GENERAL: I have this moment received your dispatch of the 28th, inclosing copies of letters from Colonel Weer of the 26th and 27th.
     I have ordered all the available force here to march immediately, and proceed by forced marches until they form a junction with you. The forces that will move to-night are the Second Kansas, the First and Second Indian Regiments, and Rabb's battery. The Third Wisconsin and Blair's battery are expected here to-night, and will follow immediately.
     Unless you are confident of your ability to make a successful fight you will not risk a battle, but fall back slowly, endeavoring to draw the enemy on until you form a junction with the re-enforcements coming up.
     Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Reports of A. Blocki, Acting Assistant Adjutant-General
&
Colonel George H. Hall, Fourth M. S. M. Cavalry, Comdg. Brigade.

     GENERAL: There has been firing of cannon in the direction of Newtonia, but the firing has ceased. I have just received the following order from General Salomon:

     Colonel HALL,
         Commanding Fourth Brigade, Missouri State Militia:

         Advance immediately toward Newtonia. Heavy firing in our advance. By order of General Salomon:

    I have accordingly ordered my command to advance immediately in the direction of Newtonia. I have ordered Captain Withaup, with two companies of the Fourteenth Cavalry, Missouri State Militia, to take charge of the train, and in case of danger to fall back with said train as near as possible midway between Fort Scott and Springfield, and to keep me fully advised of his movements.
     Respectfully, your obedient servant,

Reports of A. Blocki, Acting Assistant Adjutant-General
&
Colonel George H. Hall, Fourth M. S. M. Cavalry, Comdg. Brigade.

     GENERAL: Being left in command of your brigade during your temporary absence at Springfield, Mo., I beg leave to submit the following report:
    At about 8 a.m. of the 30th ultimo firing from artillery was heard in the direction of, and supposed to be at or near, Newtonia, Mo. The firing was continued until about 10 o'clock of the said day, when it ceased. I had seen Brigadier-General Schofield's letter of instructions to different commanders in his division, directing them not on any account to risk a defeat. I had seen General Salomon's estimate of the number of the enemy's troops of Newtonia, Mo., which was 8,000; also Colonel Weer's estimate, which was about 11,000. I was also aware of the fact that the forces of General Salomon, of Colonel Weer, and of your brigade did not number near 8,000. General Salomon never, by word or letter, intimated to me that he intended attacking the enemy at Newtonia. I was therefore lost in conjecture as to who were engaged in firing the artillery we heard in the morning. About 10 a.m. of the said 30th ultimo I received the following order:

         Advance immediately toward Newtonia. Heavy firing in advance.

         P. S.— Send answer by bearer where you will strike Newtonia road.

    This was the only communication ever received by me from General Salomon concerning the movement of the troops under my command at that time. It left me in utter ignorance of General Salomon's intentions. I did not know whether he intended to advance with his forces from Sarcoxie toward Newtonia. I was entirely without information of the intention of General Salomon. I desired him to send me a messenger. He neither sent me a messenger or a line, nor did he communicate with me in any way until I reached the battle-field.
    Immediately upon the receipt of the above order from General Salomon I ordered the different regiments, battalions, and companies of the brigade to march. We marched toward Newtonia by the way of Jollification. We marched about 8 miles. I had not heard any firing since we started. I had not received any communication from General Salomon. I was ignorant of his movements or intentions. I had no means of knowing the result of the morning's engagement, but had good reason to believe that the enemy had maintained his position. By marching to Newtonia by way of Jollification the whole force of the enemy would be directly between my command and the troops of General Salomon, whether they were at Sarcoxie or advancing from Sarcoxie to Newtonia.
    I therefore, upon consultation with the principal officers of your brigade, determined to march west until I struck the road leading from Sarcoxie to Newtonia or until I could learn something about General Salomon's movements or intentions. We reached the road leading from Sarcoxie to Newtonia at about 8 miles' distance from Newtonia at about 4 p.m. of said 30th ultimo. Here we came upon some stragglers belonging to Salomon's command. From them I learned that General Salomon and Colonel Weer, with their brigades, had marched toward Newtonia; that about 400 men belonging to General Salomon's command had made the attack in the morning on the enemy's forces (about 8,000 strong) at Newtonia, and that General Salomon and Colonel Weer had marched down to their relief. At the time we reached the road from Sarcoxie to Newtonia firing from artillery was heard by me again at or near Newtonia, which told me that General Salomon had with his forces reached Newtonia. It was about as far from our camp to where we struck the Sarcoxie road as from Sarcoxie to Newtonia. We marched from the last-mentioned place where we came into the Sarcoxie road to Newtonia with all possible dispatch. We reached the battle-field about sunset. General Salomon, on the battle-field, requested me to cover his retreat with my brigade. Gen-Salomon's troops were retreating in great confusion. The enemy in force were advancing to attack the rear of General Salomon's column. His rear must have been captured and destroyed but for the timely arrival of your brigade. I drew up your brigade in line of battle in front of the enemy and between the enemy and the retreating force of Brigadier-General Salomon. The enemy, seeing my disposition, drew up in line of battle and commenced firing their artillery at my line. I ordered Lieutenant Marr, in command of Captain Murphy's company of the First Missouri Artillery, to open fire upon the enemy, which was obeyed in a prompt and efficient manner.
    The troops of your brigade acted with great coolness and courage on the field and during the retreat. About dark the enemy withdrew their forces from the field. Having secured the retreat of the forces of General Salomen I drew off the men under my command.
    Our only casualty was 1 man badly wounded by the bursting of the enemy's shell.
    General Salomon’s troops scattered from near the battle-field to Sarcoxie. I saw them all safely back to Sarcoxie. I there, on the next morning, met General Salomon. He declined renewing the attack on the enemy. It therefore became my duty to march my brigade back to Centre Creek to protect the train. I arrived at the camp at about 10 a.m. of this 1st instant. I found everything safe.
    Respectfully, your obedient servant,

