Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1861-08-20

| To DO thought Too lats1o make the
Uphieo, and to whole fosU6 vas imme-
@lktels tursed abeut aed marched 10
Springfield.
Friday he determined to renew bis
attempt and meet the enemy in bis own
position, anticipating an attack which
he learned McCulloch would the next
day make upon Springfield. ] am con-
strained to believe that this attack was
II ade against the advice OF majority OF
his own officers, and even against his
own convictions. He knew the i'm
mensc opportunity Of the enemy-kneu
their vast strength IN position and srtil-
Iery and yet, urged on perhaps BY the
hope that some turn Of Fortunes wheel
might befriend him, or determined that
he would not yield possession OF South.
western Missouri without . struggle, he
concluded to make the attack. | know
that for the last week it has been the
earnest feeling of oil that their COM
mand should fall back on kolla-not
concieving it to be their duty TO hold
this place against such tremendous odds,
while the Government persistently CHS.
regarded their demand for help.
However, Gen. Lyon determined to
make the attack, and did it, - said,
even against HE own convictions. liza
conversation with one of his staff on
Friday evening he asked tho other il be
believed in presentiments, saying he did,
And was assured that the attack would
prove disastrous. That these premonl
lions were fearfully correct Is shown by
the bloody history OF the next twenty
four hours. And not only did General
Lyon attack tie enemy in tie face OF
his own and bis officers' opinions, but
even planned it in manner that was
differed from by . majority Of l's ad-
vlsers. His force was small and weak
at best-to divide it made 1t, OF course,
still weaker, yet still it was determined
10 attack the enemy at two points. Gen.
Sigcl with six pieces Of artillery and
about 300 men was sent down the
State road to make detour and attack
the enemy at the east end of his line,
while Gen. Lyon with the main body
$4,000 proceeded to attack the west.
Before starting out the General review
ed the forces, passing in front Of each
command, and saying something cheer
my and complimentary, which was ev-
cry where received with enthusiasm, for
no other officer in the army enjoyed SO
fully as himself the esteem and conf
dcnce of the soldiers.
may remark here that the Iowa first
was commanded by Lieut.. Col. Merritt
Col. Bates being sick with fever. He
made an effort to 60, but after riding
short distance his further progress was
absolutely prohibited by his ply sician,
and he reluctantly returned TO his bed.
Lieut.. Col. Merritt and Major Porter
were both in the thickcst OF the fight all
day, and constantly encouraged their
men both by word and example. "Up
and at EN- boys" was the refrain con-
stantly sung by the former, and well was
II obeyed.
The entire force of the Federal troops
was 5000 men-ot which there was one
company Of Kansas Cavalry and four of
regular Dragons. The artillery force
was l6 picces-of which six went with
Gen. SigcI to attack the east end OF the
ravine--the balance, Including Totten's
and Dubois batteries, accompanied the
body under Gen. Lyon. 1t was arrang.
nediately by both commands at about
daylight. A small company of cavalry
under Lieut.. Kelly and quantity OF
Home Guards and two guns were lett to
guard the town-the balance left soon
after dark, and moving up respectively
to within about five miles OF their IN
tended points If attack, halted and slept
on their arms till within q couple OF
hours OF daylight.
Every body who was in Springfield
was up long before daylight and await
ing with teve.ish anxiety the event of
the dav. Daylight came SLOW y--min
uies seemed hours, and yet nothing was
heard from the direction OF The enemy.
About ten minutes past five the heavy
boom of artillery rolled through the
town like the mntterlng of thunder.
storm upon the horizon, aud sent a thrill
through every heart like shock OF
electricity. | instantly mounted my
horse and set out for the scene OF the
actioa, which was fully twelve miles dis
tant, and as neared 1.-THE explosions OF
the artillery became one continuous roar
that only now and then was broken
enough to distinguish the sound Of sin
gle guns. At times for ten minutes the
whole earth was shook with one contin-
uous tremendous peal that seemed the
prolonged howl OF a hundred thunder
storms mingled in one-then it would
s!ackcn for moment, and perhaps a
single gun would be heard, then halt
dozen in succession so quick that each
succeeding sound Tapped on the prece-
ding one; and then the tapping on
would become indistinguishable, and the
whole would be merged again in one
terrific volume.
1t was like an old-fashioned 'fugue"
tune, where the parts were the tremen-
dous Voices OF heavy ordnance-a SIN.
gle voice would lead off note or so,
then another would Join and another in
quick succession till all the sulphurous
voices i'll one sublime chorus were re-
uerberating over the hills and across the
prairies with volume that shook the
earth like Niagara. Nearing the ground,
the regular volleys Of musketry were
heard mingling their sharper tones in