Category Archives: M. Jeff Thompson

July 15, 1862: Hovey replies to the “Swamp Fox”

Posted on July 15, 2012 by Allen Gathman

In April, 1862, Alvin Hovey was colonel of the 24th Indiana Infantry at Shiloh, a unit involved in the battle on the second day as they pursued the retreating confederates from the union right flank. He was promoted to brigadier … Continue reading →

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July 14, 1862: “Swamp Fox” Thompson writes to Grant

Posted on July 14, 2012 by Allen Gathman

The “Missouri Swamp Fox”, M. Jeff Thompson, witnessed the fall of Memphis to the Yankees in June of 1862, and disappeared. The guerrilla hung around the area, though, and when Grant ordered the families of rebel soldiers out of the … Continue reading →

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June 7, 1862: Jeff Thompson reports on the battle of Memphis

Posted on June 7, 2012 by Allen Gathman

M. Jeff Thompson, famous as the “Missouri Swamp Fox” for his guerrilla operations in the Missouri bootheel, was at Memphis during the battle. Here he reports on the battle and the errors in preparation and tactics that led to the … Continue reading →

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May 6, 1862: Creeping toward Corinth

Posted on May 6, 2012 by Allen Gathman

John Pope Various dispatches published by the New York Times indicate that the union troops were making progress southward from Pittsburg Landing. The report that Corinth had already been taken seemed plausible — after all, the battle of Shiloh happened … Continue reading →

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May 5, 1862: News from Louisiana and Tennessee

Posted on May 5, 2012 by Allen Gathman

M. Jeff Thompson Baton Rouge was next to fall after New Orleans, and the Union army captured yet more valuable cotton and other products. Meanwhile, our old friend the Missouri Swamp Fox, Jeff Thompson, holds Fort Wright. From the New … Continue reading →

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April 4, 1862: Thompson guards Crowley’s Ridge

Posted on April 4, 2012 by Allen Gathman

The “Missouri Swamp Fox”, Jeff Thompson, was still in action in the Missouri bootheel. The nearly impenetrable swamps in the region were traversed by a single strip of high ground, the ancient river bank known as Crowley’s Ridge. It was … Continue reading →

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March 3, 1862: Pursuing Jeff Thompson

Posted on March 3, 2012 by Allen Gathman

Halleck’s men chased the “Missouri Swamp Fox”, Jeff Thompson, into the swamps outside of his lair in “Sykes Town” — now known as Sikeston. You may know Sikeston as the locale of Lambert’s, home of Throwed Rolls. From the New … Continue reading →

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January 26, 1862: An expedition after Jeff Thompson

Posted on January 26, 2012 by Allen Gathman

M. Jeff Thompson A correspondent identified as “Galway” reports to the New York Times about events in Cairo. First, he describes an expedition after Jeff Thompson, who apparently had repeated his exploit of the previous August, taking the high ground … Continue reading →

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December 3, 1861: Jeff Thompson captures a steamboat — and sinks it 6 years later

Posted on December 3, 2011 by Allen Gathman

The Richmond Daily Dispatch of Dec. 3, 1861 reports that Jeff Thompson captured the steamboat Platte Valley near Charleston, MO. He was looking for munitions and possibly general Grant, but all he got was brandy. Meanwhile, Congress was back in … Continue reading →

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October 21, 1861: Jeff Thompson routed at Fredericktown, MO

Posted on October 21, 2011 by Allen Gathman

Col. William P. Carlin The “Missouri Swamp Fox” is overmatched by Illinois troops. Thompson had made a raid toward St. Louis, and Grant responded by sending both Plummer and Carlin to intercept him. Daily Observations from the Civil War reports … Continue reading →

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