The following is the letter from the Confed- | learned that a body of our scouts had fallen in erate officer above referred to: To the Commander of the Massachusetts: with the enemy's pickets and lost four killed and one wounded. Before starting despatched a courier to Colonel Smith to hasten his command. By order of my Government this day I have evacuated Ship Island. This my brave soldiers About two miles from Liberty the advance under my command do with much reluctance and guard drove in the enemy's pickets, skirmishers regret. For three long months your good ship closely examined the dense growth through has been our constant companion. We have which our route lay, and at 3 P. M. discovered not exactly lived and loved together, but we the enemy in force, concealed on both sides of have been intimately acquainted, having ex- the road, and occupying the dry bed of a slough, changed cards on the 9th day of July last. In left resting on the river and the right extending leaving you to-day we beg you to accept our beyond our observation. He opened a heavy best wishes for your health and happiness, while fire which drove back our skirmishers, and sojourning on this pleasant, hospitable shore. made simultaneous attacks upon our front and That we may have another exchange of cour- right. These were well sustained, and he retesies before the war closes, and that we may tired with a loss to his position. In the attack meet face to face in closer quarters, is the ur- on our front the artillery suffered so severely gent prayer of, very truly, your obedient serthat the only piece, a brass six-pounder, was vant, H. W. ALLEN, left without sufficient force to man it, and I was only able to have it discharged twice during the action. Some of the gunners abandoned the piece, carrying off the matches and primer, and could not be rallied. Lieut. Col. Commanding Ship Island. FORT TWIGGS, Sept. 18, 1861. Doc. 53. BATTLE OF BLUE MILLS, MO. COL. SCOTT'S OFFICIAL REPORT. S. D. Sturgis, Brig.-Gen. U. S. A.: Agreeably to your orders I left Cameron at 3 P. M. of the 15th instant, and through a heavy rain and bad roads made but seven miles during that afternoon. By a very active march on the 16th I reached Centerville, ten miles north of Liberty, by sunset, where the firing of cannon was distinctly heard in the direction of Platte City, which was surmised to be from Colonel Smith's (Illinois Sixteenth) command. Had sent a messenger to Colonel Smith from Hainesville, and sent another from Centerville, apprising him of my movements, but got no response. On the 17th at 2 A. M. started from Centerville for Liberty, and at daylight the advanced guards fell in with the enemy's pickets, which they drove in and closely followed. At 7 A. M. my command bivouacked on the hill north of and overlooking the town. I despatched several scouts to examine the position of the enemy, but could gain no definite information. They had passed through Liberty during the afternoon of the 17th to the number of about four thousand, and taken the road to Blue Mills Landing, and were reported as having four pieces of artillery. At 11 o'clock A. M. heard firing in the direction of the landing, which was reported as a conflict between the rebels and forces disputing their passage over the river. At 12 M. moved the command consisting of five hundred of the Third Iowa, a squad of German artillerists and about seven Home Guards, in the direction of Blue Mills Landing. On the route The enemy kept up a heavy fire from his position-and our artillery useless and many of the officers and men already disabled-it was deemed advisable to fall back, which was done slowly, returning the enemy's fire and completely checking pursuit. The six-pounder was brought off by hand through the gallantry of various officers and men of the Third Iowa, after it had been entirely abandoned by the artillerists. The ammunition wagon, becoming fastened between a tree and a log at the roadside in such a manner that it could not be released without serious loss, was abandoned. The engagement lasted one hour, and was sustained by my command with an intrepidity that merits my warmest approbation. I have to regret the loss of a number of brave officers and men, who fell gallantly fighting at their posts. I refer to the enclosed list of killed and wounded as a part of this report. The heaviest fire was sustained by Company I, Third Iowa Volunteers, which lost four killed and twenty wounded, being one-fourth of our total loss. This company deserves especial mention. Captain Trumbull, assisted by Lieutenant Crosbey of Company E, brought off the gun by hand under a heavy fire. Major Stone, Captains Warren, Willett, and O'Neil were se verely wounded, and also Lieutenants Hobbs, Anderson, Tullis, and Knight. The latter refused to retire from the field after being three times wounded, and remained with his men till the close