NEWTONIA, May 18, 1863.

COLONEL: Major Eno came in this evening, after a scout of five days. Divided his force, of 200 men, into three divisions, under himself, Captain Ballew, of Company I, Seventh Missouri State Militia Cavalry, and Captain Henslee, of Company L, Seventh Missouri State Militia Cavalry. The latter, in conjunction with Captain Cassairt, of Company I, Eighth Missouri State Militia Cavalry, with 60 men in all, moved down Centre Creek; found Livingston near the Centre Creek lead mines, strongly posted behind densely thick brush and an old shop, with 100 splendidly armed guerrillas. Attacked them vigorously; drove them from the bush; killed 7; wounded many others badly. One captain, 1 lieutenant, and Colonel Harrison are believed to have been killed. I lost 4 killed and 2 wounded, slightly.

After the fight, Major Eno, Captains Henslee and Cassairt joined their forces, and entirely scattered the rebels, by active chasing.

Ballew, in consequence of misunderstanding, became entirely separated -- was not engaged. Colonel, the officers and soldiers behaved very gallantly in this fight. Major Eno is a vigorous, energetic officer. Livingston had 200 men under him, in Jasper County, a few days ago. His force is increasing rapidly. A large force, under Coffee & Co., are gathering in Jasper County, to attack this post, as currently believed by friend and foe. I will fight them. Will send tri-monthly report.

T. T. CRITTENDEN,
Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding Post.

SOURCE: OR, Series I, Volume 22, Part I, Page 328.

NEWTONIA, Mo., May 20, 1863.

Sir: Since I made my report to Colonel Cloud of the result of the fight between Captain Henslee, of Company L, of the Seventh Missouri State Militia Cavalry, and Captain [Jacob] Cassairt, of Company F, of the Eighth Missouri State Militia Cavalry, with about 70 men, and Livingston, rebel guerrilla, with 100 men, near Centre Creek lead mines, a day or so ago, I have the most positive evidence that there were 15 killed upon Livingston’s side, and several mortally wounded. I was informed by several ladies of his own stripe that Livingston buried 12 of his men in one grave -- were present at the burial. It was a desperate bushwhacking fight; both sides were hand-to-hand in the brush for awhile. Captain Henslee’s horse became very much frightened, and charged immediately through the rebel crew; it is supposed fifty guns were fired alone at him in his passage; escaped unhurt. He fired as he went through; killed 1; charged back again in order to save himself and killed another. All through the country much excitement prevails in regard to the fight. Major Eno is preparing an official account of the scout; will forward it. It was eminently successful, of which fact I am more and more convinced daily.

On yesterday I saw a private note that Tom. [R.] Livingston had written to a lady friend in Granby, in which he stated he would start in a few days for Franklin, on the Pacific road, in this State, and would deliver any letters she would write. Did not state whether going alone or going down on a raid. Well enough to watch his movements. There is but little doubt in my mind of Colonel Harrison’s (of C. S. Army) death. If your order in regard to Major Eno’s remaining here, and cooperating with you, had not come, I would have started before this the same scout after Livingston.

A quick succession of vigorous scouts will destroy and disperse them. Kill Livingston, and there is no one else to mass and congregate these bands. Is a man of much influence.

Have you had a scout toward Pineville?

Yours, very respectfully,

T. T. CRITTENDEN,
Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding Post.

P. S. Lieut. Anson A. McElhoney. of Company N, Missouri State Militia Cavalry, was detailed a few months since to take charge of the stragglers’ (now convalescent) camp, which order I hope you will rescind, as he is very much needed in his company. James C. Anderson, of same company and regiment, is with him as clerk; send him also, if possible, as that company needs him. I am very solicitous about the return of these men.

SOURCE: OR, Series I, Volume 22, Part I, Page 329.

HDQRS. 1ST BATTALION, 8TH MO. STATE MILITIA CAV.,
Greenfield, Mo., May 29, 1863.

COLONEL: I have the honor herewith to submit report of operations of a scout under my command against Livingston’s guerrillas.

On the morning of the 13th instant, I marched from Newtonia, by order of Lieutenant-Colonel [Thomas T.] Crittenden, commanding post, in command of 84 men of the Seventh Missouri State Militia Cavalry, and 100 of my own battalion. After proceeding 9 miles, Capt. Squire Ballew, Seventh Cavalry, with 50 men, was detached, with orders to proceed down Shoal Creek about 15 miles; thence pass over on to Turkey Creek, avoiding roads as much as possible, and driving the brush thoroughly, and to encamp that night in vicinity of Turkey Creek Mines; thence he was directed to pass down the creek to a point 3 miles below Sherwood; thence to move up Centre, while, with the remainder, I moved down from a point above, and to meet me at French Point some time next day, 14th instant, with the additional caution that I probably would not arrive until late in the afternoon. I moved with the balance of the command through the brush on to Jones’ and Jenkins’ Creeks, and divided the scout again so as to scour them both. No sign was discovered, and the command encamped that night on Centre Creek, 5 miles from Carthage. Captain Ballew encamped as directed.

