The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-10-07
THE WAR In MISSOURI.
Knob-..General Smith Retreats to
Jefferson Barrscks...The Whole
Country Twenty Miles south i'm tho
Hands Of the Rebels.
WAR DEPARTMENT,

WASHINGTON, September 20.
The following dispatch from Gen. Ewing
has just been received from Capt. Hill, Gen.
Ewing's A. A. G.:
AT daylight our Out.pOsts at IrOnton were
attacked and forced back to within half mile
of the fort. The enemy made desperate efforts
to get possession of Shepardis Mountain, and
at 2 p. NJ succeeded in driving a battalion of
the 14th Iowa into the rifle pits and getting
two siX-pounder guns in position.
" The mountain slopes overlooking the fort
were filled with dismounted cavalry. The
south front was threatened by four lines of cav
airy extending across the valley between the
fort and Ironton commanded by Marmaduke,
while column passed around the base and
formed in line of battle, commanded by Gen.
Cabell.
"The rebel troops thus disposed signal of
two guns was fired from the mountain and the
assault commenced upon the works in fine
style.
'They charged up to the bitches and then
went back to the mountain in great haste leav-
ing their killed and wounded on the field
Among the latter is Gen. Cabell, one lieutenant
colonel, two captains and two lieutenants.
"Our entire loss is nine killad and sixty
wounded.
Yesterday morning at o'clock we left the
fort and blew up the magazine. Price COM
manded in person."
Since the reception of the above dispatch 1
learn that Gen. Ewing, after blowing up the
magazine, evacuated Pilot Knob and brought
away his entire command. he will reach Har-
rison Station, on the Southwest Branch Rail-
road tonight.
There is much rejoicing at the escape of
Gen. Ewing and his gallant little army
Col. Fletcher, the Radical candidate for Gov
ernor, commanded one of the regiments in this
command.
Gen. Smith evacuated Decatur this morning
and brought his forces to Jefferson Barracks,
twelve miles below this city.
The entire country below Merrimac Bridge
is abandoned. Gen. Smith arrived in this city
tonight.
The Unionists along the North Missouri
Railroad are intensely excited over the Gen.
tralia massacre and call for the determination
of all rebels and their sympathizers.
The organization of the citizens has so far
progressed that businesswill be resumed to NOR.
row, but the stores will be closed daily at 8
p. NJ. to give opportunity for drill.
The appointment of Gen. Blair to the COM
mand OF the defences of the city has produced
great dissatisfaction and indignation among a
portion of the citizens and Gen. Rosecrans
has promised to supercede Blair on the arrival
of Gen. PleasantOn.
The rebels infest the entire country south of
De Soto, and are plundering everybody they
meet. They have driven Union men from the
counties through which they have passed.
lucy CohscI'pI ali rcDcl sympatnlzers, even
boys fifteen years of age. Citizens are fleeing
from that section and large numbers are emf
grating to Illinois and other States.
ST.. LOUIS, Sept. 29.--Capt. Craving, Assis-
tant Quartermaster of this district, who left Pr
lot Knob Tuesday morning with train of
Commissary stores sent away by General Ew-
ing. furnishes some information relative to the
situation in the Southwest.
The Fort at Pilot Knob is strongly built,
and mounts four sixty-two Founders, and six
field pieces, but they are Ineffective against the
artillery on Sheppard Mountain.
1t was believed at Headquarters last night
that yesterday would settle the enemy's fate.
Information from that quarter is looked for
with painful anxiety. The rebels lost fifty kill
day night. Prices headquarters were at Fred
ericktown on Friday. Fagin, Marmaduke, Ca
bell and Shelby, Coils. Adams, Gordon, Cum
mings and Others are his subOrdinates. He has
but few infantry which guard his long wag-
on train.
Nothing is yet heard from Gen. Mower. The
raid on Potosi, Tuesday, was by a skirmishing
party who robbed all the stores and conscript-
ed several citizens.
The railroad below Big river is abandoned,
and q considerable portion of it is reported to
have been torn up. A portion of the rebels
have gone to Richmond, Washington county,
and it is likely they will be heard from Oh the
SOuGn bTauCn fS1llTOaQ cOntcSLiuT COWMunlCa-
tons with this point.
large number of veterans arrived here yes
terday. and several regiments of Illinois hun
dred-day men are ordered here.
Particulars of the affair at Centrala are re.
ceived. Thirty.four soldiers, most of them
discharged veterans returning home from At
lanta, were shot in cold blood and their bodies
terribly mutilated. Mr.. ROLAND, express agent
at Cectralia was also murdered, and three citi-
zens on the train who were wounded were left
to burn up with the train, which was fired and
started OF at full speed. About an hour after
the guerillas left, Major johnson with about
$50 militia arrived at Centralia and started in
pursuit. They were ambushed when about
three miles out and ninety-six OF their number,
including Major johnson, killed.
The militia were all raw, and badly armed.
The guerillas were under the notorious Bill
Anderson. This is the most atrocious affair
since the massacre at Lawrence.
Sr. LOUIS, Sept. 3O.-Capt. Hill, author of
dispatch sent last night, has arrived here, and
gives a detailed account of the defence of Pilot
Knob, but it does not differ materially from
the report already telegraphed At one time
the rebels were 80 near the Fort they got on a
draw bridge which was down, the ropes hay
ing broken, but they were driven back with
great slaughter, and forced to retreat.
Our men fired about 800 rounds each. The
garrison was not pursued after leaving the
JOrI. "A Train Ol SlALy-lOuT Wagons las OeCU
destroyed by rebels between Brondale and
Mineral Point and the men massacred without
demanding their surrender?
One brigade of Smiths forces is now sta-
toned at Merrimac Bridge few miles below
jefferson Barracks, the remainder of the COM
mand being at the latter place.
Nothing is known this morning of the
whereabouts or movements of the enemy.
The towns of Ironton, Arcadia, Mineral Point
and Potosi have suffered great injury. The
crops of that country are entirely destroyed.
Many citizens are utterly ruined. A party of
rebels were reported to have been moving yes.
terday morning via Redwood, Washington
no tidings have yet been received of damage
done to it.
Who is DislOyals