of the engagement. Among the great number who deserve my thanks for their gallantry, I might mention Sergeant James F. Lakin of Company F, Third Iowa, who bore the colors and carried them into the fight with all the coolness of a veteran. The loss of the enemy cannot be certainly as certained, but from accounts deemed reliable it is not less than one hundred and sixty, many of | whom were killed. His total force was about four thousand four hundred. Your most obedient servant, JOHN SCOTT, Lt. Col. Third Iowa Volunteers, Com'dg. SECESSION OFFICIAL REPORT. GENERAL D. R. ATCHISON'S REPORT. LEXINGTON, Sept. 21, 1861. Colonel Saunders, Colonel Patton, Colonel Childs, Colonel Cundiff, Colonel Wilfley, Major Gause, Adjutant Shackleford, and all other officers and men, as far as I know or could learn, behaved gallantly. D. R. ATCHISON. MISSOURI "REPUBLICAN" ACCOUNT. THE rebel forces under Boyd and Patton, numbering some four thousand five hundred, evacuated St. Joseph on the 12th Sept., and retreated in the direction of Lexington. On the succeeding Monday an expedition, under Lieut.-Col. Scott, left Cameron, on the Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad, with orders to cooperate with Colonel Smith in the pursuit of the secession soldiers. Col. Scott sent back a messenger, stating that he would push forward after the enemy, whose camp was about five miles distant, which was accordingly done. Boyd and Patton with, as we stated, about four thousand five hundred men, were occupying a strong position in a thicket, near Blue Mills Landing. The following statement is furnished us of what transpired: GENERAL PRICE: Sir:-In pursuance of your orders I left this place on the 15th instant, and proceeded forthwith to Liberty, Clay County, Missouri, where I met the State Guard on the march from the northwest-one regiment of infantry, under command of Colonel Saunders, The column of Lieut.-Col. Scott was comand one regiment of cavalry, under command posed of five hundred men of the Iowa Third of Colonel Wilfley, of the Fifth district, and one regiment, a small detachment of Home Guards, regiment of infantry, under command of Colo- and artillerists to work one gun-making five nel Jeff. Patton, and one battalion of cavalry, hundred and seventy men in the aggregate. under command of Colonel Childs, from the Simultaneously with the movement of these Fourth district. I delivered your orders to the troops from Cameron, Col. Smith, of the Illiabove commands to hasten to this point (Lex-nois Sixteenth, with two companies of Colonel ington) with as much despatch as possible. Groesbeck's Thirty-ninth Ohio and four pieces, They marched forthwith, and reached the Mis-left St. Joseph. Both columns were ordered souri River about four o'clock in the evening, to Liberty, there to effect a junction and comwhen Colonel Boyd's artillery and battalion and bine their forces. Lieut.-Col. Scott, it appears, baggage were crossed to the south side, where reached Liberty on the 17th inst., at seven he took his position, Captain Kelly planting his o'clock in the morning, and waited for the artillery so as completely to command the arrival of Col. Smith until one o'clock in the river. The crossing continued all night with-afternoon. The latter not having got up, Lieut.out interruption, every officer and man using his best exertions. We received news during the night that the enemy would be in the town of Liberty-about six miles distant from the Blue Mills Ferry-at an early hour the ensuing morning. We were crossing in three small flats, and much time was necessary to move the large train of a hundred wagons. Colonel Childs, with his command, had taken post for the night about two miles from Liberty, on the road Our skirmishers received a galling fire, and to the ferry. Here he engaged the enemy's slowly retreated to our main body, when the advance or pickets in the morning, killing four action soon became general. Our six-pounder and wounding one, with no loss on our side. was brought to bear on the enemy, and two The enemy then fled, and we heard no more of shots fired, which proved destructive. At this them until three or four o'clock, when their ap- time a heavy fire was opened on our single gun, proach was announced in large force, supposed killing one gunner, and wounding two others. to be nine hundred men, with one piece of On this, several of the remaining gunners artillery, a six-pounder. The men of our com- (Germans) abandoned the gun, carrying off the mand immediately formed-Colonel Jeff. Pat-primer and fusees, rendering the piece useless. ton leading the advance-to meet the enemy. The action continued for an hour, when our After proceeding about three miles from the column was slowly withdrawn to more open river they met the advance guard of the enemy ground, bringing off the wounded, and dragging and the fight commenced. But the Federal away the gun by hand-all the horses having troops almost immediately fled, our men pursu- been killed or badly wounded. ing rapidly, shooting them down until they annihilated the rear of their army, taking one caisson, killing about sixty men, and wounding, it is said, about seventy. The Federal troops attempted two or three times to make a stand, but ran after delivering one fire. Our men followed them like hounds on a wolf chase, strewing the road with dead and wounded, until compelled to give over the chase from exhaustion, the evening being very warm. VOL. III.