Francis J. Herron to Tyler, April 21, 1863

Colonel TYLER: Have the Third Iowa and the Third Missouri Cavalry and Stange’s battery put in marching order immediately, ready to move the moment Glover and Caldwell come down. Say to Colonel Glover as soon as he comes down that he must pursue Marmaduke with great caution and advise us where he has gone or is. He ought to be able to cut up Marmaduke if he has only 1,500 men. After his fight I shall telegraph Glover to move at once. Concentrate Smart’s regiment and your infantry at the depot; same with Morton’s troops and the battery as soon as they come down. McNeil is moving up to re-enforce the Knob. Have you heard from Bell? You must have cavalry patrols in every direction for 20 miles out, watching the movements of the enemy. Telegraph freely everything. J. W. DAVIDSON, Brigadier-General. Sarnt Louis DistTRI07, April 21, 1863—11 p. m. Major-General HERRON, Rolla: The following dispatch just received : PILOT KNnos, April 21—10 p. m. From a reliable man, who this day came in from Patterson, I understand that Price, with a very large force (reports say 20,000 men), was early this morning at McKenzie Creek, 8 miles west of Patterson, and was moving this way. One of Colonel Smart’s men, who was on picket at Patterson, left behind, and just returned, says he saw about 10,000 troops and counted nineteen pieces of artillery. JOHN F. TYLER, Colonel, Commanding. This is probably an exaggerated account, but I have no doubt but that there are from 6,000 to 7,000 troops at or near Patterson, and that Price is there in person. I shall go down to the Knob in the morning. I have sent out to communicate with Vandever. As yet we do not know where the enemy’s main force is. I can hold the Knob with my 3,000 men against what is coming. General Uurtis desires me to give you the above information. I believe they will try to get as near Saint Louis as they can. J. W. DAVIDSON, Brigadier-General. Saint Lours, Mo., April 21, 1863—11.50 p. m. Colonel TYLER: Send hired express (Deer, or any trusty man) to Centreville, to communicate your last dispatch about Price to General Vandever, who is marching toward the Knob. Send hired express of trusty men to Fredericktown rapidly to ascertain whereabouts of General McNeil, and to hurry him up, by myorder. Call out Lindsay’s and Whitely’s regiments of Enrolled Militia immediately ; put them in camp as fast as you can, or in proper buildings at Arcadia. Put the court-house and main buildings in a state of defense at Arcadia; do the same, if required, at the proper position. I will be down in the morning with an extra engineer officer. Drill your troops; drill three times a day. Have you ammunition enough for small-arms? You ought to have General HERRON, Rolla: The enemy drove Smart’s regiment out of Patterson, one of my oatposts, yesterday about 4 p.m. Hard fighting; our loss in killed, wounded, and missing said to be 200. The enemy’s force variously estimated from 2,500 to 4,000, with artillery. Marmaduke said to be in command. The worst of it is, Smart has lost Marmaduke’s whereabouts. I send Glover, with 1,500 cavalry and four pieces, after him. If your cavalry could co-operate, we may get him or his artillery. I think he will go out by the way of Barnesville, as he knows I have a small post there. J. W. DAVIDSON, Brigadier-General. Sarmnt Lovis, Mo., April 21, 1863—1.30 p. m. Oolonel TYLER, Commanding : No flag of truce can go to the enemy until this fighting isover. You must defend Fort Curtis; it covers the entrance to the Bellevue Valley. J. W. DAVIDSON, Brigadier-General. ROLLA, Mo., April 21, 1863. Brigadier-General DAvIDsoNn, Saint Louis: I have sent General Vandever, with 2,500 cavalry and fix pieces of artillery, in the direction of Pilot Knob. Should he hear of the enemy at Barnesville, he is instructed to go down by way of Centreville. Glover had better be notified of his approach, and, if possible, open communication with him.

F. J. HERRON,