lag of truce
to bury his dead. The national loss was 203 killed, 972 wounded, and 176
missing. Van Dorn reported his loss as 600 killed and wounded and 200
prisoners, but the dispersion of a large portion of his command
prevented full reports.

Van Dorn was now ordered to report at Corinth, where A.S. Johnston was
assembling his army. Most of the national forces remaining in Missouri
were sent to General Grant, to aid in his expeditions against Fort Henry
and Fort Donelson. General Curtis made a promenade across Arkansas,
halting at times, and came out on the Mississippi in July, 1862.

While Price kept Southwest Missouri in a state of alarm, Jefferson
Thompson, appointed by Governor Jackson brigadier-general and commander
of district, marauded over Southeastern Missouri, sometimes raiding far
enough to the north to strike and damage railways. On October 14, 1861,
by a rapid march he passed by Pilot Knob, which Colonel Carlin held with
1,500 men, struck the Iron Mountain Railroad at its crossing of Big
River, destroyed the bridge--the largest bridge on the road--and
immediately fell back to Fredericktown. The news reaching St. Louis on
the 15th, the Eighth Wisconsin infantry and Schofield's battery were
despatched thence to reinforce Colonel Carlin; and General Grant,
commanding at Cape Girardeau, sent Colonel Plummer, of the Eleventh
Missouri, with his own regiment, the Seventeenth and Twentieth Illinois,
a section of artillery and two companies of cavalry, in all 1,500 men,
to join in an attack upon Thompson. Meanwhile a party of cavalry was
sent out from Pilot Knob to Fredericktown, to occupy Thompson by
demonstrations and hold him there.

Colonel Plummer marched out from Cape Girardeau on the morning of the
18th, and sent a messenger to Colonel Carlin advising him of his
movement; the messenger fell into Thompson's hands. Thompson sent his
train to the south, and, moving a few miles below Fredericktown with his
force numbering 4,000 men, took a strong position and awaited attack.
Carlin with 3,000 men effected a junction with Plummer and his 1,500,
the combined force being under command of Colonel Plummer. Thompson was
attacked as soon as discovered. After a sharp fight of two hours
Thompson gave way, was driven from his position, retreated, and fell
into rout. He was pursued several miles that day, and the pursuing force
returned to Fredericktown for the night. Next day Colonel Plummer
followed in pursuit twenty