The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1862-01-02

Full Details of the Movements
Spirited Skirnsish and Speedy sur
render. - 4
SEDALlA, Dec. 20.
I'm my letter yesterday, I Informed
you of the brilliant movement of Gen.
Pope on rebel camp near Knob Nos
ter, in which he captured an entire reb-
ell army, over thirteen hundred strong,
with all their arms, horses, baggage,
tents, wagons, and army supplies, gen.
orally. The plan of the attack on the
part of General Pope was mastery
conception, aud its execution brilliant
success.
On Sunday last the enemy. took up
its line of march, following the Clinton
road. There were two brigades. The
Second Brigade was commanded by
Col. Jeff. G. Davis, and was composed
of the following regiments; the TWEEN
ty-second Indiana, Col. Hendrick; the
Twenty-seventh Ohio, Col. Kennett;
the First Nebraska, Col. Thayer; one
battery commanded by Lieutenant
Mari, and part of two companies of
the Fourth Cavalry, (Regulars,) COM
manded by Lieuts Emory and Gordon.
The FIRST Brigade, under command of
Col. Steel, consisted Of the Eighteenth
Indiana, Col. Patterson; and the
Eighth Indiana, Col. Benton the
Twenty-fourth Indiana, one battery,
Capt Klans, and four companies First
Iowa Cavalry, Major Terrence.
With this force Gen. Pope, marched
eleven miles the first day, in the direc-
ton of Clinton, camping on Honey
Creek. The next day march of thirty
seven miles brought him to Shawnee
Mounds, where he received definite in
formation that the enemy his men so
much desired to. meet, were encamped
twelve miles northwest. The rebels
were reported to be in considerable
force, and seven hundred cavalry under
command of Lieut.. Col. Brown, were
sent against them. The number of
this rebel force could not be ascertained
with certainty, bnt it is supposed to
have exceeded one thousand. Here
began rapid flight and hot pursuit
that did not end. until Col. Brown
reached Johnstown, in Bates county.
To all appearances the campaign was
now ended. A large body of the ene-
my had been routed and scattered, with
considerable loss in prisoners taken
and wagons carrying supplies captured.
The whole country west of Warrens-
burg to Johnstown was now supposed
to be clear of the rebels, and the whole
force recruited at Lexington in this
flight and pursuit, and was so complete
ly routed, scattered and cut up, as to
render them of little use to Gen. Price
should they indeed hereafter reach his
camp.
While eneamped near w arrensburg,
Gen. Pope received information that
large rebel force, numbering twelve or
fifteen hundred, were encamped near
Milford on Blackwater. Having sent
Merrill's Horse ont. on the road leading
from Milford to arrcnsburg, to inter
cept the enemy should they attempt
flight, he marched the remainder of his
army to Walnut Creek, on the road
leading from Warrensburg to Knob
Noster, and there encamped. Milford
is distant from Knob Noster northwest
abont ten miles, and there the enemy
were encamped on the north side of
Blackwater, totally unconscious of the
proximity of the Federal army. From
the camp of Walnut Creek to Milford
is about six miles. General Pope then
sent four hundred and fifty cavalry,
under the command of Col. jeff. G.
Davis, to Knob Noster, with instruc-
tons to proceed thence directly upon
the rebel camp. BY this disposition of
his forces Gen. Pope had the rebels
completely surrounded at a.! points
they were likely TO attempt fighting,
his main army being on the south, Mer-
rill's Horse on the west, and Col. Davis,
the attacking party, coming down upon
them from the southeast. AT glance it
will be seen that no better disposition of
the troops could have been made to Sc
cure triumphant issue. AS support
to Col. Davis, section of artillery fol.
lowed him under Major Speed Butler,
with one company of the First Regi-
ment Iowa Cavalry. The attacking
force Immediately under the command
of Col. Davis was a part of the First
Iowa Regiment, led by Major Terrence,
and parts of two companies United
States Regulars, Commanded respect
lively by Lieuts. Gordon and Emory.
With this force, not exceeding $50
men, Col. Davis marched upon the
enemy. 1t is plain the rebels had no
idea of the close proximity of Gen.
Pope's army, for when few men were
thrown forward by Col. Davis, the reb-
els eagerly sought to surround them in
considerable force. and retired precipi-
lately when they discovered the re-
mainder of his force. Prior to this,
however, the rebel pickets were driven
in by the regulars under Emory and
Gordon, whose men succeeded in kill
ing one picket and capturing another
The regulars led the charge on the
bridge over the creek, where they en-
camped, and a gallant charge it was,
for the bridge was well guarded. Hav-
ing forced the bridge, the enemy guard
ing it retreated rapidly, some following
the road straight out from the creek
and up hill, and others following
along the creek to the main camp.