The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1861-08-16
speciol Correspondence OF the Chicago Tribune.
Brilliant Charge Of U. s. Cavalry,in
Missouri,


HEApouARrERs 18th I'LL. REoIMEST.
Camp Rolla, Mo-, Aug. @, 1861.
The telegraph will have already told you
in briuf tho news of Fridays fight noar
Springfield. This lettor can DO more OK
plicit.
As matters stood Thursday morning.
Lyon was encamped 10 miles west of Spring.
field, at Pond Spring. Sigcl's. Saloman's
aud Sweoney's forces wore at Springfield.
Intelligence was brought that Ben McCul.
loeb, with 5000 mon, was oncampod ncar
Tirrell Creek. l2iniles southwest of Spring.
fold Con. Lyon Immediately ordered all
the regiments of infantry and the batteries
of artillery and cavalry to march southwark
and units for an attack on the enemy.
Thursday night they oncampcd within
three miles Of tho rebel nrmy. But In tho
morning II was foand that tho enemy had
retrcaiod farther southwark. Lyon imme-
diatoly pushed on in pursuit, and in the af.
ternoon cane upon thom at Dug Spring-a
point 10 miles southwest of Springfield on
tho Fayetteville road. The enemy we're on
camped at tho opening of prairie valley,
and chiefly in II southwestern bond. sopora
ted from our forces by moderate sizDd but
stucp hill. LYONS forces were placed ut
tho head of the valloy. looking southwark
toward the opening and the enemy. The
artillery was posted on the hill sides com.
manding tho valley At 3 O'Clock in the
afternoon friday the engagement com
moncod. The fight was cprriud on chiefly
by artillery and cavalry; our infantry were
not engaged. The enemy seemed to have
but two pieces of artillery. and with these
only ten rounds wore firOd. whilu an equal
number were frssl by tho Federal batteries.
Early in the engagement a detachment of
twenty.seven u. s. Cavalry. led by Lieu
tonant, rode over the hill towards tho part
of tho valley whcro the onomy were sup.
posed to be posted.
| As soon as thoy had passed tho ridge.
they found themselves directly upon Iarge
body of robel infantry variousiy estimated
at from 1000 to 1000 There was no re-.
trcat, and 80 putting spurs into their horses
and graspiug thoir sa5ros, tho brave 81 rodo
directly into tho midst of tho onemy. So
sudden and unexpected was their charge,
and so little did the enomy judgo rightly of
tho force Of the cavalry. that u stampede
took place among the infantry, and taking
advantage of the confusion, tho horsemen n
cot their way through the formidable mass
OF opposing mon, came out TO the valley and
rode back to camp, having lost but five mon.
One Of tho killed was tho Lieutenant com
manding, who had fought most fearlessly v.
He had killed six robels, struck seventh
to the ground, and was trying TO meet the
attack of an eighth, when the prostrato man
taking advantage Of Ms position, shot him
He still had strength to finish tho work OF
death with tho FIRST, and then avenge his
own fatal wound upon tho foo who bad
givon it. After that, no turned and rode
away. but had not gone two hundred yards
before ho fell dead from his horse.
The fight lasted till dark. In tho morn.
ing 1t was discovered that McCulloch had
again icd, and intelligence was brought tha,
no had encamped a fow miles south, at ,
place called McColloughs Storo. Lyon im
incdiatoly took possession ff the field FIJI
day night. Forty rebels were picked uJ
dead and II wounded were found so stanC
of arms, Is horses and wagon loaded witt
bacon was seized by our troops. The Who'll,
appearance of tho fold showed sharp fight
ing on the part of our troops Men wer,
fund with their heads fairly cloven through
from scalp to chin by tho fierce sabor stroke,
of our cavalry. ..r
As to tho loss, Lyons is probably 0 killed
and 80 wounded, though the accounts o.
tho wounded conflict. There is no way OF
judging of McCulIOch's loss except from tho
fact already noticed-of the number of bod
los discovered.