New-York daily tribune., 1861-06-24
THE CONTEST In MISSOURI.
THE BATTLE OF BONNEVILLE.

HEADQUARTERS DEPT OF THE WrW,p
L..


BONNEVILLE, No., June IL, 1861. !
The steamers A. Mcdowell, laian, and CisyiOf
Louisiana, lefG Jefferson City yesterday GiternocFat
two O'Clock, and reached pont mile below Provt
dence List night where it wcss thought best TO liz upa
few bours. three companies Of ernseins regiment,
under his command left TO protect the capital
We were cheered enthusiastically By the little town
Of Marion. a. we passed there yesterday evening ibis
morDiag took an early star, and reached Roche
por. before six clock, where We made short stop
but found the people mostly sf!y and not disposed to
be communicative. We learned, however, that the
enemy were i'm considerable force few miles below
this place and preparing TO make vigorous defense.
Leaving there and taking the steam ierry-bcat Paul
Wilcox with u.s. we ran Up steaoiiy til We had pa FED
the foot OF tie island eight miles below here and seeing
ba terry on tho blus and scou,s Fastening to report
our arrival fell back 70 poHt opposite TO the foot
OF the island, and at O'Clock a. NJ, dsembarked on
tho south shore, where the bottom hnd be.ween the
river and bluffs IL mile and half wide. No
traitors visible there and he troops at took
the river road for this city. Following this road
what mile and half TO where 1t ascends the
bluff, several shots from our scouts announced the
driving in Of the enemys pckets.
We continued TO ascend gently unduating slope for
nearly la.f mile when the enemy Were reported in
full force the summit Of the next swell Of ground
about three hundred yards from front. The enemy
were exceedingly we'll posted having every sdvs
in the rejection Of their ground bnt you will see il
has been clearly demonstrated that one Secessonit
hardly superior TO many more than It's equal number
Arriving at the brow OF the ascent, Capt. Totten
opened the engagement by throwing few 9pounier
explosives into their ranks while the nantry fled OBJ
lque right and left and commenced terrible voey Of
musketry which was for short time well replied to,
te balls flying thick and fast about ears and
casonally woandnP nan on our side. The enemy
we're po.ted in lane running toward the river from
the road along which tie grand army Of the United
States were advancing, and IN brick house on the
northeast corner of tho junction OF the two roads.
cou ole of bombs thrown through the east wall Of
that house. scattering the enemy in all directions The
wtdi, ectsd FIRE Of the German Infantry, Iieut.Coi.
Schaefer the right, and Gen. Ly on's company of
regulars and part OF Col Blairs Regiment on the left
of the road soon compelled the enemy 10 present an
inglorous aspect. They clsmbered the fence into
field of wheat, and again formed in line just the
brow Of the bill. They then advanced some twenty
steps TO meet u.s. and for short time the canrons
worked with great rapidly and effect. Jnst at this
time the enemy opened Calling fire from grove just
the left of our CENTER and from shed beyond and
etill further to the left.
The skirmsh now assumed the magnitude Of bat
tie. The commander, Gen. Lyon, exhibited the most
remarkable coolness and preserved throughout tha,
undisturbed presence of mind shown by him alike IN
the camp, in private life, and the field of battle.
" Forward the extreme right" Give them
ano er shot, Capt. Toten echoed above the roar OF
inusketry clear and Distinct, from the lips OF the
Gna in all i,' but mt not over 80 participated at any
one time in the battle. The enemy, as we have since
beel reliably informed We're over 1000 strong aud
vet twenty minutes from the time when the irst gun
was fired the Rebels were in full retrtst, and our
troops occupying the ground which they hrst stood
in line The coRsumnate Gov ardce displayed by the
=" seceshers" will be Liore folly understood when i
add the spurs or successive elevations now became
more abrupt, steep and rugged the enemy being inly
ACQUAINTED with their ground, and strong positions
behind natural defenses orchards and cumls OF trees
offering themselves every few yards. Nothing more,
however, was Of the tyrg fritlves until about
one mile west of the house of William NJ. Adams
where they were trst posted. Just there was Camp
Vest and considerable force seemed prepared 70 De-
fend the approaches 10 it, Meanwhile, shot IRON the
kl.Il1 nj IN ma
Capt Wooster, with his artillery men, and Capt Rich
arsons company OF Infantry, who were left III charge
of the boats, were commeLcpg operations on me Dat
terry over mile hsow Camp Vest This but increased
the panic among ,he invincibs ~ traitors, and Capt.
Totten had but % give them few rounds before their
heels were eg.in 10 requision, ard Captains Cole and
Miller at tho head Of tLer companies, entered and
took possession Of the enemys deserted b-eakiast
tablee. -, -,
About twenty hoites had by this time arrived within
our hnos with vacant saddles, and the corps pororAl
were successfully mounted On chosen sAeeds. The
amount OF lundsr secured IN camp Nes', OK Dacos ~
nan owpiog q line house elose by was very Large.
! One thoussnd two hundred shoes, twenty or thirty
| tents quantities of ammunition, some fifty guns Of
various patterns, blankets, coats ssrpss sacts and
| Leaying Captain Cole in command Of the camp, We
pushed on toward iBoopeville chasing the cowardly
wretehes who outInanned US two to one. The Nc
Dowel now came aloDg>up IN the rear and OIL TO the
right from our troops and having more distinct view
OF the enemy from the river and observing their In
tenton to make another stand at the Fair Grounds,
one uile east Of here where the State has an armoy
extemporized, Captain yoester again sent them his
compliments from the old howi.er,s NOUN, when'
with couple of shots from Captain Tvtten end vol
lev from Lothrops detachment Of rides, scattered the
now thoroughly alarmed enemy in ali directions.
Their fight through the village commenced soon after
O'Clock, aud continued till alter IL o clock. some
three hundred crossed the river many went South, but
the bulk kept on westwardly. a good many personI
were taken at the different poats of battle, but
believed the cGsmy secured none VI ours