The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-08-15
The Battle in Missouri-The Lesson Il
Teaches.


By the news which we published yesterday
from Missouri and of which we publish fuller
details to-day, our readers will have perceived
that desperate battle was fought on
Saturday last, the 10th inst, at Davis creek,
nine miles southeast of Springfield. The killed
and wounded of our army--SOO out of 5000, ac
cording to General Fremont, but only $500
according to our Rolla dcspatch-arc far
greater in proportion to the numbers en-
gagged than at the battle of Bull run.
The General in the chief command was
slain. and it appears that Siegel, who led a
flank movement, was pressed very severely
losing three out Of his four cannon, spiking
them, however, and disabling the carriages be-
fore they fell into the hands of the enemy. = A
retreat was effected in good order, about Two
o'clock, to Springfield, after the Union General
destroyed such ammunition as he could not re-
move, and other property which would be valu-
able to the rebels. General Siegel had pos
session Of the encmy's camp, and held it for
several hours, until he deemed it advisable to
assume stronger position. According to Gen.
Fremont's despatch to the War Department, he
continued his retrograde movement at three
o'clock next morning in the direction of ROlla,
the terminus of the railroad from ST. Louis.
From later intelligence we learn that he halted
after march of thirty miles, and that it was
likely he would not retreat further than Lcba-
non, where he will probably receive reinforce
ments. 1t is stated that he could have held
Springfield but for the approach of Hardee,
with large reinforcemcnts to the rebels; which
is also the reason assigned for his fighting the
battle against such odds, in order to prevent
junction between Hardce and McCulloch.
When we take into account the loss the
rebels sustained, and that Sicgels falling
back was not rout like the affair
at Bull run, but judicious and we'll
executed movement to prevent his force
being nanked and turned, and his commu-
ncation cut off in the direction of his supplies,
it will be seen that there is nothing to boast
Of on the part Of the rebels, consider
ing that their force on the field num-
bercd $4,000, including Indians, and that they
lost, it is said, some 1000 men in killed and
wounded, besides the loss of their tents and wa
considering burned, accordingto one account.
by themselves, but according to another account
by the shells of Tot;en's artillery. 1t is stated
that two of their regiments were nearly cut to
pieces; and when we are told that they charged
in overwhelming force three times upon Totten's
artillery, and were repulsed each time, they
must have suffered a terrible slaughter. Esti-
mating their loss in the same proportion to
numbers as the killed and wounded of General
Lyons army, it would be $500. 1t appears
that General Price is not killed and the rebels
say that McCuloch is not; but that remains to
be seen. The fact that the rebels did not pursue
shows that they were exhausted. On the whole,
therefore, we may regard the result as neither
victory nor defeat, but drawn battle, while
it is evident that this time the superior general
ship was on the Union side.
But although the check was not so serious
as at Bull run. the result is not what it ought TO
have been There ought to have been no such
check and there was no necessity for it. The
loss of such a General as Lyon is not easily re-
haired; and had sufficient achievements been
sent to him in time, not only would he have
been still alive, in all human probability, but
The victory would have been Enthusiastically his
also. This mode OF fighting will never do. BY
actions like that at Davis creek the war would
be prolonged Till crack Of doom without any