FROM WARREN COUNTY.
Correspondence of the Republican
WARRENTON, WARREN CO., MO.,
March 24, 1862
The story then recounts Col. Morsey sending a detachment to near Marthasville that engaged in a gunfight with Henderson and his men, and then wounding and capturing Henderson. Note the reference to Morsey's rank, which was questioned in another post in this thread. Being in command of a battalion, I suspect his actual rank at the time was lieutenant colonel.
I haven't seen the article in the Democrat, but if it says Morsey came with reinforcements that may account for the two different stories providing two different numbers of troops involved (8-10, and 30). On reckoning would be that Lt. Hackried went down with the smaller force, and the larger force followed.
Regarding James Wilson's involvement in events surrounding Henderson is Morsey's Nov. 29, 1864 letter to the Republican--
"Wilson was very dear to me; he joined by command at Warrenton in December, 1861, as a private, but he soon was appointed first sergeant; and in March, 1862, was elected captain. He was with me inall the marches over this State after Porter, Poindexter, Henderson, Reeves and Marmaduke...." All the rest, as outlined in the previous thread, is speculation. It is undisputed that he was promoted to captain soon afterwards.
Also note that Wilson's military file has him private in Company B until Feb. 15, 1862, at which time he was promoted to first sergeant. That was Company B of Morsey's battalion....