The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-10-15
NEWS FROM BALTIMORE.
OUR BALTIMORE CORRESPONDENCE.

NEWS FROM BALTIMORE.
OUR BALTIMORE CORRESPONDENCE
BALTIMORE, Sept. 20, 1881.
The Missouri Lead Mines-7Aeir Iroductiueness- e
Rebels are Working Taem-H is IN Fyemonts PoOer b
Retake Them-Graphic account Of the Situation in Mss
souri, BY Old Misso,riasThe Rebels Building Rat
road 10 bring Troops 10 Aqaio Creek, de-
From source which cannot indicate more partcu-
lary than to say that is perfectly reliable learn
important facts in relation to the present condition Of the
CRANKY lead mnes and the intentions OF the rebels about
them These mines celebrated all the world
the richest not in this country only but the globe
They have only been opened during the last three years
They situated in Newton county In the southwestern
corner OF the State The second year they opened
although the machinery used was imperfect they yielded
upwards two millions Of pounds During the year 1850
improved machinery used and the yield seventy
five thousand pigs, weighing six millions of pounds In
the month of June Of that year the State Geoogis Of
Missouri gave them q scientific examination, and tho
lead itself subjected to critical analysis. Tho
report Of this gentleman states that the supply
Of is inexhaustible, while otis quality ID
the best KNOWN having scarcely any admixure VI
foreign substances and being nearly pure. In tho latter
part OF tho year 1860 furnaces erected
tho spot, and since that time the metal has been pro-
mines was one Of the earliest objects TO which the rebel
leaders directed their attention. and 1t indeed this
object for which the rebel troops first invaded the State
The in which they succeeded in obtaining posses
sion of this much coveted treasure well known to the
readers Of the HERALD Had not been for tho delusive
policy which has been pursued in Missouri elsewhere,
OF undertaking the strength and Of the rebels
had sufficient number Of troops been sent by General
Fremont to General Lyon-these lead mines would
have been in possession AS it was, however, they
fell an easy prey to the rebels The latter Immediately
went to work night and day, with strong force, and
have been manufacturing the precious metal
a rate which will amount to eight millions Of pounds
per With infinite labor, they have improved
road that already existed southwark TO the Arkansas
river which the lead is transported In wagons. Tho
Arkansas river not navgabe for large vessels but by
using small boats the lead s carried to the Mississippi
With singular want Of foresight, perhaps from
inability otherwise (for these mines situated
the midst Of an immense plain, with hills around
them) the rebels have made attempt at forth
Tying the mines the roads leading 10 them These are,
respectively tho roads leading from Doniphan, Rolla,
Jefferson City and Lexington Here, then fine chance
for General Fremont TO sgnaze himself After releasing
the brave Colonel Mullgan at Lexington, and driving
Price and McCuoch out of the State, according TO his
promise to the President let him lead his victorious
egons down to CRANKY and smoke the miners there.
1t is expedition that may be attended by much
glory the other but its effects will be quite useful
the Union III left in Of these the
rebels will get all the lead they want II Fremont wrests
them from their possession they will fire away what
little lead they have and will have to lay down their
arms from inability to use them.
SITUATION MISSOURI
have seen and conversed with to-day very inteli
gent gentleman from ST. LOUIS old resident OF Mis-
souri, who has given lucid and graphic
OF tho condition Of affairs in that State He left St. Louis
the evening of the 25th inst, several days after tho
Of the fall of Lexington had been received there but
two days before Fremont had made his final preparations
for starting for that place. He says that member OF
18th Of July. and explained to him that the lead
mines in southwest Missouri the point at
which General Hardee and General Pillow were aim
ing, and that they had no designs upon st. Louis
and called upon General Fremont for renforcements in
order to be able to and oppose them But General
Fremont, although he had only arrived at his post
that day and knew nothing the situation made light
OF the statement refused to give IL credence and declined
tofurnish the reinforcement General LYON (who was
then Springfield the point to the CRANKY lead
mines at which they could be deended) know very we'll
| that with his $500 men he could never hold his own
against ardees, Prices and Pillows rs 600 then sent
the chief Of his staff and one Of his colonies with still
urgent request to General Fremont begging that
Few regiments, at least might DC sent to his aid This
request also denied, and the brave General Lyon,
with his $500 men, left TO contend with IS 600 Tho
result that in less than ten days Lyon defeated
and slain and the rebels in possession of the much
coveted lead mines. Then it that Fremont that
he wrong in supposng that St Louis the point
at which the rebels aiming But he had began
to fortify that city he continued push the work He
not only Kept 80 OF his work tho ntrench
mens he not only employed all tho aborers in St Louis
and other cities in the West who advertised for all tho
aborers in those cities to down to St. Louis to work
the ntrenchmens. The files of the Chicago Times,
Quincy Herod, Milwaukee Sentinel and other Western
papers contain these advertisements. The work tho
fortications ofSt Louis is still proceeding.
But the lesson contained in the loss OF General Lyon
thrown away upon Fremont General Price, having left
the lead mines strongly guarded, set Off for Lexington
with twenty thousand troops Fremont could not see the
Importance of holding Lexington So instead Of sonding
thirty thousand Of his fifty thousand troops there he sent
but beggarly three thousand five hundred under the
he inf enrfy
mcnt is still fresh in the minds Of your licking
ton fell on the Goth of September The got st.
Louis on the 23d, yet at high noon the 9th Fremont
hadno yet left St. Louis TO fulfil his promise to
Muigan and drive Price out of Missouri In the
time Ben McCuloch will have reinforced Price Lexing
ton with twelve thousand Of the best troops tho South
cCuochs aim is Jefferson City and it is safe esti-
mate the force that he bring before at fifty thou
SIND strong BY the time that Fremont therefore, with
his fifty thousand troops reaches that point say about the
end Of September he will find McCuloch and Price there
dispute the possession of the town with him. and to
oppose his further advance with their troops flushed with
victory, and their officers we'll acquainted with tho
try, while Fremont and his officers Of them foreign.
strangers to its natural advantages The battle
that will then be fought will be second in Importance
only TO that which will soon be fought before
Washington , Il win ,o make or break E Fremont.
is defeated at Jefferson City, he will be obliged
to retreat to his intrenchments asst Louis, and the
whole OF Missouri, with the exception OF that city, will
be lost to the Union The rebels will overun every part
of il.
THE REBELS BUILDING RAILROADS.
learn to-day that the rebels actively engaged
in the completion Of the railroad from Gordonsvjle 70
Fredericksburg. This road graded two years ago,
and the crossties and seepers laid last year Th6
work abandoned at that time, consequence OF the
funds of the company running out and their inability u
purchase for the rails. This IRON however has been
partly supplied by the rails taken from the Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad west Of Harper Ferry and partly By
a supply sent up from Sou thern city The road will
be finished and in running order in few days. and by
this the rebels transport large reinforcements
of troops for their batteries near Aqua creek glance
the map will show tho reader that the road con-
meets with the railroad to North Carolina and also with
that TO the Southwestern States.
BALTIMORE, Oct S, 1851.
Affairs in Baimore-Activty Many Branches of Buss
se$s-Commcrce of The CIy-Strset Cdrs-Bdhimors Gn6
Ohio Railroads.&c. Through 7ra6fc-MoNme't on Fbot
for The Reconstrction Of the RoadHs Necessity in COSs
1,ercialand Military Point Of vieCFort fcdtons at Bal
tmore, de-, dc.