The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1861-08-10
THE WAR IN Missouri.

The WAR IN Missouri
The news from Missouri has been little
more stirring during the past week. Al
though this State has in the most authori-
tatiye way, through convention elected
by thepeople directly to decide this ques-
ton, expressed her desire to remain in the
Union; and although the Southern Con-
federacy say they want no State to Join
them but ofits own free will, yet Mssouriis
| invaded by an army from Tennessee said
to number $1,000, and another Of from
three to five thousand from Arkansas,
with the sole avowed object to drag her
out Of the Union. The most efficient
, measures, however, are being taken to de-
| feat the designs of the rebels, and to ex-
pei the invaders from her soil, as we'll as
to quiet the rebels among her own people.
Gen. Pope has been placed in command
over all the country north of St Louis
His headquarters are temporarily at Mexi-
co, where he has three Ill. regiments with
HIM, but the ultimate plan is to form an
encampment at Jefferson City, where Gen.
| Hurlbut is already stationed with o few
regiments, where twenty or thirty thous-
and men are to be assembled from Illinois,
Iowa, DC, for instruction until cool weather
arrives, when they will join the great
movement south through Arkansas to
New Orleans
As the chief business of the army in
North Missouri has been to watch preda-
tory parties of sccessionists who have
commonly assembled bands of from 800 to
1000, committing outrages on Union men
or fallen on small bands of L. s. troops
and when assailed have dispersed only to
ca ssembie to renew their outrages in an
other quarter, Gen Pope has adopted Wig
orous measures to put stop to this bust
ness He has concluded to send out no
more scouting parties, but to place few
companies of Us. troops at the county
seats of all the larger counties in North
Missouri, appointing a committee of safety
| in each county to cooperate with the
troops in preserving order. If outrages
| are committed, the troops will aid the
| citizens in restoring order, but in each
county. Hitherto the people, although
protesting loyalty, have still refused to aid
| the government in suppressing or Selling
these marauding bands. The plan Of Gen.
Pope is, to make 1t their interest to give
him efficient aid
While Gen. Pope is forming his camp at
Jefferson City, Gen. Fremont is forming
another camp of instruction at st Louis,
where 10000 or 10000 more troops will be
| assembled in a few weeks, not only to be
within striking distance to resist the in
vading rebel army at any point, but also
in fall to unite with the great movement
southwark. Gen. +. has within the past
week received five new batteries Of rifled
cannon at st. Louis and an immense guam
| tity of ammunition, while eight or ten new
| regiments have gone into camp there,
among them six from Missouri.
| The new Governor Of Missouri has issued
a stirring proclamation, declaring his pur
pose to use all the power of the State to
second the efforts of Generals Fremont
and Pope to maintain peace among the
| citizens of the State and to expel the
invaders.
A skirmish took place on the I'd inst.
between Gen Lyon and McCulloch at a
place called Dug Spring, 10 miles south
| west of Springfield. Mo- On the LIST, Gen.
Lyon heard that McCulloch, Rains and
Price were advancing with 10000 men,
| lie immediately set out to meet them with
about 5000 men, and arrived at Dug
Spring before he got intelligence of the
enemy. He had sent out q reconnoiter-
ing party of 20 regular cavalry, who as
they were returning across a ridge, found
themselves cut off by about 1000 Of
McCulloch's infantry. Being unable to
retreat they dashed through them, los
ing five men, and killing 10 or Is. The
enemy then advanced in large force upon
/ Lyon, but were charged by battery, upon
which they Immediately fled, leaving
some 40 dead behind, Al wounded, so
stand Of arms, and ID horses and wagons
Apprehending that the enemy might get
in kis rear and attack Springfield, Gen
Lyon returned next day to that place,
where he is eagerly awaiting the enemy,
who, at latest accounts, were approaching
in 3 columns, $4,000 strong Gen. Lyon
has less than 10000 mon +.
AT Athens, No, on the 5th, Col. Moore
of the Home Guards, abort $50 men, was
surrounded by force of from SOOto 1900
secossionists, who attacked the town in
three divisions. Col Moore was makjpe
good Roadway against the enemy's left
and centre, but his right was failing, whom
fortunately rifle company from Keokuk