The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-08-18
TIE GREET BATTLE In MISSOURI.
N~~N~<~NO~~~~~>>o>~~,>oO>.
Gallant Bearing Of Our
Volunteers.
THE KILLED AND WOUNDED.
GEN. LYON SHOT NEAR THE HEART.
Generals Price and McCullOch Not Killed,
but Unable to Pursue.
THE ARMY Of GENERAL LYON,
&C., &C., &c.
tFrom the St. Louis Democrat, August I5. !

From the 81. Louis Democrat, August I5l
SPRINGFIELD, Mo- August II, 1861.
Night before last little army Of liity two hundred men
moved in two columns march Of twelve or fifteen
miles to attack body Of rebels twenty two Thousand
strong. In n military point Of view the Of
doubtful prepriey not to say absolute The
larger force were with tho exception Of three thousand
men, well armed and equipped, and they had very
large body Of cavalry But the question Of evacuatinE
Springfield the key Of the entire Southwest had already
been discussed and settled the negative Ii was decided
that the loyal citizens Of Green the surrounding coun
ties should not have say had LETT them with
out struggle, abandoned themselves, their families
their all hearss and desperate Zoe until tho enemy
had felt steel tried the mette our troops That
mete proved Itself worthy Of the great cause in which
It was engaged. The Union troops who fought and won
the battle Of yesterday need higher mark brighter
name than the aurcs earned justly entitlc them to-
They fought like brave men, long and well.
regiment and that OF Colonel Solomon moved in south
eriy direction marching about fifteen miles, passing
around the extreme southeastern camp Of the enemy and
halted until daylight for the sound Of artillery from
the northwest TO announcc the opening of the battle.
General Lyon, with the volunteers composing the Mis-
souri, First Lieutenant Colonel Andrews Iowa First,
Lieutenant Colonel Merritt Kansas First Colonel Deitzer
and Second Colonel MITCHELL part Of the Missouri Second
under Major Oscrhaus and detachment of twenty men
from colonel Wymah's Illinois regiment, three four
companies Of mounted Home Guards force of regulars
about eight hundred strong batteries of four and
SIX pieces respectively left Springfield about eight O'Clock
=. NJ. marching slowly along Hntil two A. M when we
matted FOR two hours, at which time Captain Gbert's
company Of regulars and Major pstorAs battalion
throw out az skrmshcrs on either side Of the column,
and we moved forward
Shortly after five O'Clock party of rebels acting as
picket was seen scattering tho hills 10 give the
alarm, but portion Of our column had already penetrat
ed far enough " cut off their route, unless they
very crcuitous one, which should reach canp
ahead Of them. We soon came in sight Of the valley
which they encamped Thousand stretching
OF into the distance and partially screened from view by
hill utting into angle Of Wilson's creek before
u.s. presenting AS animated appearance young city
The cnemys camp extended from the head of the valley
overlooked on the NORTH east md west side by hills and
ridges two three hundred feet in height southwark
about mile, thence eastward u mile and half and
creek along whose banks the gently sopng hills either
side afforded the most excellent camping ground.
Near the northern end Of the valley lived John McNay,
formerly rom Indiana, who finding the rebels within Ave
miles on Tuesday last, packed up his worldly goods
took his family and started for the good old Hooser State
where it is not crime to be 10y TO tie I'M
der which hive Not less than twenty thirty fami-
lies, living farms in the vicinity, about tho
same tme most of them having little idea where
they were gong except to escape from the danger which
threatened them.
The battle field, viewed by your correspondent where
tho most fighting done along the ridges
and hills on either side mostly the wes) of tl
for the first mile mentioned above where the creek
III a southcrly direction
AS the hill on the north moving in south
westerly direction, Captain Wright, with the mounted
Home Guard, was sent 10 the east side OF
party OF rebels in that direction. Adutant ascock
with glass rode to the brow Of the hi where looking
down he could see every movement Of the enemy beneath
him. HIS appearance N full view caused great hubbub
in the rebel camp, which had already been thoroughly
aroused by appearance and camps baggage were
hastily loaded and moved towards the south We had
completely surprised them The evidence Of that fact
was everywhere visible, but they h1d got quickly
line of battle-their clouds of cavalry visible, and
their twenty one pieces Of not long silent
after ours had opened the engagement.
On the sides of the first ridge the western side of the
valley, COL BARS regiment at ten minutes after six
o'clock, encountered heavy force Of infantry not less
than full regiment, and after contest, they
gained the summit, and the defeated rebels dispersed
rapidly going In direction which rendered impossible
for any considerable number OF them 10 again m tcipate
IN the battle TOttcns battery then threw balls
feelcrs, TO draw out the clcny's cannon.
