The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1862-02-04

long march from Lexington had been
made longer by the necessity Of constant
delays at country mills to grind the corn
for his men. To be driven westward
would be to wander off into the Indian
country or the poor and mountainous
districts of Arkansas, and TO meet star
vation He had reached Cassville, and
must come to bay and fight, unless he
could come to plenty and door of
escape at Forsyth before Fremont should
attack him. But Fremont, who could
cross country while Price would creep
over a township, was already at Spring
field. He was the nearer Of the two TO
that point, Forsyth, TO reach which was
Prices only chance Of salyation,. At
Wilson's Greek, six miles sou;h Of
Springfield, their advanced guards felt
each other. While Price moved for
ward with all the rapidly in lis power,
he hoped 10 delay Fremont at this point.
But that obstacle would have been swept
away before the irresistible force of the
advancing column, and four and twenty
hours more, doubtless, would have
brought the shock OF the meeting OF the
main bodies For to keep back Fremont
and get 10 Forsyth would save Price
To prevent this and to hliag Price to
battle was 10 end the rebellion in Mis-
souii. They touched, Gs We have just
said, at Wilson's Creek, AMI NJ aterna-
tive was left for Piire but 10 fight his
way to Forsyth against men led by Ere
mont and burning 10 emulate the deeds
of Sigel and Zsgonyi, and 10 pu calumny
under their feet But nevertheless,
Price was saved for at Ills critical
moment, when il must have seemed to
him that 10 earthly power could rescue
him from the man before whom he had
fled so many days, that man was remos
ed from the command Of the opposing
force.
But where was Hunter? We do not
mean to do any injustice 10 tha General;
but his face was turned to Washington
and not 10 Cass,ile. He called Coun-
Gil of War and laid before il !. letter from
President Lincoln, commanding re-
treat. His Brigadiers replied, that tie
President, not, of course, understanding
the present posture of the opposing
such an ORDER and the commanding Gen
eral should be governed by his own dis
cretion. The advanced posts touched
each other Price, with dispirited army,
cut off from help, hungry and worn,
must stake the issue OF Secession IN Mis-
souri, OF single battle. The word by
unanimous consent wss-iight. FIRE.
mont was not there TO lead them to the
last triumphant day Of his hundred days,
but Hunter had ouly TO go in and gather
laurels. So the council broke up, and
looked for the coming battle OF the next
day. The next day came, but no battle
Gen, Hunter ihousht it necessary 10
obey the orders Of the President, and
the army turned its face toward ST. Lou
is, leaving not only the road 10 Forsyth
open to Kentucky rebels. but leaving
them also 10 begin, when strong enough,
a new campaign.
Nor was Price slow to avail himself
of this unexpected opportunity. From
Forsyth, doubtless, lie repaired his ex-
hausted resources, for in few days he
turned upon his footsteps Northward,
with none 10 hinder him or make him
afraid, aiming TO succor the rebel Gen
erals Rains and Stein, who had entrench-
ed themselves at Lexington. He him
self went as far north as Osceola, per-
haps as far as Warrensburg At any
rate, not many days had passed ere Gen.
Hallcck saw the necessity Of ming his
forces backward also. and doing over
again the work that hal once already
been so well-nish complete. About the
middle OF December orders were issued
at Upton and at OterNille. where the
troops had gone in.o winter quarters, fur
an immediate advance toward Warrens
burg, aud again Pic fled But tbs
time. il seems. much more ~ Lis leisure,
burning bridges and houses as he goes.
and Pope pursued him rs Fremont bal
pursued before. What two months ago
Fremont was within twenty four hours of
doing, Gen. iIaleck telegraphs 10 Gen
Hunter on the 2d inst, what lie eNpec.s
is about to be done. 0nce more Price
had fallen back TO Springfield, driven t.
do SO by Pope as he was by Fremont
And there. at the last account. he awails
battle, but whether he is in as bad CON
dition. or our forces IN rs good as when
he and Fremont confronted each other AT
thai very poiut--ouy that il was then
Fremont and not Price who commanded
The access TO tie Mississippi by tie
White Riyer-rcmaias 70 be seen.