Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-08-15
TELEGR APHIC.

The Great Battle Near Springfield
The official RepOrt-Gen. Lyon
Death-He Cheers ON His Troop
with His Last Breath = General
Price and nIcCulIoch Killed-Gen
eral Slgel's Retreat.
ST. LOUIS, August 13.-The following is tn
official report of the fght near Springfield Of
Saturday last as forwarded by one Of Genera
Lyons .aids-de-camp TO General Fremont:
"General Lyon, In three columns, under him
self, General Sigel, and Major Sturges Of th,
| cavalry, attacked the enemy at half-past six Of
the morning Of the 10th, nine miles southeast o
Springfield. The engagement was severe. Ou
loss Is about 800 killed and wounded. Genera
Lyon was killed In charge at the head of hi
column. Our force was eight thousand, includ
ing two thousand Home Guards. The muster
rolls reported taken from the enemy give hil
strength at twenty-three thousand, including
regiments from Louisiana, Mississippi and Ten
nessee, with Texas Rangers and Cherokee half
breeds. Their loss Is heavy, including Generals
roborated by prisoners. Their tents and wagons
were destroyed in the action.
"Sigel left one gun on the field and retreated
to Springfield with a large number Of prisoners.
At three O'Clock on the morning of the lth, he
continued his retreat upon Rolla, bringing off
his baggage train and $25, 200 in specie from
the Springfield bank"
The following is verbal report taken from
special messenger who brought dispatches for
Gen. Fremont.
"Early on Saturday morning General Lyon
marched out of Springfield to give the enemy
battle. He cams up to him ola Davis's Greek,
on Green's Prairie, few miles southwest of
Springfield, where he had taken strong posi-
tion on rolling ground. Twenty minutes past
six o'clock in the morning, Gen. Lyon fred the
frst gun, when the battle Immediately began.
Severe cannonading was kept up two or three
hours, when the fire OF Capt. Totten's artillery
proving too severe for the enemy, they gradual
Iy fell back toward their encampment on Will
sons Creek.
"Gen. Lyons cavalry poured on the enemy's
left flank, and Cen. Sigel's artillery on the
right, then began a terrific attack and spread
slaughter and dismay in the ranks Of the enc
my, pursuing them to their camp--shells from
lotions artillery setting fire to their tents and
baggage wagons, which were all destroyed. A
Louisiana regiment and Mississippi regiment
seemed to have suffered most in the fight, and
were almost annihilated.
"Sometime in the afternoon as Gen. Lyon
was leading on his column his horse was shot
from under him. He Immediately mounted an
other, and as he turned around to his men,
waving his hat in his hand and cheering them
on to victory, he was struck in the small of his
back by a ball and fell dead 10 the ground
The command then devolved upon General
Sigel. r.,.s s.r.- s.... ......
"Pursuit continued until nightfall, when our
little army rested for the night in the encamp-
ment of the enemy.
"Sunday morning, Gen. Sigel, fearing the
enemy might recover and attempt to cut his
command off from Springfield, fell back upon
that city, where the Home Guards were sta
toned. On reaching Springfield, and fearing
the great numbers of the enemy might induce
them to get between him and Rolla, Gen. Slgel
concluded to fall back upon Rolla with his pro-
vision trains, and meet the reinforcemsnts which
were on the way to him. At the latest moment
Of the departure Iof the messenger, the enemy
had not been seen, and itlis probable that Gen.
eral Sigel has not been disturbed IN his
march. Ninety of the rebels were captured,
among them Colonel Of distinction, the mes.
senger not remembering his name. The sword
and horse Of McCulloch were among the tro-
phies.
"Reinforcements are on the way from Rolla
and Gen. Sigel and his army may be considered
safe" ....... .,.'