The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1861-08-31
From the st. Louis Republican
The Kansas Regiments at Wilson's Creek


knocking limbs from the trees. and pound
ing the rocks beyond US in an unmerciful
manner, but hurting no one. The enemy's
musketry, however, was better directed
and did much havoc with the Missouri boys,
who stood it bravely. The First Kansas
regiment was ordered up to their support,
six companies in front and four as a reserve.
Just now the Missouri boys were compell-
ed to fall back, having sustained CALLING
! fire for half hour. and then the Kansas
few rounds, Capt. Chenoweth's, Clayton 8
and part of Capt. McFarland's company
under Lieut.. Malone-the Captain having
been previously wounded-were ordered
to charge. Headed by Colonel Deitzler,
but soon found that their ardor was likely
to cost them dear. for they got into the
rebel lines So far that they we've almost sur
rounded, large body showing themselves
on either flank and pouring in fearful fire.
They were obliged to fall back, and in do
ing so, Col. Deitzler was severely wounded.
and his horse killed. Capt. Chenoweth
was slightly wounded in the arm, received
a ball in his boot, and had his hat shot off.
Amid the noise and confusion of the con-
slant firing of musketry and roaring of ar
tillery, the order of retreat was not heard
by Capt. Clayton, who continued to advance
until he came to the brow of the hill, where
he discovered regiment of men whom he
supposed from their uniform to be Sigel's
regiment, advancing toward him at right
angles. Their Colonel asked the Captain
where the enemy were. He replied by
pointing in the direction of tho retreating
Ii T.. 4
aligning his company upon the right of the
regiment. All at once Cant. Clayton mis-
trusted that he was III trap, and looking
towards the Colonel he recognized in him
an did acquaintance. being no less than
Col. CIarkson of Kansas Border Ruffian
notoriety. ex-postmaster of Leavenworth
City. The Captain then gave the command,
right obliqe, march," When he had
moved his company a distance of about
thirty PAGES away from the enemy's line,
the Adjutant of the rebel regiment rode
rapidly towards him and commanded him
to halt. He did so and Immediately brought
his company to an "about face" fronting
the enemy's line. The Adjutant asked
swhat troops are these?" al belong to the
tain:'' "who are your II am Adjutant of
Confederate or United States?" ''Confeder
ate." Then dismount, God damn you;
you're my prisoner" said the Captain, pre-
senting his pistol. He obeyed and upon
the demand of the Captain, delivered over
his sword.
"Now," says the Captain. "order your
men not to fire, or you're dead man" and
commenced moving backward with his COM
boIJ IL A hafu
self and the rebel forces. The Adjutant
ordered his men to open fire, which they
did, and the Captain shot the Adiutant with
his pistol. At the same monet a sergeant
of Captain C's company thrust bis bayo
net through the body of the Adjutant, pin
ming him to the ground and leaving his gun
sticking in his body. The Captain then Or
dered his men to run for their lives, which
they did, forming again upon the brow of
the hill.
Meanwhile Major Halderman was gal
lantly leading the reserve of four compa
MES which were now engaged. The Sec
ond Kansas regiment had come into action;
their brave commander, Col. Mitchell, was
shot severely, and now Lieut.. Col. Blair
was acting like the true man he is in cheer
ing on and directing his mer. Maj. Cloud,
with his long hair reminding one of Col.
May, was riding up and down the line, as
cool as if nothing unusual was happening.
Capt. Steel, with his brigade, was pouring
thunderous volleys into the scoundrels,
while Capt. Totten's battery was outdoing
itself in its murderous belchings. Wher-
ever his guns were turned, a solitude was
made. Gen. Lyon had fallen, and Maj.
Sturgis was now in command. The grape
shot began to rattle about us like hail, and
then we knew that Col. Sigel had lost his
battery. and that his guns were turned upon
US, for the enemy had hitherto fred no
grape.
Jus. now Captain Chenoweth rode TO the
right of the Second Kansas, and pointing
over the brow of the hill, called for can
non, observing that the enemy were ap-
preaching from that direction. There they
came, fifteen hundred men, in an unbro- |
ken line. Two feldpieces were brought to
the right and opened upon them with ter
rible effect, but still they advanced, evil
IDENTIFY thinking that the cannon would prove
their prey. Little they knew of the thou
sand unfiinching men who lay in the grass
before them. They opened terrible fire,
but received no answer save from the artil
lery. The bullets whistled, ratified, banged,
wlirred over our heads, striking the trees
and bushes two or three feet from the ground.
If our men had stood up, hardly man
would have been left. At last the order to
fire was given, and such terrific volIey as
followed was never before heard by any man
on that field. It is folly to try to describe
it, or to search for a comparison. The en-
envy broke and fed; their train was seen to
be on fire and they in retreat, but we could
not hope to bold the field with our small
force, for they would not fail to return with
overwhelming numbers. We were there
fore ordered to retire. The Second Kansas
regiment was the last off the field; wheeling
into column, and marching off in perfect
order.
We halted about two miles from the bat
tie field to wait for straggIers and collect our
forces. thinking it hardly possible that the
enemy would not harrass our rear with his
cavalry. of which he had great numbers.
It afterwards proved that he was glad to
bid us a final adieu. Our whole train was
brought away in safety. Thus little ar