Correspondence of the Richmond Dispatch.
the expedition in Pursuit of Montgomery — interesting letter, &c.
Camp Haener, S. W. Expedition.In The Field, 300 miles from St. Louis, December 2d, 1860
Presuming that any news concerning the expedition against Montgomery, the disciple of John Brown, would be acceptable to your readers, I take advantage of a few moments' leisure to write these few lines.
With Montgomery's outrages, both in Kansas and Missouri, you are doubtless familiar, as well as with the departure and object of the military of St. Louis.
On Friday night, 23d November, orders were received at St. Louis from Gov. Stewart to hold ourselves in readiness for marching orders, which came Saturday noon, and on Sunday morning we left St. Louis by the Pacific Railroad, which brought us as far as Smithton, 200 miles from St. Louis, from which point we have marched to this place, about 30 miles from the border, near Mound City, where Montgomery is encamped with 500 or 600 men, ready to receive us. Gen. Harney, of the regular army, is advancing from For is Leaven worth and Riley, with the companies of light artillery, and will most probably get there as soon as we. From present rumors, I think there will be fighting.
We have about 500 men, and Montgomery has as many, armed with the Sharp's ride, a much superior arm to the Minnie musket, except in close quarters, where the bayonet can be used.
For the past three days we have been marching at the rate of 24 or 25 miles a day, which is fast time for troops loaded heavily with accoutrements, such as heavy knapsacks, muskets, &c. So far the troops have stood it manfully, and for young men, who are engaged in sedentary pursuits, as most of us are, have borne up surprisingly under the really distressing fatigue of so long and arduous a tramp.
There are quite a number of Virginias in our corps, the Missouri Governor's Guard, the color company of the regiment, in which corps your correspondent is one of the color guard.
So if there is a fight, I will be in for it; and if I do, though I have no particular wish to be a mark for a Sharp's ride, will do my best to send Montgomery to the same place to which John Brown was ticketed by Gov. Wise.
The command consists of eight companies of infantry, two companies of engineer battalion, and one each of artillery and cavalry — in all amounting to 600 men.
The match aggress with me splendidly, and my general appearance would astonish some of my Virginia relatives and friends, who think that I am safely perched upon my stool in St, Louis.
Shortness of time, and weariness consequent upon being up all night on guard, must excuse this hasty and illegible letter.
If anything interesting should occur I will write you again.
"Gov's Guard." 