Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-08-18
9aiIg gappeal,
THE BATTLE At EPRINGFIELDs !
ACCOUNTS FROM THE NORTHERN
PRESS!

Can't. Fsirchtld, OF the First Kansas regi-
rent, who arrived here BY stage last night:
We had been skirmishing with a view to
find the enemy FOR week, when, on Thursday
hight, it was reported BY party of our
cavalry that his outPosts were some four miles
southwest cf Springfield. The FIRST and
Second Kansas regiments together with two
eonpsBtes Of cavalry and two or three CON-
panies Of regulars, were ordered out 20 engage
him, If possible. When they came within
attacking distant, they formed line Of battle,
but the enemy Withdrew, refusing TO accept
the challenge.
The next day (Friday) at O'Clock, n,
we received orders TO take one days Tstions
and prepare for march. About 7 o'clock The
same evening, by far the CRATER part of US,
under Lyon, lef5 Springfield, while Seigel re.
Inained behind as reserve. Seigel had about
1900 men with him. We marched about
seven miles in The direction Of the snemy, and
tken rested for several hours. This was dur
Ing the night from Friday to Saturday. At
about O'Clock on Saturday morning, We Te-
sumed our march, and alter having proceeded
three mils5 further came upon the enemy.
They were encsmp-d on piece OF ground ad-
m:rably adapted FOR their species Of warfare,
covered al intervals with bTushWood and c0Tl-
fields, and containing numerous ragines for
conCeslmeBt As soon as Gen Lyon came
within sight OF The CoDfederates be opened
csnnonaSe on them. It was promptly and
ably answered.
The battle now fairly commenced, and in
short time, became general along the whole
iiae. a little before o'clock, Gen. Lyon was
wounded by a shot in ibe foot and his horse
hiile :, and retired to tie rear for surgical
treatmeut. It 80 happened that our troops
were hard pressed by The Confederate5 Just at
that time. Things began to assume a threat
ening aspect. Lyon seeing the danger, at
Cnce dismissed all thoughts of his wound,
mounted his horse, rode in frent Of bis men,
and waving his bat and handkerchief, called
cut 10 the BOYS 10 rally and follow him.
While he wss still surveying them, ball
struck him in the back and killed him in
stsHtly.
The effect Of Lvon's death upon our troops
was terrible. A feeling OF CONSERVATION
spread through the ranks and depicted itself in
every couns nsenance. At hat moment, bad the
enemy made a charge, our troops would Rave
hardly resisted IL wits success, and their de-
feat might have been easy. But soon every
feeling gave way to feeling Of revenge and
deadly determination. hsi)r Sturgis promptly
assumed the command, and from thst time for
ward unit four O'Clock in the sf ernOon, the
combat lasted unintermitteEtly, and was con-
ducted with a fercsaess on both sides rarely
eaualsd in the annals Of war.
There is hardly 3 doubt that our troops
would have achieved a splendid victory had it
not been for the fearful odds they had to cen
tend against. On the side Of the confederates
from 20 COO TO 25 600 are reported 70 have been
in the fight, and to these, up to O'Clock in tue
afternoon, body Of only abou' 5000 men was
opposed. Al unfortunate circumstance for
our troops, moreover, was that during The
greater part Of the battle they came so near the
canfeseTates that the old shot guns and other
Indifferent weapons Of the latter could be used
with the same deadly effect as minnie muskets.
Tue ground, too, was Of the enemy's own
choosing, and it is stated as fact that cur
troops went into battle not knowing how far
the line Of the enemy EXTENDED, OF where his
forces were located.
at about two O'Clock, P NJ, Gen. S igel,
having either heard the canuonadiDg OF re-
eeived a special message from Major uTgiS,
came up with his reserve from Springfield. He
Immediately attacked the enemy on The right
llsLk, and did terrible execution among them.
Tho rest OF our troops, seeing ihat Seigel
brought the succoT, rallied With rene xed vigoT,
sn3 made one more determined onset or tbe
eneay. But such were the overwhelming odds
against which they had to fight, that the en-
couatsr amounted to nothing more than Iau-
tEai- -egtling up, and By four O'Clock all par
ties seemed TO be anxious to Withdraw from the
Geld
The q. S. troops retired to Springfield in
good order, and there The call Of the roll by
- ffaents was responded 20 as usual. Our in
fcimant says be counted 10 wounded in a
hospital in Springfield, ali belonging to the frs.
