The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1861-08-22

bearing a secession flag, now charged upon our
wounded, who were partially guarded py one OF
two companies ofintantry. Seeing the movenient,
Capt. Totten poured few ROUNDS OF CANISTER into
their ranks lust in time to save our SICK men from
being trampled to death, dispensing the repeis 80
completely that nothing more was seen Oh lneni oui
ing the day.
Gen. LYON now desired the Iowa boys, whom he
had found so brave, to prepare to meet the mex
onset of the enemy with the bayonet Immediately
after firing. They said "Gve us a leader and we
will follow to the death" On came the enemy III
overwhelming numbers, confident OF victory over
such a meagre force. No time could be lost TO
select leader. II Will LEAD you, e4clai!ils hyon
come on, brave men, and placing himself IN
the van received fatal bullet just at the pit OF
the stomach, which killed him instantly. Inc
Iowas delivered their fire and the enemy retired,
so there was no need OF charging bayonets' 0en'
Ly on's body was carefully picked up and convey
ed lfeess towards the ambulances by two OF his
body guard In his death as in his life, he was the
same devoted, patriotic soldier, regarding his own
life as of 40 value if he could but rescue his coun-
thy His body as been brought hither and en-
banned. for CONVEYANCE to his friends in Connec-
ticut. There was no feeling of depression ON the
part of the troops ut the unexpected calamity but
rather feeling of quiet determination to revenge
his death. On the Tuesday night previous he had
arranged for night attack upon the enemy, but
singularly found himself delayed two hours behind
the proper time for starting, by rumors OF Skin
msh on the prairie west, of town, and the attack
was postponed Wednesday he said TO me: swell,
begin to believe our term of soldering is about
completed ! have tired earnestly 10 discharge
my whole duty to the Government, and appealed
to them for reinfOrcements and supplies but alas,
they do not come, and the enemy is getting the ad
vantage of u.s." He then called a council OF war,
at which there was nearly unanimous voice for
evacuating Springfield. Gen. Sweeney plead elo-
quently against such a course, declared that it
would be the ruin of the Union cause in that quar-
ter of the State, and urged battle as soon as the
enemy within striking distance. de also
pointed out the loss of reputation both to the Gen.
and his officers which would follow such step.
This counsel decided the course to be pursued and
Thursday when The brigader- Quartermaster in
uuired when we were to leave Springfield. Gen.
| Lyon replied 'Not before we are whipped" This
was the proper course to pursue. If he retreated
without battle he would col tainly have been
pursued by b0astful and UNPUBLISHED enemy, and
very likely have his retreat entirely cut eff AT.
ter being wounded he exclaimed to Maj Sco6eld,
"The day is lost" but the Major said 'No, Gen.
eral, let US try once more" So they tried and the
General fell l. was now little after o'clock,
and the battle had ragged with fierceness seldom
| if ever equalled for over three hours The smoke
hung like storm cloud over the valley, fit en-
blem of mourning for the departed hero.
'He sleeps his last sleep, he has fought his last
battle,
No sound shall awake him to glory again"
The battle ragged for two hours mora, the com
mand devolving upon Major Sturgis. The enemy
made repeated attempts to take the heights from
(which they had been driven, but were gallantly
Irepulsed each time. The Kansas regiments be.
hayed with bravery seldom Or never equaed.
forming ambuscades for the benefit of the rebels
by lying fiat on the ground until the enemy came
near enough for them to sec their eyebrows, when
they would pour deadly yolley into their oppo-
nents and again remain in possession of the field.
The last repulse of The enemy was the most glori-
| ous Of al aDG was participated in by members OF
every regiment on the field, The enemy came
fresh and deceived our men by bearing Union
flag, causing them TO believe Sigel was about max
ing Junction with our forces Discovering the
ruse just in time our gallant boys rushed upon the
enc y, who, with four cannon belchng forth loud
mOuthed thunder were the point of having then
efforts CROWNED with su cess and again drove them
with great loss down tha sQEs on the south SIDE oi
the hill.
Capt Tottens ammunition was now nearly ex.
hausted, and placing Dubois battery upon HE HID
at ting north end OF the valley, Major Stnrgis or
dered the amlla@eee 20 GlOye towards town. The
Infantry and Iotten full battery followed in good
order, and were not pursued by the enemy, who
were evidently glad to be let alone
Among the prisoners taken was u surgeon living
in st. Charles county. He was Immediately re-
leased, and DR.. Melcher accompanied him to The
rebel generals arranging for the return of oul
wagons t bring Che gonRded and dead.
Lieut.. Col Horace FL. Brand, Of the First Regi
ment, Sixth division, who commanded the rebe
forces ut Boonville. and who said he was now act
ing hid to Gen Price, was taken prisoner early
in the day.
, When Gen Sigel, who commanded the eastern
Division, hea tie foaf Of TOtteps artillery, he a
J once attacked the enemy in his quarter, drying
+ him half mile and taking possession ofhis camp
extending eastward to the Fayetteville road
Here terrible fire was poured into his ranks b.
a regiment which he had permitted to advance
wihil few PAGES of him, surprising it to be thu
t Iowa Isl, His men scattered considerably, AM
Col. SolomUns could not be rallied. Consequent,
Sgel lost five OF his guns, the other being brough
away by Capt. Flagg, who compelled his prison
ers, some sixty III number, to draw the artillery OF
the field
Our troops took some four hundred horses ant
about sevehtY prisonsrs, and compelled the enem,
10 burn nearly all of his baggage 10 keep it from
falling into our hands
The enemy had twenty one pieces ofcannon, ant
at the last twentysix, including those taken from
: Sgel. There were none of them worked with pre-
cision, every shot for nearly an hour going whi1
twenty feet oyer our hsaas
: With two more regiments we should have driver
the enemy entirely from the valley, and with
proper cavalry force, could have followed up sucl
victory With decisive results
/ Our loss is about 200 killed and or 700 wound
/ ed while the loss of the enemy must have beer
double our own. DIR. Schenck, who was in the
rebel camp at late hour last evening, bringing
away orr wounded, reports our men comparative
ly few with those Of the enemy, whose dead were
lying thick under the trees.