New-York daily tribune., 1861-11-12

Judge White of this city, Of the part lie ana MS
Prairie Scouts took in the capture Of Springfield, VIII
be read with interest by our citizens:
SPRINGFIELD, Mo-, Oct 80, 1851.
MAJoR-GEs. FKENoST: On the 24h inst, after
my return with my command, lJ4 strong, from Lex
ington, l reported to you, AID by your orders re-
ported for further orders TO Gen. egel az DIS heao
quarters. Gen. Sigel ordered me TO Ie,onnoiter ~
the vicinity of Springfeid, and if deemed 10 ad-
yieable To- attack "a rebel force said TO be encalnped
In that neghDorhood. l Immediately pushed my
command forward, ard on the evening of the %itn
was oyeraken by Major Chas. Zagonyi anh his
command, and under orders from you reported my
command TO him.
We proceeded together, ard halted at daybreak
for au hours rect. AS l was then suffering ron a
severe ilness contracted Oh my Lexington eA eIi
ton aud was then too weak 10 mount my hO'ee,
MAJOR Zagonyi suggested that l should remain tor
,bort tine at "A farm house on the road ana tneh
overtake tie command. did 70, and then, after q
sbort rest proceeded on to Springfield with an escort
OF Iieate nant and five men. pushed on very ias'
and was surprised that old not oyertske my men,
but was stin more when was suddenly eur
rounded near the borcers VI Springfield by TWO COM
pauies Of rebel cavalry and captured with NY
escort.
broke my sword, but was forced to surrender my
paIers and othtr effects. | have since learned that
Major Zagonyi let Tie main road at point dis,snt
from Springfield, and he LETT no orc to inform Inc
Of the fact /, OF course, Lad run unawaIes within
the Rebel lines.
Tie Rebels conducted ne to their camp, and
crowd Of excited soldiers s1rrountei my htle party
cooking their pieces and preparing 10 murder u.s.
Two Rebel officers lnterfered and guarded rs IRON
them. The Ketels having heard Of our force, made
their preparations for deiense by throwing force OF
400 rihtnen IN ambush in the woods bordering the
road that skit,ed their camp forming 80 cavalry on
the oyen heli in which they eauped, and ambgeuing
the lGance Of their forces IN oorneld tad thisket
al their rear.
Their forces consisted Of Col Jobns,on's cavalry
regiment. Col Schable infantry, and an iudei ieEdeIt
corps of Infantry, under Col. Turner. IbeE whole
force ! 1O1 strong was commanded by Col. Frazier.
An hour after my capture our forces arrived ana inc
attack was commenced by brilliant charge by
Major Zag0nyi His brave men were exposed 10 Il
terrific Gle from the Rebel ambush, but they STOOD
the fire uotly.
My squadron of cavalry, under command Of ny
senior c,utain, Capt Chas. Fairbanks iaIked the
enemy by countermarch, and routed the rliiemen
from their ambush. They charged three different
times upon the main body Of the Rebels with whom
was as they rereatedir from position TO another
The rout was soon complete, ana was borne away
with my flying captors.
The pauy having me in charge halted about twelve
miles from the scene OF action, az the house OF a
Union man. and made their preparations to remain
for the night. SEEING a moment when was not
watched, l told my host that was prisoner.
lie dispatched his son secretly to inform hs neigh
a
cinity surrounded the house, and being admitted by
NE captured the rebels.
Returning TO Springfield with my prisoners, l
found tie place abandoned by our troops, with the
exception OF few stragglers from my own squadron
and that OF Major Zagonyi. Dr. Milcher, the doctor
in charge of those wounded left after lhe battle Of
Wilson Creek, and DR.. Hughes, nay own surgeon,
were dressing the wounds of our brave menwho had
fallen in the conflict Of the night before.
Collecting those of our men left In town, posted
q guard around the town, Gnd found that after max
ing my picket detail i had q reserve Of two men.
We received flag Of truce from the enemy with as
much ceremony as | could muster, and impressed the
bearer with idea that We had large force under
the dread command Of Gen. Sgei on the outskirte Of
the village.
After day and night Of terrible anxiety to my
little band our re-enforcements arrived and we de-
Iyered up our charge.
find that the loss sustained IN the action by my
command in killed, wounded and missing, is thirty
three. AS soOn as possible will give more de-
tailed report.
Very respectfully,
FRANK j. WHITE, Major and Acting Lieut.. Col,
Commanding Squadron o! PTa!rie Scouts