Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-11-04
Charge of the Fremont Body -suard-The
Funeral of those Killed.

The correspondent OF the st Louis Repu6.
Hcan wrote from Springfield as follows:
The desperate charge of the Fremont Body.
guard is still the theme of conversation and
praise in camp, and no one can doubt what
ever bis opinion of it as military movement,
that it was a reck lessly daring performance,
entitled to The name of the American Blla-
klava. 1t was in many instances extraordi-
nary. The men had ridden seventy miles,
been two consecutive nights without sleep,
and had but one ration previous to the en-
gagement Not more than six of the Guard
had ever before been under fire, and yet they
manifested a coolness and courage that would
have done credit to Napoleons most veteran
warriors. Not one of them finched Or wa
vered-proving, as Sicconi said, that every
one of them was hero.
Not more than ten of the one hundred and
fifty horses are fit for service-the rebels
different from their usual custom, fired low,
and therefore struck the steeds instead of the
riders. The BOdy-guard will require some
weeks for reorganization, and their splendid
achievement will make them a most sought
for corps. Company O alone had two hun
dred applications here for admission yester-
day, and Sergeant Charles II. Hunter says
he could raise a regiment of Body guards in
Cincinnati, whence he comes, in a week
General Fremont, Immediately on his ar
rival in Springfield, visited the hospital
where the brave fellows lay wounded, aud
complimented them highly on their gallant
| conduct, and declared any commander might
be proud to have such Body guard. When
he saw the dead soldiers he could not restrain
| his tears.
Yesterday afternoon fifteen of the Body
guard were buried with military honors-
the Benton Cadets, Major Holman's Sharp
shooters, and General Fremont and entire
staff, with the surviving Guards, following
the remains to the grave. Fifteen Fiderless
horses were led in the procession, which was
most impressive. The Episcopal funeral
service was performed by Rev. Mr.. Blake,
Chaplain of the staff, and his remarks caused
many of the soldiers to weep like children.
The fifteen corpses were all deposited in one
grave, Just outside of the town, and voliey
of musketry fired over the grave, into which
General Fremont cast the first earth. The
citizens, male and female, attended the fune-
raj in large numbers, and deep melancholy
pervaded the breasts of all who participated
in the mOurnful occasion.
General Fremont visited the scene of Fri
days action after the funeral, and examined
| the locality particularly. The trees aud
fences contain marks of the desperate con-
flict, and one rail in the Mount Vernon road
has thirty-seven bullets in it.
One fearless rebel, on the day of the fight,
made most desperate effort to kill Sicconi,
| riding along half OF the line aud receiving
some twelve wounds before he expired, re-
sisting heroically to his last gasp.
Sergeant Geo. Sloan, of Cincinnati says he
he held Springfield until Major Frank j.
Whites arrival, and that the statement OF
the towns desertion by the Body guard is
incorrect
The reports of the rebel loss differ, but II
appears from all can learn that they must
have had at least fifty or sixty killed and
forty 10 fifty wounded. A man in town as
sisted in the interment of twenty-five, and
saw four wsgon-loads of dead carried from
the field. One OF the wounded Body-guard
lying among tho brushes, cOrrObOrates thil
statement, and it is also verified from Other
sources.
Twenty. seven Of the rebels, the number
taken, declare that if released they will nevel
sgain bear arms against the United States
but will all become loyal citizens. Phi;
declaration is generally made by the rebels
! and generally violated.
! Most Of the captiVes are men bankrupt il
! fortune or character, who have every thing
to gain but nothing to lose in struggle lik'
the present.