horses throw themselves upon | voice rises through the air: 'In Zagonyi's Charge on Zagonyi's Charge on the fences. Their speed is not open order-charge!' The line Springfield. Springfield. for an instant checked: farther opens out to give play to their down the hill they fly, like wasps driven by the sword-arm. Steeds respond to the ardor of their leaden storm. Sharp volleys pour out of the under-riders, and quick as thought, with thrilling cheers, brush at the left, clearing wide gaps through their ranks. They leap the brook, take down the fence, and draw up under shelter of the hill. Zagonyi looks around him, and to his horror sees that only a fourth of his men are with him. He cries. They do not come we are lost!' and frantically waves his sabre. He has not long to wait. The delay of the rest of the Guard was not from hesitation. When Captain Foley reached the lower corner of the wood and saw the enemy's line, he thought a flank attack might be advantageously made. He ordered some men to dismount and take down the fence. This was done under a severe fire. Several men fell, and he found the wood so dense that it could not be penetrated. Looking down the hill, he saw the flash of Zagonyi's sabre, and at once gave the order, Forward! At the same time, Lieutenant Kennedy, a stalwort Kentuckian, shouted, Come on, boys! remember Old Kentucky!' and the third company of the Guards, fire on every side of them -from behind trees, from under the fences-with thundering strides and loud cheers, poured down the slope and rushed to the side of Zagonyi. They had lost seventy, dead and wounded men, and the carcasses of horses are strewn along the lane. Kennedy is wounded in the arm, and lies upon the stones. his faithful charger standing motionless beside him. Lieutenant Goff received a wound in the thigh; he kept his seat, and cried out, The devils have hit me, but I will give it to them yet!' "The remnant of the Guard are now in the field under the hill, and from the shape of the ground the rebel fire sweeps with the roar of a whirlwind over their heads. A line of fire upon the summit marks the position of the rebel infantry, and nearer and on the top of a lower eminence to the right, stand their horse. Up to this time no Guardsman has struck a blow, but blue coats and bay horses lie thick along the bloody lane. Their time has come. Lieutenant Maythenyi with thirty men is ordered to attack the cavalry. With sabres flashing over their heads, the little band of heroes spring towards their tremendous foe. Right upon the centre they charge. The dense mass opens, the blue coats force their way in, and the whole rebel squadron scatter in disgraceful flight through the corn-fields in the rear. The bays follow them sabreing the fugitives. Days after, the enemy's horses lay thick among the uncut corn. **Zagonyi holds his main body until Maythenyi disappears in the cloud of rebel cavalry; then his the noble hearts rush into the leaden torrent which pours down the incline. With unabated fire the gallant fellows press through. Their fierce onset is not even checked. The foe do not wait for themthey waver, break and fly. The Guardsmen spur into the midst of the rout, and their fast-falling swords work a terrible revenge. Some of the bold. est of the Southrons retreat into the woods, and continue a murderous fire from behind trees and thickets. Seven Guard horses fall upon a space not more than twenty feet square. As his steed sinks under him, one of the officers is caught around the shoulders by a grape-vine, and hangs dangling in the air until he is cut down by his friends. "The rebel foot are flying in furious haste from the field. Some take refuge in the fair-ground, some hurry into the corn-fields, but the greater part run along the edge of the wood, swarm over the fence into the road, and hasten to the village. The Guardsmen follow. Zagonyi leads them. Over the loudest roar of battle rings his clarion voice Come on, Old Kentuck! I'm with you! And the flash of his sword-blade tells his men where to go. As he approaches a barn, a man steps from behind the door and lowers his rifle; but before it has reached a level, Zagonyi's sabre-point descends upon his head, and his life-blood leaps to the very top of the huge barn door. "The conflict now raged through the village-in the public square, and along the streets. Up and down the Guards ride in squads of three or four, and wherever they see a group of the enemy, charge upon and scatter them. It is hand to hand. No one but has a share in the fray." The Scouts, owing to some confusion of orders, did not share in the glory of the charge. The two companies of Captains Fairbanks and Kehoe pressed up along the lane to a point where Zagonyi entered it, aiming to get in the enemy's rear, so that when driven over the hill by Zagonyi, they could cut the flying rebels to pieces. This movement was ordered by some one, but by whom is not known. It could not have been made by Zagonyi for he needed every man to face the foe. The third company of the Scouts, under Captain Naughton, strove to join Zagonyi by riding through the gap in the fence, made by Captain Foley. It was a fearful attempt. The dragoons fairly melted OCCUPATION OF SPRINGFIELD. 