-Doc. 18 In addition to the loss of the Third Iowa, there were six Home Guards and one artilleryman killed. Four of these Home Guards were killed in a skirmish about two hours before the battle. Three of the missing are supposed to be in the hands of the enemy, and the balance killed. It seems that Colonel Smith, owing to heavy rains, and consequent bad roads, had been greatly delayed on the route, and his failure causes. to join Lieut.-Col. Scott is attributable to these On the receipt, however, of Lieut.Col. Scott's message, he immediately ordered his cavalry and mounted men to the front, and took them forward at a rapid pace. On his arrival at Liberty, after dark, he found Scott there, after having been repulsed by the overwhelming numbers of the enemy. The men were exhausted, and as the enemy was reported strongly intrenched, it was resolved to postpone an attack until morning. Lieut.-Colonel Wilson reached Liberty with the infantry two hours after Col. Smith. Early on the following morning, the 18th, the combined forces moved forward, but on reaching Blue Mills Landing found that the rebels had crossed the river and eluded them, the last detachment having gone over at three o'clock in the morning. They had been two days in taking the baggage and stores across, and, with a ferry boat and three flats, found it comparatively easy to take their men over, especially as the Missouri is quite narrow at that point. Thus Boyd and Patton and their army escaped. The loss of the rebels in the engagement of the 17th is not known, but owing to the desperation with which the Iowa boys fought, it is supposed to have been considerable. It seems that these soldiers had been somewhat chagrined at what was termed their "flight" at Shelbina, although their retreat was reluctant and under orders. They were determined on the first opportunity to show that they were not cowards, and this feeling it was, doubtless, that actuated Lieut.-Colonel Scott to push forward without waiting for Colonel Smith's column. It was not, of course, intended that either command was to attack the vastly superior force of the enemy unsupported; and, in this respect, the conduct of Lieut.-Colonel Scott was unauthorized, though we do not hear of any disposition to attach any blame to him. His object, seeing that the enemy was making preparations to cross the river, was, probably, to draw him out, and retreat before him, in the expectation of meeting a timely reinforcement from Colonel Smith. It appears that Colonel Smith left St. Joseph previous to the receipt of full orders, which were for him, after the contemplated cutting off of Patton and Boyd from Lexington, to move on himself to the latter place. These directions reaching St. Joseph subsequent to Col. Smith's departure, they were sent after him by a mounted officer, who, for some reason, returned without having overtaken Col. Smith, and consequently without having delivered the orders. The reader, therefore, who has supposed that Colonel Smith had marched to join Colonel Mulligan at Lexington, will feel some disappointment in learning that, in his report to General Pope he speaks of being about to return to St. Joseph. Doc. 54. PROCLAMATION OF GEN. BUCKNER, The Legislature of Kentucky have been faith- BOWLING GREEN, Sept. 18, 1861. Doc. 55. THE MISTAKE AT GLASGOW, MO. A CORRESPONDENT of the St. Louis Evening News gives the following account of this affair: JEFFERSON CITY, Sept. 21, 1861. TO THE EVENING NEWS: I have just returned from an expedition, which proved a second Bethel affair. The steamer War Eagle, in company with the steamers White Cloud and Desinoines, left Jefferson City last Wednesday, on an expedition up the river. The War Eagle had on board six companies of the Twenty-second and a portion of the Eighteenth Indiana regiments, under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Hendricks; on board of the White Cloud and Desmoines were the Twenty-sixth regiment Indiana Volunteers, under command of Colonel Wheatly. We arrived at Booneville at three o'clock the morning of the 16th instant, at which place we transferred to the Iatan the troops of the Eighteenth regiment Indiana Volunteers, and took aboard the remainder of the Twenty-second Indiana. The Iatan also received the balance of the Eighteenth Indiana. Every thing being in readiness, the