Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-09-13
LATE NORTHERN INTELLIGENCE.
Federal Report OF the Baltic Of OAK fiiii'
n .STGEL'S REPORT,

reDort Of the battle at Wilson's Creek, so tai
as tb. troops under my command *sre con-
cerncd
On Friday, the 9TH oi August Gen. Igor
informed me that it was his intention to attacE
the enemvi in his camp at Wilson's Greek or
the morning Of the 10Th that the attach
should be made from two sides, and that
should take command Of the left. The troops
assigned to me consisted of the second brigade
Missouri yoluntecrs-nine hundred mcn-in
fantry of the Third and Fifth regiments, uidel
the command Of Lieut.. Col. Albert and Co!
Solomon, and six pieces Of artillery, tinue'
Lieuts. Schaeiter and Schnetzenbach besides
two companies of regular cavalry, belonging 10
the command OF Major S,nrgIs.
[ left camp Fremont, on the South:S'dc o
Springfield, at half past six o'clock, on the
evening of the 9th, and arrived at dsy-breaS
within 4 mile Of the enemy's camp. all
yanced slowly toward the Camp, and alter IL
king forward the two cavalry companies IRON
the right and left, I cut of about forty inen
of the enemv's troops, who were coming IRON
the camp in little squads to get water arc pro
visions. This was done in such 4 manner tina!
no news Of our advance could be brought into
the camp.
III sight OF the enemy's tents, which spread
out On our front and right, | planted four pieces
of artillery on a little hill, while the imam
try advanced toward the point where the Fay
~ettevillc road crosses Wilson's creek, and the
two cavalry companies extended TO the right
and left to guard cur TANKS. 1t was j!
o'clock, when s5s1c musket firing was heard
from the northwest. therefore ordered the
artillery to begin their fire against the camp OF
the enemy, Missourians). which was 50 de.
structiye that the enemy we're seen leaving
their tents and retiring in haste toward the
north easl Of the valley. MEANWHILE, the third
and fifth had quickly advanced, passed The
creek, and traycrsing the camp, formed almost
in the centre Of it. As the enemy uiidc his
rally in large numbers before us, about 5000
strong. consisting of infantry and cavalry,
ordered the artillery to be brought forward from
the hill, and formed there in Il battery across
the valley, with the third and fifth to tie left,
and The cavalry to the right. After all cilec.
tual fire OF half an hour, tic enemy retired III
some confusion into the woods and up the ad
Joining hills. The firing toward the northwest
was now more distinct, and increased until 1t
was evident that The main corps Of Gcn. Lyon
had engaged the enemy along the whole lines.
To give the greatest possible assistance to him,
I left the position in the camp and advanced To.
ward the north vest II attack the enemyS
line Of battle in The rear.
Marching forward we struck the Fayetteville
read, making our way tiiroagha large number
of cattle and horses, until we arrived at al
eminencc used IS 4 slalIshtcrlnG place, and
known as Sharp's Farm. On our route &c had
taken about one hundred prisoners, WING were
met numbers Of the cncmy's soldiers, who
were evidently retiring in this direction and
a.; | suspected that the enemy on his retreat
the trcor: across the road by planting the ar.
liilery on the plateau and the two infantry
regiments On the right and left, across The
road, while the CO ralrv companies extended on
our tanks. At this time, and after some skir-
mishias in front Of our live. the firing in The
direction Of the northwest, which was during
an hours time roaring in succession, had
almost entirely ceased, lthc!eupon presumed
that The attack Of Gen. Lyon had been sue
%cesslrl, and that his troops were in pursuit O.
the eGcmy, VINO moved in large numbers toward
the s2nth aI"ng the ridge Of 4 hill. about seven
hnniired yards opposite our right.
This vas the state Of affairs 1T eight an'! #
half o'clock in the morning, when it was rc.
ported to nae by MIR. Melchoir, and some Of
our skirmishers. that Lyons mel were ON
ing up the road" Lieut.. Albert, ofthc Third,
and Col. Solomon, Of the Fifth, notified their
regiments rot III fire on troops coming in this
direction, while | cautioned The artillery in the
same manner. Oar troops in this moment en-
pected with anxiety the approach Of our
friends, and we're waving the flag, raised az &
siyTal to their comrades, when ct ONCE two
batteries opened their fire against ua-onc in
front, placed ON the Fayetteville road, and the
other upon the hill, upon which VIC had sup.
pnscd Lyon; forces we're in pursuit of the
enemy, while Z strong column Of infantry, sup
posed to be the Iowa regiment, advanced from
the Fayetteville road, and STACKED our right.
IT, is Impossible for me to describe the con.
sternation ard frightlul confusion which was
accustomed by this important event. The cry,
'rher Nyon'S trOopsJ nc firing against US,
spread like wild fire through our ranks; the
artiller7mcn, ordered 10 fire, and directed ny
myself, could hardly be brought forward 10
serve their pieces; The :nfa7try would not lcTcl
their arms unti! il was TOO late. The enemy
arrived within ten PAGES Of the lnuZz!cS Of cur
cannon, killed the horses, turned the llrnks o!
the infantry and forced them to ~. The
troops were throwing themselves iato the
bushes and by roads, retrtatlng as sci! rs tlay
could, followed aud attacked necessarily by
large bodies Of Arkansas and Texas cavalry.
In This retreat we lost Ii:a canncr, Of which
three were spiked, and the cGlors Uf The Third,
the calor. bearer having been wounded, and his
substitute killed. The total loss Of the two
regiments, the artillery and the pianeerS, in
killed, wounded and missing, amounts to 2?2
mefi, rs will De seen from the respective iiSi$.
IL order to understand clearly our actors
and our fate, you will permit NE ia stale the
following facts: First, according 20 orders, j!
vas the rinty orthis brigade to attack the eli.
envy in Tie rear and - cut off his retreat,
which order | tried ln ~cyacntc, whatever tie
consequences might lc.
Second. The LINE Ct service Uf the fifth reg
iuielil Missouri volunteers had expired before
the battle. | had induced them, company ny
company, not TO leave IL; III the most crltica!
moment, and had engaged them for the term
of eight days, this term ending on Friday, the
9Th, the day before the ba;:lc.
Thirl. Tic third regiment, OF which four
hundred three months men had been dismiss
cd, was composed Of the greater part ciracruitS,
who had not seen the enemy before, and were
imperltctly drilled.
Fourth. The men serving the pieces, and
the dri"ers, consisted Of infantry, taken from
the third regiment, and were mostly recruits
who had only 4 lew days instruction.
Fifth. About two thirds nf our officers had
left us-some companies had No officers at all
"a great pIty-but the consequence Of the
system Of the three months service.
After the arrival Ct The army at Springfield,
the command WIS entrusted to me by Major
Sturgis, and the majority OF tic commanders
Of regiments. Considering all the circunstai:
ces. and in accordance wI;h the commanding
officers. | ordered the retreat Of the army from
Springfield. The preparations were begun in
the night Of the 10th, ard at day break the
troops were on the march toward the G1scon.
ade. Before crossing the river | received in.
formation that the ford could not be passed