foundery and ferry-boats at that place. Colonel Bishop's detachment overtook a party of bridge-burners yesterday, killed 10, took 17 prisoners, and 30 horses. All damage on railroad will be repaired in three days. H. W. HALLECK, Major-General MCCLELLAN. Major-General. DECEMBER 25, 1861.-Expedition to Danville, Mo. Report of Col. George R. Todd, Tenth Missouri Infantry. HDQRS. TENTH REGIMENT MISSOURI VOLS., U. S. A., In the Field, Danville, Mo., December 25, 1861. SIR: In obedience to your order I crossed the river, having with me a part of the Eighty-first Ohio Volunteers, under Colonel Morton, and a part of my own regiment, leaving the balance of each under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Hundhausen, at Hermann. The only practicable route for us was to High Hill, 10 miles east of this place. On arriving there we found that all the secessionists under arms had passed westward and were occupying this point. To-day at noon our pickets drove in those of the enemy and we immediately followed, and the enemy having abandoned the place we took possession without fighting. We have captured several of their men and a number of horses, but as yet cannot report definitely. On the 23d instant I telegraphed from Hermann to General McKean, at Jefferson City, that there was a force of 200 to 500 secessionists passing through this point westward. He answered that he would send over a force to intercept their passage westward. If he has done so, and their passage northward is cut off, I think about 1,000 of them can be taken, which will include all the Warrenton bridge-burners. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, GEO. R. TODD, Colonel, Commanding. Major-General HALLECK, Commanding Department of the Missouri. DECEMBER 27-28, 1881.-Skirmish near Hallsville, Mo., and action at Mount Zion Church, Mo. Report of Brig. Gen. Benjamin M. Prentiss, U. S. Army. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHERN MISSOURI, Palmyra, Mo., January 4, 1862. In pursuance of general orders, received on the evening of the 23d day of December, 1861, I proceeded from Palmyra for Sturgeon, on the morning of the 24th day of December, with five troops of Third Missouri Cavalry, Col. John M. Glover commanding. I arrived at Sturgeon on the evening of the 26th. During the following day, having learned that there was a concentration of rebels near the village of Hallsville, in Boone County, I sent forward one troop of cavalry, commanded by Captain Howland, to reconnoiter in that vicinity. Captain Howland proceeded to Hallsville, but found no rebels. After proceeding about 2 miles beyond his advance guard encountered the rebels in force, commanded by Colonel Dorsey. Captain Howland endeavored to draw off his company, having taken 9 prisoners, but was overpowered. Being wounded and having lost his horse, he was taken prisoner, with 1 private of his company. The remainder of his men made good their retreat, arriving at Sturgeon at 6 o'clock p. m. Having learned the position of the enemy, I immediately ordered five troops of cavalry, Col. John M. Glover commanding, and five companies of Sharpshooters, Colonel Birge commanding, numbering in all 470, to march at 2 o'clock a. m., at which hour I started, and after marching a distance of 16 miles, at 8 o'clock a. m. of the 28th instant found one company of rebels, commanded by Captain Johnson, in position to the left of the road leading from Hallsville to Mount Zion. I ordered two companies of Sharpshooters to pass to the rear of the enemy and one of cavalry to dismount and engage them in front. It being difficult for the Sharpshooters to attain their position unperceived, the enemy manifesting a disposition to retire, Colonel Glover opened fire and succeeded in killing 5 and capturing 7 prisoners, from whom I learned the number and position of the main force. The enemy being posted at a church and place known as Mount Zion, in Boone County, and one mile and a half in advance, numbering near 900 men, I ordered the cavalry under Colonel Glover forward, accompanied by two companies of Birge's Sharpshooters, Colonel Birge with them. Arriving near the encampment, one troop of the cavalry were ordered to dismount and engage the enemy. The Sharpshooters were afterwards ordered through a field on our right to skirmish with the enemy's left, and, if possible, drive them from the woods. The firing being heavy, these three companies not being able to drive the enemy from his cover, Colonel Glover, with his available force, moved in doublequick to the aid of the three companies engaged, and for half an hour longer the battle raged and became a hand-to-hand fight. Captain Boyd's company of Sharpshooters were in the midst of the rebel camp, also Major Carrick, with Company O, Third