The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-08-26
| REPORT or FRED. r. STEELE. CAPTAIN Sc
COND INFANTRY, COMMANDING BAT

COND INFANTRY, COMMANDING BAT
Can't NEAR RolAA. Mo, August II, 1861.
CAITAMf have the honor to submit the following re-
pert Of te operations Of my Battalion at tbs battle near
Springfield Mo-, On the 10th instant The battalion was
composed Of companies u aah r. Second inmty, cpiii
maiided by First Srgcants Griffin and G. Ii. fetaashr
a eomft. ut general service recruits, commanded w
lis, Lieutenant w. a, Lothrop, Fourth artillery, an'.
company Of IN, nted rife rec,Ss connalhed Dy ance
sergeant Morne. during The eay Part Of tho acton the
pal'aIien was IN pos'n 60 snppor Ia Bos patssfy bpt
IN dispensing large body OF cavalry that frequently
threatened our rear.
Soon after The fan Of General lyon Captain C. c. GU
bert, First infantry oinad my battalion with part 1T his
company, and mae arrangements TO IcDc "A threat
enc assault on the battery III front, which repcied
with nj our becoming engaged with the enemy MAJOR
Surg then ordered c n form line of battle and lvanco
upoh The enomys front whence the heaviest firing had
ficetcdcf during tie day. We very soon came within
range o. The cncmy's rides, WHOM hrce contest ensped
the enemy grad retiring upon his reserve where he
made stand from VIII G. our small force was unable to
drive him, After heavy q ring both sides in this po
sitioa without any apparent adYa sc on either SIDE The
contest ceased for short time as II by mutual consent
We were opposed vastly superior numbers, and
many Of our mon killed and wounded so that did
not deem discreet 10 charge upon the enemy wlolt
support, attic gu ca tun Gibc suggested IT,
Daring this sispcrs OF hostilities receive ofdars
from Mayor Sturgs to send pany OF sr sho,s "a Inc
brow of tbs bill 10 our JEFF, ana front leutcna thron
went in command OF ,his Company pt w., w., ,
such CALLING Orc ricla Ao enemy that So . mn
PEELED 10 retre All Of which service b. perrornel with
eoolne9. ana nt,epd'ly Meusens.t Iothrops retreat
M, s W. ,ap no ' ,n e attack from the enemy
ru"' ny il! NV. neld piece est b isie,l under the
~ ~ & i,i W dr left and front vii ch threw grape
n,n,a, nar y-.ana occas oAally sAeil--w,th more
h g, .iiee' ,nan damage TO vs.
,, "ece was now reinforced " two pieces Of
~, Tine cmrtcer, all Of Which threw inolssant
'ower OF missiles NJ rs; bat my wore ordered TO
stoop, ana very few took effect II evident
That the cnemy intended TO take Tottans battery,
strong cotimh of inlantry was advancing uph IT, Ioen
moved them down with canister In front ard inaa-
try poured murdercus Hrc into their Hanks, which
cuIai~Nei them TO eat hasty retreat The enemy had
&ird in AL his cnd,avorS to dis,odge Us from our
tsition which on rived to be the strategic point Of
enc battle hekl, Gni Determined hold ii At III
hazards.
CONSULTATION With The wife MAN Sturgis sent
dcls Ia rct-v Just az that tins Captain G anger came
w o. IN anu We discovered tsAt the enemy were abat
W renew ,he attack foa us captain Granger rasheG h
tc rsf and cliSted sewers hundrei vcanteersof diff
ercT ceim ens while We teld the eneoy chcck, and
or4r"i them ~. our left We then advanced upon the
chehf and drive them srShe field, and Of
tSetraterws Ids Afe+ccllccng our command VIC re-
tSrd slowly rom the Dali.
l c6mrnsiided the guard the retreat towards
Springfield bit saw M hing Of the cnemy II evident
i That nc bad been sevo-ey punish.d,
j visit to call the a.cntion Of the Major COMMANDING TO
the easht conduo, ~ Captain G. Gilbert IF First ni-
try; 81 First Leusrnant L,lhrop, Fourth artillery an
Georso II. Mclaughlin received the highest commcndi-
ois'oi al the 90 GERS present. ascna'tion the First
Sergeant Of Captain Gibefts COMPANY tndrazz who
was Killed IN tse ast assault of the crcmy also First
Sergeant GrifR, commanding Company T. S con inial
try and tiacc Ser eant Mo- comm ldng the company
Of honnied R'Ae recruits each OF wleri behaved with dis
wounted, aud died on the field.
Ba ing the critical state Of tic tsrlba conferred with
Captain Gilbert whose intelligence and soldery qa les
arr well snown aud whose ser'ss sion during the bat
Vic was calculated to inspire thf men with conAd nee In
The latter part of the contest he ve wotfd III the
! sh 'llIrwhch compel ct Hfto retire from III Hcid
furnish herewith list Of tho killed. wounded and mis-
slug oi my c. mmtnd during dac day.
Ihlvc the honorto be, Captain very respectfully your
obed.ent. servant FRED. n STEELE,
Capt lin Second infantry, Commanding Eattalr n