Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1861-07-17
THE RAFTsNlAN's JOURNAL.
SUMMARY OF WAR NEWS

thirty miles from Springfield. The Spring
field correspondent OF the Democrat says, un-
der date of the 9th, that ssimmediately after
the arrival of Brig. Gen. Sweeney at Spring
field, he dispatched messenger to Col. Siegel
and Solomans, who were encamped at Neosho,
to move their columns to Carthage, which was
promptly Gone. Later advices say that re-
port reached Springfield on Sunday morning
of an engagement between five hundred feder-
ais under Col. Wolf and about fifteen hundred |
rebels. Wolf occupied the prairie when the
battle began, but the rebels retreating to the |
woods, he followed, and in skirmshing in the |
timber he lost thirty killed and wounded, he |
himself being among the killed. The loss of
the rebels was considerable, but it has not been |
definitely ascertained. messenger was dis |
patched TO Springfield for reinforcements, and
the whole force at that place Immediately |
pushed forward. Gen. Lyon was at Leesyille |
on Sunday morning, and Major Sturgis was at
Clinton on Sunday night. Last night mes
senger arrived from Colonel Siegel, stating
that Gov. Jackson and Generals Price and
Raines had united their forces, about 1000
strong, and were encamped eight miles north
of Carthage. Siegel and Solomans pushed for
ward rapidly, attacked the rebel forces early
yesterday morning, and continued fighting
during the day. Messengers are continually
arriving, bringing information that the rebels
are retreating southwardly, between Sarcoxie
and Mount Vernon, falling back on Casville,
with their baggage and plumber under cover
of their common, and that Siegel is attacking
their rear.
A special messenger arrived here last even
| ing by the Pacific railroad, with dispatches
from Col. Siegel to Adjt. Harding, at the ar
| senal. The following is abstract, written
| at Rolla, for the Democrat: On the morning OF
the 5th Col. Siegel, with portion of his regI-
| ment, part of Col. Soloman's and ten pieces
of artillery, in all about 100 to 1900 men, were
| attacked by 5000 rebels under General Ranes
md o1 ahn,,t ilac tDT
| Carthage. The enemy had many mounted
men. Col. Siege began the action at half past
| nine in the morning, breaking the enemy's
centre twice, and after half an hours fighting
| silenced their artillery. The rebels had three
| flags, one of the State of Missouri, and two of
| the Confederate States. The latter were twice
shot down, and were raised no more. The
enemy tried TO outhank our troops with their
cavalry, and cut off the retreat of our baggage,
| but Col. Siegel made retreating movement,
keeping up constant ireing, and ordered the
| baggage train to advance, which formed
into columns with a battalion of infantry, sup
ported by four pieces of artillery, in front and
on the flank. The rebels then attempted to
cut off his communication with their cavalry,
| but our artillery took them at cross fire which
played havoc with their ranks, and opened a
road. Colonel Siegel then fell back on Car
| thage, the enemy harassng his flank up to the
town, where another stand was made. The
| rebels being in possession of the place, Col.
| Siegel surrounded the town, throwing shell
| and grenades into the enemys cavalry and
| using his infantry with great effect. While
attempting to reach an adjacent wood 10 pervent
| use of their cavalry, the rebels made most
serious attack, and there the bloodiest part of
the battle was fought bnt the enemy were
| finally routed and forced to withdraw. Col.
| Segel then fell back on Mt. Vernon, where he
could be supported. The sole captive was an
officer who taken about O'Clock. He
| at near two Hred
and fifty, but as the severest fight took place
subsequent to his capture, it is believed their
loss is considerably greater. Forty-five pris-
oners were taken. Our loss is eight killed
and forty-fve wounded and missing. This af-
| ternoon Gen. Sweeney commands in person,
and flying column is moving southwardly to
| intercept the rebels at Vernon thus crushing
them completely between our columns. Large
bodies OF mounted men are congregating on
| the western plains and at Forsythe, with the
intention of joining Jackson's force, but Gen.
Sweeney has sent detachment of $50 noun
ted men through Douglas county to prevent
their union and drive them back. Gen. Nc
Brides command and company of Home
Guards, arrived last night bringing Colonel
Coffee, late member of the Legislature as a
prisoner.
A special dispatch from Bealington, near
| Laurel Hill, says that brisk skirmishng was
kept up with the enemy all yesterday after
noon. About two O'Clock, from High Hill, in
the neighborhood, two large bodies were seen
| marching out of the enemy's camp. Instant
preparations were made to resist formidable
| attack. By four O'Clock the skirmishing in
front, by the Fourth Ohio and Ninth Ohio reg
Iments became very warm. The enemy ad-
vanced under cover of the woods. Our skr-
| mlshers rushed forward, pouring in a sharp
voley, killing several of the enemy. The en-
emies' cavalry then advanced to take our
skirmishers in the flank, but our boys rapidly
retreated, and the artillery dropped a couple
OF shells, one of which exploded among their
cavalry. They instantly fell back, and our
boys rushed forward and poured in another
voliey. The enemy now scattered in the
woods, and the officers were seen attempting
to rally them but they could not be brought
up in a body again. In the mean time our
skirmishers picked off some of their officers.
Several more shells were thrown, and our men
made final rush, driving them clear through
their own rifle pits, bringing back several of
| their blankets, canteens and guns. 1t was
Georgia regiment, numbering twelve hundred
and their crack regiment. AT dusk the skir-
mishers returned from the woods in capital
| order. Astonishing pluck was displayed by
our skirmishers, and the only trouble was to
keep the men back from rushing into the ene-
my's midst. The whole skirmish was most
spirited affair, and our Ohio and Indiana BOYS
| gave the Georgia men some new ideas of Yam
kee courage. A prisoner taken SAYS the
! Georgians refused to come down to the woods
opposite our advanced position, and all were
very much astonished and terrified Their
supplies of provisions cut off, and they
must soon come to extremities. Our loss was
| one killed and three wounded.
| ST.. LOUIS, July IA. III. Bowen, agent of
the HannibalIand st. Joseph Railroad brings the
following account of affairs in that section of
the State: About two o'clock on Wednesday