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Fairbanks, flanked the enemy by a countermarch, and routed the riflemen from their ambush. They charged at three different times upon the main body of the rebels, with whom I was, as they retreated from one position to another. The rout was soon complete, and I was borne away with my flying captors. The party having me in charge halted about twelve miles from the scene of action, at the house of a Union man, and made their preparations to remain for the night. Seizing a moment when I was not watched, I told my host that I was a prisoner. He despatched his son secretly to inform his neighbors of the fact, and a few Home Guards of the vicinity rallied, surrounded the house, and, being admitted by me, captured the rebels. Returning to Springfield with my prisoners, I found the place abandoned by our troops, with the exception of a few stragglers from my own squadron and that of Major Zagonyi's. Doctor Melcher, the doctor in charge of those wounded left after the battle of Wilson's Creek, and Doctor Hughes, my own surgeon, were dressing the wounds of our brave men who had fallen in the conflict of the night before.

Collecting those of our men left in town, I posted a guard around the town, and found that after making my picket detail I had a reserve of two men. We received a flag of truce from the enemy with as much ceremony as I could muster, and impressed the bearers with an idea that we had a large force, under the dread command of General Sigel, on the outskirts of the village.

After a day and night of terrible anxiety to my little band, our reinforcements arrived, and we delivered up our charge.

I find that the loss sustained in the action by my own command in killed, wounded, and miss- | ing is thirty-three. As soon as possible I will give a detailed report.

Very respectfully,

FRANK J. WHITE, Major and Aide-de-Camp commanding Squadron of " Prairie Scouts."

ST. LOUIS "DEMOCRAT" NARRATIVE.

CAMP LYON, SPRINGFIELD, M. }

Monday, October 28.

On Thursday evening last, while encamped at Camp Haskell, thirty-four miles from Warsaw, and fifty-one from Springfield, Major Zagonyi, of the Body Guard, received orders to take a detail from each of the three companies of his own command, and uniting it with Major White's battalion of Prairie Scouts, proceed to Springfield by a forced march, and take possession of the place. It was understood that the city was held by but about three hundred rebel troops, and no opposition whatever was anticipated to the progress of Major Zagonyi's command.

The Major, stopping in camp only long enough to cook one ration, and rest his men and horses from the fatigues of the eighteen-mile march of that day, was with his command duly

VOL. III.-Doc. 20

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At day

on the road by eleven o'clock P. M. break on Friday, he halted at a point five miles this side of Bolivar, where he made another brief halt, allowing the men an opportunity of eating their ration, and the horses of getting a little feed. Proceeding again, he met with no signs of the enemy until within about eight miles of this city, when a squad of some dozen 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 six of them captured, the others succeeding in making good their retreat through the neighboring woods.

It was then ascertained that the men were a foraging party from a large rebel force at Springfield. Proceeding farther on, the Major gained additional information from Union citizens in regard to the enemy's numbers. From these accounts, it seemed that the place was held by a force at least five or six times as large as was supposed prior to leaving the head-quarters of General Fremont. Notwithstanding all this, the undaunted Major resolved to press on and examine for himself; but the farther he progressed toward the town, the more emphatic were the statements as to the large force with which the town was held.

In the mean time, some of the foraging party, who had managed to make good their escape, had apprised the rebels of the approach of the Federal cavalry, and long before he arrived before the town, they had made their dispositions for receiving it. The first seen of the enemy was a short distance from town, when the advance of the Body Guard discovered a full regiment, drawn up on selected ground near the road, prepared to receive them. The ground not being favorable for offensive operations with cavalry, after a consultation with his guide, the Major resolved to give this force the go by, cross over the prairie to the westward, and approach the city by the Mount Vernon road.

