BATTLE OF BOONEVILLE.

321

front. The enemy were exceedingly Forward on the extreme right;" well posted, having every advantage in "Give them another shot, Captain Totthe selection of their ground. Arriving ten," echoed above the roar of musketry at the brow of the ascent, Captain Totten clear and distinct, from the lips of the opened the engagement by throwing a general, who led the advancing column. few 9-pounder explosives into their Our force was 2,000 in all, but not over ranks, while the infantry filed oblique 500 participated at any one time in the right and left, and commenced a terrible battle. The enemy, as we have since volley of musketry, which was for a been reliably informed, were over 4,000 short time well replied to, the balls fly- strong, and yet, twenty minutes from the ing thick and fast about our ears, and time when the first gun was fired, the occasionally wounding a man on our side. rebels were in full retreat, and our The enemy were posted in a lane run- troops occupying the ground on which ning towards the river from the road they first stood in line. The consumalong which the grand army of the Unit-mate cowardice displayed by the "seed States were advancing, and in a brick ceshers" will be more fully understood house on the north-east corner of the when I add that the spurs or successive junction of the two roads. A couple of elevations now become more abrupt, bombs were thrown through the east steep and rugged, the enemy being fully wall of that house, scattering the enemy acquainted with their ground, and strong in all directions. The well-directed fire positions behind natural defences, orchof the German infantry, Lieutenant-Col-ards and clumps of trees offering themonel Schaeffer, on the right, and General selves every few yards. Nothing more, Lyon's company of regulars, and part of however, was seen of the flying fugitives Colonel Blair's regiment on the left of until about one mile west of the house of the road, soon compelled the enemy to William M. Adams, where they were present an inglorious aspect. They first posted. Just there was Camp Vest, clambered over the fence into a field of and a considerable force seemed prepared wheat, and again formed in line just on to defend the approaches to it. Meanthe brow of the hill. They then ad- while, a shot from the iron howitzer on vanced some twenty steps to meet us, the McDowell announced to us that Capand for a short time the cannons were tain Voester, with his artillery men, and worked with great rapidity and effect. Captain Richardson's company of infanJust at this time the enemy opened a try, who were left in charge of the boats, galling fire from a grove just on the left were commencing operations on the batof our centre, and from a shed beyond tery over a mile below Camp Vest. This and still further to the left. but increased the panic among the invin"The skirmish now assumed the mag- cible (?) traitors, and Captain Totten had nitude of a battle. The commander, but to give them a few rounds before General Lyon, exhibited the most their heels were again in requisition, and remarkable coolness, and preserved Captains Cole and Miller, at the head of throughout that undisturbed presence of their companies, entered and took posmind shown by him alike in the camp, session of the enemy's deserted breakfast in private life, and on the field of battle. | tables. About twenty horses had by

this time arrived within our lines with prisoners, one caisson, and eight horses vacant saddles, and the corps reportorial with military saddles. The enemy did were successfully mounted on chosen not fire a shot from their cannon. steeds. The amount of plunder secured Speaking of prizes, the brilliant achievein Camp Vest, or Bacon, as the citizens ment in that line was by our reverend here call it, from the name of the gentle- friend, W. A. Pill, chaplain of the 1st man owning a fine house close by, was regiment. He had charge of a party of very large. One thousand two hundred four men, two mounted and two on foot, shoes, twenty or thirty tents, quantities with which to take charge of the woundof ammunition, some fifty guns of various ed. Ascending the brow of a hill, he patterns, blankets, coats, carpet sacks, suddenly came upon a company of twen and two secession flags were included in ty-four rebels, armed with revolvers, and the sum total. fully bent upon securing a place of safety for their carcasses. Their intentions, however, were considerably modified, when the parson ordered them to halt, which they did, surrendering their arms. Surrounded by the squad of five men, they were then marched on board the Louisiana, prisoners of war. The par son also captured two other secessionists during the day, and at one time, needing a wagon and horses for the wounded,

