you want.”  At this moment a young officer, Captain Wroton by name,—­of whom more hereafter,—­pressed through the throng, and, placing himself in front of White, declared that he would protect the prisoner with his own life.  The firm bearing of Wroton saved the Major’s life, but his captors robbed him and hurried him to their camp, where he remained during the fight, exposed to the hottest of the fire, an excited, but helpless spectator of the stirring events which followed.  He promised his generous protector that he would not attempt to escape, unless his men should try to rescue him; but Captain Wroton remained by his side, guarding him.

Making a detour of twelve miles, Zagonyi approached the position of the enemy.  They were encamped half a mile west of Springfield, upon a hill which sloped to the east.  Along the northern side of their camp was a broad and well-travelled road; along the southern side a narrow lane ran down to a brook at the foot of the hill:  the space between, about three hundred yards broad, was the field of battle.  Along the west side of the field, separating it from the county fair-ground, was another lane, connecting the main road and the first-mentioned lane.  The side of the hill was clear, but its summit, which was broad and flat, was covered with a rank growth of small timber, so dense as to be impervious to horse.

The following diagram, drawn from memory, will illustrate sufficiently well the shape of the ground, and the position of the respective forces.

[Illustration:  A, Road leading into the village.  B, Lane down which Zagonyi came.  C, Lane where Fairbanks led his men.  D, Dense woods covering the summit of the hill.  E, Crest of the hill and clear land.  F, Hill-side up which the Guard charged.  G, Brook at the foot of the hill.  H, Place where the Guard entered.  I, Small patch of woods in front of which the enemy’s horse were stationed.  J, Gate through which the Rebels fled, Zagonyi pursuing.  K, Fair-ground into which some of the enemy fled.  L, Place where Foley took down the fence.]

The foe were advised of the intended attack.  When Major White was brought into their camp, they were preparing to defend their position.  As appears from the confessions of prisoners, they had twenty-two hundred men, of whom four hundred were cavalry, the rest being infantry, armed with shot-guns, American rifles, and revolvers.  Twelve hundred of their foot were posted along the edge of the wood upon the crest of the hill.  The cavalry was stationed upon the extreme left, on top of a spur of the hill and in front of a patch of timber.  Sharp-shooters were concealed behind the trees close to the fence along-side the lane, and a small number in some underbrush near the foot of the hill.  Another detachment guarded their train, holding possession of the county fair-ground, which was surrounded by a high board-fence.