A historical report covering a scouting expedition by 50 men of Company “E” of the 3rd Missouri Calvary, led by 2nd Lieutenant Herbert Reed. Reed enlisted on 10/1/61 at St. Louis, MO as a 2^nd Lt. and was commissioned into Company D, 3^rd MO Cavalry; transferred to Co. E, date not given.

The content of this 4-page report is very detailed and amazing! In the transcript below, I have highlighted some of the best content, to include Reed’s mention of "Coleman's band", which is in reference to a Missouri Cavalry Regiment under the command of Confederate Colonel William O. Coleman. This unit is quite interesting and appears to at times to be only loosely associated with the Confederate Army.

Reed would continue to serve with Company “E” until he was killed in action on September 10th, 1863 at the Battle of Bayou Fourche, Arkansas. He is buried in Little Rock National Cemetery. At some point before his death he was promoted to 1^st Lieutenant.

Here is the full transcript of the report, all of which is written in Reed’s hand:

Report of Lieut Herbert Reed of a scout under his command which left Salem Aug 24th and returned Aug 28th 1862, Fifty men in the command.

1st          Marched in a southerly direction until noon then halted for feed and dinner, twenty miles from Salem on the barren fork of Sinking Creek.

2nd        Marched down Sinking Creek in a southwest direction five miles then changed course to the south and marched six miles which brought us to Current River and continued four miles down Current River in a southeast direction and halted for supper for the men and feed for the horses.

3rd         At eleven o'clock p.m. resumed the march in a southern direction six miles on the county road and halted at the house of one, Jackson, Sugs, searched the house, but found nothing.

4th         Resumed the march in the same direction for four miles and halted at Chilton’s Mill, searched on house and found no men or contraband goods. Searched the house of on Andrew Chilton, in doing so was fired upon by some persons inside, the fire was returned, killing  one man (name unknown) and supposed to have wounded another man (name unknown), also wounding one woman slightly (name unknown). No contraband goods were found in the house.

5th         Resumed the march in a westerly direction two miles and surrounded the house of one Frederick Chilton. Searched and found three men, Alexander Chilton, Henry Smith, James Gallion, William Chilton, also one gun and one U.S. saddle and two U.S. horses and two contraband horses. All of which we placed under guard.

6th         Resumed the march in a westerly direction for one mile, halted at the house of one Joshua Chilton, three men ran from the house, they were commanded to halt, but refused to obey and were fired upon. One Jesse Conaway was mortally wounded, one Perry Chilton was shot at as he was going into the brush, the result unknown. One Joshua Chilton was caught after a pursuit of nearly a mile and swimming Jacks Fork, on the pursuit also found two U.S. mules, one sorrel mare (claimed by our Guide, Daniel B. Smith and one contraband horse (white stallion). The property and prisoner were placed under guard.

7th         We now unsaddled for feed and breakfast at eight o’clock A.M. on the 25th.

8th         After feeding and resting for two hours, resumed the march in a northerly direction for fifteen miles found no men or contraband property on the route this brought us to current river at the residence of David Smith (no guide) here we camped for the night.

9th         On the 26th left a part of the men to guard the camp and prisoners. Marched the remainder in a north east direction for twenty miles which brought us onto big creek.

10th       Searched a number of houses on the route, the first was that of Andrew Marsh, found no contraband property but one horse loose in the woods in front of the house. Marsh is said to be with Colemans band.

11th       One bay mare was found in the pasture of Daniel Williams, said by his wife to be a stray.

12th       One bay mare found in the pasture of Benjamin Conway

13th       One bay mare and one bay horse found secreted in the woods at Jackson Herrings, we brought the man and horses along.

14th       Found one mare back of one Gaforth’s house in the woods. Gaforth ran and escaped, we brought the mare with us.

15th       One grey mare and colt found at Gaforths belonging to his son who is in Colemans band. We brought the mare and colt along.

16th       After feeding and resting returned to the camp on current river, on the whole route from the time we left Salem until we returned, whenever we saw a man run and leave a horse, we took the horse and left word for them to prove themselves legal and take their property if they wished.

17th       On the morning of the 27th we procured of Alfred Deathridge for transportation the following property, one ? of horses and harnesses, one light spring wagon, and one horse saddle and bridle.

18th       And taking the families of David Smith and Dan A. Smith, our prisoners, and contraband property with Alfred Deathridge and Newton Deathridge, and Mr Dearlove, to assist us as teamsters took our line of march for head quarters at Salem.

19th       Reached the residence of Joseph Conway and camped for the night.

20th       On the 28th Resumed the march and reach Salem five o’clock P.M. When within nine miles of Salem one yoke of our oxen broke down we took another yoke from the woods to supply their place this yoke of cattle was said to belong to one widow Mary Smith.

The country over which we traveled was very destitute of water until we reached Sinking creek, after that was rough and hilly and supplied with an abundance of the purest of water. Plenty of corn in the field in the valleys, some considerable fruit, peaches and apples, not very many sheep, an abundance of cattle, not much small grain that I saw, found two grist mills, and any quantity of hogs though they are all ?

Herbert Reed

2nd Lieut Co. E. 3rd Mo. Cav

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THIS ITEM, AS WITH ALL OTHER ITEMS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEB SITE,

MAY BE PURCHASED THROUGH OUR LAYAWAY PROGRAM.

FOR OUR POLICIES AND TERMS,

CLICK ON ‘CONTACT US’ AT THE TOP OF ANY PAGE ON THE SITE,

THEN ON ‘LAYAWAY POLICY’.