"Leaving Captain Cole in command of the camp, we pushed on towards Booneville, chasing the cowardly wretches who outmanned us two to one. The McDowell now came along up in the rear, and off to the right from our troops, and having a more distinct view of the enemy from the river, and observing their intention to make another stand at the Fair Grounds, one mile east of Booneville, where the State has an armory and finding friendly suggestions wasted extemporized, Captain Voester again on a stubborn old rebel, placed a revolvsent them his compliments from the old er at his head, and the desired articles howitzer's mouth, which, with a couple were forthcoming. In time of peace the of shots from Captain Totten, and a vol- preacher had prepared for war. After ley from Lothrop's detachment of rifles, passing the Fair Grounds, our troops came scattered the now thoroughly alarmed slowly towards the town. They were met enemy in all directions. Their flight on the east side of the creek by Judge through the village commenced soon Miller of the District Court, and other after 8 o'clock, and continued until after prominent citizens, bearing a flag of 11 o'clock. Some three hundred crossed truce, in order to assure our troops of the river, many went south, but the bulk friendly feelings sustained by threekept on westwardly. A good many per-fourths of the inhabitants, and if possible sons were taken at the different points prevent the shedding of innocent blood. of battle, but it is believed the enemy They were met cordially by General secured none of ours. Captain Richard- Lyon and Colonel Blair, who promised, son had landed below, and, with the sup- if no resistance was made to their enport of the howitzer from the steamer trance, that no harm need be feared. McDowell, captured their battery, con- Major O'Brien soon joined the party sisting of two 6-pounders, (with which from the city, and formally surrendered they intended to sink our fleet,) twenty | it to the Federal forces. The troops

GENERAL LYON'S PROCLAMATION.

then advanced, headed by the Major and General Lyon, and were met at the principal corner of the street by a party bearing and waving that beautiful emblem under which our armies gather and march forth conquering and to conquer. The flag party cheered the troops, who lustily returned the compliment. American flags are now quite thick in the street, and secessionists are nowhere."

323

General Harney on the 2d of May last, had drawn together and organized upon a large scale the means of warfare, and, having made a declaration of war, they abandoned the Capital, issued orders for the destruction of the railroad and telegraph lines, and proceeded to this point to put into execution their hostile purposes toward the general Government. This devolved upon me the necessity of Colonel J. S. Marmaduke commanded meeting this issue to the best of my abilthe State troops on this occasion, Gener-ity, and accordingly I moved to this al Price having left in ill health the day point with a portion of the force under before. Governor Jackson was on the my command, attacked and dispersed the ground in the forenoon, and made good hostile forces gathered here by the Gov. his escape with the rest. Two men were ernor, and took possession of the campkilled on the Union side and nine wound- equipage left, and a considerable number ed; the rebel loss was set down at fifty of prisoners, most of them young and of in killed and wounded. Many prisoners immature age, and who represent that were taken, who were kindly treated they have been misled by frauds, ingeand generously released by General niously devised and industriously inculLyon, who, as will be seen by the proc-cated by designing leaders, who seek to lamation which he issued on the follow- devolve upon unreflecting and deluded ing day (June 18th), pursued a most lib- followers the task of securing the object eral and conciliatory policy in his en- of their own false ambition. deavor to preserve the peace of the country.

"Upon leaving St. Louis," said he in this document, "in consequence of wår made by the Governor of this State against the Government of the United States, because I would not assume on its behalf to relinquish its duties, and abdicate its rights of protecting loyal citizens from the oppression and cruelty of the secessionists in this State, I published an address to the people, in which I declared my intention to use the force under my command for no other purpose than the maintenance of the authority of the general Government, and the protection of the lives and property of all law-abiding citizens. The State authorities, in violation of an agreement with

"Out of compassion for these misguided youths, and to correct the impression created by unscrupulous calumniators, I liberated them upon the condition that they will not serve in the impending hostilities against the United States Government. I have done this in spite of the wellknown facts that the leaders in the present rebellion, having long experienced the mildness of the general Government, still feel confident that this mildness cannot be overtasked even by factious hostilities, having in view its overthrow ; but lest, as in the case of the late Camp Jackson affair, this clemency shall still be misconstrued, it is proper to give warning that the Government cannot always be expected to indulge in it to the compromise of its evident welfare. Hear

ing that those plotting against the Government have falsely represented that the Government troops intended a forcible and violent invasion of Missouri for purposes of military despotism and tyranny, I hereby give notice to the people of this State that I shall scrupulously avoid all interference with the business, right, and property of every description recognized by the laws of the State, and belonging to law-abiding citizens. But it is equally my duty to maintain the paramount authority of the United States with such force as I have at my com

mand, which will be retained only so long as opposition makes it necessary, and that it is my wish, and shall be my purpose, to visit any unavoidable rigor arising in this issue upon those only who provoke it. All persons who, under the misapprehensions above mentioned, have taken up arms, or who are preparing to do so, are invited to return to their homes and relinquish their hostilities towards the Federal Government, and are assured that they may do so without being molested for past occurrences."

