The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1861-08-29
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The Great Battle near springhelc
Missouri, .

The Great Battle near Springfield,
Missouri. ...
The following-from the 81. Louis
correspondence of the Chicago Pobt--is
the hrst perfectly clear and Ineligible
account Of the battle near Springfield,
Mo, that wo have SEEM
The battle Of Wilson's Creek was a
complete victory to our arms. Geo.
Lyon accomplished all that he set out
TO accomplish, and even more than he
expected. He had been for days at
Springfield, with a force Of less than
1000 available men, Of nearly half Of
whom the term of service had expired.
He was menaoed by an army oF not
less than 10000 well armed and mostly
we'll disciplined troops. Il is said he
had asked for reinforcements which Is
doubtless true; but they we're not fur
nished him. MoCullOch could have
attacked and overwhelmed him any day;
but McCullooh appears to have felt con-
ddent Of his prey, so that no was in no
hurry. Besides, he was expecting sup
plies from The South, Of which he stood
greatly in need to enable him to con-
tinue his march, aud swell the ranks Of
his army after he should have "cleaned
out" the handful of loyal troops that
lay in his path Accordingly he sat
still, watching his proy with the quiet,
malicious delight which a feline dOmes-
tic animal sometimes exhibits in watch
ing mouse.
Gen. Lyon knew the enemys designs.
He knew that to retreat would simply
be to bring McCuIlooh with his superi.
or cavalry force upon his rear, and, in
any event, to open wide the door for his
triumphant march northward He
learned also that il was a part of the
invaders plan TO send a force from the
southeast to cut off his communication
with Bolla, thus virtually surrounding
him and making it an easy matter ia
capture his little army.
Upon learning this, Lyon resolved tc
cripple MoCulloch so that he could moi
pursue, and, having done so, to fall
back upon Rolla before the communica.
ton could be cut of. This plan was
fixed upon by Gen. Lyon aud Gen. Sig.
el before the battle. It was carried out
with complete and triumphant success
Gen. Lyons command, with which the
battle was mainly fought, consisted Of
four regiments of volunteers-1st Mis-.
souri,, lst Iowa, 1st and I'd Kansas
companies [ and B 1st regular cavalry
three companies of regular dragoons
Capt. Totten's battery, six pieces, and
Capt Bois's battery, four pieces. Gen.
Sigels command consisted Of his own
and Col. Solomon's regiments and Capt
Bachoff's battery Of eight pieces. These
we're all che Union troops engaged in
the battle, the total number of availa-
bic men being less than 1000. There
we're one or two thousand "home
guards" at Springfield, but none of
them went to the battle field.
The number of McCulloeh's forces is
given by no one at less than 21,OOO, of
which some accounts say 1000 we're
without arms. Among them we're six
regiments Of Missourians, Gall Of whom
McCollooh says, stampeded at the frsl
fre), and regiments from Arkansas
Tennessee, Mississippi, and Louisiana.
He had three batteries of artillery and
about 200 mounted "TeXas Rangers" ."
The Southern troops we're splendidly
drilled, and the Iowa boys gave them
credit for standing FIRE like Veterans
which, considering the Iowans stood
FIRE without ainching for Eve eonseou.
tive hours, they can afford to do.
The following diagram will give a
very good idea of the situation Of the
battle feld