John W. Jacobs, age 30, born in Shelby County, Missouri, Captain, Capt. John W. Jacob's Company, Burbridge's Regiment, Missouri Partisan Rangers,* joined for duty July 15, 1862 at Abbeyville, Mississippi by Col. Burbridge for 3 years, assigned Scout duty under Marmaduke, July 26, 1863, last recorded present on the January/February, 1i64 muster roll [This is the last muster roll on record for Co. F]

* This company subsequently became Company F, 4th Regiment Missouri Cavalry

........

4th Missouri Cavalry Rgt.

Col. John Q. Burbridge, LtCol. William J. Preston,
Maj. Dennis Smith

The regiment was organized in December 1861 and included men from
Preston's Mo. Cavalry Bn. Some of the men were from St. Louis and
Barton County and many had prior service in the Mo. State Guard.

It served in Shelby's, C. Greene's, J. B. Clark's brigade.
It took part in Marmaduke's expedition into Missouri and Price's
1864 Missouri expedition. It lost 11 men with Marmaduke, six at Poison
Spring, 13 at Jenkins' Ferry and 63 during Price's expedition.

It was included in the June 2, 1865 surrender of the
Trans-Mississippi Department.

Submitted by: John Heseltine
American Civil War Research Database
Historical Data Systems, Inc.

...

4th Missouri Cavalry Assignments:

From - To Sep '64 Sep '64

Marmaduke's/Clark's/Green's ? Brigade

Marmaduke's Division Â

Army of Missouri

........

Report of Col. John Q. Burbridge, Fourth Missouri Cavalry.

HDQRS. FOURTH MISSOURI CAVALRY,
December 8, 1864.

MAJ.: I herewith submit report of the part my regiment took in the
late campaign in Missouri. Such a report must necessarily be very
imperfect and in some instances incorrect, since all records from which
information could be drawn were lost:

On the 29th of August the regiment, in conjunction with the brigade, left
Princeton, crossing Arkansas River on the 10th proximo, traveling from
thence in a northeasterly direction, and entering Missouri in its
southeastern portion near Pocahontas. No opposition was offered to our
march until our arrival at Pilot Knob, a place strong by nature and
rendered almost impregnable by art. An assault being determined upon
my regiment occupied the extreme left, charging down a steep, bald
mountain, exposed to a galling and destructive fire of artillery and
musketry. The regiment gained a position about a hundred yards beyond
the foot of the mountain in a bed of a creek, the banks of
which protected the men from the enemy's fire. This position was held
until night-fall enabled me to draw off the regiment. My loss in killed
and wounded was 7 officers and 28 men.

It having been ascertained the next morning that the enemy had taken
advantage of the night to effect his escape, the regiment with the rest
followed in pursuit until near Leasburg, on Pacific road, when I was
ordered to take my regiment and Wood's battalion and make a detour
to the left and cut the railroad above Leasburg. I obeyed these
instructions, capturing a station called Cuba, tearing up the track, and
burning the depot, and from thence rejoining the command in the
vicinity of Leasburg. From thence the regiment, in conjunction with the
brigade, marched down the railroad, assisting in the capture of Saint
Clair, Union, Washington, and Hermann, the two last-named towns
being upon Missouri River. Our march from thence was up the river,
past Jefferson City, to Boonville.

After a halt of two days here the march was again resumed, my
[regiment] crossing the river with the brigade at Arrow Rock, and
marching on Glasgow. This point was intrenched and occupied by about
800 Federals, protecting an immense quantity of stores deposited there
for safety. The attack commenced about 8 o'clock, my regiment
occupying a position in center of brigade, and lasted till 1 p. m. My loss
in killed and wounded was 1 officer and 8 men.

The understanding relative to the distribution of captured property up to
this time was that all should be equally divided among the regiments
engaged in the capture. Yet on this occasion, though a large quantity of
horses and arms were taken, my regiment obtained none of either,
though at the time I had over 100 unarmed men in my command. My
regiment was the last to leave town on crossing the river, and after the
other regiments had vacated their camps I picked up more than sixty
guns left by them on the ground. We rejoined the main army the same
day on the Lexington road. The next morning our march was resumed
for Lexington, passing near the town, in pursuit of Federal forces under
Blunt, arriving at Independence, Mo., on the 23d [21st] of October.
The next evening the regiment was placed in line to meet the Federals
from the rear, but was driven back, without loss, however.

During the day following, the enemy pressing in heavy force from three
sides at once, the regiment was employed in different positions to
protect the train. The enemy's pursuit was vigorous and determined,
overtaking us on the Kansas prairies near a stream called Marais des
Cygnes.

On the morning of the 27th [25th] dispositions were made for a fight to
check their pursuit, my regiment occupying the extreme right. My men
were armed with long infantry guns, which they were unable to load on
horseback, and consequently were unable to oppose successfully the
Federal charge, but broke and fled in the wildest confusion. My loss, as
near as I have been able to ascertain, was about 40 killed and wounded,
among the latter Capt. Hicks and Lieut. Armstrong, Companies
C and I.

I should also mention prior to the above that Lieut. McCaleb,
Company I, was sent on detail from Boonville to Laclede County,
capturing and paroling a lieutenant and 28 men.

My regiment engaged in no more actions of the campaign.

The march from thence to Red River was over a desolate country,
where no food for men or forage for horses could be obtained. Its
previous defeat and severe starvation now completed the demoralization
of my regiment. I have the honor to report now, however, that, in some
degree recovered from the fatigues and hardships of the campaign, its
numbers are gradually swelling and its condition rapidly being brought
to some degree of discipline.

I am, major, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

JOHN Q. BURBRIDGE,
Col., Cmdg. Regt.

Maj. F. S. ROBERTSON,
Acting Assistant Adjutant-Gen.

Source: Official Records
CHAP. LIII.] PRICE'S MISSOURI EXPEDITION. PAGE 693-83
[Series I. Vol. 41. Part I, Reports. Serial No. 83.]