The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1861-08-24
THE GREAT BATTLE.
Gallant Bearing Of our Volunteers
Correspondence of the st. Louis Democrat
SPRINGFIELD, GREEN Co.. Mo-,
S,ndau An.r 1881

SPRINGFIELD, GREEN Co.. Mo-,
Sunday. Aug. IL. 1861.
Night before last, little army of hfty-
two hundred men moved in two columns on
a march OF twelve or fifteen miles, TO attack
a body of Rebels twenty two thousand
strong. In military point of view. the
move was one of doubtful propriety. not 10
say absolute rashness. The larger force
were, with the exception of three thousand
men, well armed and equipped, and they
had avery large body OF cavalry. But the
question Of evacuating Springfield. the key
of the entire Southwest had already been
discussed, and settled in the negative. It
was decided that the loyal citizens of Green
and the surrounding counties should not
have cause TO FAY We had LEFT them without
struggle abandoned themselves, their
families. their all, 10 heartless and des-
peraIe foe-until the enemy had felt our
steel and tried the mettle OF our troops.
That metlle proved itself worthy OF the
great cause in which il was engaged. The
Union troops WHO fought aud won the bat
tie vt yesterday, need no higher mark, NO
brighter name. than the laureis earned just
Iy enIitie them 10. They fought like brave
men, long and we'll.
Gen. SIgeI. with six pieces of cannon, his
own regiment and that of Col. Solomun,
moved forward in a southerly direction,
marching about fifteen miles, passing round
the extreme southeastern camp of the enc
my. and then halted Till daylight. or for the
sound of artillery from the northwest,
which should announce the opening of the
battle.
Gen. Lyon, with the volunteers compos-
| ing the Missouri First, Lieut.. Col. Au-
drews; Iowa First, Lieut.. Col Merritt
Kansas First, Col. Deuzler. aud Second,
Col. Mitchell; part of the Missouri Second,
under Major Osterhaus aud detachme l..
oil twenty men from Col. w man's Illinois
| regiment; three or four companies I'll
mounted Home Guards a force of regular s
about eight hundred strong, and two bat
terIes OF Jour and SIX pieces respectively,
left Springfield about 8 O'Clock NJ
marching slowly along until 2 A. NJ. when
| We halted for two hours. at which lime
Capt. Gilbert's company Of regulars and
Ri jrr OeIerhaus's battalion were thrown
Out as skirmishers on either side of the col
umn. and We moved forward.
Shortly after 5 O'Clock party of Rebel,
acting rs pIckets was seen scattering over
the hills 10 give the alarm, but portion vi
our column had already penetrated fal
enough to cut off their Ioure, unless they
took very "ircuiiouS one. in which cast
we SHE uld reach camp ahead of them. We
soon came in sight OF the valley in which
they were eBcamped. A thousand tent
stretching of into the distance and partially
screened from view by hill juutIng Int,
an angle of Wilson creek were before US
presenting as animated an appearance as
Dung city. The enemy's camp extended
from the head of the valley, overlooked on
the north. east and west sides by hills and
ridges two or three hundred feet in height
southwark about a mile. thence eastward q
mile and halt, and then southwark hal
a mile. following the windngS of the creek,
along whose banks the gently sIoping hills
ON either side afforded the most excellent
campi g-ground.
: Near the northern end Of the valley lived
John McNAry. formerly from Indiana. who
finding tue R-bel+ within five miles, OF
Tuesday last. packed up his few world,
goods, took mis- family and started for The
good cid Hoosier Stale, where it is not
; crime TO be loyal to the government undo
: which we live. Not less than twenty o
thirty families. who were living upol
farms in tina vicinity, started about th
same time, most of them having little or III
, idea where they were going, except To es
cape from lie danger which threatens
- !, them.
The battle field. viewed by your CORE
spondeGC. where the most severe fshtin,
was done, was along the hills and ridge
on either side mostly ON the west) of tn
stream for the first mile mentioned Sbove
r where the creek runs in souIherly direc
Iioa.
As we crossed the hill on The north
moving in a southwesIerlv direction, Capt
Wright. OF the mounted Home Guards. Wa
sent To the east side. so as to cut off part
of Rebels seen in that direction. AdjuIan
Hascock. with glass, rode to the brow u
u the bill. where. hooking down. he could sc
u every movement of The enemy beneath him
.e His appearance in full view caused gres
hubbub in the R,bel camp. which had al
ready been thoroughly aroused. and camp
and baggage were hastily loaded and move
toward the south. We had completely SUI
). pri-ed them. The evidence oil that fact wa
everywhere visible. but they got 4uickl
into line of baiIle-their clouds of caviar
q. We're visible. aud their twenty -one pieces {
cauno We're not Long silent after ours ha
opened the engagement.
On the sides of the FIRST ridge on Oh
western SluS OF the NaI1oNs SOl. DtalF' = Eek
at iment, at ten minutes after six o'clock, ef
: countered heavy force of infantry. no
: less than full regiment. and after sever
contest they gained the summit. and oh
defeated Rebels dispersed rapidly. going i
direction which rendered it imposs,b
for any considerable number of them
:. again participate in the battle.
il Captain ToIten's battery then thrsw
TX few balls as feelers, to draw out the enemy
cannon.
= Col. Blair's regiment moved forward an
were soon met by we'll equipped regimen
= of Louisiana troops. whom. after bitt,
- contest of forty five minutes. they succeed
ed in EOuting. though suffering sever
themselves. Capt. Lithrop's company
rifle recruits nov assisted them. and Logeth,
win Major O-ierhaus's men, they move
up the second bill. which was considerab
larger than the first. and meeting a lhi
regiment, finally succeeded in driving the