Letter from Captain Lyon to Mrs. Lyon.
“Pilot Knob, Mo., Oct. 25, 1861.—Were ordered to Frederickstown (25 miles southeast of here). Marched all night through a mountainous country. We were after Jeff Thompson, who had a large force. Our force was nearly 5,000 strong. When we got there we found that Jeff had left the day before and gone south. We were joined here by 1,500 Illinois troops from Cape Girardeau. Our regiment was on the left flank, the second post of honor, so on the march would, of course, be in the rear. The head of the column met the rebels about three-quarters of a mile from town, and just as our regiment was starting. The rebels had gone on ten miles south, were reinforced and returned, and took a position at that point to fight us. They were 5,000 to 7,000 strong.
“The fight opened immediately at the head of the column and we started on a double quick for the battle field. When about half way to the scene of action we were ordered to act as a reserve. The firing continued about half an hour where the battle commenced, then gradually receded, showing that the rebels were retreating. The battle was fought mostly by artillery and cavalry, but one regiment of infantry being under fire, the 21st Illinois. Our forces pursued the rebels several miles. The grand result of the fight is that we killed at least 300 of them. Our forces found and buried 242, and large numbers were carried off by them. A great many were wounded and taken prisoners. Two pieces of artillery were also taken. Our loss is eight killed and thirty-three wounded. The defeat was total, breaking up their army and cleaning out this whole section of the state. One of their principal officers, Col. Lowe, was killed.
“We moved south 10 miles on Tuesday, but we ascertained that there was nobody in this section to fight us, so on Wednesday we returned to Frederickstown, and yesterday returned here. We have slept in tents but two nights since we left St. Louis, yet I never slept better in my life than I have some of these nights in the open air. The days are hot and the nights are cold, yet we do not take cold.
“Our regiment is No. 1. The men started for the battle with the utmost enthusiasm and were terribly disappointed when they found the rebels were retreating without giving us a chance at them. Our position was such that had the force first engaged met a reverse, we should have had the brunt of the fight. The rebels were poorly armed, which accounts for the great difference of loss on our side and theirs. We found a great many bodies on our march on Tuesday, one badly eaten by hogs. Another was shot just as he was getting over a fence, and his body was stiffened in that condition. We buried them.
“Our march was through a rugged country, hilly, rocky, and almost mountainous. We have returned here, but don’t know how long we shall stay. Our men are footsore, but otherwise well. Today received your first letter. Was overjoyed to get it.
“You ask me how I felt when going into battle. It is hard to analyze my feelings. I did not forget the danger to myself, but I was cool and self-possessed. The predominant thought was that probably many of the brave men who followed me would never return, and I wondered—if I came out alive—over which of them the scalding tears would fall ere the sun should set. The roar of artillery, the rattling of musketry, and the sight of wounded and dead men was very solemn. It was necessary, however, and I take my full share of responsibility; although, of course, none fell by my hand.”
