Daily national Democrat., 1861-08-27
The Great Federal Victory near Spring.
field--- ore Particulars.
The following is from a correspondent Of
the st. Louis Democrat, who witnessed the
battle near SpringfeId Missouri:

SPRINGFIELD, Mo-, August IL.
Night before last little army of 3 200 men
moved in two column on IA march of twelve
or fifteen miles to attack body of rebels
% 900 strong In military point of view
the movement was one of doubtful propriety
not to say absolute rashness The lager
force were, with the exception OF three thou
sand men, well armed and EQUIPPED, ana
they had very large body OF cavalry out
the question Of evacuating Springfield, the
kew of the entire southwest, had already been
discussed and settled in the negative. Gen
Sigel. with six pieces OF cannon, his own
re1iment and that of Col. Soomons, moved
in southerly direction, marching about hf-
teen miles, passing around the extreme south
eastern camp of the enemy, and haulted un-
Ill daylight or for the sound of artillery from
the northwest to commence the opening of
the battle Gen Lyon with the volunteers,
composing the Missouri First, Lieut. Col. An
dreus Iowa First, Lieu, enant Colonel Mer-
rtt; Kansas First, Colonel Denitzler, and
Second, Colonel Mitchell; part of the Mis-
souri, Second, under Mrjor Osterhaus, and a
dptaehmcnt of twenty men from Colonel
Wvmuns Illinois regiment; three or four
COMPANIES of mounted Home Guards, force
of regulars about 500 strong, and tive bate
ries of four and six pieces respectively, left
Springfield about eight oc clock p. N march,
ing slowly along until two o clock A. NJ. when
he halted for tive hoHIs, at which time Capt.
Gilbert's company OF eegulars aud Major Us
terhaus battalion were thrown out as skir
mishers on either side Of the colomn, and we
moved forward on the sides Of the first ridge
on the western side of the valley. Colonel
Blair's regiment, at ten minutes after eight
O'clock encountered heavy force Of infantry
1.,,s Il f,,1l
we're contest, they gained the summit, and the
defear rebels dispersed rapidly going in =
direction which rendered it impossible for
any considerable number of them to again
participate in the battle Toften's battery
then then threw few balls as ieeers to draw
out the enemy's cannon. Colo! el Blair's
regiment moved forward and were soon met
by well equipped regiment of Loui lana
troops, whom. after bitter contest Of forty
five minutes, they succeeded in routing,
though sutferinu severely themselves. Capt.
Lathrops company Of rifle recruits now
sisted them, and together with Major Oster-
hnus men, moved up the second hill. which
was considerably larger than the first, and
meeting third regiment, finally succeeded
in driving them back with the assistance of
Tottcn's battery, and gained the summit. In
this part Of the fight the gallant Missouri
volunteers acted bravely, indeed no words |
of praise could inore than do them Justice |
During this engagement two companies of |
regulars were sent to the east side of tie |
creek to engage force which was operating
Captain Wrisht's cavalry, sheltorng them
selves behind fence. Captain Plummer and |
Captain Gilbert, with their companies /
marched close up to the fence and delivered |
an effective fire. but were compelled by great
,ll ls ia "a, ii
newed the attack. The enemy being largely /
reinforced and having now at least three /
thousand men, jumped over into the corn |
field and Captain Plummer's gallant band /
was imnlinently threatened with annihla-
tion. They retreated rapidly, firing as they
did so, when Lieutenant Dubois, having got /
his battery under headwny on the hill near,
the Missouri volunteers seeing the position of
affairs ON the opposite side of the valley,
threw, III the most precise manner, several
shells which exploded Just as they reached .
dense mass of Secessionists, scattering them |
lifeless on the ground in scores, while all who /
could were glad to ran for dear life. The .
gallant men in Colonel Blairs regiment were |
now ordered back, and their position taken /
by the Iowa First. General Lyon had pre- |
viousy had poor opinion of the fighting
qualities of these men, formed more from sup |
position tlAI any Itil IdIlutt III uulNi but I
now the time had come for him TO reverse
his iudgment-whi be did after their first
repulse of the enemy. They fought like ti
gers-drove the enemy back, and followed
up the advantage gained for II considerable
distance. Captain Mason, company 9, was
killed soon after his regiment was engaged. [
Lieutenant Perccll mortaly wounded /
Major Porter and Colonel Merritt escaped un-
harmed. The Kansas First and Second were
now ordered forward to support the right .
flank Of the .lpwaas Colcnel Green's regi-
ment of Tennessee cavalry, bearing seces-
sion flag now charged upon our wounded,
who were partially guarded by one or two
companies Of infantry, Seeing the move
ment Captain Toten poured few rounds of
canister into their ranks Just in time TO save
our sick men from being tramped to DEATH
dispensing the icbels SO completely that
nothing more was seen of them during the
day General Lyons now desired the Iowuns
to prepare to meet the next onset Of the ene-
Ny with the bayonet Immediately after
firing, they said: Give us u leader and we
Will follow them to death"
On cnme tie enemy in overwhelming num-
bcrs, confident OF victory. No time could .
be lost to select the leader will lead /
you. exclaimed Lyon: Come on and |
placing himself in the van, received fatal
bullet just at the pit of the stomach, which |
killed him instantly. The lowas delivered .
their fire and the enemy retired-so there
was no need of charging hayunets General !
Lyons body was carfulIy picked pp and con-
veyed feless toward the ambulances by two
of his body guard, On the Tuesday night
previous he had arranged for night attack
upon the enemy, but singularly enough found
himself delayed two hours beyond tie pro-
per time for starting by rumor of skirmsh
on the prairie west of town, and the attack
was postponed On Wednesday he said to
me-'W ell, helieve our term of soldering is
about completed ! have tried earnestly to
discharge my whole duty to the Government,
and appealed to them for renforcements and
supplies; but they do not come. and the
enemy is getting the advantage Of u.s." He
then called council of war, ut which there
was nearly an unanimous voice for evacuat
ing Springfield. Gen Sweeny plead eloquent-
ly against such coul Sc declared it would
be the ruin of the Union cause in that quarter
of the State, and urged a battle soon as
the enemy were within striking distance. He
also pointed out the loss of reputation both
to the General and his officers which would .
follow such a step This counsel deci6ed the
course to be pursued, and Thursday when
the Brigade Quartermaster inquired when
we were to leave Springfield, Gen. Lyon re-
piled "Not before we are whipped This
was the proper course TO pursue If he re-
treated without a battle he wonld certainly
have been pursued by a buastful and un-
punished enemy and very likely have his re-