strong Union forces were closing in on him. When news of his raid reached the Federal authorities the.y made plans for the capture of his force. Col. Plummer was sent from Cape Girardeau with about 1,500 men, while Col. Carlin advanced from Pilot Knob with about 3,000. On receiving news of these forces Thompson fell back from Frederick- town toward Greenville and fought an en- gagement with the Union forces about one mile outside of the town on the Greenville road, October 21, 1861. After the battle, which was fiercely contested on both sides, Thompson continued his retreat in good order and the Union forces occupied Fredericktown. During the disorder attendant upon their tak- ing possession the town was fired and several houses were destroyed. Thomjjsou made good his retreat and carried away about 18,000 pounds of lead. October 14, 1861, a skirmish was fought at Underwood's farm near Bird's Point. It re- sulted in a Confederate victory. On November 1, 1861, the situation in Southeast Missouri was as follows: General Grant was in command at Cairo with an army of about 20,000 soldiers. Colonel J. B. Plummer was at Cape Girardeau with about 1,500 soldiers including the 11th Missouri Volunteers and some Illinois troops. Colonel Carlin was at Ironton and Pilot Knob with 3,000 soldiers mostly from Illinois, Colonel R. J. Oglesby was in command at Bird 's Point under direct supervision of General Grant. Besides the Union forces there were the fol- lowing Confederate forces in this part of the state: General W. J. Hardee was at Green- ville with about 3,000 men. General Pillow was at New Madrid with a force of about 5,000 and General Jeff Thompson was at Bloom- field with a force of about 1,500. Keeping in mind this disposition of forces it is easy to understand the operations which resulted finally in the battle of Belmont. Grant was ordered by General Fremont at St. Louis to make a general advance and if possi- ble take possession of all fortified posts in Southeast Missouri. Carrying out this in- struction General Grant ordered Colonel Carlin with 3,000 men to march south from Ironton to Indian Ford where he was to meet and capture a detachment of Thompson's troops and then make his way toward Bloomfield to assist in the capture of Thompson's main forces. At the same time Colonel Plummer was ordered to march from Cape Girardeau to Bloomfield with his