Not long afterwards [i. e. after formation of the 1st Arkansas Cavalry] the notorious Coffee appeared near the Arkansas line, moving northward.  His destination, or the number of his men, no one seemed to know.  Strange stories were told of his movements, and wild conjectures indulged in.  At Springfield even, we were directed to be in readiness for an attack at a moment's warning, and shortly came the news that Cassville had been evacuated by order of the General commanding the district.  Coffee, however, kept on until his discomfiture at Lone Jack compelled a precipitate retreat.

The abandonment of Cassville was a serious blow to the buoyancy of Arkansas men, nearly a thousand of whom were now at Springfield.  Cassville was fifty miles nearer their homes, and they regarded that post as an indispensable link in the chain of communication that would ultimately re-unite their native hills and valleys to fatherland.  A mad Convention had usurped the prerogative of all people, and the bitter fruit of secession was being tasted by the innocent and the unoffending.  Making no concealment of their loyalty, they had been compelled to flee from their homes, and burning for the hour of return, the retreat from Cassville struck them like a cold chill.  Whether politic or not, we do not assume to say.  Generally speaking the abandonment of an outpost is an unwise measure.  The motive will always be misunderstood.  Speculation will draw the most extravagant conclusions, and rumor begotten of fear will circulate a thousand falsehoods, yet you cannot forget them.

SOURCE:  A. W. Bishop, Loyalty on the Frontier or Sketches of Union Men of the South-West with Incidents and Adventures in Rebellion on the Border (1863), pages 80-81.

SPRINGFIELD, July 31, 1862.

Brig. Gen. JOHN M. SCHOFIELD, Saint Louis:

Colonel Hall, commanding at Cassville, telegraphs that it is reported the enemy, 2,000 strong, encamped at Bridgeville last night, and that he was 25 miles from Cassville.  I have ordered him to destroy his stores and fall back toward this post if the report should prove true.  Colonel Hall has sent out to learn the facts.  Colonel King, at Newtonia, has been ordered to move to Cassville, but in case the report proves true he will join me here, or if he cannot do this fall back toward Greenfield.

E. B. BROWN,
Brigadier-General

SOURCE:  OR, Series I, Volume 13, Page 524.

SPRINGFIELD, August 1, 1862.

Brig. Gen. JOHN M. SCHOFIELD, Saint Louis:

Report from Cassville of a force of the enemy of over 1,000 men on James Fork of White River last night.  Some of the men were recognized as belonging to Rains’ and Coffee’s command.  A camp of our troops, about 100 men, detachment of Fourteenth Missouri State Militia, at Ozark, was attacked at 1 o’clock this morning.  The enemy was repulsed; we had 2 men wounded.  I have re-enforced Ozark.  The infantry has returned from Hartville.  An order left last night for part of the cavalry and the section of artillery to move to this post.  The counter-movement from Hartville was not made too soon.

E. B. BROWN,
Brigadier-General

SOURCE:  OR, Series I, Volume 13, Page 526.

SPRINGFIELD, August 1, 1862.

Brig. Gen. JOHN M. SCHOFIELD, Saint Louis:

I have ordered Cassville to be abandoned and a concentration of the troops west at this post.  Information received from citizens of Arkansas represent a movement of a large force of the enemy intending to enter Missouri in the vicinity of Forsyth.  The crossing of White River in Stone County by so large a body of the enemy confirms this report.

E. B. BROWN,
Brigadier-General, Commanding

SOURCE:  OR, Series I, Volume 13, Pages 526-527.

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