This manoeuvre was successfully accomplished, but upon arriving within about a mile of the city by this route, the citizens gave the Major information that the eneny, one thousand eight hundred or two thousand strong, were here, too, drawn up and prepared to meet him, but a quarter or a half mile ahead. This was about three or four o'clock. Men, women, and children came flocking down to the roadside, and with tears in their eyes welcomed the Federal force; and while assuring them of their hearty welcome, cautioned of the large force ready to receive them, and besought the Major and his officers to hesitate ere they rushed in upon them with their little force of but about three hundred men. The Major had not made a forced march of over fifty miles, to take possession of a town, to return without at least making an attempt to carry out his instructions. He had, besides, the most unlimited confidence in the drill and effectiveness of his own immediate command, the Body Guard, and was, perhaps, himself animated by a soldier-like desire to do

a gallant deed. Placing his own command in | the front, and himself in advance of all, he led the way toward the point where the enemy was drawn up prepared to meet him.

Major White's command, who had made a detour and come around that way, and some fled wildly toward the town, pursued by the insatiate guards, who, overtaking them, either cut them down with their sabres or levelled them with shots from their pistols. Some were even chased through the streets of the city, and then killed in hand-to-hand encounters with their pursuers.

The ground selected by the rebels for their reception of the Major's command was in the immediate vicinity of their camp, on the "Mt. Vernon road," about half a mile west of the city. It is the same road over which our troops marched out to meet the enemy prior to the Of course all this could not be accomplished battle of Wilson's Creek, and by a somewhat without heavy loss on the side of the guards. singular coincidence the head of the same Wil- Under the well-directed fire of the enemy's son's Creek-here, however, a mere brook-sharpshooters, the little band of only one hun runs through the lot in which the present engagement took place.

As the Major was to approach from the west, the rebels had scattered skirmishers throughout the dense woods or chapparal on either side, who from the first greeted his approach with a scathing fire which emptied several saddles. The woods and rough bushy ground to the south of the road, was also full of their skirmishers, hidden in the tops and behind bushes and trees. The main body of the force, how ever, was drawn up in the form of a hollow square, in a large open field to the north of the road, the infantry bordering along a high Virgi- | nia rail fence, nearly to the brook, and also at the head of the field bordering on the woods, and the cavalry on the other side of the field, also supported by the forest.

dred and sixty-two, rank and file, contending against one thousand eight hundred, must necessarily have suffered severely. The list of killed and wounded, which I herewith enclose, shows how severely. There are yet about thirty or forty missing, who, scattering in the confusion of the pursuit, probably lost their way, and have been taken prisoners by the scattering bands fleeing from the city.

Pursuing a portion of the rebels into town, the Major here assembled his command, or such portions of it as were at hand, raised the Stars and Stripes upon the Court House, detailed a guard to attend to his wounded, and then fearful that the enemy might become cognizant of his small force, and rally, determined to retrace his steps toward Bolivar, where he could meet reinforcements.

This was undoubtedly a wise movement on the part of the Major, although it appears that the rebels were far too much terrified to think of returning, and that he might with safety have remained in the town. As it was, he returned to within five miles of Bolivar, where he halted for reinforcements. His little force had ridden over eighty miles, and had been for over twenty-four hours without food.

In the mean time Major White's command had made a detour through the cornfield, and reached the town a little while after Zagonyi had left, and took full possession of the same.

The courier being just on the point of departure, I am forced to forego further details of subsequent operations of Major White.

I append a full list of the killed and wounded of his command:

Upon reaching the vicinity of this place, Major Zagonyi ordered an advance at a trot,until, when fairly in the woods, the pace was increased to a gallop. When the fire first opened, for some cause, yet to be explained, the two companies of the First Missouri Cavalry, and the Irish Dragoons, composing Major White's battalion, countermarched to the left, and were seen no more by Major Zagonyi, who, with his command, alone proceeded down the road through the fire of the enemy. Upon reaching the open field, an attempt was made to tear down the fence and charge upon the enemy. It was soon discovered, however, that this would be impossible without a heavy loss, and they immediately made a rush down the road, over a brook, where, in a measure shielded from the enemy's fire, they levelled the rails and effected an entrance. Here, in the midst of the briars and stubble bordering the brook, he succeeded in forming his men, and, giving the word, with the Major at their head, they gallantly charged up the hill of the open field, right into the midst of their foes. As they charged, the command spread out fan-like, some charging to the right, some to the left, and others straight up to the woods in front. The cavalry to the right were scattered al-killed by mistake. most instantaneously; the infantry made a somewhat firmer stand, but it was only for a moment. The charge was so furious, so well directed, and so compact, that the rebel ranks were scattered like leaves in an autumn wind. Some of them took to the woods, some to the cornfield, where they were met and killed by

