On Oct. 12, 1862, Maj. John Wilber led 125 men of the 14th Missouri State Militia (U.S.) and 100 from the Enrolled Militia from Ozark, Mo., to strike Confederate troops camped at Yellville. High water on the White River forced the Union troops to head for Talbots Ferry near modern-day Cotter to seek a crossing. After camping 10 miles from the ferry, they learned that 3,000 Confederate infantry and cavalry with four cannon were approaching. Wilber's troops seized horses, wagons, and other supplies and prepared to head to Missouri with the loot. As the Missouri Unionists moved north, Col. J.R. Shaler's Confederates attacked their 25-man rear guard at 2 a.m. on Oct. 17 near Mountain Home. Lt. Reuben P. Mooney, seeing the Confederates between his men and the rest of the Union column, ordered his men to charge through the enemy lines. The charge was made with such impetuosity and gallantry that they fought their way through to the main force without losing a man, though Mooney was severely wounded. Major Wilber claimed the Confederates lost 10 men as casualties and 25 as prisoners.