expedition again started up the river. The troops on board the War Eagle and Iatan (Twenty-second and Eighteenth Indiana) were under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Hendricks, of the Twenty-second; those on the White Cloud and Desmoines (Twenty-sixth regiment Indiana) being under command of Colonel Wheatly. Colonel Hendricks' command was destined to Glasgow and Cambridge, and to reconnoitre about the neighborhood of those places. Colonel Wheatley's was bound for Lexington. Every thing went on smoothly; we passed the towns of Arrow Rock and Saline without any trouble-in fact they were almost entirely deserted, the town of Saline in particular. There was not a single person in it-the stores and houses all closed. Late in the evening of the 19th we landed about five miles below Glasgow. Three companies were detached from the War Eagle and three from the Iatan, under command of Major Tanner, of the Twenty-second, as a scouting party to go to Glasgow and surround the place. At the same time, and unknown to Colonel Hendricks, a picket guard of about sixty men was sent out by Colonel Wheatly. The consequence was that the parties met in the woods, a short distance from where the boats were lying, and the scene at Great Bethel was reenacted. Mistaking each other for enemies they commenced firing, and for some ten or fifteen minutes the firing was incessant. Before they found out their mistake, three troops of the Eighteenth and one of the Twenty-second were killed, and seven or eight wounded. Among the wounded was Major Tanner, of the Twenty-second; the wound is a severe one, and he is not expected to live. the edge of the wood and belonging to the command of Colonel Wheatly, hailed some party, and getting no answer, fired a gun, and immediately the troops under Colonel W., whom he had stationed around his boats, (White Cloud and Desmoines,) opened fire in the direction of the supposed enemy. Colonel Hendricks immediately ordered the boat to back out, which was done, not taking time to take in stage or untie line. We dropped down a short distance, but perceiving that the other boats made no movement, we steamed up again and ascertained that the alarm was a false one. It was thought advisable to go down the river a short distance and lay up for the night. We steamed down to the town of Saline and tied up, and the other boats soon followed. Doc. 56. PROCLAMATION BY GEN. ANDERSON. LOUISVILLE, Ky., Saturday, Sept. 21. KENTUCKIANS: Called by the Legislature of this, my native State, I hereby assume command of this Department. I come to enforce, not to make laws, and, God willing, to protect your property and your lives. The enemies of the country have dared to invade our soil. Kentucky is in danger. She has vainly striven to keep peace with her neighbors. Our State is now invaded by those who professed to be her friends, but who now seek to conquer her. No true son of Kentucky can longer hesitate as to his duty to his State and country. The invaders must and, God willing, will be expelled. The leader of the hostile forces, who now approaches, is, I regret to say, a Kentuckian, making war on Kentucky and Kentuckians. Let all past differences of opinion be overlooked. Every one who now rallies to the support of our Union and our State is a friend. Rally, then, my countrymen, around the flag our fathers loved, and which has shielded us so long. I call you to arms for self-defence, and for the protection of all that is dear to freemen. Let us trust in God and do our duty as did our fathers. ROBERT ANDERSON, Brig. Gen. U. 8. A. GEN. CRITTENDEN'S PROCLAMATION. To the Militia of Kentucky : By the authority which you yourselves have appointed you are called upon to defend your State. Misguided countrymen whom you loved too well to fight, despite their wrongs to you, waging unnatural war, have tarnished the bright fame of Kentucky; and for the first time since your sires bequeathed you this noble State, its soil is polluted by the tread of hostile armies. When the firing commenced the excitement I will not impugn the patriotism and courage on the boats was intense, and great confusion of my countrymen by supposing that any apensued. After a while the scouting party re-peal, however eloquent, could so rouse them to turned, bringing in their wounded and killed. energy and prompt action as this simple stateAbout twelve o'clock the same evening the ment. picket guard which had been stationed near But to the State Guard I must add a word. Now is your opportunity to wipe out every reproach that has been put upon you. You owe it not only to your duty as men and citizens, but to that solemn obligation of soldiers which you cannot forget without dishonor, to respond at once to this call. The State Guard will rendezvous as soon as possible at Louisville and report to me. The residue of the militia and such of the Home Guard as choose to