Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-08-20
The Battle near Springfield, Mo-
Martial Law in ST. Louis.

The ST. Louis Democrat of Thursday, or
gan OF the Administration, has the following
particulars and incidents of the battle, and
the death OF Gen. Lyon:
Gen. Lyon now desired the Iowa boys
whom he had found so brave, to prepare to
meet the next onset of the enemy with the
bayonet Immediately after firing. They said
"Give US a leader and We will follow to
DEATH" On came the enemy in oyerwhelm-
ming numbers, confident of victory over such
a meagre force. No time could be lost to
select leader. 81 will lead you," exclaim-
ed Lyon. ''Come on, brave men," and plac-
ing himself in the van, received fatal bull
let 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 of charging bayonets. Gen. Lyons
body was carefully picked up and conveyed
lifeless toward the ambulances by two of his
body guard. In his death as in his life, he
was the same devoted, patriotic soldier, re-
garding his own life of no value if he could
but rescue his country. His body has been
brought hither and embalmed, for convey
ance to his friends in Connecticut. There
was no feeling of depression on the part OF
the troops at the unexpected calamity; but
rather a feeling of quiet determination to
previous he had arranged for night attack
upon the enemy, but singularly found him
self delayed two hours behind the proper
time for starting, by rumors of skirmish on
the prairie west of town, and the attack was
postponed. Wednesday he said to me:
"Well, j begin to believe our term of SOL
diering is about completed. 1 have tried
earnestly to discharge my whole duty to the
government, appealed to them for reinforce
ments and supplies; but, alas, they do not
come, and the enemy is getting advantage of
u.s." He then called a council of war, at
which there was nearly unanimous voice
for evaouating Springfield. Gen. Sweeney
plead eloquently against such course, de-
clared it would be the ruin of the Union
cause in that quarter of the State, and urged
a battle as soon as the enemy were within
striking distance. He also pointed out the
loss of reputation both to the General and
his officers which would follow such step.
This counsel decided the course to be pur-
sued, and Thursday when the brigade quail
termaster inquired when we were to leave
Springfield, Gen. Lyon replied, "Not before
we are whipped" This was the proper
course to pursue. If he retreated without a
battle he would certainly have been pursued
by boastful and UNPUBLISHED enemy, and
likely have his retreat entirely cut off. AZ
Schofeld, ssThe day is lost" but the Major
said, mo, General, let US try once more.''
So they tried, and the General fell. 1t was
now little after 8 o'clock, and the battle
had ragged with fierceness seldom if ever
equalled, for over three hours. The smoke
hung like storm cloud over the valley,
fit emblem of mourning for the departed
hero.
"He sleeps his last sleep he has fought his last bat
tle
No sound shall awake him to glory again"
When Gen. Seigel, who commanded the
eastern division, heard The roar of Totten's
artillery, be at once attacked the enemy in
his quarter, driving him half mile and ia
king possession of his camp, extending west
ward to the Fayetteville roard. Here ter
rible fire was poured into his ranks by re-
giment which he had permitted to advance
within a few PAGES of him, supposing it to be
the Iowa First. His men scattered consider
ably, and Col. Salomon's could not be raj
lied. Consequently Seigel lost .fue Of his
guns the other being brought away by Capt.
Flagg, who compelled his prisoners, some
sixty in number, to draw the artillery off the
field.
Our troops took some four hundred horses
and about seventy prisoners, and compelled
the enemy to burn nearly all his baggage TO
keep it from falling into our hands.
The enemy had twenty-one pieces of can
non, and at the last twenty-six, including
those taken from Seigel. They were none of
them worked with precision. every shot for
nearly an hour going whiz twenty feet over
our heads.
Our army reached Springfield in safety,
and are now preparing to move toward Roll
la, but with no hopes however of reaching
there. With baggage train five miles long
to protect, it will be singular indeed, if the
enemy does not prove enterprising enough to
cut off portion of it, having such q heavy
force of cavalry.
Our loss is about 200 killed and GOO or 700
wounded, while the loss of our enemy must
have bean double our own.