Daily Democrat And News

Advices from the west are such that the rebel forces under Coffee, Quantrel, Cockerell, Travis and others, which were lately menacing Lexington are in full retreat Southward. They are 4,000 strong and have the two spiked cannon captured from Major Foster at Lone Jack. On Friday last Col. Fitz Henry Warren, of the 1st Iowa cavalry, and Brig. Gen. Blunt, of the Kansas forces are in hot pursuit with 3,500 troops, and 14 pieces of artillery.

Yesterday Col. Warren was ten miles north of Johnstown, Bates county, and Gen. Blunt was two miles south-west of the line, both moving very rapidly. The rebels were one hour ahead of Warren's cavalry.

There is every prospect of the enemy being overtaken and captured or badly whipped at the crossing of the Osage river.

Soon as Col. Houston, commander at Lexington, heard of the defeat of Maj. Foster at Lone Jack he made energetic preparation for the defense of that city. The old fortifications were extended to the river, to enable troops to get water, and all adjacent buildings which might serve as shelter for sharpshooters blown up.

Col. Houston also ordered all the hemp in town to be burned to prevent the rebels from using it as breastworks. The warehouses and hemp thus burned were probably worth $200,000. The hemp factories of McGraw alone were valued at $75,000 on which was an insurance for $23,000 dollars.

The city now is entirely secure against attack.