The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1861-08-22

participate In battle. Totten's battery
then threw a few balls as feeIers, to
draw out the enemy's cannon. sst.so
Col. Blair's regiment moved forward
and were soon met by well equipped
regiment of Louisiana troops, whom,
after bitter contest of forty-6ve min
utes, they succeeded in routing, though
suffering severely themselves Capt,
Lathrop's company of rifle recrpita
now assisted them, and together they
with Mojor Osterhaus' men, moved up
the second hill, which was considerably
larger than the first, and meeting
third regiment, finally succeeded in.
driving them back, with the assistance
OF Totten's battery, and gaining tho
summit. In this part of the fight the
gallant Missouri volunteers acted brave.
ly-indeed, no. words of praise can
more than do them justice. rac9 5fs
VI course many acts of valor were
performed not witnessed by me. but
among those saw conspicuous were
Captain Grant,, leading his men
against overwhelming odds, and falling
In death just as he bad repulsed the
foe; Lieutenant Murphy dashing for
ward ahead of the line, waving his
sword high in the air, shouting onward
to the almost wavering men, who
gained fresh courage from the exhibi-
ton, and pushing forward, drove the
enemy from the field In this fight,
many of our brave soldiers fell to rise
no more, while Colonel Andrews had
his horse shot from under him and was
wounded himself slightly. General
Lyon suffered in similar manner;
Captains Cavender, Cole and Yates,
each slightly or at least not dangerous
tly wounded; Lieutenants Brown and
Johnston, and Corporals Conant and
Rogers, more or less severely wounded.
During this engagement two compa-
MES OF regulars were sent to the east
side of the creek to engage force
which was operating against Captain
Wright's cavalry, sheltering them
selves behind fence. Capt. P!ummer
and Capt. Gilbert in their companies
marched close up TO the fence and de-
liyered an effective fire, but were COM
PEELED by great odds to retire, which
they did, but again renewed the attack.
The enemy being largely reinforced,
and having at least three thousand men,
jumped over into the, corn field, and
Capt. Plummer's gallant band was i'm
mediately threatened with annihilatioB.
They retreated rapidly, firing as they
did SO, when Lieut.. Dubois having got
his battery under headway on the hill
hn
the position of affairs on the opposite
side of the valley, threw in the most
precise manner several shells, which
exploded just as they reached the dense
mass of secessionists, scattering them
lifeless on the ground in scores, while
all who could were glad to rup for dear
life. si
The gallant men in Col. Blair's Reg
iment were now ordered back and their
position taken by the Iowa First. Gen.
Lyon had previously had a poor opin-
ion of the fighting qualities of these
men, formed more from supposition
than upon any real failure in duty, but
now the time had come for him to re-
verse his judgment, which he did after
their first repulse of the enemy, They
fought like tigers, drove the enemy
back, and followed up the advantage
gained for a considerable distance,
Capt. Mason, Company G, was killed
soon after his regiment was engaged.
Lieut.. Purcell was mortally wounded.
Major Porter and Col. Merritt gallant.
ly cheering on their boys, escaped un-
harmed. The Kansas First and Second
regiments were now. ordered forward
to support the right flank of the Iowas.
/ Col. Green's regiment of Tennessee
cavalry, bearing secession flag, now
charged upon our wounded, who were
partially guarded by one or two com
panies of infantry. Seeing the move
ment, Capt. Totten poured few rounds
of canister into their ranks Just in time
to save our sick men from being tram.
pied to death, dispensing the rebels so
completely that nothing more was seen
Of them during the day. '.e ~. - -.
Gen. Lyon now desired the Iowa
boys, whom he had found so brave, to
prepare to meet the next onset of the
enemy with the bayonet immediately
after firing. They said, Give us q
leader and we will follow to the DEATH -
} On came the enemy in. overwhelming
numbers, confident of victory over such
a meagre force, No time could be lost
to select a leader. 81 will lead you,"
exclaims Lyon; "come on, brave men'!'
and placing himself in the van, received
a fatal bullet just at the pit of bis stom-
ach, which killed him instantly. The
, Iowas delivered their fire and the ene-
, my retired, so there was no need of
! charging bayonets. Gen. Lyons body
was carefully picked up and conveyed
lifeless towards the ambulances by two
of his body guard. In his death as in
his life, he was the same devoted, pat,
riotic soldier, regarding his own life al
of no value if he could but rescue his
country. His body has been. brought
hither and embalmed, for conyeyance
to his friends in Connecticut. There
, was no feeling of depression on the
} part OF the troops at the unexpected
} calamity, but rather feeling of quiet
determination to revenge his death.
On the Tuesday night previous he had
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