New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1861-07-18
The Battle at Carthage.
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a The Battle at Carthage.
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This battle, already reported By telegraph, was
near Carthage, Jasper county, in the southwest
corner of the State, the Federal forces led by q
Col. siegel, foreigner, with foreign mereanaries
and heavy cannon, his force estimated at eleven
hundred, including his own and Col. solomon's
regiment against the State troops, chiefly mounted
men, poorly armed, numbering from one thousand
to two thousand, led by Gems. Parsons and Rains.
The following version Of the affair is from the 81.
Louis Democrat, (Aboton organ Of the 18th =
instant
Last evening we had an interview with I.ieuten-
ant Tusk, bearer Of dispatches from Col. Siegel,
who gives US a highly interesting account of the
battle near Carthage. He Is Hungarian, Wag in
the Crimean war, and later fought in the italian
war. He seems to be an experienced and very
intelligent officer. sE
| He says that the command under Col. Siegel,
amounting to about eleven hundred men, at Car
thage heard the evening of the 4th Of the pres
eastward on the prairie. The force of he enemy
| was not known, but the troops were SO impatient
| to have brush, that Col. sege1 decided to give
| them battle. At O'Clock on the morning. OF the
| 9TH the march was begun.
| The command came upon the rebel forces nnder
Generals Rains and Parsons, at about 81 o'clock in
i the forenoon. They were stationed on ridge or
hill in the prairie, having five pieces Of artillery
one 2-pounder posted in front ardtwo 6pounders
on the right and left the cavalry On each Hank and
| the infantry in the rear of the artillery. The
| position was formidable one.
| Colonel Siegel approached to within distance
| of about eight hundred yards with four pieces OF
artillery in his CENTER supported on MS eft by
command of infantry, under Lieut.. Col. Hassen-
dubel, and six pound cannon--on MS right, oy
the command of Colonel Solomon, and another SIX
FOUNDER. In the rear of the center pieces OF ar
| til1ery was the command Of Major Bishop. Before
opening fire. Col. Siegel briefly and iaqaenfiy ad-
dressed the troops, reminding them Of their battles
! in the old country and asking them 70 STAND by
him in the present hour.
i He then opened fire with shrapnels from the
| niece of artillery on his extreme left and soon the
\ engagement became general. The rebels, though
I strongly posted, had grape, nothing but ball,
| and proved themselves to be bad arGieflsfs, the
most of their balls flying high and p!oging up the
prairie hey yond the Federal goops. Ihey had Son.
federate flags flying their extreme right and left
divisions and the Missouri State fagin the CENTER
Siegel's men twice shot down the traitors nags,
their first shots being especially alrected ae tnese
objects saying that they had no desireto tire upon
the State flag. In three quarters OF an hour, the
twelye-pounder the rebels frclt was Slsmounted,
Y and their center column completely hroken. In
4 two hours more their artillery was enarely 81
leneed They resumed fire after a short interval,
but were a second and last time silenced.
A | By.tliis time Col. Sege, observing that flank
y | movement was being made by both wings OF the
| rebel cavalry, became concerned for hissbaggage
s wagons, which were stationed three miles II MS
rear and accordingly sent back one Held piece and
h column Of infantry to protect them ana tse ieTfy
- across small creek between him and Them Inc
cavalry still pressing him on the right and .ett, he
>. ordered a retrograde movement of his whole corn
! | mand which was admirably perGormed3 the artl
= Iery continuing to do admirable service. aud fight
;, ing slowly every inch of ground. The baggage
. | wagons having been reached. they were formed in
solid columns of eight end the infantry end artl-
- lery ere posted on all Sides presenting an inl-
: | pregnable array. In this condition, and with
perfect order, his command continued the retro
grade movements towards Carthage, lighting
n bravely against the superior odds until about
j. O'Clock in the afternoon,
At last they came to place where the road
L. nassed directly through high bluff, On each side
: Of Which the enemyis cavalry were posted in
e. around the bluffs, Col siegel drew the cavalry in
st solid body in the road, between the bluffs, at
distance Of three hundred and fifty yardsfsom his
| position, when, by sklifnl and rapid maneuVre
- of his artillery, he poured into their ranks most
as destructive cross fire Of canister snos Wen oo
. great disorder. Lieut.. Tusk says the prairie was
full of flying horses and riders Of horses, OF which
they captured eighyiye and picked up rom r,n she
Officers. whose names Lieutenant Tusk could moi
Ire recall were also captured at this point and they
stated that up that time they had lost about tive
# was still three miles to Carthage. Col. Siege
ID was anxious reach that point and take position
'h in the woods the north OF That place, on tne
Sarcoxie road, so that he would not be any farthe
les ANNOYED by the rebel cavalry. Thls movement oc
cupi6d from halfpast O'Clock to about hall, pas pa
in the evening, and here was the hottest hghtns
ts- | OF the DAY, the eHeNiy aPEhS
ed Seges desire to get into the cover OF the WOODS
~ and dsputing the ground most stuhbornly VIII
y him. Finally, against the tremendous odds a
OF gained the timber, when the enemy retired 10 Gar
thage. :.
u As soon as he ascertainad that the enemy hat
~ given up the day, he took ap the line OF marcn
~ ~ and pressed on twelve fourteen miles 10 eaf
coke where they arrived without any fnFtner trou
III BILE at 3 O'Clock in the morning Here they TOOK
w hearty breakfast, dinner and good rest On tn
III; ion same evening they marched 10 Mt. Vernon, an
M Ell passed the night in that place. where they wef
led most ioyfny received and Hospitality entertained
en-; Tient Tusk left Col. Siegel at Mount Vernon o
zen the evening of the 7th, and with dispatches, traN
pa eled from that place to Rolla, G distance OF u
m smoh miles in the almost incredible space of twent,
.9t nine hours. The Lieutenant has q bullet no
me through his hat and says he had one horse sht
ms ms from under him. Major Bliscos. Capt Essig an
tte Dr. Roeder also had their horses shot from und
In, ! ~ tlenl. Col Siege though much exposed durlr
m mlu9 the whole of the battle, escaped nahuFt.
sp Lieut.. Wolf of Col Spl0man's regiment was n
'i9 killed as reported. Lieut.. Tus& brought a lett
in from him, written after the battle, to ms wife
md this city.
the The above is decidedly she richest version Of
les. successful fight we ever read Of Fast time tina
too the Dutchman made On horasback=-l53 NIL
. in 20 hours. He was in, & hurry. They will
ot make faster time yet, OF We are much mistaken.