The 9th M.S.M. in the Battle of Glasgow.



Benton Barracks, October, 1864



Missouri Democrat:



Permit us, through the columns of your journal to give a brief but truthful account of the part taken by the 9th M.S.M. in the battle of Glasgow. We do not do this from a desire to herald our fame abroad, or to take undue praise to ourselves, but to correct errors which have been made in nearly every statement of that sanguinary struggle, in order that we may receive the justice which is due us.



We will not go into the details of the part enacted by Colonel Harding’s command, because the accounts heretofore given, regarding them are, in the main, correct. The battle was begun at two o’clock A.M. on the morning of the 13th instant by General Shelby’s artillery, from the south bank of the river opposite the town. We were encamped in the upper portion of the city, between Mr Ben Lewis’s residence and the river. Several shells were dropped by the enemy to and around our encampment early in the morning, but neither man nor horse was injured. We were soon mounted and ready fro the fray. We were ordered to cross the creek, which ran between our station and the main portion of the town, and take a position in the city and await further orders. About half past seven o’clock, General Clark and his brigade, with two or three pieces of artillery, appeared in the northeastern part of the city, and opened with grape and shell and small arms on Colonel Harding’s men and a portion of the 13th Missouri Veterans.



Slowly they moved around to the west, forming a cordon around the city to prevent the escape of the garrison. We were ordered back across the bridge over the creek, to take a position near Major Lewis’s residence, on the road heading west, but were soon ordered to recross the bridge, which was in full view of the battery on the south side of the river, making us, while crossing, a prominent mark for the rebel sharpshooters and artillerymen, who did not fail to improve their opportunity; but not a man was touched. As soon as we were across, orders were given for us to take possession of the out houses and the tobacco factory of Mr Ben Lewis, and again we ran the gauntlet of rebel shell, grape and bullets. At eight o’clock, or a few minutes past, the 18th Missouri rebel regiment, Colonel Lowther, formed its skirmish line on the north and west of our position, and advanced upon us. The fight soon became general, and the Minie balls whizzed and screeched in fearful proximity to us, crashing through frame buildings, or striking with a dull sound against brick walls, and falling harmless at our feet.



The rebels made an attempt to gain the tobacco factory and barn, but Captain Hunter, with some fifteen or twenty men, gained them first, and the enemy were repulsed, loosing some ten or twelve men, killed and wounded. Another endeavour was made by the rebels to gain the position, but their failure and loss was even greater than before. It was at this juncture that Captain Hunter, while directing the fire of his men, received a ball through his clothing, the closest shot the rebels made during the whole fight on our part of the field.



During all this time where was Major Lewis. Did he have a command on the field, as stated in yesterday morning’s Democrat, or was he even present on that part of the field, encouraging the soldiers to a greater resistance, if possible, to invading rebel hordes, who, if not guerrillas and murderers themselves, take Bill Anderson by the hand and approve of his fiendish barbarities. He was not to be seen anywhere where rebel bullets flew, nor did he make his appearance until after the surrender.



About half past 1 o’clock a rebel captain brought a flag of truce, asking Captain Hunter to surrender, saying that Colonel Harding had surrendered the town an hour previously, of which we were ignorant. Hunter told him he could not and would not surrender until as ordered by his superior officer. The rebel captain then told him he could send a courier to town for information, but at this moment a messenger from Colonel Hymns with an order for the Captain to surrender and bring his force to the city to stack arms. This puts an end to the story that we were captured early in the day.



Hunter’s command consisted of forty men of company M, 9th M.S.M, forty-two men of company M, 2nd M.S.M., and several men on the 17th Illinois cavalry, and was ably assisted by Lieutenant Eldridge, 17th Illinois cavalry, Lieutenants Wilcox, Decker, and Berkahills, 8th M.S.M cavalry. We lost not a man killed or wounded, while our opponents lost twenty-seven, a heavy per centage being officers.



H.A.S.
St. Louis Missouri Democrat
Nov. 2, 1864
p. 2 col. 5