Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1861-08-23

Continued from Fret Rbge.)
against Capt. Wrights cavalry, shelterin,
themselves behind fence Capt. Plummei
and Captain Gilbert with their companie.
marched close up to the fence and delivered al
effective fire, but were compelled by grea
odds to retire, which they did, but again re-
newed the attack. The enemy being largely
reinforced, and having now at least thre,
thousand men, jumped over in the cornfield
and Capt. Plummer's gallant band was i'm
mediately threatened with humiliation. They
retreated rapidly, firing as they did so, when
Lieutenant Dubois having got his battery un.
der Roadway on the hill near the Missouri
volunteers, seeing the position Of affairs on
The opposite side Of the valley, threw in the
most precise manner several shell, which ex-
ploded just as they reached the dense mass
Of secessionists, scattering them lifeless on
the ground in scores, while all that could
were glad to run for dear life.
The gallant men in Col. Blair's regiment
were now ordered back and their position ia
ken by the Iowa First. Gen. Lyon had pre-
viously had q poor opinion Of the fighting
qualities of these men, formed more from
supposition than any real failure in duty, but
now the time had come for him to reverse
his judgment, which he did after their first
repulse Of the enemy. They fought like IT,
gers, drove the enemy back, and followed up
the advantage gained for considerable dis
lance. Capt. Mason, Company c, was killed
soon after his regiment was engaged. Lieut.
Purcell was MORALLY wounded. Major Por
ter and Col. Merritt gallantly cheering on
their boys, escaped unframed. The Kansas
First and Second regiments were now ordered
forward to support the right flank of the
lowa's.
Col. Green's regiment of Tennessee caval-
ry, bearing secession flag, now charged up
on our wounded, who were partially guarded
by one or two companies Of infantry. See
ing the movement, Capt. Totten poured
few rounds of canister into their ranks Just
in time to save our sick men from being
trampled to death, dispensing the rebels SO
completely that nothing more was seen of
them during the day.
Gen. Lyon now desired the Iowa boys,
whom he had found so brave, to prepare to
meet the next onset Of the enemy with the
bayonet Immediately after firing. They
said, Give us a leader and we will follow
to the DEATH On came the enemy in over
whelming numbers, confident of victory over
such meagre force. No time could be lost
TO select a leader. 81 will lead you," ex
claims Lyon; Come on, brave menu and
placing himself in the van, received fatal
bullet just at the pit of the stomach, which
killed him instantly. The Iowas delivered
their fire and the enemy retired, SD that there
was no need Of charging bayonets. General
Lyons body was carefully picked up and
conveyed liftless towards the ambulance by
two of his body guard. In his death as in
his life, he was the same patriotic soldier, re-
l.; <,r,, r., - H.
could rescue his country. His body had
been brought hither and enbamed, for con-
veyance to his friends in Connecticut. There
the troops at the unexpected calamity, but
venge his DEATH On the Tuesday night pre-
vious he had arranged for night attack up
on the enemy, but singularly found himself
delayed two hours behind the proper time
for starting, by rumors of a skirmish on the
prairie west of town, and the attack was
postponed. Wednesday he said to me
" Well, begin &c believe our term of sold
iering is about completed. have tried earn
estly to discharge my whole duty to the
Government, and appealed to them for rein I,
forcements and supplies: but, alas they do
not come, and the enemy is getting the ad-
vantage of us"
He then called a council Of war, at which |
there was nearly unanimous voice for
evacuating Springfield. Gen. Sweeny plead
eloquently against such course, declared it |
would be the ruin of the Union cause in that |
quarter of the State, and urged battle as
soon as the enemy were within striking dis |
lance. He also pointed out the loss of repu-
tation both to the General and his officers
which would follow such step. This counsel
decided the course to be pursued, and Thurs
day when the brigade Quartermaster inquired
when we were to leave Springfield, Gen. Ly on
replied t. Not before we are whipped" This
was the proper course to pursue. If he re.
treated without battle he would certainly |
have been pursued by boastful and unpun- |
ished enemy, and very likely have his retreat |
entirely cut off. After being wounded he |
exclaimed to Major Schofield, !" The day is |
lost" but the Major said "No, General, let
us try once more" So they tried, and the |
General fell. 1t was now little after nine
o'clock, and the battle had ragged with fierce
ness seldom if ever equaled, for over three !
hours. The smoke hung like storm cloud
over the valley, a fit emblem of mourning for
the departed hero.
e sleeps his last Sleep he has fought his last battle
No sound shall awake him to glory again."
The battle ragged for two hours more, the |
command devolving upon Maj. Sturgis. The
enemy made repeated attemps to retake the
heights from which they had been driven. but
were calamity repulsed each time. The Kan
sas regiments behaved with bravery seldom
or never equaled, forming ambuscades for the
benefit OF the rebels by lying fiat on the
ground until the enemy came near enough
for them to see their eyebrows, when they
would pour deadly volley into their oppo.
ncnts and again remain in possession of the
field. The last repulse of the enemy was the
most glorious of all and 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 making junction
with our forces. Discovering the ruse Just
in time our sral;ant hoxc RI, bod ,,x,a,, H.