Battlefield Dispatches No. 371 'A fresh trail'

During the Civil War, finding and "tracking" or following the trail of a band of guerrillas was one of the most difficult and frustrating missions of the "Blue Belly Billy Yanks" (Union Troops) in Missouri. The Confederate Guerrillas or "Bushwhackers," if you are of the northern persuasion, were excellent at creating false trails, leading the Yanks" into an ambush, or making a "fresh trail" completely disappear! The following is a brief Union "after action" report that describes the successful pursuit on a fresh Bushwhacker trail. It is located in Series I, Vol. 22, Part I, Reports of the Official Records of the Rebellion on Pages 549 & 550.

"Ball Town, Mo., Aug. 12, 1863.

Major: After my compliments, I have the honor of reporting my proceedings relative to your order. I had designed and it was agreed upon the company D of the 3rd Wisconsin Cavalry, commanded by Lieutenant J. Crites, of the same company, should start from FORT SCOTT on the 6th of August, at noon and proceed as far as Moore's Mill on the Marmiton, scouting the country thoroughly as they proceeded; Lieutenant H. Pond to start from Dry Wood, to arrive at Nevada early on the morning of the 7th of August, scouting the country also as he came. Colonel Brag was to proceed from Lamar, coming down Little Dry Wood to meet Lieutenant Pond at Nevada on the morning of the 7th, whence all were to proceed toward Ball Town, Mo., until they met me with my force divided into two parts. My ground of operation was from Timbered Hill, at the junction of the Little Osage [River] and the Marmiton, scouting both sides of the Marmiton, all parties closing in until we met. The parties performed their respective portions of the labor allotted them with promptness and dispatch, with the exception of Colonel Brag, who failed to report as per arrangement. We all worked hard all day and found that the enemy had left in the direction of Horse Creek, whereupon we determined to pursue him, thinking that we might intercept him in the recesses of Clear Creek.

We started on the morning of the 8th from Ball Town, Mo., and proceeded a little east of south course toward the head of Clear Creek. When we had proceeded down the creek a short distance our scouts reported "A FRESH TRAIL"! We had gone but a 100 rods, when turning an angle in the road, we came upon 5 of the enemy. The scouts being on the advance immediately fired upon them. Three of them being mounted, escaped, after a race of about 2 miles (it being nearly dark); the other two we shot, capturing their horses and arms. Thence we proceeded 1 mile down the creek and rode up to a house. A man running from the house, the boys fired on him, but it being dark he escaped in the brush and weeds, an abundant growth of which every house is surrounded with. We went into camp for the night.

Next morning early we determined to divide our command and institute a thorough search from that point up both sides of the creek, clear to its very head. I took the north and Lieutenant Pond the south side. I proceeded to the head of the creek without discovering any signs of the enemy; but not so with Lieutenant Pond. He had not proceeded more than a mile when he discovered an old camp where they had staid the night previous. He immediately sent word of what he had found viz, 5 horses secreted in their camp, accompanied with a request that he be allowed to remain in their camp that night, with a view of capturing them on their return. I acceded and moved my force within supporting distance and we remained on our arms the remainder of the night; but they did not return and it appeared that they had gone farther south.

Whereupon I despaired of even a possibility of finding more returned scouting the brush and woods thoroughly to the head of Clear Creek, thence down the Dry Wood on the night of the 7th and directly on the route the militia were to take to come to our place of meeting of said day; thus proving plainly that had Colonel Brag performed his part of the contract, the guerrillas, in all probability, would have been, if not quite, very nearly annihilated and Major, I was greatly chagrined to think of the Colonel's failure to do his part. Thence I returned to Ball Town, scouting the country thoroughly for sings, but found none.

I remain, very respectfully, your most obedient servant,

Captain, R. W. CARPENTER,

Commanding Detachment"

Now, Captain Carpen-ter's mission was partially successful by following "A FRESH TRAIL" two guerrillas were subsequently killed, but the pursuit of the escaping bushwhackers failed, and of course, the war went on.