Greene County, Missouri - Chapter 10: From the Battle of Wilson's Creek to the Close of 1861, 1883

Chapter 10: From the Battle of Wilson's Creek to the Close of 1861

The Southern Army of Occupation - The Bountiful Harvest of 1861 - The Boys in the Gray Jackets - Good-Bye to the Military - Gen. Price Goes to Lexington - Gens Pearce and McCuUoch Go Back to Arkansas - McCulloch Censures the Missourians - "Greene County as Loyal as Boston" - Col. Taylor's Administration - Those Who Cared for the Union Wounded - Life in " Secessia " - Operations in October - Gen Fremont Comes into the County - Zaqonyi's Charge - The March Begun - "The Enemy in Sight" - Refreshments - Capture of Maj. White - The State Guards in Camp - Nearing the Ground - Preparing to Keceive Company - " Forward ! Charge ! " - The Fight Begun - Foley Comes Up - Forming Again - The Second Charge - Victory - Rout of the State Guards - The Scouts and the Irish Dragoons - Into Springfield - "Welcome!" - Killing of Mr. Stephens - Raising the Stars and Stripes over the Court House - Mrs. Worrell's Flag - Back to Fremont - The Fremont Body Guard - Release of Maj. White - Tom Dryden, the Union Messenger Boy - The Flag of Truce Episode - A "Yankee Trick" - Casualties of Zagonyi's Charge - Fremont^ Army Appears - The Neosho Secession Ordinance - Incidents of Fremont's Occupation - His Treaty with Gen. Price - Fremont Superseded by Hunter - Fixing to Fight 25,000 Confederates "in Buckram" - Hunter Appears - Burning of the Old Court House - Flag Presentation - The Ladies of Springfield and Maj. Zagonyi - The Federals Fall Back - Another Exodus of Unionists - Sad Scenes - The Stay of Fremont's Army - Jim Lane and His Jay-Hawkers - Under the Stars and Bars - "Pressing" - Merchant Moss and the Confederate Commissary - Foraging - Arrest of Unionists - Price's Army Again Goes North - The County Occupied by Confederates - Recruiting for the Confederate Cause - Gen. Price and His Army Back for Christmas Dinner.

The Southern Army Of Occupation

Soon after Gens. McCulloch and Price had taken possession of Springfield and Greene county, scouting parties were sent out through the county, and a great deal of forage seized, horses and mules " pressed," and, in some instances, negro slaves forced into service. By and by, notwithstanding McCulloch's proclamation, a number of Union men were made prisoners, brought to Springfield and thrown into jail. Some of these had belonged to Phelps' regiment of Home Guards ; others had not been in any sort of service, but were known to be uncompromising Union men.

There was a most abundant harvest reaped in Greene county in 1861. More bountiful crops were raised this season than had ever been known before. Perhaps it was well this was so. Three or four large armies supplied themselves from the fields, the barns, the granaries and the pastures of the county this year, and after they had wasted and destroyed about as much as they had consumed, there was still something left to feed the citizens. Upon the authority of well-informed persons, it may be stated that the products of the farms of Greene county supplied the inhabitants, and, in great part, the armies of Lyon, Sigel, Fremont, Hunter, and Price and McCulloch for a part of two years, and much of the su])i)lies was carried into the third year. It is said that over $3,000,000 of claims for quartermaster's stores and commissary supplies furnished the Union army by the Union people of the county out of the county's supply, had beea filed up to 1870. What the Confederates seized and appropriated for the use of their forces, can only be estimated, and some place it at a value of $1,000,000; and what the Union troops took from the "disloyal" citizens has never been taken into account. There are no " rebel claims " on file from Greene county.

The wheat crop had been bountiful, but much of it had not been threshed. Two or three threshing machines, ownied by Union men, were known to be in the county. Gen. Price gave orders that the owners of these machines or their employes were not to be arrested, and their horses were not to be " pressed." After the county passed into the undisputed possession of the Southern troops the machines went to work, and following them up came the wagons of the Confederate quartermasters and hauled off" the wheat about as fast as it was threshed to the mills to be ground into flour for the use of the troops who were fighting for Southern independence. The proprietors of the machines were wont to stealthily send word to their Union neighbors and brethren not to be in a hurry to have their threshing done, but to Avait until a " more convenient season," and it so happened that the farmers of the county who were secession in sentiment had more of their wheat taken by Price's men than had the Union men.

The Boys In Gray

Very many of the people of the county gladly welcomed the Southern troops as their deliverers, and nearly all classes sought to make friends of them. The Louisianians and Texans were great favorites. People came from all parts of the county to visit the camps about Sprmgfield, and all called on the men from Louisiana. Some of the principal Southern oflicers, Missourians and Confederates both, sent for their families to join them at Springfield, and there were many joyful reunions. The town was almost a vast hospital, and many a mother and father came to nurse a sou, many a wife to care for a husband, many a daughter to care for a brother or father.

Yet sad as were the scenes in all parts of the town, there were found time, opportunity, and inclination for festivities and jollities, for social pleasures and pastimes, for merry-making and for lovemakino-. Grim-visa^ed War for a brief season smoothed his wrinkled front, and there was many a sound of revelry by night, and b}'^ day as well.

Gen. Price's headquarters, in the Graves house, on Boonville street, well across "Jordan," and McCuUoch's headquarters, at the house of the widow of Gen. N. E. Smith, on Boonville street, east side, near the public square, were resorted to by hundreds of both sexes from all i)arts of the county, anxious to see the two great military chieftains, if for no other reasons.

The troops were camped all about the town. Some of the encampments were on where is now the western part of the city ; some across " Jordan," between " Old Town " and North Springfield ; some out on Gov. Phelps' farm ; some at the Fulbright spring. Here they were visited daily b}^ ladies and others from the city and surrounding country. Pretty soon a large portion of McCuUoch's army went into camp near the Pond Spring, west of town, where McCulloch had his headquarters for a time.

Good-Bye To The Military

After a season of about three weeks of rest, of refreshment, of binding up of wounds, of recruiting, Gen. Price's army prepared to leave Springfield and Greene county for other fields where battles were to be fought and laurels were to be won. Lane and Moutgomerv were at Ft. Scott and other points on the border of Kansas, making incursions into Missouri and doing damage to the secessionists and the secession cause. Far up to the northward, across the Missouri river, in different portions of North Missouri, were considerable armies of State Guards eager to cross the river and to come to the hel[) of their secession brethren under Gem Price. Gen. Tom Harris and Col. Martin Greene had a rather large and efficient brigade in Northeast Missouri ; Cols. Boyd, Saunders, Patton, Childs and Wilfley had regiments, and Capt. Kelly had a battery, all in Northwest Missouri, while smaller detachments were in nearly every county north of the river awaiting the opportunity to rally under the flag of the grizzly bears borne by Gen. Price and the men who had fought under him at Wilson's Creek.

army of Gen. Price lay the Missouri river, and along the Missouri was stretched a cordon of Federal military posts keeping watch and ward that no troops bearing arms for the Southern cause might cross. At Kansas City, at Lexington, at Glasgow, at Boonville, at Jefferson City, and so on to the mouth of the river, Federal garrisons were keeping the fords. To make a demonstration in this direction in order to release these isolated recruits and strengthen his army, and to pay his respects to the jay hawkers along the Kansas border, Gen. Price resolved to move his army to the north.

Accordingly about the 22d of August Gen. Price's army struck its tents in and about Springfield and pointed its colors to the north. The greater portion of the Greene county men were left in Springfield as a garrison. Some of them went along as volunteers and were in the fight at Lexington, and, as everywhere else, gave a good account of themselves. A portion of the troops took the Bolivar road and were at Bolivar, Aug, 26th, but the majority went by way of Mt, Vernon. The objective point was Lexington, but it was not designed to allow the Kansas troops to gather and follow in the rear. Therefore the army moved in a sort of curve toward the west. On the route, at Drywood creek, in Vernon county, and about fifteen miles from the eastern border of Kansas, Rains' division had a skirmish on the 7th of September with some Kansas troops under Lane and Montgomery, brushed them out of the way, and drove them across the line to Ft. Scott, with but small loss on either side. Capt. Bledsoe of the artillery was here wounded. Five days later Price's army invested Col. Mulligan with 2,800 Federals at Lexington. On the 20th Mulligan surrendered.

Within a day or two after the departure of Gen. Price the forces under Gen McCuUoch left the county, going to Cassville, thence (some of them) into the Indian Territory and from thence to Fayetteville ; a detachment or two remained in McDonald count3^ McCulloch's withdrawal was occasioned partly because of the expiration of the term of service of a large number of the Arkansas troops, who demanded to be sent home, and partly pursuant to orders received from Polk and Hardee, who, it is said, received orders from Richmond that no more Confederate help was to be given to Missouri until she should secede. And so away went the gray-coated Louisianiaiis, the long-haired sombrero-crowned Texans, and the " wild and woolly" Arkansans, with McCulloch and Mcintosh and Greer and Pearce and all the rest of them. Col. Hindman,with the Arkansas men whose time had expired, left August 21st.

