A strange proceeding of the Governor of Illinois.
The
Springfield (Iii) correspondent of the Missouri
Democrat, under date of November 2, communicates the following particulars of the capture of Union troops while on their way to the seat of war by order of the
Governor of
Illinois:
The affair that occurred at
Alton on Tuesday last, and which you have already taken some notice of in the
Republican, has been the theme of much conversation, and of various cards in our daily papers from interested parties.
What occurred at
Alton was simply this: The Governor having received information that several hundred men had departed from Princeton, Bureau county, under charge of officers from
St. Louis, upon a steamboat, for the purpose of enlisting in a Missouri regiment or brigade, in violation of his proclamation recently made, ordered
Colonel John A Davis, with two hundred and fifty of his troops, with a six pounder, from Camp Butler to
Alton, to intercept the steamer and bring back the men who were being conveyed thereon to
St. Louis,
Colonel Davis left here on Monday night, with his troops, upon a special train, and arrived at
Alton early on Tuesday morning.
The troops took up their position near the river, in
Alton; the six-pounder was only planted, and everything got ready to bring to the boat when she should appear.
About 11 o'clock the steamer hove in sight, when a shot from the cannon was fired across her bows.
The men on board, supposing that this was intended as a compliment to them, took off their hats and cheered.
Another shot was fired with the same result, and still the steamer kept on her way. A third shot was fired, which struck the steamer near the bow, just above the water line.
This hint brought her to. She was immediately boarded by
Adjutant-General Mather,
Colonel Davis and his troops, and the men on board were ordered to surrender, which they did. Without noticing the formalities of surrender, it is sufficient to say that the men were all brought to this place, and are now prisoners at Camp Butler.
With the men arrested were one or two officers from
St. Louis, who, it is alleged, had enticed the troops away from the
State.
What will be done with them all remains to be seen.
This affair has given rise to several ‘"cards,"’ which have appeared in our daily papers.--One of these cards emanates from several citizens of
Princeton, where the regiment was being raised, and reflects rather severely upon
Col. Winslow, who was commanding the regiment
Col. Winslow then replies to these gentlemen, and intimates in rather strong terms that his men were stolen from him by the
St. Louis officers.
We understand that the soldiers generally object to serving under
Winslow, and are rather severe in their denunciation of him. They, however, have violated the proclamation of the
Governor.
What the
Governor will or can do with them, we cannot say.
