Hockaday, Isaac, Letters, 1861, (C2728)

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		Lexington, Sept. 13th 1861
Mrs Hockaday}
   Fulton Mo}
		Dear Mother
			On Wednesday evening
about sundown Col Marshalls Regiment
& Col. Peabodys Regiment of Infantry retreated
back to this place from Warrensburg
where they had gone to seize the funds in
the Bank at that place. They had hardly
gotten to town before the advance picket
guard of Jacksons men I suppose under
Rains drove in the Federal Pickets
they unhorsed one of them & missed &
tore through our yard & Barn lot in
the hunt of him; from that time until
yesterday morning there was a continual
fire among the Pickets on both sides
in the wood running by my house - 
about sun up I went over to Mr Bolly
to see him about moving our families
out of the way & whilst at his

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house the Federals from town came out & cut me
off from home leaving no one with May & the
children. They got into a hot skirmish in my corn
& hemp fields which lasted until ten oclock in the
day about which time I got one of the Federal
soldiers to take me home, & found all well but
considerably alarmed - The Federal troops passed in
20 steps from my front window - They burned the
covered bridge between my house & Mr Timricks
after which it was quiet on my Road. In the evening
they had a heavy skirmish near Mr Vaughns
house I suppose 1000 guns were fired & about sun
down a tremendous volley of musketry & canonading
near the college & back of Col Woods old place ["all" stricken]
The result of the several engagements I am unable to
state. I suppose several killed on both sides. I was not 100
yards from home after I once got back during the day
I would rejoice if you had May & the children
with you all. I dont see how we are to get away
The amount of Troops on either side I am unable to 
say, The Jackson men are reported 18000 strong 
I would to God Jackson had been at some thing else