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Killed of the Body Guard.-Corporals:
Schneider, Co. B; Norrison, Co. C;
Chamberlain, Co. A; Privates: Wright,
Co. B; Ross, Co. B;
Osburg,
Frei; Slattery Co. B; Davis, Co. B;
Duthro, Co. A; Wm. Vanway, Co. C;
Alexander Linfoot, Co. C; Dennis Morat, Co.
B; J. Shrack, Co. B; -Franz, wagoner, Co.
A; and John H. Stephens, Springfield, (citizen,)

Wounded.-Patrick Naughton, Captain Irish Dragoons, shot in the arm near shoulder; slight wound; Patrick Connelly, First Lieut. Irish Dragoons; dangerously, twice through the chest; N. Westerburg, First Lieut. Co. B, Body Guard, shot in shoulder and right forefinger shot off; J. W. Goff, Second Lieut. Body Guard,

Co. C, shot in the hip, slight; Joseph C. Frock, | ment at the North Branch bridge, and on the Lieut. Body Guard, Co. A, flesh wound in the following morning, at five o'clock, marched in leg; E. L. Dean, Corporal, Co. C, Body Guard, the direction of Romney, passing through slight wound in right side; Julius Becker, Cor- Frankfort. Upon arriving at a point one and a poral, Co. A, Body Guard, in the neck; dan- half miles from Springfield the rear of my colgerous, and will probably die; S. B. Under- umn was fired upon by the enemy, from the wood, Corporal, Co. B, Body Guard, shot in heights of the wood, severely wounding two shoulder, slightly; H. M. Diggins, private, Co. men, detaining the column about an hour, which C, Body Guard, flesh wound in the thigh; was occupied in clearing the woods of the eneC. II. Bowman, private, Co. A, Body Guard, in my, and dressing the wounds. We marched the head, slightly; Edward Carney, private, thence through Springfield, seeing frequent signs Irish Dragoons, shot in the side, dangerously; of the enemy's horsemen in retreat toward the B. F. Stabler, private, Co. C, Body Guard, shot bridge over the south branch of the Potomac. in the wrist; F. Landerking, private, Cɔ. A, Body Guard, in the hand, one finger off; Wm. B. Swan, private, Co. B, Body Guard, slightly; C. W. Moore, Co. C, Body Guard, slightly; Nelman, Co. B, Body Guard, sabre cut and bruises on the head, dangerous; Charles Gilsticht, Irish Dragoons, shot in the arm; Jerold Connor, Irish Dragoons, shot in the hip; Wm. J. McDonald, Co. A, Body Guard, flesh wound in the thigh; John Frank, Co. B, Body Guard, in the shoulder, slight; A. L. Weiss, Co. A, Body Guard, shot in the thigh; Louis Weinel, Co. B, Body Guard, shot in the thigh, slight; George W. Holbrook, Co. B, Body Guard, shot in the elbow, slight fracture; R. M. Smith, Union citizen of Miller County, a prisoner, and wounded, sabre cuts on head; Daniel L. Jones, Co. C, Body Guard, shot in thigh, dangerously; R. M. McDonald, sergeant, Co. C, Body Guard, shot in the leg, slight; First Lieut. Joseph Kennedy, Co. C, in the arm.

Doc. 107.

THE CAPTURE OF ROMNEY, VA.

GENERAL KELLEY'S REPORT.
ROMNEY, Oct. 26, six o'clock P. M.,
Via New Creek.

