New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1861-08-23
q1e Battle Of oak Nm.

18th, appears a letter from which we extract the
following further particulars of the battle of the
10th inst. rear Springfield, Missouri
7 On Faiday night, at 8 O'Clock, we were to march
on Springfield in four divisions. storm threat
ening, owever, at haIfpast eight, orders arrived,
commanding US to secure arms, and await further
orders. My horse left saddled, and we all went
to sleep, supposing We wond be called at an early
hour to march. After daylight l proceeded to
Gen. MeCulloeh's quarters, to know if NJ could
send for forage. Just before arrived, Information
was received of the near proximity of the enemy
on the north. Ny company was ordered to be
ready for immediate duty. Onreturhing, i found
force on the SOUTH ready to begin the fight they
having fred on two Of my men. very near to my
camp. Just then battery of artillery opened
within e few hundred yards Of US, playing upon
Chnrchill's and the Texas regiments, While they !,
were at breakfast, followed, III quick succession,
by artillery attacking on the north, the booming
Of cannon, whistng of grape, canister and Mimic,
convincing Us that the ball had opened with the adj
vantage against US by their strong position on the
north, and the surprise on the south. The Lout5I-
anans led the fight, and drove the enemy up hill,
using ammunition until within SIXTY feet of them,
Wien the gallant Hebert ordered the charge, which
was executed in double quick time, and the Dutch
gave way.
Reeds battery was located on a southern point,
two miles south Of the place where the Louisan-
ians, Missourians, and CaFToH's Arkansas Cavalry
were engaged. slegeLs l506 men, and the battery
which first fred into Ghurehilis and Texas regi-
ments, showed themselves, but without coIors and
wearing the badge OF MissouTians-a red stripe on
the left shouIder-thns decefving Gen. Pfice for
| some time no man he could send being able to
find out who they were. He became satisfied.
| however, and Reed opened on them with grape
and canister. Shot were never better directed, as
the dead Dutch and horses on the field gaVe evi-
deuce, as aid the general stampede that followed.
Being hard pressed on the north side, Reeds bat
| terry, the Third Arkansas Regiment and portion Of
| the Fifth were ordered to their support. Mcintosh
with the battery, and the infantry under Gen.
| Price,. Here many gallant men fell; but, with
the determination on the part Of officers and men,
| to do or die, the enemy was repnlsed. fs
The conduct of the men was glorious. of many
| it was heroicahy splendid. We have lost many
men; the enemy have lost more. Capts. Brown
and Bell, and Lieut.. Walton, of Gratots regiment,
fell at their post, galantly leading their men.
Churchill, having been deceived, marched close
to the enemy supposng them to be Missouri
friends. He was repulsed three times, bat rallied
and drove them, but not without severe loss. JAS
Harper Col. Churchilrs Adjutant, is rnortally
wounded: Roberts, Sergeant Major, is badly hurt,
not mortay; and | understand that at roll call,
in one company, only Is answered to their names.
This regiment is badly cut to pieces. When young
Harper fell they went to him, but he desired them
not to stop, but go on and whip them; and when
he learned that We had taken their artillery, he
pulled off his hat, gave three cheers, and said he
satisfied Brown, of the Y. B. F. Guards, after
he had received a mortal wound, eheered his brave
boys to advance. Weaver, OF Woodruf.s battery,
gallant man, fell, mortatly wounded, from q
round shot. Woodruff tackled Totten, and " lifted
him clear out of the WATER and his track was
marked by dead Dutch, as thick as pumpkins on
bottom land gallant man fell of the Mssourians,
Col. Weightman, who said that morning, before
the battle that he intended to redeem the charac
ter of Missouri, or loose his life. The Mssourfans
fought well-all fought well. a4a@
| The correspondent of the st. Louis Democrat
| furnishes details of the battle, most Of which are
more interesting than reliable We select the fol-
| lowing:
First, am fully satisfied from conversation with
| Gen. Slegei and Col Saloman, as well as from my
own observation that the eastern division did not
make any attack until the of Tottens artillery
announced that Gen. Lyon was upon his ground
| The battle then commenced at six O'Clock and ten
minutes and lasted until eleven, Gen. Lyon having
| been killed very soon after nine O'Clock.
| Twice during the exhausting struggle, by SEEM
ing mutual consent, the hostile armies rested for
| nearly half an hour after which the battle ragged
| with increased vigor.
After complimenting the various officers who
participated in the fight, the writer says:
| At1I O'Clock, the ambulances having been filed
| with our wounded, were removed toward the city,
The body of Gen. Lyon had been placed in one OF
them, but, without being uncovered, no one knew
that the remains Of the gallant hero Of Bonneville
and Camp Jackson were lying beneath that martial
cloak and it was unfortunately removed to give
place to those who were wounded. 1t was after.
wards obtained, and after being laid out and
dressed in new uniform, befttug his rank, L
looked upon the pale face of the dead. An er
preston of painful embarrassment was plainly de-
| picted upon his countenance-such an expression
as had noticed he had worn for several days.
On the way to the city exchanged horses with
Capt. Lavender, that he might have an easier rid
ing animal, and afterwards gave that up to q
| wounded soldier.
Arriving at Springfield, about O'Clock in the
afternoon, a large number of wagons were at once
| sent out to the field of battle to bring in our
wounded, and were kept busy until long after
midnight at which time the hospital had received
about one hundred and twenty; the Bailey House
had been turned into a receptacle for our wounded,
and the Methodist church had also been filled, the
two latter buildings holding probably two hun
dred and fifty or three hundred Dr. White was
| buaily attending the iowas at the Bailey House,
| while Drs. Frank, Davis. Smith, Melcher, Cornyn,
and Schenck, were buaiy engaged at different
places in the city.
Col. Andrews was slightly wounded when last
saw him, but was afterwards wounded again, and
how seriously am unable to say.
As soon as possible after reaching the city, a
council was held, aud it was decided at once to
move upon Rolla. Gen. Siegel now assumed COM
mand, and before daylight on Sunday morning the
army, with very long baggage train, moved out
of the city The reporters, meanwhile, determined
to push through at to st. Louis without wait
ing to witness the anticipated attack of the enemy
On the road to Rolla we passed scores OF faml-
lies moving away from the vicinity of Springfield
Of course the product of their farms will be taken
for the support Of the Rebel army.