CHAPTER XXII.

THE POSITION OF KENTUCKY.

But

WHAT course, it was anxiously in- | other hand she was by no means disposed quired, would Kentucky pursue, in the to acquiesce in the Southern dictation impending conflict between the North and which had so long been the governing the South. As one of the Border States, spirit of the Democratic party. it might have been expected that she whatever the vote may have indicated would cast in her lot with her brethren, in other respects, in one thing it was and follow the fortunes of Virginia, North clear, it was an emphatic declaration Carolina, Missouri, and the rest; but she that the voice of Kentucky was for the was distinguished in many respects from maintenance and preservation of the these accidental associates, and the ques-Union. To this, indeed, she was pledged tion, it was evident, would be answered by her own people on principles of their own. There were various shades of difference in the political opinions of her citizens. In the Presidential election in the autumn of 1860; her popular vote was given, 66,058 for the Bell and Everett ticket; 53,143 for Breckenridge; 25,651 for Douglas; and 1,364 for Lincoln; from which it may be readily gathered that, while the decided principles of the Republican party had as yet met with but little favor in her eyes, on the

by her traditional policy, by the long course of her eminent statesman, Henry Clay, and by the interests which bound her to the great Northwest in preference to the sectional pretensions of the States bordering on the Gulf. It is to her honor that, above all the other Border States, the perception of her people was clear, intelligent, and assured on this great creed of loyalty and nationality. In spite of cunning exhortations from without, artfully appealing to her sympathies with Southern society, in spite of

POSITION OF KENTUCKY.

325

Though animated by a lofty instinct, it was a victory over prejudice, intrigue, and even violence. It required an ef fort, and the effort was made. Happily there was prudence and virtue to render it successful.

treason within plotting its evil work, in spite of that treason arrayed in arms to wrest by force and violence what could not be gained by sophistry, the State firmly stood to its own invincible resolution, once and forever a member of the United States. Her heart was sound The difficulties and embarrassments on this matter, her head was clear, and which beset the course of patriotism in her arm was strong. No arts of her Kentucky will appear, as we briefly repoliticians not even the talent and au- view some of the more important public thority of her Breckenridge in the Vice events. The first disposition of her polPresidency and the Senate, or the persis-iticians was to the work of conciliation tent effort and influence of her Gover- and adjustment, in which her distinnor could induce her to sacrifice her guished representative, Mr. Crittenden, principles of attachment to the Union, led the way, in his resolutions of comher rights and privileges in and under promise and slavery extension, in the the protection of that august confederacy. Senate in those last, melancholy days of It was not a partizan question in her President Buchanan's administration. It eyes of North or South, but of her own was too late then to revive the offices of claim to exist, to enjoy and perpetuate the Henry Clay. Even his skillful managelife and prosperity, the name and fame ment and persuasive eloquence, sorely won for her by the heroic deeds of her tried in his last labors in this cause, would fathers. She would perform everything have proved ineffectual in the work when, that kindness and affection could dictate whatever his persuasions, one side would for the South; she would stand between listen to no arguments or reason whatthe two contending parties as a great me- ever; when in fact the Southern memdiator till mediation became no longer bers, delegation after delegation, Senator possible, and then, when all the arts of following Senator, were vacating their peace were exhausted, she would as a seats to join their brethren in arms State arm herself for war against South- against the Government, utterly despisern aggression for the protection of her ing and rejecting every appeal to reason rights under the Constitution. She well and patriotism. No persuasion of oraknew that her own honor and prosperity tory could reach the "dull, cold ear," were indissolubly united with the glory the stony heart of treason. and welfare of the nation, that patriotic devotion, at whatever cost, was the truest self-interest. That her ultimate course was not reached without a struggle within her own borders, where the spirit of rebellion, indeed, found but too abundant nutriment, detracts nothing from, but on the contrary enhances the value of her resolve. Loyalty was not a cheap and easy virtue in Kentucky.

Whilst these things were going on at Washington, Governor Magoffin, in January, 1860, was holding a special session of the State Legislature at Frankfort. His opening address to that body exhibits at length, with great clearness and equal candor, the peculiar views which he entertained of the relations of his State to the general Government. Beginning with a glowing sketch of the