The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1861-12-28
Missouri.


Warlike movements in Missouri have
been quite lively during the week. In
addition to the 800 prisoners taken 10y
Gen. Pope command, mentioned in our
last, we have accounts of another skirmi>h,
in which he took 1900 more prisoners,
some 65 loaded wagons, 1000 horses, &c.--
The affair occurred near Knob Noster,
northwest of Warrcnsburg, some 60 miles
sou h-weet of Sed;,lia. Gen. Pope had
learned that large bodies Of recruits from
North Missouri, with heavy trains Of cloth
Ing. provisions, &c, were moving down
towards Price at Osceola, and determined
to cut them off BY a well planned, con-
centrated movement he not only succeeded
in capturing a number of smaller bands OF
taese recruits last week west of Seda.ia,
bat. finally, near Clinton, fell upon the
soners after short skirmlsn, with all their
train, horses &c The result of the week j
work was over 1000 prisoners, loo well
loaded wagons, over 1000 horses, 800
muskets, several tuns of powder. ans! a
general dispersion of all Prices recruits
Most of the prisoners have since arrived
at St Louis Among them are the famous
Col Magotiin, Col. Alexander. Major ilar-
ris, Capt Brown. with long list Of other
J secession notab.lities.
Rains and Stein, who had been in the
vicinity of Lexington, took fright at this
news, and moved southwark away on the
Kansas border to rcioin Price; while Price
himself took the alarm, and at latest ac-
counts was also on The run towards Ar
kansas MEANWHILE there is great activity
among our troops at Rolla, and the proba-
bility is that Price may be beaded off in
his southern fight The achievement Of
Gen Pope, in thus dispensing all Price 5
! expected recruits and expected supplies
! from the north, has about broke down
! secessionism in Missouri.
On the 18th inst, Il force under Captain
/ Foreman, of Col Montsomery's regiment
/ in Southern Kansas, followed n party of
/ secessionists from the vicinity OF O>sawat-
onie into Bates county, No, and burnt
the town Of PapinsvIle, where they found
about loo head OF cattle stolen from Kan
sas, and also partially burnt the town Of
/ Batter Capt F then returned to Mound
/ City, Gen. Denyer's headquarters, bringing
with him - head Of cattle, ) horses, &C,
and a number OF Union families with their
stock.
On the night of the DIST inst, the seces-
/ sionists on the line Of the North Missouri
Railroad, running from ST. Louis north
! ward to The Hannibal Il St Joseph z. L.,
with which it unites at Hudson, by con-
certed movement, destroyed all the bridges
and culyeIts on the road, 50 IS 10 render
it completely useless lis said. thousands
. Of Prices men had been sent north 10 do
this work, which BY the aid OF the seces-
| sionists along its lines was accomplished
; ctiectually The road was Of tie utmost
Importance to our army, and cannot be
dispensed with Gen IIallecll has issued
an order for its immediate repair, and d.
rected military commanders who have
been sent to superintend the work to pres
into the service all the secessionists and
thei. slaves on the route By the same
order he also directs that If any OF The
persons engaged III the late destruction
are taken they are to he shot and all per
sons hereafter detected in this business,
are to be dealt with in ike manner.