|
Camp Bacon.
Boonville.
Missouri.
June 17th, 1861
12:40 P.M.
General Price Sir!
It is my pleasure to make a continuance of my Report to You, of the current situation at Camp Bacon, Missouri.
With this Report Suh, I am the bearer of News of Mixed Fortune for the Confederacy. Jackson and Marmaduke are handling the current situation well, but I fear at a terrible cost to our brave Missourians.
As I have reported earlier, Jackson dispatched Marmaduke in Command of three Companies - Cooper's, Cooper County and Charlton County - into the Woods Southwest of Adams' Crossroads. Here these Companies acted as roving Patrols of 100 Infantry each. After an initial skirmish, contact was lost with Union forces here, only to be re-joined an hour later with casualties of three to each side. The Charlton boys routed and were last seen heading for the Pilot Grove road, at a speed akin to that of Charging Cavalry. Marmaduke thereupon, decided to withdraw. . His purpose in Jackson's Strategy achieved to perfection.
For You see Suh, Jackson had taken account of the situation thus: The Federal Force was rumoured to be the stronger of the two, with advantages in Numbers and with superior Small Arms, Artillery and Supplies. To make a stand in the prairie before Camp Bacon or conversely, to fortify the camp further - making a "Final" desperate stand there - was to his conjecture, a Fatal Strategy. Rather, He chose to deploy his Men, utilising all available cover that the Terrain offered.
Consequently, Jackson deployed Marmaduke to the Woods, with a view to discouraging the Union from transversing these Woods and emerging in a Clearing hidden from sight of Camp Bacon. This would then give the Federals access to a track, which links the Pilot Grove Road with the Rocheport Road, thus enabling the Union to attack from the rear of the Camp.
Three Companies of 100 men each - Miller County Co., Morgan County Co. and Marmaduke's Company - were deployed in the rough terrain, along the banks of the Missouri. Great care was taken to hide them from sight of the Union Gunboat currently patrolling the River. These companies deployed in three Gullies. These same gullies, run from the road down to the River and are spaced approximately 125 Yards apart, along the length of the roadside between the Camp and the point where the Rocheport Road rises up onto the Camp Bacon Plain. At the instant that Marmaduke engaged with the Enemy in the Woods for the second time, these brave boys of Ours took up their Final Positions in Jackson's Plan.
The remainder of Jackson's Troops remained concealed behind the Ridge in the middle of the Plain. Two Companies of 100 men each - Saline County Co. and Montigau County Co. - arrived to take their posts as Camp guards, from the Rocheport Armoury and Boonville Landing respectively. With Their arrival, all the components of Jackson's Strategy were in place and He felt confident of Success. Intelligence received of the arrival of Parson's Brigade, complete with 100 Infantry - Dills's Company- accompanied by two 12lb Howitzers, two 6lb Smoothbores and 400 Cavalry, reassuring Him that He had sufficient in Reserve to complete His task.
With the elements of His Strategy in place, the Union entered the Plain and was allowed to advance towards the Ridge unimpeded. As they progressed, Parson's Cavalry - Alexander's Co. {50}, Crew's co. {50} and Brown's Company {300} - galloped along the Pilot Grove to Midway Road, turning Northeast off this Road and along the Track there, to Adams' Crossroads. The Crossroads was re-taken without resistance and Parsons readied his Troopers to charge along the Rocheport Road and assail the Union Rear.
In effect Suh - here was Jackson's Strategy complete! The entire Union Force enclosed within a Confederate "bag" and Jackson held the drawstrings!
Brigadier General Nathaniel Lyons advanced a Lead Element of his Infantry to the Ridge. His entire Artillery compliment following and poised to Emplace upon the Ridge. Directly behind the Artillery rode Lyons and his Lieutenant - a Colonel Frank Blair - CO, Right Flank, Army of the West, with the Federal Wagon Train. The remainder of Union Infantry fanned out from the Road into the Plain, in Close Support of the advancing Artillery.
No Doubt Suh, Governor Jackson allowed himself a small grimace of satisfaction at the compactness of the Union Formations - it suited his Tactics admirably!
Without warning, the game was up! And the Confederacy struck. The Callaway County Company charged from one of the gullies, a'whoopin' and a'hollerin' "The Scare". Their target was the Union Supply Wagon and if possible, the capture of Lyons and Blair. After 20 minutes of fierce fighting, the Wagon was theirs! Lyons and Blair escaped into the bosom of their Infantrymen and would feign have changed their Under Garments, were it not for the fact that all Their clean Linen lay safely pressed in Rebel hands! Jackson fairly guffawed at the thought Suh!
Not all looked well for our fair Callaway Boys however. The Union surrounded them on all sides but that of the River and they were subjected to a murderous crossfire. This signalled to Jackson that His hour had come and He issued the orders for a General Assault on the entire Federal contingent.
The Union Artillery deployed en masse, where they stood and turned to face the threat from the Callaway Boys. Fortunately Suh, this meant that they had turned their backs to Marmaduke's Company, secreted in another gully, just South of the Ridge. Seeing their advantage, Marmaduke's Men charged and destroyed the entire Artillery compliment of six Guns.
The situation then became very confused, with volley after volley exchanged and Confederate charges following in quick succession. Of particular note, was a hurriedly scribbled note to the Governor from one of the Company Commanders.
During one of the melees, Lyons was - in full view of the charging Rebels - seen to leap from his horse and perform a Hornpipe of such dexterity, agility, speed and ability, that the men paused their murderous work to watch. Lyons then slumped to the ground and was carried by his Staff to the Rear - a hot, steaming, Confederate minie ball, yet melting it's way into the lard of his fat Yankee posterior!
As I write Suh, Governor Jackson's Staff attempt to revive him with copious infusions of brandy and Smelling Salts. Such was the Paroxysm of Mirth that befell him, upon reading the Company Commander's note, that he collapsed from his horse in a Swoon!
So Sir, from that moment of levity, I must return to the seriousness of War.
Union casualties stand at 98 Infantry, 10 cavalry, six Guns and one Officer wounded.
Confederate casualties stand at 243 Infantry, 61 cavalry, 0 Guns and no Officer casualties.
The Confederacy stand on the brink of a Minor Victory and with the Federals hemmed in on three sides and with egress towards the river their only Route to escape; a Confederate Major Victory appears imminent.
A Union Officer of Lyons' Staff has just this minute been issued with a Note for General Blair. {Presumed now in Command of the Federal forces, resulting from Lyons' wound.}
This Captain J. Alberti will convey our Terms to Blair for a complete Union Surrender and admission of a Confederate Major Victory.
I will in due course, report the outcome of these negotiations or the continuance of the Battle as appropriate.
I remain Sir,
A Staunch Defender of States Rights,
And Your Obedient Servant.
By my Hand,
Patrick G.M. Carroll
(Colonel)
A.o.G.
ADDENDUM: General Price Suh! As I hand this note to the Courier, word has reached Me of Capt. Alberti's return to Our Lines. He bears word from Blair, that the Union would prefer to continue at Our convenience with the Fray. Whilst They stare a Minor Defeat in the Eye, They would prefer to spit in that self-same Eye and fight Us to a Draw or a vainglorious Minor Defeat.
Sadly this means of course, that many more Good men of both sides will fall before the Issue of Camp Bacon is resolved.
C'est le Guerre! [:(]
|
ACWGC 
ACWGC Memorial
CSA HQ
VMI
Join CSA
Union HQ
Join Union 
Login
FAQ
Search
Members
