Confederate Brig. Gen. John S. Marmaduke wanted to strike Brig. Gen. John McNeil at Bloomfield, Missouri, on this date in 1863. McNeil retreated and Marmaduke followed. 

The next day, Marmaduke learned that McNeil was near Cape Girardeau. He sent troops to destroy or capture McNeil’s forces. 

Most of the fighting centered around Fort B, the present site of Southeast Missouri State University, which was armed with 4 24-lb. guns. There were 4 12-lb. guns on a hill to the southwest of Fort B and a line of rifle pits. The  Confederates charged both. After a roughly four-hour battle,  Marmaduke retreated to Jackson.

Based upon content from mycivilwar.com 

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