New-York daily tribune., 1861-12-31
TuE WAR FOR THE union.
rgssr MISSOURI.

Case of Eeu. MoHins!ry.
Fysn Our 81 ec.al Correspondent -, ro 81 lae,
A CAPTAIN ia cne Of the Kansas regiments, WHO
has been for several weeks prisoner IN fhee
..,n, has arrived in this city. Price released him
Oh the Doth inst, and gave HIM sSlesua'u' WIKI
which he started for Sedalia. Before travelling many
uaes he was .;opred by struggling party oil -
rebels, who, declaring that if Price had released
lin. they would not, carried hin into their camp
and kent him under guard. But the same nlg5t the
CAPTAIN, whose Kansas education had not been neg
Iced, invited his captors TO JOIN him IN itiie coi'
vivialy. Like their class everywhere, they deemed
whisky that touch of nature which makes tie whole
world kin; and accepted with great alacrity. They
drownea their animosiiy in the flowing bowl, aud
The flowing bowl wss TOO much for them. La tie
classic words Of Aremas Ward, q il gioerslly is.'
At last, when they had given way, and fallen asleep
the Captain crept out of the tent, eluded the guard,
and made Lis escape. He reports that Price has
10000 men, and 80 pieces Of artillery, and lis again
falling back toward The Arkansas line.
Our information from other sources corrooorates
this, and the latest reports place MIN at Neosho, IN
TIE eouth-vest corner of the STATE. AS General
Curtis has followed General Sigel to Rolla, General
Gclofeld been ordered into the field and unusual &C.
tiyity prevailed in that direction for few Gays,
many suppose that movemeut is foot for cutting
off his retreat; but it is too late for that II S.ge,
with ten or Gieen Thousand men, were placed III the
Geld along the Southern border, be would doubtless
keep Price quiet during the Winter, for The Rebel
General is quite shrewd to SO tar north ss to
let any considerable force get in his rear. But, un
less some such measure is adopted he will be Likely
l;. a, nd bulf he in
terror through the Winter.
The bridgo-Lurners of North Missouri are still at
large the rebels are gathered in that section in
usual bodies, and, in spite of our recent successes
under Gen. Pope the condition of tie State is not
encouraging The preparations for the grand fotil-
10, to descend the Mississippi are going forward at
Cairo, hui at the present rate Of progress, they will
pos be completed for several weeks Few if any Of
the rebel sympathizers in St. Louis, included
in General HaIleck's $4,000 assessment for the
benefit Of the Union refugees, have yet
paid up. II is said that the furniture and other
personal property of those who neglect to pay,
by the required time, viii be uncerenonOusly taken
and sold under the hammer. The wife of Gen. ID.
III. Frost, who surrendered Camp Jackson to Gen.
Lyon, in May, is ON the list her husband being alb
sent in the rebel army. The officer who served the
sotices assures me that lie did not find single Seces
sionist Nearly every upon the list is notorious
for his sympathy with the rebels, but under the
shrobbing of the sensitive pocket nerve they claim
TO he loyal.
Gen. McKinstry ia still kept in close confinement
ct the Arsenal He was formerly unpopular among
q large class Of citizens; but the unusual and op-
pressive treatment to which be is subjected excites
universal sympathy for him. Under the army regu-
latious, officer is only liable TO such confinement
when he is charged with mutiny or treason; yet 10
one pretends that either Of these crimes is alleged
against him. BY the same rules, officer is entitled
10 bave copy Of the charges against him served
upon him within eirht davs aft-r li rri-ss
there is some peculiar exigency to prevent it. The
public will readily recall the names Of several
oieers arrested since the war broke cut, who have
been released toe express ground that the charges
were not furnished within the prescribed tune.
1t is now more than six weeks since Gen. Nc
Einstry was arrested. Before be had been in con-
6nemen; "a hours he addressed letter the proper
authorities at Washington, ipquiling what charges
were made against lin, and reques sting whatever
they might be, full and searching investigation at
the earliest possible day. Again and again the de.
mand has been repeated by himself and his counsel,
but it fails TO elicit any reply. No authority here
knows anything about II. Gen. Haleck has not
even Official knowledge that lie is under arrest. The
Judge Advocate-Ge at Washington does not
claim that any evidence which has been laid before
him will even justify the calling Of Court-Maris
or Court Of inquiry to investigate the matter.
According to the best information nttainable here
be was arrested by order Of Major-General McClel-
Ian, in consequence of testimony given before the
Van Wyck Investigating Committee. That Com
mittee, while in st. Louis was purely ex parte
tribunal. 1t sat wifi closed doors. Gen. McKin.
stry, who, as Quartermaster, bad been doing bus-
often reaching $l0O 600 per day. Quitting troops
In great haste to meet pressing emergencies, ab
sent in the field at the head of his division. No op-
potunty was afforded him to appear before the Com
mittee or to make any explanations whatever con-
eerning the complicated business Of bis Office. Wit
sesses were ash ed not merely what they knew, but
also what they had heard; and any who has
seen the jeslousies and bitterness which the fierce
competition for Government business engenders can
readily imagine wba, lmitless field was opened by
this mode Of procedure. 1t is reflection upon the
gentlemen Of the Committee, who doubtless net d
with sincere desire to serve the country. Ora q
Jury proceedings useful and necessary; but yo
Do not make them final and condemn man uPoHl
them. They are merely basis upon which you
frame specific charges against him. which he has op-
pmtunity to meet in open, public trial.
IL an officer Of the army, who has served bis coun.
Try from boyhood and gone up, step by step, to hon.
orable rank in bis profession, entitled to lees protec
ton than that guaranteed 70 the most desperate elon
r.