The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-08-12

1 ofhNefhLp, county, MO-, august o. 1901.
About nine A. NJ of August General Lyon issued
orders for the entire command to be ready 10 march from
Springfield by two O'Clock p. NJ, but 1t was not until
nearly four in the afternoon that the column was mo.
tion II moved forward 10 q creek ten miles from town
on the Fayetteville road; and there cncamped At six
of the 81 the command again started its march
The force consisted Of Eve companies First Missouri regi
ment, under Col g. L. Anirews the Iowa First Col Bates
secoud Kansas regiment Colonel Mchell two companies
| Second Missouri Major Osterhaus; six hundred men Of
the Third Missouri Colonel Siegc four hundred OF
the Fifth Missouri, Colonel Sa,oman three companies
First infantry, under Captain Pummer; two companies
Second infantry. Captain Steele; and Lieutenant Lothrop
with seventy Ioarh artillery recruits All the regulars
Infantry cavalry and artillery, were in command Of Ma
or s. f. Sturgs The artillery consisted Of eighteen
Pieces aud was composed Of Captains Tottens and Dubois
batteries and six pieces from Colonel Sieges battery
which did such excellent service ct Carthage commanded
by Major Schaer. In addition TO this was large re-
serve force which could be brought up short notice
The expedition Wss prrrs-.. - order to meet the
pes u p g! me f0nf outside Of Springfield Genera,
Z ascertanoc ."-e the enemy was movnp on
thu, town with large force under the mpr.s that
the Federal troops would easily e oorcne by superori
ty Of numbers. .n
Just as camp wss broken on the morning of the Cd
scout arrived who was sent out the evening previous,
and who had succeeded in entering the cnemys camp aud
staying some time within the lines. He was not per-
mitted TO walk about the camp but told they
fifteen hundred strong under General Rains, and had
about Ave Thousand under General McCulloch three
miles further on. The rebels informed scout that
they had thirtytwo thousand Missouri Arkansas and
Texas troops within the State, with thirty pieces Of
noH and could bring forward still more If needed
II return for this information the scout told them that
General Lyon had evacuated Springfield hearing of the
rebels approach and was In full retreat towards Roa
At this welcome intelligence the rebels gave three cheers
and said they would be in Springfield within twenty four
hours In the morning the scout was let out OF camp
| and headed for General Lyons command
The distance TO be marched to reach the enemy was
some ten miles, and the men at first stepped OH with
vgor As the high in the heavens the heat in
creased and by ten in the forenoon became almost nsup
portable Water could be found only at springs and
small creeks and approaching these the men would
almost rush with the greaest eagcrness TO secure cool
ing draugbt at times becoming heealesso Of The commands
OF their officers until their thirst qucclcd The heat
became visible in The atmospherethe peculiar wavy
ton known in some sections 'dry RAIN being plainly
| and painfully pcroeptible, while the eky assumed n
| bassy tinge cheerless the horizon Of an Arabian
desert Many fell from the ranks but once came in
place whenever it reported that the enemy was in
front. The route lay through country similar to the
soak openings Of the Northwestern States It was pro.
| badly intended by nature for rolling prairie but by
some mistake became covered with scrub oaks from six
| to twenty feet in height About in the
| morning, after march Of seven niles picket
| guard OF some fifty mounted seen,
| and shel thrown among them as a
gentle reminder that the Union troops around They
at once made good time toward the body some two
! miles ahead Near place called Dug SPRING about nine
teen miles from Springfield, advanced pickets mot
| n few ghn Opr
cavalry formed in line at the right Of the road and Capt
steele with two companies Of infantry took the left Capt
Pmmer with three companies Of First infantry, supported
By Capt Tattens battery held the centre The enemy was
posted in wood GROWING gentle slope, aud covering IL
TO the foot where the road for half mile ran through
valley between low hills, rather 'swclls'' of land
covered with scanty growth Of oak bushes, from
TO i've feet in heighth, ntcrspersed with a few small
trees As the rebels position and numbers were con
ccled by the wood Gen. Lyon did not deem prudent to
advance the column within range, a masked battery
Nigh: at any moment open upon IL with considerable
effect, while at the time strength would avail ua
nothing For upwards Of an hour nothing done save
the exchanging of few shots among the pckcts and at
length Gen. Lyon gave the order for the column TO
| fail back aud encamp in the vicinity Of the
spring This movement considered by the rebels TO
he retreat and were in motion their cav
airy made its appearance from the wood and passed
the front Of cernGeld which covered their left
Their number not far from four hundred and they
formed in solid square preparatory TO charging Just
they on the point Of rushing forward Captain Tot
ten sent twelve pound she'll from lis fayorc howtzer;
but the elevation too great and the missile passed
over its mark. haH minute later another shell follow
cd with better success bursting directly the centre Of
the cavalry and emptying twenty saddles The
whole body made retreat Tor the timber in precri.
tous and ,unultuous haste" Captain steele was still on
the left a of nearly eight Lundred infantry
with few mounted men, forward from the enemy's
right with tho evident intention Of engaging and
rounding the Captains two companies. Company G, Of
First cavalry was in the (lately 'FRONT.' Captain
Steele and Lieutenant NJ. J. Kelly. with twenty men
from this company, made Balskiava charge right
in the face OF the bullets and bayonets Of the
whole rebel infantry Four of the twenty were killed
| and six were wounded, but they succeeded in
| breaking Ike infantry and putting them to fight.
Four horses wounded badly thai ii necessary
to kill thcmone receiving nine, and another eleven
rife balls. One Of the men-Sergeant Suvaa--rcceved
three terrible though not fatal wounds. AS he falling
FROM his horse he waved his sabre and shouted flurrah
for he old stars and Stripes" When brought TO camp
he seemed 10 forget his wounds his Joy at having struck
blow FOR the Union. one of the enemy's woanded in
luired of Lieutenant Kelly with great carnestness-
"Are your cavalry men or deysS'
The Lieutenant replied that 1t was possible they might
be a composition Of both.
"Ncl said the man, ''we can't stand such charge
as that loq eau whip all out you've GO, decent
army Of such soldiers"
One Of 9r wounded, private named Jacobs, who was
captured by the rebels, knocked from his horse
while prisoner by blow from musket, md left FOR
dead lie was found on the field the next morning and
carefully Attended to. lie viii probably recover.
The enemy did not again appear that day, and the
mand eneamped and passed the night in quiet. The
utmost care was taken to prevent a surprise during
the night by posting pckets in all directions and ar
ranging the camp with special reference to defence IN
the darkness Major Sturgis particularly active at
ali hours, and il the enemy had made an attack they
would have met warm reception. Subsequent events
showed that night surprise was far,hest from The
thoughts Of the rebels they retreacd some i've or six
miles towards Cassye, leaving some of their wounded
at a house near the fighting ground.
On the morning Of the % camp was broken abou, six
o'clock and the command moved toward the position
OF tho rebels. Lines Of smishors were thrown ont for