Comte de Paris, History of the Civil War in America. Vol. 2.
Henry Coppee , LL.D., Ed.

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[429] of Independence, a small town situated near its borders, and commanding its crossing; those of the Federals who were encamped outside of the town fled without offering any resistance; the others defended themselves bravely, but in vain, both in the streets and in the houses; they were either captured or dispersed, and Hughes remained master of Independence. This was a position of great importance, and it was necessary to take advantage of this first success to secure others, which might have the effect of rallying to the Confederate cause all the secret partisans who had not yet dared to declare themselves. A strong reinforcement was already on the road to join him. The Confederate colonel Coffey had arrived from the interior of Arkansas with fifteen hundred horse; he had baffled the vigilance of the Federal general Brown, who occupied Springfield, and was marching directly toward Independence, where he hoped to effect a junction with the Missourians, whose numbers had already been increased by the recent success just related. Schofield was anxious to unite all his forces to prevent this junction. Brown despatched twelve hundred cavalry in pursuit of Coffey. General Blunt, commanding in the west of Kansas, also detailed some troops for the same object; finally, General Totten was ordered to attack the troops of Hughes at once. But this concentration, prescribed to troops who had started from such remote points, could not be effected in time. Totten's forces were divided; eight hundred horse and two guns, commanded by Foster, were at Lexington, on the Missouri, east of Independence. Colonel Warren was with fifteen hundred men at Clinton, south-east of that town. Both started for Independence, each taking a different route. Foster, who had the shorter journey to make, met the enemy at the cross-roads called Lone Jack on the 15th of August. Coffey and Hughes were waiting for him at this point with their united forces, amounting to four or five thousand men. After a spirited fight, Foster was beaten, lost some guns, and was driven toward Lexington with heavy losses. This important place was in danger, and it would seem that Coffey, being now free in his movements, should have joined the bands which were waiting for him on the left bank of the river, but the Federal forces concentrated on his rear alarmed him so much, that he suddenly turned back and reentered