Special Dispatch to the Chicago Tribune
Cairo, Monday Evening, March 3, 1862.
Capt. Noleman of the 7th Illinois cavalry, with forty-six men, while making a reconnaissance of the country west of Charleston, Mo., came across 90 rebel cavalry, commanded by the veritable Jeff Thompson, and after pursuing them a long distance forced them to make a stand about five miles below Sikeston. Jeff’s artillery was planted in the road in such a manner as to command all approaches, and our forces were compelled to charge in the face of his battery. This they did with great gallantry, and succeeded in capturing four guns and putting the confederates to flight, with a loss on our part of one man, who straggled from the command and was taken prisoner. The rebel loss not ascertained.
Chicago Daily Tribune, Chicago, IL
Note: This is possibly a mistaken read of the name Nelson. Horatio C. Nelson was Captain of Company K of the 7th Illinois Cavalry.