, 1862-01-07
Chr Trihttttt...
our WESTERN MISSOURI LETTER,
Movements Of Col. Jennison's Force


"tlA Inc ADVANCE guard, reached our present
camp early in the afternoon. The command
moved from West Point, which is eighteen
niless outhwest Of this, in consequence Of tho
difficulty Of obtaining foragc for the horses.
Col. Anthony's march through Jackson,
Cass and Bates counties, convinced us Of the
fact that no force whatever, ofany importance,
as in that section, or in the western part of
the adjoining county Of johnson The two
divisions Of Colonel Jcnnison's command
secured the country through which they
passed most eHectual1y. Nor conld they learn
Of any considerable force east Of the country
we crossed. The surprise was great on read
ing in the tclegraphic dispatches OF Late
Conservative, that Gen. JEFF. G.
Davis had taken i 800 rebels at Warcnsburg,
and that Gen. Pope expected battle with
Price. Arrivals from Lexington, while Col
Anthony VAS at Independence, assured US that
but 4 small rebel force was at that point, nn-
der Col Blcdsoe, whose principal purpose
seemed to be to gather the recruits for Price
and forward them to 0sccola. Renick's Mills
in Lafayette, and Lone Fork Mills in
the southwest Of Jackson county, were
reported as running for the rebels. About 100
rebel recruits our informant stated, had been
gathered and marched South. These were
composed III most part Of the gangs that had
been i1fcsting this section and the Platte
county region. ST. Gordon's Hays, Rcnicks',
and QuautrcrE gangs are supposed to be among
them. good many Of these parties have
undoubtedly gone South. Other dispatches
~ In al 41,o+ r.
ing forced marches north towards Lexington.
This We know to be contrary to the fact, IS
scouts stated that Price had not moved out
Osceola, and that the indications we're of his
moving in southcrly direction. Other infor-
mntlon reported Price as having from 50 to 60
pieces Of cannon, many Of which arc rilled.
He is, however, short Of ammunition.
Our present camp is located in . deserted
town Of Cass comfy, six miles from the State
line. It is small place Of forty or fifty
houses, and contains but two or three Ga1ui-
lies. There is Touring mill in good order,
which will be set at work for the use Of this
command. Ihc owner is q strong secession
iEt, and as consequence will have to run the
mill and yet no pay. There arc but very few
many claim to be 50, whom a nsid
examination prove to be Of South
ern procliYitlcs, strong enough in most
cases to cause them to bear arms, either in
the confederate or guerilla camps. When in
terrogatcd, they declare they are constitu-
tioil, or antl-Administration, or southern
Union, or, in fact, anything else but uncondi-
tionl Cnion men; as often they declare them
selves to be neutrals. These men are told
that they have either to take arms, or help
by their means in supporting the Federal
forces.
There is large quantity Of forage in this
which we shall use. The men are preparing
winter quarters, or at least making such cor
Tenienccs as will render stay Of few weeks
more comfortable than a Temporary camping
place would be. Log stables are to be built
for the horses, and probably houses Tor tue
men. The empty buildings in town are occu-
pied as quarters for the officers, hospital,
Quartcrmastcr, Conln1issary and AdIutant' s
offices. 4 portion Of the command consist
ing Of Col. Nugcnt's regiment Of Cass Co.
Home Guards, and four companies Of the Stl,
Kansas, under Col. Vessels are at West Point.
The post will probably be established at Har-
rlsonyillc, ten miles directly east Of this
place. By this means VIC shall command all
this section of Missouri, and be ahle to act in
conjunction with the forces of Generals Davis
and Prentiss, should the latter cross the Mis-
souri river Several strong detachments will
be sent out in q day or two, to hunt up some
conveys of stock and provisions moving
down to join Prices army
messenger has just reached here from
Col. Montgomcry's camp at Potosi, in Linn
county, with the following dispatches from
Fort Scott. Tlis bears out the information
first received and before mentioned in this
letter.
HEAD QrAnTERs 9Th Kansas
Fort ScoTT, Il, Dec. 2ith, 1851. {
To Col. Jennison, Commanding 1st Cavalry;
Sir: Four men Of Capt. Gpcno:e company 9Th
! Regiment E.. who were taken prisoners on
Gsa5 Sgee er9on eo1nty Mo On the 9Th o.
tapt. GateWoods company Of the rebel army, anG
1sere then taken to Gen PEice's headbuarters III
having been released upon parole, etatc thai
they arrived at Gen Prices camp on the 9th inst
and 'yerc detained there two weeks. The army
and Harris Divisions being the whole of the Con
tcderate army under command Of Gen PRICE, OF
Thursday broke up camp at osceola and moved il
Evansville 10 Bear Creek tshe1c the prisoners wer
released OIL Friday evening last, the 10th inst -,
about u miles from osceola, and miles west q
| bolivar The prisoners understood that the enc
| my were making forced marches thinking tht
Federal troops were marching on them from Sc
daliD south to join McCul1och and Mcbride Nc
tuuoch Is said to be in command of the Cherokees
Thc prisoners estimate from all information re
celEcd, that the force Of the rebels amounted tt
not over 1900 The rebels state that as soon u
Scott, Kansas and Lay waste the country to ST. 10
| ecph. They arc very well armed The prisone
counted ~ pieces Of artillery.
Respectfully, ". r. JrDsoN,
/; Col. 6h Kansas.
Acontraband that has just arrived from Stockton
MO-, aud states the Amy camped at McllyilIc six
I teen miles south Of Stockton. on Saturday night
attack from SigcL ",
! Our camp is named By Col. Anthony. i,
| honor Of the gallant Colonel Of the Kansa
| 5th, b. P johnson, Of Leavenworth, who frl
| by rebel bullets, in M attack upon this plac
last August. Col johnson was gallant AM
daring officer, and his i1npetuosity, it is said
led him hecdlccsly into danger II is claimed
however, that Col. Montgomery's force 10
Some reason failed to support him at the hon
named for the attack, which was ordered u
! sunrise. Colonel johnson Was man whom
i was my privilege to call friend
HIS life was Ill cpitomc Of the West. Borl
III Ohio. he moved as a youth to Kentucky
~hcrc he taught school, became preache
and finally practiccd law. The war broke on
in Mexico, aud Col. johnson raised compa
ny and marched to Vera Cruz. He came bacl
TO Kentucky, where he married and bccam
the owner Of slaycs- He moved with thcs
10 Kansas, but soon Joined the Free State par
". Hc was active in its ranks. An able man
Of genuine though not cultured clouucncc
brave and full OF heroic spirit, his characte
was rich with logical fcryor and rstl1n, cniin.
as such one should, in the sucrificial rlo7y d
| {1tr fri,, Il