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. 8 OF SCOUTING AND SKIRMISHING FROM DECEMBER 3d TO DECEMBER 7th, 1862.

      It was ascertained that the enemy was making a movement, the object of which was not known, except through the medium of deserters, and they could only inform us that the enemy was preparing sixty days' cooked rations, and crossing the Arkansas River at Van Buren without transportation, except such as would naturally be required for the sick and wounded, in case of action. As no other body of Federal troops was within a hundred miles, it was natural to suppose that the First Division, Army of the Frontier, was the object of the attack. It then became a special duty to ascertain, as far as possible, everything relating to their movements, and the Second regiment being on picket and outpost duty in the front, as it was technically termed, this duty devolved upon it. Accordingly, after Captain Cameron returned, other scouting parties were sent out, which returned during the night of the 3d without bringing any special intelligence, and on the morning of the 4th Captain Russell was sent down the Cove Creek road, and Lieutenant Moore down the Mountain road, which runs nearly parallel to the one first mentioned, and unites with it near Lee's Creek, and directed to go until they met the enemy. There was an outpost on Cove Creek, where the Fayetteville and Cane Hill roads converge, which must be secured to prevent the enemy from getting into the rear of and cutting that outpost off. Accordingly, the pickets were extended on the Mountain road and up the Fayetteville road, which prevented any danger of a surprise by a flank movement, and sent a scout east in the direction of Hogeye, on the Wire road, which runs parallel to the east of Cove Creek road. Information was received from a deserter that the enemy was advancing on the road from Van Buren to Dick Oliver's, where the two roads last mentioned unite.
      A messenger from Captain Russell arrived at midnight, bringing information that he had met the enemy's pickets six miles in advance of the outposts, and at daylight next morning he returned.
      Lieutenant Moore returned about three o'clock, A.M., of the 5th, and reported that he had driven in the pickets on the west and south of the rebel column, and from the hills had been able to discover the extent of their line by the appearance of their camp fires. Lieutenant Moore was sent at once to Division Headquarters, and all the effective force of the regiment moved out to the support of the outpost. In the morning Captain Gardner was sent down Cove Creek, Lieutenant Mitchell across to the Wire road, and Lieutenant Moore again down the Mountain road. Lieutenant Moore and Captain Gardner met the enemy and skirmished during the day, and returned during the night. Captain Gardner reported that the enemy had made no advance since the night before.
      By direction of Colonel Cloud, the outpost was reinforced with forty men-- increasing it to one hundred men--Captain Gardner being placed in command. At seven o'clock in the evening Colonel Cloud ordered a detail of one hundred men and Lieutenant Stover's howitzers to reinforce the outpost, the commanding officer to report at five o'clock the next morning at Brigade Headquarters for instructions. Captain Cameron and one hundred men were detailed and instructed to be mounted and in readiness to march precisely at the hour. The next morning Captain Cameron was ready, his men up and horses saddled a little after four o'clock. He started a few minutes before five, but before he reached the foot of the mountain, four miles distant, he was met by a messenger from Captain Gardner, who stated that the outpost was attacked just before daylight by an overwhelming force, and that is was with difficulty that he saved his men from capture. Captain Cameron hasted forward and met Captain Gardner's command on the mountain, near the descent on the north, still closely pursued by the enemy's skirmishers.
      By aid of the reinforcements, Captain Gardner was enabled to check the enemy's advance. When the loss of position was known, the remaining force of the regiment moved to the front, and reached the foot of the mountain just as Captain Gardner was driven back off from it. One battalion was formed in line of battle about 250 yards below the foot of the mountain, and another battalion 300 yards to the rear of the first, and there awaited the movements of the enemy, as it was expected an attempt would be made to follow up the advantage thus gained. The command remained in nearly the same position until late in the afternoon, when, being reinforced by a battalion of the Eleventh Kansas Infantry, (four companies) under command of Major Plumb, the Second regiment advanced to the attack to regain the brow of the mountain, at least. A line of skirmishers was formed under Captain S. J. Crawford, supported by H company of the Eleventh Kansas Infantry, and the Second Kansas Cavalry was brought to the foot of the mountain as a reserve, also companies D and I of the Eleventh Infantry. After half an hour's sharp skirmishing, the command succeeded in regaining the summit, where, after the advancing parties being posted in a strong position, a charge by the enemy was received, but repulsed. Soon afterwards the enemy returned with a second charge, which was likewise repulsed. The advance of the enemy was then reinforced, and just after sunset a third charge was made with great determination, but the men having been cautioned in anticipation of another effort, reserved their fire until the enemy were within twenty yards, and then gave it to them with such effect that they retreated in double quick, and left the command in peaceable possession. Captain Crawford commanded the advance, consisting of two companies of the Second Kansas Cavalry, supported by H company of the Eleventh Kansas Infantry, and the rest of the command was held in reserve in the valley, in which situation the night was passed.
      The following report from Captain Joel Huntoon, commanding C company, Eleventh Kansas Volunteer Infantry, will more fully explain the extent of the skirmishing at Reed's Mountain the day preceding the battle of Prairie Grove: REPORT OF CAPTAIN HUNTOON.

