HDQRS. FOURTH BRIGADE, MISSOURI STATE MILITIA, CAVALRY, NEAR CENTRE CREEK,
Six miles east of Sarcoxie, Mo., October 1, 1862.

GENERAL: Being left in command of your brigade during your temporary absence at Springfield, Mo., I beg leave to submit the following report:

At about 8 a. m. of the 30th ultimo firing from artillery was heard in the direction of, and supposed to be at or near, Newtonia, Mo. The firing was continued until about 10 o’clock of the said day, when it ceased. I had seen Brigadier-General Schofield’s letter of instructions to different commanders in his division directing them not on any account to risk a defeat. I had seen General Salomon’s estimate of the number of the enemy’s troops of Newtonia, Mo., which was 8,000; also Colonel Weer’s estimate, which was about 11,000. I was also aware of the fact that the forces of General Salomon, of Colonel Weer, and of your brigade did not number near 8,000. General Salomon never, by word or letter, intimated to me that he intended attacking the enemy at Newtonia. I was therefore lost in conjecture as to who were engaged in firing the artillery we heard in the morning. About 10 a. m. of the said 30th ultimo I received the following order:

Advance immediately toward Newtonia. Heavy firing in advance.

A. BLOCKI,
Assistant Adjutant-General.

[TO] Colonel HALL,
Commanding Fourth Brigade, Missouri State Militia.

P. S. -- Send answer by bearer where you will strike Newtonia road.

This was the only communication ever received by me from General Salomon concerning the movement of the troops under my command at that time. It left me in utter ignorance of General Salomon’s intentions. I did not know whether he intended to advance with his forces from Sarcoxie toward Newtonia. I was entirely without information of the intention of General Salomon. I desired him to send me a messenger. He neither sent me a messenger or a line, nor did he communicate with me in any way until I reached the battle-field.

Immediately upon the receipt of the above order from General Salomon I ordered the different regiments, battalions, and companies of the brigade to march. We marched toward Newtonia by the way of Jollification. We marched about 8 miles. I had not heard any firing since we started. I had not received any communication from General Salomon. I was ignorant of his movements or intentions. I had no means of knowing the result of the morning's engagement, but had good reason to believe that the enemy had maintained his position. By marching to Newtonia by way of Jollification the whole force of the enemy would be directly between my command and the troops of General Salomon, whether they were at Sarcoxie or advancing from Sarcoxie to Newtonia.

I therefore, upon consultation with the principal officers of your brigade, determined to march west until I struck the road leading from Sarcoxie to Newtonia or until I could learn something about General Salomon’s movements or intentions. We reached the road leading from Sarcoxie to Newtonia at about 8 miles’ distance from Newtonia at about 4 p. m. of said 30th ultimo. Here we came upon some stragglers belonging to Salomon's command. From them I learned that General Salomon and Colonel Weer, with their brigades, had marched toward Newtonia; that about 400 men belonging to General Salomon’s command had made the attack in the morning on the enemy’s forces (about 8,000 strong) at Newtonia, and that General Salomon and Colonel Weer had marched down to their relief. At the time we reached the road from Sarcoxie to Newtonia firing from artillery was heard by me again at or near Newtonia, which told me that General Salomon had with his forces reached Newtonia. It was about as far from our camp to where we struck the Sarcoxie road as from Sarcoxie to Newtonia. We marched from the last-mentioned place where we came into the Sarcoxie road to Newtonia with all possible dispatch. We reached the battle-field about sunset. General Salomon, on the battle-field, requested me to cover his retreat with my brigade. Gen. Salomon’s troops were retreating in great confusion. The enemy in force were advancing to attack the rear of General Salomon's column. His rear must have been captured and destroyed but for the timely arrival of your brigade. I drew up your brigade in line of battle in front of the enemy and between the enemy and the retreating force of Brigadier-General Salomon. The enemy, seeing my disposition, drew up in line of battle and commenced firing their artillery at my line. I ordered Lieutenant Marr, in command of Captain Murphy’s company of the First Missouri Artillery, to open fire upon the enemy, which was obeyed in a prompt and efficient manner.

The troops of your brigade acted with great coolness and courage on the field and during the retreat. About dark the enemy withdrew their forces from the field. Having secured the retreat of the forces of General Salomon I drew off the men under my command.

Our only casualty was 1 man [of the Third Missouri Militia Cavalry] badly wounded by the bursting of the enemy’s shell.

General Salomon's troops scattered from near the battle-field to Sarcoxie. I saw them all safely back to Sarcoxie. I there, on the next morning, met General Salomon. He declined renewing the attack on the enemy. It therefore became my duty to march my brigade back to Centre Creek to protect the train. I arrived at the camp at about 10 a. m. of this 1st instant. I found everything safe.

Respectfully, your obedient servant,

GEORGE H. HALL,
Colonel, Fourth Cav., Missouri State Militia, Comdg. Brigade.

SOURCE: OR, Series I, Volume 13, Pages 289-290.

Battle of Newtonia, All Union Reports

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