21 August 1861

August, Wednesday, 21st 1861 Pleasant. E.I.R.B. 2d Kgs. 17 Acts 16. Engaged in drilling in the morn. Nothing of importance transpired to day but the looking at the prisoners.

Registry of Letters received 1861
Augts 21, Helen Rayhill, Mascoutah, Ills., sent Aug 18
Augst 21, F. Webb , Plymouth, Ind., sent Aug 13

OUR CAIRO CORRESPONDENCE.  Camp Defiance, Cairo; August 21, 1861.

Mr. Editor : - Notwithstanding, Cairo has been, and is now, considered the most important camp in the West, yet nothing of special importance is now transpiring in this immediate vicinity.  We have been in a  dormant state, and let the rebels frisk about us pretty much as they pleased.  The boys have been anxious, indeed clamorous, to get after them, but the commandant would never let us go; consequently, the rebels have waxed strong and saucy, and drawn their lines closer and closer, and grown bolder than ever, until Sunday last, when the ventured about 700 strong into Commerce, a town 30 miles above here at a narrow place in the river, and drove the Union people out, firing grape shot and ball at them as they were crossing the river in skiffs.  About noon, a boat that had accompanied the expedition from here to Missouri last week, returned, bringing several of the citizens of Commerce, who reported the condition of things at that point.

A telegram was then sent to Gen. Fremont, and upon receipt of the answer several gun-boats were got in readiness, and on the following morning, as they were about to start with a strong force, a steamer arrived, having passed Commerce unharmed, bringing the intelligence that 800 of our troops had gone from Cape Girardeau to that place, but as usual, when they got upon the ground no rebels were found.  They had sacked the town, however, taking every valuable that they could, and fled.  It is doubtless their intention to get across the country and burn the bridges on the railroad above here, it being about 15 miles from where they landed, but were probably frightened from their purpose.  I think they will try it ere long, if not more closely watched.

At night a telegram came from a member of Fremont’s staff, stating that an effort was likely to be made to spike the guns at the fort here and at Bird’s Point.  As officer of the day, I was required to detail the relief guard during the latter part of the night, and have them sleep in the fort.  As we were talking over the probabilities of an attack, Colonel Waggoner, commander of the artillery here, returned from Bird’s Point, bringing the news of a brilliant victory achieved by our boys at Charleston, twelve miles distant.  The affair occurred as follows :

(from NARA RG94, e519)

Col. Dougherty learning that a camp of rebels was in that vicinity, obtained the permission to visit them.  Summoning 200 of the boys of the 22d and 50 of the 18th Illinois regiments, and 50 cavalry, he started about sundown, and arrived there between nine and ten o’clock.  He divided the forces, intending that the two divisions should form a junction at the proper time, but owing to their ignorance of the country and the position of the enemy, the plan was defeated.  Col. Dougherty ran on to the line of the enemy’s pickets when they hailed him with, “Who’s there?”  “Troops,” was the reply.  “Give the countersign,” said the guard.  “Illinois; is that it?” asked the Colonel, upon which the guard fired and fled.  The next line hailed and received the same answer.  The Colonel then charged and drove the rebels in.  The other division under the Lieutenant Colonel, came in on the other side, and after some sharp fighting the enemy retreated in confusion to a cornfield.  The rebel force consisted of 700 infantry and about 350 cavalry.  Our boys killed 40, too 16 prisoners and 17 horses, and returned by two o’clock, having suffered a loss of 1 killed, 1 missing, and 7 wounded.  Maj. Ransom was shot in the shoulder by a rebel who had surrendered, and as the Major went up to take him, he fired a pistol, wounding the Major in the shoulder, but not dangerously.  The next shot was the Major’s, and he made it tell, for the rebel was not among the wounded or prisoners.  Col. Dougherty was taking a prisoner in a similar manner, when the rebel struck him a blow on the shoulder with his gun; the Colonel returned the compliment, when the rebel got off his horse and laid down. --  A drummer boy only 14 years old, was seen to level his pistol at a rebel riding by at full speed; he fired and the rebel fell; he captured the horse and rode him into camp, a proud boy, greatly applauded.  The next day about noon the cavalry came in, having got separated that night, and brought with them 29 prisoners which they had picked up during the night.  The prisoners were all here under a strong guard, a sorry looking set.  They state that Pillow takes all the horses and men that he can find, and presses them into the service.  Ere long we will get after them in earnest. - Yours respectfully, L. W., 9th Reg., Ill. V. M.

[Editor: For similar accounts of the Battle of Charleston see, (Moore, Frank, editor), The Rebellion Record, pages 535-537 and (Frost, J. B.), The Rebellion in the United States, Vol 2, pages 337-339.  Loren's account is similar, so he could have taken it from the newspapers, but he also had access to and knew several of the participants.]