Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-08-24
THE WAR IN MISSOURI.
The Battle of Springfield. {
LETTER FROM COLONEL 7. ]. HUGHES.
Prom the weston f,Io. Argus-Fxtra.

On the morning of the 10th, General Lyon
attacked our encampment at break of day
with $4,000 men and eighteen pieces of artil-s
lery, having received large reInforcements
within the last few days. The attack was
made simultaneously at four different points,
Cen Lyon on the west, SiegeI South, Stur
gis north, and Sweeney. think on the east.
Onr encampmens was taken by surprise, but
in hot haste soon formed for battle. The
forces engaged were about equal on each side,
the Federals having the advantage in posi-
ton and heavy artillery. The red harvest of
death now commenced.
The cannonading was most terrible, and
the slaughter on both sides immense. Ia
quick succession the hosts marrhalled tor the
conflict and barred their breasts to the storm
of battle. The Louisiana troops, the Arkan-
sas. the Texans, aud Missourians rivalled
each other on this great aud bloody day. For
six long hours the palm of victory remained
undecided. Seven times Lyon was repulsed
from the western heights by the Missouri and
Arkansas forces, aud seven times regained
his position. He had strong force of regu-
lars posted with Totten's battery around his
person. ,se
The Missouri troops at the north, the Lou
isiana troops at the southeast and south, and
Weightman's brigade of Missouri forces at
the southwest, including his fine battery of
artilery-having been victorious at each
point-rallied to the heights on the west to
support Gen. Stacks division, which had
borne the brunt of the fight up to that time
for five or six hours, unsupported Generals
Price and Slack were both actively aud gal
lantly urging forward this column, when
General Slack was severely wounded and
taken from the field. Gen. Price was lightly
wounded also, but not disabled He contin-
ued to lead bis wing on to victory, and most
calamity.
Gen. Weightman now filed bis column in
on the right of my regiment in Gen. Slack g
division, where he fell MORALLY wounded,
near Totten's battery, covered all over with
wounds. received his sword to keep il
from the enemy. Meanwhile the enemy's
batteries were capturrd by the State and Con.
federate force, and routed in every direction,
except on the heights west, where Lyon COM
manded in person, and made his last most
desperate struggle. General Parsons now
advanced with his four pieces, and poured
terrific fire into the enemy's right, while
Woodruffs Arkansas battery moved down
his left.
At this point of time Gen. Mccullough
came up, and directed Stacks division to
charge Totten's battery in front, and the Ar
kansas troops to charge on the right. Ihas
the most terrific storm Of grape and nlLskefry
euer poured osf upon The ranks Of any american
troops. On both sides the men tcere naotced doson
Ike the ripe harvest before the ssckle. My own
regiment was then deeimsted, and Church
ills and McIntosh's Arkansas regiments suf-
tered most severely. Here Gen. Lyon was
killed, Totten's battery driven from the
heights, and his whole force scattered in
fight. This ended the bloody strife of that
most bloody day. Never has a greater VIC
tory crowned the efforts of liberty aud equal
rights.
The best blood of the land has been poured
out to water afresh the Tree OF Liberty. This
is only synopsis of the 6ght-it is impos-
sible to give you details. cannot do JUS
tice to all the officers aud men. 1t will re-
quire volumes to do it. 1t Is sufficient to
say that all the officers and men on our side
behaved themselves bravely, and fought like
veterans. 1t is certain we have gained
great victory over the Federal troops. The
loss on our side, as nearly as can ascertain,
is 200 killed and 400 wounded-some say
more. The whole field for miles is literally
covered with the dead. That of the enemy
is 1500 killed, and from 1000 to $500
wounded. / have lost 142 in killed and
wounded and missing, from my command of
ESQ men.
We captured thirteen of the enemy's best
cannon and all the accompanying carriages
and ammunition. Also, some 400 prisoners,
and several stand of colors, and large
quantity of good arms. Ny regiment fought
was slain. This is just reward for the IS
women and children butchered by him on
the 10th of May, in St. Louis. / will furnish
you list of the killed and wounded as soon
as possible.
Respectfully, ]. T. HUGHES.
P. S.-We have lost great number of our
officers. L will name some of them:
Gen. Slack, severely wounded; General
Weightmsn. killed; Lieut.. Col. Austin. kill
IL - Ill ILL.,
Blackwood, of Carroll, killed; Capt. Enyard.
of Rive's regiment, killed; Lieut.. S. S.
Hughes, my own brother, killed; Capt. Brain
bridge, of Clinton, severely wounded; Capt
Thomas McCarty, of Clay. severely wound
ed, and great many more.
About forty others OF my regiment, inclu-
ding the Clay county Battalion, have been
buried on the battle field. Amos Stout, of
Clay, and r. ID. Kelly and Jno. Brooking. of
Clinton, killed; and James Porter, and Sam
uel Brooking, wounded, and great many
more whom / cannot now mention. No bet
ter meu have ever shed their blood or sacri-
feed their lives in the cause of liberty and
equal rights, than those who persisted in this
great conflict.
Gen. Lyons dead body was given up to
his chief surgeon. We have more prisoners
than we know what to do with. We cannot
feed them. They have been treated well, and
all their sick and wounded kindly cared for;
their surgeons were invited to come in
after their defeat and attend to the wounded,
everywhere begging for help and for water
Il have never before witnessed such heart
rending scene-State, Federal, and Conied-
crate troops in one red ruin, blent on the
feld-enemies in lie, in death friends, re-
lieVing each Others sufferings. President
Lincoln ought to suffer death for this awful
ruin. brought on s. once happy country.