New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-10-19

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Letter from Mnisr-Cen. BIuns-Thc Mar.
dering Of Umarmcd Men and Surren.
dered Prisoners.
BAXTER SPRINGS % miles below Fort Scott.
Oct. Z, le63--l0 O'Clock p. IN.
Captains THoLES and LoRING
Everything in the staff wagons is lost; the
wagons were burned with most Of their contents.
We hive just found the body Of Major Curtis. MAI
curtss body. also that of Judge-Advocate Lieut.
Farr arrived in Leayenworth on the 18th inst] When
wrote to Major Blair last night it was supposed he
prisoner had searched the ground over neas
where his horse fell and could not find him. Moreover
Quantrels Adutant person representing himsel1
as sucn, who came into Lieut. Ponds camp with Gag
OF truce said they had my Assistant AdutantGcneraI
prisoner To-day he was found near where he Wa
thrown from his horse, shot through the head, evidently
murdered after being taken prisoner shall start biz
body with that OF Lieut. Farr to Fort Scott this even
ing. You viii probably have heard some Of the par
culars OF the affair here yesterday before you receive
this
The Escort, company l. Sd Wisconsin, and oompepy
A, E;h Kansas consisting Of 100 men, behaved die.
gracefully and stampcdcd like drove OF frightened
cattle. did rot anticipate any difficulty until We got
below this point. We arrived near this camp about ~
me- and halted the hill almost in sight OF the camp
and not than four hundred yards distant to wait
for the escort and agons TO close up The escort cam1
up and dismountcd wait for the train which was but
short distance behind. AT this time my attention was
called a body Of men, about hundred, advancing
in line from The timber Of Spring River, on the left,
which you viii recolect than three four
hundred yards fiom the road The left Of the line
not more than two hundred yards from, Lieutenant
Pond camp the spring They being nearly al dressed
in Federal uniforms, supposed them at first TO DO
Lieut. Ponds cavalry two coinpanies) on service Al
the same time my suspicious were aroused by Of
their movements. ordered the wagons, which had
up 10 the and formed the escort IN line with
tLeir cafbipcs unslung. while 1 advanced alone TO.
war; the party fronting Us To ascertain II they were
Rebels.
had advanced but short distance when they opened
a fire at the time firing was heard down in Ponds
camp Turning around Ia give the order 10 the escort
FIRE discovered them all broken up and going over
the prairie to the west at full speed They did not even
discharge the loaded carbnes they had In their hands
except in few cases. Had the escort stood their
ground soldiers should have done they could have
driven the enemy in ten minutes. endeavorcd II
vain, with the assistance 81 Major Curtis. to halt and
form portion Of them. When the escort stampeded,
the enemy discovering IL. rushed on with YELL fol.
lowed by another line Of about 200 that emerged from
the edge Of the timber Being better mounted than our
men. they soon closed in on them. The men OF the
escort were much scattered. and with them II Was q
hiteen men including Lent Pierce. Co. A. 18th Kan
sas WHO has done his duty wep and noby throughout
As soon as got them In line. and commenced I'd.
vanci the pursuing enemy. they lied aud fell bac3
10 n, wood when their whole command 600 formed
la upe u battle The balance Of the escort that had
escaped were all out of sight in the advance hsjos
Curtis had been seen fall from his horse which had
s SsAfs sent e s%hs sbb a srS}ssDF DITCH Ae9 ';
With The other determined 70 renal. until the the
Of those that had s SSod h BE- n
which much feared the case. As they fen BACK
the road followed them up over the ground we hs4
come, TO look for the wounded. oai an WIN Two u
Killed shot through the head. All the wounded leQ
been murdered 1 kept close to them, and witnesee9
their pundcrns the wagons AZ Ine t%e tae!
me- but failed In their purpose As they moved ON on
the road leading south went down TO the Spring and
found them al X.
mand are entitled TO great credit for the they
rcpulsed tho enemy and defended tne post. The col
ored soldiers fought with great gaiantry All OF tho
vouud.a we're shot through the head and thus muir.
Jered. The band wagon captured, and all Of the
bo,s shot in the after they were prisoners
The same was the case with the .eamsteT; ana h s;
III the band boys All OF the office clerks except one
We're Killed: also my orderly. Fly, Major Hennine 10
with But few Of the escort who escaped nave comS
are not ali busied but the number WIZ NOT ia snort
seventy five. The enemy numbered SIX huadrcaS ,-
Onantfes and Coifcys commands. They are evidently
Intending 20 20 south of the Arkansas. have scouts
on the trail Two have just come In and report coming
up with them at the crossing OF the NeosnS RIVER.
Others are still following them mp Whether they
viii go directly south the Fort Gibson Road cross
Grand River to Cowskin Prairie. cannot determine.
When they in they CROSSED spIhlsg ,s s'Sss ~
and II they succedo In getting through safe our FORCES
there will b. put the alert and may intercept them.
am now waiting the ARRIVAL ol troops rom rOIt Scout
II yet them (Which is doubtful as the 18th Kansas -
not srmed) will follow the hounds through the entird
southern Confederacy long us there's prospect q
overtaking them And viii have it well UNDERSTOOD
that any man OF this command who again breaks ho
the line and deserts his post shall be shot on the spot
aud there shall be quarter to the motley bands Oh
murderers.
was fortunate in escaping as in my EFFORTS to nals
and rally the men frequently rot in the rear ana pc
came considerably mixed up with the Rebels, VINO aiY
not fail 10 pay me their compliments Revolver pa"eY
acw round my head thick haii-bnt not sera'en
| helieye am not 10 be killed by Rebel bullet
Yours. truly. oAS' W. DA''''