The National tribune., 1898-05-26

PRICES ADVANCE AFTER THE RETIRE
MENT OF THE UNION ARMY FROM
SOUTHWESTERN MISSOURI r. E B L
LEADER SOON ROUGHLY HANDLED.
sIGEL'S GOODNESS AND SKILL-CURTIS
PLACED IN A CRITICAL POSITION-BE-
GINNING OF THE COMBAT.
(coPYRIGBrl
Gen. Sterling Price was a good deal
less indignant than any Unionist at the
unaccountable desertion Of southwestern
Missouri by the new Union commander,
directly on the heels of Fremcnt's trl-
umphant and unresisted advance, when
assured that his scouts were not mis-
taken in reporting the evacuation of
Springfield and retreat to Rolla, by an
army which he would not have dared
to attack. He gradually retraced his
steps from the Arkansas border, entering
Springfield in triumph, and subsequently
advancing to Osceola, on the Usage,
thence pushing forward his forces unre-
sisted over the greater part of southern
and western Missouri, occupying in
force Lexington and other points on
the great river, where slavery and re-
bellion were strong, and subslsting his
army OH the State from which they
might and should have been excluded.
The village of Warsaw was burned,
and Platte City par tally so, by rebel
incendiaries or guerrllas; and there
were Insignificant combats at Salem,
Rogers's Mill, near Glasgow; Potosi,
Lexington, Mount Zion, near Sturgeon,
and some other points, at which the pre-
ponderance of advantage was generally
on the side of the Unionists. Even in
north Missouri nearly hundred miles
of the railroad crossing that section was
disabled and in good part DESTROYED by
q concerted night foray of guerrilias.
Gen. Halleck thereupon issued an
order threatening to shoot any rebel
caught bridge-burning within the Union
lines-a threat which the guerrillas
Labnually deGed and President Lincoln
declined TO make good.
Gen. j I'm Pope, commanding the
district of Central Missouri, having col
lected and equipped an adequate force,
at length demonstrated against the
rebels occupying Lexington, under
Rains and Stein, compelling them to
abandon the line of the Missouri and
retreat southwark.
Having, by forced marches and his
strength in cavalry, gained a position
between them and their base at Osce-
ola, he forced them to hurried fight,
with the loss of nearly 800 prisoners
and most of their baggage, including 70
wagons laden with clothing and supplies
for Price, who lay at Osceola with 5000
men.
Meantime detachment of Pope's
forces, under Col. jeff c. Davis, sur
prised rebel camp at Milford, not far
from Warrensburg, and compelled its
surrender at discretion. Three Colonies,
IL Captains, over 1000 prisoners, 1000
stand of arms. 1000 horses, and an
abundance of tents, baggage, and sup
plies, were among the trophies of this
easy triumph. Pope's losses in these
operations scarcely exceeded 100 men,
while his prisoners alone were said to be
$500. Among them was Col. Magofin,
brother of the late Governor of Ken
lucky.
PRICE, THUS ROUGHLY HANDLED
before he had been able to concentrate
his forces, did not choose to risk gen.
eral engagement He retreated rapidly |
through Springfield and CassviIle, close
ly pursued, and fighting at intervals.
until he had crossed the Arkansas line,
forming junction, soon afterward, near
Boston Mountains, with Gen. Ben Nc
Culloch, commanding a division of
Texas and Arkansas Confederates, thus
raising bis entire force to number
fully equal with that which had SO
keenly pursued him, which was now
commanded by Gen. Samuel r. Curtis,
Of Iowa, and which, after continuing
the pursuit down to Fayetteville. Ark,
had retraced its steps TO and halted at |
Sugar Creek, not far over the State |
line.
Meantime, Price was Joined and
backed by Earl Van Dorm, late Cap |
tain Of u. S. Regulars, now Confederate |
Major-General, commanding the Trans
mississippi Department, and by Gen.
Albert Pike, of Arkansas, leading con-
siderable brigade of Indians, swelling
the number Of the rebels to about
10000.
Van Dorm promptly resolved to give
battle, and TO fight it in such manner
that the defeat Of the Unionists should
involve their destruction. Advancing
rapidly from bis camp at Cross Hollows,
covering Fayetteville, he struck at the
division of Gen. Franz Sigel, holding
Bentonville, the extreme advance of
the Union position, eight or ten miles
southwest from Gen. Curtis's center,
near Mottsville, on the direct road from
Fayetteville to Springfield. This at
tempt to isolate, overwhelm, and crush
Sigel was batiied by
THE GOODNESS AND SKILL