was too far away to interfere. Sedalia was located in the middle of an expansive prairie with few trees or other features to provide cover to an attacking force. Two redoubts and some rifle pits existed as defensive positions. The town was held by almost 800 home guard and Enrolled Missouri Militia, including men of the 1st Missouri State Militia Cavalry Regiment. Additionally, 33 men of the 7th Missouri State Militia Cavalry Regiment under the command of Captain Oscar B. Queen were in the town to meet a wagon train of ammunition coming from Georgetown. Colonel John D. Crawford of the 40th Enrolled Missouri Militia commanded the garrison. Thompson believed that surprise gave him the greatest chance of success and attacked before daylight on October 15. Benjamin F. Elliott's regiment, which was largely dressed in captured Union uniforms, led the advance and reached within pistol shot of the Union pickets before being discovered. The Union pickets were scattered and driven back into town. Crawford and many of the Enrolled Missouri Militia soldiers followed them in their flight. Queen claimed that Crawford had ordered his men to retreat as soon as Thompson's men were sighted. However, the men of the 7th Missouri State Militia Cavalry held, and the Union soldiers were able to form a point of resistance. Elliott's regiment had gotten ahead of the rest of the Confederate force and fell back after meeting the unexpected resistance. Within ten minutes, the rest of Thompson's brigade, including the artillery, arrived. Confederate artillery fire scattered the remaining Enrolled Missouri Militia soldiers, and the men of the 7th Missouri State Militia Cavalry surrendered the town. Thompson reported that the Confederates were unaware that the defenders had fled, as they had left their flags flying above the fortifications. Confederate soldiers chased the militiamen as they fled across the prairie, inflicting an unknown number of casualties. Aftermath Some degree of plundering occurred after the fighting ended. The historian Paul B. Jenkins, writing in 1906, stated that Thompson's men looted Sedalia, with government property being particular targets for destruction, while the historian Paul Kirkman states that Thompson attempted to limit the plundering to military-related supplies. The modern historian Kyle Sinisi stated that Thompson attempted to keep the capture of military property orderly, although things got out of Thompson's control despite the Confederate commander performing actions such as shooting a mule a soldier was riding and spanking