Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-12-28
TmE yyAR IN MISSOURI.

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SEDALIA, December 2I.-General Pope ar
rived yesterday, his troops under Generals Steel
and Davis, to-day. They left here Sunday. The
main body passed through Halls Store, ChilhOwee
Warrensburg and Knob Noster, but the cavalry
secured the country very widely in different di-
%rections. Two squads visited Clinton, spread
ing terror among the rebels, taking some prison
es and getting information in regard to Price,
his Whereabouts and fears.
Monday. twenty-One miles were made before
four o'clock, T. NJ, and the forces bivouacked on
the Clinton road, a few miles south of Chill
Rowee. Several rebels were surprised and cap
tured on the ground and thus communicated
with those Gen. Pope intended to cut off. and
they went flying toward Rose Hill. Afne array
Of cavalry and a section OF artillery under Lieu
tenant-C Colonel Brown were sent in pursuit, but
the enemy passed through the town q few hours
before their arrival.
After some spirited chases they returned, hay
ing approached nearer Prices main force than
their instructions permitted, leaving the enemy
the other side of Gfande river and bringing in a
handsome complement Of prisoners.
Capt. Foster, fousth Ohio cavalry, advanced
with his company TO JOhnstown and took sixteen
rebels, among them the notorious Captain Nc
Gowan.
Meantime Gen. Pope reached Warrensburg,
gathered up his scouting parties and attended to
the indictments OF the town On the 18th he
advanced towards Sedalia. So far, considerable
terror had beel produced among the secessiOuists
and some one hundred and fifty of them
were captured, together with some wagons, arms
and horses, but the great objects Of the expedi-
ton seemed likely to be unattained. The weather
had been pleasant, nature had opened and closed
each day with glorious sun-risings and settings,
and each night had mantled the sleeping prairies
in gorgeous moonlight. The marches of the in
fantry, with the exception of that on Monday, had
been long the men were in excellent condition,
but wanted the moral stimulus of meeting the
enemy and making him theirs. Not long, how
ever.
About the middle of the afternoon, before
going into camp on Clear creek, near Knob
Noster, cavalry to the number of about
four hundred, made up from companies
B, c and d, fourth regiment regulars, Lieuts.
Emery and Gordon, and from the first Iowa,
Major florence, under Gen. Davis, were ordered
down the creek in pursuit of a crowd of rebels,
said to be encamped six miles below, and re-
ported to number twelve hundred.
Gen. Pope also sent orders for Merril's Horse
to advance upon them from Warrensburg, but
the different regiments had hardly pitched their
tents before g messenger arrived announcing
that Gen. Davis had surrounded the entire force,
and that firing had commenced. At once a
SQudu VI CdNduy anu TWO pieces lIOm one Oh L0t
batteries, under Capt. Paddock, Gen. Steele's
adjutant, were sent forward. The camp was all
astir. Every one wanted to volunteer. Lieut.
Col. kennett, twenty-seventh Ohio, offered to
accompany the artillery with his infantry. Col.
Thayer, Of the first Nebraska, and Majors But
Ter and Noyes, Of Gen. Pope's staff, did go as
volunteers. Before any one came up, however,
Gen. Davis had driven in the pickets of the en-
envy, penetrated his camp, aud forced him to
surrender.
The rebels were commanded by Colonies Rob
insOn and Alexander, and had taken a strong
position in a bend of the river, with the stream
on one side and timber on the other. Their ad-
vance pickets were stationed between one and
two miles from their camp. They fred upon our
men, wOUnding one, but were driven in. Their
next pIckets, numbering from forty to sixty,
guarded a bridge, but fled before the fire of the
regulars under Lieutenauts Emery and Gordon.
4 portion of their men deplOyed as Submissions
found the enemy formed in line. The firing was
short and sharp. A White flag was sent TO Gen.
Davis, asking thirty minutes delay. He re-
turned it, allowing only time for unconditional
surrender. Immediately they marched out and
laid down their arms. They were so concealed
behind timber that but one of them was killed.
None of our men were killed ten were wounded.
Before midnight Gen. Davis arrived with his
trains in camp. All was excitement. Lieuten-
ant Colonel kennett, twenty-seYenth Ohio, with
his regiment and a large detail from others, We're
ordered to take charge of the prisoners for the
night. Soon their titty-E.ns baggage wagons
were URlOaded, their tents were up and there
was a rebel camp in our view-a novel and
amusing sight TO our soldiers. Their tents, rude
as most of them were, did not cover them, and
many laid down with only a blanket to .h.elG
them from the hitt5r frQ5t Of tAs night. Few had
Al --E -.A, if. MI = AE-E- IL
and blankets were of home manufacture.
Among their stores were -four, hams, butter,
apple-butter, cheese, preserves, dried apples,
whisky, etc, etc.
Some wero Wei dressed and had brought album
dsnt supplies from home. No doubt IJI.I moth
els, wives, and sisters had done much - con
tribute to their outfit. What criminal i@ufatua-
ton! Most Of the wagons were from lie farm, 5
few We're regular United atase5 army wagons.
The horses and mules captured numbered per-
haps three hundred-sOme Of them Oh the finest
quality. The number of reviewers, swords, and
guns taken, is rot yet exactly known. Our ex-
act count Of the prisoners is said 70 make them
nine hundred and Hye. Having no muster rolls,
they have no means Of knowing their own num-
Der. Every courtesy was rendered the officers,
and great effort was made to render the privateS
as comfortable as circumstances would admit.
This expedition has shown that our forces can
so move a5 To surprise even our argus-eyed enc
my, and has had excellent effect upon the men.
Some writer from this point, / notice, has
greatly over-stated the rebel force in this vicinity,
and misrepresented our troops here by C arging
them with inactivity. Previous to this last ex-
petition, two Of infantry and one Of cavalry, in
considerable force, TO say nothing of the many
scouting parties, had been sent out by General
Steele, each bringing in more or less prisoners.
No difficulties deter the general in his endeavors
to understand exactly the movements of the enc
my in this region. And it would not be sur
prising if he could tell the exec. l0u&ion Of
Prices headquarters better than many who boast
their wisdom in these affairs. ALONG.