New-York daily tribune., 1861-09-07

! Ereni Gen. Prcniiss's Column - Departure
from grOuton-CsPi. aUoli's Battery
Policy of COi. Ross ai TTedericbtO"E-
incidents Of JOnrney. ...,.,,ts5s
| From Our owu Correspondent.
EEAR DuLn, No, Aug. 90 Ia6l.
| On Tuesday morning last the door of my room OF
tie hotel in Ironion received gentle knock on hour
before daylight, while al the same time voice remind
ed me that the command under Gen. Prentiss was
about to move and in order to accompany it l must
rise. The sdmoniion was unnecessary, for was al
ready up and aferward seated at the breakfast
table. The proprietor Of the hotel was a Louisiana
creole claiming like many others to be a Union man.
but willing 70 stand still and the Government tom
TO pieces rather than take up in ts defense.
Of this man who was 50 strong for the Union while
plenty Of troops were around him. was recently Il
Lieutenant in q Secession company, and was brought
prifoDer from FredtHcktown by Col. Heober's regi.
men,, who visited that place two weeks since to Dis
perse guerilla band Of Rebels. The old man seems
to depore his sons action, and much more so his i'll
success in the Secession business.
Notwithstanding the efforts Of Mi. Grier5on Capt.
Benmore and Gen. Prentss himself, the last Of the
column did not get started before noon so with afew
Others whose presence with the troops the march
was not matter of necessity, / remained In town
until after dinner.
Leaving Irontcn we passed through a mountainous
country, crossed tie St. Francois River. and found
the camp Just forming for the night, thirteen miles
from the starting point. The road over which we
travelled would compare favOrably with much Of the
worst road on the Ozark Mountains, the only material
difference being the large Per centage Of on contained
in the rock on the Iron Mountain range.
Among NY first acquaintance in camp were the
clever officers Of Capt. Buells Battery, including, be-
side the Captain Lieutenants Weber, Bulls, and
Thurber. Capt Buell. served in the Mexican war
and in the Utah expedition, and would have been
with Col sgel at the battle Of Carthage and the s
more memorable one Of Springfield bad the necessary
equipments been furnished in due time; and had there
been at those battles four six additional pieces Of
artillery, the result in either case would doubtless
have been much more favorable to the Union cause
Lieuts Weber and Bulls have seen service, in
Europe and the other in the regular army and both
are efficient officers Five Of the pieces taken at Camp
! jackson form portion Of Capt. Buells battery.
The fog which WIS very thick, had not lifted itself
from tho earth on the first morning after leaving lion.
ton, before the column was in motion. Three miles
from our eDeampment we came upon Col Heckers
two miles the day previous TO join cur column. Six
miles further on we came TO the pleasant village Of
Fredercktown, where The l7th Illinois, Col. Ross had
been posted for week Here at early hour in the
day, we wentintO camp just cast Of the town. on the
spot where, two weeks before, party Of Arkansas
cavalry, under Col Borland, hsdencsmped. Col Ross
had found upon his arrival that no foe was near whom
he could reach with his infantry the enemy having
large proportion Of cavalry in their force. With this
they would glide up close TO town. seize a Union man,
with bis property and be OF before Col Ross could be
notified Of their presence, when pursuit was impracti
cable. Lieui.-Ccl. Wood, however made several
excursions by night getting lear enough TO pro-
duce an engagement. Col. Ross finally determined
upon policy, which be pursued with good results.
Taking ten Of the wsalthes citizens prisoners, many
Of whom had relations In the Rebel army, be notified
them that they could send delegation TO the camp of
the enemy and when the Union and theirproperly
were returned in safety they would be released from
confinement where they were rot allowed intercourse,
and were obliged TO live soldiers fare. The delega-
ton went, and the next day two retuned-One having
escaped, the other being released upon Col. Ross
demand A third sbeeyed to have been killed by the
Rebels, who think no more Of mans life than if he
were hog. A force Of 500 Rebels under Col. Low,
were then within twenty miles Of FredeIcktown.
Three hundred and twenty Of them were Arkensas
cavalry, under pretty good discipline, and the balance
Missouri infantry; but they started south Immediately
upon rcleasng their prisoner. At Greenville, Col.
Hardee has been posted with 1000 troops nearly all
Mssourans for some time, but left about as we moved
from Iouton.
As we entered Frederiektown, the GIst hotel sign
American House by - Gabriel" caused consid-
erable amusement among the troops, which was in
creased by the second The White House." great
call was made for the President but the house being
closed II was supposed that Mr.. Lincoln had followed
his wife TO q summer resort.
While General Prentiss and several OF bis sta were
standing talking with citizens on the steps Of tic
Missouri Hotel. soldier passed by carrying goose
which be had just killed. One Of his comrades accueed
him Of Jerking" it, which be acknowledged, giving
reason that g The great goose wouldn, take the
OATH" II was considered q good joke, and finally
reached the Of General Prentiss who es the affair
was entirely over, laughed as heartily as anyone
Thursday morning we were waiting for the arrival Of
the provision train from Ironton. The fog was very
thick, 90 much go that one could not zee hundred
yards at six o'clock, while the dew rolled from tho
upper leaves Of trees ike gentle shower. Soon after
two o'clock the train guarded by $50 cavalry having
arrived and rested, we started and moved ten miles,
canning upon the farm Of Union man who had
recently been ordered 70 leave, which be accordingly
did leaving his feriIy on bis farm end Joining TIE