F. H. Pierpoint:
I left New Creek at twelve o'clock last
night, with my force, and attacked the outposts
of the enemy at three o'clock this afternoon,
and, after a brilliant action of two hours, com-
pletely routed them, captured many prisoners,
much camp equipage, and all of their cannon,
ammunition, and wagons. The rebels are in

full retreat on Winchester.

This breaks the backbone of secession on the

Upper Potomac. Our loss is trifling, consider ing the time engaged. My officers and men, without exception, behaved nobly.

B. F. KELLEY,
Brigadier-General.

COLONEL JOHNS' REPORT.
HEAD-QUARTERS SECOND REGIMENT,
Ротомас HOME BRIGADE.

Brigadier-General C. M. Thurston :
GENERAL: In compliance with verbal orders
received after consultation between Gen. Kelley
and yourself on the night of the 20th instant,
I concentrated seven hundred men of my regi-

Upon arriving within half a mile of the bridge my flankers and skirmishers on the left and front discovered the enemy on the opposite side of the river, when a brisk fire at once commenced. About this time the guns of General Kelley's column, in the vicinity of Romney, were heard. After skirmishing with the enemy across the river for about half an hour, I determined to force a way over the bridge. The enemy, numbering (by the best information we could get) from four to six hundred, including cavalry, having beforehand prepared to defend its passage, had arranged covers for his riflemen on an eminence immediately fronting the brigade.

Captain Alexander Shaw, of Company A, who led the advance of the column to this point, was, with his company, directed to lead the way across the bridge at a double-quick step. Supported by the remainder of the regiment, Captain Shaw promptly moved his company as directed, and when about half-way across the bridge discovered that a portion of the plank flooring on the further side had been removed. The enemy, on discovering the movement, opened fire by volley, killing one and wounding six of my men, causing the company to seek shelter behind the parapets of the bridge.

After skirmishing some time from the parapets of the bridge and an eminence on our left, and not hearing the fire of General Kelley for the previous hour, I concluded he had carried Romney; and the object of my march to create a diversion in his favor being accomplished, I determined to retire, which we did in good about nine o'clock P. M. after a march of order to Oldtown, in Maryland, arriving there twenty-five miles.

It is with pleasure that I speak of the good behavior of all my officers and men, and would charge led by Captain Alexander Shaw. Capcall your attention particularly to the gallant tain Fiery, of dragoons, with his company, rendered very efficient service by drawing the fire of the enemy from my regiment at the bridge. I was much gratified at and indebted to Mr. Grehan, who volunteered to march with me, for his prompt and cheerful assistance. Mr. Grehan was frequently exposed to severe fire of the enemy.

I am, with great respect, your obedient ser-
THOMAS JOHNS,
Colonel Second Regiment Potomac Home Brigade.

vant,

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Our camp is called after the gallant commander of the "Ringgold Cavalry," Captain Keys. On last Thursday our regiment, the Fourth Ohio, received orders from Gen. Kelley to pack up and move from Fort Pendleton to New Creek, and there join him with other forces in a march upon Romney. We left camp on Friday morning, under command of Col. John S. Mason, appointed, vice Col. Lorin Andrews, deceased, and arrived at New Creek in the evening, marching the distance of twentysix miles in twelve hours. Lieut.-Col. Cantwell was with us, although he had bid us farewell the day before, expecting to return to Ohio to raise another regiment, as Colonel, by authority of the Governor.

We joined Gen. Kelley's column on Saturday morning, and made a rapid march toward Romney, distant nineteen miles, in order to engage the enemy, who was supposed to be four thousand strong, at three o'clock P. M., the time fixed for the fight. We were to be supported by another column moving from Cumberland, that was to come in by way of Springfield, and make a simultaneous attack upon the enemy in

the rear.

wagons, baggage, camp equipage, mail matter, two pieces of cannon, and several hundred stand of arins. I have not been able to obtain a correct list of captured articles, as the invoice has not yet been made out. It is enough to say that it is a complete victory.

