I saw a small mammal in NE Missouri yesterday. Front 1/2 was red & the back 1/2 was dark. What is it?

I saw it very closely - from 3 feet for 5 seconds in an isolated patch of tall grass.

I was clearing it of summer stuff & I'd lifted something out. It was standing in a bare spot where what I removed had prevented the grass from growing.

The dogs were standing nearby, but before I could get them tracking on it, I looked back down and it was gone.

I didn't have a camera on me & I'd left my gun at the last spot, so that's best desciption I can give.

The front 1/2 of (the part with the head), was red and the back was black or very dark brown.

The body shape was almost cylindrical except for the head and tail (both medium). I'd say it was 2" in diameter and 6" in length (excluding tail).

I've lived here 7 years and, also 45 miles away for 24 years (starting @ age 0), and I've never seen anything like it before.

This is a argricultural & hunting area with crops, ponds, pasture, woods, & small river. I was the only resident around yesterday within about 300 acres.