General Phelps, on assuming the command of Ship Island, published a proclamation “To the loyal citizens of the South-west,” in which he defined the political “motives and principles” by which his command would be governed. He then at the very opening of his address, declared that every slave State admitted into the Union since the adoption of the Constitution, had been admitted in direct violation of that instrument. That every slave State that existed as such at the adoption of the Constitution, was by that act placed under the “highest obligation of honor and morality to abolish slavery.” The rest of the “proclamation” was in harmony with these statements. General Phelps made an official report of his expedition to General Butler, who reported the facts to the Adjutant-General of the United States. General Phelps was commended for the successful manner in which he had performed his military duties, but his proclamation was pronounced superfluous and uncalled for.
The occupancy of Ship Island being secured, the forces remained in undisturbed possession, awaiting the future movements of the commander of the expedition.
ENGAGEMENT AT MOUNT ZION.
December 28, 1861.
On the 23d of December, General Prentiss, commanding the army of Northern Missouri, having his headquarters at Palmyra, received orders to disperse a body of the enemy’s forces that had concentrated in Boone County. In pursuance of his instructions he started on the following morning with two hundred of the Third Missouri Cavalry, Colonel John Glover, and five companies of Sharpshooters, under Colonel Birge, and 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, General Prentiss sent forward one company of cavalry, commanded by Captain Howland, to reconnoitre in that vicinity. Captain Howland proceeded to Hallsville, but found no rebels. After proceeding about two miles beyond, his advance guard encountered the rebels in force, commanded by Colonel Dorsey. Captain Howland endeavored to draw off his company, having taken nine prisoners, but was overpowered. Being wounded, and having lost his horse, he was taken prisoner, with one private of his company. The remainder of his men made good their retreat, arriving at Sturgeon at nine o’clock, P. M.
Having learned the position of the enemy, General Prentiss ordered his command, numbering in all four hundred and seventy, to march at two o’clock, A. M., at which hour he started, and after marching a distance of sixteen miles, at eight o’clock A. M. of the 28th inst. found one company of rebels, commanded by Captain Johnson, in position to the left of the road leading from Hallsville to Mount Zion. General Prentiss ordered two companies of sharpshooters to pass to the rear of the enemy, and one of cavalry to dismount and engage them in the front.
Colonel Glover opened fire, and succeeded in killing five and capturing seven prisoners, from whom was ascertained the number and position of the main force—the enemy being posted at a church, known as Mount Zion, in Boone County, one mile and a half in advance, numbering near nine hundred men. General Prentiss ordered the cavalry under Colonel Glover forward, accompanied by two companies of Birge’s sharpshooters. Colonel Birge, arriving near the encampment, ordered one troop of cavalry to dismount and engage the enemy. The sharpshooters were afterward ordered through a field on the right to skirmish with the enemy’s left, and if possible drive them from the woods.
The firing being heavy, and these three companies proving unable to drive the enemy from his cover, Colonel Glover, with his available force, moved in double-quick to their aid, 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 C of the Cavalry. When Colonel Glover arrived, the enemy retreated, leaving in the Federal 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, the victory was complete. After collecting the wounded, the Federals proceeded to care for those of the enemy, placing them in the church, and sent for farmers and friends in the vicinity to render assistance, when they returned to Sturgeon, where they arrived at 9, P. M. The loss in the battle of Mount Zion, and in the engagement of the evening previous, was: Killed, 3; slightly wounded, 46; severely wounded, 17. Rebel loss: Killed, 25; wounded, 150.