Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-01-14
NEWS FROM THE WAR.

REBEL ATTACK ON SPRINGFIELD.
ST. LOUIS, Jan. 9.-The rebels, with great
boldness and excellent management have
thrown cavalry force, nearly 5000 strong,
into this state by an unfrequented route, and
attacked Springfield, the key position of the
southwest.
The rebels approached Springfield by the
Ozark road. With great cunning they avoided
the main roads until within short distance of
the place. BY this means they avoided giving
the alarm to the garrisons ut Ozark Cross
Roads and at Cassvile. The latter garrison
can fall back upon the army of the frontier
The Ozark garrison were probably taken pris-
oner. They are represented as $50 strong,
and commanded by Capt. Adam Flagg of the
18th Missouri state militia. The rebels first
struck this state in the vicinity of Forsyth,
on the White river, and succeeded in effect
ing complete surprise.
The officer in command at Springfield is
Gen. E. B. Brown of the state militia service.
He was formerly agent of the Chicago and
Alton Railroad in st. Louis, and entered the
service as lieutenant colonel of one of the
first regiments of volunteers raised in this
state. Ills bravery and gallantry are I'M
doubted His first intimation of the nearness
of the rebels or of their strength was con-
veyed by residents of the vicinity, who flew
to town on Wednesday, and informed him of
the fact. A suspicion was created that some
thing was wrong in the forenoon of that day,
by the cutting Of the telegraph line south of
Springfield, and of the failure to hear any
thing OF the man sent out to repair it. The
day was fine, and the line, unless interfered
with by rebels, ought to have worked.
However, as soon as the rebels were report
4 t,,.,I I
thing in his power to offer vigorous resist
ance. Families were hurried out of houses
on the outskirts, and loop-holes made for
musketry. Extra ammunition and arms we're
distributed to every citizen willing to handle
gun tor the defense of their town. Conval-
escent soldiers able to bear arms were brought
from the hospital wards and assigned to COM
panles. The entire force was ordered under
arms Immediately. The few officers present
held a consultation, and agreed never to sur
render while a hope of success remained
The troops available for the defense num.
bered about two thousand, and exceptinp q
majority Of the convalescent soldiers and six
hundred of the eighteenth Iowa volunteers
they were all state militia men, mounted a,
cavalry. The horses were of course dispensed
with, and every man served as infantry. The
only artillery in the place consisted of two
field pieces, six Founders, which were o
course brought into requisition. One of then
being upon "A stationary carriage in one of Tho
recently erected forts, could not be used tt
advantage to repel the first assault of the
rebels.
On Thursday yesterday morning the frs
diminishing took place, ON the estate of The
Hon John 5. Phelps, about four miles from
Springfield. A party of cavalry. after til,
gun had been fired, captured it, but not unit
spike had been driven in by one of the ar
tillerists. This piece was manned by conva
lescent soldiers belonging to batteries in tn
army OF the frontier. The defense of til
town was kept up vigorously from the houses
and by the 18th Iowa, so that in every atterip
to gain access to the heart of the place tn