HEADQUARTERS FIRST BRIGADE,
In the Field, October 24, 1864.

COLONEL: I have the honor to report, for the information of the major-general commanding, that on the receipt of his order of the 22nd instant to move this brigade to the front, I pushed rapidly forward, passed the commands in my advance through the town of Independence, on the Westport road, and when about a mile out I met the enemy. The First Missouri State Militia was dismounted and moved forward in the center, and orders were sent to the Fourth Missouri State Militia to form on the left, and the Seventh Missouri State Militia on the right, both dismounted. It was soon reported to me that the two latter regiments had not come up. This left the First Missouri State Militia alone to engaged the enemy, but the ground was held against a largely superior force for three-quarters of an hour. In the meantime I sent repeated orders to the rear to find the missing regiments, and after nearly an hour's delay they were brought forward, having been stopped in Independence through Colonel Cole, chief of artillery, he having halted the artillery attached to the brigade, and with it, necessarily, the two regiments that were in rear and supporting it. While this part of my command was halted, two companies of the Fourth Missouri State Militia had been detached to remain in Independence on temporary service. I was not informed that these two companies had been detailed or that the two regiments and artillery had been halted at the rear. As soon as they were brought forward, and two mounted squadrons of Colonel Winslow's brigade which had

(p. 346 ends) moved up to support me were sent to the flanks, I pushed forward, attacked the enemy, and drove him back about two miles on the Westport road. After about two hours' fighting the First and Fourth Regiments reported their ammunition expended, and the train having been detained in crossing the Little Blue River Colonel Winslow's (Fourth) brigade relieved me and took the advance. I sent immediately to the rear and ordered the ammunition train up; reformed my command and moved forward, closing up with Colonel Winslow.

In this skirmish with the enemy my loss was Lieutenant Mullins, First Missouri State Militia, mortally wounded, 8 enlisted men severely and a number slightly wounded. The enemy's loss is unknown. Colonel Bennran [?] was killed. Colonel Merritt L. Young and Captain Davidson fell into our hands, the former dangerously wounded, and the ambulances of the enemy were busy carrying their disabled men to the rear. (Brown's report of Oct, 24, 1864 in OR Vol. 41, Pt. 1, pp. 346-47)