The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-08-21

SSN'~S ~~oO~''N'st " ''Ne'So +
dag.
RoLLA, Mo, Aug. 13.-The following ad.
ditional account of the battle near Springfield
is furnished by an eye witness who left
Springfield on Monday morning, and came
through on horseback.
Our army marched out of Springfield on
Friday evening, only fifty-five hundred
strong, the Home Guards remaining in Sprin.
gield. Our forces slept on the prairie a
portion of the night, and about sunrise Sat
urday morning drove in the outposts of the
enemy, and soon afterwards the engagement
became general.
The attack was made in two columns by
Lyon and Sturgis, Gen. Sigel leadinga flank
ing force Of about one thousand men and
for guns on the south of the enemy's camp.
The fight ragged from sunrise in the morn.
ing until one or two o'clock in the afternoon.
The rebels in overwhelming force charged
on Capt. Totten's battery several times, but
were repulsed with great slaughter.
Gen. Lyon fell early in the day. He had
been previously wounded in the leg, and bad
horse shot from under him. The Iowa Isl
regiment having no leader, the boys cried
out, General, you come and lead u.s." He
did so, and at once putting himself in front
and while cheering the men on to the charge
received bullet in the left breast and fell
from his horse. He was asked if he was
hurt, and he replied "No, not much" but ir
few minutes he expired without struggle
Gen. Sigel had very severe struggle, and
lost three Of his four guns His artillery
horses were shot in their harness and thu
pieces disabled. He endeavored to hau
them off with number of prisoners he hai
taken, but was finally compelled to abandon
them, first, however, spiking the guns ant
disabling the carriages.
About one o'clock in the day, the enemy
seemed to be in great disorder and retreating
They set fire to their train of baggage wag
ons. Our force were too much cut up tC
pursue, and the battle may be considered q
drawn one.
On Saturday night, DR.. Mencher and 9th
ers of our army went back with ambulances
to the battlefield from Springfield, to ses
about the killed and wounded. They found
the enemy on the field, and were considerably
treated. Gen. Lyons body had been treat
ed with great respect, and was brought back
with some of the wounded to Springfield.
Maj. Sturgis took command on the battle
field after the death Of Gen. Lyon. Gen
Sigel took command after the battle. Oul
loss is variously estimated at from 100 t
800 killed and several hundred wounded
The enemy's loss is placed at 1000 killed
and wounded. Our boys captured abou
100 horses
One of the enemy's regiments carried twt
Aonc tho Ton onA fhn ~
Stripes.
Gen. Sigel marched back to Springfield il
good order after perfecting his arrangements
gathering the baggage, blowing up wha
powder he could not carry, and destroying
other property which he did not wish shout
fall INTO the hands of the enemy. He lef
Springfield on Sunday night, and encampet
thirty miles this side ofthat place, the enemy
not pursuing.
The only hostility observed during tb,
day was musket fired from distance a
the vanguard Gen. Sigel is confident h
could have held Springfield against the fore
they had engaged, but he was fearful of re
Inducements to the enemy from the south
west, and that his line of communications e
Rolla would be cut off.
Gen. Lyon began the attack upon the re
ceipt of intelligence that the enemy were ex
pecting achievements from Hardee's column
which was approaching from the southeast
A portion of the artillery of the enemy wa
admirably served. Their infantry fire wa
also very severe. The Springfield HON
Guards were not in the fight. They, will
a large number uf the citizens of Springfeld
are in Sigeps camp. 1t was thought tina
Sigel would fall back no farther than Leba
non, where renforcements would meet him