White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1861-06-27
The Battle Of Roonyilla.

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From the st. Louis Democrat of the
2lst We have received full and accurate
account of the most important battle
which has as yet occurred in any part of
the country. We condense from it a
statement of all the facts narrated for the
Information of our readers.
The feet consisted Of the steamers A.
Ne cDowell, Istan and City of Louisians.
They left Jefferson City with Gen. Lyons
comm and on Sunday, the 18th. and dis
embarked eight miles below Boonville at
I o'clock A. n on Monday, the l7lh-the
anniversary of the battle Of Bunker Hill.
The reLels numbered 1000 men, the
Americans 1000. The fighting COM
menced near tie bluffin close proximity to
Boonville. The traitors possessed the ad.
vantage in the ground, numbers and ar
tillery.
Arriving al the brow of the ascent,
Capt. Totten opened the engagement by
throwing a few nine-pounder explosives.
into their ranks. while the infantry fled
eblieue right and left and commenced
terrific volley of musketry. which was for
short time we'll replied to. the balls
flying thick and fast about our ears, and
occasionally wounding a man on our
side. The enemy were posted in a. lane
running toward the river from the road.
along which the grand army the United
States were advancing, and in brick
house on the northeast corner of the juno
tioa Of the two roads. A couple of bombs
were thrown through the east wall of that
house, scattering the enemy in all direc-
tions. The well directed FIRE of the Ger
man infantry, Lieut.. Col. Schaeffsr, on
the right, and General Lyons company
of regulars and part of Col. Blair's reg
iment on the left of the road, soon COM
PEELED the enemy to present an inglorious
aspect. They clambered over the fence
into field Of wheat and again formed in
line Just on the brow of the hill. They
then advanced some twenty steps to meet
us, and for short time the cannons were
worked with great rapidity and effect.
Just at this time the enemy opened
calling fire from grove Just on the left
of our centre, and from shed beyond
and still father to the left.
The skirmish now assumed the mag
nitnde of a battle. The commander,
Gen. Lyon, exhibited the most remarka-
ble GOODNESS, and preserved throughout
that undisturbei presence Of mind shown
by him alike in the camp, in private life,
and on the lield OF battle. Forward on
the extreme right )" "Give them another
SHOT, Capt To,ten," echoed above the
roar of musketry clear and distinct from
the lips Of the General, who led the ad-
vancing column. Our force was 1000
in all, but not over 400 participated at
any one time in the battle. The enemy,
as we have since been reliably informed,
were over 1000 strong, and yet twenty
minutes from the time when the first gun
was fired the rebels were in fnll retreat,
and our troops occupying the ground on
which they FIRST stood in line. The con-
summate cowardice displayed by the Sc
ceshcshers will be more fully understood
when l add that the spurs or successive
elevations now became more abrupt,
steep and rugged. tie enemy being fully
acquainted with their ground, and strong
positions behind natural defences, orch
ards and clumps of trees Offering them
selves every few yards"
The next stand was made by the Rebels
at Camp Vest, but fire from the Nc.
Dowell regiment in the rear and Cap
tain Totten in front, soon proved "that
one Seccssionist is hardly superior to
many more than his equal number"
They took to their heels. The camp and
all its belongings were taken possession
of. On the other side Capt. Cole pushed
on to Boonville, driving before him q
iorce double his own. A large number
of prisoners were taken. but ten times as
many ran. The fighting and running
ceased at / o'clock. when the Americans
entered Boonville, and were cordially re.
ceived by all classes of citizens. Two
on our side were killed and nine wounded.
The enemy lost about 6fty.