* * * I am in no condition to advance, or even to meet an enemy here,having little ammunition or supplies of any kind, * * * and will in consequence shorten ray lines by falling back to the Arkansas line, near the Indian Territory. * * * We have little to hope or expect from the people of this State. The force now in the field is undisciplined and led by men who are mere politicians - not a soldier among them to control and organize this mass of humanity. The Missouri forces are in no condition to meet an organized army, nor will they ever be while under their present leaders, I dare not join them in my present condition, for fear of having my men completely demoralized. We lost at least 300 stand of arms in the battle of the 10th, taken by their straggling camp followers from my killed and wounded, and before the engagement they borrowed of Gen. Pearce 600 more, none of which they would return after the fight was over. They stole the tents my men left at Cassville (to facilitate their march), and brought them after us the next day on the same road. In a word they are not making friends where they go, and from all I can see we had as ivell be in Boston, as far as the friendly feelings of the inhabitants are concerned.^ [Rebellion Record, Series I, vol. 3, p. 672].

On his departure for J^exington Gen. Price left Col. T. T. Taylor in command at Springfield, with perhaps 500 men under him. Col. Taylor had a great many Union citizens brought before him on charges of giving aid and comfort to the enemy, in various ways, as having belonged to the Union Home Guard, giving information to Lyon and Sigel, having arms about their premises, etc. Col. Taylor was usually very reasonable, and unless a man's Unionism was of a flagrant character, he was pretty apt to get ofi" with a slight reprimand, only a few, comparatively, being put in jail. Meantime scouting and "pressing" went on with reasonable vigor, and the secession transportation department and its corninissariat came to be pretty well supplied.

On the 8th of September Col. Taylor sent a letter to Gen. Fremont at St. Louis asking for an interpetation of the latter's order in his celebrated proclamation of August 30, that "all persons who shall be taken with arms in their hands within these lines shall be tried by court martial and if found guilty will be shot." Taylor wished to know if Fremont really meant what he said, and if his order applied to wounded prisoners as well as to sound ones, adding that he had several hundred wounded Union prisoners under his control in the hospitals at Springfield, and since Fremont's singular proclamation he was at a loss to know how to treat them ! Gen. Fremont replied on the 14th, saying to Taylor, among other things :- " You have wholly misapprehended the meaning of the proclamation. * * * I desire it to be clearly understood that the proclamation is intended distinctly to recognize all the usual rights of an open enemj^ in the field, and to be in all respects strictly conformable to the ordinary usages of war. * * * It was not prepared with any purpose to ignore the ordinary rights of humanity with respect to wounded men, or to those who are humanely engaged in alleviating their sufferings. " The Federal wounded at Springfield were not shot, as indeed they were never intended to be, but it is to be hoped that Fremont was enabled in some degree to understand the ridiculous position in which he had placed himself by his foolish proclamation.

Col. Taylor will ever be gratefully remembered by the wounded Union soldiers left in Springfield after Wilson's Creek. Of his generous conduct toward the stricken prisoners Surgeon S. H. Melcher l)ears this testimony : " Col. T. T. Taylor, who had command of the post, was very kind to us. He furnished salt to the hospital, when it was impossible to procure it from other sources, greatly to the disgust of some of the mem})ers of his command, who thought the Federal prisoners were not ' worth their salt.' Col. Taylor was as gallant and brave aii officer as he was chivalrous and generous."

Those Who Cared For The Federal Wounded

Surgeon Melcher, it will be remembered, was one of the surgeons in charge of the Federal wounded. Speaking of the kindness shown the wounded men under his care by the citizens of Springfield, he says: "The ladies and gentlemen of Springfield were very good to our wounded. I cannot remember the names of all of them,but some of them were Mrs. Col. Marcus Bojal and her two danghtei's, one of Avliom is now Mrs. Lula Kennedy ; Mrs. Mary Phelps ; Mrs. Crenshaw, Mrs. Worrell, Mrs. Graves, Mrs. Waddill, Mrs. Beal, Mrs. Jameson, Messrs. Smith, Henslee, and Wm. Massey. "

Of a special valuable service rendered by the latter gentleman Dr. Melcher writes: "During the last month of our suffering, before Fremont's arm}' arrived, I was entireh' out of funds [the $2,500 left by Sturgis with Dr. Franklin having become exhausted] and had no way to procure food for the 200 wounded from tli(^ Wilson's Creek battle, the Confederates, with the single exception of Col. Taylor, having never furnished us anything. William Massey came to me one day, and said that he and others knew we were in sore need, and that he wanted to help us. I told him I did notknowhowhe would ever be repaid. Mr. Massey said that I could have any money I needed by simply giving him my individual note for the amount, trusting to the government to some time repay him. Well knowing at the time that I had no authority to do so, I accepted his generous offer, and the many hundreds]of dollars that Mr. Massey supplied me with from time to time kept the wounded in comparative comfort, so far as rations were concerned. When Fremont arrived, by the aid of Surgeon Joseph K. Barnes (now ex-Surgeon-General Barnes, U. S. A.^), I was able to prepare vouchers and repay Mr. Massey, and also Mr. James Vaughan and Mr. Smith, who assisted in burying our dead. This act of Mr. Massey's, kind, liberal, and patriotic, rendered during all the uncertainties of 1861, should be recorded in the History of Greene County."

Of favors rendered by some of the people of Springfield of Confederate sympathies. Dr. Melcher further testifies: "The citizens of Springfield, generally, some of whom strongly sympathized with the Confederates, treated us kindly. Of Dr. Barrett I will say that he was always represented to me as in full sympathy with the rebellion, but never, by word or deed, did I ever know or hear of anything but gentlemanly, courteous conduct toward all - and I saw and heard a good deal of him."

As the month of September passed and the month of October wore away, Greene county settled down to something like its former condition of peace and quietude. The secession flag and the Confederate banner floated over the county unchallenged and undisturbed, and Springfield was quite a recruiting depot for a time, but matters were generally quiet throughout the county, and business began to be carried on as usual.

From time to time detachments of State Guards, or secession troops,, appeared and camped in different portions of the county on their way to join Gen. Price, who abandoned Lexington Sept. 30, and retreated southward to the Osajre river and from thence still further into Cedar, Vernon, Jasper and Newton counties. Occasionally, too, Union men slipped out of the lines and made their way to Rolla and enlisted either in Phelps' re«»iment or Col. Boyd's 24th Missouri Infantry, making up at that place. These two regiments were composed largely of Greene county men.

The First Part Of October, 1861

During the period covered by the first half of the month of October, 1861, alfairs in Greene county and this portion of the State were in a very disturbed condition. Some unimportant but rather exciting military operations were performed, and the air again began to be full of " rumors of wars."

About the 10th of October occurred the '* Shanghai fight," to the northwest of this county, forty miles or more, between a force of Kansas troops, under Montgomery, and a detachment of Price's army. Montgomery fell back on Greenfield. From reports brought by citizens of Springfield to Rolla, and published in certain newspapers of the State shortly afterward, there was a very unhappy condition of affairs in this quarter at that time. It is stated that the secession forces at Springfield were kept in a constant state of alarm for several nights after the "Shanghai fight," in apprehension of an attack from the Kansas " Jayhawkers," known to be roving about the country to the north and northwest.

On one occasion the secession camp at Springfield Avas alarmed by the report that the Jayhawkers were coming, sure enough, in full force. The baggage train was thereupon rushed to the public square, and placed under a strong guard, while the troops (believed to have been a force under Col. T. T. Taylor) went out to Owens' farm, then a mile and a half north of town, formed in line of battle, resting on their arms all night. One piece of information is to the effect that Col. Taylor took a detachment of his men and went northward some distance, to reconnoiter, but returned upon learning that there was no danger. The people were informed that Fremont's army, which had been reported to l)e on the march towards Greene county, had retreated to Jefferson City.

Soon after, however, came the news that Price had crossed the Osage river at Papinsville, and was retreating southward. This indicated that the Federal troops were still advancing in formidable force, notwithstanding it was given out that Gen. Price was only falling back to get into a section of country well supplied with provisions. There was much uneasiness among the secessionists at Springfield,

At about this time many Union men of Greene and other counties adjacent found it convenient to leave for Rolla, the nearest Federal military post promising security. Capt. Gallaway, of Taney county, commander of a company formerly of Plielps' regiment of Home Guards, had disbanded his men and they were being chased through tiie country hy detachments of Freeman's State Guards and other secession troops. The captain himself was killed on the 29th of September. A number of men from Douglas county under Capt. Martindale went to Rolla and joined Col. Boyd's 24th Missouri.

The fall of Lexington was a serious blow to the Union cause in Missouri, and, as in the case of Lyon at Wilson's Creek, Gen. Fremont was severely censured for failing to reinforce it. He was assailed with charges of incapacity, extravagance in expenditure, and a penchant for grandiloquent proclamations and much pomp and circumstance.

Feeling veiy keenly the losses of Lyon, the battle ot Wilson's Creek, and Mulligan's men at Lexington, - and feeling also the stinging criticisms npon his conduct made by people all over the country, and apprehensive that Gen, Price would now march on Jefferson City and heaven knew where else, Fremont determined to take the field in person, with the hope of defeating Price before McCulloch, who had retired into Arkansas and had gathered a goodsized army, could come to his assistance. With this in view, on the 27th of September, Gen. Fremont put in motion for Southwest Missouri from Tipton, Jeiferson City, and other points in that quarter, an army of more than 20,000 men, including perhaps 5,000 cavalry and 86 pieces of artillery, under Gens. Hunter, Pope, Sigel, McKinstry, and Asboth.