volunteer will rendezvous as soon as possible at Louisville, Frankfort, Camp Dick Robinson, General Sherman's camp, New Haven, and Henderson. Come in battalions, regiments, companies, or come as individuals, and you shall be mustered into service under pay at once. T. L. CRITTENDEN, Brig -Gen. Ky. State Guard. Doc. 57. PROCLAMATION OF GENERAL A. S. JOHNSTON. ISSUED AT MEMPHIS, TENN., SEPT. 22, 1861. WHEREAS, the armed occupation of a part of Kentucky by the United States, and the preparations which manifest the intention of their Government to invade the Confederate States through that territory, have imposed it on these last, as a necessity of self-defence, to enter that State and meet the invasion upon the best line for military operations; and whereas, it is proper that the motives of the Government of the Confederate States in taking this step should be fully known to the world: Now, therefore, I, Albert S. Johnston, general and commander of the Western Department of the army of the Confederate States, have thus marched their troops into Kentucky with no hostile intention toward its people, nor do they desire to seek to control their choice in regard to their union with either of the Confederacies, or to subjugate their State or hold its soil against their wishes. On the contrary, they deem it to be the right of the people of Kentucky to determine their own position in regard to the belligerents. It is for them to say whether they will join either Confederacy, or maintain a separate existence as an independent sovereign State. The armed occupation of their soil, both as to its extent and duration, will therefore be strictly limited by the exigencies of self-defence on the part of the Confederate States. These States intend to conform to all the requirements of public law and international amity, as between themselves and Kentucky, and accordingly I hereby command all who are subject to my orders, to pay entire respect to the rights of property and the legal authorities within that State, so far as the same may be compatible with the necessities of self-defence. If it be the desire of the people of Kentucky to maintain a strict and impartial neutrality, then the effort to drive out the lawless intruders, who seek to make their State the theatre of war, will aid them in the attainment of their wishes. If, as it may not be unreasonable to suppose, these people desire to unite their fortunes with the Confederate States, to whom they are already bound by so many ties of interest, then the appearance and aid of Confederate troops will assist them to make an opportunity for the free and unbiassed expression of their will upon the subject. But if it be true, which is not to be presumed, that a majority of those people desire to adhere to the United States and become parties to the war, then none can doubt the right of the other belligerent to meet that war whenever and wherever it may be waged. But harboring no suspicion, I now declare, in the name of the Government which I serve, that its army shall be withdrawn from Kentucky so soon as there shall be satisfactory evidence of the existence and execution of a like intention on the part of the United States. By order of the President of the Confederate States of America. A. S. JOHNSTON, General Commanding the Western Department of the Army of the Confederate States of America. Doc. 58. THE FALL OF LEXINGTON. THE following is the article from the St. Louis Evening News of the 23d of September, that caused the arrest of the editor of that paper:— Lexington is fallen! We write it with sorrow; for it is a heavy reverse to our arms in Missouri-the twin disaster to the reverse at Springfield, and, like that reverse, easily avoidable, had prompt steps been taken to avoid it. The gallant garrison, under its heroic Irish commander, after resisting with unflinching courage for six days, and repulsing the assaults of the quadruple besieging force, beleaguered on every side, penned up within the narrow limits of earthwork defences, wearied to exhaustion, with incessant watching and fighting, was compelled, at last, to yield to that foe more terrible to the brave soldier than bullet or bayonet-Thirst-and surrender its courageous band as prisoners of war. He might, and, no doubt, would have resisted longer, had not his supplies of water been cut off; but the intrenchments of Lexington were not supplied with wells and other conveniencies of a stone fort, because they were not constructed with the design of resisting a week's siege. Hence, when the garrison was cut off from its supplies of water in the river and the wells in the vicinity, there was no alternative for the famished men but a surrender. They are now in the hands of the enemy, who, by this triumph, secures possession of about four thousand stands of arms, seven hundred cavalry horses, with their equipments, a considerable quantity of |