The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-08-15
THE SITUATION.

THE SITUATION.
We give to-day additional particulars of the
battle at Davis creek, Missouri, and the move.
ments of the Union troops which preceded that
action as detailed by General Sweeny and Others.
1t appears that the number of men under General
Lyon has been greatly exaggerated. Instead
pi 5000 men being in the action there
were only $500, the Home Guard, numbering
over 1000, having remained in Springfield, and
we're not in the field at all. There is very
little doubt that the rebels numbered some twenty
three thousand. 1t seems that the attack was
made in two columns by Generals Lyon and Stur-
ges, General Siegel leading flanking force of
about one thousand men and four guns Oh the
south of the enemys camp. The fight ragged from
The rebels, in overwhelming force, charged Cap
tain Tottens battery three distinct times, Jh ue,e
rcprised ,riM great slaughter
General Lyon was wounded in the leg at an early
hour during the battle and had his horse shot The
Colonel of one of the Kansas regiments having
been killed, the men called upon General Lyon to
lead them. He Immediately threw himself in front
Of them, and while cheering the men on to the
charge received bullet in the left breast, and fell
from his horse. He was asked if he was hurt, and
replied, "No, not much.' but in few minutes he
expired without struggle. He was gallant sol
der. and died bravely as a soldier should in front
OF his men.
Judging from the official reports of the battle
It is not to be regarded as a defeat of the Union
army, nor is it so regarded in Washington, but on
the contrary it is considered in the light of "a mas
terry retreat from position which was found to
be very dangerous and exposed, and impossible to
be held by small force in face of an over
whelmingly superior one. 1t is evident moreover,
that the rebels suffered terrbly-lost all their
tents and wagons, and were driven back so
Tar that the Union troops actually occu.
pied their encampment for several hours
after the engagement was ended. General Siegel
made his retreat TO Springfield and Rolla in admi-
rablc order, losing nothing but three guns-which
we're disabled in the action by the horses being
killed-and which he spiked before abandoning
them The retreat was rendered necessary from
the belief that the rebel forces were about to be
reinforced by General Hardee with body of
twelve or fifteen thousand men, who was advancing
On Pilot Knob, and thus the danger Of being cut
of from Rolla the terminus of the railroad
communication with st. Louis, became i'm
minent. General Siegel felt confident that he
could have held Springfield only for this informa.
lion, and he seems to be borne out in this opinion
by the fact that no pursuit was attempted. Gene
raj Siegel will probably fall back to Lebanon and
there await renforcements.
The loss OF the Union army is variously estimat-
ed at from $50 to 800 killed and several hundred
wounded, while the rebel loss is put down at over
two thousand. There is some doubt as to the
death of Generals McCulloch and Price, while, I'M
happily, no doubt whatever hangs over the fate of
the gallant General Lyon, whose body was brought
back to Springfield.
Major General Fremont has deemed it neces.
sary TO establish martial law in St. Louis, and to
arrest the President of the Board of Police Com
mssioners, John A. Brownlec. Major McKinstry,
United States Army has been appointed Provost
Marshal.
We learn from Washington the Seventy. ninth New
York Highland regiment are in state of insubordi.
nation in consequence of permission being refused
them to come home and see their families and
elect officers to fill the vacancies. The regiment
was marched to the Navy Yard yesterday under an
escort of cavalry, and forty or fifty of the
most active leaders of the trouble were arrested
Dispatches from Grafton, in Western Virginia
dated yesterday, inform us that skirmsh took
place few miles from there on Tuesday, on the
Paramount aud Webster road. Information having
been received that secretly organized body of
rebels, living in the county, were lodged within
few miles Of Webster, General Kelly de.
spatched Captain Payton, of Company A.
Fourth Virginia regiment, with fifty men,
from Webster to disarm them. After scout.
ing nearly twenty -four hours he came suddenly