The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1913-05-09
AROUND THE
CAMPO sSs&A
STORY OF FREMoNT'S GUARD
UnforqetabIe Ride Of seventy-Flve'
Miles and Attack on Springfield
Mo-. Early In War.

Mai. Mason Jackson, United States
army, retired who was member OF
Gen. John G. Framont's memoraoie
bodyguard commanded by Major Aa
gonyi, tells story about fact OF
history connected with Major laeoh-
yi's forced march OF 75 miles and at
tack on Springfield, Mo. early III tne
war, which, as the relator says. 'ousht
not to slumber any longer" It was an
unforgetable rlde-75 miles tn 81
hours, with one short feed for horse
and a chunk OF salt beef, without
bread, for man, writes Lieut.. Col. J. A
Watrous. In the Chicago Record-Her
aid
When a few miles from Spring
field" said Major Jackson, the major
learned that the Confederates were T.
900 strong. His force was less than
500.
"'What shall you do. maior2' asked
one OF his officers.
"'Charge and capture the city, of
course, was the reply
"A mile from the city we came to
piece OF road fenced on both sides.
Down that we charged, with all the
fury of a cyclone, until large force
of the enemy, concealed, opened hre'
| killing Is and wounding 25. Then we
fell back. took a new position and
charged again. That time we drove
the Condeferates and captured the
city.
at night, learning that General
Sigel, who was on his way with In
fantry and artillery reinforcements'
could not reach there until the next
day, Major Zagonyi fell back 20
miles. History has recounted this, but
here is something about which history
has been silent for more than 4S
years:
Among the wounded from the enc
my's first volley was corporal OF our
troop, Doctor Sloane of Cincinnati. He
was not badly hurt. When he could
walk, which was soon, he began the
practice of his profession as a sur
geon. caring for the wounded. In
Springfield he found well supplied
hospital that the Confederates had
suddenly left. Teams were secured to
convey the wounded of both sides to
the hospital, where wounds were
dressed and several amputations we're
made
About midnight two Confederate
officers came to the city under nag
Of truce They we're taken to the hos
pttal. where they asked permission to
hurry their dead Corporal Sloane was
IN his shirt sleeves and they readily
believed his story that he was the
commanding officers chief OF staff,
and about to retire for the night.
"'Be seated, gentlemen; shall have
to refer your request to general Slgei'
"It mattered not to Corporal-Doo-
tor Sloane that General Sigel was at
least thirty miles away, for he was
soon back and informed the Confed-
crates that General Sigel complied
with their request. Then the corporal
commanding went on with his work
of caring for the wounded,
'It is true that Major Zagonyi cap
tured the city, but Corporal Sloane and
his wounded companions held it for
some hours. / think history ought to
tell that-don't you?
General Fremont not only had a
large and attractive bodyguard, splen-
didly mounted" continued Major Jack
son. but he had an ample staff, larger
than any other major generals at any
period of the war.
'I used to see General Fremont's
two boys about headquarters. One OF
them. f. p. Fremont, was major OF
the Fifth infantry. The other, Charles
Fremont, is a captain In the navy.
: Charles was lad of seven or eight at
, that time. The general had the quar-
: termaster get pony for him and he
l rode about with the STAFF or body
guard. One day he said: General Ere
mont this pony is too small for me-
= want horse like the rest OF the staff,
: and large-sized horse was supplied
: The youngster looked like monkey
astride the great animal.
There was much alarm In camI
one evening. The bodyguard had re
turned from an expedition without
Charley Fremont Mounted men were
= sent to search for him in all direc
. tions. He was found, five miles away
riding deliberately toward headquar
ters. An old farmer had invited hin
, to stop for a luncheon and he hat
= accepted. Luncheon over, the farme
: had gone with him to the road ant
: told him to hurry back to camp |
4 was good advice, for guerrillas had al
. ready begun operations in that par
a of Missouri. / have always believes
:, that our marching party that evening
. saved some pretty good timber for
II rear admiral of the navy, to whicl
" rank Captain Charles Fremont
working up"