The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1861-10-05
The WAR IN Missouri.


Fremont against Lexington. AT latest
dates he was still at Jefferson City, gather
ing around him all his available forces
! What these are we can only Conjecture
/ they are put down at from $4,000 to so,
| 600 men. Among them are several thou
sand regulars, including 1000 lately re-
turned from Utah, Totten's and Dubois
famous batteries, &c. He has also an iron
clad steamer mounting some heavy guns,
towing two barges, also mounting guns
and mortars, which he proposes TO anchor
/ inatront of Lexington There is no doubt
/ but that his army, when it moves, will he
thoroughly equipped. But when will it
move? He seems in no hurry. Reports
say in q week or more, but Fremont is
silent He obviously don't mean to at
| tack Price until he is sure of success
As to Price, his force is put down at s.
/ O0J to 5000, and our officers who have
been released by HIM On parole, say he is
gaining accessions daily, SO that in two CT
three weeks he will have 10000 men. He
is said to have plenty Of ammunition, hay
ing dug up large quantities that had been
buried at Lexington, unknown to our
troops. Cannon, in which he is deficieAt,
lie is said TO be casting al Lexington, at the
rate of three a week. For provision, he is
plunderiug the country around Lexington
sending out large arties, who rob friends
and f1eS. TO get clothing, he sent a party
to Fulton, who plundered the lunatic
asylum there of its blankets, bed clothes,
/ &c One of his regiments is dressed in
/ the clothes OF Mulligan's men, and is call
ed the Irish brigade" \ large proper
| ton of his troops are said to be well armed
and drilled, but half of them are mere
mob. 1t seems agreed that he intends to
make a stand, although there are reports
that he is preparing to retreat, while many
shrewd ones believe if Fremont approaches
him with an army at all dangerous, his
motley army will scatter, to reassemble in
week or two at some other point.
\ rebel army of 10000 is said to ravag-
ing Green county, and another of 1000 is
reported at Oceola.
The whereabouts of McCulloch is I'M
known At Rolla he is believed to be still
in Arkansas, while reports from Spring
field say he IS in that vicinity.
Muiligan is still at Lexington. He was
offered his release on parole but refused
to take it, believing that he will soon he
released by. Fremont. He has been joined
by his wife. Most of our officers taken
and say they were well treated. On Prices
invitation, Gen. Fremont sent boat to
Lexin: ton to bring away our wounded
men. Man of the released officers contra
Diet the statements as to Col. Marshall's
cowardice.
The organization of state volunteers
under Gov. Candles proclamation was
proceeding satisfactorily. 10000 will soon
be enrolled.
JEFF Thompson having again threatened
Cape Girardeau, that point was reinforced
on Monday. The 70: ce now there is 5000
well fortified
The for;ifioations around st Louis are
fl .shed and gar. is ned by $500 artillery
men with plenty Of guns
The 2lst, 33d, and 3Sth III. regiments
are at Ironton. Gen. Pope has been order
ed to take command at Boonyile. Prem
tiss is at Chillicotle Lane is at Kansas
city with 5000 men. New secession squads
have appeared in North Missouri, and if
Prices army breaks up into small bands, it
is feared that the towns on the Mississippi
in Illinois may not be safe from that quar-