The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-09-25
Rattle nt Blue Mills.

Lieut. Col. Scott, with 90 men oil tue 3d
Iowa and one piece ofartillcry, left Cameron
on Monday in pursuit of the Rebels who left
ST. Joseph on the Friday previous. Lieut..
Col Scott arrived at Liberty, Clay County,
on the morning of the 18th, and moved from
that place at D. m. At 8 o'clock he fell in
with the enemy, $500 in number, occupying
strong position. Our skirmishers received
CALLING fire and slowly retreated 10 our
main body, when the action became general.
Our six FOUNDER was brought to bear on the
enemy and few shots were fired which
proved destructive. At this time heavy
fire opened on our single gun, killing one
gunner and wounding two others. On this
several others, gunners, Germans from st
Louis, abandonedth the gun, carrying off the
primer and matches, rendering the piece
useless. The action continued one hour,
when our column was slowly withdrawn to
open ground, bringing off the wounded and
dragging away the gun by hand, all the
horses having been killed or badly wounded.
AT about this time Colonel Smith, who left
st. 10. with l,400 men about the time Scott
left Cameron, for the same general purpose,
joined the latter, having pushed forward his
mounted men and artillery at a rapid rate,
on receiving message from Scott, ten miles
back, that he was advancing on the enemy
but it being night, their men completely ex-
hausted, and the enemy strongly cntrenched
in thicket impossible except by narrow
road, further attack was postponed until
morning. Early on the following day an
advance was made by the combined forces,
but on arriving at Blue Mills they found the
enemy had crossed the river before day light,
taklngthe road towards Lexington
The following is a partial list Of the Sd
Iowa Major Stone, slightly wounded !.
Company A-Capt. O'Niel, slightly Tt.
Duane, severely Privates W. H. Munger,
E..w. Critchferd, D. J.. McCafFerty, severely;
Andrew Murray, missing.
Company B-Lieut Hobbs Sergeant
Woods, seriously j; Privatcs Robbins, Hort
and Woodruff, seriously.
Company Corporal Hunting, seriously;
Privates Droane, Maddox and Squircs, mis-.
sing.
Company D Captain Willet, seriously
Lieut.. Anderson, MORALLY /; Privates Miller
seriously and Frank missing.
Company corporal MCGOWAN, serious
s.; Privates Guthrie and Hill severely.
Company F--Liept. Brown, slightly Cor,
poral Davis, severely; Privatcs Winchell
Tsham,. Saunders, and Homemel, seriously,
and Nolan killed.
Company G-Privates Swan, Mccullough,
seriously, and, Michael Lalley and McCul,
Tough missing.
Company H-Captain Warning, Lieut..
Fuller, severely /: Prvates Gamble and Nc
Clure severely, and Barbour and Mernee
dangerously Corporal Lacy missing.
Company Lieut.. Knight, Sergeant For.
ney, Corporal Bendick, musician Balcomb,
seriously; Privates Buel, Carter, Dolph,
Hawks, Pepper, Russell, Stocks. Wilcox,
Waly, Wilbourne, severely Lawlan Mer.
rifield, dangerously Washburne MORALLY
Dorian, Bedell, Mix, Brownell, killel, and
Davenport severely. alt aea
TOTAL killed, 5, wounded 81, missing g.
Three Of the missing are supposed to be in
the hands of the enemy and the balance
killed. ,.s,..
In addition to the loss of the 3D. Iowa,
there were 6 Home Guards and Artillery.
man killed, among them Captain Cupp, ard
about 10 wouaded. Four of these Home
Guards were killed in the skirmish about
two hours before the battle. . r w..
1t is perhaps proper to state that General
Pope's orders to Scott were to remain at Lib
erty until joined by Smith, but learning or
arrival at that place that the enemy were
miles distant he sent messenger to Smith
with word to that effect, and pushed on and
gave the Rebels battle.
| General Fremont has appointed Brigadier
Generals. Pope, Sigel, Asboth and Mckinstry
to command Divisions as acting Major-Gen
erals, and Colonies Davis, Mulligan, Reltor
and Totten, as acting Brisadier Generals.
Thomas l.. Price, of jefferson City. has
been commissioned Brigadier, General by tn,
| President t.r
a special to the Democrat, from Hamilton
says a report from Camden, miles above
Lexington, states that the stars and stripes
are still flying over Muligan's entertainments
at 6o'clock Saturday morning. r4a