St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1861-08-22
Great Battle near Springfield, Missouri.


Missouri, and the rebels were rcpuls-
ed with terrific slaughter. The rebel
General Price and the notorious Tex
an Ranger, Ben. Mccullough, are be.
licved to be killed while on our side
the death of Gen. Lyon casts a gloom
over the victory. A writer in the
Missouri Democrat, who witnessed the
battle, gives q detailed account of it,
from which We gather the following
particulars. The battle was fought OH
Saturday, the 10th of August. The
number OF troops on our side was
5000; the number Of tho enemy
was over $4,000. News reached Gen.
Lyon that heavy reinforcements were
coming to the enemy, and fearing he
would be cut off, he found himself
compelled either to retreat or give
battle. A council of war was held
and battle was decided upon. Con-
scquently, on the night of the 9th, the
little army moved forward in two col
umns performing march of twelve
or fifteen miles.
Gen. Sigel, with six pieces of can
non, his own regiment, and that of Col
Solomon, moved in a southcrly dircc-
ton, marching about fifteen miles,
passing around the extreme southeast
crn camp of the enemy, and halted
until daylight, or for the sound of ar
tillery from the southwest to announce
the opening Of the battle.
Gen. Lyon, with the volunteers COM
posing the Missouri First, Lieut.. Colo
mel Andrews Iowa First, Lieut.. Colo
mel Merritt Kansas First, Colonel
Deitzler and Second, Col. Mitchell ::
part of the Missouri Second, under
Major Ostcrhaus F.; and detachment
Of twenty men from Col. Wyman's H.
linois Regiment three or four compa-
mics ofmounted Home Guards force
of regulars about eight hundred
strong, and two batteries of four and
six pieces respectively, left SPRING
field about eight o'clock p. NJ, march
ing slowly until 2 A. NJ, when they
halted for two hours, at which time
Capt. Gilbert's company of regulars
and Major Osterhaus's battalion were
thrown out as skirmishers on either
side of the column, aud the army
moved forward.
Shortly after 5 o'clock party of
rebels, acting as picket, was seen
scattering over the hills, to give the
alarm, but a portion Of our column
had already penetrated far enough to
cut off their route. Soon Gen. Lyon
came in sight of the valley in which
the enemy were encamped. A thou
sand tents stretching off into the dis
lance and partially screened from
view by bill jutting into an angle of
Wilson Creek were before them, pre-
senting as animated an appearance as
a young city. The enemy's camp ex-
tended from the head of the valley,
overlooked on the north, east and west
sides by hills and ridges two or three
hundred feet in hight, southwark
about a mile, thence eastward a mile
and half, and then southwark half a
mile, following the windings of the
creek.
The battlefield, where the most Sc
we're fighting was done, was along,the |
ridges and hills on either side, (most.
~ on the west) Of the stream for the
first mile mentioned above, where the
creek runs in q southcrly direction
Adiutant Hascock, with glass rode
to the brow of the hill, where, looking
down, he could see every movement
OF the enemy beneath him. His ap-
pearance in full view caused a great
hubbub in the rebel camp, which had
already been thoroughly aroused by
our appearance, and camps and bag
gage were hastily loaded and moved
toward the south. We had complete
ly surprised them. The evidence Of
that fact was everywhere visible, but
they had got quickly into line of bat
tle-their clouds of cavalry were visi- |
bic, and their twenty-one peices of
cannon were not long silent after ours
had opened the engagement.
On the sides of the first ridge on
the western side of the valley, Col.
Blair's regiment, at ten minutes after
SIX o'clock, encountered a heavy force
OF infantry, not less than a full regi- |
ment, and after severe contest they
gained the summit, and the defeated
rebels dispersed rapidly, going in
direction which rendered it impossible
for any considerable number of them
to again participate in the battle.
Totten's battery then threw few
balls as feelers, to draw out the ene-
my's cannon.
Col. Blair's regiment moved forward
and were soon met by q well equip
ped regiment of Louisiana troops,
whom, after bitter contest of forty
five minutes. they succeeded in rout-
ing, though suffering severely them
selves. Capt. Lathrop's company of
rifle recruits now assisted them, and
together they, with Major Osterhaus's
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 gained the summit. In this part
of the fight the gallant Missouri vol
untcers acted braveIy-indecd, no
words of praise could more than do
them justice.
VI course many acts of valor were
performed. Among those most con-
spicuous were Captain Gratz, leading
his men against overwhelming odds,
and falling in death just as he had re-
pulsed the foe Lieutenant Murphy
dashing forward ahead of the line,
waving his sword high in the air,
shouting onward to the almost waver-
ing men, who gained fresh courage
from the exhibition, and pushing for
ward, drove the enemy from the field. |
Ia this fight many of our brave SOL
dIers fell to rise no more, while Col
Andrews had his horse shot under
him and was wonndod b;msoIr ,l;.h.