Pope's Advance from THE CAPTURE OF MILFORD. the river. Pope disposed his forces with ingenuity and manœuvred them with consummate skill. Strong detachments were left at Laurine bridge, Georgetown, Sedalia, and at a point twelve miles southwest of the latter place-dispositions made to blockade all the avenues of communication between Price's camps-then at Rose Hill and Clinton, north of the Grand river branch of the Osage, and at Osceola and Lexington. Pope's main body pushed on toward Clinton, but he shrewdly diverged from the Clinton road thirty miles from Sedalia, bearing to the west for the purpose of cutting in between Clinton and Rose hill. But, to lure out Price, a cavalry force of two hundred and fifty men under Major Hubbard, drawn from the First Missouri, pressed on to Clinton. Only the enemy's pickets were found there, and Hubbard dashed on, driving in the out guards until he had gone twelve miles beyond Grand river toward the Osceola (main) camp. He then turned northward again, securing his prisoners (sixty in number) and a considerable quantity of supplies, horses and arms. This bold dash into its very lines greatly excited the Osceola camp; but Price did not come out as hoped. He only prepared for retreat. The Pursuit from | 455 toward Clinton, hoping to bag more of Price's supplies and recruits. About one hundred of the unwary were secured, together with several wagons of stores. Pope now directed his march to Warrensburg, from whence he proceeded eastwardly to a point about half way to Knob Noster, where the Clear Fork creek crossed the direct Warrensburg and Sedalia road. There he arrived on Thursday, Dec. 19th, to learn from his scouts that the heavy supply train of which he was in pursuit was at Milford, only seven miles away, on the north side of the Blackwater river nearly opposite the mouth of Cedar Fork creek. The Capture at From Milford two roads diverge-one to Warrensburg and one to Sedalia. Pope at once dispatched two bodies of cavalry, under Colonel Davis and Major Marshall, to approach the town by both roads. Colonel Jefferson C. Davis took the Warrensburg route, and just before dark came dashing up to the Blackwater. Davis, with a battalion of the Iowa cavalry, passed from the approaching road, designing to ford the river by swimming if necessary, in order to reach and surprise the enemy's right; while the remainder of his forces-composed of companies B, C and D of the Fourth cavalry, regulars under command of Lieutenant Amory, pressed on over the narrow bridge. The rapid evolutions of the regulars anticipated Davis' movements. They crossed over at high speed to send consternation into the rebel camps; and Davis came up (having fail The main body of Pope's two brigades, after diverging from the Clinton road, struck out for Chilhowe, a point between Rose hill and Clinton. The Federal cavalry rode over the surrounding country, picking up great numbers of men and a large quanti-ed to ford the stream owing to its deep and ty of stores traveling south from Lexington for Price's camp. The enemy's force at Rose hill, about twelve hundred in numbers, becoming informed of Pope's approach suddenly fled—taking a direct road to the south; nor did they restrain their weary soles until the Osage was passed at a point south of Johnston. Pope dispatched the regiments of Colonels Brown and Foster, with a strong force of cavalry, and a section of flying artillery in pursuit; but the rebels were too fleetfooted-they all escaped. The pursuit was discontinued at Johnston--the cavalry and artillery returning direct to Chilhowe, while Colonel Foster, with the infantry, passed up swift current) to find the whole affair settled : Amory had received the surrender of the camp and contents. This prize was found to consist of Colonels Robertson and Alexander, Major Harris, Lieutenant-Colonel Robinson, seventeen Captains, thirty Lieutenants, one thousand three hundred and forty privates, one thousand stand of arms, one thousand horses and mules, sixty-three wagonloads of supplies, besides rations, small arms, saddles and extra clothing claimed by the privates. A writer from the scene of action, said of these really admirable operations : "During the six days' absence of this expedition Efforts to Suppress Guerrillas. EFFORTS TO SUPPRESS GUERRILLAS. had been gathered from the river counties, returned to their homes, professing to accept the amnesty offered by Halleck to all who would lay down their arms. These men, as in most cases of those taking the oath of allegiance, accepted the clemency extended only that they might the more effectually strike their foe. Honor and principle alike were dead virtues in the Confederate breast when "the Yankees" were concerned. And this was not strange when we consider that their cause was grounded in dishonor. A letter from St. Louis, December 27th, said: "A new secret secession organization, confined to this State, has been discovered, and at the proper time full particulars will be given to the public. The oaths and obligations are of the most diabolical description, and bind the members to do anything' to overthrow the present Government of the United States." Anything for success! was the pass word. At length, however, the vigilance practiced by the several excellent officers in command along the lines of the roads, succeeded in breaking up the principal organized gangs of marauders. On the 2d of that month it was said from St. Louis: "Dispatches received at Halleck's headquarters announce the capture of the notorious Jefferson Owens, Colonel Jones and fifty of their bridge burning gang, near Martinsburg, Adrian county, by General Schofield, commander of the State militia, and the various guerrilla bands along the north Missouri railroad have been pretty thoroughly scattered." Further arrests occurred, in which the First Kansas, Colonel Deitzler, took an active part. This regiment held Lexington after its second occupation, and succeeded in securing camparative peace to that immediate section; but, here