New-York daily tribune., 1861-08-15
A VICTORY, OR DRAWN BATTLE I

Hitherto, in the case Of any important engage
ment between the Union forces ard the Rebels,
our reports have come at first so vaguely and
unauthcritatively that considerable delays were
necessary to decide their accuracy. With the
recent battle in Missouri, it was somewhat dit.
ferent. The account first received, which we
published yesterday, bore almost an official
weight. It proceeded from one Of Gen. Lyons
aids and from the messenger specially selected
to carry dispatches to Gen. Freinont--the latter
authority supplying most Of the details. Tho
statements were perfectly lucid, aud justified no
doubt ss to their accuracy.
Today, however, we have additional reports
which. if correct show our success to have been
less complete than was before stated. We do
not know upon what authority these reports
come. They are said to be furnished by an eye
witncss of the battle. The accounts of Ten.
Fremcnt's messenger and Gen. Lyons aid were
positive as regards the following facts; That the
Rebels were successfully attacked aud driven
from the position they bad chosen toward their
encampment, where they made stand; that
continued attack forced them after having 'u''
fered severe losses, t. retreat to sti greater
distance their tents and baggage being inean'
while destroyed that Gen. Lyon was killed at
the moment Of victory; that pursuit. was kept
up until nigbtfal, and that our little army re'trd
until the rext moluing on the ground which the
Rebels had previously occupied Other incidents
of less importance were gwen, all indicating the
decisive triumph of the Union troops.
The later reports Of the authority OF winch
we are yet ignorant, declare that Gen. s'gc,
after repusipg the enemy several tmes, was
compelled to leave three of his guns behind him;
and that although at o'clock on the day Of bat
tie the Rebels were retreatiDg in great disorder,
burning such goods a. they could Lot take with
them our men were too much exhausted 10
make n pursuit The battle is therefore az
uounced to have been drawn" Both the
above statements directly conflict with those pre-
yiously received Gen. Lyons aid affirmed that
only one gun was left on the field. and the his
tory Of the pursuit was clearly presented by
Gen. Fremont's messenger. We must leave tho
discrepancy to be- cleared away by future inteI
gence Meanwhile, although the original report
apparently came from thoroughly authentic
sources, the minuteness of that which reaches US
this morning seems also TO establish its own gen
uDeness.
1t is not difficult to conjecture the purpo,e Of
Gen. Lyon in Offering this battle. lie was 10
critical position, and menaced by ya'tly supe-
rlor force which was about ~ be still further
augmented. During the delay which must have
interyened before the arrival OF his reGniorce-
ments he would baye been liable 10 al attack
under most advantageous circumSiances; w'oie
10 have fallen back himself would have invited
the enemy 10 m immediate pursuit. md might
haze endangered bis comuuuIcatiOns. In ttls
case ne resolved 10 take the lead IN demonslrn-
ton, aud, by hara.sing aud occupying The enc
my. to gain time or the opportunity 10 join his
reenforcrments unmolested We caunot presume
that auy serious campaign against go o'ergbelIr-
ing force was intended. The last hd,ices rs
sure that the humber of Union troops engaged
ia The expedition was ouly 5,50O-les than one
fourth the number OF those whom they started
TO contcud against. la view OF these Vdds, ~e
need feel no dissatisfaction With the result, even
If it were no more than drawn battle. The
rebel. were certainly forced back AID driven
away in disorder, according to the least iayora-
be reports and the undvub,ed object Of The
demonstration, to prevent too early 40 n''aeA
upon our then inadequate force, appears 70 have
been carried out. We wait anIiously for lhr
ultimate rcsults; the Immediate result ia IN hon
OTable as wc could nsk for.