Headquarters Vol. Squadron
Arkansas Cavalry, Camp Crilloden
November the 1st, 1861
I again resume my seat to drop you a few lines. I am well and, the
boys say, still fattening. I hope you all are 1'Jell and doing well and
will continue until we meet again.
Vie have no sickness in camps, though Henry Hickman and William T.
Hale are sick, but th~ are out in the country. I have not heard from
them,as I have just returned from a rout through a portion of Hissouri.
I have nothing of importance to write so I will proceed to give you a
small skatch of OUr last night in Nissouri.
-I can,·,say to you, ·that on last Saturday morning at one 0 '.clock that a
dispat'ch ·.carne to ·me that 800 home guards in l1issouri were on their way
to Carrollton and were killing and driving every thing before them. I
roused up the squadron, cooked and ate our breakfast before day and
rolled out to. Carrollton to save the town, if possible. I!hen we reached
there .,.1 ,saw many missourians fleeing from their .homes taking with
them what they could •
. The enemy had'not yet reached Carrollto~m so I raised about 50 more
men and rolled out to meetthem. I'!e did not meet them on that day,
"lhich was Sunday. We met numbers of men during the day and all of them
told us that the en any "as camped at the mouth of the creek •
. ' The women and children were leaving their homes so we moved on cautiouslyand
camped. Monday morning we started. in different directions.
I had about 500 men rallied and gd.!1(ired for our .assistance.
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I taken about 170 men and moved in a head march all daY,say 20 miles,
and camped north, within four miles of where the enemy had camped the
night previous. 1:e kept out string picket guards and sent out scouts
through the country around.
The. next morning I moved on to the supposed camp of the enemy. Our
spies. said they saw persons run that they supposed were spies from the
other side. vie then moved up to the place. I picked a beautiful battle
ground. Can never be better for a small fight. Tied our horses on the
bank of the White River and moved out a short distance in aligrunent
for battle. I sent some 30 men in different directions to take them in
or learn their whereabouts. We held ourselves in readiness from 12 until
near night, then prepared for camping.
Our: piu-ties came in now and reported that they had made but little
discoveries. We kept 16 prisoners that night; 13 children, 2 women and
one man. We turned them loose the next morning and rode for home by
way of Forsythe, but found no fight. Forsythe was evacuated. I saw
only two families there and saw two or three cannon ball holes thrp\1gh
the courthouse. The glass windows were all shot to pieces in the other
battle. The southern "lOmen and children are suffering greatly in Miss-:'"
ouri •.. Their women have to bury the dead.
I saw Captain Burks of Missouri. He came to UB. When' he saw our flag.
He had been lying near home for several days, during which time oneo~
his children died. He heard his Nife's lamentations and was afraid to'
go in. She and her three small children had to bury the child in a
goods box.
When he came to me I gave him 15 men and told him to go to his home,
a distance of about eight miles. He thought he could find some four or
five persons Who had been waylaying his house. He did not find them,
however,nor did he speak to his wife. He came back with the boys and
:. stayed with us all night. I wanted him to come out with us and move
his family. He said, no, he.would lay in the mountains a while longer.
He thought he could do more good than in the army.
John Brewster also came to us at the same place with several otqers.
When they saw us they came in out of the ruffs with their guns . and
blankets. They seemed to rejoice as though they had been at a camp
meeting. There is no use in talking. It is too bad for the American
people to think of, other than being an eyewitness •
. I wishl had something to write that would amuse or be consoling to
you in at 'greater or less degree.
James Lemley had this moment received a letter from his.l·rife with
two little ones in it. I expect the next one I get from you will have
a lit tIe' one in "i t, as like as not.
I. hear the boys hollerin, "horne guard." Bill Linton, John Ridge and
'others I suppose. are just arriving and, of course, some of them must
have a letter for me, so I will go and see •
. Hello, yes here is a letter. What? Yes, here is a verbal letter.
What? Captain Tom, how do you do, sir? I would be glad to see you.
Come over as soon as you can, or in a few days and I will giye you an
officer in the army. vie are needing all the brave and good men in the
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,se,rvice that can be found and I think if he is not the right sort it
is not my fault, or there is no use in trying for I know that I tried
my pest and, probably as often as anyone else not to meet with sickness.
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I don.t know, 'but I think, probably,
you se, say two weeks, that is if We are
I will be at home by the time
not called too far off.
, I have received a dispatch from General I1cCulloch stating that another
company of ,cavalry .Ias ordered to report to us for duty~ He said
We should have, more assistance if We need it. He also ordered us to
keep a sharp lookout and gua'rd well the borders of Fulton and Marion
counties. Should we receive no other orders I think that we will take
up winter quarters some 16 or 20 miles northeast of Yellville on l,hite
R:i.ver, 'a very plentiful portion of the country.
I ant to come home as soon as I can raise some money or as soon as
we are paid off for the state service, which I think will be done in a
few weeks. If I should not get home I want you to take good care of
yourself and boy, I'would be glad to see you up there when I should
reach him.
" ,I must ha ye another horse, if not h/o. My horse is not fit to ride
if I could come home.
Captain Thos.J. Linton