The order of march included the forces of Lane and Sturgis, who were to leave Kansas and join Fremont's forces on the Osage. Springfield was the objective point. Gen. Hunter was to march via Versailles, McKinstry from Syracuse, Pope from near Boonville, and Sigel from Sedalia. The march be<i:an in real earnest about the 15th of October. On the 22d the troops crossed the Osage at Warsaw, having been engaged for four or five days in bridge building. From the Osage the route to Springfield was to be by way of Bolivar. Sigel was in the lead ; Asboth brought up the rear.

About the 30th of September Gen. Price's army fell back from Lexington, marching south toward Arkansas, by way of Warrensburg, Rose Hill, Clinton, Osceola, and other towns in Johnson, Henry, St. Clair and other counties on and near the border, keeping to the front and west of the Federal forces, and watching their movements very carefully. Gov. Jackson, in a proclamation issued at Lexington Sept. 2(5, had. convened the Logishiture of the State to meet at the Masonic Hall in Neosho, October 21, to determine for the people of Missouri wdiether it be proper now to dissolve the constitutional bt)nd which binds us to the government of the United States, when all other bonds between us are broken," etc., and toward Neosho,^ probably to protect the Legislature, went Price and his army.

Zagonyi'S Charge

While the army of Gen. Fremont lay along the Pomme de Terre river, about 50 miles to the north of Springfield, Maj. Charles Zagonyi, in command of Fremont's Body Guard, an organization irregularly enlisted, .and numbering three companies of near 100 men each, received orders from the general in command to take a detail from each of the companies of his own command, and, uniting with Major Frank J. White's battalion of '* Prairie Scouts," proceed to Springfield by a forced march, and if possible surprise and capture the place. Two citizens from the northern part of this county had made their way to Gen. Fremont's camp, and, after much difficulty in obtaining an audience with " His High Mightiness," who was surrounded by as many guards and as difficult of access as a czar, informed him that the force of secession troops in Springfield did not then exceed 500 men, the most of whom were poorly armed .

The March Begun

Thursday evening, October 24, at about 9 o'clock, when it was very dark, the command started. At daybreak, Friday morning, Zagonyi had reached a point five miles north of Bolivar, and here he halted for breakfast and to rest and feed the horses. Here Maj . White, who with his " Scouts," numbering 154 men, had been first ordered on the expedition by Gen. Sigel, became too unwell to sit on his horse, and at Zagonyi's suggestion remained a short time at a farm house, and then pushed on in a carriage accompanied by a lieutenant and five men as an escort.

The Enemy In Sight

Proceeding toward Springfield Maj. Zagonyi saw no enemy or sign of one until within about eight miles of town, up in Robberson township, when a squad of some ten or fifteen armed men were discovered taking wheat from a barn on the prairie near by. A platoon of the Body Guard was sent after them, and some of them were captured ; the others succeeded in making good their retreat through the neighboring woods. One was badly wounded by saber cuts, and taken to Mr. Daniels' for treatment. It was then ascertained that the men were a foraging party from a considerable force of State Guards at Springfield. Farther on, but in t he same neighborhood, Maj. Zagonyi learned from Union citizens that this force was much larger than had been expected, but it was resolved to press on at all hazards.

At Josiah Burney's still-house, on Sac river, in section 33-30-22, Robberson township, a detachment of the Federals are reported as having halted "twenty minutes for refreshments," and in twenty minutes were ready to charge and to fight Price's entire army if necessary ! The farther they progressed the braver and more reckless they became, and though the citizens of whom they inquired were emphatic in their statements that the force in Springfield numbered 1,000 or 1,200, yet they demanded to be led forward instantly, expressing their ability to " clean out " any force numbering not more than four to one. Zagonyi's guide, W. P. Cox, Esq., of Christian countj^ emphaticall}'^ denies this statement, and says no still-house was visited and no whisky drank before the fight, to his knowledge.

Capture Of Maj. White

Meantime Maj. White, who was coming along in his carriage, reached the forks of a road, and chancino; not to take the one leadinfr to the right, which Zagonyi had followed, went on until when near Springfield he and his escort were suddenly surrounded by a strong detachment of State Guards and made prisoners. The major states that he broke his own sword, and that one of his escort refused to surrender and had to be pulled from his horse by his captors. The major blamed his capture upon Zagonyi, who, he says, should have left a picket at the forks of the road to direct him which one to take. The party was taken to the main camp just west of Springfield, where,

Maj. White states, they were surrounded by a crowd of excited secession soldiers, some of whom cocked their revolvers and proposed to *' shoot can not be learned ^ ), interfered and protected them. Maj. White was quite sick and cursed and swore at his captors for disturbing him in his condition.

The State Guards In Camp

The secession forces at Springfield were encamped just west of town, on the Mt. Vernon road, about one mile and a quarter from the public square, and on both sides of the road. They numbered not far from 1,000 men, about 800 of whom were cavalry, the remainder were infantry. They were very well supi)lied wiLh baggage wagons, tents, etc., but for the most part were poorly armed. They were new troops principally and had seen but little if any service. Their arms were shotguns, rifles, revolvers, etc. Some of them had no arms at all. These forces were under the general command of Col. Julian Frazier, of Wright county,'' and were composed of the cavalry battalion of Col. Miscal Johnston, the infantry battalion of Col. Schnable, and the companies or battalions of Capt. Hawthorn, of Dallas county, Capt. Wickersham, of Laclede, and Col. Turner's. The men were chiefly from counties east and northeast of this. Col. Julian Frazier was the senior colonel. Col. J. A. Schnable was next in rank. Lieut. Col. Turner was in command of the forces at Springfield. Col. John H. Price, of this county, was in Springfield at this time in person, but without any considerable number of his command.

The forces in camp had been warned of the Federal approach by those of the foragers who escaped when the attack was made upon them at the wheat granaries up in Robl)erson township. Preparations were at once made to receive the attack. A force of riflemen (infantry) were placed in ambush in the woods bordering the road that skirted the camp, perhaps 500 of the cavalry (Frazier's) were formed on the open ground of the encampment, and the remainder were ambushed in a cornfield and in the thickets at the rear.

South of Sac river Zagonyi left the Bolivar road and struck across the country in a southwest direction until he came on the Grand prairie. In a short time he procured the services of Jabez Townsend, a strong Union citizen, to guide him over the Carthage road and upon the enemy's camp. The road was reached about four miles west of Springfield.

Nearing The Ground

Zagonyi had pressed on, coming over the main Carthage road, until he arrived within a short distance from town. The ground not being favorable for oifensive operations with cavalry, after a consultation with his guide, Parker Cox, the major resolved to cross over the prairie to the westward and come into town over the Mt. Vernon road. This maneuver was successfully accomplished, but upon arriving within about three miles of town some citizens gave information that "the rebels, two thousand strong," were drawn up and prepared to fight!

Preparing To Receive Company

The ground selected by the secession troops for their reception of the Federals was in the immediate vicinity of their camp, on the Mt. Vernon road, in and about the fair grounds - as they then were. The road was the same over which Lj'on had marched on his way to the fatal field of Wilson's Creek, and by another singular coincidence the same Wilson's creek, here as a mere brook, however, ran through the lot in which the engagement was to and did take place. As Zagonyi was to come in from the west, Johnston and Frazier and Schnable had scattered skirmishers throughout the dense woods or chapparal on either side of the lane along which the Federals Avere to pass. The woods and rough bushy ground to the south of the road was also pretty well filled with shot-gun men. Another detachment guarded the train, holding possession of the fair ground, then surrounded by a high board fence. The main body of the force, however, was drawn up somewhat in the form of a hollow square, in an enclosure to the north, the greater portion of the infantry lying along a high Virginia rail fence, running nearly to the creek and also at the head of the field bordering on the woods ; the cavalry - or much of it - was on the other side of the field, also supported by the forest.

The only point of attack for Zagonyi was down the lane on the right, and the enemy were so disposed as to command this approach perfectly. If the secession infantry should stand, it would go hard with the blue-coats. There were deadly marksmen lying behind the trees and lurking in the bushes ; a long line of footmen stood upon the summit of the slope, and had only to step backward but a few paces into the thicket to be inaccessible to any cavalry, and there were

It was now between 3 and 4 o'clock in the afternoon. The command was given, '- Forward! " In a brisk trot the Federals passed the fair grounds. Now they are at the corner of the lane where the wood begins ; it runs close to the fence on the left for a hundred yards, and beyond it can be seen the white tents of the secession camp. They were half way past the forest when ^^ Crack! crack! crack!'' sharp and loud the shot-guns broke out upon the head of the column. A number of horses staggered, and some of the riders reeled, but on pressed the troop cheering and shouting. At the farther corner of the wood, Zagonyi saw the array drawn up to receive him. There was but one thing to do - run the gauntlet; gain the cover of the hill and the shelter of the creek bank, then re-form and charge up the steep. Checking his horse but a moment, these thoughts flashed through his mind. Waving his saber over his head, the fiery Hungarian call out, in his broken English, ^* Forwarts! Vollow me! (9^aZ-LOPE ! " and away dashed the troopers headlong down the declining stony road.

The first company and most of the second of the Body Guard followed. From the left scores of rifles and shot-guns sent out a volley of bullets and buckshot. Half a dozen of the troopers clutched wildly at the air and fell from their saddles, while the riderless horses ran madly against the fences. Farther down the hill flew the rest of the command, the guns in the underbrush at the left clearing wide gaps through the ranks. At last the brook was reached and the command halted under the shelter of its banks. Here the men dismounted and, turning about, attacked the fence and soon leveled it to the ground. Zagonyi now saw that only a portion of his men had followed him. '-We are lost!" he exclaimed frantically, and then bestirred himself in trying to extricate his men, while he waited for those who were behind.

