Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1861-08-22
The Fight alDuasprinss.

The telegraph some days ago gave a
brief account of the fight at Dug Springs
Missouri, in which the rebels were routed
by Gen Lyons forces. The troops encam
ped on Crane Creek, len miles south OF
Springfield, on the lst of August. The
baggage wagons were one hundred and
eighty in number. Early the next morn
ing, after hearty meal, the march was re-
sumed. The day was intensely hot, and the
fine dust which enreloped the trains pro-
duced intolerable thirst. The country was
hilly and water scarce. Arriving a: Dug
Springs, clouds of dust indicated the pres
ence of The enemy. An account says.
In order TO understand the position of
the parties, imagine an oblong basin of five
miles in length, surrounded by hills from
which spurs projected into the main hollow,
covered with occasional thickets and oak
openings. The winding Of the road round
the spurs had the effect of concealing the
strength of each party from the other, SO
that from the top of each successive ridge
could be seen the rear oftEe enemy's forces.
At about o'clock brisk Interchange Of
shots was commenced by our skirmishers,
Capt. Steele's regular infantry taking the
lead on the left, supported by company
of cavalry, the rest of the column being
back some distance. Presently we could
see column of infantry approaching from
tbs woods with the design Of cutting off our
infantry. Capt. Stanley Immediately drew
up his men, and, as soon as WITHIN range,
they opened fire from their Sharp's carbines,
when several volleys were exchanged. The
number of the enemy's infantry was SEEM
ingy about five hundred; our cavalry not
quite hundred and fifty. The infantry
kept up the firing for some minutes, when
some enthusiastic lieutenant giving the or
der to "charge," some twenty five of the
gallant regulars rushed forward upon the
euemy's lines, and, dashing aside the threat
ening bayonets of the sturdy rebels, hewed
down the ranks with fearful slaughter
Capt. Stanley, who was amazed at the
temerity of the little band, was obliged to
sustain the order, but before he could reach
his little company they had broken the
ranks of the towards, who outnur,bered
them as twenty to one. Some of the rebels
who were wounded asked, in utter astonish-
ment, "whether those were men or devils
they fight 500"
The ground was left in our possession,
being strewn with muskets, shot guns, pis-
tolls, DC. Our men seized some fifteen
muskets and the same numder of horses
and mules aud rode of, when large force
of the enemy's cavalry was seen approach
ing from the woods, numbering some three
hundred or more. At the instant when
they had formed in an angle Capt. Totteu,
who had planted ard IL FOUNDER up
on the overlooking hill, sent shell righ:
over them; in another minute the second
a II pound, a very marvel Of gunnery prac-
tice-which landed right at their feet, ex-
ploding, and scattering the whole body in
the most admired disorder. The third
fourth, fifth and sixth were sent inio their
midst. The horsemen could not control
their horses, and in minute not an enemy
was to be seen anywhere. Capt. Granger,
of the artillery was so pleased with the ex
ecution that he rode out to the spot where
ne discovered several pools of blood on the
ground, as if the shell had done great dam
age, one double barrelled shot gun being
bent by the fragments of the shell.
The praise of all tongues was upon the
magnificent charge of our cavalry. The
men, actuated by supreme disdain for the
novices who had but recently left the plow
for the musket, determined to give them a
real taste of war at the onset, and they
must have given the poor deluded fools a
bitter foretaste, with their navy revolver
and carbines. Two of the lieutenants re-
turned with their swords stained, with the
blood of men they had run through a'.d
through. up to the hilt. One horse which
was led home was pierced by nine balls !;
another with sides so covered with gore as
to conceal the wounds. Four of their
wounded men were afterwards picked up
on tho ground, some of them fatally. Un-
fortunately our loss, as might be expected,
was severe. Four of our gallant regulars
were brought in dead, and five wounded,
one of which has since died. The loss of
the enemy cannot be far from forty, aud
their wounded fully hundred. Secession
accounts admit their loss was heavy.
Although the entire action cannot be
raised to the dignity of great battle, for
the whole affair lasted less than half an
hour, it was in reality great triumph
Our advanced cavalry was alone enuaOed