Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-08-18

band was imminently theatened with annibila
ton. They retreated rapidly, firing as they did
80, when Lieut.. Dubois having got his battery
under headway on the hill near the Missoufl
volunteers, seeing the position Of affairs on the
opposite eide Of the valley, threw In the most
precise manner several shells, which exploded
Just as they reached the dense mass of seces-
slonists, scattering them lifeless on the ground
10 scores, while all who could were glad to run
for dear lie
The gallant men in Col. BIair's regiment
were now ordered back and their position taken
Dy the Iowa First. Gen. Lyon had previously
nag alpoor opinion of the fighting qualities OF
THESE men, formed more from suppositfon than
upon any real failure in duty, but now the time
mad come for him to reverse his iudRment,
which he did after their frst repulse Of the enc
my. They fought like tigers, drove the enemy
Dack, AND followed up the advantage gained for
considerable distance. Captain Mason, Com
pAny =, was killed soon after bis regiment was
engaged. Lieutenant Purcell was mortally
wounded Major Porter and Col. Merritt gal.
iantiy cheering on their boys, escaping unharm-
cd. Inc Kansas First and Second regiments
we're now ordered forward to support the right
| Colonel Green's regiment of Tennessee cav
airy, bearing q secession flag, now charged
upon our wounded, who were partially guarded
by one or two companies of infantry. Seeing
the movement, Capt. Totten poured a few
rounds OF canister into their ranks Just in time
to save our sick men from being trampled to
death, dispensing the rebels 30 completely that
nothing more was seen of them during the day
Gen. Lyon now desired the Iowa boys, whom
he had found 80 brave, to prepare to meet the
next onset OF the enemy with the bayonet i'm
mediately after firing. They said, "Give US a
leader and we will follow to death" On came
the enemy in overwhelming numbers, confident
OF victory over such meagre force No time
could be lost to select a leader. 81 will lead
you" exclaims Lyon. "Come on, brave men,"
and placing himself in the van, received fa.
tai bullet just at the pit of the stomach which
killed him instantly. The Iowas delivered
their hre and the enemy retired, so there was no
need Of charging bayonets Gen. Lyon,s body
was carefully picked up aud convened lifeless
toward the 'ambulances by two of his body
guard, In his death as in his life, be was the
same devoted, patriotic soldier, regarding his
own life as OF no value If he could but rescue
bis country. His body has been brought hither
and embalmed, for conveyance TO his friends in
Connecticut. There was no feeling of depression
on the part OF the troops at the unexpected ca.
lsmity, but rather feeling Of quiet determin-
alton to revenge bis DEATH, On the Tuesday
night previous he had arranged for a night
attack upon the enemy, but singularly found
himself delayed two hours behind the proper
time for starting, by rumors of skirmish on
the prairie west Of town, and the attack was
postponed. Wednesday he said to me: SWELL
begin to believe our term Of soldering ia about
completed. have tried earnestly to discharge
my whole duty to the government, and appeal
ed to them for reinforoements and supplies; but
ALAG, they do not come, and the enemy is get
ting the advantage of u.s." He then called q
council of war, ut which there was nearly an
unanimous voice for evacuating Springfield. -
Gen. Sweeney plead eloquently against such a
course, declared it would be the ruin of the
Union cause in that quarter of the State, and
urged battle as soon as the enemy were with.
in striking distance. He also pointed out the
loss of reputation both to the General and his
officers that would follow such q STEP This
counsel decided the course to be pursued, and
Thursday when the brigade quartermaster in
quired when we were to leave Springfield, Gen.
Lyon replied, "Not before we are whipped"
This was the proper course to rursue. II he
retreated without battle he would certainly
have been pursued by q boastful and unpunish-
ed enemy, and very likely have his retreat en-
tirely cut off, After being wounded he exclaim,
ed to Major Schofeld, d" The day is lost, ." but
the Major said, rNo, General, let us try once
more" So they tried, ,and the General fell
IL was now a little after nine O'Clock, and the
battle ragged with a ferceDess seldom if ever
eqpallsd for over three hours. The smoke
hung like storm cloud over the valley, a 81
emblem Of mourning for the departed hero.
He sleeps his last sleep he has fought his last battle
No osound shall awake him to glory again"
The battle ragged for two hours more, the
command devolving upon Major Sturgis. The
enemy made repeated attempts to retako the
nights from which they had been driven, but
were gallantly repulsed each time The Kan.
sas regiments behaved with a bravery seldom or
never equaled, forming ambuscades for the ben.
eft Of the rebels by lying fat on the ground
until the enemy came near enough for them to
see their eyebrows, when they would pour a
deadly volley into their opponents, and again
remain in possession of the field. The last re.
pulse of the enemy was the most glorious of
all, and was participated in by members of ev.
cry regiment on the field. The enemy came
fresh and deceived our men by bearing Union
flag, causing them to believe Sigel was about
making Junction with our forces. Discover
ing the; ruse just in time, our gallant boys
rushed upon the enemy, who, with four cannon
belching forth loud mouthed thunder, were on
tue point VI uhViuB thciE cuoftS iurOWneQ Win
success, and again drove them with great loss
down the slope on the south side Of the hill.
Capt. Totten's ammunition was now nearly
exhausted, and placing Dubois's battery upon
the hill at the. north end of the valley, Major
Sturgis ordered the ambulances to move toward
town. The infantry and Totten's full battery
followed in good order, and were not pursued
by the enemy, who was evidently glad to be let
alone. ysA ID ..t
Among the prisoners taken was q surgeon
living in st. Charles county. He was imme
diateiy released, and DR.. Melcher accompanied
him to the rebel generals. arranging for the re-
turn of our wagons to bring in our wounded and
dead.
Lieut.. Colonel Horace II Brand, of the First
Regiment, Sixth division, who commanded the
rebel force at Bonneville, and who said he was
now acting as aid to Gen. Price, was taken
prisoner early In the day. -'.
The Illinois Twenty made themselves useful
| by guarding the prisoners. One of them had a
horse shot under him. .ft..
When Gen. Sigel, who commanded the east
ern division, heard the roar of Totten's artille.
Try, he &C once attacked the enemy In his quar-
ter, driving him back half mile and taking
possession of his camp, extending westward 70
the Fayetteville road. Here terrible FIRE was
poured into his ranks BY q regiment which he
had permitted to advance within few PAGES 81
him, supposing 1t be- the Iowa First. Hie
men scattered considerably, y, and Col Solomon's
could not be rallied Consequently, Sigel los,
i've Of his guns, the other being brought away
tby Capt Fiagg, who rcompelled his prisoners,