AUGUST 25-28, 1863.—Scout from Sedalia, and Skirmish (26th) at Clear Fork, Mo.
Report of Col. John F. Philips, Seventh Missouri State Militia Cavalry.
Hdqrs. Third Sub-Dist., Central Dist. of Missouri,
The rebels fled precipitately, and were pursued by Lieut. G. W. McGuire, of same company, with a small detachment, some 5 or 6 miles. The conduct of this officer deserves the highest commendation. He pressed closely upon the rear of the enemy, and having 22 shots, fired them all, killing 3 of the enemy and wounding 2 or 3, including the leader of the band. He was often far ahead of his soldiers, and, though receiving two shots from pistols and one from a shot-gun in his coat, he pressed on, and fired so rapidly and accurately as to stampede the enemy every time he halted for fight. We captured 7 or 8 horses, 6 or 7 guns, some blankets, etc., without any loss to our side. The scout sent to La Fayette has also returned, being unable to discover any trace of the enemy. After the 31st (day of muster) I will again move on the enemy.
Hdqrs. Third Sub-Dist., Central Dist. of Missouri,
Sedalia, August 28, 1863. General: I have the honor to report that the scout sent to Johnson County on the 25th instant, under command of Captain R. L. Ferguson. Company B, Seventh Missouri State Militia Cavalry, returned last night, having traveled 120 miles. Captain Ferguson reports that, on the evening of the 26th, he came upon a body of 30 rebels at the head of Clear Fork, in Johnson County, and attacked them immediately, killing 3 and wounding several severely.
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| The Head of Clear Fork is near Leeton, MO 3 Rebels Killed here 1863 |
The rebels fled precipitately, and were pursued by Lieut. G. W. McGuire, of same company, with a small detachment, some 5 or 6 miles. The conduct of this officer deserves the highest commendation. He pressed closely upon the rear of the enemy, and having 22 shots, fired them all, killing 3 of the enemy and wounding 2 or 3, including the leader of the band. He was often far ahead of his soldiers, and, though receiving two shots from pistols and one from a shot-gun in his coat, he pressed on, and fired so rapidly and accurately as to stampede the enemy every time he halted for fight. We captured 7 or 8 horses, 6 or 7 guns, some blankets, etc., without any loss to our side. The scout sent to La Fayette has also returned, being unable to discover any trace of the enemy. After the 31st (day of muster) I will again move on the enemy.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
JNO. F. PHILIPS,
Colonel Seventh Missouri State Militia Cavalry.
General E. B. Brown,
Comdg. Central District of Missouri, Jefferson City, Mo.
JNO. F. PHILIPS,
Colonel Seventh Missouri State Militia Cavalry.
General E. B. Brown,
Comdg. Central District of Missouri, Jefferson City, Mo.
Missouri had 1,162 military actions, the third highest number, after Virginia and Tennessee. Of that number, only two--Wilson's Creek (August 10, 1861) and Westport (October 23, 1864)-- are considered battles. The remaining incidents were primarily skirmishes.
Missouri had over a dozen state militia organizations during the Civil War. The primary in-state defensive and offensive military forces were the Enrolled Missouri Militia (EMM) and Missouri State Militia (MSM). The EMM was solely state force, primarily mobilized as needed, but plagued with accusations of both disloyalty and excessive zealotry. The MSM was a state force authorized and subsidized by the federal government. It was a full-time force and was primarily occupied in battling guerrilla forces throughout the war.
The Missouri forces that fought east of the Mississippi River were primarily members of the Missouri Volunteers, or volunteers in federal service from Missouri (although the Union forces killed at the Battle of Centralia were recruits for the 39th Regiment Infantry, Missouri Volunteers). The Missouri Volunteers consisted of 56 regiments, infantry, 16 cavalry, 2 artillery, and one engineer regiments, as well as numerous independent companies, batteries, and battalions.