Foley Comes Up

The Hungarian did not wait long. Captain Foley, with his company, was soon with him. When Foley had reached the lower corner of the wood and had seen the enemy's position he thought a flank attack might be advantageously made. He ordered some men to dismount and take down the fence, and this was done. But the fire was severe, and Foley saw that the wood was so dense that it could not be penetrated. Then in a moment he resolved to join Zagonyi, and shouted, Forward! ^'' At the same time his lieutenant, a stalwart Kentuckian, called out, " Come on, boys ! Kemeraber old Kentucky ! " and onward galloped the company. Fire on every side of them ! From behind trees - from under the fences - from the bushes. It was a wonder so many escaped. Lieut. Kennedy was wounded, and the other lieutenant, J. W. GofF, got a buckshot in his hip, while bluecoats and bay horses lay pretty thick along the lane, but the greater portion of the company were soon with Zagonyi amid the briers and brambles along the little creek.

Forming Again

And amid the briers and brambles Zagonyi formed the remainder of the Body Guard for a charge on the main body of the enemy, the objective point being a small open space, reaching which it was intended to " spread out " and ride down the concealed enemy in the bushes. The State Guards fired down into the hollow, but the bullets passed harmlessly over the heads of the cavalrymen girding themselves for the final conflict.

Maythenyi'S Dash

At last came the order to advance. Lieut. Maythenyi, another Hungijrian, with thirty men, was ordered to attack Frazier's cavalry. Drawing sabers, away they dashed upon a considerable detachment of Frazier's command, standing "to horse" upon the top of an eminence to the south. A line of fire upon the summit of the hill in front marked the position of the infantry. Right for the center of the cavalry drove Maythenyi and his men. The secessionists wavered, broke, and then scattered in flight through a cornfield in the rear, the riders of the bay horses following them and chasing them through the cornfield and out into the open country - away - away - some into and through Springfield - some one way and some another.

The Second Charge

Zagonyi held the main body well in hand until Maythenyi was fairly at work, and the State Guard cavalry had broken, when he rose in his stirrups, and, swinging his saber, called out: "In open order - charge I " With a sudden rush the horsemen rose out of the bed of the creek and mounted the bank, then sprang away, the line opening out to give the troopers room to use their sword arms. As they charged the line spread out, fan-like, some charging to the right, some to the left, some toward the center, the open space in front. The shot guns and the rifles and the revolvers of the State Gnards were plied vigorously for a few moments, but the onset was not checked. Into the open space some rushed, and, as fast as one can count nine, that number of horses were shot down in an area a rod square.

The great majority of the State Guards now broke and began retreating. A few of the bolder spirits held their ground, and from behind trees kept up a desultory fusilade, resisting all efforts to dislodge them for a few minutes. The Federals charged into the brush more than once and as often fell back, and then opened at random with their revolving rifles, each gun containing six shots. In one of the charges a lieutenant w^as caught around the shoulders by a grapevine, lifted out of his saddle, and hung dangling in the air, until released from his ridiculous position by a comrade's saber-stroke.

Very soon all of the secessionists were in flight, and the Federal troops were after them. Some ran through the fair grounds, others hurried through the cornfield, but the greater part swarmed along the edge of the woods and kept under cover, striving to get to a road that would lead to Gen. Price and safety ^ - to a road that would lead to Neosho or Cassville, even if they had to go around Robin Hood's barn to reach it - while all the time Zagonyi's men were chasing them and beating up the bushes and timber for them and routing them whenever they could be found. One State Guard was killed behind Judge Farmer's barn, cut down with a saber and then shot. Two others were killed nearby. The Prairie Scouts had come up on the Carthage road, through a blind lane running north and south. A great many ran or galloped away for the cover of the town and were chased through the streets and alleys far out on the prairie south and east. Zagonyi went riding about wildl}'^ and cheering enthusiastically, " Come on. Old Kentuck," he shouted to the Kentuckians ; " I am mit you ! "

Meantime what part had Major White's "Prairie Scouts " taken in the fray? The fight is called " ZagoayVs Charge," but the charge was not solely his own. White's command consisted of the two companies of Capt. Charles Fairbanks and Miles Kehoe, L and C, 1st Mo.

Cavalry Volunteers, and the Irish Dragoons, an independent company, under Capt. Patrick Naughton. When Zagonyi made his detour to the right and came upon the main body of the Southrons, Capt. Fairbanks (in command of the detachment at the time, Maj. White being a prisoner), came up with his command in the rear of the Body Guards, the Irish Dragoons, Capt. Naughton, in front, and received the severe fire of Schnable's and Johnston's infantry, and a portion of Frazier's cavalry. Whereupon, it seems they fell back, or as the ofiicial report states " counter-marched," and went towards the west. Some citizens who were near Mr. Newbill's, half a mile west of the fair grounds, and Mr. J. G. Newbill himself, saw a battalion of cavulry gallop back to the west just after the fighting began, then turn about and gallop forward, then in a few moments they came back, then went forward again, and a portion of them went to the northward and got on the Carthage road. It is reasonable to presume that this was White's force. Maj. White himself says that his command made three charges on the flank of the rebel force." ^

In the charge (or one of the charges) made by the Irish Dragoons, Capt. Naughton was shot in the right lung ; Lieut. Patrick Connelly was mortally wounded through the chest ; Private Charles Gilchrist was shot in the arm, and Private Jerrold Connor was shot in the hip. All these belonged to the Irish company. No record can ])e found of the killing or wounding of any of the companies of Fairbanks and Kehoe.

Surgeon Melcher says of the Irish Dragoons : " There was a company under Zagonyi of whose action little mention has been made, although it charged into the thickest of the fight. I refer to the Irish Dragoons, under Capt. Pat. Naughton. I found Capt. Naughton the next day in a house, half a mile or more west of the battle ground, with a bullet in his right lung, from the efiects of which wound he never entirely recovered, and died under my charge in St. Louis in 1873. First Lieutenant Patrick Conle}^ [or Connelly] was struck by two balls, one passing entirely through his body from left to right, and through his right arm, making four holes, and

1 Surgeon S. H. Melcher, in a letter to the writer, says: "The two companies of Prairie Scouts attached to the Body Guard were not in the charge proper. They did not go down the lane, hut fired a few volleys, then swung around by Judge Farmer's and came into the Boonville road at the brick yard, north of Mr. Leedy's, where Dr. Barrett, of Springfield, and mj^self met them. Capts. Fairbanks and Kehoe, who were in command of these companies, then came with us to the hospital at the new court-house, and remained there for half an hour."

then from front to back through his right lung. Mr. Kimbrough and myself found him with these six bullet holes, lying on the ground so much exhausted and chilled as to be unable to speak. Finding there was a spark of life in him, we took him to the hospital, where he was partially restored. He lived eight days, fully conscious to the last."

It has been reported and published that Lieut. Connelly was killed by John Wickersham, a fourteen-year old boy from Lebanon (now of Clinton), a member of his brother's company of State Guards ; but from the statements made to the writer by Mr. Wickersham, and from other evidences, it is plain that this is a mistake. The man killed by young Wickersham was Corporal Norrison [or Norton], of the Body Guard. Wickersham carried off his revolvers and saddle.

The Body Guards galloped up into Springfield, and, after riding wildly about the streets for some time, rode down to the square, liberated the Union prisoners in the jail, and then, as it was nearly dark, and it was not certain but that the secession troops would rally, reform, and turn back upon them with serious eflfect - retreat was commenced. How glad the Union citizens of Springfield were to see the brave troopers when they rode in, gay in their splendid uniforms and flushed with victory ! It is said that a few enthusiastic ladies ran out to the sidewalks, waving flags and handkerchiefs, and kissed the gallant cavaliers, whom they hailed as their deliverers. But the secession ladies are accused of having similarly saluted some of Price's and McCulloch's men when they came in after the battle of Wilson's Creek.

Killing Of Mr. Stephens

The joy of the Union citizens of Springfield at the advent of the Federal troops, with the news that a large army of occupation was on its way, was greatly marred by the killing of one of their number, Mr. John H. Stephens, by a reckless member of the Body Guard. In company with Mr. Thomas Green, Mr. Stephens had started for home, when the fugitive secession troops, followed by the charging Federals, began to enter the town. Mr. Stephens was hurrying homeward by himself, when he was seen by a trooper, who ordered him to halt. Disregarding the command, though it was repeated two or three times, Mr. S. ran on, reached his own premises, opened his gate, stepped inside, and between the gate and the door was shot down and instantly killed. It was a horrible mistake, for which all parties were deeply sorry. Mr. Stephens, in company with Mr. Green and Mr. Peacher, had been standing on top of the court-house watching the fight, and only came down when they saw the troops entering town. Mr. S. was shot through the body and died almost instantly.

Raising The Stars And Stripes

In his official report, Maj. Zagonyi claimed that he raised the United States flag over the court-house before he left town. This was not true. The fact was, according to Dr. Melcher and others, that Zagonyi found the secessionists too many for him, and, learning that they were re-forming on the battle ground in considerable numbers, immediately after the fight, he stayed but a few minutes in town and then started hastily back for Fremont, leaving in his hurry some of his men behind that had been stationed as pickets on St. Louis and South streets.