Colonel m ed Yarl 600
met by well equipped regiment Of Louisiana troops.
whom. after bitter contest Of fortyvc minutes, they
succeeded in routing, though suffering severely them
selves. Captain lahcops company OF rifle recruits
assisted them AMI together they, with Major Osicrhaus'
men moved up the second hill, which considerably
larger tan the fst and meeting third regiment, finally
succeeded in driving them back, with the assistance Of
Io'teh battery ana gaming the summit In this part of
the fight the gallant Missouri volunteers acted bravcy
indeed no words Of praise could moro than DO them jus
tice
OF many Of va'or performed not wit
messed by me- but among those ] conspicuous
Captain Gratz leading hts against Overwhelming
odds and falling death Just he had repused the foe
Lieutenant Murphy dashing forward ahead Of tie line
waving his sword high in the air shouting onward
almost wavefg men, who gained fresh courage from he
exhibition, aud pushing forward drove the enemy from
the field In this Gsht many Of brave soldiers fen 10
rise no Iaore while Colonel Andrews had his horse shot
from under him and was wounded himself slightly Gen
Lyon suffered IN similar MANNER Ca iauS Lavender,
Cole and Yates, each slightly, least not gerousy
wounded Iieuts. Brown and Johnson and Corporals
CoDaut and Rogers, more or less severely wounded.
During this engagement two companies Of regulars
~ The east side Of the creek engage force which
was operating against Captain Wrghts cavalry shelter
ing themselves behind fence. Captain Puminer and
Captain Gilbert with their companies, marched c, up
the fence and delivered an effective fire but were COM
PEELED by great odds to retire which they did again
newcd the attack The enemy bcig largely reinforced
and hay ing now at least three thousand men, jumped
INTO the corniod, ani Captain RUNNERS gallant band
was imminently threatened with annhilaon They re
treated rapidly, firing they did when Lieutenant Du-
bois having got his battery under Roadway the hill
near the Missouri Volunteers seeing the position Of affairs
the opposite side of the valley threw the pre-
else several shells which exploded just they
reached the dense Of scccssonists scattering them
cless on tie ground in scores. while all who could
glad to run FOR dear life.
The gallant men in Colonel Blar's regiment now
ordered back and their position taken by the iowa First.
General Lyon had previously had poor opinion Of the
fighting qualities these men, formed more from suppo-
sition than upon any rea failure in duty but now the
time had come for him to reverse his Judgment which
he did after their first repuse of the enemy They
fought like tigers, drove the enemy back. followed 40
the advantage gained for considerable distance. Capt
Mason Company c. killed after bis regiment was
engaged. Lieutenant Purcell mortally wounded.
Mayor Porter AL Colonel Merritt, CALAMITY cheering on
their boys, escapcd unharmed The Kansas First and
Second regiments ordered foi ward support
the right flank Of the 1owas.
Colonel Green regiment Of Tennessee cavalry bearing
a secession flag, now charged upon our wounded who
were partially guarded by one two companies Of in
fntry. Seeing the movement, Captain Totten poured
Few rounds e cannscr into their ranks just in time
save our sick men from being tramped to death dis
peIsng the rebels completely that nothing more was
Of them during the day.
General Lyon desired the Iowa boys, whom he
had found brave, to prepare to meet the next
the ercmy with the bayonct Immediately after firing.
They said Give us leader and will follow death -
On came the enemy in overwhelming numbers, confident
Of victory over such mcagre force No time could be
lost to select leader. ~ will lead you ,, exclams Lyon
Come on, brave menl'' 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. so there was no need
81 charging bayones. Gen Lyons body carefully
picked up and conveyed fecss toward the ambuauces
by two Of his body guard In his DEATH in his life he
was the devoted patriotic soldier, regarding his
NJ oyuiu l, hp brpg his
try. His body has been brought hitler anu embamed,
for conveyance ~ his friends in Connecticut There was
feeling Of depression the part of the troops at tho
unexlc tied calamity but rather feeling OF quiet deter
mnntion to revenge his death. On the Tuesday night
previous he had arranged for night attack upon the
enemy hut sing uIary found himself delayed Two hours
behind the proper time for starting oy ruihors OK
skirmgh the prairie west of town, and the attack
I was postponed Wednesday he said to me, swell,
| ! begin TO believe our term Of soldering Is about
| completed I have tried earnestly to discharge
nv whole duty to the government and appealed to them
for rcinorceneus and supplies; but alas they do not
| conc and the enemy is getting the advantage Of us"
He then called council Of at which there nearly
|