Report of Colonel Douglas H. Cooper, Commanding, CSA

     GENERAL: In conformity with orders from Brigadier-General Rains the troops under my command marched from camp at Scott's Mill, Mo., on the morning of September 24, and moved northward by way of Pineville, for the purpose of forming a junction with Colonel Shelby (who was at that time in command of a brigade of Missouri cavalry), which was effected on the evening of the 26th at the Big Spring, head of Indian Creek.
    I assumed command on the 27th. Colonel Hawpe's Texas regiment and Major Bryan's Cherokee Battalion were ordered to Newtonia, having made it an outpost, and the mill at that place was put in operation for the purpose of supplying the command with breadstuffs, which it did abundantly.
    Everything remained quiet until the 29th, when the enemy's scouts appeared near Newtonia, but were at once driven back by a detachment from that place. It was reported at the same time that a body of Pin Indians and Federals were at Granby. It being important that we should hold Granby, on account of the valuable lead mines at that place, Colonel Stevens was sent, with his regiment of cavalry, to make a reconnaissance of the place, and if practicable to dislodge the enemy. He reached the vicinity of Granby after dark, but found no enemy.
    On the morning of the 30th the enemy appeared in force in front of Newtonia and made a vigorous attack upon the troops at that place both with artillery and small-arms, which was promptly replied to by Captain Bledsoe's battery of two guns, supported by Colonel Hawpe's and Major Bryan's commands, who were posted behind the stone fence. At the time of the attack I was en route for Granby, having with me Colonel Alexander's Texas cavalry regiment, with the intention of taking possession of and holding that place. Upon hearing the firing we hastened to the scene of action. We found our forces hotly pressed by superior numbers of the enemy. Colonel Alexander was at once ordered to take position below the mill on the right, which was obeyed with alacrity under a strong fire of grape and Minie balls. The enemy's infantry had now possession of some of the buildings in the suburbs of the village, their sharpshooters being near enough to pick off our artillerymen from their guns. Colonel Alexander's regiment was forced to remount and fall back to the support of Bledsoe's battery, taking position behind the stone fence east of Ritchie's house to the right of the battery, Major Bryan's battalion being on the left, Colonel Hawpe's regiment occupying the stone barn and yard in front of Ritchie's house. Captain Bledsoe, with his artillerymen, stood gallantly to their guns until the last shot was expended, showering grape and canister among the advancing foe, and when forced to fall back out of range of the enemy's sharpshooters, when ordered to do so, came promptly into battery on the ridge about 150 yards to the right and rear of their former position, near the road from Newtonia to the Big Spring (Camp Coffee), by the way of Dr. Harmon's, though without a solitary shot in their caissons. The effect of this was at once apparent in checking the Federal cavalry on our left, who had commenced advancing the moment they saw the battery retiring. Captain Bledsoe continued to occupy that position under a heavy fire from the enemy's batteries until the close of the action. Colonel Hawpe at this juncture received orders to charge the enemy's infantry, and at the head of his men at once went gallantly into the charge. Leaping the stone fence, they met the enemy, when a sharp fight took place; but being exposed to the fire of the enemy's artillery, as well as infantry, were compelled, after succeeding in checking his advance, to fall back to their original position, under cover of the stone fence. At this moment the First Choctaw and Chickasaw Regiment, led by Lieutenant-Colonel Walker, entered the town at full gallop, passed through without halting, singing their war-songs and giving the war-whoop, and under my personal direction at once engaged the enemy under a heavy fire from artillery and infantry. Colonel Shelby's Missouri regiment, Lieutenant-Colonel Gordon commanding, had in the mean time arrived on the field and taken position on the right, flanking the enemy. That, with the charge of the Choctaws, soon drove them from the town and put them to flight, followed by Lieutenant-Colonel Walker and his men.
