The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-08-13
THE FIGHT AT ATHENS, MO.
TWENTY FIVE REBELS KII.IRD--OCR LOSS SMALL.
Itrom the keokuk Gate CITY Aupttst51

From the keokuk Gate City, August 81
Sunday night about eight Clock, messengers in
from Croton by hand and reported that large body
OF rebels had been Sunday morning moving towards
Athens evidently with Che intention Of attacking the
Union camp at that place The City Rangers and keokuk
Rangers were Immediately summoned, and after ninc
O'Clock p NJ. about thirty-lvc Of each company armed
and equipped with United states rifles and askets took
special train fox Croon depot Our guarded it, but
not disturbed during the Hght Soon after daylight
annmbr Of keokuk men being over in Athens AT break
fast, attack the Union camp was begun by airing
small cannon. The Union spraag 10 arts, and
that the rebels were coming in il three divisions evi
Union camp About fifteen of the City Rifles and few
others engaged W right wing which was covered
by a corn field
few rounds OF ammunition and when they gone they
retired the river to Croiop IN crossing. Mr..
hickey, of Pennington was badly wounded, Constable
ehdtickson got shot ia the leg and John Bruce and
John Noble woundod The Keokuk boys continued the
fire from the Cro,on bank driving the rebels from rays
house INTO an adjoining corn Held then, as we are IN
formed, the Rangers and Rifles crossed over Arays
house, drove the rebels Of the town routed them
with loss Of several rebel lives. During this tnc-To.
badly an hour and haiolone Moore and his four or
FIVE hundred men Engaged with the enemys centre
and left wing, and calamity repulsed and routed them
when their right wing cll back the fight becoming gene
raj. Colonel Moore pursued them five miles cap.
turing some sixty horses The Union men of Missouri
great praise to for their Raantry and
timely service in driving back the three hundred rebels
on the right wing. II reported last night by
those returned from Croton, that five companies under
Lieutenant Colonel Matthias, crossed Dos Mones river at
Sweet Home two miles below Crotou, and march
over TO the camp OF the rebels, about eight miles FROM
Athens.
Colonel Worlhngton went where there are Ave or six
companies Of Colonel NcDowells regiment, which were
also to march 10 the rebel camp.
Colonel Moore, in his report to Colonel Worthngton,
gives great credit TO the keokuk boys for holding the
enemy's right wing Ia check and finally driving them
back the Rangers and Rifles had operated in military
STYLE instead Of being loft fight Indian fashion, they
could undoubtedly have taken large number prisoners
and many more horses.
large number of men and companies hurrying to
Croton from Penrose, Salem, Clay Grove, and all the
counties round incited by rumors that Colonel oores
men were cut OF and Mcdowell beseigel. They came
with just srch they could pick app had
only hatchets, big knives and clubs.
The number OF rebels killed and mOrtay wounded is
doubtless twenty five. Six eight dead found
on the eld and the rebels who brought IN DAG of
IN the afternoon admitted that they carried of fourteen
dead and that many more were wounded and missing.
James Mccarthy wounded rebel said he had been with
The rebels for two weeks and he knew there only
500 engaged IN the attack on Athens Another Of the
led by Martin Green, brother ot Jim Green. Two Union
men VINO had been taken prisoners by the cbe returned
TO Athens Yesterday morning. They went short dis
lance oeow surry aud report they escaped by being left
IN the rear Green ordered the rebels keep behind and
threatened to shoot them but they persisted in rushing
on, regardless Of orders swearing and cursing Green
for leading them into slaughter pen and declaring they
would go home They were utterly de,noralzed. On
side number were wounded OF whom were likely 10
die.