Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1861-08-22

A JEFFERSONIAN.
Berlin, Aug. IL, 1861.
Special Dispatch to the Chicago Tribune.
THE BATTLE OF SPRINGFIELD.
Full and Interesting Account by
an Officer.
ST. Lor1s, Aug. IA.
The following is an account of the battle
near Springfield by Capt Fairchild, of the
of the lst Kansas regiment, who has arrived at
Rolla.
We had been skirmisbing in view to find the
enemy, when on Thursday night, it was report
ed by party of our cavalry that his outposts
were four miles southwest of Springfield The
lst and ID Kansas Regiments, two companies of
cavalry and two or three companies Of Regulars.
were ordered out to engage him if possible
When they came within attacking distance,
they formed the line of battle. but the enemy
withdrew.
Next day at P. NJ, we received orders to
take one days rations and prepare for march.
About O'Clock on the same evening, q greater
part of us, under Gen. Lyon, left Springfield,
while Siegel remained behind as a reserve.
Siegel had about $500 men under him. We
marched seven miles in the direction of the en-
emv. and then rested for several hours. At 6
o'clock on Saturday morning we resumed our
march, and after having proceeded three miles
further. came upon the enemy who were en-
camped on piece of ground admirably adapt
cd to their species of warfare, covered at inter-
walls with brushwood and cornfeld, and cover
ing many ravines for concealment. As soon as
General Lyon came within sight of the Confed-
crates, he opened a eannonade on them. 1t was
promptly and ably answered and the battle now
fairly commenced, and in a short time became
general along the whole line. A little before =
o'clock, Gen. Lyon was wounded by n shot in
the foot, and his horse killed. and he retired to
the rear for surgical treatment.
1t so happened that our troops were hard
pressed by the Cenfcdcrates, just at this time.
Things began to assume a threatening aspect,
and Gen. Lyon seeing the danger, at once dis
missed all thoughts of his wound, mounted his
horse and rode in front of his men, and waving
his hat and handkerchief, called out to the boys
TO rally and follow him. A ball struck him in
the back and killed him Instantly. The effect
of Lyons death upon our troops was terrible.
A feeling of CONSERVATION spread through our
ranks and depicted every countenance. At that
moment had the enemy made charge, our
troops would have hardly resisted 1t with sue
cess, and their defeat might have been easy:
but soon every other feeling gave way to a feel
ing of revenge and deadly determination. Ma
jor Sturgis promptly assumed the command.
From that time until 4 o'clock in the afternoon,
thecombat lasted almost tuninteruptedly and was
conducted with fierceness on both sides rarely
euualed in the annals of war. Our troops
would have achieved splendid victory, had
it not been for the fearful odds they had to con-
tend against. On the side of the Confederates
2O000 to $4,000 were in the fight, and to these,
up till 9 o'clock body Of only 5000 men op-
posed. An unfortunate circumstance for us
was, that, during the greater part of the battle,
they came SO near the Confedcrates, that the old
shot guns and other Indifferent weapons of the
latter could be used with the same deadly effect
as Minnie muskets. Tho ground too, was of
the eneiny's own choice, and our troops went
into battle not knowing how far the line of the
enem yexiended. or where his forces were.
AT about 2 o'clock p. M, General Siegel,
reserve from Springfield. He Immediately at
tackled the enemy on his right flank, and did
terrible execution. The rest OF our troops see
ing that Sicgel brought them succor, rallied
and made one more determined onset on the
enemy; but such was the overwhelming odds
against which they fought that the encounter
amounted TO nothing more than the mutual cut
ting up; and by o'clock all parties seemed to
be anxious to withdraw from the field. The
U. S. troops retired to Springfield in good or
der. and the call of the roll by regiments was
responded to as usual. -.H
At4o'elock on Sunday morning. General Sic
gel having concluded that it would not be pru-
dent TO resume the battle. the whole column of
troops, followed by large numbers of citizens,
with all they could gather up in the shape of
movable goods, commenced retreat from
Springfield, in the direction of Rolla.
The Confederates were thrown back in the
beginning of the engagement, and in retreat
ing, burned part OF their baggage wagons and
tents.
The prisoners brought into Springfield state
that the COnfederates lost great many in kill
ed and wounded. One of their companies was
nearly entirely cut to pieces. fof ,.-...5
The Louisiana and Arkansas regiments had
sustained the heaviest losses. Their number OF
killed was estimated at from 500 10 900,
1t is reported that Ben Mccullough was kill
Over one hundred prisoners and large num-
Der of horses were also taken from the Con fed
crates. a.
According to the muster rolls which fell into
our hands, the Confederate force numbered %,
600 armed men, and 5000 partially armed. :
Their artillery took but little effect as nearly
all the shots were aimed too high, and proved
destructive only to artillery horses on our side.
The number of wounded on the Federal side
was somewhere near three hundred, of which
one of the Kansas regiments, the first Missouri
and the Iowa regiment sustained the largest
share. The Kansas regiment was cut up most.
The highest estimate made by our officers of
the number killed was $50. .'
A prisoner in our hands "a nephew of Gen.
PRICE, said that Price was killed. J5i aa
The Confederateson several occasions hoisted
Unin flags, and 10 decoy them into false posi-
tious. Our troops were thus several times the
object of a most murderous fire from the enemy.
faiae@- POnlOon Bridges.
An order was issued by the Engineer De-
partment, about the Goth of May to Lieut.. @.
A. Gilmore, U. S. A, for pontoon train, con-
sisting of an advance and reserve train. In