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and won. Two regiments, the Fifth Kansas cavalry, the First Indiana cavalry, and one militia company — less than six hundred men in all — fought and kept at bay for five hours four thousand men, and finally made them beat an inglorious retreat.
“Bravely they fought and well,
The gallant six hundred.”
No words or comments to show the efficiency and gallantry of these two regiments are necessary.
The battle they fought and won speaks for itself.
Our loss was seventeen killed and thirty-nine wounded, and one missing, of whom five of the killed and twelve of the wounded were negroes.
The enemy's loss, as far as ascertained, fifty-three killed and one hundred and sixty-four wounded. We captured three officers and thirty men. General marmaduke, in trying to burn us out, burnt several of his own wounded men. Oh!
what an act of barbarity to men who, by taking the front of the battle, were wounded, and unable to get away.
Their screams and groans, amid the crackling of the flames, and the thundering of the cannon, struck terror to our hearts, but it was impossible to rescue them.
They were burned to death and almost entirely consumed by the fire that was kindled by his own ruthless and barbarous hand.
They plundered every house that they could get to, and stole from the citizens all of the mules and horses they could find.
The court-house was nearly demolished by the enemy's artillery; also so were several dwelling-houses.
In fact, there is scarcely a house in town that does not show the effects of the battle.
The women and children, by order of
Colonel Clayton, went down under the river-bank, and not one of them was hurt.
The negroes, the most of whom where employed during the battle in rolling cotton-bales and carrying water, though exposed most of the time to a heavy fire, did most admirable service, and behaved with a gallantry that will ever entitle them to be classed among the brave.
The enemy is in full retreat, and every thing is quiet again.
List of casualties.
Killed —
Abraham Campbell, company B, Fifth Kansas cavalry;
George W. Lucas, company C, Fifth Kansas cavalry;
Brice W. Miller, company C, Fifth Kansas cavalry;
V. Hinton, company D, Fifth Kansas cavalry;
Geo. S. Cartwright, company D, Fifth Kansas cavalry;
Chas. S. Perrin, company D, Fifth Kansas cavalry;
Chas. E. Wate, company F, Fifth Kansas cavalry;
Patrick McMahon, company K, Fifth Kansas cavalry;
Sergeant Joseph Travoli, company B, First Indiana cavalry;
Corporal John L. Whellen, company G, First Indiana cavalry;
Charles H. Steel, company G, First Indiana cavalry.
Wounded —
Thomas Archer, company A, Fifth Kansas cavalry;
Abraham Manon, company A, Fifth Kansas cavalry;
D. W. Boutwell, company A, Fifth Kansas cavalry;
Corporal William Steele, company A, Fifth Kansas cavalry;
George Cox, company B, Fifth Kansas cavalry;
Sergeant James Clarke, company C, Fifth Kansas cavalry;
Sergeant Arthur T. Perry, company C, Fifth Kansas cavalry;
George W. Smith, company C, fifth Kansas cavalry;
Lewis N. Gibson, company C, Fifth Kansas cavalry;
Thomas S. Fuller, company C, Fifth Kansas cavalry;
Sergeant William Duncan, company D, Fifth Kansas cavalry;
F. M. White, company D, Fifth Kansas cavalry;
Andrew Rogers, company E, Fifth Kansas cavalry;
Matthew Schaus, company F, Fifth Kansas cavalry; James Grooms, company F, Fifth Kansas cavalry;
David N. Snook, company H, Fifth Kansas cavalry;
Dennis Forrester, company K, Fifth Kansas cavalry;
Corporal Wm. Bilderback, company A, First Indiana cavalry;
Wm. Dean, company E, First Indiana cavalry;
James L. Crawford, company F, First Indiana cavalry;
George W. Clark, company F, First Indiana cavalry;
L. D. Padget, saddler, company F, First Indiana cavalry; Michael Huzzy, company G, First Indiana cavalry;
Corporal Stephen Hill, company H, first Indiana cavalry;
John White, company H, First Indiana cavalry;
Geo. H. Herring, blacksmith, company G, First Indiana cavalry;
Robert S. Parker, State militia.
Missing--
Corporal John Longer, company I, Fifth Kansas.
Recapitulation.
Killed--Fifth Kansas cavalry, eight; First indiana, three.
Total, eleven.
Wounded--Fifth Kansas cavalry, seventeen; First Indiana, nine; State militia, one.
Total, twenty-seven.
Missing--Fifth Kansas cavalry, one.
Total of casualties, thirty-nine.
