White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1861-09-12
rr.ou ~. M;..our; Democe.t.l

From the Missouri Democfas.J
"Honor to whom Honor il due." The
Iowa First and the Kansas First IN
the Battle.
ST. LOUIS, Aug. Is, 1861.
In your issue of the 18th inst. l find .
report of the battle of Springfield BY your
correspondent, Mr.. Barnes. WI kich is 80
full of errors-errors which, if not correct
cd, will do great injustice to some Of the
bravest men engaged on that 6sld-that
I feel constrained to ask small space in
your columns to give what I saw and
heard of that affair.
His account of the march Of Lyons
little army to the battle field. and his des-
cription Of the enemy, camps. ETC.. are
very nearly correct; but whsn be says that
the Iowa regiment was led forwad BY our
gallant General and 'fought like tigers. !"
etc., he commits an egregious error.
am. or rather was. Q member Of the
Iowa regiment. and l know that it was
the Kansas First that was ordered-not
led-by Gen. Lyon to the front. Scarce
ly had the brave fellows formed line
of battle. when . most terrific FIRE was
opened upon them BY force of rebels con-
cealed in the brush not over ten rods in
front of them. Col. Deitzler Immediately
ordered his men-six companies, four
companies having been detailed to guard
battery on the hill-to lie down and
wait until they could see the rascals, then
take good aim and "6re low. and give
them hell" Soon the firing began on
both sides, and the Kansas boys kept
their position under a perfect shower Of
bullets for about an hour, when they were
ordered to retreat to the battery on the
hill, which they did in good order
Shortly afterward they were again formed
and led forward by the gallan Colonel
who is one of the coolest and bravest men
l ever saw-and this time they drew the
enemy from their ambuscade. saw Gen.
Sweeney, Gen. Lyon. Major Scho6eld
and Col. Deitzler-the three former on
foot, the latter on his white horse riding
up and down the lines. continually ex-
posed to the fire Of the rebels. encourag-
ing the boys to stand firm and not run. as
did some of the other regiments; and they
did stand firm under the most CALLING Gre
ever saw, and l was in every battle fought
by Gen. Scott in Mexico.
Our regiment, under Lieut.. Col. Mer-
.iitt, was formed on the left of the KIN
sas First, fired one volley at tho rascals.
and retreated over the hill. where we ral-
lied and were ordered forward a second
time by Gen. Lyon. Some Of our boys
told the General if he would furnish us a
leader. we would go anywhere. We nev.
er had much confidence in our field Of.
fcers. He said. II will lead you" We
followed him down the hill to lett Of the
Kansas First, who were still firing away
at the rebels, and fred another volley; but
as our men were falling in dozens under
the deadly fire of the enemy, we retired
again over the hill, and the boys refused
to rally again under anybody. We then
took our wounded and retired from the
field. Our loss is about twelve killed and
seventy wounded; quite . number are
missing. The Kansas First lost about
one hundred killed and two hundred
wounded. have seen the official reports
of both regiments, and am giving only
facts. If by doing so I have detracted
any from the glory and credit given to
the First Iowa by your correspondent.
have the consolation to know that have
done nothing but simple justice to q
brave a set of men a. ever vent to the
battle field. Three cheers for the Kansa.
First Iowa.