NEWTONIA, Mo., August 6, 1862.

General BROWN:  

I arrived at this place last night all safe; have taken 3 of Rains’ men prisoners and killed 3.  The secesh are flying in every direction before us.  From the best I can learn Coffee has been ordered out of Arkansas because he would not join the Southern Army.  I am compelled to move very cautiously.  There are 500 men under Jackman and some men from Texas on Pool’s Prairie, 3 miles south of Neosho.  I was in Neosho last night and drove their pickets out.  I think they are raising all the citizens, probably to give us a fight.  I shall move very cautiously.  I would like another battalion, and I would be able to meet them on any ground.  Don’t be alarmed; we will hold our ground.  Coffee has not been in this section of country.  We get plenty of forage.  If you send a messenger out here send my mail.

Yours, truly,
J. M. HUBBARD, Major.

P. S.  I shall go to Neosho this morning with my whole force, but if I find them too strong I shall fall back to Newtonia, where I can defend myself against all they can bring against me.

SOURCE:  OR, Series I, Volume 13, Page 542.

HEADQUARTERS SOUTHWEST DIVISION,
Springfield, August 9, 1862.

Brig. Gen. JOHN M. SCHOFIELD, Saint Louis:

Major Hubbard was surrounded at Newtonia on the night of the 7th by Rains, commanding 1,500 men.

I had sent 400 men from the Third Missouri State Militia to re-enforce him and order to fall back, but the officer in command returned without doing so.  I shall order the command at Greenfield to move to this post unless I hear that Colonel Salomon has relieved Major Hubbard.

I have sent orders to concentrate all the troops at this post, and shall be prepared to fall back, if necessary.  I expect the appearance of a force via Forsyth.

E. B. BROWN,
Brigadier-General.

SOURCE:  OR, Series I, Volume 13, Pages 549-550.

SPRINGFIELD, August 10, 1862.

Brig. Gen. JOHN M. SCHOFIELD:

Major Hubbard has possession of a stone barn, with his guns on the upper floor.  The barn is surrounded by a stone wall.  The country is open prairie, and he is keeping Rains off.  The re-enforcements probably reached him this morning.

I have changed the movement at Greenfield.  Seven hundred troops, mostly United States, and one section of artillery leave Greenfleld this morning in pursuit of Coffee.  I am doing everything possible to make the militia effective.

E. B. BROWN,
Brigadier-General.

SOURCE:  OR, Series I, Volume 13, Page 555.

NEWTONIA, Mo., August 11, 1862.

SIR: On the 8th the enemy made a demonstration on the prairie, with a force of 1,000 men, within three quarters of a mile of our camp, when I opened with two pieces of artillery and fired in quick succession about thirty shots, when they rapidly fell back out of range of our guns, when all was quiet.  We all stood guard that night, every man to his post, expecting an attack at night, but they lay quietly in camp within 3 miles of us.

On the evening of the 9th, with 20 men, I reconnoitered within half a mile of their camp, when they called to us to come on.  Late in the evening one battalion of the Fourteenth reported to me.

On the morning of the 10th, at 3 o’clock, I moved out to give them battle, when they all fled into the brush, and passed through Neosho about daylight.  I was in Neosho last evening (10th instant).  They report that they were going to Carthage.  Their whole force is about 1,200 men.  That is positive.  Colonel King arrived here last evening.  We will start for Neosho at noon to-day and pursue the enemy if they have gone to Carthage.  Your dispatch bearer, who was taken prisoner at Granby, was going to the Kansas command.

Yours, truly,
J. M. HUBBARD,

SOURCE: OR, Series I, Volume 13, Page 224.

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