Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1861-08-23
The Great Battle at Springfield
Gallant Bearing of our Volu nteers.
From the st. Louis Democrat, 10Th.
SPRINGFIELD, GREEN Co., Mo.
SrNn.v Au~ II 1891

From the St. Louis Democrat, 10Th.
IS SPRINGFIELD, GREEN Co., Mo.
SUNDAY, Aug. II, 1861.
Night before last little army of fifty-tw,
hundred men moved in two columns on
march of twelve or fifteen miles to attack
body of rebels twenty two thousand strong
In military point of view. the move was on
}. of doubtful proprety, not to say absolute
rashness. The latter were, with the except
ion of three thousand men, we'll armed ant
equipped, and they had very large body O
n cavalry. But the question of fevacuating Spring
h field, the Key of the entire Southwest, had al
ready been discussed and settled in the neg
ative. 1t was decided that the loyal citizens
of Green and the surrounding counties should
1 not have cause to say we had left them with.
out struggle, abandoned themselves, their
families, their all, to heartless and desper-
ate foe, until the enemy had felt our steel and
tried the mettle of our troops That mette
, proved itself worthy ofthe great cause in which
it was engaged The Union troops who fought
and won the battle of yesterday need no high
er mark, no brighter name than the laurels
earned justly entitle them to. They fought
like brave men long and well.
Gen. Siegel, with six pieces of cannon, his
own regiment and that of Col. Solomon's,
moved in southerly direction, marching
about fifteen miles, passing around the ex-
treme southeastern camp Of the enemy and
halted until daylight, or for the sound of the
artillery from the northwest to announced the
opening of the battle.
Gen. Lyon, with the volunteers composing
the Missouri first, Lieut. COL Andrews; Iowa
first, Lieut.. COL Merritt; Kansas first, Col
Deitzler; and second, Col. Mitchell part Of
the Missouri second, under Major Osterhaus,
and detachment of twenty men from Col.
Wyman's Illinois regiment; three or four
companies of mounted Home Guards force
of regulars about eight hundred strong, and
two batteries of four and six pieces respect
lively, left Springfield about 8 O'Clock p m,
marching slowly along until a. M, when we
halted for two hours, at which time Capt.
Gilbert's company Of regulars and Major Os-
terhaus battalion were thrown out as skir-
mishers on either side of the column, and we
moved forward.
Shortly after five o'clock a party of repe,s,
acting as picket, was seen scattering over
the hills to give the alarm, but portion of
our column had already penetrated far enough
to cut off their route, unless they took very
circuitous one, in which case we should reach
camp ahead of them. We soon came in sight
of the valley in which they were encamped.
A thousand tents stretching off into the dis
tance and partially screened from view, by
hill jutting into an angle on Wilson creek,
were before US, presenting as animated an ap-
pearance as young city. The enemys camp
extended from the head Ct the valley, over
looked on the north, east and west sides by
hills and ridges two or three hundred feet in
height southwark about mile, thence east
ward about a mile and half, and then south
ward half mile, following the windings of
the creek, along whose banks the gently slop-
| ing hills on either side afforded the most ex-
cellent camping ground.
The battlefield, viewed by your correspon-
dent, where the most severe fighting was done,
was along the ridges and hills OH either side
| (mosty on the west) of the stream for the
| first mile mentioned above. where the creek
runs in southerly direction. As we crossed
the hill on the north, moving in southwest
erly direction, Capt. Wright, of the mounted
Home Guards, was sent to the east side so as
to cut off party of rebels seen in that direc-
ton. Adjutant Hascock, with glass, rode to
the brow of the hill, where, looking down, he
could see every movement of the enemy be-
meath him. His appearance in full view caus
ed a great hubbub in the rebel camp, which
had already been thoroughly aroused by our
appearance, and camps and baggage were has
tily loaded and moved towards the south. We
had completely surprised them. The evidence
of that fact was everywhere visible, but they
had got quickly into line Of battle-their
clouds of cavalry were visible, and their twen
ty-one pieces of cannon were not long silent
after ours had opened the engagement
On the sides of the first ridge on the west
ern side of the valley, Col. Blair's regiment, at
ten minutes after six o'clock, encountered
heavy force of infantry, not less than full re-
giment and after severe contest they gained
| the summit, and the defeated rebels dispersed
rapidly, going in direction which rendered it
| impossible for any considerable number of
them to again participate in the battle. Tot
tens battery then threw few balls as feelers,
to draw cut the enemy's cannon.
COL Blair's regiment moved forward and
were soon met by we'll equipped regiment Of
Louisiana troops, whom, after a bitter contest
of forty-fve minutes, they succeeded in rout-
ing, though suffering severely themselves
Capt. Lathrop's company Of rifle recruits now
assisted them, and together they, with Major
Osterhaus's men, moved up the second hill,
which was considerably larger than the first,
and meeting third regiment, finally succeed
ed in driving them back with the assistance
of Totten's battery, and gaining the summit.
In this part of the fight, the gallant Missouri
volunteers acted bravely, indeed, no words of
praise could more than do them justice.
Ofcourse many acts Of valor were performed
not witnessed by me, but among those I saw
conspicuous were Captain Gatz, leading his
men against overwhelming odds, and fall
ling in death just as he had repulsed the
| r >I,x,J
of the line, waving his sword high in the air,
shouting onward to the almost wavering men,
who gained fresh courage from the exhibition,
the field. In the fight many of our brave sol
diers fell to rise no more, while Col. Andrews
had his horse shot from under him, and was
wounded himself slightly. Gen. Lyon suffered
| in a similar manner, Captains Cavender, Cole
and Yates, each slightly, or at least not dan
gerously wounded; Lieuts Brown and John
son, and Corporals Conant and Rogers, more
or less severely wounded.
! During this engagement two companies of
regulars were sent to the east side of the
creek to engage a force which was operating
against Capt Wright's cavalry, sheltering
themselves behind fence. Capt. Plummer
and Captain Gilbert with their companies,
marched close up to the fence and delivered
an effective fire, but were compelled by great
odds to retire, which they did, but again re-
newed the attack. The enemy being largely
reinforced, and having now at least 8, 900 men,
Jumped over into the corn field, and Captain
Plummer's gallant band was Immediately
threatened with annihation. They retreated
rapidly, firing as they did so, when Lieut. Du-
bois, having got his battery rnder headway on
the hill near the Missouri volunteers, seeing
the position of affairs on the opposite side of the