The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1861-07-18
Col. SigeI's Battle with the Rebels.

IHey report q loss OF IoO men-COL
Wolff not Killed-,Sigers Loss Eight
Killed and Forty Wounded-Later
and more intelligent account Of the
Fight-Narratioe Of Lieut.. Isask Of
the ArtiAery. suia
From the st. Louis Democrat of the 18th.
Last evening we had an interview
with Lieut.. Tusk, bearer of dispatches
from Col. Sigel, who gives us a highly
interesting account of the battle near
Carthage.
1t would be in vain for us to attempt
to portray the many movements of the
contending parties, and the incidents
OF the day as they were so graphically
and intelligently related and explained
by Lieut.. Tusk. He is Hungarian,
was in the Crimean war, and later
fought in the Italian war. He seems
to be an experienced and very intelli-
gent officer.
He says that the command under
Col. Sigel, amounting to about LOO
men, at Carthage, heard, on the eve-
ming of the 4th, of the presence of the
enemy at point about seven miles
eastward on the prairie. The force of
the enemy was not known, but the
troops were so impatient to have a
brush, that Col. Sigel decided to give
them battle. At three o'clock on the
morning of the 5th, the march was be-
gun. The command came upon the
rebel forces under Gen. Rains and
Parsons, at about 81 o'clock in the
forenoon. They were strongly sta
toned on q ridge or bill in the prairie,
having FIVE pieces of artillery, one l2
FOUNDER posted in front, and two l6
Founders on the right and left, the cav
airy on each flank, and the infantry in
the rear of the artillery. The position
was a formidable one.
Col. Sigel approached to within a
distance of about 800 yards with four
pieces of artillery in his centre, suppor-
ted on his left by command of infan-
try, under Lieut.. Col. Hassendeubel,
and six pound oannon-on his right
by the command of Col. Solomon, and
another six-poundcr. In the rear of
the centre pieces of artillery, was the
command of Major Bishop. Before
opening fire Col. Sigel briefly and elo-
quently addressed the troops, remind
ing them of their battles in the old
country, and asking them to stand by
him in the present hour. He then
opened fire with shrapnels from the
piece of artillery on his extreme left,
and soon the engagement became gen.
eral. The rebels though strongly pos
ted, had no grape, nothing but ball,
and proved themselves to be bad artil-
lerists, the most of their balls flying
high and blowing up the prairie beyond
the federal troops. They had Confed-
crate flags flying on their entreme right
and left divisions, and the Missouri
State flag in their centre. Sigeps men
twice shot down the traitors flags,
their first shots being especially direc.
ted at these objects, saying that they
had no desire to fire upon the State
FLAG. In three-quarters of an hour the
twelve FOUNDER in the rebels front was
dismounted, and their center column
completely broken. In two hours more
their artillery was entirely silenced.
They resumed fire after short interval
but were a second and last time 81
fenced. .sssg- Lsaa
BY this time Col. Sigel observing
that flank movement was being made
by both wings of the rebel cavalry, be
came concerned for his baggage wag
ons, which were stationed three miles
in his rear, and accordingly sent back
one field piece and column of infan
try to protect them and the ferry across
a small creek between him and them
The cavalry still pressing him on the
right and left, he ordered retrogradt
movement of, his whole command
which was admirably performed, th'
artillery continuing to do, admirably
service, and fighting slowly every incl
of ground. The baggage wagons hav
ing been reached. they were immed
ately formed in solid columns Of eight
and the infantry and artillery wer
posted on all sides, presenting an i'm
pregnable array. I1ioiigg . .'s'99l.
In this condition, and with perfe,
order, his command continued the re
rogade movement towards Carthae
fighting bravely against the superit
odds until about 5 o'clock i'm the afte
d noon. AT last they came to a plat
l., where the road passed directly throue
high bluff, on each side of which IL
: enemy's cavalry were posted in lare
/ numbers. BY feint, as if intendir
to pass round the bluffs, Col. Sigel DIRE
:, the cavalry in a solid body in the ros
J. between the bluffs, at distance of 81
yards from his position, when, by
r. skillful and rapid maneuvre of his a
tillery, he poured into their ranks
E most destructive cross fire of canist
n shot, which did not last ten minut
If before the enemy fed in great disorde
f. Lieutenant Tusk says the prairie w
!, full of flying and riderless horses,
It which they captured 95, and picked !
from the ground IS double barrele
shot guns. Two officers, whose nam'
Lieutenant Tusk could not recall, we
'e also captured at this point, ana ths
y stated that up to that time they ghs
- lost about $50 men.
s. It was still three miles to Carthag
III. n IL