The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-07-31
TIE MISSOURI CONVENTION.


THE MISSOURI CONVENTION.
JEFFERSON Cry, July 20, 1861.
Tho report Of the Treasurer in accordance with
the Instructions Of the convention was made this morn
ing The amount of money IN the treasury the oath of
July little over S57 900 The Disbursements since
the adjournment of the last of the legislature
have been over 5000 ,0O0.
Mr. Birch offered resolution that there waa no EXCUSE
either in the Pr future condition of the State for
default OF payment OF the interest the State debt and
uat it il pre-cmincntly her duty to pay IL.
After lively disc several substitutes were Offer
ed, VIII the matter referred to committee of five.
The report Of the Committee Of Eight was submitted,
and by resolution taken up cIasc by clause The first
clause, declaring the Offices Of the Governor, Lieutenant
Governor Secretary Of State and members Of tho State
legislature vacant, debated all the afternoon but
without any vote upon it. It will be carrico
tomorrow morning by d'cisv" majority
DISCRIMINATION OF THE REBEL FORCES.
Sr, LOUIS, July 80. 1851.
It is stated on reliable authority that General Watkins
who has been in the rebel forces Southeast
Missouri for some time, resigned Saturday last and
strongly urged all his troops dsband and have nothing
more to do with this rebellion. General Watkins is
OF large property and the assigned for this sudden
change in his conduct the contemplated passage Of the
connscation bill by Congress.
The payment Of tho three months volunteers Of Mis-,
sour commenced to-day three hundred thousand dollars
having been received for that purpose.
General Fremonts headquarters were to-day connected
by telegraph with ali lines Fast and North.
OCCUPATION OF FORSYTHE, MISSOURI
OUH FolsyTHE CORRESPONDENCE
The March from Springfield TO F"rsytheThe Rebels BaGkd
Uion Cavalry Surprise the 1o,c,Sucees:fal Charge d
Infa1ry Up the Hill-7he Rebels Ru,-Occupation Of
Forsyhe.
FoRsyrrE, TAsEv Co.. Mo, July 90, 1861.
On Saturday morning last frigadier General Sweeny,
commanding in Southwestern Missouri, received orders
from Major General Lyon to proceed with proper force
to Forsythc, small town the White river, and within
twelve miles Of the Arkansas line Il had been
tanned that rebel force Of from eight hundred TO one
thousand had gathered at that point and daily
expecting renorcements from Arkansas and Tennessee
Forsythe being Mt the head Of navigation Of White
and accessible by steamboat from the Mississippi At tho
present stage Of General Swecny, receiving
orders, at made selection of Companies and Of
First cavalry, under command Of Captain B. Stanley,
section Of Captain Totens battery, under Lieutenant
S.&alsk company Of Kansas mounted men, Captain
Wood, five hundred mon Of tho Iowa First regiment Col
Merritt and five hundred Of the Kansas Second Coonei
Mitchell. squad Of eighty Home Guards accompanied
The expedition joining II some ten miles from its starting
point The whole left Springfield about noon or
Saturday and took up its line Of march fol
the morning Of the I'D twenty eight miles from
the place of destination, heavy rain which fell op
the 2st and continued through the day. having made
previous marches very short The road, with the exccp
ton Of miles OF prairie Springfield passes the
entire distance among the Ozark Mountains and in many
places exceedingly rough. After our noon halt, twelve
miles from Forsythe General sweeny gent forward the
entire force Of mounted mon to small hamlet within
three miles Of the town where the enemy said
have mounted picket OF fifty These advanced and
with them your correspondent, but picket could be
found Captain Wood with men, went along the road
reconnorc, while orderly sent back General
Swecny for further commands. In a short time he
turned bringing orders for the cavalry force to advance
upon Forsyhe and If enemy found there hold
him in check TIL the artillery and infantry could come
up Captain Stanley gave the word TO move forward, and
advanced At gentle trOt, meeting about miles
from town four Of Captain Woods with two picke,s
of the rebels, captured within mile Of Forsythe. The
pace was then lickencd to gaop until we reached O
small called swan Creek which skirts tho
the north and west Forsythc is situated in romantic
glen upwards Of mic in length and about three fOurths
OF mile in widt" On the south sis flows White river
Swan Creek likes the lines the northeast corner
and after uwing along the northern and bound
aries falls into the first mentioned stream On all sides
bluffs from to four hundred feet in height push them
selves abruptly from the edge Of the town SITE Of
them PERCEPTIONS and others with regular but steep
ascent to the summit The road from Springfield enters
the northern side Of the town crossing Swan Creek and
winding for twenty rods directly under the edge Of
high cliff and opening into Eorsythe in the Of the
Court House. 1t was supposed rectly the sequel
provedtha the rebels had posted men along the c who
would be able greatly 10 trouble troops passing be-
meath and be themselves but little exposed Accordingly
Captain Stanley turned from tho road before
colse Of oaks, entering corn field, where the
corn twelve feet in height completely screened
his from view Our distance from the cln was
thirty rods far for the Of the rebels TO have any
effect provided we had been in sight Passing through
this cOrneo necessary to recross the creek At
the ford the bank which descended steep that
horses did not attempt to walk to reach the
edge, but planted their feet firmly in position and slid
upon the moist clayey soil with all the grace of
schooiboy enjoying his winter holiday On his favorito
coasng track. On the opposite side was level ground
plat Of sufficient width to form the cavalry in line This
was the work Of a moment. The advance was sounded
and the whole column Of regular cavalry made dash into
town at full galop, entering by the Springfield road,
while Captain Wood with his Kansas rangers swept around
the right and joined Captain Stanley the Court
House The village was completely deserted all the in
labans, anticipating trouble, having moved away some
days since. Fire was opened upon from the bluff,
the northeast and from the south bank Of White river the
being about hundred yards in width The
rapid firing was from the river and the cavalry
made for the northern shore dismountng and advancing
on foot row Of bushes skirting either bank
cealed both bodies Of combatanis, but the
firing was rapid, and several of the enemy
IAN In about ten minutes orders were given TO cease, as
the rebel fire had been slcnced.
The firing from the bluff the northeast still kept
up and Captain Stanley, leaving Captain Woods Kansas
men m possession OF Tie town ordered charge up the
HILL rocky activity quite difficult Of ascent, and
three hundred feet high About half way from base to
summit commences grove OF scrub oaks which crest the
hill and cover the bluffs to the In this grove and
beyond by the side Of the road the enemy posted,
but brisk fire from our men, who again advanced on
foot speedily dislodged them At the same time the
cry which had come up and taken position to the right
OF the before mentioned ceneld opened FIRE upon those
posted the road Not relshng Lieutenant Sokalsks
grape and canister the roadside rebels beat retreat and
soon were flying
Over the hills and far away
Two shells then thrown into the court house nm
der the belief that the there in position mo
infantry advanced into town in regular line OF battle oat
found only their friends About this time the last
of the rebels were seen on the opposite shore OF whe
river, making good time towards the timber
At the time firing by the river took place the mann
column was nearly two miles away Hearing the reports
OF the carbnes General Sweeney ordered the artillery to
a run intending to come up the usual pace with the
infantry The latter had been marching all day over a
had road and many of the men footsore; but on
listening TO the firing every forgot his bsters and
CONTINUED ON EIGHTH pAGE.l