Battle of Pea Ridge
or Elkhorn Tavern, Arkansas
MARCH 6 - 8, 1862

No. 29.

 Report of Capt. Robert W. Fyan, Twenty-fourth Missouri Infantry.

IN CAMP IN THE FIELD, March 9, 1862.

SIR: I have the honor herewith to submit the following report:

At about 7 o'clock a.m. of the 7th instant I received your order to take my company and proceed north on the Cassville road as far as I was able, and ascertain, if possible, whether the enemy were advancing on that road and in what force. The company were under arms speedily, all of the company, even the sick, turning out with the utmost promptness and alacrity. We had not advanced more than three-quarters of a mile on the road before we came in view of the enemy's cavalry. In consequence of the garb in which many of them were clothed I was in doubt whether they were Union or rebel forces. I therefore threw out a squad of 8 men, and deployed them in the ravines on both sides of the road we were advancing. I then cautiously proceeded some 200 yards farther, when the enemy opened a cross-fire on us from both sides of the road, wounding Private John Franklin. The fire was promptly returned, when, finding the enemy in force and about to flank us, I ordered the company to fall back some 200 yards, where we remained, having sent back to camp for re-enforcements.

Being joined by Companies I and H, we ascertained the enemy were moving around on our right towards the Huntsville road. I immediately ordered my company across the woods to the Huntsville road. Deploying as skirmishers on both sides of the road we advanced until we reached the field, where we took position along the fence, awaiting the advance of the enemy, whom we could now distinctly perceive in heavy force on the edge of the woods immediately in our front.

In this position we remained until the First Iowa Battery, supported by the Fourth Iowa Infantry, reached us. Having been ordered by you we fell back to camp, and in executing your further order to move across and take position on the left of the camp we lost Private Francis M. Dooly, killed by the explosion of a shell that burst in the midst of the company.

We remained in the position designated until ordered to join the rest of the regiment, where we were under your own immediate observation and command the remainder of the day.

Appended you will find a list of the killed, wounded, and missing of my company. Of the latter, two were detailed to accompany Quartermaster Fritz on a foraging expedition on the morning of the 7th, and are supposed to be captured by the enemy. The third one we left very sick in camp.

Respectfully, yours, &c.,

 ROBERT W. FYAN,

 Captain Company B, Twenty-fourth Regt. Mo. Vols.

 Maj. ELI W. WESTON,
Commanding Twenty-fourth Missouri Volunteers.