Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1861-09-07
Detailed Account Of the late Bstale at
Srriugfeld, Missouri.

The following account OF the Dattie
at Springfield, from a correspondent Of
the st. Louis Democrat, has been tele-
grabbed to the Associated Press"
! SPRINGFIELD. Mo-, Aug. IL, 1861.
"Niyht before last little army OF
fiftv.two hundred men, formed into two
columns, on a march of IL or Is miles,
to attack body of rebels about $4,000
strong. In military point of view,
the move was one of doubtful proprie-
". not to say absolute rishness. The
larger force was, with the exception of
three thousand men. well armed and
equipped, and they had u very large
] body of cavalry, bet the question of
evacuating Springfield, the key to enter
the southwest, had already been dis
Used and settled in the negative.
/ Gel.. Sigei. with six pieces of cannon,
his own regimen, and that of Col. Sol
ONIONS. moved in Sou,herly direction
marching about IL miles, passed around
the extreme sou;hcas:c-;i camp IF the
enemy, and halted until daylight, ar
from the Sound of artillery from the
northwest to announce the opening of
the battle.
Gen. LYON. with the volunteers com
posing the Missouri First, Lieut. Col.
Andrews; Iowa First. Lieut.. Col. Art;
Kansas First. Col. Deitzlcr. and Second,
Col. Mitchell Hart: part of the MissOu-
ri Second, under Major Austerhaus.
and detachment of 300 men from Col.
Wyman's Illinois reg imcnt; three or
four companies of mounted Home
Guards; force of regulars about 500
strong, and two batteries of four and
six pieces respectively, left Springfield
about eight o'clock, p. NJ, marching
steadily along until . A. NJ, when we
halted for two hours; at which time
Capt. Gilbcrts company of regulars
and Major Ostcraus' battalion were
thrown out as skirmishcrs on either
side of the column and we moved for
ward on the sides OF the first ridge on
the western side of the valley. Col.
Clair's regiment, at 10 minutes past 3
o'clock, encountered heavy force of
infantry-no. less than full regiment
and after Il short contest, they gained
the summit, and the defeated rebels dis
persed rapidly going in II direction
which rendered it impossible for any
considerable number of them to again
participate in the battle.
Tottcn's Battery then threw a few
balls as tcclcrs to draw ont the encmy's
cannon. Colonel Blair's regiment adj
vanccd forward and were soon met by a
we'll equipped regiment of Louisiana
troops, whom, after bitter contest of
As minutes, they succeeded in routing,
though suffering severely themselves.
Captain LatIrop's Company Of Rifle
Recruits now assisted them, and togeth-
cr they, with Major Ostcrhans' men,
moved up the second hill, which was
considerably longer than the first, and
meeting third regiment, finally sue
cccdcd in driving them back, with tire
assistance of Tottcn's Battery, gaining
the summit.
In this part of the fight the gallant
Missouri Volunteers acted bravely, in
deed no words of praise could more
than do them justice. During this en-
gagement two companies OF regulars
were sent to the east side of the creek
to engage force which were operating
against Captain Wright's Cavalry,
sheltcring themselves behind fence.
Capt. Plummer and Captain Gilbert,
with their companies, marched close
up to the fence, and delivered an etiec-
tive fire, but were compelled by great
odds to retire, which they did, but
again renewed the attack,
The enemy being largely reinforced,
having now at least 5000 men, jumped
over into the corntield. and Capt. Plum
mer's gallant command was immediate.
ly threatened with humiliation. They
retreated rapidly, firing as they did so,
when Lieut.. Dubois having got his bat
terry under Roadway on. the hill near
the Missouri volunteers, seeing the po.
sition OF affairs on the other side of the
valley, threw, in the most precise man.
ner, several shells, which exploded just
as they reached the dense mass Of scccs-
sionists, scattering them lifeless on the
ground in scores. while all who could
were glad to run for dear life. The
gallant men Of Col. Blairs regiment
were now ordered back. and their posi-
ton taken by the Iowa First. Gen.
Lyon had previously had . poor opin.
ion of the fighting qualities Of these
men, formed more from supPosition
than upon any real failure in duty.
But now the time had come for him to
reverse his judgment, which he did
after their first rePulsc Of the enemy.