and there the spirit of incendiarism would break forth. It may be said the central section of the State was not actually freed from these visitations of the enemy until late in the spring of 1862. The numerous conflicts with bands of guerrillas, the chase and exploration for them, would form, if written, a very exciting and novel chapter. Such encounters were not always 457 Efforts to Suppress Guerrillas. bloodless; they were, on the contrary, quite generally accompanied with bloodshed and frequently proved of a sanguinary character. The affair at Silver creek (January 8th) was of this nature. Major Torrence, of the First Iowa cavalry, was put on the track of the rebel emissary Colonel Poindexter, who, as a recruiting agent for the cause of Governor Jackson, had established a camp of rendezvous at Silver creek, in Howard county, as well as minor camps in Roanoke and Jolinson counties. The Major scoured the country around thoroughly. At length, joined by Major Howard's battalion, a section of Colonel Merrill's dragoons under Major Hunt, and one company of the Fourth Ohio, Captain John Foster, the camp at Silver creek, about thirty miles north of Boonesville, was assailed. It was a most gallant affair, in which officers and men vied in valor. The enemy after a sharp defense fled, leaving the entire property of the camp, even their supplies. Major Torrence destroyed every thing of value and returned to Booneville to receive the thanks of his commander for his dashing little "guerrilla campaign." The loss of the rebels was twelve killed, twentytwo wounded and fifteen prisoners. The Federals lost three killed and ten wounded. Colonel Jennison's rangers scouted the counties along the Kansas line so thoroughly, and acted with such decision, as to rid that section of the most malignant evil-doers. His procedure though severe was called for by the treachery of many of the people, and the unsparing cruelty of the guerrilla bands which they assisted to maintain. To General Prentiss was assigned the Army of North Missouri.' His labors were directed to keeping open the Hannibal and St. Joseph railway. To anticipate the bridge burners in their efforts he fell upon the rebels at every opportunity. The attack at Zion's Church in Boone county, amounted to a battle-the rebel loss being twenty-five killed, a large number wounded and thirty prisoners. By this rapid stroke a strong rebel organizatiou under Colonel Dorsey was broken and effectually scattered (Dec. 28th). It was the last Disposition of Troops. night march, it FLOYD'S ESCAPE FROM ROSECRANS. just below the Gauley river 459 Attack on Floyd's Stronghold. command at New Creek, from whence, by a forced fell upon Romney (October 26) and, after a sharp struggle, secured that liminary to this it was necessary to dislodge rebel headquarters with much stores, provi- | the enemy from Cotton Hill. A detachment sions and arms. This command, however, from Cox's brigade, consisting of Colonel passed into the Department of the Cum- | DeVilliers' men and Major Leeper's battalion berland, and therefore was not reckoned as part of Rosecrans' disposable strength, although he relied upon it to operate against General Lee, then still in camp at Greenbrier, should he attempt to move north. Attack on Floyd's of the First Kentucky, crossed at once and Floyd's Escape. Rosecrans, having matured his plans for encompassing Floyd and for bagging his entire host, proceeded to work by ordering Benham with his brigade to cross the Kanawha at Deep creek, thence to advance up the creek to the rebel rear, striking the Raleigh road below Fayetteville. Floyd had advanced to the line of the Kanawha river just above Gauley river mouth, where his cannon commanded the communication between the upper and lower camps of Rosecrans' brigades. He was strongly posted, and prepared for obstinate work. His camp at the mouth of Laurel creek was backed by entrenchments, at Dickerson's, on the road to Fayetteville. His avenue of retreat, if such a contingency should occur, was by the roadly of the U. S. A. The pursuit then continu(turnpike) from Fayetteville to Raleigh C. H. ed, the enemy fleeing in the greatest disorder, Thus, it will be seen, that Benham's part of absolutely lining the road with their cast the programme was of the most important away property. But, the Federal commandnature; celerity of movement would deter-er, from some unexplained reason, pursued mine all; by his occupation of the turnpike so leisurely that the enemy and his heavy Floyd could not escape except by cutting train kept in advance. Late in the evening Benham to pieces. For the front assault, it of the 14th, General Schenck ordered the was arranged to use a deserted ferry on the pursuit discontinued the second great misKanawha (called New river above the conflu- take of the day. A strong column of fresh ence with the Gauley) which would permit troops could have annihilated the runaways. an approach to Fayetteville direct, and thus | Benham's men were much exhausted by their at once bring matters to an issue. After in-heavy day's work, though it remains to be credible labor Major Crawford with his pio- shown why he could not pursue with his neers (regulars) succeeded in landing boats light troops as fast as the enemy with his and floats at the ferry; but, at the critical lumbering trains could flee.* moment, the waters suddenly came rushing along in a great "rise," rendering it impossible to use the floats without a risk of drown-patient study of all the documents submitted in the case. Benham in his report labored to give the ing all the men. This approach had, therereasons for his several movements, but no explanafore, reluctantly to be abandoned. Rosecrans tion, we hold, should suffice for a total miscarriage thereupon determined to strike Floyd's po- of a plan so palpably proper as that comprised in sition by a flank movement over the Kanawha | his original orders--to prevent the enemy's retreat. It * This version of Floyd's escape we give after a |