Thomas R. Freeman Account

On the morning of the 22nd October we were encamped about two miles from Independence. I roused early by a courier with a dispatch from Genl. Marmaduke. He directed me to form a line of battle at some point suitable to me in order to meet the oncoming enemy who were closely pursuing Fagan s Division into Independence. We were to allow Fagan s
command to pass and resist the advance as long as possible. General Clark was to cover my rear some ½ mile to a mile from my rear. I found a patch of woods on a farm near the road junction to Independence and Westport. There we made a stand forcing the advancing enemy column to deploy and give battle after Fagan had passed to my left and rear. We
held our position for about two hours until the press of enemy units and their heavy fire forced me to remount Ford s battalion to cover our withdraw.

Breaking away proved difficult. We lost a number of men who were attempting to mount. The enemy were hot upon us immediately and the hot fight that followed lasted but a few minutes when we were able, with the aide of Fords men who covered us to break away. Using every possible cover we skirmished with the enemy until we passed through Clark s Brigade ranks who had been covering the line of retreat. Once we passed his lines we quickly reorganized my depleted ranks. General Marmaduke directed me at that point to proceed without delay to Bryram s Ford and secure it. Arriving late in the afternoon I took opportunity to replenish our used stock of ammunition and forage my animals. Near
sundown General Clark s Brigade passed through my lines reforming to my rear about a thousand yards in a woods bordering the road. There we camped for the night.

Clark and I were summoned to meet with General Marmaduke where I received orders for the following days action. He directed me to hold Byrams Ford for as long as possible. My effective strength at that point was less than 700 men. To aide in my defense of the ford I was given Green s regiment under Captain Johnson, after Col. Greene, who had been
injured two days before at Little Blue was being treated, and Lt. Col. Preston, commanding Burbridge s regiment. Together I had about 1300 men. Enough to give a good account.

Marmaduke knew that we could no hold the position long and urged me to not involve myself into a heavy fight.

Soon after sunrise on the morning of the 23rd, the sun was breaking above the tree line to the east when the enemy began their attacks. Just before sunrise I had posted

Captain Johnson and his regiment on my right to face the east and south covering a bad portion of the front. He had advantage of height but lacked proper cover. To cover him I placed Col. Preston. Our object was to force the enemy to deploy and mount a heavy attack. I knew I could repulse his several attempts but once he gained advantage of my right and brought his guns to bear that it would be time to withdraw. That is precisely what happened. We repulsed their early attempts to cross the Big Blue but once they gained advantage of my right I had Preston cover while we pulled out of line. By 10 a.m. we had gained Clark s lines whereupon I was directed to escort the wagons south to the Santa Fe line road. For the remainder of the day we were engaged in little skirmishing as the enemy attempted to gain our flanks and cut our line of advance south. We continued our march until about 1 o clock the following morning when we broke to camp. My losses of the previous two days had amounted to almost 200 men with many of these having
simply melted away in the woods during the confusion of battle.

Bryce A. Suderow
streetstories@juno.com