The enemy lost eight or ten killed, and about twelve or fifteen wounded. Our loss is as follows:

Jesse Taylor, of Capt. Morris' Company, Seventh Virginia__regiment, killed; Hiram Meily, Company K, Fourth Ohio regiment, wounded in both knees, slightly; James Sines, Company F, Fourth regiment, wounded in head and leg, slightly; W. Fox, Company F, Seventh Virginia regiment, slightly; W. Ferguson, Company F, Fourth O. V., had his thumb blown off, and Isaac Merrideth, of same company, had his right hand blown off, both by a premature discharge of the cannon they were working.

The column moving from Cumberland advanced as far as the Chain-bridge, this side of Springfield, when they were met by the enemy, who had removed the plank from the bridge, and commanded it with one piece of artillery. They kept up an irregular figlit until the enemy heard of the retreat at Romney, when he took to the mountains, and escaped toward Winchester. Our column, at that point, lost but one man; the enemy five or six, so far as could be ascertained.

dred cavalry, and five companies of infantry; The rebel forces at Romney were seven hunand at Chain-bridge three hundred and fifty infantry. Our forces are turned toward the

east.

ANOTHER ACCOUNT.

G. A. S.

The following description of the battle at Romney, is taken from the Wheeling Intelligencer:

The day was fine, and the troops were enthusiastic and confident of victory. At Patterson's Creek, eleven miles west of Romney, the troops made a short halt for rest and refreshments, and about noon resumed their march, with a determination on the part of both officers and men to make their next halt and take their evening meal at Romney.

At about half-past two o'clock we came within four miles of Romney, when the enemy opened fire upon us from Mechanicsburg Gap with one piece of artillery, but without any effect. We threw out flanking skirmishers, and returned the fire with one of our twelvepounders. The enemy gave way, and retreated through the Gap to Romney. After we passed through the Gap at a double-quick, we came in sight of town, and when within five or six hundred yards of the bridge that crosses the South Branch, they fired upon us with a sixpound rifled cannon that was planted on a point across the river, which commanded a fair range of the road. We moved steadily forward, at the same time returning the fire with two of our pieces. Company F of the Fourth regiment, working one piece of artillery, and Company D supporting it, moved forward in advance, to within fifty yards of the bridge, when the enemy opened upon us with grape from a twelve-pound howitzer. We kept up a steady fire in return for some minutes, when Our advance now continued without interColonel Mason, at the head, ordered his regi- ruption, for more than six miles, when the disment to charge upon the enemy at a double charge of a cannon, from a point up the road, a quick. The men, though nearly given out short distance ahead of us, and the falling of a with fatigue, responded with a yell and "went twelve-pound shell near the head of our column, in," Company I of the Eighth Ohio, with Com- notified us that we were in the presence of the pany D of the Fourth, were the first to cross enemy. We were then within about a mile the bridge, the Ringgold Cavalry at the same and a half of the westerly end of the mountain time crossing through the river. The enemy pass, and between four and five miles of Rombecame frightened, evacuated their breast-ney. After returning this fire with several works, and retreated through town in utter confusion along the pike toward Winchester. The cavalry pursued the enemy beyond town, killing several more of them and taking a good many prisoners, together with all their horses,

rounds from our twelve-pounder, the enemy abandoned their position, and retreated rapidly through the mountain pass, and we heard no more from them till the head of our column approached to within half a mile of the bridge

over the river, (the south branch of the Poto- | mac,) and within a mile and a half from the town, when the enemy again opened fire upon us, with a twelve-pound rifled gun, placed in a very commanding position, in the cemetery at the westerly end of the town, and with a mountain howitzer from the high grounds on the east bank of the river, which point commanded our approach for a distance of over a mile. At the east end of the bridge the enemy had also thrown up intrenchments, from which | they kept up a constant fire of musketry upon the head of our column.

