HEADQUARTERS FOURTH BRIGADE,
Mount Vernon, September 20, 1862.

Brig. Gen. JAMES TOTTEN,
Commanding Southwest District, Springfield, Mo:

The latest reports by scouts that arrived to-day do not show any change in their position for the past five days.

Coffee and Shelby are 10 miles south of Newtonia, at widow Witherspoon’s; force 2,200.  Rains and Carroll camped south of Elkhorn; camped on a flat (the artillery on the hill south of the camp) on both sides of the road.  A rumor states that they have moved west and toward Pineville, but it is mere rumor.  Force variously stated at 8,000 to 15,000; probably not over 10,000.  General Hindman has moved his headquarters to Yellville, and is reported to have gone to Little Rock on business, only temporarily absent.  A notorious jayhawking preacher by the name of Turner, of Gadfly, was 7 miles south of this place a few days ago in company with three others and one of our spies.  In the night the spy stole part of their arms - two guns, a revolver, and an immense bowie-knife of Turner.  With the knife and pistol he attacked the party, stabbed Turner twice fatally, shot one of the others in the breast, and the other two men ran away.  The story is true; Turner was taken home in a dying condition.  He claimed to the spy that he had killed __ Union men and intended to make it 50, in revenge for the shooting of one of his associates by the name of Montgomery by Captain ______, of the Third Missouri State Militia, in July.

Your messenger to Colonel Salomon passed here last evening about 8 o’clock.

I am, truly, your obedient servant,

E. B. BROWN,
Brigadier-General

SOURCE:  OR, Series I, Volume 13, Page 655.

Back: Timeline of the Civil War in Barry County, Missouri

Home: Historical Items from Barry & Newton Counties, Missouri

© 2004 Robert O. Banks, Jr.  All Rights Reserved