The flag that was raised over the court-house was borrowed for the occasion, from Mrs. Sophia Worrell, the next morning after the charge, by Dr. Melcher, and, by his direction, two Union soldiers, hospital stewards, - Newton G. Long, Company A, 1st Iowa Infantry, and John V. Bonamie, Company G, 1st Missouri Infantry, - raised the flag on the flagstafi" of the old court-house, which stood in the center of the square. Here the banner of the stars waved until a day or two later, when the court-house was burned. As the fire went up the cupola it burned off" the halyards of the flagstaflf, and the flag itself was borne upward and outward by and through the smoke and flame, and then floated safely to the ground, only slightly injured.

The flag was returned to Mrs. Worrell, and shortly afterwards, when Price's army came in, she wore, it as a skirt to conceal it and keep it from falling into the hands of the Confederates, who were making many inquiries for it of her.

Back To Fremont

As before stated, when Zagonyi's men entered town after thoroughly clearing it of armed " rebels," and releasing the Union prisoners, the majority of them, under Zagonyi himself, retreated to Bolivar and Fremont's army. Probably twenty-five of the command remained behind, however, each man on his " own hook." Some of them stole out to the borders of town and camped quietly where they would not be discovered, and at the first peep of day lodc around to the farmers' houses for breakfast. Others stayed in Springfield and were snugly quartered in feather beds and theii slumbers guarded by loyal Unionists. Dr. Melcher, one of the suroeons left in char<i;e of the wounded, left after the battle of Wilson's Creek, and Dr. Hughes, of White's command, had charge of the Federal wounded, and worked all night, assisted 1)}' some ladies and Union citizens.*

The main body of Zagonyi's command retired to within about five miles of Bolivar, where the main body of Fremont's army was -encamped, and Zagonyi sent the following dispatch to his general : -

General: - I respectfully report that yesterday at 4 p. m., I met at 8[)rino'field about two thousand rebels, formed in line of battle. They ijave me a warm reception, but your guard, with some feeling, made a charire, and, in less than three minutes, the enemy was completely routed. We cleared the city of ever}^ rebel and retired, it being near nifht and not feeling able to keep the place with so small a force. Maj. White's command did not participate in the charges. I have seen charges, but such brilliant bravery I have never seen, and did not expect. Their war cry, " Fremont and the Union," broke forth like thunder. Chari-es Zagonyi,

Headquarters in the Field, ) Near Humansville, Mo., Oct. 26, 1861. 5 Copt. McKeever, Assistant Adjutant General : - Yesterday afternoon Major Zagonyi, at the head of my guard, made a most brilliant <;haro-e upon a body of the enemy, thrown up in line of battle at their cam]) in Springfield, two thousand or two thousand two hundred strong. He completel}' routed them, cleared them from the town, hoisted the national flag on the court-house, and retired upon a reinforcement which he has already joined. Our loss is not great. This successful charge against such very large odds is a noble example to the army. Our advance will occupy Springfield to-night. J. C. Fremont,

* Dr. Melcher writes : "When the Prairie Scouts withdrew, they left thirty or forty wounded and dismounted Body Guards at the hospital. I was 071 the field that night witli Mr. Kimbrough, a well-known merchant of Springfield, and brought in all the wounded on the battlefield. At ten o'clock that night the rebels were still in line on the battle ground."

and it is said that Zagonyi's statement regarding the " Fremont and Union " war-cry is the sheerest nonsense ; that all the " war cries," so-called, uttered by the men were either wild shouts and hallooing, or else expletives, objurgations and epithets not proper to be heard by ears polite or fit for publication in a decorous volume like this.

The Fremont Body Guard

Fremont's Body Guard was an independent organization composed of three companies of cavalry enlisted for the special purpose of protecting the sacred person of Gen. John C, Fremont. The men were from Kentucky, principally, though one company was composed chiefly of clerks and book-keepers of St. Louis. All the men, however, were of good size and well built - strong and active. They were splendidly mounted on tine horses ^mostly bays) and each man was armed with two revolvers, dragoon size, a Colt's revolving rifle, carrying six shots and capable of shooting a mile, and a heavy cavalry saber. Their uniform was rather gorgeou.s, and every man wore a plume in his hat. When some of Frazier's men were afterward rallied and bantered about being " cleaned out" by a force so much their inferior in numbers, they replied, "Well, no wonder they whipped us. We were nearly all just common soldiers, and they were all captains!'' This was the last service ever performed by the guard as an organization. About a month later the War Department refused to recognize the enlistment of the men for the purpose of being solely body guards to any one, and they were mustered out of service.

Release Of Major White

When the first attack was made on the State Guard, in Farmer's pasture, Maj. Frank J. White, who was a prisoner, as has been stated, was hurried away by his guards, and, with his escort, was taken through Springfield, and on to the residence of Mr. D. A. Dryden, some eight miles south of Springfield, across the line, in Christian county. Here White and his escort, in charge of Capt. Wroton (some say it was Captain Lotspeich), took up quarters for the night. Mr. Dryden was a Union man, but kept quiet and made no sign. After an hour or two, and when it was good and black out of doors, he bade his son Tom, then a lad of twelve or fourteen, to slip out and make his way to Ananias West and other Union men living in the neighborhood, and inform them that some Union prisoners were at Dryden's needing liberation, while their guards were in good condition to be captured.

Away sped Tom, and from house to house he flew through the sparsely settled neighborhood, rousing up the Union men, the most of whom had formerly belonged to Phelps' Home Guards, and soon about twenty of them, Ananias West at their head, and their longhidden guns in their hands, were on their way to Dryden's. The party reached Dryden's at about day-break. Mr. D., of course, was expecting them, and on their first appearance informed the secession captain and his men that the Philistines were upon them in such numbers as would make resistance useless and altogether out of question ; "and besides," said Mr. Dryden, " my family are somewhat frightened already, and I don't want them any further alarmed or disturbed by a fight or skirmish, when there is no use of it." The secessionists surrendered without firing a gun.

In a few minutes the tables were turned. Captivity was led captive ; White and his men were released and Wroton and his men were made prisoners, and soon the entire party, escorted by some of the Home Guards, were on their way to Springfield. Reaching town Maj. White and the Home Guards came directly to the Federal hospital in charge of Dr. Melcher, and reported to that officer. White, being still unwell, went to bed. The Home Guards remained in town but a short time, when, learning from Dr. Melcher that there were no Union troops near only those thqy could see about the hospitals, and knowing that there were plenty of State Guards in the neighborhood, they returned home.

A Flag Of Truce

Sometime after the Home Guards left a flag of truce came in, borne by two doctors or surgeons of the Missouri troops, as is remembered, who reported to Surgeon Melcher, and said they had come to make arrangements for burying their dead, and for an exchange of prisononers, stating that they had Major White, Captain White, and eight soldiers to exchange. Dr. Melcher replied that the dead of the State Guard had already been buried, and the wounded cared for, and as to their having Maj. White a prisoner, they must be mistaken. The Doctor then went to the major's bunk and told him what had passed. "Are there no signs of our army yet?" asked the major. "None at all," returned Dr. Melcher. "Well, let me see them," rejoined White ; "I'll fix them." Rising from his cot the major dressed himself, and marching boldly out in as great style as possible, succeeded in impressing the bearers with an idea that he represented a large force, which, under the command of Gen. Sigel, was encamped just on the outskirts of the city.

White says that it was about noon when he received the flag of truce, and that his total force, pickets and all, at this time consisted of 24 men. He informed the flag-bearers that he was only officer of the day ; that Gen. Sigel was in command and the request would have to be referred to him. (Gen. Sigel was then forty miles away!) In a short time, the major says, a written communication was received, which purported to come from Gen. Sigel, and stated that under certain restrictions the State Guards might send a party to bury their dead. White then detailed some of his men, and under their surveillance those of the Southern dead were buried that had not already been so disposed of.

After a day and a night of terrible anxiety to White and his men as well as to the Union people of Springfield, the advance of Fremont's army arrived, and the precious charges, the city and the jjrisoners, were delivered up to stronger hands.

It is proper to state in this connection that it was Capt. Wroton who had protected Maj. White when the latter was about to be murdered by some hot-headed secessionists of Frazier's camp, who considered him a "d - d jayhawker," and when one of the Home Guards at Springfield ofiered some indignity to Capt. Wroton, the major was prompt to interfere, and to declare that he would shoot down like a dog any man who would harm, ofler to harm, or even insult the gallant officer who had saved him (White) when in deadly peril amongst false brethren.

Some day a novelist will write and a poet will sing of the boy Tom Dryden, who sped through the by-paths among the hills and clifis of the Ozarks, that Indian summer night, twenty-one years ago, on his errand to release the captive Union prisoners who had come into the country to deliver it from the rule of Gen. Price and Gov. Jackson, and to raise again on its soil the old banner of the stars in the place of the flag then "new to the seas." And few romances and few poems recording a single incident of the unhapp}'^ civil war will prove of more interest to the people of Greene county.

Dr. Melcher states that he thinks there was but little if any work loft for the State Guard burial party to do, the Southern dead having all or nearly all been buried by some citizens (of whom John Y. Fulbrightwas one) that morning. However, after the flag of truce episode a defensive force was organized, composed of the dismounted Body Guard, some of the Wilson's Creek wounded, and a few citizens, of whom W^m. Massey was one. All the time Mrs. Worrell's flag was flying over the court-house, and us it could be seen in every direction for some distance, doubtless it was observed by the secessionists and the circumstance strciigthened tiiem in their belief that Federal troops, in formidable numbers, occupied the town.

