Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1861-08-22

Why It Was Fought.
Desperate Bravery Of The Union Troops.
HOW GEN. LYON WAS KILLED.
Particulars Of The Engagement
Correspondence Of The ST. Louis Democrat
SPRrNGFIELD. Green Co. Mo. !

Correspondence oil The ST. Louis Dem0crat
SpRINGFIELD. Green Co. Mo.
Sunday. Aug. IL. 1861.
Night before last little army of fifty
two hundred men moved in two columns
on a march Of twelve or fifteen miles to at
tack body Of rebels twenty two thous-
and strong. In military point Of view.
the move was one of doubtful propriety.
not to say absolute rashness. The larger
force were. with the exception of three
thousand men. well armed and equipped,
and they had very large body of cavalry.
But the question Of evacuating Springfield.
the key of tho entire Southwest. had al
ready been discussed and settled in the
negative. 1t was decided that the loyal
citizens of Green and the surrounding
counties should not have cause TO say we
had left them without struggle. aban-
don d themselves. their families, their all
to heartless and desperate foe, until the
enemy had felt our steel and tried the met
tie Of our troops. That mettle proved it.
self worthy Of the great cause in which it
was engaged. The Union, troops who
fought and won the battle OF yesterday
need no higher mark, no brighter name
than the laurels easncJ Justly entitle them
to. They fought like brave men long and
well.
Gen. Sigel. with six pieces of cannon.
Salomon's moved in asoutherly direction.
marching about fifteen miles. passing a
round the extreme southeastern camp oil
the enemy and halted until daylight. OF
for the sound of artillery from the south.
west to announce the opening of the bat
tle
Gen. Lyon. with the volunteers COM
posing the Missouri First. Lieut.. Colonel
Andrews; Iowa First. Lieut. Colonel Mer.
rit; Kansas First. Colonel Deiizler; and
Second. Colonel MITCHELL; part Of the Mis-
souri, Second. under Major OStcrhaus; and
a detachment of twenty men from Colonel
Wyman's Illinois Regiment three or -four
companies Of Home Guards; a force of reg.
ulars about eight hundred strong. and two
batteries Of four and six pieces rce,..o.
lively. left Springfield about eight o'clock
p. NJ. marching slowly until A. NJ. when
we halted for two hours. at which time
Capt. Gilbert's company of regulars and
Major Ostcrhaus's battalion were thrown
out as skirmishers on either side Of the
column nnd we moved forward.
Shortly after 5 o'clock party of reb-
els. acting ss pickets. was seen scattering
over the hills to give the alarm. but por-
ton Of our column had already penetrated
far enough to cut off their route. unless
they took very circuitous one. in which
case we should reach camp ahead of them.
We soon came in sight 81 the valley in
which they were encampcd. A thousand
tents stretching off into the distance and
partially screened from view by hill jut-
ting into an angle Of Wilson Greek were
before us. presenting as animated an ap-
pearance as a young city. The enemy =
camp extended from the head Of the valley.
overlooked on the north. east and west
sides by hills and ridges two or three hun.
ired feet in height southwark about mile.
thence eastward mile and q half, and
then southwark half mile. following the
windings Of the creek. along whose banks
the gently sloping hills on either side az
for'led the most excellent camping ground
Near the northern end Of the valley liv-
ed John McNary. formerly from Indiana,
who. finiing the rebels within FIVE miles,
on Tuesday last packed up his few worldly
goods. took his family and started for the
good old Hoosier State. where il is not a
crime to be loyal to the government undo,
which We live. Not less than twenty OF
thirty families. living on farms in the vi.
cinity. started about the same time. mos,
of them havieg little or no idea where they
were were going. except to escape from the
Hanger which threatened them. a'ii f'i
The battlefield. viewed by your CORES
pendent. where the most severe fighting
was done. was along the ridges and hills
on either side mostly on the west Of the
stream for tho first mile mentioned aborc
where the creek ruus in southcrly direc
ton. 40 ~ sa stehi z. ~
AS we crossed the hill on the north
moving in southwesterly direction. Capt
Wright with the mounted Home Guards
Was sent to the east side. so as 10 cut off {
party Of rebels in that direction. Adjutan
Hascock. with glass. rode to the brow O
the hill. where. looking down. he could see
every movement ofthe enemy beneath him
His appearance in full view caused . grca'
hubbub in the rebel camp. which had al
ready been thoroughly aroused by our ap
pearancc. AMI camps and baggage wer,
hastily loaded and moved toward th'
south. We had completely surprise,
them. The evidence of that fact wa
everywhere visible. but they had 60
quickly into line Of battle--their clond
Of cavalry were visible. and their twenty
ono pieces Of cannon were not long silen
after ours had opened the engagement. 2 2
On che sides Of the first ridge on tn
western side Of the valley. Col Blair s re
giment. at ten minutes sitter. six o'clock
encountered heavy force Of infantry, no
] less than full regiment. and after sc
we're contest they gained the summit. IN,
the defeated rebels dispersed rapidly. go
ing in direction which rem Tered il i'm
possible for any considerable number 0
them TO again participate In the battle.
Tottep's battery then threw . few bplls q
ieelers TO draw ont the enenly's cannon.
Col. Blsir's regiment moved FORWARD
and were soon met by well equipped re
giment of Louisiana troops. whom. ate
bitter contest Of forty -6ve minutes. the,
ssecssdsd in routing. thoogh suffering Sc
vsrsly thsmSelves. Capt Lafhrop's com
psuy of'Ti6e recruits now assisted then,