Saturday, February 18, 2012

Missouri “Democrat” Account.

Kansas City, Mo., February 23. The event which has above all others marked the day, and communicated a joyousness to the Union men of this vicinity — second only to that felt upon the capture of Fort Donelson—was the discomfiture and rout of Quantril and Parker, with seventy-five men, by two companies of the Second Ohio Cavalry under Lieut. Nettleton. The facts are as follows:

Learning that Parker, with a company of sixty men from Waverly, Mo., and Quantril, with fifteen men, were at Independence, engaged in their usual amusements of plundering, bragging, etc., Major Purington of the Second Ohio Cavalry, sent out the above-mentioned force to capture them.

Starting at three o’clock in the morning {Feb. 18} , Lieut. Nettleton reached and surrounded Independence by daylight; but after a thorough search, it was found that those marauders had again eluded us. The command left Independence for this place about eight A.M., this morning, but stopped about half a mile from town to feed their horses. In the mean time, a man by the name of Smiley, a member of the State militia, and one of the Ohio boys, had remained behind, and were about starting to overtake the command, when they were suddenly surrounded by a party of Quantril’s men, who had just arrived in town. The Ohio soldier escaped, but Smiley was captured. In a few minutes more, in came Quantril, and Parker with seventy-five men, who disarmed him and deliberately shot him with his own pistol.

By this time the Ohio troops were informed of the state of things, and came dashing into town before the astonished rebels, who supposed them to be half-way to Kansas City, were aware of their approach. Quantril and Parker precipitately fled, leaving their men to follow as best they could. They were overtaken, however, in the public square, where a brief skirmish ensued in which two of the rebels were killed and one Ohio soldier. A second attempt to escape was made, and a second time they were overtaken; this time just east of the Court-House. In this skirmish two more of the rebels were killed and five prisoners taken, with a quantity of arms, etc., most of which were still loaded, not having been discharged.

After a brief fight through the town, among the dwellings, behind the fences, etc., the enemy all scattered and were lost in the fog.

The result of the whole affair was the death of the rebel gang, including (as the prisoners say) Parker himself. If this is the case, the affair has been a great benefit to the community, as this Parker has been the terror of all isolated Union families in this region of country.

Lieut. Nettleton deserves much credit for the manner in which the affair was conducted, and the boys “went in” with a relish which shows that their title of “Wade and Hutchins cavalry,” is not out of compliment to their men alone, but because they combine the pluck and fierceness of old Ben Wade with the activity of Hutchins.

February 18.—A skirmish occurred at Independence, Mo., between a detachment of Ohio cavalry and a band of rebels, headed by Quantrel and Parker. The latter were routed, with a loss of three killed, several wounded, and several taken prisoners. A quantity of arms was also captured. The Federal loss one killed and three wounded.—(Doc. 47.)

—This morning, Gov. Rector, of Arkansas, issued a proclamation, drafting into immediate service every man in the State subject to military duty, to respond within twenty days.—Memphis Appeal, February 19.

—The Constitutional Convention in session at Wheeling, Va., adjourned this evening, after fifty-nine days’ session. The Free State measure was defeated. Commissioners were, however, appointed, with powers to reassemble the Convention in case the new State was recognised by Congress.— National Intelligencer, February 20.

—In the British Parliament, John Bright made a strong speech denouncing the policy of the English government as to the Trent affair, and was answered by Lord Palmerston. Earl Russell explained the case of Mr. Shaver, a British subject imprisoned in Fort Warren, sustaining the action of the American Government.

—At Baltimore, Md., S. S. Wills, the publisher, and Thomas S. Piggott, editor of The South, were arrested and taken to Fort McHenry.

—The first session of the Congress of the “permanent” government of the Confederate States, was opened at noon to-day in the capitol at Richmond, Va., Vice-President-elect, Alexander H. Stevens, of Georgia, occupying the chair in the Senate. Nineteen Senators were present, and a quorum of Representatives. After the election of proper officers, and a speech from Thomas S. Bocock, of Virginia, Speaker of the House of Representatives, the “permanent” Congress was declared duly organized.—(Doc. 48.)

—The Thirteenth regiment of Maine volunteers, under the command of Colonel Neal Dow, left Camp Beaufort, Augusta, for the seat of war.

—Flag-officer Goldsborough and Brig.-Gen. Burnside issued a proclamation at Roanoke Island, explaining the object of their mission, declaring the course they intend to pursue, and inviting the inhabitants of North-Carolina to separate themselves from the malign influence of the bad men in their midst, and to return to their allegiance.—(Doc. 49.)

—Howell Cobb, R. Toombs, M. J. Crawford, Thomas R. R. Cobb, members from Georgia, have issued an address to the people of that State, on relinquishing their seats in the provisional Congress of the Confederate States. They call upon the people of Georgia to exert every nerve, and strain every muscle, to repress the invaders. Though acknowledging the Southern inability to cope with the resources, numbers, equipments and munitions of war of the North, they urge the confederates to provide against these odds by “desperate courage, unflinching daring, and universal self-sacrifice.” They warn the Georgians against being lulled into a fatal security, and incite them to prepare for all contingencies, by arming every woman and child with a firebrand, that nothing but “blackness and ruin” may “welcome the vandals.”

They recognise with gratitude the hand of Providence in preserving the Confederacy from these who, having complete control of the seas, and an immense army, “disciplined to the unthinking stolidity of regulars,” were preparing to “crush them with a giant’s grasp.” Finally they impress upon them the importance of an unshaken faith in God, declare their confidence in the ultimate issue of the struggle, and a belief that their children’s children will rise up to call them “blessed.” —(Doc. 50.)