General Fremont ordered a cavalry force, including the Body-Guard, to advance upon the town.

On reaching Springfield the cavalry made a gallant charge upon the Rebel camp, which was situated in a large field, bordered by a wood, within sight of the court-house.
In this assault the loss of our forces, in proportion to the number engaged, was quite severe, but the enemy was put to flight, and the town occupied for a few hours.

We gained nothing of a material nature, as the Rebels would have quietly evacuated Springfield at the approach of our main army.

The courage of the Body-Guard, which no sensible man had doubted, was fully evinced by this gallant but useless charge.
When the fight was over, the colonel in command ordered a retreat of twenty miles, to meet the advance of the army.
A corporal with a dozen men became separated from the command while in Springfield, and remained there until the following morning.

He received a flag of truce from the Rebels, asking permission to send a party to bury the dead.