339 Zagonyi's Charge on Occupation of Springfield. before the infantry fire, and | tions of the same service. We have given only five succeeded in pass- the story of their brief service quite at length ing over to the General's in order to illustrate one of those episodes of position under the hill. Major White, after the war which ever will remain as a landa series of remarkable adventures, succeeded mark of heroism and devotion. in effecting not only his escape, but the capThis success was followture of his captors. He reached town the ed by a forced march into next morning, at the head of an extemporized Springfield, Siegel still on guard of farmers and five Scouts, bearing the advance. A thirty miles stretch was Captain Wroton along with him, as prisoner. made October 27th, by that division, and to Dorsheimer gave a novel and humorous ver- it was assigned the honors of a first entry. sion of the "occupation" of Springfield- How well Siegel knew each street, each house, Zagonyi having retired, with all his remain- each hill around! The town had for him ing forces toward the North, fearing an at- memories at once pleasurable and painful. temp to cut off his retreat. He said: "At The Federal army was received by the peoday-break White rode into Springfield at the ple as deliverers: October 27th was a galahead of his captives and a motley band of day. Little did the sanguine and expectant Home Guard. He found the Federals still inhabitants realise that they were soon to be in possession of the place. As the officer of given once more over to the brutal reign of highest rank, he took command. His garri- the Confederates. son consisted of twenty-four men. He stationed twenty-two of them as pickets in the outskirts of the village, and held the other two as a reserve. At noon the enemy sent in a flag of truce, and asked permission to bury their dead. Major White received the flag with proper ceremony, but said that General Siegel was in command and the request would have to be referred to him. Siegel was then forty miles away! In a short time a written communication purporting to come from General Siegel, saying that the rebels might send a party under certain restrictions to bury their dead. White drew in some of his pickets, stationed them about the field, and under their surveillance the Southern dead were buried." Asboth arrived with the rear division October 30th, and was soon followed by General Lane, with his Kansas brigade. McKinstry's division was then on the Pomme de Terre, seventy miles away, and Pope was still struggling along down from the North. So with Hunter. The rebels, led by Price in person, were at Neosho, fifty-four miles to the southwest of Springfield. His command, it was reported, included McCullough's forces and all of Jackson's "State Guard," as well as Rains' motley army-numbering, all told, about thirty thousand men. Fremont's then available strength was about thirteen thousand, of all arms. A sudden march upon Springfield by the Confederates might drive the Federal General to close quarters, but no such dashing movement was made by Price, though he began his forward march from Neosho as early as October 27th. The place was not retained, however: Major White "evacuated" the position to return with his Scouts to camp. The Guard fell back towards Bolivar. The loss of the Pope's division arrived at headquarters Guards was fifty-three-killed, wounded and November 1st and 3d-having marched sevmissing; that of the Scouts was thirty-one-enty miles in two days. McKinstry's corps half of that number being of Naughton's company of Irish Dragoons. This was the first and last exploit of the Guardsmen. They returned, soon after, to St. Louis, along with Fremont. Their rations and forage were denied them and they were disbanded-ashamed of their soiled and ragged garments, and humiliated at their usage. Such are the fortunes of those at the mercy of opposing fac soon followed. The apprehensions of Fremont were appeased by this addition to his strength, and he awaited Price's disposition in confidence. The long threatened blow came at last. On the morning of November 2d a messenger arrived at Springfield, from St. Louis, bearing the order, signed by General Scott, of Fremont's removal from command. He was Fremont Relieved of his Command. Disposition for Battle, Pope's division to remain as a reserve in Springfield. "The different divisions to come into their positions at the same time, about eleven o'clock, at which hour a simultaneous attack will be made. directed to pass over his "One regiment and two command to General Hunt-pieces of artillery of General er, and to report himself by letter to the War Department. It came like a defeat. The camps were in commotion at once, and the officers and men of Siegel's and Asboth's divisions to a great extent became disastrously disaffected. It was a terribly unwelcome fact, at that moment, when the consummation of the commander's hopes seemed so near. Three months of almost superhuman labor, of enormous expense, of infinite sacrifice, were swept away by the dash of a pen. Disposition for Battle. Price pushed on rapidly. A reconnoissance by Asboth, November 3d, reported the enemy to be concentrating in force at Wilson's Creek McCullough's army being also reported as at Dug Spring. Though suspended from office Fremont could not, with any propriety, abandon his charge - Hunter not having come in, up to the evening of the 3d, with his division. A deputation of one hundred and ten officers waited upon Fremont during the evening, to present an address of sympathy and confidence. A request was also made, that he would lead them to battle. The result of the interview was the promulgation of an order for battle, reading: The baggage-trains to be packed and held in readiness at Springfield. Each regiment to carry three two-horse wagons to transport the wounded. "J. C. FREMONT, "Major-General Commanding." But, Hunter arrived during a council of Generals held at midnight. Fremont laid all matters before him, including the dispositions for battle, and then resigned the command, to depart, early on the morrow, for St. Louis. He was accompanied by the Body Guard and Sharpshooters, as a special escort. Most of his staff also returned with him, and soon were dismissed from service. The famous Guardsmen were not recognized as having any official existence, and they laid aside their sabres in, mortification: disgrace was not for such as they. Hunter's retreat from "The different divisions of the army shall be put The day following the remaining three di in the following order of battle. "Act'g Major-General Asboth, right wing. of visions started for the North by way Rolla. The cause of this retrograde has been variously accounted for. A correspondent, who seemed well informed, wrote from Rolla stating that Hunter acted under orders from Washington, sent along with the dispatch superseding Fremont-it