White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1861-08-15
Battle at Dug Springs, Missouri
LYON VICTORIOUS
MCCULLOUGH RETREATS :!

MCCULLOUGH RETREATS!
From the st. Louis Democrat
From Mr.. G.. G. Clark. the correspon-
dent of the Chicago Tribune. who came
in last evening on the down train from
Rolla, we obtained the following particu-
lars:
Gen. Lyon left his camp, near Spring
field, on Thursday in pursuit Of the rebels
who fed before him. That evening Lyon
encamped in the vicinity of fTyrel Greek.
On Friday he advanced to Dug Spring,
and obtained intelligence of the enemy.
Dug Spring is about nineteen miles
Southwest of Springfield. A fight took
place on Friday. between the hours OF
four and six in the afternoon. A party
of Lyons cavalry, consisting of twenty
seven men, were crossing a neck of high
land. partially enclosed on the East by a
valley. and when descending the hill were
entangled amid large force of the ene-
my's infantry. variously estimated from
two to four thousand men. The little
body of cavalry being unable to ascend
the hill and secure their retreat resolved
to cut their way through. They perform
ed prodigies of valor. A general stam-
pede of the enemy occurred. Five Of the
cavalry were killed; among them was the
Lieutenant, the mander ofthe cavalry.
The Lieutenant, whose name we did not
learn. killed eight of the rebels. The
cavalry regained their camp with loss
of only FIVE men. Meantime. the rebel
force appeared in large numbers. moving
along the valley. Gen. Lyons artillery
threw shot and shell among them, and
they were put to fight; Lyons Infantry
were not engaged. Oar forces then took
possession of the battle field. while the
rebels retreated Southwark. to a point
called McCulloch's Store, on the Fayette-
Vile road.
Another account, from passenger
who comes through from Rolla, places
the number of cavalry engaged at forty
men. He states the number of the rebels
at 1000, from which our men SO heroic.
ally extricated themselves, disparity ol
force unexampled in the history of the
war. The number of rebels found dead
on the battle field amounted to forty. and
forty -four of their wounded were picked
up.
Gen. Lyon is said to be strongly post.
ed. and his camp is in close proximity to
the rebels. A battle was momentarily
expected. Springfield was in state o
great excitement. Only four companies
of infantry, two cannon and 600 Home
Guards were left in the city. Lyons
force is about 5000, and rebels is esti.
mated at $4,000.
SEMI OFFICIAL ACCOUNT OF THE BATTLE
SPRINGFIELD. August 8, 1861.
Editors Missouri Democrat:
Another battle has been fought in the
Southwest, preliminary to general en-.
gagement. which is momentarily expect.
ed.
On Friday, the 2d inst. Gen. Lyon,
hearing that Ben. McCulloch and his
Southern hordes were approaching to
give him battle, ordered his men under
arms and marched out to meet him. On
approaching a ravine known as Dug's
Spring. the enemy was discovered in
large force and marshalled in battle array
Our force was 8 900, that of Ben. McC Cul.
!och $4,000. The engagement was open
ed by Lyons artillery. which was prompt.
ly replied to by the enemy.
After some hard fighting, in which the
artillery of Lyon proved its superiority
the enemy retreated with loss of forty
killed and forty four wounded. Our loss
is eight killed and thirty wounded. We
took eighty stand of arms. fifteen horses
and wagons, and other trophies.
The advantages Of cavalry were exhib-
tied in this contest. During the engage
ment. a small squad of dragons made a
sudden charge upon a column of the enc
my. numbering some 1000. The sud-
denness of the onset cera,ed stampede
among the infantry, and our boys cut
their way through them, and came back
with the loss of FIVE of their number.
Upon examining the dead, several of their
heads were found cloven entirely through.
The enemy retired some miles during
the night, and Lyon took possession Of
the field.
We expect fight tomorrow, (Satur.
day as the enemy have been largely re-
inforced. Will write You again. s.