Everett Peabody brought civil-engineering and railroad experience to his brigade command and had already survived fighting at Lexington. After receiving reports of Confederate contacts, he sent 250 men from the 25th Missouri and 12th Michigan on an unauthorised patrol before dawn. Their encounter with Confederate outposts produced an hour-long fight and alerted nearby Union units in time to form battle lines before the main assault arrived. The segment closes with the bitter irony that Peabody and Major James Powell were both killed after the patrol initially drew criticism for provoking an engagement.
Chapter · 53:26-56:56
Peabody's patrol gives the Union warning
Colonel Everett Peabody's unauthorised reconnaissance encountered Confederate outposts and gave nearby Union troops time to form.