The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-08-19


and decision. To Of his staff ho remarked tho
ing before tho battle, ~ believing in PRESENT.
mens, and ever since this night surprise was
planned have had o feeling l cannot get rid
Of that II would result disastrously Through the refusal
Of government properly to reinforce me am obliged to
abandon tho country. leave ii without engaging tho
enemy the public will call me coward. engage
him may BIO defeated and my command cut to pieces.
am too weak to hold Springfield and yet tho people will
demand that bring about battle with the very enemy
cannot keep town against. How can this result other
wise than against us2'
On tho way to the field frequently rode near him.
He seemed like bcwldered and often when addressed
failed to give any recognition and seemed totally
that he spoken TO- On tho battle field no gave
his orders promptly and seemed solicous for the VOL
fare Of his but utterly regardless Of his own safety
While he standing where bullets flow hickcst, just
after his favorte horse shot from under him. some
Of his officers neposed and begged that he would retire
from the spot and seek less exposed. Scarcely rails
ing his eyes from the enemy he said
'sI Is we'll enough that stand hore. am satisfied"
While the limo forming for the charge against the
rebels in which no lost his le General Lyon turned to
Major Sturgs, who stood near him, and remarked
~ fear that the day is lost Colonel siegel had been
successful no would have joined before this think
will lead this charge"
He had been wounded in the leg In early part tho
engagements flesh wound merely-from which the blood
flowed prousely Major Sturgis during the conversation
noticed blood General Lyons hat and at first supposed
he had been touching it with his hand which wet
with blood from his leg moment after perceiving that
was fresh he removed tho Generals hat and asked tho
Of its appearance. s Is nothing Major nothing
but wound in the head, said General Lyon turning
away and mounting his horse. without taking tho hat
hold out to him by Major sturgs addressed Iowans
he was to command with
"F1r7uard men, Twill Lead you"
Two minutes afterwards he lay dead the field killed
by rifle ball through the breast, just above the heart.
In death his features the troubled and puzzled
expression that had been fixed upon them for the past
week His body was brought to town in tho afternoon
and will be forwarded to his friends Connecticut
ternent.
The appearance Of the field throughout tho day was ex
ceedngy gloomy. The morning cloudy and once in
tho forenoon rain FELL Toward the sun shOne out
but not clearly The smoke from tho cannon and small
arms, with that from tho burning train, hung over the
| field, seeming like pail spread to cover the I'M
| fortunate dead Tho horrors Of Manassas were re
| newed on this battle field. Our wounded men were
bayoneteI struck over tho head with muskct butts
An officer, lieutenant in the First Missouri taken
prisoner struck four times with musket aud loft for
dead. He revived and escaped A surgeon, who went
on the field after tho battle, several times shot
truce sent to the rebel commanders, and was re-
| ceved.
Union flags were several times waved to induce our
| men to go forward. None were taken by this
At tho tmo tho enemy advancing to outiank our
left, and repusel by our cannonadng q rebels
flag was borne prominently in their front The man
carrying was struck by SHE'LL which exploded at the
same moment. Another snatched up the banner, and
was hurrying forward when he killed by canister
| shot. Tho flag was not again
Most Of tho shot from the rebel cannon passed over
our heads few horses were killed by round shot and
two or three badly wounded with pieces Of
| shell With these exceptions do not know Of their ar
tllery doing damage Your correspondent standing
| beside his horse under tree in tho rear Of Capt.
| TOttens battery when q six pound shot passed
through tho treo top not four feet above his
head. Thinking there might BIO better place for oh.
servation changed my position twenty rods,
and was speedily admonshed Of my insecurity by
other ball poughng up the ground not six foe away and
literally covering Inc with dirt. Upon the theory that
ghtning does strike twice in the same place y kept
still, and not troubled by any Of the
near me. six pound shot produces sound anything
but melodious. About the time the action commenced
rode past the First Missouri regiment. One Of the SOL
diers, seeing my citizens Dress cooked his gun and
! brought it to bear upon vontured to ask
''What are you going to shoot me for?
~ don't know you, tho reply with the gun still in
| pos.ti on
Just then one Of the soldiers askel where had been
since was with them at Bonneville, and my about
| shoot friend lowered his rife and disappeared
Whether the result is victory, defeat or drawn
battle leave for tho reader TO decide Our forces took
position and held 1t five hours. When they retired the
enemy had been several times repuscd and in the last
attack driven from the field They had burned their bag
gage train to prevent getting it, and when loft the
field did not attempt to pursue Upwards Of hour
after departure they returned and took possession
rendering necessary that ambulanees should go
under flag Of truce Tho rcbol troops outnumberod the
Unionist at least four to and Of officers es
| mate their strength as fully six times that of ours
The statements from the prisoners that we took gave
them from twelve to thirty thousand. Among the prison
ers Horace H. Brand, Of Bonneville, add camp
General Price He told they had twenty thousand
armed mon and twenty pieces Of artillery but though
we could whip them with twelve thousand good troops
Certainly they had force enough to enable them
always with very large bodies of soidery and to bring
fresh men into action each time The Union force in
Guiding Colonel Siegcrs command, Ave thousand two
hundred strong. All men fought admirably, and il
would be unius: to praise any regiment thar
another Some Of the officers of the regular army cher
| shed supreme contempt for volunteers but hcart
nearly all Of them speak terms Of the highest praise
ian and not qualified to crtcisc in n military light
could difference between the volunteers and the
regulars save that the latter made their movements in
better order and with greater celebrity.
The number Of killed and wounded 1t is impossible tc
state. My estimate would be that the Union loss was
two hundred killed and six hundred wounded and the
reDa loss dsabls those figures Our men never moved
denser than in ranks never show in large bod
| while the robels nearly always made their movement.
in strong columns and several times solid squares thus
presenting fine mark for artillerymcn, who were
not slow to it, The official report may very mucl
reduce the figures G the loss both Sides 1t would no
be matter of surprise should they be doubled 1t wa.
of the boodiest if tho bloodcst battle ever fought
| in the United States.
| No fun returns have yet been made of the names Of
killed and wounded We hear of officer of importance
the rebol side being killed wounded. On the Union
side Captain Grata, of Missouri Frst Captain Masen
of Iowa First and Captain Brown Of Kansas First: were
killed Colonel Andrews, Missouri First; Colonel Deitzcr
and Major Haldcrnan, Kansas First and Colonel Mitchell
Kansas Second, were wounded-none fatally Lieutenant
| y,e rtnl,,- l,,I