The Smoky Hill and Republican union. [volume] (Junction City, Kan.) 1861-1864, 1863-10-17

oUANTRILE's LAST MAssAcRE!
lsu p.1tieu,a.s Of II. Eight It Azafs springs.
PRISONERS MURDERED AND THEIR
BODIES BURNED!
From the Leavenworth Conservative.I
We received the following letter last
night from prominent officer at Baxters
Springs:
CAMP BLAIR, BAxTER's STRINGS,
- = October 8, 1868.
4 propose to give Jon = -hrief account of
the disastrous affair which happened near
here day before yesterday.
About one o'clock, Gen. Blunt and his
body guard, numbering about eighty men,
we're 1t halt just over the crest Of the bill
from this camp, waiting for the closing up
Of the column and train, when they cav
approaching f.om the woods and over the
brow of the hill from this direction large
body of men. As they we're mostly dress
ed in Federal uniforms, it was at FIRST
supposed that they we're part Of Lieut..
Ponds command, who has two companies Of
cavalry and one of colored infantry at this
station.
As they formed the line Gen. Blunt rode
out about fifty yards in front Of his line to
ascertain with certainty who they were.
They soon settled this question by opening
FIRE on him and the line in his rear, and
charging forward with regular rebel yell.
As he turned to give the order to fire, he
saw his body guard securing across the
prairie in disgraceful fight. He turned
and galloped after, soon overtaking some Of
them, and endeavored to rally them for
defence, but in vain.
Major Curtis, A. A. G., and Lieutenant
Pierce, of the body guard, were ably sup
porting him in this endeavor, but without
success.
The General frequently lost SO much
time in his efforts to rally the few scatter
ing men that he could reach. that the enc
my was repeatedly within fifteen or twenty
feet of him, and once or twice, at least, be
was absolutely surrounded, but with charac-
teristic gallantry aud determination ne
forced his way out, and notwithstanding
the fact that they we're constantly firing at
him, and the bullets about him we're almost
as thick as hailstones in storm, he escaped
unhurt. At length be succeeded in rally
ing some ten or fifteen men, who turned and
faced the foe and drove the small party Of
twenty-five or thirty who had been chasing
| them, in turn.
The main body of the rebels, numbering
probably some six or eight hundred. had
gathered around the wagons which they
had overtaken, and were rifling them OF
their contents. They took all Of General
Blunt's band, and all the tesmsters, and
most of the clerks and orderlies at Head
quarters, and murdered them after they
we're taken, without remorse aud in cold
blood. After riiing the wagons, they set
fire to them, 6urning the dead rth them
Just as they laH.
Coming frol, the direction they did, it
was supposed, Of course. that Lieut.. Ponds
entire comma nd had been taken, and so
Gen. Blunt started Lieut. Tnpran, Second
Colorado, of his staff, who had escaped un-
hurt, to Lieut.. Col. Blair at Fort Scott,
sixty FIVE miles of, for reinsorcements, and
determined with bis little remaining bard
of about ten men, to bower near tie enemy
till help came, or until they LETT, thinking
he might possibly save some Of the wound
ed. Several attempts were made 20 cs pture
him, but when pursuit was male be kept
away on the BIZ 90 ground, still in sight. re-
turning as they fell back, until they finally
gave it up as hopeless.
At last they started off south, thinking
beyond doubt, that the General must have
large force near by, both from the fact
that be had such small body with him,
and from the pertinacity with which be
lowered near them, and kept them SO care
fully in sight.
After they had entirely gone and he had
spent some time among the dead, looking
vainly for the wounded, he came to camp,
and learued for the first time that Lieut..
| Pond and his command we're safe.
Ponds cavalry vas all absent on a forag
/ ing expedition, having left only q few sici
and dismounted men and one company ol
negroes.
IL seems that the same morning the reb
els had attacked this camp, and the frs
onset was 30 sudden and fierce, and so com
plete surprise, that they got clear il
among the tents, one Of the men riding ul
to Mrs. Pond . tent and calling on her Il
surrender, with pistol pointed At her head
She made face at him and ran to ths
other side Of the camp. The negroes raj
lied to their guns aud drove the rebels out
killing eight Of them. They then formed
line Of battle, and Lieut Pond, alone ani
unsupported, got outside his rough fortifica
t;on. - !. G,tle monst.in ,hovStzer. vhiol