I am attempting to research some of the early actions of Shelby's Brigade. One of the resources I am using is Edwards' "Shelby and His Men". According to Edwards, the following occurred shortly after the 1st Newtonia battle and the day after Shelby's brigade moved into camp at Cross Hollow's, AR (I believe around the first week of Oct. 1862):

"Colonel Coffee was sent with his regiment toward Cassville, and meeting a Federal regiment about half-way, there occurred one of those hot, sudden conflicts, so frequent among isolated bodies coming in contact with each other unexpectedly. Coffee finally drove everything before him, and returned with forty-three prisoners, fifty-seven horses, and many guns, besides killing fifty-four of the enemy. His own loss was seven killed and thirteen wounded."

The problem is I can't find reference to the incident anywhere else. I assume that if the casualties were even close to what Edwards claims, that someone would have mentioned it in a report. Looking at the map, halfway between Cross Hollows and Cassville would be around the Seligman, MO area. I've checked some histories of Barry County and still can't put my finger on it.

Does anyone know what action Edwards could be referring to here? The passage I quoted was from Chapter 5, pg 91 (Jo Shelby Memorial reprint).

Thanks,

Michael