(The "Wisconsin State Register", (Portage, WI) Saturday, September 28, 1861; Issue 28; col E):
BATTLE AT BLUE MILLS, MISSOURI
St. Louis, Sept. 22
Lieutenant-Colonel Scott, with 570 men of the Third Iowa, and a piece of artillery, left Cameron on Monday, in pursuit of the rebels who left St. Joseph on Friday previous. Lieut. Colonel Scott arrived at Liberty, Clay County, on the morning of the 17th, and moved from that place at one P.M. At three o’clock, he fell in with the enemy, 4,500 in number, occupying a strong position.
Our skirmishers received a galling fire, and slowly retreated to the main body, when the action became general. Our six pounder was brought to bear on the enemy, and a few shots fired, which proved very destructive.
At this time a heavy fire was opened on our single gun, killing one gunner and wounding two others. On this, several other gunners, Germans, from St. Louis, abandoned the gun, carrying with them the primer and matches, rendering the piece useless.
The action continued one hour, when our column was slowly withdrawn, to move to open ground, carrying off the wounded, and dragging away the gun by hand, the horses having been killed.
Colonel Smith left St. Joe with 1400 men about the same time Scott came for the same general purpose. He joined the latter—having pushed forward his mounted men and artillery at a rapid pace, on receiving a message from Scott, ten miles back, that he was advancing on the enemy.—But it being night, the men quite exhausted, and the enemy reported strongly intrenched in a thicket, impassable except by a narrow road, further attack was postponed until morning.
Early the following day, an advance was made by the combined forces, but on arriving at Pekin Mills, they found the enemy had crossed the river before daylight, taking the road toward Lexington.
The total loss of the Third Iowa Regiment was five killed, eighty-four wounded, and six missing. Three of the missing are supposed to be in the hands of the enemy, and the balance killed.
In addition to the loss of the Third Iowa, there were six home guards and one artilleryman killed, among whom was Capt. Cup, and about ten wounded. Four of these home guards were killed in the skirmish about two hours before the battle.
It is, perhaps, proper to state that General Pope’s orders to Lieut. Colonel Scott, were to remain at Liberty until joined by Smith, but learning, on arrival at the place, that the enemy were five miles distant, he sent a messenger to Smith with words to that effect, and pushed on and gave the rebels battle.
(The "New York Herald" (New York, NY) Tuesday, December 31, 1861; pg. 2; col C):
In a synopsis of war activities during 1861, the paper notes on Sept. 17, 1861—
"Part of an Iowa regiment fell in with about 4,000 rebels at Blue Mills Landing, Missouri, and a sharp skirmish ensued. The Iowa troops were forced to retire; but being reinforced, preparations were made for another attack, and the rebels retreated. The Union loss was twelve killed, eighty-five wounded and six missing."
("Milwaukee Daily Sentinel", (Milwaukee, WI) Tuesday, July 25, 1865; Issue 172; col D):
SINGULAR DEATH FROM TERROR.—At the fight which took place near Blue Mills, Missouri, in September, 1861, the Union forces, 3d Iowa volunteers, were accompanied by one piece of artillery, a six-pound gun belonging to Schwartz’ Battery. The gun came early into action, and so terrible was the fire upon it that it was compelled to fall back, with the loss of many killed and wounded. The shifting of the scene of strife threw the ground upon which the gun had stood again into our possession, when a member of the battery named Schelling, was found standing with a rammer in his hand, unconscious of anything going on around him. He was brought off the field, immoveable as a statue. When he arrived in this city he was still un-conscious. An examination indicated no wound, no concussion or compression.—The pupils of the eye were natural—the position of the body would remain as placed. He neither ate nor drank except by artificial means. He showed no sign of sleep, save by his breathing. He died on the seventeenth day after the battle. He was said to have been an Austrian and an old soldier. Dr. Thorne, who was in charge of the general hospital here at the time, and from whom we obtained the particulars, is of opinion that Schelling died from mere fright.—"Kansas City Journal".