Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1861-08-16
Great Battle in Missouri.

enemy lost about 2,UOU Killed and wounded.
Great Battle in Missouri.
St. Louis, Aug l3.
The following is the official report of the
fight near Springfield on Saturday last, as
forwarded by one Of Gen. Lyons aids to
Gen. Fremont
Gen. Lyon in three columns, under him
self, General Siegel and Major Sturges, of
the cavalry, attacked the enemy at half
past on the morning of the 10th, nine
miles southwest of Springfield. The en-
gagement was severe, and our loss is about
300 killed and wounded. Gen. Lyon was
killed in a charge at the head of his COL
umn. Our force was $500 men.
The muster rolls reported taken from the
enemy, give their strength at 81 900 includ-
ing regiments from Louisiana, Mississippi
and Tennessee, with Texan Rangers and
Cherokee half f-breeds. Theirloss is reported
heavy, including Generals McCulloch and
Price. This statement is corroborated by
prisoners. Their tents and wagons were
destroyed in the action.
Gen. Seigel left three guns on the field,
and returned to Springfield with large
number of prisoners. At three o'clock on
the morning of the 11th he continued his
retreat upon Rolla, bringing off his baggage
train and $4,000 in specie from the Spring
field bank.
The following is verbal report, taker
from a special messenger who brought dis
patches for General Fremont:
Early on Saturday morning Lyon marched
out of Springfield to give the enemy battle.
He came up to him on Davis Creek, on
Green's Prairie few miles Southwest Of
Springfield, where had taken strong po-
sitiou on rolling ground. Twenty minutes
past six o'clock in the morning General
Lyon fired the first gun, when the battle
Immediately began.
Severe cannonading was kept up for two
or three hours, when the fire of Capt. Toll
tens artillery proving too severe for the en-
emy, they gradually fell back towards their
encampment on Wilson's creek.
Gen. Lyons cavalry, posted on the left
flank, and Gen. SeigeIs artillery on the
right, then began terrific attack, and
spread slaughter and dismay in the ranks OF
the enemy, pursuing them to their camp,
shells from Tolten's artillery setting fire to
their tents and baggage wagons, which
were all destroyed.
A Louisiana regiment and Mississippi
regiment seemed to have suffered the most
in the fight, and were almost annihilated.
Sometime in the afternoon, as Gen. Lyon
was leading on his column, his horse was
shot from under him. He immediately
mounted another, and as he turned around
to his men, waving his hat in hand, and
cheering them on to victory, he was struck
in the small of the back by ball and fell
dead to the ground.
The command then devolved upon Gen
eral Seigel. Pursuit continued until night
| fall, when our little army rested for the night
in the encampment of tho enemy.
On Sunday morning Gen. Seigel 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, fearing that the great numbers
of the enemy might induce them to get be-
tween him and Rolla, Gen. Seigel concluded
to fall back upon Rolla with his provision
trains, and meet the reinforcements which
were on their way to him. At the last
moment Of the departure of the messen-
ger, the enemy had not been seen, and it
is probable that Gen. Seigel has not been
disturbed 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. Siegel and his army may
be considered safe.
Rolla, Mo, Aug. 13.-The following ad,
ditional account of the battle near Spring
field is furnished by an eyewitness, who
left Springfield Sunday morning and came
through to this place on horseback.
Our army marched out of Springfield on
Friday evening only $500 men, the Home
Guards remaining in Springfield. Our for
ces slept on the prairie portion of the
night, and about sunrise Saturday morning
drove in the outposts of the enemy, and
soon afterwards the engagement became
general.
The attack was made in two columns by
Lyon and Sturges, Gen. Seigel leading a
flanking force of about 1000 men and foul
guns, on the south of the enemy's camp.
The fight ragged from sunrise in the morn,
ing until one or two o'clock in the after
noon. The rebels in overwhelming forces
charged upon Capt Toltens battery three
several times, but were repulsed with great
slaughter.
Gen. Lyon fell early in the day. He
had been previously wounded in the leg
and had horse shot from under him
The Col. of one of the Kansas regiment:
became disabled, and tho boys cried out to
Lyon, "General, you come and lead us."-
He did so, and at once putting himself in
front, and while cheering the men on to the
charge, received bullet in the left breast
and fell from his horse. He was asked il
he was hurt and replied, "No, not much,
but in a few minutes expired without a
struggle.
Gen. Seigel had a very severe struggle
and lost three of his four guns. His artil-
/ lary borsae ,.,o.a ubai in THAR harness and