Alexander, to reconnoitre the country as far as Fredericktown. Hear ing, as he approached the town, that Thompson was there in force, he sent back for reinforcements, but as they delayed, he pushed on, in a dense fog, till he himself riding in front-came on the enemy's pickets. A sharp volley followed on both sides, and the gallant Lieutenant Francis, of Hawkins' regiment, fell; but though sheltered from the American fire, the enemy were soon driven from their position, and retreated to the bridge, which was defended by artillery. The object having been accomplished, Major Gavitt, now fully informed of the enemy's strength, prepared to fall back to the American forces coming to his relief, and with them again returned, but on receiving his wound, drew off in good order. The American troops were soon pursued by their foe, who had recovered a little courage, but Gavitt, putting his infantry and artillery in ambush, drew the enemy's cavalry into the trap, and they were mowed down by the American fire.

Major Gavitt's gallantry and strategy in this affair endeared him to his men, and he was made lieutenant-colonel, although his commission never reached him.

On the 21st, a considerable American force advanced to drive the enemy out of Fredericktown. The troops consisted of Marsh's Eighteenth Illinois Regiment, a section of Taylor's battery, Stewart's and Laherman's cavalry, parts of the Eleventh Missouri, and the Twenty-First, Thirty-Third, and Thirty-Eighth Illinois, the Eighth Wisconsin, and Gavitt's and Hawkins' regiments, with Schofield's light artillery. Eager to have another brush with his late antagonists, Major Gavitt led bravely on, but Thompson and Lowe, distrusting their own strength, abandoned Fredericktown and retreated, yet at last made a stand, posting themselves to advantage. While Schofield opened his artillery on

the enemy's guns, Gavitt led a charge upon them, and, with the intrepid Captain Highman of Posey county, fell dead on the field,-Major Gavitt, whose eagerness to come up with the enemy had led him thirty yards in advance of his command, receiving no less than five balls in various parts of his body. But he did not fall unavenged. In the irresistible charge of his men, the enemy were swept off the field, and fled, leaving their commander Lowe and many of their men scattered in death over the bloody field.

Major Gavitt left a widowed mother and three orphan children to mourn the loss of a faithful son and fond father.

His remains, borne from the field of his fame, were interred with military honors at Evansville, followed by the many friends who felt, when he went forth to the war, that he would never move among them again in life,—so conscious were all of his fearless courage, and his determination to do all that in him lay to bring this wicked war to a speedy close by the prompt suppression of rebellion.

MAJOR GORDON TANNER.

MORTALLY WOUNDED NEAR GLASGOW, MISSOURI, SEPT. 19, 1861.

GORDON TANNER was born near Brownstown, Jackson county, In diana, July 19, 1829. His father, Colonel Thomas Tanner, a native of Kentucky, removed to Indiana soon after he reached his manhood, married a daughter of Benjamin Smith (an early settler of Ohio), in 1828, and soon after located on a beautiful farm where he lived until his death, in 1845. Colonel Tanner was a man of imposing appearance, and possessed great firmness and decision of character, with noble qualities of head and heart. He had a predilection for the military service. In 1830 he was appointed colonel of the Seventeenth Regiment Indiana Infantry, and he held the commission, performing the duties it involved, until his death. He left a widow and seven children dependent upon their own exertions.

His widow lived to the

The great-grandfather of Gordon Tanner was an officer in the army of the Revolution. He was wounded at the battle of King's Mountain, which caused the loss of an arm. extreme age of one hundred and four years. faculties to the last, and could relate incidents that happened a century previous accurately, in a pleasing style, and with all the vivacity and spirit of youth. She died at Vernon, Indiana, in 1857.

She retained her mental

The brothers of Gordon Tanner are men of marked character and influence, and exhibit the peculiar traits which distinguished their father from his fellow-men. These traits of character and incidents in the lives of the ancestry and family of the subject of this sketch, have been related to show how remarkably they were illustrated in four generations, and especially his own.

Gordon Tanner was the eldest of five sons. From infancy he was of weak frame, and he had ever to contend with bodily infirmities. Early in life he exhibited genius, intellect, and mental energy of an extraordinary character. At six years of age, having had but few advantages, he could read and write fluently and correctly. With his father's assistance, at home, he made rapid advances in scholastic attainments. All his leisure was devoted to reading; and this mental food was supplied from the Franklin Library, of Brownstown, an association of which his father was a member. His reading in boyhood,-a taste which continued through life,-was principally literary reviews and criticisms; the choicest poetical works; biography and history. He had an especial fondness for the productions of the early English authors. His library contained many rare works upon literature and art, and they present evidence of frequent perusal.

At the age of thirteen he commenced a thorough preparation in the languages and mathematics for a collegiate course. Just as he was ready to enter the State University his father died, and he was left at the age of sixteen with the care and responsibility of provid ing for a large family. He undertook the management of the farm; but amid the anxieties and labors thus early thrown upon him, he found time to cultivate his literary tastes.

When war was declared against Mexico, he entered the army in