    At this moment Colonel Stevens' regiment from Granby appeared on our left, and having received orders to charge the enemy, moved forward rapidly and arrived in time to participate in the pursuit. Lieutenant-Colonel Gordon, not being aware that Colonel Stevens was in that direction, mistook his for a Federal regiment. Perceiving this, my son (Dr. Cooper) and my aide (Lieutenant Heiston) were sent by different routes to inform him that it was one of our own regiments, when he again moved forward. The delay occasioned by this mistake alone enabled the Federals to get off the field with their batteries and the remnant of their troops. The enemy now fled in confusion from the field, closely followed by our troops, the Choctaws in the center, the Missourians on the right, and Stevens' regiment on the left. We captured a number of prisoners and strewed the woods and road with dead and wounded. Large numbers of arms were also captured, thrown away by the enemy in their flight. The enemy's infantry (Ninth Wisconsin) were nearly all destroyed, being either killed or taken prisoners. The pursuit continued near 6 miles, when the enemy, meeting heavy re-enforcements, rallied his broken columns and again returned to the field.
    I had in the mean time been re-enforced by Colonel Jeans' Missouri-cavalry and Captain Howell's four-gun battery, which took position at the grave-yard on the north side of the town, the enemy occupying the elevated ridge 1 mile north. His force was greatly superior to ours. His artillery consisted of three batteries, which soon opened upon us, and was ably replied to by Captain Howell, who sustained their concentrated fire during the afternoon engagement, never abandoning a position except when ordered to do so. The men handled their guns with the greatest coolness and celerity. He lost many of his horses and some of his men; among them Sergt. Felix S. Heiston, who was particularly distinguished for his bravery and soldier-like bearing, He was killed at his gun by a cannon-ball. Stevens' and Jeans' regiments were ordered to attack the enemy's cavalry on their right, assisted by Bledsoe's battery. At this time a large body of men were seen coming in on our left and rear, which proved to be Colonel Folsom, who had been ordered up from Scott's Mill. Colonel Stevens was ordered to reconnoiter and ascertain who they were. In the mean time a few shots from Bledsoe's battery, supported by Gordon's cavalry, dispersed the enemy's cavalry, who were threatening our left on the Granby road.
    About this time the enemy had sent unperceived two regiments of Pin Indians and jayhawkers upon my right, supported by masses of infantry. They obtained possession of some bushes and stone fencing on the spring branch below the mill. Their object was to turn my right, where the Choctaws were posted. Just at this time Colonel Folsom's Choctaw regiment arrived, and by passing through a corn field succeeded unperceived in getting very close to the enemy on our right. The engagement soon became general between the two Choctaw regiments and the jayhawkers and hostile Indians. At the same time the enemy opened all his batteries, under cover of which he advanced blocks of infantry to the support of those regiments which had been previously sent to my right. The battle was now raging in all parts of the field. Their masses of infantry could be plainly seen advancing in perfect order, with guns and bayonets glittering in the sun. The booming of cannon, the bursting of shells, the air filled with missiles of every description, the rattling crash of small-arms, the cheering of our men, and the.war-whoop of our Indian allies, all combined to render the scene both grand and terrific.
    Seeing the enemy's infantry advancing at double quick to re-enforce their left, I at once ordered Captain Howell to send two of his guns to take position in the corn field and shell the enemy out before their infantry could arrive. This was soon effected and the enemy fleeing from the field. At the same time the other guns under Lieutenant Routh were turned upon his advancing columns and on the jayhawkers and Pin Indians, who had been thrown in advance, but were now in full flight. Lieutenant-Colonel Buster, with his battalion, now arrived, and throwing out on the right the two Choctaw regiments and Colonel Stevens' regiment, on the left Colonels Jeans' and Gordon's Missouri regiments and Hawpe's Texas regiment, placing Colonel Alexander's regiment and Buster's battalion with the artillery in the center, the enemy was pursued over the prairie a distance of 3 miles to the timber.
