Dick Chiles was wounded at Sibley last fall in battle – he is still a prisoner and not well yet
(excerpt from letter to George A. Steele from his mother Emily H. Steele, July 24, 1863).
The “Big Hill” is a prominent landmark about a mile and a half southeast of Sibley. A skirmish was fought on this hill on October 6, 1862, between 88 men from the 5th Missouri State Militia Cavalry under the command of Captain Daniel H. David and roughly 130 partisan guerrillas under the command of Colonel Richard Chiles. Casualties are unknown but included at least two Union soldiers, and Chiles was severely wounded. This skirmish was one of several incidents that occurred in 1862 during federal patrols between Sibley and Napoleon.
In order to mount the dismounted and convey the dead and wounded to this place [Independence] I pressed from William Hughes 1 buggy, 1 rockaway, and harness for each; from Mrs. Willis, 1 horse; from Mrs. Garrison, 1 horse and buggy; from Mr. Mellin, 1 horse (Captain Daniel H. David, 5th Missouri State Militia Cavalry, 8 October 1862).