June 25, 1861
Page 4
From
A
special dispatch to the St. Louis Republican of the 19th, gives the
following accounts of the affairs at Boonsville and at
The Federal troops landed five miles below the encampment of the State forces. The latter had a battery near Boonsville, pointed towards the river, but it was circumvented by the Federal troops and proved useless.
Gen. Lyon immediately advanced on the State troops, and was met in a lane where the firing commenced. The remainder of the description was substantially as reported last night. Gov. Jackson was about a mile off, surrounded by Capt. Kelly’s company as a body guard. It is reported that he was severely reprimanded during the engagement, by his own party, for cowardice and lack of discretion.
Col. Parsons was not in the fight, having previously been reported sick. Boonville was not injured, no shots having been fired into it. Gen. Price’s absence is thus accounted for: On Sunday morning the pickets brought a report that seven steamboats were coming up the river with Federal troops. A consultation was immediately had between the Governor and Gen. Price, and the Governor ordered the State troops to disperse, not being able to sustain themselves against such a force. Price then went home. The troops, however, determined to have a fight. Col. Marmaduke then became disaffected and resigned. A few hours later the report about the steamboats proved untrue, and the Governor ordered the troops to prepare for resistance, appointing Mr. Little to command. There are no reliable accounts as to the number of killed, wounded, or prisoners. It is stated that Gen. Lyon had at one time the State troops in a position where he could have killed them in large numbers, but that he ordered the firing to cease and proceeded to make prisoners. It is said that the State troops are gathering in the counties west of here, and that another stand would be made in Jackson county.
Advices from Kansas City via St. Joseph, give the following account of an engagement near Independence of Thursday last. A detachment of Federal troops under Capt. Stanley with a flag of truce, visited the camp of the State troops to ascertain the purposes of Capt. Halloway. During the conference Stanley observed movements being made with the design of attacking him, and ordered a retreat.
His detachment, while retreating, was fired upon by the State troops at an order given by a private, but the fire was so irregular that they killed their own commander, Capt. Halloway, and J. B. Clanahan, and severely wounded several others of their own men. Stanley’s troops did not fire, having received orders not to do so under any circumstances. Stanley retreated to Kansas City and reported the affair, when Capt. Prince with a strong body of troops attacked and routed the State forces, capturing thirty horses and a large lot of baggage. There are now 3,600 U. S. troops and volunteers in Kansas City.
JEFFERSON CITY, June 16—People living near Syracuse have arrived to-day, saying that 600 State troops, retreating from Booneville with six cannon, reached Syracuse yesterday. They said they were going to draft men from that neighborhood, and would take at least every one who could furnish a horse.
Various reports as to the number of killed were in vogue. The probabilities are that about 160 were killed. There is no possible doubt that a battle was fought and the State forces completely routed, but the telegraph being out of order between here and Booneville, we can’t get entirely authentic accounts of the affair.
[Transcribed by Sharon Strout]