Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-09-06

-ss and Col. Solomon, and
""i'e under Ljeu's. Schaefsr
ARE besides two companies Of
AUsU6ngiBg to the command Of
mont, on the sou;b.s;de Of
asst six O'Clock, on the
n and arrived at day-bresk k
relof the eIemy's camp. 1 aC-
slowly toEaTd. TIE camp, aud after
y foTwaT, the two cavalry companies
one right and isf5, . cut of about forty
mel 3, the enemy's troops, who were coming
n thE camp in little squads to get water
nd provisions. This was done in such man
ner that no news Of cur advance could be
ought into the camp.
of the enemy3 tents, which spread
front and light, I planted four
~tillefy on. little bill, while the in
y advanced toward the point where the
fayetteville road crosses Wilson's creek. and
the two cavalry companies extended 0 the right
left to guard our danks. II @as 81 o'clock,
when some musket firing was heard from the
northwest. ] therefore ordered the r.illery
20 begin their fire against the Eamp OF the
lemy, Nj soarisns), which was 80 deStruc-
We that the enemy were seen leaving their
ats and retiring in haste toward the north
of the valley. Meanwhile, the third and
10 bad quickly advanced, passed the creek,
and tTaveTsing the camp, formed almost in the
center Of it. As the enemy made bis rally in
large numbers before us, about $1,000 strong,
consisting of Infantry and cavalry, / ordered
artillery to be brought forward from the hill,
and formed there in battery across the valley,
with the third and fifth to the left, and the
cavalry to the right. After al efectus fire Of
half an hour, the enemy retired in some confu-
sion into the wsods and up the adjoining hills
The firing toward the northwest was now
more distinct, and Increased, until it was evi-
dent that the main corps Of Gen. Lyon had
engaged the enemy along the whole lines. To
give the greatest possible assistance to him, I
left position in the camp and advanced toward
the north west, to attack the enemy's line Of
battle in the rear.
Marching forward we struck the Fayetteville
road, making our way through a large number
Of cattle and horses, until we arrived at ali
eminence used as slaughtering place, and
known as Sharp's farm. OG our route we had
taken about one hundred prisoners, who were
scattered over the camp. At Sharp's place we
metl numbers CT the enemy's soldiers, who
were evidently retiring IN this direction; and
a l suspected that the enemy 0B his retreat
would follow in the same direction, formed
the troops across the road by planting the az
tillery on the plateau and the two inf ntrv
regiments on tie right and left, across the
road, while tie cavalry companies extended on
our tanks. Al this time, and after some skir-
mishing iE front Of our line, the firing in the
direction Of the northwest, which was during
an hours time roaring in succession, bad
almost entirely ceased. ItheTeupon presumed
that the attack of Gel. Lyon had been sue
cessful, and that his troops were in pursuit Of
the enemy, who moVeu 10 large numbers toward
the south along the ridge Of hin, about seven
hundred yards opposite our right.
This was the sEate Of affairs at eight and a
half O'Clock in the morning, when it was re-
ported to me by Mr. Mechoir, and some Of
- & q
ing up the rcad.'' Lieut.. Albert, Of the Third,
and Col Solomon, Of the Fifth, notified their
regiments not to fire on troops coming in this
direction, while / cautioned the artillery in the
same manner Or troops in this moment ex-
pected with anxiety the approach OF ocr
friends, and were waving the nag raised as 1
signal to their comrades, when at once two /
batteries opened their fire against us-One in 1
front. placed on the Fayetteville road, and the 1
other upon the hill upon which we had sup /
posed Lyons forces were in pursuit Of the /
enemy, while a strsng column Of infantry, sup
posed to be the Iowa regiment, advanced from |
the Fayetteville road, and ATTACKED cur
right.
1t is impossible for me to describe the con
sterHation and frghtful confusion which was
occasioned By this important event. The cry,
20 They (Lyon's tToops) are firing against u.s."
spTead like wild fire through our ranks; the
ordered to fire, and directed BY
myself, could hardly be brought forward 10
serve their pieces; the infantry would not lsvel
their arms until it was too late. The enemy
arrived within ten PAGES Of the muzzles Of cur
cannon, killed the horses, turned the tanks of
the infantry and forced them to hy. The
troops were throwing themselves into the
bushes and by-Toads, re'reatiDg as well as they
could, followed and attacked necessarily By
large bodies Of Arkansas ard Texas cavalry.
In this retreat we lost FIVE cannon, Of which
three were spiked, and the colOTs Of the Third,
the color-beareT having been wounded, and bis
substitute killed. The total loss Of the two
the artillery and the pioneers, In
killed, wounded and missing, amounts to 2g2
men, az will be seen from the respective lists. |
In order to understand clearly our actions
and our fate, you will permit me to state the
facts: FRS, according to orders, it
" as the duty Of this brigade to attack the en-
emg in the rear and to cut of his retreat,
which order tried to execute, whatever the
might be.
Second. The time Of service Of the fifth
regiment Missouri volunteers bad expired be-
fore the battle. l had induced them, company
by company, not 10 leave US in the most criti-
cal moment, and had engaged them for the
erm Of eight days, this term ending on Friday,
the b, tie day before the battle.
Third. TIE third regiment, OF which four
hundred three months men bad been dismissed,
composed Of the greater part Of recruits,
who bad not seen the enemy before, and were
mperfoctly drilled.
Fourth. The men serving The pieces, and
ne drivers, consisted OF infantry, taken from
he third regiment, and were mostly recruits
who bad only few days instruction.
Fifth About twO-thTds of our officers had
eft us-some companies had no officers at all
IA great pity-but the consequence of the sys-
EN- Of the three months service.
-, 3 Aba .F Il I
be command was entrusted TO me by Major
sturgis, and the mSjority Of the commanders
Il regiments. Considering all the circumstan-
es, and in accordance with the commanding
1fceTs 1 ordered the retreat of the army from
ipnrgfeld. The preparations were begun in
be night OF the 10th, and at day break the
ROOFS we're on the march towsrd the Gascon-
de. Before crossing the river l received in
ormation that the ford could not be passed |
veil, and that 4 strong force of the enemy was
the south West plains) toward |
Vaynesville, to cut of our retreat. also was
ware that it would take considerable time 10
ross the Robidoux and the Little and Big |
'iney on the old road.
To avoid all these difficulties and TO give the
rmy an opportunity to rest, ! directed the
roops from Lebanon to the northern road, {
assiEg Rig5t Point and Humboldt, and termi-
ating opposite the mouth Of Little Piney,
where, 10 case of the ford being unpassable, I
be train could be sent by Vienna and Lynch t
0 the mouth of the GascOnade, while the
roops could ford the river at the mouth of the a
little Piney to reiGforce Rola. To bring over
ne artillery ordered the ferry boat from Biz
'iney Crossing to be hauled down on the Gas i
onade to the mouth Of the Little Piney, where
arrived Immediately after we had crossed il
be ford Before we had reached the ford Ma a
1r St1Tgis assumed the command Of the army
therefore respectfully refer to his report in o
egard to the main body Of the troops engaged a
D the battle.
With the greatest respect, s
You most obedient servant, t
F. SIGEL, b
Commanding Second Brigade Missouri Vol b
EteeTs. 6
A BRUTAL MURDER AT GAULEY BRIDGE !
,AMP.-We regret to say that on Monday last :