St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1861-08-15
The War in Missouri.

at Dug Spring, 10 miles south OF
Springfield, between Gen. Lyons for
ccs, 5000 strong, and the rebel troops
of McCulloch, estimated at $4,000.
Lyons loss was 8 killed and 80
wounded. McCulloch's, 40 killed and
40 wounded. Gen. Lyon seized so
stands of arms, Is horses, and scve-
raj wagons of provisions. 1t appears
that q United States cavalry came
suddenly on the enemy's infantry, es-
timated at 1000, rode on them, and
created a stampede among them.
They cut their way through the enemy
and came back with loss of 5 men.
The cavalry charge was most brave
several of the enemy were found Oh
the field with heads cloven entirely
through by the force of the sabre
strokes. The main body of either ar
my was not in the action.
The enemy retreated during the
night to McCulloch's store, a few
miles south. Gen. Lyon took posses
sion of the battle field. His pickets
were fred upon on Saturday morning,
and fight was expected.
LATER.
The cavalry charge heretofore re-
ported, was made 10y scouting par
ty sent out to ascertain if the enemy
were approaching.
After our troops had encamped for
the night at Dug Spring, seeing q
regiment of infantry coming along the
road, the Lieutenant ordered charge,
which resulted in killing thirty of the
rebels and wounding eight. The
charge was not intended by Gen. Ly-
on, and probably prevented the enemy
from attacking his main body, which
had they done, they would unquestion-
ably have been routed with severe
loss. A large body of the encmy's
cavalry, which had taken position,
Oh high ground near our position,
was dispersed by few shells from
Capt. Totten's battery, wounding some
thirty of them.
Saturday morning our force moved
forward cautiously, and approaching
Cnrran, the rebels to the number of
5000, were seen posted on the hillside
to the southwest of that place. Gen.
Lyon Immediately formed his army for
battle, aud gave the order to advance.
As our column was approaching a
piece of timber, to outllank the enemy,
Capt. Dubois's battery opened fire on
the rebels, and they retreated in
haste. 1t is not known whether any
of the enemy were killed. Gen. Ly-
on did not lose man, and took seve.
raj prisoners.
Our army encamped for the night
at Curran, and on Sunday morning
Gen. Lyon determined to retire to
Springfield, as most of the rebels are
mounted, and they might flank him
and take Springfield. Price, Rains
and Parsons are said to have 10000
men under their commands, and Ben.
McCulloch, 1000 - the latter well
armed and effective troops.
A despatch dated at Rolla, Aug.
Stb, says Gen. Lyon with his forces
had fallen back on Springfield, having
reached there on Monday morning,
and was preparing for vigorous de-
fence. The rebels were advancing by
four different roads, and their advance
guard was ascertained to be from ten
to fifteen miles distant. Gen. Lyon
had called in $500 Home Guards from
the country around Springfield. 1t
was expected that the enemy would
make an immediate attack, from the
fact that their commissariat was in a
miserable condition, they being OBJ
liged to depend on forced contribu-
tions for temporary supplies. 1t was
generally believed in Springfield, that
Gen. Lyon was perfectly confident of
success in case of an attack. lie had
no ENHANCEMENT, but would depend
upon his splendid artillery in the open
field. Fifty wagons laden with pro-
visions had reached him.
On the 7th inst, the Hannibal &
st. Joseph train going west, was fred
into by rebels about six miles from
Palmyra. The force could not be es-
timated, as they were concealed; but
sixty shots struck the locomotive, and
about dozen passed through the
coaches. No passengers were injur-
ed the engineer, however, received
a slight scratch from bullet on the
side of his head. The telegraph line
is cut several miles from Palmyra,
and at least in one other place, further
west.