The daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1863-1864, 1864-10-10
TIL llll INVASION OF Missouri.
The Whole Interior Of the State al
the Mercy Of Price.
Later Detatls of the Fight ri
Pilot Knob.

Later Detatls Of the Fight at
Pilst Knob. 4
ST. LOUIS October 3.
The invasion Of Missouri has gotten to
Be sncb antold story as to excite but little
attention abroad. The present Mscursion OF
rebels Is a serioas one, and destined to be cery
iwurions to the State. The Whole interior 81
tie State is so,o at their mercy, and there is
little doubt thai ere ther are repelled what
ever little of internal improvement and
possession remains in the State will be se>
riously reduced. Already each of the
three railroads running out of this city
have been cut so closely that there are not
fifty miles now in operation on any of them
for even military purposes. "a graa9
ORIGIN OF THE INVASION. SO u
The course of the rebel advance may be
traced back to the lamentable and shame
full failure Of General Banks on Red river
last March. Had that officer done his duty
the trans Mississippi rebels might have
been rowing in Texas, instead of which they
are rowing in Missouri. Ever since that uns
toward event they have shown bold front.
The departure of General Kirby Smith
from this department has loosened the
hands of General Price, and he has been
making his way steadily northward all
summer. Steele met him on the Ouachlta,
A j. Smith at Columbia, and now he has
pushed his way northward to Missouri,
with Smith coming up the river to head
him off, and Turner in the rear (too far).
Twelve days ago Price entered Missouri
by the southeast. He had with him three
divisions of infantry, commanded by Gen
erals Shelby, Marmaduke and Fagin, com
prising, perhaps, fifteen or sixteen thou
sand men, scattered through the country
on different roads. The first point at which
they rallied (for they threatened simulta,
neously FOUR was our outpost at Pilot
Knob, the terminus of the Iron Mountain
railway, where We have had fortified gar
rison since the beginning of the war. Pr
lot Knob is prominent one in the series
of peaks in the extensive mineral region,
and the most southerly Of the several min
ing and smelling furnaces. Several towns
have sprung up in this interest-of which
Pilot Knob, Knob Nobster, Arcadia, Nine
raj Point, Potosi and De Soto are the prin
cipal--all scattered along the few miles at
the end of the railroad.
The fort at the Knob was situated at the
base of one, and in a gorge between it and
Shepherds mountain-not very defen
sive position against artillery, but com
pletely sweeping the valley against infant
nv. The rebels first struck the railway
twenty miles north of this position. Gene
ral Smith, who was advancing down the
line OF railway with caution, lest the rebels
should get between him and this city, sent
word to General Ewing, commanding at
Pilot Knob, to fall back from his position.
These orders were intercepted, and, with
about eight hundred men-all he could
gather-Ewing fell into this work, mount
ing four forty-twos aud battery of fold
pieces. On Tuesday last the rebels closed
round him, front and rear, and began taking
their field pieces, Of which they are report
to have twenty four, upon the heights, 80
as to shell him out. The artillery contest
was kept up all day. In the afternoon the
rebel infantry, under Marmaduke, made an
assault upon the fort, and were received
most CALAMITY. They were repulsed, leav-
lux uuuuT0u u0du uculud
The behavior of General Ewing, Colonel
Fletcher, and all who were in the fort, is
described by eye-witnesses as being splen.
did. The losses on our side are less than
hundred in killed and wounded, whereas
the rebels left more than that number in
killed. Night closed the contest with cam
non, and Ewing, being without provisions
or ammunition, took advantage of the mid,
night darkness to force his way through
the investing forces, retreating westwardly.
The Confederates followed him, harassing
him sorely, until he reached Harrisou's sta
ton, on the southwest branch Of the Paci-
fc road, where Ewing was fortunate enough
to meet with train containing supplies and
cartridges, which he at once appropriated,
and was soon after attacked by the enemy.
Whittier he has gone is still matter Of
doubt but it is supposed he is making for
Rolla, where General Mcneil has eonsid>
cradle force in q strongly intrenched posi-.
ton.
A Confederate surgeon, with two of our
own, arrived in the city, with flag of truce,
yesterday, to procure medical supplies for
the wounded of both sides.
The whereabouts of Prices armv is still
. mystery. 1t is generally supposed that
he is marching toward Jefferson City, the
capital. His cavalry appeared at Franklin
on Saturday morning. thirty'tive miles dis
,ss.. and destroyed the track, stations, and
' wasS' ks, ~ They then proceeded vests
waro 20 h.-,aau and Washington, two
places they sacked, aSs burned soms Of 1 the
buildings. 1t is repo. TED, lat some Of the
rebels crossed over the Misso1.; ond ont
the north Missouri road, above Wen..y;IIo
At any rate, the train which left here %
Sunday morning could only get as far as
that point, when it was warned back. 1t is
probable that we shall next hear Of the
rebels menacing he Ganconade and Usage
bridges, few miles from Jefferson City. 1t
would lie imprudent to state what DISPOSE
tions are being made for the expulsion of
the yandals; but l am informed that Gen.
Rosecrans feels quite confident of driving
them out. He will probably take the field
himself .s, =. .-...s