New-York daily tribune., 1861-08-18

os :, and extending mile east and south OF the
"a crossing to two miles west and north
of the same the creek running nearly IN the
shane of horizontal %. At the crossing Oh
the FAYETTEVILLE road the hills on either side OF
the stream were two or three hundred feet high
the slopes being very gentle on the north and
abrupt on the south side, and the valley about
half mile in width. though in many places up
stream, or west and northward, the slopes were
90 gentle that they were occupied by tents Tor
much greater distance. Thursday evening the
troops were ready for marching orders, but
a portion of the Kansas troops had been SO
much engaged the night before as to be really
unfit for service, and an order for all except
those actually on guard to retire and rest was
issued, and the night attack was again deferred
Friday, the city was remarkably quiet. Those
who made il business TO repeat exciting rumors
bad been frightened away with much OF the
material upon which they operated. Enliftments
in the Springfield Regiment 81 for the war were
rapid, and feeling Of security prevailed
During the afternoon, Capt Woods Kansas
Cavalry, with one or two companies OF regulars,
drove 500 Rebel Rangers from the prairie flve
miles west of the town, capturing eight oi lheir
number and killing two, without lots TO our SIDE
At o'clock in the evening, Gen. Sigel with
his own and Col. Salomons command and FIX
pieces Of artillery, moved southward, marching
until nearly 2 o'clock, and passing around tie
extreme camp of the enemy, where ne halted
1 ha
the Rebels, ready to move forward and begin
the attack as soon as he should hear the roar
of Gen. Lyons artillery.
Tue main body of troops under General Lyon
moved from the city about The same hour, halted
short time five miles west of the city, thence
in a southwesterly direction four miles, where we
halted AID slept till a. H., Saturday, the day
of the battle.
THE COMMENCEMENT or TIE GREAT BATTLE.
Moving forward, with Captain Plummers Com
pany and Major Osterhauss Battalion thrown
out as skirmishers, we soon saw party oil
Rebel pickets near our extreme right, scanperiDg
of to alarm the camp, but as our center aud
LEFT were already partially between them and
camp, they we're forced 10 the westward and 1t is
doubtful whether they reached the camp at all
before the battle. II was now o'clock The
enemys pckets were driven in; the northern
end of the valley in which they were encamped
was visble, with its thousand Of tents and It's
camp-fres; The sky was cloudy but not threat
ening, and the most terribly destructive Of bat
ties, compared with the number engaged, was ut
hand Our army moved now toward the south
a. l. "a
empties in it on our left. Passing over spur
of high land which lies at the north end Of the
valley, they entered valley aud began to ascend
q hl moderately covered with trees aud under
wood, which was net. however dense enough to
be any impedment to the artillery. Capt.
Wright, with three or four companies of mount
ed Home Guards the only ones in the engage
mept, was sent to the left across the creek, to
cut off party of hOrsemen visible on that side,
near bouse recently vacated by Union man
named Hale. Upon their approach, the Rebels
retired behind the south fence Of corn field,
and in the adjoining bush were soon visible
swarms Of men, whose fire threatened to be
disastrous TO the Home Guard cavalry, should
they approach. Through the thin stalks of the
brOom-cOTn, Capt. Wright had seen the ambus-
cade, and approached only near enough to draw
their fire, when ne withdrew to induce them to
follow him into the field, where he could charge
upon them effectively. He repeated this move
ment three times, but the enemy were too willy,
and would only remain behind the fence.
Captains Plummer and Gilber's companies
Of Regulars were then ordered to attack
them in the corn field, which they did, and
were driven back from the fence and followed
by three thousand or thrty-fve hundred Rebels
before whom the two companies retired firing.
COL. FRANK BLAIR's REGIMENT STORMS THE
NIGHTS.
Meanwhile the opposite bill had been stormed
and taken by the gallant Missouri First and
Osterhauss battalion and TOtten's battery of six
pieces had taken position on its summit and
north side, and was belching forth its loud
mouthed thunder much TO the distraction of the
opposing force, who had already been started
upon a fnll retreat by the thick raining bullets
Of Col. Bair's boys. Lieut. DuBois's battery
four pieces, had also opened on the eastern slope
firing upon force which was retreating toward
the south east on q road leading up the hill,
which juts into the southwestern angle of the
creek, and upon battery placed near by to
cover their retreat. Observing the danger of
Capt. Plummer and his gallant men, Lieut..
Dubois skifuly threw few shells among their
pursuers, which, bursting just as it reached the
dense mass Of humanity, scattered them wotnded
aud liicess upon the ground by scores, while the
balance ran for dear life in every direction.