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The Battle of Cape Girardeau was a military demonstration of the American Civil War, occurring on April 26, 1863 in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. The conflict was part of the pursuit of US Brigadier General John McNeil through Southeast Missouri by Confederate Brigadier General John S. Marmaduke. Though the conflict to this day is known as a battle, it was a relatively small engagement whose primary importance was as the turning point that brought General Marmaduke's second Missouri raid to an end. ==Background== General Marmaduke began his second raid into Missouri from Northeast Arkansas on April 18, 1863.〔Ponder 1994, p.30.〕 During the raid, he intended to obtain much-needed supplies for his troops, several hundred of whom were unarmed and un-mounted.〔Bartels 1992, p.132; Maple 1913; Oates 1963; Ponder 1994, p.47; Snider 1956, p.50.〕 The General feared that if left behind his unarmed troops might desert, but if taken along they may be supplied with arms and horses as captured during the raid.〔Bartels 1992, p.132; Snider 1956, p.50.〕 Marmaduke organized his division of about 5,000 men into two columns, each made up of two brigades. Colonel George W. Carter led one of the columns, which consisted of a brigade led by Colonel Colton Greene and the other by Carter himself. The second column was led by Colonel Joseph O. Shelby and consisted of Shelby's famous "Iron Brigade," commanded by Colonel George W. Thompson, and another brigade commanded by Colonel John Q. Burbridge.〔Phillips 1956; Ponder 1994, p.24-26.〕 In all, the division had between eight and ten pieces of artillery.〔Bartels 1992, p.132; Oates 1963; Snider 1956, p.50.〕 General Marmaduke ordered Colonel Carter’s column to advance toward Bloomfield, Missouri and attempt to capture the Federal garrison there under the command of US Brigadier General John McNeil.〔“Anniversary” 1939; “April 26th” 1930; Phillips 1956; Ponder 1994, p.47.〕 If McNeil had been able to escape, the Confederates thought that he would head north to Pilot Knob, the Union headquarters of the region. Thus Marmaduke accompanied Colonel Shelby’s column north to Fredericktown to intercept such an attempt.〔“Anniversary” 1939; Ponder 1994, p.47.〕 Shelby’s column arrived at Fredericktown on April 22, 1863, but Carter’s column did not reach Bloomfield until April 23 because of difficulty crossing the Mingo swamps. Carter arrived at Bloomfield to find that McNeil had left it in ruins two days earlier.〔Oates 1963; Ponder 1994, p.50.〕 Having learned of Marmaduke’s position on the road to Pilot Knob, McNeil disobeyed his orders to retreat to Pilot Knob and instead fled northeast to heavily fortified Cape Girardeau, arriving on the evening of April 24.〔Phillips 1956; Ponder 1994, p.48; Webb 1900, p.182.〕 Carter had been instructed not to pursue McNeil if he fled in any direction other than the road to Fredericktown and Pilot Knob.〔Ponder 1994, p.48.〕 However, Carter also disobeyed orders and indeed pursued McNeil to within four miles of Cape Girardeau, arriving mid-day on April 25.〔Dittlinger 1976; Phillips 1956; Ponder 1994, p.55; Snider 1956, p.50.〕 Carter then sent a letter to McNeil demanding the garrison’s surrender and a reply within 30 minutes. The letter was signed by Confederate Major General Sterling Price with the hope that his name would instill fear in McNeil that General Price was nearby.〔Bartels 1992, p.133; Guilbert 1863; Ponder 1994, p.56-58.〕 However, McNeil was confident in the strength of his defense and refused to surrender.〔Murdoch, p.158.〕 Fearing an attack, Carter sent word of the situation to General Marmaduke, who then proceeded with Colonel Shelby’s column to reinforce Carter’s troops in any possible actions at Cape Girardeau.〔Phillips 1956; Ponder 1994, p.56.〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Battle of Cape Girardeau」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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