    By this time it was night The enemy had planted a battery so as to command the road and as we approached opened on us, but owing to the darkness did little execution. Getting the direction from the flash of the guns, Captain Howell was ordered into battery and threw a few shells into them, fired somewhat at random, but which it was afterward ascertained exploded among them, killing a number of men and horses. They now fled in confusion, leaving the road, passing through fields and woods, and abandoning loaded wagons by the way wedged between trees. Their flight continued until they reached Sarcoxie, Jasper County, a distance of 12 miles. The engagement lasted from sunup until dark, with the exception of an interval of two hours. The enemy's force in this engagement, from the best information, derived from Federal sources, amounted to from 6,000 to 7,000 men, with eighteen pieces of cannon, while our own force did not exceed 4,000 men during any part of the day, with only six pieces of cannon. The thanks of the country are due the troops engaged in this battle for the bravery and coolness displayed in the face of an enemy greatly their superior in numbers. Of the officers it is enough to say that all, with a few exceptions, did their duty.
    It is difficult to particularize where each seemed to vie with the other in deeds of bravery; but I cannot close this report without mentioning the gallant bearing of Lieutenant-Colonel Walker, of the First Choctaw and Chickasaw Regiment. He was always found at the head of his regiment in the thickest of the fight, encouraging his men by his words and actions. He remained on horseback during the whole day and escaped unhurt. My acknowledgments are also due to Colonels Alexander and Hawpe, and to Lieutenant-Colonel Lewellyn and Major Stone of Stevens' Texas regiment, and to Colonel [B. G.] Jeans and Lieutenant-Colonel Gordon of the Missouri Brigade, and Major Bryan, of the Cherokee Battalion, for the coolness and courage displayed by them on the field wherever duty called them, and to Lieutenant-Colonel Buster, who arrived by forced marches from Maysville in time to participate in the pursuit.
    Colonel Shelby was left in command at Camp Coffee, and deserves great credit for his promptness in sending re-enforcements and guarding the camp from an apprehended attack of the enemy. Capt. John Wallis, Colonel Stevens' regiment, was severely wounded while charging the enemy at the head of his company, but his wound is not considered dangerous. Captain Duncan, of Colonel Hawpe's regiment, lost a leg in the engagement while gallantly charging the enemy. Much praise is also due Capt. Martin Folsom, of the First Choctaw Regiment, for the distinguished bravery shown by him in the engagement in the corn field. We have to mourn his loss, which will be severely felt by his regiment. He was wounded late in the day and has since died. Capt. William B. Pitchlynn, of the First Choctaw and Chickasaw Regiment, also behaved with distinguished gallantry. My acknowledgments are also due Captain Crisp, of Colonel Coffee's Missouri regiment, and to Lieut. Col. John Henderson, of the Missouri State Guard (General Rains' staff), who reported to me on the field, for the valuable services rendered in carrying orders, in leading troops, and placing them in position. My son, Dr. D. J. Cooper, of the First Choctaw and Chickasaw Regiment, was constantly with me, and rendered efficient service on the field. The artillery of Captains Howell and Bledsoe was admirably handled, and much credit is due those officers for the efficiency of their batteries.
    Of my personal staff I can speak in the highest praise. They behaved with their usual coolness and courage. Capt. J. W. Wells, my adjutant-general, was left at the camp in the morning, a battle not then being expected, and afterward assisted Colonel Shelby in forwarding re-enforcements. He joined me before the evening engagement and rendered valuable services during the action. Lieut. C. H. Tiner and my aide, Lieut. T. B. Heiston, were also conspicuous for their gallantry and courage, and rendered efficient service. To Capts. J. W. Courser and F. W. Miner my acknowledgments are also due for valuable services rendered during the battle in bearing orders.
    The medical staff, under the direction of Dr. J. G. Russell, were prompt in their attention to the wounded. Not only our own but those of the enemy were removed from the field and had the same care shown them as our own.
    Referring to the accompanying report for a list of the killed and wounded, I am, general, very respectfully,

Report of R. C. Newton, Assistant Adjutant-General.

    GENERAL; General Hindman desires me to say that your report of the Newtonia affair is received and has been forwarded to department headquarters, General Holmes having signified his desire to notice the affair; an honor well deserved by the courage shown by our troops.
    By command of Major-General Hindman:

 Go on to the Expedition from Ozark, Mo., October 12-19, 1862

"OR"