Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1861-07-24
From the St. Louis Domocrat.l

Lieut.. Tusk, bearer Of dispatches from
Col. Sigel, who gives US a highly interest
ing account Of the battle near Carthage.
1t would be in vain for us to attempt to
portray the many movements of the con
tending parties, and the incidents Of the
day as they were 50 graphically and intel
ligently related and explained by Lieut.
Tusk. He is a Hungarian, was in the Cri-
mean war, and later fought in the Italian
war; He seems to be an experienced and
very intelligent officer.
He says that the command under Col.
Sig6l, amounted to about LOO men, at
Carthage, heard, on the evening Of the 4th,
of the presence of the enemy at a point
about seven miles eastward on the prairie.
The force Of the enemy was not known,
but the troops were so impatient to have
have brush, that Col. Sigel decided t.
give them battle. At three o'clock on the
morning Of the 5th, the march was begun.
The command came upon the rebel force
under Gen. Rains and Parsons, at about
% o'clock in the forenoon. They we're
strongly stationed on ridge or hill on the
prairie, having FIVE pieces Of artillery, one
twelve FOUNDER posted in front, and two
six 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 dis
lance of about 500 wards with four pieces
of artillery in the center, supported on his
left by command of infantry, under Lieut..
COL Hassendeubel, and six pound cannon
-on lis right by the command of Col.
Scion q, and another six-pounder. In the
rear of the center pieces Of artillery, was
the command Of Major Bishop. Before
opening fire Col Sigel briefly and eloquent
" addressed the troops, reminding 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
eraI The rebels though strongly posted,
had no grape, nothing but ball, and proved
themselves to be bad artIlersts, the most
Of their balls flying high and blowing up
the prairie beyond the federal troops
They had Confederate flags flying on their
extreme right and left divisions, and the
Missouri State flag in their center. Sigers
men twice shot down the traitors flags,
their first shots being especially directed at
these objects. saying that they had no de-
sire to fire upon the State flag. In three
quarters of an hour the twelve-pounder IN
the rebels front was disIn )unted, and their
center column completely broken. In two
hours more their artillery was entirely ST.
fenced. They resumed fire after short
interval, but were a second and last time
BY this time COL Sigel observed that 2
flank movement was being made by both
wings Of the rebel cavalry, became concern
ed for his baggage wagons, which were
stationed three miles in his rear, and accor-
dinghy sent back one field piece and a coll
mnn Of infantry to protect them and the
ferry across small creek between him and
them. The cavalry still pressing him on
the right and left, he ordered retrogade
movement of his whole command, which
was admirably performed, the artillery con
tinuing to do admirable service, and fight
ing slowly every inch of ground. The
baggage wagons having been reached, they
were Immediately formed into solid columns
of eight, and the infantry and artillery
were posted on all sides, presenting On inn
pregnable array.
In this condition, and with perfect order
his command continued the retrogade
Carthage, fighting brave
Nv against the superior odds until about
o'clock in the afternoon. At last they
came 10 place where the road passed di-
rectly through high bluf on each side
of which the enemy's cavalry were posted
in large numbers. BY feint, as ifintend-
inc to pass round the bluffs, Col. Sigel
drew the cavalry in solid body in the
road between the bluffs, at the distance Of
800 yards from his position, when, by
skillful and rapid inanauyre Of his artillery,
he poured into the ranks a most destructive
cross fire of canister shot, which did not
last ten minutes before the enemy fled IN
GREAT disorder, Lieutenant Tusk says the
prairie was full offlying and riderless horses,
Of which they captured IS, and picked up
from the ground IS double barreled shot
guns. Two officers, whose names Lieut.
Tusk could not recall, were also captured
at this point and they stated that up 10
that time they had lost $50 mon.
1t was still three miles to Carthage
Col. Sigel was anxious to reach the point
and take position in the woods on the
north of that place. on the Sarcoxie road,
so that he would not I've any further annoy
ed by rebel cavalry. This movement oc-
cupied from 81 o'clock to about 81 in tie
evening, and here was the hottest fighting
Of the day. the enemy evidently apprccia-
TING Col. Sigel's desire to get into the cover
Of the woods, and disputing the ground
most stubbornly with him. Finally,against
the tremendous odds, he gained the TIM
Der, when the enemy retired to Carthage.
As soon as he aSoertained that the enc
my had given up the day, he took up tue
line Of march, and pressed on twelve OF
fourteen miles to Sarcoxie, where they ar
rived without any further trouble At three
O'clock a the morning. Hare they took a
1900 l.2>,. o,,1 = os,od rest -