The battle was now plainly begun upon the chosen ground of the enemy-and gladly did our troops meet the issue. With our one twelve-pounder and two six-pounders, (all smooth-bores,) under the command of Capt. Wallace and Lieuts. Jenks and Nixon, we returned the enemy's fire with very marked effect, though their rifled gun and prior acquaintance with the ground gave them a great advantage, and for the period of half an hour or more our troops were exposed to a most terrific fire of shell and canister from their guns. It was from this fire that all of our loss -amounting to one killed, and ten severely, and about twenty slightly wounded-occurred; and it is a matter of astonishment to all that

our loss was not vastly greater, as the enemy's guns were served with remarkable skill and precision.

Many were the shots that passed just over our heads, to expend their force and perform their work of destruction in the wooded mountain side on our left, and but a few feet from the road occupied by our troops. Yet, in the face of all this fire, our untried but patriotic soldiers stood like veterans in their ranks, calmly awaiting the movement which should give their rifles and bayonets an opportunity to retaliate upon the enemy for the injury he was inflicting upon them.

town, and directing their flight toward Winchester.

In this retreat they were, however, so hotly pursued by our cavalry, that their two guns, and all their baggage wagons-about thirty in number-were captured before they had advanced two miles, while our exhausted and foot-sore infantry rushed into the town, thus restoring it once more to the legitimate dominion of that Government from which it has been so long arrested by the hands of secession. Most of the enemy's troops escaped us, however, owing to the circumstance that a large portion were cavalry, who were too fresh to be overtaken by our own, while his infantry effected their escape by scattering in the woods, and over the mountain sides, thus precluding the possibility of capture by troops so exhausted as were ours, after the fatigues of a battle, preceded by those of a long march of twenty-five miles.

The enemy's loss cannot be definitely ascertained, though it is known to have been considerably larger than our own.

A REBEL ACCOUNT.

A letter in the Richmond Enquirer, dated Winchester, Va., Oct. 27, gives the rebel account of the skirmish at Romney on the 26th. The writer says the fight was between four hundred Confederates, and a Federal force variously estimated at from three thousand to five thousand. He continues:

Our little force was obliged to retreat before superior numbers. The fight commenced three or four miles from Romney, whither our troops had gone to meet the enemy. After fighting some time, it was found that they could not keep back the Federals, and a retreat toward Romney followed, the enemy pursuing. Our army wagons blocked up the road, and the artillery could not pass, and it was consequently captured, with wagons, tents, baggage, &c., and we regret to add that Col. Angus McDonald, the commander of the Confederate forces, it is believed fell into the hands of the pursuers. When last seen, he was on horseback, with the enemy but a short distance in the rear. Some of his friends fear that he has been killed, as the Federals, it has been stated, exhibited no disposition to take prisoners, but rode up to teamsters and killed them with their sabres. Major O. R. Funsten escaped. He was thrown from a horse, but was carried off in a carriage, and has reached this place in a bruised condition. Some twenty or thirty of the cavalry have reached Winchester, from whom we obtain these particulars.

Nor were their desires long ungratified, for Gen. Kelley, who had with great bravery advanced to the front and most exposed positions at the beginning of the battle, and whose quick perceptions enabled him at once to fully comprehend the enemy's position, and devise the most feasible plan of attack, soon gave the welcome command to charge upon their batteries and intrenchments, when, with shouts, our little force of cavalry, under the lead of the gallant Captains Keys and McGhee, dashed across the river, (which was fordable at this point,) while our equally enthusiastic infantry, under the command of Cols. Mason and De Puy, Lieut.-Col. Kelley, and Major Swearingen, rushed over the bridge to encounter the foe, at the very muzzles of their guns. No sooner did the enemy perceive this movement, however, Although directly from the scene of the enthan (with their usual repugnance to any inti-gagement, they bring reports containing dismate acquaintance with the "Lincoln men") crepancies as to the details. I aim to give what they immediately abandoned their carefully- I believe to be the most reliable. It is believed selected positions, and commenced a precipi- we had about twenty men killed and a number tate retreat, rushing "pell mell" through the wounded. A large number of the enemy were

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