Missouri Cavalry, when Colonel Glover arrived. The rebels could not stand the fire of our rifles and retreated, leaving in our hands 90 horses and 105 stand of arms. The battle was brought to a close about 11 a. m. The reserve of two companies coming into action at the moment the enemy gave way, our victory was complete. After collecting our own wounded we proceeded to collect that of the enemy, placed them in the church, and sent for farmers and friends in the vicinity to render assistance. I collected wagons, made our own wounded as comfortable as possible, and at 4 p. m. started for Sturgeon, where we arrived at 9 p. m. Our loss in the battle of Mount Zion and in the engagement of the evening previous is as follows: Killed, 3; severely wounded, 17; slightly wounded, 46. Rebel loss: Killed, 25; wounded, 150. I have not been able to get a correct report of rebels missing, but, having taken 30 prisoners from them, learn that their punishment is a severe one. Sixty of the rebels, with Captain Howland and 4 of our men as prisoners, arrived at the camp at night, 20 miles distant from the field of battle. Permit me to mention that our entire force behaved gallantly. I make special mention of the following_officers: Col. John M. Glover, Major Carrick, Lieutenant Yates, and Lieutenant Kirkpatrick, of the Third Missouri Cavalry; Colonel Birge, Captain Boyd, and Adjutant Temple, of Birge's Sharpshooters; and Lieut. Edwin Moore, my aide. I also assure you that the men behaved with coolness and daring during the engagement. I have the honor to be, captain, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Capt. J. C. KELTON, B. M. PRENTISS, Assistant Adjutant-General, Department of the Missouri. DECEMBER 29, 1861.-Descent upon Commerce, Mo., and attack on steamer City of Alton. Report of Brig. Gen. M. Jeff. Thompson, C. S. Army. HDQRS. FIRST MIL. DIST., MISSOURI STATE GUARD, New Madrid, Mo., December 30, 1861. DEAR GENERAL: I left here on Saturday evening, at 9 o'clock, with 40 men, one 6-pounder, and one of my little rifled cannon. I proceeded up the road through Sikeston, but before reaching Hunter's the little cannon was by accident rendered unfit for service, and the team attached to the 6-pounder gave out. I sent the little gun back to this place, and planted the 6-pounder to command Jones' Ford. I then, with 27 men (I making 28), proceeded, by the Hunter's Ford and Sandy Ridge road, to Commerce, which place we dashed into about 10 p. m. The town was completely surprised, and I soon had all the male inhabitants assembled and guarded. I then had the stores of two Federals opened, and allowed my men to select such wearing apparel as they were in need of. About 2.30 o'clock the steamer City of Alton came in sight. I made arrangements to surprise her, not having cannon, but was defeated in my plan by the women of Commerce, whom I could not prevent from giving the alarm. She approached the shore, however, near enough to get a good peppering, and she backed down the river several miles, and had not attempted to pass up when I left, which was nearly sundown. I got muskets, 2 rifles, 6 horses, 15 or 20 suits of clothes, and returned (after stampeding the Union men of Scott County) safely to this post, having marched 106 miles in forty hours. Yours, respectfully, M. JEFF. THOMPSON, Brigadier-General, Commanding. Maj. Gen. LEONIDAS POLK, C. S. A., Columbus, Ky. JANUARY 1-3, 1862.-Expedition from Morristown to Dayton and Rose Report of Lieut. Col. D. R. Anthony, First Kansas Cavalry. Camp Johnson, Morristown, Mo., January 4, 1862. SIR: Information having been received by me on the evening of the 31st ultimo that Captains Fulkerson, Scott, and Brity, with from 150 to 300 men, were at Dayton, Mo., making preparations, recruiting, and outfitting for Price's army, at midnight I took 200 men, with the 12-pounder howitzer, and arrived at Dayton about daylight; but the enemy had run, two companies of Colonel Newgent's command having encamped at Austin the night before, a place only 6 miles distant. The main body of the rebels had returned to the junction of Walnut Creek and Grand River. Small parties were seen of 20 or 30 men each in the woods and on the prairie hills; detachments were sent out after them. Captain Gregory, of Company E, had an engagement with one party of 25 men; killed 1 man. The captain's horse was shot and 1 horse wounded. None of our men were hurt. Some 15 Union families moved into Kansas. We captured a lot of stock belonging to rebels, 6 tents, and company utensils. On the 2d we moved to Rose Hill, and the next day returned to Camp Johnson. The scouting party which went to Walnut Creek found that Captain Scott had left for the south. Dayton having been used voluntarily by its inhabitants as a depot for recruiting and supplying the rebels, and there being only one Union house in town, and all the Union men there desiring its destruction, it was burned, except the one belonging to the Union man. Although there were 46 buildings in the town, we found only two men to represent the whole population. Respectfully, your obedient servant, Brigadier-General DENVER, D. R. ANTHONY, Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding. Commanding Troops in Kansas. JANUARY 5-12, 1882.