On the morning of the 14th instant, I again divided the portion of the command with me, sending Captain Cassairt, of the Eighth Cavalry, with 40 men, down the south side of the creek; Captain [M. C.] Henslee, Seventh Cavalry, with 35 on the north side, while, with the remainder I passed down the Centre. By this disposition I hoped, as the result proved, either to engage and surround the guerrillas with the three subdivisions of my own immediate command, or to drive them to French Point, where Captain Ballew should have been ready to engage them, while I advanced on their rear and either flank, in which event the capture or destruction of the entire gang was inevitable. About 3 p. m., Captain Henslee drove in their pickets on the north, and Captain Cassairt on the south, side of the creek. Captain Henslee followed the trail hotly, crossed the creek, and joined Captain Cassairt on the other side; thence both pushed on, found the guerrillas, about 100 strong, commanded by Livingston, strongly posted under cover of a log-house and dense brush. A severe fight ensued of some fifteen minutes’ duration, when our men were obliged to fall back. This, I am confident, would not have occurred had not Captain Henslee been cut off from his command. At the first fire his horse became unmanageable and dashed clean through the rebel lines, leaving his men without a commander. Many of the guerrillas were dressed in Federal uniforms. Captain Cassairt’s detachment mistook them for our men, and before discovering their mistake were right among them, had received a galling fire, and were fighting hand-to-hand. Captain Henslee, who had been carried far beyond the ground, as soon as his horse could be checked, dashed back, and with the greatest coolness and daring approached within close pistol-shot of the rebels, fired, and killed 1 before wheeling to make his escape. Captain Cassairt exerted himself to the utmost to rally his men, and finally succeeded in gaining the front on the edge of the prairie; threatened to shoot the first man who dared to move another step in retreat; immediately formed, and commenced firing upon the enemy, who, in turn, retreated, carrying off his dead and wounded. When the firing commenced, the detachment with me was 2 miles distant up the creek. I immediately started at a gallop in the direction, but was not able to reach the ground until all was over. This was 4 1/2 miles east of Sherwood and 1 1/2 miles from French Point.

I pushed on immediately in pursuit, pressing them so hard as to compel them to leave their prisoners, whom I recaptured, and expecting every moment to hear Captain Ballew’s guns attacking the enemy in his front as he approached French Point, which place he was obliged to pass in his retreat. The trail, as I anticipated, led directly through French Point, and the bank was still wet with the water carried out in Livingston’s crossing, but Captain Ballew was not there. I regret to have to report that he had arrived, was waiting for me, his advance had fired upon Livingston’s advance as the latter approached, when an escaped prisoner, frightened and bewildered, reported to him the fight a short time previous, and that the rebels were not far off, and Captain Ballew disobeyed my orders, retreated with his 50 men without waiting to see the enemy or engage him, never halting until night, thus leaving the path open for Livingston’s retreat. Had Captain Ballew obeyed orders and stood his ground, there can be no question but Livingston and his fiendish gang would have been completely annihilated.

The command bivouacked the night of the 14th instant 3 miles above Sherwood. Captain Ballew encamped 12 miles from French Point, near Grove Creek.

On the morning of the 15th, his rear was fired on by a squad of bushwhackers, when he retreated back on to Centre Creek, passed round by Bower’s Mills, 25 miles out of his way, and arrived at Newtonia at 9 o’clock the same night, having lost 2 men prisoners, who fell into the hands of the men that fired on him, and who report that the bushwhackers numbered 8.

On the morning of the 15th, I sent Captain Cassairt, with 30 men, to bury the dead and convey the wounded to Newtonia. With the remainder of the command I passed over on to Spring River, following Livingston’s trail over the prairie, but, at a distance of 2 miles, the trail divided, and finally diverged in every direction, not more than 4 men having gone together. I passed down Spring River 5 miles, thence across again on to Centre Creek, when, for the next ten days, the command was kept moving slowly through the brush and over by-roads, crossing and recrossing the creek, and from the time of the first skirmish, on the 14th, until leaving the creek, on the 18th instant, we were almost continually fighting them, starting up scattered squads of from 4 to 10, chasing and firing on them,when they invariably dashed into the brush and concealed themselves, rendering it impossible -- except in two instances, when men were overtaken and shot down -- to ascertain whether they were hurt or not.

Our total loss on the scout is 4 killed and 2 wounded. The enemy’s loss, reported by parties present at the burial, is 15 killed, a captain wounded, and 15 or 20 wounded, 1 mortally, at different points on the creek.

The following is a correct list of the killed and wounded of both battalions: Killed -- Charles Crude, sergeant Company M, Seventh Missouri State Militia Cavalry, shot and stripped naked after having surrendered; Winster C. Donely, corporal Company M, Seventh Missouri State Militia Cavalry; Henry C. Maxey, sergeant Company L; and Horace Palmer, private Company F, Eighth Missouri State Militia Cavalry, killed after being taken. Wounded -- John T. Anderson, corporal Company L, Seventh Missouri State Militia Cavalry; Samuel Beach, private Company F, Eighth Missouri State Militia Cavalry.

In justice to the memory of Private Palmer, I cannot forbear mentioning that when the retreat from the first skirmish commenced he exclaimed, "I didn’t volunteer to run; right here I’ll die;" dismounted, deliberately tied his horse to a tree, and fired eighteen shots before he could be taken.

The guerrillas in that region were scattered in every direction and completely disheartened.

The scout was successful, but I cannot express my regret that it was not the complete success I had planned and hoped for in the total annihilation of the gang, which must have been the result had my orders been obeyed. The men behaved with steadiness and bravery with the one exception mentioned. I have to thank the officers with me for the assistance rendered by their cool, judicious conduct through the scout.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

E. B. ENO,
Major Eighth Missouri State Militia Cavalry.

SOURCE: OR, Series I, Volume 22, Part I, Pages 329-332.

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