, 1862-06-11

Especial Correspondence OF the chicago TRIBUNE.
CAssy1LLE, Mo-, June I'd, 1882.
There has been quite a pleasant little break
In the dull monotony OF post duty, since I
last wrote you from here. The changing ru-
mors that came day after day, from the white
lips Of terrified Union butternuts, or equally
Frightened state-militia men, have concentrated
into an actual cause Of alarm to those whose
confidence in our United States troops is
measured by and learned from the specimens
Of soldiery witnessed In the strange compen-
dunn Of military paradoxes that comprises the
Missouri State militia
But before proceed to "ye grand charge''
let me revert long enough to two of the pfis-
onerS whom alluded to in my last, to set
Col Mnlligan's heart ut ease.
The 1Fh;te, who was taken at Neosho, proves
to be no less than the notorious Col White OF
the I'd Missouri infantry, who commanded
sccesh force at Lexington, when q rebel
post having charge Of prisoners; and the
circumstances attending the arrest Of Won
Schneling were these:
81 have FRIEND" said White, when taken,
"whom you Will ut last allow to 20. He is
in feeble health, and ia going to the hot
springs Of Arkansas. I allude to Mr. Schnel-
ling. I am going to my plantation in that
state, and we are travelling together"
"schnellin, schnelhngl" cried DR.. Chinen-
worth, local Union physician who had for
time been pressed into professional service By
Price; "what. Won schne11ing, Col. Won
coctor Lin, he is a great rebel! Ugh!"
Won s. Was brought out, when Dutch gain
lpg the ascendency in the enthusiastic disciple
OF Galtn, cried !:
"Ia! ya. it ish de Col Won schnel1ing,
knows lin well, gives him de- mediciuc in
Union lines nit de lie, he ish say he WAS sick
und 80 to de hot springs, Or is 70 to dc big
plantation in Howard county, where Col
White has Ton. fau, by gar! Hold 'em
tight!'
For several days these two colonies have
Kept their own coun6els very pertinaciously,
but they have let themselves ont, and now
stand by their own confession in their true
light He noticed that the mention of.the
name Of the Col White Of our own f3Tth)
regiment, always made the rebel start, aud
gradually In this Tay his rank has been dis
| covered.
| The sortic from this place under Capt Fris-
| bic, *as to nlett and act in conjunction with
| Col. Richardson (Richardeon's battalion. III
s. NJ, but as these local troops were NOT ac-
customed to our peculiar ways Of business,
| nor VIC to thei,s, our men marched to Neosho,
| drove out all the enemy they found, except
those they took prisoners, and finding no
| stnte militia, nor hearing from them, came
| back. making round march of eighty miles,
| skirnlish and forage Of twenty loads Of
| roughness," while Col r. was marching
from Mt. Vernon to feosho, distance Of
| thirty niles. Col. Richardson started the dav
before our men, and arrived at Neosho the day
after our men reached our camp On their re-
! turn.
| But nov a new dilemma appeared. Col.
Coffee and his hordes came On Neosho while
Col Richardson, regardless Of repeated warn-
| inEs, encampcd or Diyouacked his men in the
edge Of chapperaL Here he was sttscked. on
news Of his oanger renching us from Spring
field By telegraph, Col Barnes Immediately took
six companies infantry Major Hu uobard's IL.
| ion Of cavalry, and two guns OF Lieut. Boorhis'
battery, and performed alter eight O'Clock
Saturday, and in one day, the march from
| Cassyfisa to Neosho, via Newtonia, distance
OF forty miles Whist do you taink Of Illinois
Rfter such forced march IS that, following
on a previous march of eighty miles in three
Meanwhile, Mt the time Col Barnes was
starring, the enemy were pouncing on Rich
ardson, who had formed a temporary barricade
By throwing his wagons into coral. Still ht
vas within short gun shot Of the bushes, ant
the Mississippi rifles and double-barreled sho
guns could do most fearful execution amone
his men. Now began the reports to pour IL
upon us. First refugee flew into camp, ami
brea,hlcssly told Of 8 complete roat Of III,
State miliria, twenty killed and eighty wound
cd, and Col Richardson mortally hurt Nex
carne citizen, who said he bud been present
snd hsd seen the Dutch fire two or three bur
| ried shots, and run precipitately, feayin,
ho1ees, wagons. aud q wounded Colonel to th
mercy Of the robbers. We hnye vet no NOR
reliable information, but Major Hubbard ba
returned, and ahall sec him, and learn all tn
particulars before close this letter.
Now began more really startling news t
reach our ears. Messengers from Pea Ridg
and the vicinity Of Sugar Creek reports
scbnabie (who, by the way, is killed, hut hi
forces are not-more's the PITY counting from
that direction, and men from Neosho, MI
Vernon, and eastward toward Forsyth, cam
II rapid succession, reporting Coffee. Stan
Waite, Mcbride, ana Rains, approaching Til
| devoted garrison With malicious iutent Co
Bsrnes hearing OF this, sounded counter
march. and the cavalry forces arrived last evea
! ing. The infantry and artillery, which reste
at Newtonia last night, Thirty Miles away
| viii be in tonight or tomorrow. Tnus v
stand today. fight imminent, and the iutez
tioa to cut uff our communication with Spring
feid But have never seen SO eheesfal an
| hopeful yfeW e& fhAt presented hY our me3