      On the morning of the 6th of December, 1862, Company H, of the Eleventh Kansas Infantry, marched with a detachment of that regiment from line of battle near Cane Hill, Arkansas, to the foot of the Boston Mountains, at which place company H was ordered to relieve the advance, stationed near the top of the mountain, which was composed of a detachment of the Second Kansas Cavalry. The company remained at this station until about twelve o'clock, when we were ordered to withdraw to the foot of the mountain.
      Soon after the advance of the enemy appeared in sight on the brow of the mountain, and the company was again ordered forward. Having deployed in line of skirmishers, we advanced and drove the enemy beyond the old advance position, where the enemy appearing in force, we retired to the point we had occupied in the morning, and formed, being protected by a ledge of rocks, where we repulsed the advancing enemy, who retreated out of range of our guns, and formed with a larger force.
      Captain Crawford, of the Second Kansas Cavalry, at this time came up with a detachment of his regiment and assumed command. A second charge was now made by the enemy, but was repulsed with loss.
      The enemy being again reinforced, a third charge was made with determination to carry the position, but they were driven back the third time with heavy loss.
      The superior force of the enemy enabled them to out-flank our small advance, which they were doing when Captain Crawford ordered the advance to retire to the foot of the mountain. Company H was ordered to guard a road coming down the mountain, where it remained during the night of the 6th. On the morning of the 7th it was ordered to join the regiment en route for the battle field of Prairie Grove.
      This was the first time that company H was under heavy fire, and I feel it my duty, as well as a pleasure, to say that every man stood up to the work faithfully, and did his duty as becomes an American citizen fighting the enemies of his country. JOEL HUNTOON, Captain Co. H, Eleventh Kansas Volunteer Infantry.

      During the night, Captain Moore, Field Officer of the Day, reported that the enemy's artillery was moving, that he distinctly heard some pieces being withdrawn from our immediate front, and was strongly of the opinion that he heard the rumbling of the wheels about a mile to the left, passing up Cove Creek. That intelligence was conveyed to Colonel Cloud, commanding Third Brigade, and soon as it was light in the morning, an advance was ordered, and the enemy's pickets found strongly posted about half a mile distant. The command waited some time for orders; but receiving none, made another advance with a stronger force, intending to drive the enemy still further back; but on arriving at the place where they were expected to be found, it was discovered they had been withdrawn. A line of skirmishers proceeded a mile further without making any discoveries.
      The battalion of the Eleventh Kansas Infantry, Lieutenant Stover's howitzers, and a battalion of the Third Indian, which joined the command early that morning, were ordered to report to their respective commanding officers, and Colonel Cloud was informed of the enemy's movements. Between nine and ten o'clock, artillery firing was heard towards the northeast; the discharge of the pieces could not be distinguished, but he bursting of the shells could be heard much plainer, which showed that the shells were bursting high in the air. Captain Cameron was sent with his company to reconnoitre in a northeast direction, and was instructed to cross over the mountains and observe, if possible, the Cove Creek road, and return via camp at Cane Hill, and if he found that the Division had moved, to report at Rhea's Mill, or such other place as he could find any portion of the Division, as the command did not expect to remain in its then present position, and it was known that Captain Cameron could not carry out his instructions until nearly night.
      At eleven o'clock A.M. the command was instructed to follow the Division, which had marched in the direction of Rhea's Mills, and to remain in the rear until the General Hospital could be moved.
      Captain Joel Huntoon, Eleventh Kansas Infantry, deserves great credit for the efficient services rendered by him and his command in resisting the charge made by the enemy on the evening of the 6th.

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