increasing every hour. From reliable rebel sources we learn their plan was to destroy trains and bridges on the railroad, thereby drawing our forces in that direction, then scatter, take Columbia, Fayette, Glasgow, and Rocheport, plunder and burn them, cross the river between Boonville and Rocheport. I am organizing citizens for defense as rapidly and thoroughly as possible. CLINTON B. FISK, Major-General ROSECRANS. HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF NORTH MISSOURI, Macon, December 8, 1864. COLONEL: I have the honor to report that on the 30th day of September last, being then at Glasgow, Howard County, I received a telegram from the major-general commanding, directing me to move to Jefferson City with all possible dispatch. The troops of my command were at that date scattered through the counties lying between the Hannibal and Saint Joseph Railroad and the Missouri River, fighting the hordes of fiendish guerrillas who, under Anderson, Todd, Thrailkill, Perkins, and Holtzclaw, were making a pathway of blood across the district, plundering and burning the property of Union citizens, and destroying railway trains, depot buildings, and bridges. Seventy commissioned officers from Price's army had already been sent into -North Missouri to gather up the recruits that had been enlisted in the rebel service during the summer. Colonel Peery, of Carroll County, chief of the rebel recruiting party, was killed by Colonel Shanklin, Thirtieth Enrolled Missouri Militia, on the 28th of September; three of his officers shared his fate. Official papers taken from their dead bodies indicated their mission. Immediately upon receiving orders to move to Jefferson City I dispatched messengers to the several detachments of my available troops, ordering them to proceed direct to Jefferson City without delay. Detachments of the Third and Ninth Cavalry Missouri State Militia, Seventeenth Illinois Cavalry Volunteers, First Iowa Cavalry Volunteers, Thirty-ninth, Forty-third, and Fortyninth Missouri Volunteer Infantry, and one section of Company C (small howitzers), Second Missouri Artillery, were thus ordered. Telegraph lines being destroyed and mail lines almost altogether interrupted, orders were dispatched by messengers, who in many instances were captured by the enemy. I arrived in Jefferson City on the night of October 3, with 200 men of my command. During the 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th other detachments of my troops arrived, aggregating 1,800, of whom 1,000 were composed of companies of unorganized infantry regiments who had never been drilled an hour. I found on my arrival at Jefferson City that Brigadier-General Brown occupied the city and held the country to the Osage River, his force all told being 3,000, one-half of whom were unorganized infantry volunteers, Enrolled Missouri Militia, and citizen guards. I did not assume immediate command on arrival at Jefferson City, as telegrams from the major-general commanding indicated that himself or other officers ranking myself would speedily arrive. I therefore directed my troops to report to General Brown for orders and devoted my personal attention to the concentration of troops from my district at Jefferson City, and pushing them to the work in the trenches or to the front as rapidly as possible. On the morning of the 6th Generals McNeil and Sanborn reported from Rolla-the former with 1,000 cavalry and eight pieces of artillery, the latter with 1,400 cavalry. The major-general commanding telegraphed me on the 6th to assume command of the combined forces at Jefferson City. I immediately organized the force into four brigades, under Generals Brown, McNeil, and Sanborn, and Col. Franklin W. Hickox, Enrolled Missouri Militia. The effective strength of the fragments of commands thus hastily thrown together from different districts of the department, including Enrolled Missouri Militia and loyal citizens, was, of officers and men, 7,200. Generals McNeil and Sanborn, who had for many days been in immediate proximity to the enemy, informed me that Price's army numbered not less than 20,000 men, and that he could put 15,000 well appointed veterans and more than twenty pieces of artillery into action. The major-general commanding had previously ordered that the State capital must be successfully defended at all hazards. A force of 1,500, under Colonel Philips, Seventh Cavalry Missouri State Militia, was fighting the advance of Price's army on the Osage when I assumed command. The enemy were at that time crossing the Osage River in force at Prince's, Bolton's, and other fords, covering a space of about eight miles in width on the routes leading to the State capital. General Sanborn's mounted troops were resisting the advance of the enemy on the road leading from the Fair-Ground to the Moreau and Osage. The force at the front were ordered to vigorously contest the passage of the Osage and Moreau, and when driven to fall back fighting to the city and withdraw to the intrenchments. General McNeil's brigade was assigned to the right, General Brown's to the left, and General Sanborn's to the center, within our fortified lines. Colonel Hickox's brigade was posted as a reserve. All troops not ordered to the front and the citizens of the city were busily engaged digging rifle-pits and preparing for the best possible defense of the State capital. On the morning of the 7th the enemy had driven our advanced lines back to the Moreau and appeared in heavy force on its east bank, his main column on the Bolton road, and drove our troops steadily to the FairGround. Our force was all withdrawn to the intrenchments at 1 p. m. The enemy pushed his lines to the front of our left and center and opened on our fortified lines with his artillery from a wooded height at the left of the