Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1861-08-17
The Btaee Iowa FIRST.

A correspondent 0. the Missouri Democ at in i
interesting account Of the battle a. Sprlngfe d
thus speaks Of the galan Iowa First:
THE gallant men in Col. 81 i''s Regiment were
nov ordered back and their position taken by The
Iewa First. under Lieut.. Col Merritt. Gen. l., on
ID previously had LOOr opinion OF the fighting
qualiiie- Of these men, formed more from suppo-
sIton than uFou any real failure In duty, but now
the time had come for him to 'everse his jung
m. nt which he did after their frst :. pulse Oi the
enemy. They taught like tigers. drove the enemy
back, and followed up the advantage gained tor >
con.iderat le distance. Capt Mason, Company q
killed soon after his Regiment was gagged
Lieut.. Purcell was mortay wounded Major
Potter and Col Merritt gallantly cl eeripg on
and Second Ne, ,im~nts we're now ordered forward
90 support the right flank OF the Iowa's"
"Gen. Lyon now ats red the Iowa boys, whom
he had found 20 brave. to prepare to meet ,he
onset Of che eLemy with the bayonet immediately
after firing. They said, 'tiivs US q leader and w
ov~r~h. .lming numbers, confident Of victory over
such . mesgre force. No time could be lost to
select q leader. II will lead you," exclaims
Lyon. Come on, bave men - and placing him
self in the van. received fatal bullet just At the
pit OF the ston.acn which killed him ms antly
The Iosa's delivered their fire and the enemy re-
tired. there WAS no nj ed o. ch,TKing bay, nets
Gen. Lyons body was carefully Iicked up and
conveyed lifeless towards the ambulsuces BY two
of his body guard In his death as IL his lie, be
Was the ssme devoted, pslrirtic solier, regardinp
his own life as OF no value if he could but r"scu.
his coustry. His body has been brought hither
and unalmed, for Conveyance to his irien q iu
Conn-ctisut Thsre was no feeling Of depression
on the part OF the troops At the unex xpected
CO am ty, but rather feeling Of quiet determine
ton to revenge his death. On the Tuesday nigh I
prsvi US he nsd arranged for . night attack up o
the enemy, tut singulary found himself de-
lAyed tw, hours beh nd the proper time for
starting, BY rumors OF skirnish on the
prairie west Of town, and the attack vas post
poned. Wednesday he said to me. swell, be-
9ia to believe our term Of soldering 10 about COM
Eleted. have ,rled earnestly 70 discharge nv
whole duty to the government, and appealed 70
th. IN for reintorcem-nts and supplies; out alas.
advan age Of u.s." lie then called = council OF
war, at Wsich there vas nearls unapimou. voice
fer evacuat NJ Springfe d. Gen. SWeeny plead
eloquen:ly az Il. st such . course, declaring il
woad bc the ruin Of the ion cause IN that pa RI
OF the State. and urged battle - soon q the
sney we're within striking distance. 10 also
p ,i.ted sui the lost Of reputation both to the
General and his Ulcers which would follow inch !
etep This counsel deded the course to be pur-
. Cd. and Thursday, when the brigade cuarte mas
ter inquired when we were to leave Springfield
Gen. Lyon replied IN bsiore We are whiprsd .
T is vas the proper course 10 pursus. If he -
treated without battle be would certainly have
been pa,s I'd By bo.s:sul and unpau,shsd cue.
my, aud very likely have his retreat entirely cut
ID. After being wounded be exclaimed 20 Mai
Seho6eld, The dly is lost" but the Maj y said
"No, General, let Us Try once more" So they
tried. an the General fell. Il VS. nov ! little
after nine O'Clock, aud the battle had r4gsd With
ferceness seldtm it ever equaled, tor over th, q
hours. The smokc hung like . storm cloud over
the valley, 6t emblem of moarninx foe the de
parted hero.
Hs sleeps his last sleep, he has fought bis last
battle,
No sound shall awake him TO glory again"
We notice that the Iowa lst was led By Lieut..
Col Merritt. Whore Was Col. pates? Why VA
he absent upon such asmorable occasion 2 We
trust hs will b able 70 give 'sisfaetory expls.
nAtiOo