Severe Skirmish in Missouri

ST. LOUIS, March 29.

A special dispatch to the Chicago Journal from the mail agent on the Pacific railroad states that intelligence has been received of a spirited skirmish, which took place on Wednesday last, at the town of Warrensburg, between Quartrell’s [sic] guerilla followers and a detachment of Col. Phillip’s Missouri regiment, under command of Maj. Foster.  On the day named, Quartrell unexpectedly appeared in the town with 200 men, and made a furious attack on the Union troops, who were only 60 in number.  The latter made a gallant defence and having the protection of a thick plank fence around their position, they succeeded after an obstinate conflict in repulsing the guerillas, and driving them beyond the limits of the town.

In the action, Maj. Emory Foster in command, and Capt. Foster, his brother, were wounded.

One private was killed, and one mortally wounded, since died.  Nine commissioned officers and privates were wounded.

The rebels sustained a loss of 9 killed and 17 wounded, and 20 of them lost their horses, which fell into the hands of Foster’s men.  Quartrell returned to Warrensburg the following day, and began a new attack about 4 o’clock, the result of which is not known.

As my informant came through Georgetown, Lieut. Col. Crittenden, of Phillips’ regiment, was preparing to go with a detachment of the regiment to Foster’s assistance.  Crittenden stated that scouting parties from the regiment had succeeded in discovering and capturing about 200 kegs of powder belonging to rebels in Pettis county.

The following was sent from headquarters this evening:

HON. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War:

Official information has been received that Lieut. H. H. Crittenden, Missouri militia, on the 19^th inst., captured 125 kegs of powder buried on the farm of Mrs. Sarah B. B. Brinksner, near Harrisburg, and that on the 22d Lieut. J. M. Jewett, with 20 men, had a skirmish with rebels near the same place killing 4 of them.  Our loss was 1 killed and 1 badly wounded.

Signed,

H. W. HALLECK,

Major General

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Monday Morning, March 31, 1862, p. 1

From Washington

WASHINGTON, March 27.

The Senate to-day confirmed the nomination of Lewis S. Ely, of California as Consul at Acapulco.

The bill reported by Senator Pearce to-day, from the committee on finance, provides that the authority given to the Secretary of the Treasury to refund and remit the duties and imposts on all arms imported into the United States by or for the account of any State, shall extend only to arms for which orders or contracts were made prior to January 1^st 1862, provided the Secretary shall have satisfactory proof exhibited to him that the arms were actually purchased in a foreign country for the account of a State, and the price paid for the same was only the first cost and the usual customary exchanges attending the purchase of the same, inclusive of duty.

The attempts that are made to connect the present supervision of the telegraph with the censorship lately reported upon by a committee of Congress, renders it proper to state that the censorship of the telegraph was abolished by the Secretary of War on taking military possession of the telegraph, and a military supervision of the telegraph throughout the U. S. substituted.  The duty of the supervisors is to prevent the transmission, by telegraph, of information concerning, late present or contemplated movements of the armies of the U. S., and all other information which is of a military character, that ought to be concealed.  From the political or private affairs, the telegraph is as completely unrestricted as it was before the commencement of the war.

Hon. Emmerson Etheridge has written a letter from Nashville, stating that W. H. Polk, brother of the late President Polk, is in Nashville, and that W. H. Stokes is shortly expected.  Both are strong Unionists, and will co-operate with Gov. Johnson in putting the State government into operation.

The following dispatch was received from Cherry Stone via Fortress Monroe this p.m.  There was a reconnoisance this evening to Big Bethel, which was occupied by 1,500 rebels, who fled at our approach.  We now occupy the place.

The surgeons of the regiments engaged at Winchester have not reported the list of killed as yet.  It will be forwarded as soon as received.

Eight wagon loads of the enemy’s dead were carried into Strasburg Monday.

It is believed that the enemy’s killed and wounded amounted to 1,000.

Tribune’s Dispatch

WASHINGTON, March 27.

The enemy have at last entirely abandoned Aquia Creek, carrying with them artillery and stores, and there is no rebel force now between the river and Fredericksburg.  In that town there are but few soldiers, the main body being posted about a mile and a half beyond.

Col. Crittenden of Indiana was nominated as Brig. Gen. to-day.

Times’ Special

A smoke on Tuesday in the direction of Warrenton indicated the destruction of property, which always attends the enforced retreat of the rebel army.  Their disastrous attack on Winchester has provoked a blow from which they are recoiling.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Saturday Morning, March 29, 1862, p. 2