Fair-Ground. Thurber's battery, on the left of our line, and Sutter's, in the center, both of the Second Missouri Artillery, simultaneously poured their well-directed shots into the enemy's artillery, dismounting one of his pieces at the first fire. After an exchange of a few shots, and an inspection of our earth-works, the enemy withdrew his artillery, retired his lines, and moved his columns toward our right, with the evident design of investing the city. During the night of the 7th our entire command were busily engaged strengthening our earthworks, digging additional rifle-pits, and preparing to receive an assault at any point on our line. The movements of the enemy during the night indicated his preparation to mass his force to assault our right. At daylight on the morning of the 8th he appeared in force in front of McNeil, but withdrew before advancing near our earth-works. As the enemy retired and a reconnaissance to the Moreau revealed the fact that his entire army had passed to our right, the mounted troops of Sanborn's brigade were thrown upon his rear, killing many and capturing a large number of men and arms. At 8 a. m. all the mounted troops of the command were ordered in pursuit of the enemy with five days' field rations in their haversacks and 140 rounds of ammunition. The capital of the State had been saved from the polluting presence of her traitorous sons in arms. One of the chief objects of Price's invasion of Missouri, the seizure and occupancy of her political capital for the purpose of holding elections and the transaction of other business by the itinerating traitors who style themselves the State and legislative departments of Missouri, was, by the courage, industry, and determination of our small force at Jefferson City, defeated; a substantial success had been gained, and the soldiers who through one of the severest of equinoctial storms made long and forced marches to the capital, many of them leaving their own homes to certain destruction by the guerrillas, and the citizens who so cheerfully and earnestly seized spade or musket for its defense, deserve and will receive the gratitude of the loyalists of Missouri. I have the honor to bear full and hearty testimony to the conduct of all officers and men and citizens for their faithful service. The reports of Generals Brown, McNeil, and Sanborn, forwarded direct to department headquarters, will give tabular statements of losses in killed and wounded, and list of prisoners lost and captured. At 10.30 a. m. on the morning of the 8th Major-General Pleasonton arrived at Jefferson City, and in obedience to orders from the majorgeneral commanding assumed command. I have the honor to be, colonel, with great respect, your obedient servant, Col. JOHN V. DU BOIS, CLINTON B. FISK, Brigadier-General. Chief of Staff, Dept. of the Missouri, Saint Louis. HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF NORTH MISSOURI, Col. JOHN V. DU BOIS, Macon, Mo., December 16, 1864. Chief of Staff, Saint Louis, Mo.: COLONEL: In obedience to instructions from Major-General Rosecrans I have the honor herewith to transmit supplementary report of operations of the troops of my command subsequent to being relieved by Major-General Pleasonton, October 8. I have the honor, colonel, to be, with great respect, your obedient servant, CLINTON B. FISK, HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF NORTH MISSOURI, Macon, Mo., December 8, 1864. COLONEL: Supplementary to my report on the movements of my command to Jefferson City and the operations of the troops in defense of the State capital, I have the honor to add that immediately upon the assumption of command by Major-General Pleasonton, on the 8th of October, 1864, I was by him first ordered to assume command of the Thirty-ninth and Forty-ninth Missouri Infantry Volunteers and immediately occupy that portion of the intrenched line then held by Brigadier-General Sanborn. At a later hour in the day I was ordered to pгоceed with my command via the Missouri River and garrison the post of Lexington. I The steamers Sioux City and Hattie May were placed at my disposal for the transportation of my command, one section of Sutter's battery, Second Missouri Artillery, having been directed to report to me. suggested to the major-general commanding that it would undoubtedly be impracticable for me to reach Lexington via the Missouri River; that the rebel army would probably occupy Boonville before steamers could possibly reach that point, and respectfully requested that in the event of finding the enemy in force on the river-bank I might be permitted to disembark my troops, return the steamers to Jefferson City, and march my command to Glasgow, where I could concentrate additional force from my district and resist the progress of Price's army into North Missouri. General Pleasonton replied that he thought there would be no difficulty in executing the orders I had received, and directed that in the event of finding the river blockaded I should report to him the impracticability of proceeding by river and wait instructions. Iembarked my command on the night of the 8th and at daylight on the morning of the 9th pushed out for Lexington. The exceedingly low stage of water rendered our progress difficult and slow. It became necessary to disembark the troops and horses at sand-bars and then spar the empty transports over. By the utmost diligence we were able to make but eighteen miles distance during the 9th. Upon arriving at Rocheport at noon on the 10th I met citizens fleeing from Boonville with the information that the enemy had occupied Boonville in large force on the previous day. I immediately took steps to secure reliable information by sending scouts of my own men who were familiar with the country on both sides the Missouri River to Boonville. Their report