, 1862-01-15
THE BATTLES OF MOUNT ZION
AND HALLSFILLEs
Official Report Of BrIgadier General
Prentt88s

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORTH MISSOURI
PALAfRA, No Jan, 4. 1852. {
Gapt Jot,s c. Kelton, Assistant Adiutant- Gen
eTal Department Missouri: .
In pursuance Of Special Order received
On the evening Of the sd day Of December,
on the morning Of the 9th day Of December,
with five companies Of the Third Missouri
Cavalry, Colonel John Glover commanding.
arrived ut Sturgeon on the evening Of tue
26th. During. tie following day, having
learned that there was concentration Of
rebels near the village Of Ha}lsyilfe, In Boone
county, sent forward one company OF caral-
IT, commanded By Capt. How1and, to recon-
noitre in that vicinity. Capt. HoWland pro-
ceeded to HallsTille, but found no rebels.
After proceeding about two miles beyond, his
advance guard encountered the rebels il force,
endeayored to draw off his company, having
taken nine prisoners, but WAS 0TerpoWered.
Being wounded, and having lost his horse, he
wns taken prisoner with one private of his
company. The remainder of his men made
good their retreat, arriving at Sturgeon at 9
o'clock +. NJ, having learned the position Of
I Immediately ordered five troops Of cavalry,
Col. John Glover commanding, and five COM
panies Of sha-pshooters, Col Birge command
ing, Numbering in al! 40, to march at O'Clock,
A. IL, at which hourI started, and after march
ing q distance Of il miles, at 8 O'Clock, A. n.
of the 2Sth inst, found one company Of rebels,
| commanded by Capt johnson, in position,
| to the left Of tie road leading from
| Hallsril1e to Mt. Zion. ordered two
rear Of the enemy, and Que Of cavalry to dis.
mount and engage them in the front, it being diff
fcult for the sharp shooters to attain their po'
! sition upperceiTed, the enemy uau{festng q
| disposition to retire Col Glover opened hrc,
and succeeded in killing five and capturing
| frr%F T
number and position Of the main force. The
enemy being posted at a church, known
as hit. Zion, Id Boone county, and one mile
and half III advance, Numbering near nint
hundred men, ordered the cavalry under Col
Glover forward, accompanied By two compa
pie5 Of Birge's Sharp-shootcrs. Col. Birge
with them, arriving near the encampmeut, ont
troop Of the cavalry were ordered to dismoun
and engage the enemy
The sharpshooters were Afterwards ordered
through field on our right to skirmish viii
the cnemy's left, and If possible drive then
from the woods. The firing being heavy, AMI
these three companies not being able to driy
the enemy from his cover, Col. Glover Wit
bis available force, moved in double-4ulck t
the aid Of the three companies engaged, an
for half an hour longer the battle ragged an
became hand to hand fight. Capt Boyd's con
pany Of sharpshooters were il the midst of th
rebel camp. Also Major Carrick, with con
pany c, Third Illinois cavalry. Wncn Colon,
Glover arrived, the rebels could not stand th
fire of our rifles, and retreated, leaving in OF
hands ninety horses and one hundred and f,
stand Of arms. The battle was brought to
close about Ii An.
The rescrvc Of two companies coming mi
action at the moment the enemy gave Nd
our victory was complete. After collectir
our wounded, Te proceeded to cole
that Of the enemy. Placed them IN Il
church, and sent for farmers and frien
in the vicinity to render assistance Ct
lccted wagons, made our wounded as cot
: Portable as possible, and at p. m. started +
:. Sturgeon, where VIC arrived at 9 p. m o
q loss il the battle Of Mt. Zion, and in the e
!. gagemeut Of the evening previous, Is as #
lows:
| Killed. ) severely HOunHeN. =. -
Il Slightly wounded.... Is