The wounded of Zagonyi's command and some 24 who had their horses killed or disabled, were left on the field by Zagonyi, and the next day came into town and reported to Dr. Melcher.

The loss in White's command seems to have been confined to one company - Capt. Patrick Naughton's Irish Dragoons. First Lioiit. Patrick Connelly, of this company was mortally wounded, dying soon after. Private Chas. Gilchrist was shot in the arm and Jerrold Coiiuor in the hip.

The commissioned officers of the Bod}^ Guard that were wounded were 1st Lieut. N. Westerburgin the shoulder, and right forefinger shot off; 2d Lieut. J. W. Gofl", in the hip; 1st Lieut. Joseph C. Frock, in the leg ; 1st Lieut. Joseph Kennedy, in the arm and head. R. M. Smith, a Union citizen of Miller count}', who was with the Body Guard, was wounded and taken prisoner.

The loss of the State Guards is reported at from 9 to 23 killed, from 20 to 50 wounded, and about 25 prisoners. No official record was ever made of the losses, and every citizen and every soldier that claims to know anything about the matter has a different story and almost a different estimate. It is hardly, probable, however, that the loss of the secession troops was as severe as that of the Federals.

entered the county and the same day reached Springfield, making a march of about thirty miles in twelve hours. To Sigel's division was assigned the honor of the advance and the distinction of the first entry. How well Sigel knew each street and important place and nearly every house in Springfield ! Doul)tless the town had for him memories at once pleasurable and painful. The Federal army was received by the Unionists as deliverers and October 27 was regarded as a gala day.

Asboth's division arrived three days after Sigel's, and was soon followed by <Ten. Jim' Lane's Kansas brigade. McKinstry's division was then up on the Pomme de Terre, sixty miles away, and Pope and Hunter were still straggling along down from the north, and were thought to be somewhere near Warsaw. Fremont was slightly uneasy. Gen. Price was out at Neosho with a considerable army, and McCulloch was not so fiir away but that he could come up in a day or two, and "the Pathfinder" must have experienced something of the anxiety undergone by Lyon three months previously. But no sudden movement was made by Price - for " Old Pap" never did anything suddenly - and on the 1st and 3d of November Pope came up, reporting that he had marched sixty miles in two days, and McKinstry's division soon followed, and then all was safe.

The Neosho Secession Ordinance

On the 2Gth of October " Claib. Jackson's Legislature," as it was called, met in the Masonic Hall at Neosho, and on the 28th an ordinance of secession was passed by both houses. In the Senate the only vote against it was cast by Charles Hardin, then Senator from the Boone and Callaway district, and afterward Governor of the State, and in the House the onh'^ member voting " no " was Mr. Shambaugh, of DeKalb. According to the records and to Mr. Shambaugh, there were in the Jackson Legislature at the time but 39 members of the House and 10 members of the Senate, when by the constitution a quorum for the transaction f)f business was required to consist of 17 Senators and 67 Representatives. Be that as it ma}^ the secession ordinance and the act of annexation to the Southern Confederac}^ were approved by the Confederate Congress at Richmond, recognized by that portion of the people of Missouri who were in favor of cutting loose from the old Union, and Gen. Price fired a salute in honor thereof. And so those Missourians then and afterwards in arms against the Federal flag became entitled to the name of Confederates ^ and will so be donoiuiiiatcd in future pages of this history, instead of being called " State Guards," " secessionists," " Southern troops," etc., as they have liitherto been spoken of.

Hon. F. T. Frazier, of this county, and then the Senator from this district, was a member of the Neosho convention, and voted for secession. Messrs. Boyd and Headlee, the Greene county Representatives, were in the Federal service at the time.

On the 1st of November after his occupation of Springfield, Gcu. Fremont concluded with Gen. Price a sort of treaty, by the terms of which no arrests whatever on account of political opinions or for the private expression of the same were to be made by either (Confederates or Federals within the State, and all persons then under arrest on such charges were to be released. All citizens who had been driven from their homes because of their political opinions were advised to return with the assurance that they should receive protection from both armies in the field. All bodies of armed men acting without the authority or recognition of either Gen. Fremont or Gen. Price and not legitimatel}' connected with the armies in the field were ordered to disband. Violations of either of the provisions of the treaty subjected the offender to the penalties of military law, according to the nature of the offense. The treaty was signed by Gen. Fremont in person and b}^ Henry W. Williams and D. Robert Barclay, commissioners on behalf of Gen. Price. A second clause provided for the exchange of prisoners " grade for grade," or two officers of lower grade as an equivalent in rank for one of a highergrade, as should be thought just and equitable.

A week later, after Fremont's supersession by Hunter, the latter repudiated the treaty, so far as the Federal authority was concerned, in the following letter to Gen. Price :

General : - Referring to an agreement purporting to have been made between Major Generals Fremont and Price, respectively, * * I have to state that, as general commanding the forces of the United States in this department, I can in no manner recognize the agreement aforesaid, or an}^ of its provisions, whether implied or direct ; and that I can neither issue, nor allow to be issued the "joint proclamation " purporting to have been signed by yourself and Major

Gen. Hunter's reasons for the repudiation of the treaty, as given to the War Department, were that the stipulation that no arrests were to made *' for the mere entertainment or expression of political opinions," if acceded to, would " render the enforcement of martial law in Missouri, or any part of it, impossible, and would give absolute liberty to the propagandists of treason throughout the State." The stipulation confining operations exclusively to " armies in the field," Gen. Hunter said 'would " practically annul the confiscation act passed during the last session of Congress, and would furnish" perfect immunity to those disbanded soldiers of Price's command who have now returned to their homes, but with the intention and under a pledge of rejoining the rebel forces whenever called upon, and furthermore blot out of existence the loyal men of the Missouri Home Guard, who have not, it is alleged, been recognized by act of Congress, and who, it would be claimed, are therefore not ' legitimately connected with the armies in the field.' "

The Home Guards of Greene and surrounding counties were glad that Hunter rejected the Price treaty, since they believed Fremont aimed to destroy their organization, and drive them into the regular Federal service, although a fair construction of the treaty would not indicate any such purpose.

Fremont Superseded By Hunter

On the morning of November 2d, a messenger arrived at Springfield from St. Louis, bearing an order, signed by Gen. Scott, for Fremont's removal from command. He was directed to pass over his command to General Hunter, and to report by letter to the War Department. There is no mistaking the fiict that there was considerable dissatisfaction in the camps, especially among Sigel's and Asboth's divisions, on the receipt of the news that Fremont had been removed, and a deputation of 110 officers from these divisions presented him with an address of sympathy and confidence and asked him to lead them on to battle.

Hunter not having come in up to the evening of November 3d, and a reconnoissance by Asboth's division that day resulting in finding that the Confederates were concentrating in force on Wilson's creek, and McCulIoch's army being reported at Dug Spring, Fremont con- eluded not to abandon his charge, though suspended from office, and, agreeably to the request of his officers, concluded to go out and engage the enemy and fight and win a battle before his successor could get up. Accordingly orders were promulgated for the army to march out on the morning of the 4Lh, against Price and McCulloch (who were believed to have consolidated by that time), and the poor people of Springfield were again terrified with the knowledge that another battle of Wilson's Creek was to be fought - deadlier, bloodier than the first.

Fremont Fixes To Fight

Fremont's order of mai-ch and battle commanded that Asboth should have command of the right wing ; McKinstry the center ; Sigel the left wing, and Pope the reserve. McKinstry's column was to leave camp at 6 o'clock in the morning and proceed by the Fayette ville road to the upper end of the upper cornfield on the left of where Gen. Lyon had made his first attack. Gen. Sigel was to start at 6 o'clock and follow his old trail, except that he was to turn to the right some two miles sooner and proceed to the old stable on the lower end of the lower cornfield. Asboth was to start at half-past 6, and march out on the Mt. Vernon road about five miles, then by a prah'ie road reach the right of a ravine opposite the lower field. Jim Lane was to join Sigel's division and Gen. Wyman was to join Asboth. Pope was to start at 7 o'clock by the Fayette ville road, following McKinstry's division. The different divisions were to come into their positions about the same time, 11 o'clock, at which hour a simultaneous attack was to be made upon the Confederates supposed to be in camp on the old Wilson's Creek battle-ground. Each regiment was to carry three two-horse wagons to transport the wounded. The baggage trains were to be packed and held in readiness at Springfield, where one regiment and two pieces of artillery of Pope's division were to remain as a reserve.

These preparations were reasonably magnificent, and as Fremont's army numbered al)out 30,000 men of all arms, if they had been carried out, would doubtless have secured a complete victory, since the Confederates, it was supposed, did not number, all told, more than 25,000, the most of whom were poorly armed and undisciplined. But the fact that there were not at that time 25,000 men on the old battleground on Wilson's creek, or the half of 25,000, or the half of the half of 25,000, but only a force of observation of some 1,500 Confederate cavalry, who might gallop away in safety in five minutes.

might have interfered somewhat with Gen. Fremont's phms and expectations, which were ultimately to be, as he wrote himself, to *' overthrow the rebels at one blow, push on into Arkansas to Little Rock, then on to Memphis, Vicksburg, and New Orleans," and only stop, perhaps, when the waters of the Gulf of Mexico should wash his feet and say to him, " thus far shalt thou come and no farther."

