Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1913-05-02

CAMPN IA
STORY OF FREMoNT's GUARD
Unforgetable Ride Of Seventy-Five
Miles and Attack on Springfield,
Mo-, Early In War.

army, retired, who vas a member of
Gen. John G. Fremont's memorable
bodyguard commanded by Major Ia
gonyi, tells a story about a fact of
history connected with Major Zagon-
tack on Springfield, Mo-, early In the
war, which, as the relator says, ought
not to slumber any longer" 1t was an
unforgetable ride-75 miles In 81
hours, with one short feed for horse
and a chunk Of salt beef. without
bread, for man. writes Lieut.. Col. ]. 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 H.
900 strong. His force was less than
500.
"'What shall you do, MAORI asked
n of his officers.
"'Charge and capture the city. of
course was the reply.
"A mile from the city we came to a
piece of road fenced on both sides.
Down that we charged, with all the
fury of a cyclone, until a large force
Of the enemy, concealed. opened fire,
killing IL and wounding rs. Then we
fell back, tool 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 Is
miles. History has recounted this. but
here Is something about which history
has been silent for more than 48
years:
Among the wounded from the enc
my's first volley was a 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 a well supplied
hospital that the C~onfederates had
suddenly left. Teams we're secured to
convey the wounded of both sides to
the hospital, where wounds were
dressed and several amputations were
made.
officers came to the city under q flag
Of truce. They were taken to the hos
pital, where they asked permission to
bury 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.
B seated, gentlemen; I shall have
to refer your request to general Sigel.'
ut mattered not to Corporal-Doc-
tor Sloane that General Sigel was at
least thirty miles away, for ne was
500 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.
ut is true that Major Zagonyi cap
tured the city, but Corporal Sloane and
his wounded companions held it for
some hours. I 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
"but he had an ample staff, larger
than any other major generals at any
period of the war.
Il used to e General Fremont's
two boys about headquarters. One of
them, F. P. Fremont, was a major OF
the Fifth infantry. The other, Charles
Fremont, Is a captain in the navy.
Charles was a lad of or eight at
that time. The general had the quar-
termaster get a pony for him and he
rode about with the staff or body
guard. One day he said: General Ere
mont, this pony is too small for me. i
want a horse like the rest Of the STAFF
and a large-sized horse was supplied.
The youngster looked like a monkey
astride the great animal.
There was much alarm in camp
one evening. The bodyguard had re
turned from an expedition without
Charley Fremont Mounted men were
sent to search for him in all direc-
TONS. He was found, five miles away,
riding deliberately toward headquar.
ters. An old farmer had invited him
to stop for a luncheon and he had
accepted. Luncheon over, the farmer
had gone with him to the road and
told him to hurry back to camp. 1t
was good advice, for guerrillas had al
ready begun operations in that part
OF Missouri. l have always believed
that our marching party that evening
saved some pretty good timber for a
rear admiral Of the navy, to which
rank Captain Charles Fremont is
working up"
Polite (7) Repartee.