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Letter From David Hick.

37TH ILLINOIS REGIMENT.
Booneville, Mo.,
Wednesday, Nov. 20th, 1861.

MR. EDITOR: — The battle of Booneville is no doubt in the recollection of many of your readers. The great and good General Lyons, who met his death-blow in the battle of Springfield, was the general who made havoc here amongst the rebels, and cleared this vicinity of the principal secession leaders.

Since the retreat of the rebel, Price, from Springfield, on the arrival of our army there, this place and miles around has become stronger in secession forces than heretofore. Rebel soldiers returning from Price's army into this locality are of daily occurrance, and collecting themselves together to have another shy at Booneville, their strong point on the Misssouri.

Col. Barnes' 27th Illinois is here in command from Gen. Pope's brigade, and captured last week, a few miles from Booneville, eight notorious rebel soldiers of Price's army, one a surgeon and one a captain, who had left Price since the battle at Springfield, and were practicing in this neighborhood their nefarious trade of jay-hawking (plundering) guns, pistols and powder. Nineteen barrels were found last night in possession of rebels, supplied by Price, and brought to this post.

Col. Barnes has found the whereabouts of about two wagon loads of powder belonging to the rebels, and will have it here in a few days. This part of Missouri is anything but safe. Col. Barnes, having gained information, a few days ago, that 500 or 600 rebels had joined in camp about 20 miles from Booneville, in Saline county, and intended to try their luck once more, to commence this day, Wednesday, he immediately, on finding how matters stood, sent a midnight dispatch on Monday night to General Pope, at Syracuse, 25 miles from this post, informing the general of this fact. The general thereupon sent off 600 cavalry with three or four pieces of cannon, direct to the rebel camp. We do not know the result.

In haste, yours obediently,
DAVID HICK,
Of Coal Valley.