Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1861-09-04
The Battle Near Springfield.

/ we nave puohshed several Federal ac-
counts of the late battle near Springfield,
Missouri, and have now before us a state
ment reliable and authentic. It is
contained in the st. Joseph (Mo.) Gazette
Extra, and was written by J. T. Hughes,
who, the Gazette says, is "a lawer of Platts-
ourg, Missouri, and gentleman of ire
proachable character" Mr.. H. commanded
Confederate or State regiment of $50
men In the battle, and lost 152 in killed,
wounded and missing. Mr.. Hughes says
| On the morning of the 10th General
Lyon attacked our encampment at break
OF day, with $4,000 men and Is pieces of
artillery, having received large reinforce
ments within the last few days The at
tack was made simultaneously at four
different points, Gen. Lyon on the west,
Gen. Siegel on the south, Gen. Sturgis on
the north, and some other column-Gen.
Sweeney's, l think-on the east and south.
east. Our encampment was taken some
what by surprise, but in hot haste soon
formed for the battle. The forces engaged
were about equal on each side, the Feder-
ais having the advantage in position and
artillery. The red harvest of death now
commenced. The cannonading was most
terrible and the slaughter on both sides
immense. In quick succession the hosts
marshaled for the conflict, and barred their
breasts to the storm of battle-The Louis
lana troops, the Arkansas, the Texans and
Mlssourlans rivaled each other on this great
and bloody day. For six long hours the
palm of victory remained undecided. Sew
en- times Lyon was repulsed from the wes-
tern heights by the Missouri and Arkan-
sas forces, and seven times regained his
position. He had strong force of regu-
lars posted with Totten's battery around
his person.
The Missouri troops at the north, the
Louisiana troops at the Southeast and
south, and General Weightman's brigade
OF Missouri forces at the southeast, inclu,
) ding his fine battery Of artillery-having
been victorious at each point-ralled to
the heights on the west, to support Gen.
Slack's division, which had borne the brunt
OF the fight up to that time, for five or six
hours unsupported. Gen. Price and Gen.
Slack were both actively and gallantly
urging forward the column, when Gen.
Slack was severely wounded and taken
, from the field; Gen. Price was slightly
wounded also, but not disabled.
He continued to lead his wing on to
: victory most gallantly. Gen. Weightman
now filed his column in on the right of nv
regiment, in Gen. Slack's division, where
ne fell mortally wounded, near Totten's
battery, covered all over with wounds. |
received bis sword to keep it from the ene-
my
Meanwhile the enemy's batteries were
captured by the State and Confederate
forces, and routed in every direction, ex-
cept on the heights west, where Lyon
commanded In person, and made his last
most desperate struggle. Gen. Parsons
now advanced with his battery offour pieces,
and poured terrific fire into the enemy's
right, while Woodruff7s Arkansas battery
moved down his left At this point of
time Gen. McCulloch came up and direct
ed Slack's division to charge Totten's bat
terry In front, and the Arkansas troops on
the right flank. This was the most terrific
storm of grape and musketry ever poured
outupon the ranks of any American troops
: On both sides the men were moved down
like the ripe harvest before the sickle. Nv
own regiment was then decimated and
Mclntosh's Arkansas regiments suffered
: most severely. Here Gen. Lyon was kill
ed, Iotten's battery driven from the heights,
and his whole force scattered in flight. This
ended the bloody strife of that most bloody
dav. 4 4
1t is certain we have gained great and
decided victory over the Federal troops.
We captured thirteen Of the enemy's best
cannon and all the accompanying carriages
and ammunition. Also some four hundred
prisoners, several stand of colours and a
large quantity of good arms.
Mr.. Hughes, in postscript. adds:
General Lyons dead body was given up
to his chief surgeon. We have more pris-
, oners than we know what to do with. We
, cannot feed them. They have been trea-
ted well, and all their sick and wounded
kindly cared for-their surgeons were in
vlted to come in after their defeat and
attended to the wounded, everywhere beg
/ ging for bel p and for water. have never
before witnessed such a heart-rending
scene. State, Federal and Confederate
troops in one red ruin blent on the field
enemies in life, in death friends, relieving
, each Others agonies and suferings.
f The St. Louis Republican gives a list
of the names of the killed, wounded and
, missing of the First Missouri Regiment,
. from which it appears II were killed, SO
seriously wounded, l25 not seriously, and
II prisoners and missing total 31s out of
720 composing the regiment when it went
into battle.
f Mr.. Minehart says the surprise of our
army was effected by treachery. We will
leave this matter, however, until further
developments.