The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-10-18
The Seat of War ia Missouri.

!
excellent map that state, and accompanies
itwith statement which we copy. Though
their article was written mainly to explain
the map it will contain much of interest to
! the general reader:
We know our readers all appreciate the
pains we have taken to present, ID this issue,
a map OF the seat of war ia the west. incu>
ding all that part Of Missouri lying south Of
the Missouri river from Kansas City to st.
Charles, and embracing Together with
large section OF Illinois, tie pcrtion Of Ken
! tuckv, Arkansas and Tennessee which is
likely to become the scene O. conflict. At
/ present, however we give tie map for the
puspOse of aiding our readers to form accu-
rate ideas OF the campaign in Missouri,
whice is now looming up into gigantic i'm
p0rtance.
/ The breadth Of the state in that portion
given II our map, averages about 800 miles.
I The principal towns and cities are ST. Louis,
Jefferson City, Boonville, Lexington, Inde>
pendence, Kansas City and Cape Girardeau.
Besides these important military points, are
I Pilot Knob Rolla, arrensburg, Warsaw,
Osceola, Bolivar, Springfield and Neosho
the two first named-Piot Knob and Rolla
being occupied by United States troops
and the other places in the southwest being
in the possession OF the rebels. Birds
Point, Just below Cairo, on the Missouri
side, is strongly fortified by the Federal
forces, while Charleston and Belmont, imme.
diateiy south, are possessed by the enemy.
Belmont, by an oversight, is not marked on
our map. 1t is opposite Columbus, ferry
plying between the two posts.
The force of the country South OF the
Missouri river is unduating, rising into
high, rocky hills as it approaches the lead
aud iron regions on the Usage range. The
Southeast is low and swampy, and full of
lakes, extending back considerable dis
lance, and reaching from the Great Swamp,
few miles south of Cape Girardeau, be-
You'd St. Francis Lake, far into Arkansas.
The swamps and lagoons are re dered ais
most impenetrable by dense growth of
cypress and other trees. The region extends
West Of the St Francis river and as far
up as GreenyiIle. The boundary OF the
swampy tract is marked By line of fertile
highlands, beyond which the country rises
North, \ Ortheast, East and Southeast. The
highlands along the Mississippi river eX-
tend from little above the head OF the
Great Swamp, with occasional depressions,
to the Missouri river, the most elevated
part being between Ste. t1enevieye and Sui
phur Springs. or the valley OF the Mara
mec, where the limestone banks climb up
10 some places, to over $50 feet above the
water. From the Mississippi, at point
! cff he
Missouri, this undulatug country spreads
West to the Usage and its branches, where
the rugged character OF tie surface diSap
pears. Between the Gdsconade and the
Osage, a range CT elevated laud approaches
the Missouri river, which is the Nor hern.
most Offset of the Ozark mountains. To
the West OF this region the country is more
open, and Is characterized by rolling prai-
gies, diversified along the streams with
strips OF stuGted timber. Naturally this
part of the State is a0undantIy prolific
but in the last few years q succession OF
floods and droughts have 50 intertered with
agricultural operations. especially near the
Kansas boroer. that many OF the nhabit
ants have been driven Cd tor fear OF famine.
The subsistence OF a large army has so
drained that portion Of the country recent
", as to have laid it a!moay bare.
The river of the State, besides the Mis-
sissippi and the Missouri, ale numerous
The Maramec which empties into the Mis-
sissippi twenty miles below this city. has a
course OF one hundred and seventy five
miles, the White and st. Francis, which
drain large sections in the south part of
no tnt IF 4 I'll
The most considerable atiiuents Of the
the Missouri within the State are the Usage
and GascCpade. The Usage is about four
hundred miles long, rising in the plains be-
tween the Kansas ard the Arkansas rivers,
and Joining the Missouri few miles below
Jefferson City. The forks of the Gasconade
take their source in the mountainous region
about Springfield. Numerous creeks and
small streams traverse all sections OF the
State, being generally well timbered. and
furnishing those essential items 10 camp
liie--wood and water.
The railroads of the Missouri are the
Pacific, Main aad Southwest Branch the
Hannioal and St Joseph, the n orth Mis-
souri,, the Iron Mountain and the Cairo AMI
Fulton. The main line 0: the Petite is
completed 10 SedaIia, a distance of one hun
lreJ and eighty>nine miles, and the South
west Branch TO Roila, one hundred and
thirteen miles. he Hsnnibai and 81. Jo-
seph extends across the State, two huadred
ana six miles. The North Missouri 5con-
meets with the Hannibal and st. Josepa al
Hudson, one hundred and sixty-eight miles
from St. Louis The Iron Mountain rail.
road has ength of eightysseven miles
The Cairo and Fulton road has been com
pieted 10 Charleston, twenty-ODe miles from
Cairo, but has been rendered useless for
transportation.
Below we give as accurate table of dista,.