Pomeroy weekly telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy, Meigs County, Ohio) 1860-1866, 1861-08-16
The Great Battle Near Spring
field. Mo.

| OF. LOUIS, aug. 1o.-Ine following
is the official report of the fight near
Springfield on Saturday last, as for.
warded by. one of General Lyons Aids
de Camp to General Fremont:
General Lyon, in three columns, un.
der himself General Sigel, and Major
Sturges of the cavalry, attacked the en-
emy at half-past six on the morning Of
the 10th, nine miles south east OF
Springfield. The engagement was Sc
we're. Our loss is bout 500 killed and
wounded. Gen. Lyon was killed in a
charge at the head of his column Our
force was eight thousand, including two
thousand Home Guards. The muster
rolls reported taken from the enemy
give his strength at twenty three thou
sand, including regiments from Louisi-
ana, Mississippi and Tennessee, with
Texas Rangers and Cherokee half breeds
Their loss is heavy, including Generals
McCulloch and Price. This statement
is corroborated by prisoners. Their
tents and wagons we're destroyed in the
action.
Sigel left one gun on the field and re
treated to Springfield with large nun
Der of prisoners. At three o'clock on
the morning Of the 11th, he continued
his retreat upon Rola, bringing off his
baggage train and S25 900 in specie from
the Springfield bank
The following is verbal report taken
from special messenger who brought
dispatches for Gen. Fremont:
Early on Saturday morning Gen.
Lyon marched out Of Springfield to give
the enemy battle. He came up to him
on Davis Creek, on Green's Prairie, a
few miles southwest of Springfield,
where he had taken a strong position
on rolling ground. Twenty minutes
past six o'clock in the morning Gen. Ly-
on fired the first gun, when the battle
Immediately began. Severe cannona-
ding was kept up two or three hou:s
when the fire of Capt. Tottens artillery
proving too severe for the enemy, they
gradually fell back toward their encamp-
ment on Wilson's Greek.
Gen. Lyons cavalry, posted on the
enemy's left flank, and Gen. Sigels ar
tillery on the right, then began ter
rife attack, and spread slaughter and
dismay in the ranks of the enemy, pur-
suing them to their camp-shells from
Tottens artillery setting fire to their
tents and baggage wagons, which were
all destroyed. 4 Louisiana regiment
and Mississippi regiment seemed to have
suffered most in the fight, and were al
most annihilated.
Sometime in the afternoon as Gen.
Lyon was leading on his column his
horse was shot from under him. He
immediatel y mounted another, and as
he turned around to his men, waving
his hat in his hand and cheering them
on to victory, he was struck in the small
of his back by ball and fell dead to
the ground The command then de-
volved upon Gen. Sigel.
Pursuit continued until nightfall,
when our little army rested for the night
in the encampment of the enemy.
Sunday morning, Gen. Sigel, fearing
the enemy might recover and attempt to
cut his command off from Springfield,
fell back upon that city, where the
Home Guards were stationed. On
reaching Springfield, and fearing the
great numbers Of the enemy might in
duce them to get between him and Rolla,
Gen. Sigel concluded to fall back upon
Rolla with his provision trains, and
meet the reinforcements which were on
the way to him. At the latest moment
Of the departure of the messenger, the
enemy had not been seen, and it is prob
able that Gen. Sigel has not been dis
turbed in his march. Ninety of the
rebels were captured, among them a
Colonel of distinction, the messenger
not remembering his name. The sword
and horse Of McCulloch were among the
trophies.
Reinforcements are on the way from
Rolla and Gen. Sigel apd his army may
be considered safe