having been ascertained at headquarters that Price and McCullough were only "drawing on" the Federal forces, to prevent their concentration along the Mississippi, up which the Confede rates hoped to move. He further said: "That General Price did not intend to fight, was shown by his falling back whenever our forces advanced. Two days before the main body of the Federal army left Springfield (for Rolla), the rebels fell back from Cassville to near the Arkansas line." From the fact that the enemy were not in force at Wilson's Creek, as reported by Asboth to Fremont on the morning of November 3d-only their ad MCCLELLAN IN CHIEF COMMAND. sacrifice to a cause which vance guard of seven thousand having occu- | of them their lives, as a 341 Disastrous state of Affairs in Missouri. Major Dorsheimer thus stated the prevailing impressions of Fremont's friends: "Fortyeight hours more must have given to General Fremont an engagement. What the result would have been no one who was there doubted. A victory such as the country has long desired and sorely needs a decisive, complete and overwhelming victory-was as certain as it is possible for the skill and valor of man to make certain any future event. Now, twenty thousand men are required to hold our long line of defense in Missouri; then, five thousand at Springfield would have secured the State of Missouri, and a column pushed into Arkansas would have turned the enemy's position upon the Mississippi. In the same time and with the same labor that the march to the rear was made, two States might have been won, and the fate of the rebellion of the Southwest decided." It will not require years for the public to arrive at conclusions regarding affairs in Missouri during Fremont's rule: if time writes its verdict of approval it will give satisfaction to many and pain but few. CHAPTER X. MCCLELLAN'S CAMPAIGN IN EASTERN VIRGINIA UP то NOVEM РОТОМАС. After the Defeat. After the Battle. THE anxiety which fol- there followed, from peolowed the disaster to our ple and press, a storm of arms at Bull Run, July 21st, was profound-indignant comment that must have appalled the excitement intense. Confidence in General Scott's prudence had been unbounded; defeat was not regarded as possible. The shock was, therefore, all the more stunning. But when, added to defeat, came the spectacle of a stampede before a non-pursuing enemy, the humiliation was complete; and those in power. This hurricane of words, however, was quickly silenced by the dangers of the hour. The enemy had but to push his advantages in order to lay the National Capital under his guns. That he refrained from doing so was not because the way was not open up to the Potomac intrenchments, but After the Defeat. McClellan in Com mand. owing to a disagreement | exact of their own men. in the plans of the rebel This was preliminary to leaders President Davis opposing an at- the rigid discipline and tempt upon the Capital as premature. But, accountability which, ere long, followed; and the loyal North beheld the danger, and pub- the country witnessed, with pleasure and a lic opinion was hushed in the one overmas- feeling of relief, an army grow up under the tering sentiment of opposing the rebel ad- young General's hands to which it would vance. Regiments seemed to spring from be safe to trust the fate of the campaign on the ground. The tireless engine rushed from the Potomac. the North and West with its burthen of hu man freight seeking the ranks at the point of danger. Transports swept the rivers and the sea, loaded to their guards with men who counted the hours of their journey as if to hasten the speed of the wheels. In the country village, in the great city's thoroughfares, were the sound of marching troops, the shriek of the fife and the wild huzza-at once a greeting and an adieu. It was a solemn, imposing uprising more solemn and significant of blood than the uprising of April; and Washington soon found its streets clogged with the advent of men eager to wipe out the disgrace of that mortifying defeat. McClellan in Command. Major-General George B. McClellan was called from the successes of his Western Virginia campaign to assume the active field command of the forces around Washington. General Scott was too feeble in body to meet the requirements of the hour; and, at his request, McClellan was called.* All that host, gathering from the loyal firesides of the Free States, was to be taught the art of war: order was to be brought out of chaos: confusion was to be confounded, and the enemy to be kept at bay until the army of the Union, reorganized and remounted, should again essay the "Onward to Richmond" programme. August 1st saw him at the Capital, and not a week had passed before the stringent measures of a strict disciplinarian began to be felt. The first steps were to compel officers to return to their posts-then to inspire them with the spirit of military obedience and promptness toward superiors which they were only too eager to *It is stated that Mr. Lincoln first proposed to call McClellan to Washington, but the facts are that Scott, in a conference with the President, suggested McClellan for the command. The Federal position during August and September was one of defense, in his department. The fortifications around the Capital were strengthened and extended, but there *The fortifications erected up to October 1st, were named and located as follows: * The work south of Hunting creek, "Fort Lyon." That in front of Lee's house, "Fort Ward." That on Richardson's Hill," Fort Richardson." "Fort That near the end of Long Bridge, "Fort Runyon." The work next on the right of Fort Albany, "Fort Craig." The work next on the right of Fort Craig, "Fort Tillinghast." The work next on the right of Fort Tillinghast, "Fort Ramsay." The work next on the right of Fort Ramsay, "Fort Woodbury." That next on the right of Fort Woodbury, "Fort DeKalb," The work in rear of Fort Corcoran, and near the canal, Fort Haggerty." That heretofore known as Fort Corcoran, "Fort Corcoran." That to the north of Fort Corcoran, "Fort Ben |