The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1861-09-05

of fire along nearly the whole line, except
the extreme right where the First Nilsson
ri was still engaged with superior force
of the enemy, attempting to turn our right
| The General having been informed of this
movement sent the Second Kansas to the
support of the First Missouri. 1t came up
in time to prevent the Missourians from
being destroyed by the overwhelming
force against which they were unfinch-
ingly holding their own.
| The battalion of regular infantry under
Captain Steele, which had been detailed
to the support of Lieutenant DaBois bat
terry, was during this time brought forward
to the support of Captain Totem battery.
Scarcely had these dispositions been made
when the enemy again appeared in very
large force along our entire front, and NOV
ing towards each flank The engagement
at once became general, and almost incon-
ceivably fierce, along the entire line, the
enemy appearing in front often in three or
four ranks, lying down, kneehng and
standing, the lines often approaching to
within thirty or forty yards of each other,
as the enemy would charge upon Captain
Totten's battery and be driven back.
Early in the engagement, the First To-
wa came to the support of the First Kan
sas, and First Missouri, both of which had
stood like veteran troops, exposed to gall
ing fire of the enemy.
Every available battalion was now
brought into action, and the battle ragged
with unabated fury for more than an hour;
the scales seeming nearly all the time
equally balanced, our troops sometimes
gaining little ground, and again giving
way few yards to rally again. Early in
this. engagement, while Gen. Lyon was
leading his horse along the line on the
left of Capt Totten's battery, and endeav-
oring to rally our troops, which were at this
time in considerable disorder, his horse
was killed. and he received a wound in
the leg and one in the head. He walked
slowly few PAGES to the rear and said, II
fear the day is lost" ] then dismounted
one of my orderlies, and rendered the
horse to the General, whoat first declined,
saying it was not necessary The horse,
however, was left with him, and | moved
off to rally portion of the Iowa regiment
which was beginning to break in consid-
cradle numbers.
In the meantime, the General mounted,
and swinging his hat in the air, called to
the troops nearest him to follow. The
Second Kansas calamity rallied around
him, headed by the brave Col. Mitchell
In few moments the Colonel fell severely
wounded; about the same time fatal ball
was lodged in the Generals breast, and he
was carried from the field corpse. Thus
gloriously fell as brave a soldier as ever
drew a sword man whose honesty of
purpose was proverbial--a noble patriot,
and one who held his life as nothing when
his country demanded it of him.
OF this dire calamity was not informed
until perhaps half an hour after its occur
renee. In the meantime our disordered
line on the left was again rallied, and
pressed the enemy with great vigor and
GOODNESS, particularly the First Iowa regi-
ment, which fought like veterans. This
encounter lasted perhaps half an hour.
After the death OF Gen. Lyon, when the
enemy fed and left the field clear, so far
as we could see, and almost total silence
| reigned for II space of twenty minutes,
Major Scoheld now informed me of the
death of Gen. Lyon and reported for or
ders. The responsibility which now rest
cd upon me was duly felt and appreciated
Our brave little army was scattered anc
broken; over 20, 900 men were still in oul
front, and our men had had no water sine,
5 o'clock the evening before, and could
hope for none short Of Springfield, twelve
miles distant; if we should 20 forward, oul
own success would prove our certain de
: feat in the end; if we retreated, disaste
stared US in the face; our ammunition wal
we'll nigh exhausted, and should the enc
my make this discovery through slack
. enng of our fire, total annihilation was al
a We could expect. The great question il
| my mind was, "Where is Sigely" If
: could still hope for vigorous attack b,
a him on the enemy's right flank or rear
/ then we could 60 forward with some hop
4 of success. If we had retreated there wa
. nothing left for us also. In this perplex
j ing condition Of affairs summoned tn
r principal officers for consultation. Tn
o great question with most of them was, 81
n retreat possibley" The consultation wa
n brought to a close by the adv ance Of
j. heavy column Of infantry, advancing fror
il the hill where Sigels guns had been hear
/, before. Thinking they were Sigers mel
a the line was formed for an advance, wit
of the hope of forming junction with then
,e These troops wore dress much resen
bling that Of Sigel's Brigade, and carrie
h the American flag. They were therefor
a. permitted to move down the hill, with
10 easy range Of Dubois battery, until thu
J. , lid reached the covered position ~ u
+ foot Of the ridge on which we were poste'
Is and from which we had been fercely a
ID sailed before, when suddenly battery VI
Al ~ LII -, ur,I Ia.