Ksnsss regiment. He did net ascertain the
naiDbsr Of killed, nor the number Of killed snd
wounded in U.heT regiments; but their number
nav be pretty accurately inferred when i is
token into consideration tina. the First Kansas
reginei { wss in the thickest Of the fight.
At O'Clock on Sunday morning, Gen. Seigel
having concluded that 1t would not be prudent
10 resume the battle, tie whole column Of
troops, followed BY large numbers Of citizens,
with al that they could gather up in the shape
of moyab goods, commenced a retreat from
Springfield in the direction Of Roils. They
brought all their baggage and comnisssTy
stores with them, and also ali but three or four
cannon, which they were obliged fer some rea-
con p leave on The ground. Our informant
came out with them until within ten or Fifteen
miles this side Of Springfield, where he took
the stags He left them about noon on Sunday.
He lays he news Of the evacuation of SPRING
field would run for mites in advance Of the
troops, and ever and anon some farmer, with
all bis noVahies, would stand waiting for then
at tue door Of his house, and fall in at The
rear as the column passed aloTg. He also no.
ticed numerous fires around the farm houses,
and infers that what they could not take with
them they burned.
Fa,se Rcaorfs-Price cna MoCuHocb not Killed
Hh0ls Federal Army Capturea- III heiri Proyislon
Trains Tatea-RoHa Threatened Price 5Tores To-
s-ard Ssrccase-Ramorea Capture Of Lexington.
The following is from the St. Louis Balleiin
OF the same evening, its regular edition. We
&TI here state that the distance from Spring
field to ST. Louis is two hundred and sixty
miles, with railroad connection only to Rolia,
2 distance Of one hundred and thirty-seven
miles. The road TO Warsaw is rather north Of
Springfield, leading to Boonville, which is one
hundred and fifty miles from Springfield:
At last cur sapient contemporaries Of the Re-
publican and Democrat concede that battle
bss been fought near Springfield, though stili
Isboring to deceive the people. They state
that The battle was fought on the tenth, where
as it took place on the seventh. They state
that the engagement took place east of Spring
field, whereas it was south. They state that
the federals retreated toward Rolla, whereas
tLev attempted 10 retreat on the Warsaw road
They imply victory, whereas it was defeat
There is no need TO further enumerate tbs
blunders into which these papers have fallen
The same papers state that both Price and
McCulloch were killed. We have DO reliable
Information from the State forces, but we know
that Price was, a week since, near Neosho
drilling the State forces, and unless bis force
had made forced marches Of forty or fifty miles
day, could not have been near the battle
6eld. Believing this report, we DO not credit
even the report Of the death Of McCulloch, as
# is evidently put in as a ryder TO the death Of
Gen. Lyon.
The reports Of the battle which we obtainea
from passengers on the Pacific road last night
eorToboTstes our report OF yesterday. All
ag-ee in stating that on the morning cf the
Ill NcCHlloch, who had succeeded in turning
The left flank Of Lyons command, and cutting
OF his provision train, sent out force of some
800, which Lyon took for accommodating par
tv. and immediately attacked them. The State
guard, after a brisk engagement, fell back,
drawing cut Lyons force to Green's prairie,
which lies nearly south Of Springfield, where
the engagement became general.
The fight was most desperate one, and but
for the determined steadiness Of the regulars
under Major StuTgis, would have resulted in
the total defeat Of Lyon. The retreat TO
SnrIpgheld was made in much disorder, and
with the evident design to continue it toward
RoIls. but McCulloch's flank movement had
beep so successful as to cut them of from that
road. Rains advanced from the Mount Yer
non road and attempted to pass north Of
Springfield and Join McCulloch on the east.
The federal officers knowing that this move
r,eDt would cut them of from all cOmpUnica-
tlon with St. Louis, attempted to retreat TO
ward WARSAW, on the Syracuse road. This
brougbt on general engagement, which lasted
all night, and had ceased but few moments