Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1861-06-29
IMPORTANT PROM MISSOURI.
. THE sarTLn or BONNEVILLE
7hs Details ofthe FghL--4,ooo Rebels Rou
ted and the Field Occupied in 7~enty Min
sfef
Correspondence Of the New York Hersa'

BooSxvilLLs, Cooper CO.. Juoe ls, 1861.
The boats now moved TO landing eight
miles below Boonevile, on the eoutb side o'
the river. Here they fastened to the shore
and the troops we're debsrked. A farmer at
work 10 fieid near the landing stated that
the enemy we're 10 camp four and a half miles
from that spot, or three aud half miles
below Bonneville. The level bottom land OF
the Missouri was bluff but il gradually mar.
rowed as it extended up the river, until IL
terminated where the bluff came 10 the
waters edge two miles from the boat landing.
The road followed for mile and q hal!
along this bottom, and then sscepded the
bluG. The latter is Il range Of low hills or
ridges, about two hundred feet 10 height
which are separated by -avines. some OF them
with quite PERCEPTIONS sides The order oi
proceeding was as follows: Ten mounted
men, the only cavalry r the expedition, led
the advance; scouting parties detached from
the Second regiment, were thrown out for
half mile on the left, and to the river on
the right General Lyons company of regu.
lars, led By Sergeant Grfio, and Company
B, Of the Second regiment. commanded by
Captain schultz, followed the cavalry; Capt.
Totteu's battery Of artillery, and his company
of regulars, the latter by Lieutenant Lathrop
came next, followed by Colonel Blair's First)
regiment the rear was brought up by q
battalion from Colonel Boernsten's regimen
led by Lieutenant Colonel Schaffer. On
board the boat was Captain Richardson,
with company d, First regiment. and Captain
Boastep, with twenty men aud siege (eight.
incb) howitzer
At Just three minutes before seven, A. NJ,
on June II, the order was given to move.
'ba rlnuIc NTH ainpallu
few drops of rain, but before the battle was
over the gun shons out clear and bright as
ever. AS the column assembled the blu #,
the pickets OF the enemy were seel aud
driven in.
After on advance of three fonrths OF mile
one OF the advanced guard rode hastily back
to the head of the column, and informed Gen.
e-al Lyon that the the whole body of the
State troops was drawn up q few hundred
yards in front. General Lyon OF once order.
ed the regulars under Sergeant Griffin TO the
left, nnd Captain Schultzs rihemen to the
right. Captain Totten's battery was ordered
TO take the front to occupy the road.
The enemy we're drawn up about three hun.
dred yards in advance, on the crest of a hill
or rather long swell or ridge, over which
the road passed at the highest point. The
road was occupied by Colonel Marmaduke,
with a small body Of horsemen and battalion
of Infantry. Immediately on bis left was a
brick house filled with rebel troops, and back
Of this, towards the river was narrow laue.
where his left wing was posted.
10 their rear was wheat field, and in this
was miscellaneously scattered small crowds
Of men, apparently without order regulari.
". 10 his right was another wheat field,
separated from an ad AGENT corn field by q
worm fence" and behind this fence bis right
wing was posted. Soon as our men were iu
position Captain Totten uplinbered twelve.
FOUNDER and six. pounder, and sent shell
from the former into the midst Of the men
occupying the road A puff of smoke rising
from among them showed that the gupEers
o N hud been true.
The next shell was directed upon the
squads of men iB the wheat field. and caused
them to make hasty retreat The fire now
became general along the whole line the
regulars on the right aud the German troops
on tha left advancing in good order. Our
line was formed on a ridge similar to that oc.
clpicd by the enemy, acd parallel to it, sepa.
rated from the latter by valley with gen.
tie descent on either side. To our left was a
corn field, and on our right copse or grove
OF scattered oaks.
The regulars advanced in tie corn field, 10
to the crest OF the ridge, creeping up the
latter on firing when opportunity occurred
taking for their motto that OF an lrshmar
at Donnybrook Fair, "W heDever you see q
head hit it," The hollow between the ridges
was full Of scattered oaks, and these served
as a cover to our men. Captains Stone, Cole
end Cavender, we're sent to support the righ,
OF the regulars. and in this way they all ad
vanced TO tho fence where the enemy was O.
frst posted.
The battalion from the Second, supported
by Captains Maurices, Burke's, and Yates
companies, we're at the same time doing gooC
work on the right and in twenty minutes
from the time Captain lotion fired the firs'
Shell the rebels were in full retreat, and ou
men occupying the line first held by the enc
my. The house on the right had been com
pletely rddled by the last shots from tb
battery, and one she'll burs 10 the very csntr
Of the building at time when it was full G
soldiers.
Several dead bodies Of the rebels wer
found in the wheat field near the lane. show
ing that cur fire bad been effective. In foe
at the first volley from the right wing severe
saddles were emptied of their riders, and tw
horses galioped over to our lines. The col
Louis Democrat eutered the battle on foo
by the side of the battery, bu. we're very 500
mounted, having succeeded 10 capturing thes
runaway steeds.
From this point the Union troops procee'
ed still in line, for nearly mle over groun
somewhat uneven, bot not rough. In
grove at the entrance to Camp Vest tt
rebels made u brief stand, but two shells al
a few rounds Of Mimic balls speedily dislodge
them. ana they aed in tumultuous has
towards BoouevIle Captain Cole, suppo
ted by Captain Miller, entered and toe
possession OF the camp capturing q lars
quantity OF provisions, ammunition and can
eguipage. lie secured one secession fla
one lone star flag, and one Stateaag, vii
fifteen stars.
The number OF killed and wounded on II
part of the rebels has not and probably W
not be accurately ascertsined. Many OF tho
fighting on the rebel side were "loose men
not enrolled ir any company, and fed in lar
numbers, not to any rallying point, but {
rsctly home, thinking, doubtless that the
was some mistake about the popular bel
that Union troops are towards. Dot of o
company Capt. McCulloch's Cooper Coun
Rfes) thirteen are known to be killed o
several wounded.
The number Of dead already brought in
Bonneville, or taken to friends in the count
cannot fall much short Of fifty, and I
wounded now heard OF are as mauy mo