-Operations in Johnson and La Fayette Counties, Mo., and skirmish (January 9) at Columbus, Mo. Report of Lieut. Col. D. R. Anthony, First Kansas Cavalry. HEADQUARTERS, Camp Johnson, Morristown, Mo., January 13, 1862. SIR: On the 5th instant a party of twelve Union citizens of Johnson County, Missouri, mounted on horses and armed with shot-guns, came into camp and informed me that a force of 300 rebels, under command of Colonel Elliott, were committing depredations upon Union men, and asking assistance from me to aid or protect them in moving their families to Kansas. I ordered Major Herrick, with 200 men, to proceed to Holden, Johnson County, and capture Colonel Elliott, and also to put down all rebel bands he met on the way and protect Union men. Major Herrick took four days' rations; found no enemy in force on the route-indeed, the country seemed desolate and deserted by the men. On the 9th Captain Merriman was sent with 50 men to Columbus. The people of Columbus informed him there was no enemy in that vicinity; but on his return, about half a mile south of the town, was fired on from ambush by Colonel Elliott, who had secreted his men in the bush, and 5 of our men were killed. Captain Merriman was forced to retreat. He was soon joined by Captain Utt, of Company A, with 50 more men. They then scoured the bush for miles around, but found no enemy, they having that day deserted their camp, which was found by our men located in a rocky ravine. The next day Captain Swoyer, of Company B, left camp at Holden and searched the country of the Blackwater as far north as Chapel Hill, and learned that Colonel Elliott had reached a point within 10 miles of Lexington. Captain Swoyer returned next day to camp at Holden. Captain Merriman, on the day of the attack on him, burned the town of Columbus, having learned it was the rendezvous of Colonel Elliott, and the people of the town having decoyed him into the ambush. Major Herrick remained at Holden until the 12th, and then returned to Camp Johnson. Fifty or sixty Union families availed themselves of the opportunity to move out with him. Major Herrick also captured 60 head of horses, mules, and cattle, and young stock belonging to men who fired upon Major Hough and those who were with Colonel Elliott, and brought them to camp. Respectfully, yours, D. R. ANTHONY, Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding First Kansas Cavalry. Maj. Gen. D. HUNTER, Commanding Department of Kansas. JANUARY 8, 1862.-Skirmish at Charleston, Mo. Report of Col. Nicholas Perczel, Tenth Iowa Infantry. HDQRS. TENTH REGIMENT IOWA VOLUNTEERS, SIR: In pursuance of your orders, on the 7th instant I took the cars with my command at 9 o'clock p. m. We left the cars at 11 p. m., joined the cavalry attached to my command, and proceeded towards Prairie road, on which, at one Swank's house, a body of Tennessee cavalry, numbering about 1,000 men, were supposed to be encamped. I formed my line as follows: Guide and two troops at the head of the column; Company A, Tenth Regiment Iowa Volunteers, as advance guards; then formed the detachment of the same regiment and that of the Twentieth Illinois, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Small, of the Tenth Iowa, the cavalry in the center; then the detachment from the Eleventh and Twenty-second Illinois Regiments, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Ransom, the Twenty-second bringing up the rear. We proceeded in the greatest and perfect stillness, my instructions being to surprise and fight the rebel forces. The night was cloudy and rainy. Our guide several times lost his way, which delayed our progress considerably. At last, at 4 o'clock in the morning, we heard the distant and faint sound of a bugle. Marching on, we emerged into a more open country and a better-beaten road, but our guide having lost all calculation he did not know which side to take, and was obliged to awake the inmates of a farm-house and led us in the direction indicated by them. We passed seven farm-houses without molestation. Towards 5 o'clock we found ourselves on the back track to Charleston. Here only was I informed by the guide that we had passed the pretended camp of the rebels. I think he did not know it himself. We marched a short distance in this direction, till we reached a farm-house |