with Sigel’s wagons.  Everything bears witness to the extraordinary energy and efficiency of that officer.  This morning he started before day, and he will be in Springfield by noon to-morrow.  His train is made up of materials which would drive most generals to despair.  There are mule-teams, and ox-teams, and in some cases horses, mules, and oxen hitched together.  There are army-wagons, box-wagons, lumber-wagons, hay-racks, buggies, carriages,—­in fact, every kind of animal and every description of vehicle which could be found in the country.  Most of our division-commanders would have refused to leave camp with such a train; but Sigel has made it answer his purpose, and here he is, fifty miles in advance of any other officer, tearing after Price.

We were jogging painfully over the incumbered road, and through clouds of dust, when an officer rode up in great haste, and asked for Dr. C., who was needed at the camp of the Guards.  By reason of the broken order in which the staff rode to-day, he could not be found.  For two mortal hours unlucky aides-de-camp dashed to the front and the rear, and scoured the country for five miles upon the flanks, visiting the farm-houses in search of the missing surgeon.  At last he was found, and hurried on to the relief of the Guard.  At this moment the General came up, and, to our astonishment, Zagonyi was riding beside him, bearing upon his trim person no mark of yesterday’s fatigue and danger.  The Major fell behind, and rode into Bolivar with me.  On the way we met Lieutenant Maythenyi of the Guard.

Our camp is on the farm of a member of the State legislature who is now serving under Price.  His white cottage and well-ordered farm-buildings are surrounded by rich meadows, bearing frequent groups of noble trees; the fences are in good condition, and the whole place wears an air of thrift and prosperity which must be foreign to Missouri even in her best estate.

Springfield, October 28th.  Few of those who endured the labor of yesterday will forget the march into Springfield.  At midnight of Saturday, the Sharp-shooters were sent on in wagons, and at two in the morning the Benton Cadets started, with orders to march that day to Springfield, thirty miles.  Their departure broke the repose of the camp.  To add to the confusion, a report was spread that the General intended to start at daybreak, and that we must have breakfast at four o’clock and be ready for the saddle at six.  This programme was carried out.  Long before day our servants called us; fires were lighted, and breakfast eaten by starlight.  Before dawn the wagons were packed and horses saddled.  But the General had no intention of going so early; the report had its origin in the uneasy brain of some officer who probably thought the General ought to leave at daybreak.  Some of the old heads paid no attention to the report, or did not hear it, and they were deep in the pleasures of the morning nap while we poor fellows were shivering over our breakfast.