Hunter Appears

But while Fremont and his generals were in consultation at midnight of the 3d, Hunter came in, and Fremont turned over everything to him. With Hunter's instructions to assume command was an order from the War Department to fall back to Rolla, as the Confederates in Southwest Missouri were only maneuvering to draw out the Federals and keep them employed out here in great numbers, while Gen. Pillow's army should steal up the Mississippi from Columbus, Ky., capture St. LouiSj and work incalculable mischief! There was scarcely a shadow of truth in this supposition, as was afterwards learned, and it was only a revival of the old idea of Fremont's which caused him to hold back reinforcements from Lyon the previous July and August.

Upon receipt of the order dismissing him from command. Gen. Fremont issued an address to the army, of which the following is a verbatim copy : -

Soldiers of the Mississippi Army - Agreeably to orders this day received, I take leave of you. Although our army has been of sudden growth, we have grown up together, and I have become familiar with the brave and generous spirits which you bring to the defense of your country, and which makes me anticipate for you a brilliant career. Continue as you have begun, and give to my successor the same cordial and enthusiastic support with which you have encouraged me. Emulate the splendid example which you have already before you, and let me remain as I am - proud of the noble army which I have thus far labored to bring together. Soldiers, I regret to leave you. Most sincerely I thank you for the regard and confidence you have invariably shown me. I deeply regret that I shall not have the honor to lead you to the victory which you are just about to win ; but I shall claim the right to share with you in the joy of every triumph and trust always to be remembered by my companions in arms.

and the most of his staflf returned with him, and soon were dismissed from service. Ziigonyi's guardsmen were not recognized as having any official existence, and soon were compelled to lay aside their sabers.

Burning Of The Old Court-House

On the morning of October 27, Fremont's advance guard. Major Holman's battalion of sharpshooters, entered Springfield and occu_ pied the place. A few prisoners had been captured and confined in the old brick court-house, then standing in the center of the square. One of them was an insane man, who had been arrested while wandering about cheering for " Jeff Davis, Jesus Christ and the Devil.'' In some way the poor maniac contrived to fire the building, and when discovered the flames had made such headway that with the means at hand they could not be extinguished, and it was soon consumed. The irresponsible incendiary clapped his hands as the flames rolled up and the building went down, and praised God heartily for " l)urning up a million devils and destroying the souls of ten thousand body- 1 - e ! " The court-house was burned on the evening of October 28th.

Flag Presentation

Upon the entrance of Gen. Fremont's army and the reappearance of his Body Guard and Maj. White's command, certain Union ladies of Springfield, Mrs. Sophia N. Worrell, Mrs. W. H. Graves and others, determined to present a flag to the Body Guard, in recognition of its services in assisting so materially in the recapture of the town, and in admiration of the gallant charge and fight made a few days before. In some way a portion of White's command learned of the ladies' intentions, and, with certain smooth representations, induced them to believe that they, the " Prairie Scouts, " were entitled to receive the flacr. The ladies as^reed to o^ive it to them, and so straightway up rode White's command to Mrs. Worrell's grocery, then, as now, on the south side of the public square, and received the banner^ a very beautiful one, from the hands of the fair donors.

Meantime Zagonyi had been informed that he was to be presented with a flag and at the head of the Body Guard was just riding up on the square to receive it when he saw White's men bearing off the prize, and he wheeled about and returned to his quarters, purpling the air with Hungarian profanity. The poor ladies, when they heard of their mistake, were in a great state, to be sure ! To make all the amends possible they resolved to present another fine flag to the

Body Guard, and accordingly so nc^tified Major Zagonyi. But the liery Hungarian was as pouty as he was fiery, and would not receive the banner after what had passed, and so sent the ladies this reply :

Headquarters Fremont Body Guard, > Springfield, Nov. 2, 1861. 5 To Mrs, Worrell and other Ladies of Springileld : Ladies : - Your flattering offer to present a flag to the Fremont Body Guard is appreciated and gratefully acknowledged. Some intimation of such a gift reached me late yesterday afternoon, and I much regret the mistake or misunderstanding which prevented a proper recognition of your kindness at that time. But it is with far profounder sorrow that I find myself compelled to decline the proffered presentation. It would be idle to affect ignorance of the fact that the same distinction has been conferred upon a body of men who, though placed under my command upon the occasion to which your partiality obliges me to refer, deserted me at the very moment of conflict, and ex[)osed the oflBcers and men of the Body Guard to a fate which the hand of Providence alone could avert. The honor of the soldiers under my command, dear to me as my own, I must not permit to be sullied or tarnished in the slightest degree. The Union women of SpringHeld are too noble and generous to misinterpret this rejection of a testimonial which, under other circumstances, would be so thankfully received and so highly prized. To the forlorn band which entered this city a few days ago, they gave a cordial welcome ; to its patriotism their approval has added zeal ; their sympathy and tenderness are now softening: the tedious confinement of its wounded, and thev will pardon that surplus self-'-espect which forbids the Body Guard to share the rewards of a victory with those who refused to participate in its hazards. Respectfully,

The Federals Fall Back Another Exodus

November the 9th the large and well-equipped Federal army of 30,000 men, composed of infantry, cavalry and artillery, - Missourians, Kansans, lowans, lUinoians, Indianians, Wisconsins, Ohioans - the best army ever west of the Mississippi river, began falling back from Springfield from before a theory ! It was said that Hunter acted in obedience to orders from Washington sent along with the dispatch relieving Fremont, for, as previously stated, it had been learned at Washington that Price and McCulloch were only "drawing on" the Federal forces to prevent their concentration along the Mississippi, up which the decisive Confederate movement was to be made.

That Gen. Price did not intend to fight was shown by his falling back whenever the Federals advanced upon him. Two days before the main body of the Federal army left Springfield for Rolla, Price fell back from Cassville to near the Arkansas line. At about the same time, or November 7, Gen. Grant, then a brigadier, went down from Cairo and attacked a portion of Gen. Pillow's command, in camp at Belmont, opposite Columbus, Ky., and a considerable fight came off. Gen. Grant was well posted as to the designs of the enemy in his front, and he says he attacked Pillow '* to prevent him from sending out reinforcements to Price's army in Missouri, " and it is now well known that Gen. Price had asked for and was expecting reinforcements from Gens. Pillow and Polk to enable him to resist the Federal advance in this quarter.

November 8th the divisions of Sigel and Asboth pushed forward to Wilson's creek, not with design of attacking Price and McCulloch, but as a feint to cover the Federal retreat from Southwestern Missouri. The day following, the rear guard of the army marched out of Springfield, en route for St. Louis, via Rolla ; and thus ended the magnificent campaign which had been three months in preparation and had engaged the time and attention of so many minds. The ending was simply ridiculous. No wonder Gen. Price was astonished and incredulous, suspicioning a " Yankee trick," when he heard of it.

All Southwest Missouri was abandoned indefinitely to the Confederates, and not caring to trust themselves to their tender mercies once more, hundreds of Union families left the country and followed the army in great distress and disappointment. Knowledge that there was to be a retreat coming to many families, they set out in advance of the army. The road was filled for miles with the wagons and the flocks and herds of the refugees, and the hegira was something wonderful. From Greene, Christian, Stone, Lawrence, Polk, Wright, Webster and Dallas and other counties, there went entire communities. When Fremont's large and magnificent army had come into the country, these people had imagined that Federal domination was to be made permanent, and they had been greatly elated ; but now, in only a few days, everything was changed. The army had come in with a great waving of banners, and amid a fanfare of bugles, the blare of brass bands, the beating of drums, and all the pomp and circumstance of glorious war ; and now it was sneaking away without firing a gun or having one fired at it, and the multitudes who had welcomed its coming with such general acclaim, were fain to follow it. And so they went. ' Gathering such articles as were most urgently needed and could be easily transported, the Union people of Greene packed up hastily, and abandoning their homes, set out in mournful processions for the Northland, where they expected to find peace and security. And as they left home, many, like the poor Arcadians, were -

Pausing and looking back to gaze once more on their dwellings, Ere they were shut from sight by the winding road and the woodland. Close at their sides their children ran and urged on their oxen, While in their little hands they clasped some fragments of playthings.

Many of the families of Greene county who went away with Hunter's army did not return until the war was over, A few never came back. Some of the merchants of Springfield who packed up their goods and went to Rolla, engaged in business at that point with good success. A few of the refugees, traveling and camping by themselves, were set upon by bushwhackers that infested the roadway and robbed. The family of Mr. Thomas Green, whose home was two miles south of Springfield, were plundered one night when up in Phelps county, but the robbers lay down to sleep after they had obtained their " loot," and two of Mr. Green's daughters stole out and made their way to a large camp of refugees, two miles distant, and help coming up, the brigands were secured.

The Stay Of Fremont' S Army

While Fremont's army did not remain long in this county, it left a reputation behind it for containing a great number of lawless characters, plunderers and thieves, who would steal anything from a negro to a spring pullet. This was to be expected in such a large army, composed of all sorts of men. No open pillaging, or but little, was done, but there was considerable petty larceny and some grand larceny. Jim Lane's men carried oflT some negroes with them, some of whom belonged at the time to Union men. A few houses were burned.

Considerable foraging was done, and not all of it was " off the enemy," as the military maxim teaches. The stay of the army was brief, to be sure, but during the time a good many bushels of corn were hauled out of the Greene county corn fields to the camps at Springfield to feed the cavalry and artillery horses. It is but justice to state, however, that wherever any sort of property was taken by authority from Union men, vouchers were given for its full value, and the owners ultimately recovered pay in full.

