Though fatigued with the forced march, and faint with hunger, these noble fellows demanded only to be led at once into battle. After a short rest, they were thrown across the creek to ascend the right horn of the crescent, but were finally ordered back, as it had now become too dark to advance with safety, and the storm of battle, by mutual consent, ceased. Resting upon their arms, determined to renew the battle in the morning, the Union troops spent the night; but when morning dawned, the enemy, it was found, had vanished. Under cover of the darkness he had burned his heavy baggage and retreated. He left twenty-seven dead on the field, and it is definitely ascertained had some one hundred and twenty-five wounded, of whom forty-two subsequently died. The Federals lost two killed and twenty-five wounded. The Richmond papers claimed a brilliant Confederate victory on this occasion, estimating the Federal forces at 8,000 men, and their loss at 400 killed and wounded. BATTLE OF SILVER CREEK, MO. JANUARY 8, 1862. It was the misfortune of Missouri, more than any other State, to be a battle-ground for the guerrilla forces of the rebels, and for the skirmishing engagements of the war. These minor battles, while they had but little effect on the great result, inflicted untold horrors on the people dwelling there. At the opening of the year 1862, General Pope had command of the North-western District of the State, with his headquarters at Otterville, Cooper county. Having heard that the enemy was busily engaged in recruiting men in Roanoke and adjoining counties, Major W. M. G. Torrence of the First Iowa Cavalry was ordered to concentrate and take command of several small bodies of Federal troops, then guarding important points in the district, and to break up the rebel encampments. From Booneville, Major Torrence proceeded to Fayette, Howard county, and for several days was actively engaged in scouring the country and endeavoring to ascertain the position and strength of the rebel forces. He found that Colonel Poindexter was recruiting in various places in the county, and that he was encamped with his principal force, of from five to seven hundred men, on Silver Creek, and had other camps to reinforce him when ready to move, to the number of from twelve to fifteen hundred men.