Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-09-23
FROM MISSOURI

.L-H ra- 81 LOClSi Oept- 81
The following account of the battle at
Blue Mills is derived from an authentic
source, Lieut., Col. Scott, with $40 men
the Sd Iowa and one piece Of artillery, left
Cameron on Monday in pursuit of the rebels
who left st. Joseph on Friday previous
Lieut.. Col. Scott arrived at Liberty, Clay
county, on the morning Of the 18th, and
moved from that place at / P. N. AT 3
o'clock he fell in with the enemy, 4,5OO in
number. occupying strong position Our
skirmishers received a CALLING fire and slowly
retreated to our main body, when the action
became general. One six-pounder was
brought to bear on the enemy, and a few
shots were fred which proved destructive. At
this time heavy IRE opened on our single
gun, killing one gunner and wounding two
Others. On this several other gunners, Ger
mans from st. Louis, abandoned the gun,
carrying of the primer and matches, render
ing the piece useless.
The action continued one hour, when our
column was slowly Withdrawn to move to
open ground, bringing Of the wounded, and
drawing of the guns by hand, all the horses
having been killed or badly wounded
About this time, Col. Smith, who left st.
Joseph with fourteen hundred men about
the time Scott left Cameron for the same
general purpose, Joined the latter, having
pushed forward his mounted men and ar
tillery ata-rapid pace, on receiving a mes
sage from Colonel Scott ten miles back,
that be was advancing on the enemy. But
it being night, their men completely e1-
hausted, and the enemy reported strongly
entrenched in thicket impossible except
by narrow road, a further attack was
postponed until morning. Early on The fol-
lowing day an advance was made by the
combined forces, bnt on arriving at Blue
Mills, they found that the enemy had cross
ed the river before Daylight, taking the
road towards Lexington. %
The following is a partial list Of the 90
iowa: Major Stone, slightly wounded; Co.
A, Capt. 0'Neill, slightly wounded; Lieut.
Duane. Severely; privstes ". b. Munger. E.
Critch6eld, P. J. McCaferty, severely; An.
drew Murray, missing; Co. B, Lieut Hobbs,
Sergeant Woods seriously; priYatss Rob-
bins, Hart and Woodruff, seriously. Co. C,
corporal Hunting, seriously; privates Droan,
MADDOX and Squires, missing. Co. D, Capt
Willet serious; Lieut. Anderson, mortally !;
private Miller, severely, and Frank, missing
Co. E, corporal MCGOWAN, seriously; pri-
Yates Guthrie and Hill, severely. Co. F,
Lieut. Brown, slightly, aud g number of
Others, making total of FIVE killed and
eighty-four wounded.
Three Of the missing are supposed to be
in the hands of the enemy, and the balance
killed. ra laf
In addition to the loss of the Sd Iowa.
there we're six Home Guards and one artiI-
lery man killed, among them Capt. Cupp,
and about ten wounded. -Four sf these
Home Guards were killed n the skirmish
about two hours before the battle.
Ii Is perhaps proper 70 state that General
Popes orders to Scott we're to remain at
Liberty until joined by Smith, but learning
on arriving at that place, that the enemy
were five miles distant be sent messenger
TO Smith with word to that effect and pushed
on and gave the rebels battle.
Gen. Fremont has appoiated Brig. Gems.
Pope, Siegel, Asboth and McKinstry to com
naud divisions as Major Generals, and Col
onels Davis, Mulligan, Kelter and lotion as
seting Brigadier Generals
Thomas L. Price, Of Jefferson City, has
been commissioned a brigadier general by
the President.
A special to the Democrat from Hamil-
ton, says that q report from Camden, nine
miles above Lexington, states that the Stars
and Stripes were till floating over MulliQan's
entreuchments az six O'Clock Saturday
morning.