Page:History of Southeast Missouri 1912 Volume 1.djvu/396

 336 HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI five meu, but artillery fire was opened on the town at a distance of two miles and tlie Union force escaped in the direction of Pilot Knob. From Patterson Shelby was sent to Fred- ericktown which he was to hold pending the arrival of Carter's column. Marmaduke him- self accompanied Shelby. In the meantime Carter attacked Bloomfield, then held by Col. John ilcNeil with a considerable force. The plan was for Carter to defeat McNeil and if V he retreated as it was supposed he would to- ward Pilot Knob for Shelby to intercept his retreat and capture his command. Shelby was at Frederiektown April 22d. and while waiting for word from Carter sent a detachment to burn the railroad bridge over Big river. This was accomplished after a se- vere skirmish. Carter reached Bloomfield April 21st, and McNeil retreated as was sup- posed he would do in the direction of Pilot Knob by way of Dallas (Marble Hill). He was followed closely by Carter. On the re- treat he learned of Shelby's presence at Fred- eriektown and turned to Cape Girardeau. Carter followed him to within four miles of the town and sent word to Shelby at Freder- iektown for reinforcements. These messen- gers were captured and Marmaduke and Shelby were without news from Carter until the 25th. Shelby then led his column to Cape Girardeau. He approached by the Jackson road to make a demonstration while Marma- duke drew off Carter's men b,y the Bloomfield road. The demonstration liecame an artillery duel and ilarmaduke brought Carter's men around to the Jackson road to support Shelby. The briint of the fighting fell on Fort B. the present site of the Normal school. Here there were four twentj'-four pounder guns. There were four twelve pounder guns on a hill to the southwest of Fort B. These were brought during the engagement to the hill where the FuUerton house stands. Two of them were ultimately carried to Fort B. There was also a line of rifle pits near the FuUerton house. These were charged by the Confed- erates. Two of them were killed at this place. This house at the time was occupied by a fam- ily named Laeey. During the fighting they sought safety in the cellar. A shell fired the house, but the fiames were extinguished. Finding the town well defended and the fortifications strong, Marmaduke drew off his entire force to Jackson. While here he was threatened by a Union force under General Vandever in command of Iowa troops. These troops attacked Col. Newton's regiment as it encamped on the Jackson and Frederiektown road. Finding himself between the forces of McNeil at Cape Girardeau and Vandever on Whitewater, both being constantly reinforced, ^Marmaduke determined to retreat. He was followed until he crossed the St. Francois at Chalk Bluffs, fighting being continued during the retreat. In August, 1863, a force of Fedei-al troops comprising the Third cavalry of the Missouri state militia under command of Colonel R. G. Woodson started from Pilot Knob. They made their way to the south and at Pocahon- tas, Arkansas, they were able to surround and capture General Jeff Thompson and his en- tire staff. These prisoners were sent to the Gratiot prison in St. Louis. This capture came as a complete sui*prise and put an end to organized warfare in Southeast Missouri until the time of the great raid which Gen- eral Price made through the state. The last great movement of the Confed- erate troops through ]Iissouri took place in 1864 and was known as Price's raid. At the beginning of this movement Price was in Ar- kansas with a considerable force of Confed-