Missouri contributed a huge number of its men to both sides of the Civil War. Over 109,000 men enlisted and fought for the Union and at least 30,000 men fought for the Confederacy. This represents almost 60 percent of men of military age and places Missouri first among the states in proportion to the population.
7th Regiment State Militia Cavalry
Organized at large in Missouri March and April, 1862. Served unattached, Dept. of Missouri, to September, 1862. District of Southwest Missouri, Dept. of Missouri, to October, 1862. Unattached, Army of the Frontier, Dept. of Missouri, to June, 1863. District Central Missouri, Dept. of Missouri, to July, 1865.
SERVICE.--Post Oak Creek, near mouth of Briar, March 26, 1862. Warrensburg April 8. Warrensburg May 17 (Co. "G"). Pursuit of Poindexter August 8-15 (Detachment). Independence August 12. Scout from Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, to Independence August 12-14. Expedition to Hickory Grove August 17-27 (1 Co.). Fayetteville, Ark., October 24. Scout from Linden to White River April 1-5, 1863 (Co. "G"). White River April 17. Scout from Newtonia to French Point and Centre Creek May 13-18 (Detachment). French Point May 15 (Detachment). Carthage May 16 (Detachment). Hartsville May 23. Mountain Store May 26. Carthage June 27-28. Scout from Sedalia August 25-28 (Detachment). Clear Fork August 26 (Detachment). Near Syracuse October 25 (Co. "H"). Warsaw October 7. Near Camp Cole October 9. LaMine Bridge October 10. Booneville October 11-12. Merrill's Crossing and Dug Ford, near Jonesborough, October 12. Blackwater October 12. Marshall, Arrow Rock, Blackwater, October 13. Jonesborough October 14. Warrensburg May 28, 1864. Near Dunksburg June 27-28 (Co. "K"). Wellington July 8. Operations near Wellington July 9-13. warder's Church July 10 (Detachment). Columbia July 12 (Detachment). Johnson County July 16. Clear Fork, near Warrensburg, July 16 (Detachment). Scout in Johnson County July 26-31 (Detachment). Blackwater River July 27 (Co. "G"). Big Creek July 28 (Co. "C"). Expedition from Warrensburg to Chapel Hill July 29-August 2 (Co. "K"). Near Chapel Hill July 30 (Co. "K"). Operations near Holden August 2-8. Merrick's Creek, near Holden, August 8 (Co, "K"). Operations in Johnson county August 11-19 (Detachment). Near Holden August 12 (Detachment). Scout from Crisp's Mills on Big Creek August 25-30 (Co. "M"). Near Rose Hill August 26 (Co. "M"). Near Lone Jack September 1 (Detachment). Operations in Johnson County September 1-9 (Detachment). Expedition from Sedalia to Scott's Ford on Blackwater September 2-4. Scout in Lafayette County September 20-25 (Detachment). Arrow Rock Road September 23 (Detachment). Prince's Shoals, Osage River, Cole County, October 5-6. Near Jefferson City October 8. California and Boonville October 9. Near Boonville October 11-12. Sedalia October 15. Little Blue October 21. Independence, Big Blue and State Line October 22. Westport October 23. Engagement at the Marmiton or Battle of Charlot October 25. Mine Creek, Osage River, Marias Des Cygnes, October 25. Scout from Warrensburg to Greenton Valley November 29-December 3 (Detachment). Scout from Camp Grover to Texas Prairie January 12-15, 1865 (Detachment). Scout from Warrensburg to Miami January 12-17 (Co. "I"). Scout from Warrensburg to Snibar Hills January 18-22 (Detachment). Scout from Warrensburg to Tabo Creek, etc., February 1-5 (Detachment). Scout in Lafayette County February 3-8. Scout from Warrensburg to Columbus and skirmish near Greenton March 19-23 (Detachment). Near Booneville May 3. Duty in Central District of Missouri until July. Mustered out July 11, 1865.
Regiment lost during service 4 Officers and 56 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 6 Officers and 152 Enlisted men by disease. Total 218.
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