Extracted from The Official Military History of Kansas Regiments During the War for the Suppression of the Great Rebellion by W. S. Burke. REPORT No. 4 OF THE PART TAKEN BY THE 2d KANSAS CAVALRY AT NEWTONIA, MISSOURI

      On the 4th of October, 1862, the regiment, in obedience to orders, left Sarcoxie, Missouri, at one o'clock in the morning, and proceeded in the direction of Newtonia. The regiment was directed to move on the most direct route, and halt within two or three miles of the place until a certain signal should be given; the one on the east of the place, or the enemy's position, to be the firing of artillery, three shots on the west as follows: two shots in rapid succession, then an interval of one minute, and then two more. The signal was to be given at daylight. Brig. Gen. Schofield was approaching from the east with the brigades of Brig. Gen. Totten, Brigadier General Brown, and Brigadier General Blunt was approaching from the west with the brigades of Brig. Gen. Solomon, Colonel Weer and Colonel Cloud. The Second Kansas Cavalry was approaching from the north, and having no guide, and having no knowledge of the route, the regiment moved forward until it encountered the enemy's pickets, who fled at the first approach. Here the regiment halted and waited for the signal. Just at daylight it commenced raining, and for two hours poured down in torrents. The signal was not given until ten o'clock A.M., when the regiment moved forward at a gallop and entered the town without seeing a rebel.

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