Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1861-09-14
Misteuaneous,
(From the Cincinnati Gazette)
A VISIT TO A BATTLEFIELD.
Interesting Narratiue Of Visit to Springfield,
Missouri Incidents and Dissertations.
ST. LOUIS. August 81.

On Sunday morning. the 18th instant,
Danford Knowlton, Esq , of New York, aud
j. B. Hassler of Webster, Massachusetts,
the former a cousin and the latter a brother.
in.law of the late General Iyon--sr-
rived 10 this city en- route to Spring field, to
procure the remains of their lamented relative
for sepulture in the East. Believing that the
expedition, if successful in reaching the scene
OF the recent great battle in the Southwest,
weuld be enabled to obtain exclusive infor.
nation of a valuable character, | determined
if such thing were possible to become one
of the party. Several obstacles were 10 the
way of accomplishment of my design, but o
little shrewd engineering removed them all,
and ! was surprised to find that, without the
slightest misrepresentation on my part,
was numbered among the relatives of the
hero Of the battle of Wilson's Creek.
Access to the person of General Fremont
is at ell times difficult, and was especially so
on the day in question. The klnsmpu of
General Lyon, notwithstanding the pressing
nature OF their business. were unable to obtain
an audience at all. Late in the evening,
however, owing TO the efforts of Captain
George P, Edgar, formerly Of the celebrated
New York Seventh Regiment, and now one
of the Generals AIDS, they were furnished
with the necessary documents.
Early Monday morning was aroused from
a sound sleep, aud informed that the effort to
be attached to the expedition had succeeded,
and that the train would leave in half an
hou.. ] made bssty toilet, and joired the
party at the depot few minutes before their
departure.
1t was not until we were under way that
saw the documents, which had been furnished
the party. AS soon as | read one OF them,
was satisfied that il would be of no more
service to Us than the same amount of blank
paper, and so expressed myself to my friends.
We went on to Rolla. however, where we
were fortunate enough to meet Capt. Emmet
Macdonald, OF the Confederate Army, who
had entered our lines. under a flag OF truce,
TO negotiate an exchange of prisoners. The
Captain, whom we found an intelligent, homo.
rable gentleman, agreed with me that our
papers were Of no consequence. hut kindly
promised to conduct us into the Rebel camp
himself, as be was about to return. and assured
US that he should experience no hindrance in
procuring Gen, Lyons body.
On presenting our letters to Col. Wymau,
we learned that he had that morning, on bis
own responsibility, despatched 40 ambulance
to Springfield, 10 charge of Mr.. Lynch, an
undertaken Of st. Louis, on the very erraud
10 which we were embarked. We at once
determined to pursue and endeavor to over.
take him before he reached Spring field, so
that both parties might enter the town toge.
ther. Col Wyman Immediately fitted US out
10 the most comfortable manner possible
giving us his best ambulance, four splendid
mules, and The most careful driver in camp
besides supplying Us literally with such
edlbes as be had at his disposal. Az hour
later. we started for the camp of the regulars
three miles distant, where We spent the night
in company with Major Sturgiss, Captain
Totten, AcjutaDt General Granger, and other
| officers, who have grown premsturely gray
in the service OF their country, and whose
recent heroic conduct should commend them
to the favorable consideration of the War
Department.
THE EBB OF TIE TIDE THAr FLOWS WEST
| WARD.
Tuesday morning we started on our long
and tedious Journey over Gu exceedingly
rough road, which stretched away for more
than hundred miles oyer a rocky, barren
country, covered with scrubby "biack jacks, ;
and iDterlsced with occasional streams O
almost crystal clesrness-infallible signs O
an unproductive soil. 1t was painful to wit
ness, as We frequently did on our way, familei
hssing from the reign Of terror that is nov