confirmed the presence of Price with his entire army at Boonville. His camps extended down the south side of the river six miles and his artillery commanded the Missouri. He had captured a steam ferry-boat in good order and was on that day crossing a large cavalry force to the north side of the river into Howard County. Large parties of the enemy were moving through the country stealing horses and clothing and giving notice to willing conscripts that they must report without delay to Price, the rebel chieftain, at Boonville. On the night of the 10th the Forty-fifth Missouri Infantry Volunteers, Col. T. A. Switzler, and Capt. F. William Fuchs, with two sections Battery C, Second Missouri Artillery, reached Rocheport by steamers, under orders from Major-General Pleasonton to garrison the post of Boonville. On the morning of the 11th I sent Lieut. W. T. Clarke, aide-decamp, to Jefferson City with dispatches to General Pleasonton, informing him of the situation, and again suggested that I be permitted to march my command across the country from Rocheport to Glasgow, and resist the crossing of the enemy to North Missouri. At Glasgow was a large quantity of quartermaster and commissary stores, and a limited garrison. Col. Chester Harding, jr., Forty-third Regiment Missouri Volunteers, had by my order left Saint Joseph on 5th of October en route to Jefferson City by steamer West Wind, and no intelligence had been received from them since passing Kansas City. I desired to reach Glasgow and save the garrison at that point, and to so dispose my command that it could be re-enforced by the troops descending the river, and by other force from the Hannibal and Saint Joseph Railroad, and I therefore respectfully, but earnestly, requested General Pleasonton to permit me to march to Glasgow. On the morning of the 12th I received orders from General Pleasonton by the hand of Lieutenant Clarke, aide-de-camp, to immediately disembark my forces at Providence, Mo., together with those of Colonel Switzler, and send the boats immediately back to Jefferson City, and to await orders at that point. In obedience to this order I placed my command in camp at Providence, Mo., and again advised General Pleasonton of the situation. My scouts had brought me information that the enemy were crossing cavalry and artillery to the north side of the river. The fiend Bill Anderson, whose band of murderers had crossed from North Missouri to Boonville to report to their chieftain, Sterling Price, had by said chief on the 11th been ordered to recross the Missouri River and renew his fiendish atrocities; especially was he ordered to permanently destroy the North Missouri Railroad. Scouts reported detachments of the enemy marching on Fayette, Glasgow, and Huntsville. On the morning of the 13th I received orders from General Pleasonton to move my command by the north bank of the Missouri River to Jefferson City, and to report my arrival at that point to his headquarters by letter. I reached Jefferson City at noon of the 14th, reported by letter, as directed, and was ordered to march my command to California, and upon my arrival at that point to report by letter or telegraph to Maj. Gen. A. J. Smith, commanding Right Wing, Sixteenth Army Corps, for orders. General Smith being yet at Jefferson City directed me to place my men in camp, and wait orders from himself or the department commander, who that day arrived at Jefferson City. On the 16th I was ordered by Major-General Rosecrans to return to my district with the Forty-ninth Missouri Volunteers, and such other troops belonging to my district as could be relieved from duty at Jefferson City. On the night of the 16th this order was countermanded, and I was directed to proceed upon a reconnaissance up the Missouri River on the steamer Isabella, with 250 picked men and two pieces of artillery. At daylight on the morning of the 17th I moved up the Missouri River, arriving at Boonville in the evening, at which point information reached me that on Saturday previous, October 15, the rebels had attacked Glasgow from both sides of the river with an overwhelming force. The garrison had been re-enforced on the evening of the 13th by a portion of Colonel Harding's regiment, Forty-third Missouri Volunteers, the effective force when attacked being 550 men, including volunteers, militia, and loyal citizens, and no artillery. Colonel Harding's report, which has been forwarded to department headquarters, informs the general commanding how gallantly this small force for hours fought an entire division of Price's army, a battery of artillery being brought into action by the enemy on each side the river, and when overwhelmed, surrendered upon terms permitting our brave boys to march out of the garrison with drums beating and colors flying, and all private property of the captured to be respected. Among the officers surrendered were three of my own staff, Lieut. Col. D. J. Hynes, Seventeenth Illinois Cavalry Volunteers, chief of cavalry; Maj. F. G. Porter, medical director, and Capt. George A. Holloway, assistant adjutant-general, the conduct of whom during the unequal conflict is noticed in a complimentary manner by Colonel Harding. The captives had been paroled by the enemy and sent across the Missouri River, and toward Boonville, under rebel escort, and were within a few miles of the city when I arrived. I immediately ordered Capt. H. S. Glaze, acting aide-de-camp, to procure all the carriages and wagons to be found in Boonville and proceed to the La Mine River to meet the wearied prisoners; the party arrived at Boonville on the morning of the 18th, where I provided for their comfort as best I could from the scanty stores in Boonville and on board the Isabella. I returned to Jefferson City on the night of the 18th and reported to the general com |