From gentlemen in from
Springfield, we have a confirmation of the
Shanghai fight between
Montgomery and the forces under
McCulloch.
All information from this quarter must come through secession channels, and that is consequently quite meagre.
It was stated that
Montgomery “flaxed out” the secessionists, and the latter were driven some distance.
Montgomery then fell back on
Greenfield.
The forces at
Springfield were kept in a state of constant alarm for several nights, in apprehension of an attack from the Jayhawkers.
The baggage train was rushed to the public square and placed under a strong guard, while the troops went out to
Owens' farm--one mile and a half from
Springfield — and formed in line of battle, resting on their arms over night.
One informant states that
John Price started northward with five hundred men, but was driven back, having encountered a “
Sawyer.”
A report was put in circulation for the public use, that
Fremont was retreating to
Jefferson City.
But despatches were received by the secession authorities, Wednesday evening, that
Price was to cross the
Osage, at
Papinsville, the previous day, Tuesday.
It was “given out” that the reason for this retrograde movement was to get a supply of provisions.
It was observed that several prominent secessionists about
Springfield were busily engaged in “packing up” for a start.
Captain Galloway, commander of the Home Guards in
Taney County, despairing of the arrival of Federal troops, disbanded his company.
He was hunted through the woods by the rebels, and his men shot down like wild beasts.
About one hundred Home Guards from
Douglas County arrived at the
Fort yesterday morning, in a starving condition, having travelled one hundred and ten miles, over a rough country, depending for subsistence on the rebellious inhabitants on the way. The men presented a unique and rough appearance.
They carried every variety of arms — some flint locks and fowling pieces — several of which were captured from the “secesh.”
These men were induced to “come out of the wilderness” for the purpose of joining
Col. Boyd's regiment at
St. Louis, and were under the direction of
Capt. Martindale and
Lieut. Adam.
Capt. Martindale stayed behind at Coppidge's, and, laboring under a misunderstanding in regard to his statements, fifty-four of them joined
Col. Phelps' regiment.
When
Martindale came up he protested, and claimed his men. The subject seemed to be rather a perplexing one to settle satisfactorily to all parties concerned.
The party brought in “Mick”
Yates, one of
McBride's lieutenants, a prisoner.
They also caught
Dave Lenox, but the latter managed to effect his escape.
The Home Guards had been some time in charge of
Clark's Mill, in
Douglas County.
A party of three hundred secessionists, under
Freeman, were on a marauding expedition in that region, and threatened the Home Guards with an attack.
They had robbed the stores at
Vera Cruz and other places.
They were encamped at
Wilson's Mill, on
Bryant's Fork of the
White River, and when their position became known, the Home Guards made a spirited attack upon their camp, taking them completely by surprise.
Thirty-three of the former advanced along a bluff, and when within
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three hundred yards of the rebels, who were at breakfast, fired several rounds, killing fifteen and wounding twenty.
The rebels broke and fled.
The secession gangs had, for some time previous, been guilty of committing several outrages.
Jesse Jeems, a Union man, was hung, and his body was cut down by the women and decently buried by them.
A man named
Brown was hung; another old man was reported to be horribly mutilated and left in the woods.
Old man
Russell, who came along with the party, had been taken prisoner by the secessionists, who swore him to meet them on Saturday at “
Job Teherbaugh's.”
Old man
Russell, in disregard of an oath exacted under compulsion, preferred to pay a visit to “Uncle Sam” instead of Teherbaugh's.
