Nebraska Advertiser

The following dispatch has just been received at Headquarters in this city:

Field of Battle,
Fredericktown, Oct. 22, 1861.

In connection with Col. Plummer's command, we have routed the rebels under the command of Thompson and Lowe, estimated at five thousand men. Their loss was heavy; ours small, and confined principally to the First Indiana Cavalry. We captured four heavy guns. Lowe, the rebel leader, was killed. Maj. Gavitt and Captain Hyman, Indiana Cavalry, were killed in a charge on a battery.

As stated by our correspondent in yesterday morning's paper, Col. Plummer with 2,500 men, left Cape Girardeau on the 18th, in pursuit of Jeff. Thompson's army:

The command was composed of the 20th Regiment, Col. Marsh; the 17th, Col. Ross; and the Missouri Eleventh, Col. Plummer. They had several pieces of light artillery, and transportation for a march, with fifteen days' provisions.

Colonel Plummer's troops took the road to Jackson, the county seat of Cape Girardeau county, and on a straight road to Fredericktown, in Madison county, and the presumption is that he marched directly to that point. Col. Plummer will be recollected as Captain Plummer of the regular army, who distinguished himself at the battle of Wilson's Creek.

While he pursued his march from Cape Girardeau on the enemy, Col. Carlin, in command at Pilot Knob, ordered troops to march in the direction of Fredericktown, where the rebels were reported to be in force, under the command of Jeff. Thompson and Lowe. Major Gavitt, of the First Indiana Cavalry, with six companies, was ordered to the assistance of Capt. Hawkins' Independent Missouri Cavalry, and, having effected a junction with him, and finding the enemy in largely superior forces, they dispatched a messenger for additional forces. This was on Wednesday.

As soon as it could be done, Col. Alexander's Illinois Twenty-first and one gun was sent forward by Col. Carlin. It was this force that had the engagement with the enemy on Thursday morning, and in which, by drawing them into ambush, a large number were killed, and the Rebels compelled to retreat in confusion.

The same force, and perhaps a larger number, from Pilot Knob, must have participated in the battle of the 21st. Major Gavitt's command, the dispatch states, was in the thickest of the fight, and he and Capt. Hyman perilled and lost their lives for the honor of the country and the safety of the Union.