Arkansas true Democrat., 1861-12-05
THE THEATRICAL BATTLE.

twelve miles of Springfield. The infor
 mantS added that the picketS of the chem, could be seen by the federal pickets on tht south side of Springfield, and that thou sanis of union men anal their families were ! locking in for protection. So widely hao this report been circulated and credited that regular panic existed throughout the town many oi the women and camp fol- lowers taking the road, to Bolivar, BnHal, an Rolla. on the run, with portions, al>, -anh th-> not Small-ot the newly rais- e,l and li,af1tctel solliery gave plain sign, of undue excitement"
 These de patch men ho,e. also, the as tounling news hat Gen. Fremont hal con cluded to leave Springfield on Sunday morning, without waiting for the arrival of his successor This sft" sNwa,ds proved to be partly true and partly faf-e, Gen. Ere mont, with his boly guard ant personal retainers. having actually started on the roal to Rolla yesterday morning. and al vanced ten miles on his way. But again the sober second though htsteppa'l in to save 1 him, and he returned to Springfield in the afternoon, remaining until this morning. Immediately on receiving news of his appointment, General Hunter him self pass ed on to Springfield with three companies of the first Missouri cavalry, distance of ! thrty-three miles, and over the most exc rabe roads ever seen. All the way along the line. as I have been informed by a member of the escort, fresh, an yet tresher despatches were poured into his hands, all "piIing up the agony. 50 to speak, about the danger of Springfield, and the certainty that the place would be attacked by over whelmng numbers before early daylight this morning. Special messengers, on foamng steeds, dashel out of all the dark brdle paths. through the woods, carving the dismal tdings ot near disaster to the new incumbent of the western department. Never before were seen such long faces on any orderIies, express riders, or military guides. Each added some new particulars to the sketch of general dismay, so that as Gen. Hunter rode along in hot haste (though still a good deal ncredulous,) his escorts were listening with straineI ears for the first heavy guns that would an- nounce the commencement of the lombard ment and capture of Springfield by the rebels.
 These things are only mentioned to serve as 9 fitting commentary on |" the victory" which General Fremont in his parting ad- dress told the " soldiers Of the Mississippi army" they were ''juSt about to win !" Never was there worse panic in any army than that which ragged through tho 30 GOO men asSem mhled here, from snnri~e to sun set yesterday. Not Washington in the forty eight hours following Bull Run was any more q prey to terror, confusion. and
 the total ohllteraiion of all discipline. .- 1 This is fat which will he .orne out by the concurrent testimony ofevery intelli gent offer present, ant this. perhaps, may have been the splendid example" 10 which Major General Fremont refers in his stump speech.
 At or abont 3 o'clock last evening Gen. Hanter arrived in town. and soon after called at Gen. Prem onl's late headquarters, where council of the more prominent Generals had been assembled to meet him The interview la>te,l about an hour, and the only thing known concerning it's results may bA summed up in the inct lhat Gen II. returned to his quarters ac '"m. anet hy Gen. Pnpe-holh laughing very heartily Ut something which your cmrespondcni does not even venture to surmi>e. Certain it is only that tie excited and feveii>h sentiment of Springfield instantly eubsi ded
 The soldiers, who were pacing hurrie fly round their camps, at length remembered that tattoo hal been sounded. and retired 10 their tents (such of them as had any. ] Many long and haggard faces gra lually but steadily resumed their vonted aspect of circular stupidity. and all our streets were dnll. orderly and quiet as those of d New England village by moonlight. EXIT THE BATTLE.
 But never morning opennd more peace fully or sweetiu!v-the sun shining with the fever of July on the tioldS of glr> tcnns hnar frost the blue jays >hreking in thr woods, and most ot the panic->lricken sol diers of yesterday looking exreedin> lv ! ashamed of themselves. Of the 40 GOO men said to be under Price in our i,nme- | diate nrighborhood, we have received o,e- finite information only of two ioraging parties, one ot about 300 and the other oi 40 exactly, who had come down on sep arate roads to within fifteen or eighteen miles ol this place We also learn that here are nearly. if not quile, 2400 rebels about 46 miles from here, ant it is said that Price has 20 GOO somewhere down near the White river over which he draws his supplies from Arkansas, the country south of this being an absolute wilderness of filthy hills. producing few eatables save 1 hickory nuts and black walnuts.
 1 THE BODY GUARD-THE RUNNING OFF PAY MASTER.
 Meantime at an early hour this morning l General Fremonttook his leave, his Indian .body guard" riding first, followed by hi> white !" body guard" and the rear being brought up by another Indian body guard" with a train of uncounted wagons and teams-all being necessary, suppose to transport our late commanders baggage and that of his little son, who rode with g special train of aidsde-camp just behind | his father The trouble is, however, that Gen Fremont carried away with him dep uty paymsSter PhinneY, with tho military chest containing $300,0 50 far a. known, thus leaving the army ahsnlntel, destitute of pay, with the exception . these favored < body guarl people," an. the uncommi>Sionch ani illegally appointe,
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