Under The Stars And Bars

Not long {ifter the Federal army evacuated Springfield and left Greene county, the Confederate forces began again to j)ossess the land. At the time of the Federal occupation, Price's army was in different portions of Barr}^ and McDonald counties. A part was at Pineville, in McDonald, another part was at Gadfly, in Barry, while the whole army for a time was at Cassville, where Gov. Jackson's Legislature was in session for a Aveek, convening October 31 and adjourning November 7.

McCuUoch did not learn that the Federal army had fallen back from Springfield until the night of the 15th. At that time he was near the Arkansas line, 72 miles away. The next day he moved his army forward, and on the night of the 18th reached Springfield. On his arrival he reported to the Richmond authorities, among other matters, " The Union men have nearly all fled with the Federal troops, leaving this place almost deserted." (Rebellion Record, p. 743.) At that time Price was to the northward, seemingly making for the Missouri river.

By the latter part of November the greater portion of the Southern army was encamped in and about Springfield. The camps were in the town and on every side of it. Every available house was occupied for military purposes of some sort, either as headquarters, hospital, quartermaster or commissary depot, barracks or stables. In some instances, ofiicers and men were quartered in the front rooms of vacated dwellings, while their horses were stabled in the kitchen ! One instance of this kind was that of the house of Mr. Worrell, a Unionist, who lived on the south side of the public square, where now resides his widow, one of the ladies concerned in the flag presentation to Fremont's Body Guard. Upon the retreat of Hunter, Mr. Worrell retreated with the army, and the family followed soon after. They had kept a small grocery and confectionery. Not being able to take all their goods with them, Mrs. Worrell sewed up long sacks, filled them with goods and suspended them between the weatherboarding and the plastering in the spaces between the studding, replacing the "washboards" upstairs, which had been removed to facilitate the work. When Price's troops came in, they occupied the front rooms of this building themselves, and converted the kitchen and rear rooms into stables and stalls for the horses. They partitioned the large front room into two rooms, and wanting a window in the near one.

tliey cut an opening in the side wall. Luckily for Mrs. Worrell, the window was cut between the studding where no bag of goods had been suspended, and the existence of her canned fruits, cove oysters, sardines, pickles, etc., in such close proximity to them, was never even suspected by the troopers. When Mrs. W. returned to Springfield in the following February, she had an interesting time in housecleaning, but found her goods all safe and sound.

The Confederate commissary and quartermaster's departments in this part of the army were sadly deficient in supplies. Only by some very industrious foraging were they kept in anything like good condition. Sometimes a levy for supplies was made on open Confederate sympathizers.

Upon Price's occupation of Springfield, an assistant quartermaster of Rains' division, accompanied by a brother officer, rode up to the general store of J. S. Moss & Co. Entering the store the officers were warmly greeted by Mr. Moss, who assured them that he was glad to welcome them to Springfield ; that his sympathies were with the Southern cause, and that he Avould be glad to serve it and them to any reasonable extent. The quartermaster replied that he was glad to meet a good Southern man, at any time, and especially at this time. " And," said he, " Mr. Moss, I have it in my power to do you a favor, perhaps. I have been furnished with plenty of money and empowered to make purchases for the benefit of the army. I see you have quite a stock of clothing, etc., and I assure you that I will give you my patronage as long as you have anything I want." Mr. Moss made his best bow in reply, and as the officers departed turned to his partners and his clerks and expatiated on the power and utility of kind words to and courteous treatment of strangers, especially military officers in time of wars and armies, as illustrated by the incident just passed.

The next morning there drove up in front of Mr. Moss & Co.'s establishment two huge army wagons, belonging to Rains' division, and accompanying them was the generous quartermaster. Piles and piles of goods were soon transferred from the shelves and counters of the store to the capacious maws of the army wagons, the quartermaster and Mr. Moss carefully checking off each article as it passed out, and noting its price, which Mr. Moss took care should be a generous one, and which his new-made friend did not object to. At last the store was about stripped and some $5,000 worth of clothing, boots and shoes and other articles had changed hands within a few minutes.

Then came the payment. The amount having been ascertained, from forth a huge wallet the quartermaster drew handful after handful of bills of the kind known as " Missouri scrip," issued by the Claib. Jackson government to carry on the war, and wholly dependent for value on the success of the Confederate cause ! Then he began counting over to Mr. Moss in this currency the amount of his bill. "Is this what you call money, Major?" asked the astonished merchant. "Certainly," said the quartermaster, "and very good money it is, too." Then resuming his count - three thousand five hundred - four thousand - ." In alarm Moss interrupted : "And have you no gold at all?" " Not a red. Four thousand five hundred - five thousand - five thousand two hundred - " and so on until the amount vvas covered in good, new, shiny, crisp Missouri scrip, of which Price's army had plenty, " the volume of currency being kept equal to the demands of trade ! "

When the trade had been consummated and Moss had signed a receipt, he said to the quartermaster: " Major, I am a good Southern man and all that, and I appreciate your gentlemanly conduct and desire to do me a favor, but in the future you will greatly oblige me if you will distribute your ' patronage ' around among the rest of the merchants - sort of divide it up, you know - give the rest of the boys a chance, as it were. I am not hoggish ; I know when I have enough, and I assure you that I have no desire at present for any more custom from either you or any other of Gen. Price's quartermasters."

Considerable foraging was done on the country. Trains were sent out in all directions - into this county, into Webster, into Polk, and load after load of corn, hay, bacon, flour, meat, etc., brought in. Pay was sometimes given in " Missouri scrip," Avhen the property taken belonged to a "good Southern man," but quite often no pay of any sort was demanded or received by Unionists, who were glad, in some instances, to get oft" with the loss of their property simply. Numerous as were Gen. Price's horses already, he impressed nearly every available one in the county.

A good many prisoners were made among the Union men of the county, some of whom had returned from following the Federal army to take care of their families and their property. Very soon the jail at Springfield was pretty well filled. Among the prisoners were S. H. Julian and Walter A. Gault, who had been in the Union Home Guards and were afterwards ojQBcers in the Federal service. While they did not fare very sumptuously the prisoners were uniformly well treated, and passed their time in all sorts of ways - one favorite diversion being that of singing Union songs, the most of which were composed or improvised for the occasion and sang in retort for the Confederate ballads rendered with great relish by their guards.

Somewhere about the 20th of November the main body of Gen. Price's army struck their tents in this county and moved northward on the Bolivar and other roads, with the double intention of reaching the Missouri river again, either at Boonville or Lexington, or of sfoino; on a grand raid into Kansas. Previously a large portion of the army was at Neosho, and from here Gen. Price issued his famous address '* to the people of Central and North Missouri," which was published in the Missouri Army Argus, a paper which appeared in Price's army " semi-occasionally," and which is said to have been printed on type taken from the Mirror office, in Springfield. This address called for 50,000 more men, and contained the remarkable declaration : " We have $200,000,000 worth of Northern means in Missouri which cannot be removed. When we are once free, this amount will indemnify every citizen who may have lost a dollar b}^ adhesion to the cause of his country. We shall have our property or its value with interest."

This proclamation was freely circulated in not only Central and North Missouri, but all over the State, and two or three copies are yet extant in this county. The circulation of the proclamation in Greene, it is claimed, made more recruits for the Federal army than for Gen. Price, and after the war was over the terms of the proclamation, itself were remembered and brought up against the ex-Confederates b}' certain over-zealous members of the Radical party.

The movement of Price's army northward was ordered from Neosho and Springfield in three divisions. On the 25th of November the right wing, under Gen. McBride, 6,000 (?) strong, rested on Stockton, Cedar county; the left wing, 5,000 strong, under Gen. Rains, was at Nevada, Vernon county ; and the center, 5,000 strong, was near Montevallo, in the southeastern part of Vernon county, commanded by Gen. Price in person. McCulloch, with his army, had previously retired to the Arkansas valley, from whence he was soon afterward summoned to Richmond to explain his conduct in thus abandoning Gen. Price. Ea-rly in December there was a concentration of Price's troops at Osceola, where a large number of recruits and many

Gen. Price And His Army Back Again

Five days after Gen. Hunter was appointed to the command of the Federal army of the West, he was himself relieved and succeeded by Gen. H. W. Halleck, The latter did but little else than prepare to do - threatening this, that and the other, but performing nothing - " letting ' 1 dare not' wait upon ' I would,' like the poor cat in the adage," that wanted to catch fish but disliked to wet her feet. The division of Pope, was immediately in front of Price and kept many recruits from going to the latter - capturing at one time, on the Blackwater, in Johnson county, about 1,000 who were mostly from Saline and Carroll counties and were commanded by Col. Frank Robertson.

At last Halleck's disposition of his forces was such and his menaces were of such a character that Gen. Price was again compelled to fall back from the Osage and come into Greene county and Springfield. General Price preceded his men. Gen. Rains covered the withdrawal. Bridges were burned and roads obstructed to detain an apprehended pursuit on the part of Pope and Lane. The long bridge over the Osage at Warsaw, built by Fremont two months before, was among the bridges destroyed. But for some reason no pursuit was made, and Price's army came on unmolested, though suffering severely with cold along the march and in camp at night.

On Christmas day, 18G1, Gen. Price and his array entered Springfield, and the general himself took up his quarters in the old house on Boonville street.