The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1861-09-13
Interesting from the west.

| ~ IVWs: lear Slr:-As you will be-
fore this reachesyou doubtless have heard
many rumors in regard to the battle
fought near Springfield, NO., on the NOR
mng OF the 10th inst, have concluded
10 give what you may consider as relia-
BE; Alter the battle near Carthage, the
Federal troops fell back and made a
stand at Springfield, where they had en-.
trenched and made preparations for a
vigorous resistance. Gen. McCulloch,
with force of from 10000 to l4.OOO
troops, advanced to within about eight
miles OF Springfield, and encamped at or
on Wilson's Creek, from which position
he intended to harrass the enemy until
his Texas artillery and troops should
come up. when he intended to take
| Springfield by storm. On Friday night,
before the battle on Saturday morning,
he received information that the North.
ern army had marched out of Springfield
on o "dead march," but where destined
was not known. So at nine o'clock Nc.
Culloch's picket guards were called in
and orders given to be ready to march at
ten. About this time it commenced
raining, and rs most of their arms were
double barrel shot-guns, rifles and flint.
lock muskets, orders were given to secure
arms and wait for further orders. Things
remained about in this position until six
o'clock next morning, when, while the
entire army was at hreak fast, the left wing
of the encampmeot. Commanded bv Cen
Rains of Missouri, was vigorously attack
ed by the Federal troops and driven
back. Although the Missourians were
forced to give way before superior mum.
befs and leaving their best commander,
Gen. Weightman, killed, at the onset,
brayely until the Arkansas 3d rec;n,ert
came to their assistance. checked. the
Federal troons and contested tho orounS md
on which they met for two dreadful hours.
when the FeSerals were forced to a;yo
on the oround Ahou, s;n,,,itoroo,pt, ~
with the attacL an tha ,.s. = La..ou..
sunnorted hv severe, ,bo,so,d tS"ey
made a v;oorons attach ~, tha r;oht e,
front and ot tbe soma t;,,,a S;e,ai,s e.. -
terv and command wos lot ,onse ~, n"r
reor Onr ert;ra arr,v yos taLou h., s,,r
nr;se and Lne,y ,,oti,;na of tha ,,nx;,s,; ny ~;
tv of tbc Nortl,erners nrt;, tho!r hate.
rios were onenad and tho ot,ocL ,,,oJn
So comntete ord un;vorsai s,,r,,r;so ,.os
never heard of IN so ore,t an orn,v ;o
tie annals of worfars Se;ae,,s ottooL
was made on Cburcbh;ll,s caSairv villa
nj breokfast with not n horse soia,od ~
Thev we're sron in thar saddles hou.av-
or and did some desner,Ia onJ aeIIon.
6cbt,no The oron,y ooo,, oco,,r;sJ ~, !,
cround inst left by C6urchb;lps reo;mant
t;rad and b,,rnt tIo;r tonts ond haocoos
wocons which creafed cons;dsrot,I y
smoke for time which was douhtisss ar
odvantaoe as n oovn tben, time to fnr,,,
| The fioht soon became General anil 6arca
and wos foucht with great broverv and
even desnerniion.
The attack was MANNED nv Con LYON
who led in nerson the attack on Rains
division. and was at length forced 70 give
back with immense slaughter. II was
at this point that Gen. Lyon lost his life
attemptinp to rally his broken forces
| He was shot through the heart. and after
the battle was carried to Sprin gfield and
| was there buried in Mrs. Phelps' ward.
lie was brave man, and doubtless one
of the best Generals in the Northern ar
my. The battle ground extended over
| an area of about three by one mile and
almost the entire ground was literally
covered with dead Dutch. After our
troops got organized they never made a
charge thew did not sustain. nor made n
stand they did not maintain. Gen. Nc
Culloch seemed to comprehend his situa.
ton in an instant. and his first care was
to take and silence the enemies bate
ries, and with n GOODNESS and activity un.
preceoented he would in the yery midst OF
the enemy's hottest fire, direct in per.
son the movements of his trbons. and i;o
order was piyefi that was not promptly
and enthusiost;cailv executed n the lei.
ter The hattie lasted for obont s;x and n
half hours. when tbe ro,,t m the enemx
becau,a oeneroI ti,av ror in Wild conf,,s
ion ,;,U.,neU in every direction and IN,
dead Dutch NAV vel bs found for mile,
around where thew have heen overtaker
and cut down bv our troons.
The TeSas Ronre,s b n,rnbe-;,, .ho,,
1000 who had heen held IN reserve ,ver.
let Ioose about The t;re Tho ront com,
menced cut down and can,rred hun
dreds Of the enemv' DonbtIess man,
more were slain Inv o,,r army thaH woui9
have heen had n not boan that cenaro
Ivon fought under n rSd aag unt;i h,
,yos obocEad ds;,.r ho,L 90 L;i,.J
wher % Id III. ~. dsemnooroS "aoS I"u hmt .hn n1 ~
collection Of that p S1d was ever err nresen @
with our soldierv. ,T6is was nrobablv oil,
~ fbc bas,lest fought battles and IN,
greatest victories ever achieved by south
ed ao6MwoindeS and ih;sstps % som.th;n, M nm
over 600. Federal loss in Killed abou
2O00-wounded from 5000 to 1000 anc
prisoners ooo. We captured u pieces o
% and lery. aaug,;,;ns "ge naoer ~ ;,; ol S,ai arms M
There were oniv about 1000 onfeierat,
troops engaged in the battle. The Fed
eral forces con. consisted OF about 5000 regu
Inoo ro1ps Suvv hahsas '..h % .lGoPS' hau agou
"Home GuarasS The Kansas troon
were commanded by the Montgomery,
Kansas notoriety, who had his men lii