Fight in Carroll county, Mo.
Confederate loss Fourteen killed and eight taken prisoners--Federal loss two Mortally wounded, and eight taken prisoners, &c.The St. Louis Democrat, of the 25th ult., contains the following: ‘ Mr. John McGee, a Government agent, who arrived from the Hannibal and St. Joseph R. R. yesterday afternoon, gives us the following details of a spirited skirmish which took place in Carroll county on last Saturday: Col. Morgan, whose regiment, the Eighteenth Missouri, is stationed at Laclede; in Linn county, having heard of the depredations of a gang of rebels near the joining lines of Carroll, Charlton, and Livingston counties, started out on last Friday night about nine o'clock, with a force of two hundred and twenty men, composed of cavalry, infantry, and artillery, with two 6-pound cannon, in pursuit of them. He proceeded rapidly about 20 miles, in a southeast direction, which brought him to Big Hurricane creek, in Carroll county, where they learned they were in the neighborhood of the enemy. At this point they came upon an old man, whose name our informant does not recollect, who told them that a rebel force of five or six hundred men had crossed the creek, and were some distance along the road. Col. Morgan crossed the creek immediately, and while passing along the road, up a deep and muddy ravine, suddenly found himself ambuscaded — the old man having deceived him as to the whereabouts of the enemy. His command received a very distressing fire from the rebels, who were posted behind the trees and brush. As soon as the fire began to be returned the rebels scattered, and were pursued in small squads, with great success. The two places of artillery, under Lieut. Dawson, did excellent service in cleaning them of the thickets. The pursuit continued until late on Saturday afternoon, when Col. Morgan called his men together, and with the wounded and prisoners, marched back to Laclede. Two of his men were mortally wounded, and are probably dead at this writing. The wounded, fourteen in number, were hauled back to Laclede by Mr. Cunningham, the Assistant Surgeon, and placed in a house. The loss of the enemy was fourteen killed and eight taken prisoners. A number of horses and camp equipage was also captured. The old man who decoyed Col. Morgan into the ambush, as soon as he saw the rebels running, attempted to make his escape, but was shot dead by one of the cavalry, named Jas. Raritan. Strange to relate, Mr. Baritan was accidentally shot and killed the following day, at Laclede, as he was attempting to mount his horse. Colonel Morgan and his regiment are doing splendid service in that part of the country, and will soon give a lasting quietus to the guerilla bands now infesting the Northern part of the State. It is believed at Laclede that Martin Green has deserted Price, and in now trying to collect another army of outlaws north of the Missouri river. ’
