Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-08-19
THRILLING NARRATIVE OF THE BATTLE
NEAR SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI.


march of twelve or fifteen miles to attack a
body of rebels twenty two thousand strong.
In military point of view, the move was one
of doubtful propIiety, not 10 say absolute rash
ness. The larger force were, with the eXcep-
ton of three thousand men, well armed and
equipped and they had large body OF cav
airy But the question of evacuating Spring
field, the key Of the entire southwest, had al
ready been discussed and settled in the mega
tive. Ii was decided that the loyal citizens of
Green and the surrounding counties should
not have cause to say we had left them with
out a struggle, abandoned themselves, their
families their all, to a heartess and desperate
foe, until the enemy had felt our steel and tried
the mettle of our troops. That mettle proved
itself worthy of the great cause in which it
was engaged. The Union troops who fought
and won the battle of yesterday, need no high
err mark, no brighter name than the laurels
earned justly entitle them to- They fought,
like brave men, long and well.
BEGINNING OF THE FIGHT.
M. L.,,i, f,1 ,,l,or,, ,,.o r,,s+s ovoro f;,bt
~ 49,, ,,as l,r flo ,;l,,oe and Hills on
lnS ""s Io" I.,,, , 10 ,,fStl 81 yVilson,
ea'ne' 'iGe Hi'S SrossaJ te lii on tba nnrth
C Ge',. Wiz w. ,yiTb tho nonnteI home
o"psii eao,t to tLo oas,.s;Jo IN cut off n
Su'tu'' va e,s,, =; h.. 5;nootion Ain.
| pat.J tI W - Ia, = L. r,Io - tba ~
tat il% ,';II s',Ii Sno avorv novo.
Vi ',ie ti'L', 80, Eo,Iooth Hin III onnear.
h.eu' VI e.T y,o,'.d bulI,ub IN tho
- oat,,n which nod ALREADY been thorouoh
| l., aroueed Inv our onnearance and camps and
| baggoge were hastily loaded and meved to-
waT] thc south. We had completely surprised
them The evidence of that fact was every
where visible. but they had got quickly into
line of baltie-thei1 clouds of cavalry were
80. 10 i,r ;Io,,t oftor oDri had onaned tha
were hoI 'o.s Du % a., a.
engagement VI luz s . Vi ~" Gai ptni!S
Oh !ne Westein 0aue ~ s'e oI,
lesi'i'el''i a. .e go 81 not lass
CoutteIeu ,, "a 49,, mo ,,S,,
t' 'ul ANY, a 49, oe oU
TEST they s"llet' le any '.e .t
reoels uspelseI gT,n T. ~ "
whieh rendered II l.lPossio,e ;o' any oGnsiue !,
aole nuii0ei W ~ "e, , 20, ,n, e
.'ie oa'''e . ~ -" az
ollls as " ou. NY ,'1 f,',I
hou' Ool' Hi'll 49,. vi " az
ana were soon net " -" "gt equ.ppeu ies.
meht OF Louisiana Vroops' WHO'LL aitel oit'e5
contest ol iot nit,use NY 49,
IN routing th0ugh suhering severely 1"enl'
selves. capt. LatHfop company Vi rI'G re-
cruiIs no" asslSteu t,ieul anu .ogetleI they'
with Mayor Osterhaus men moved up the sec
ond MI, whch was cohsiueraoiy larger 'hah
the hrst, ana meeting thlru regiment nhaily
succeeded III driving them BACK WIN the as
sistance OF 1otten's battery, and gaming The
summit
THE DEATH OF GEN. LYON.
Gen. Lyon now desired the Iowa boys,
whom he had found so brave, to prepare to
meet the next onset of the enemy with the
bayonet Immediately after firing. They said,
"Give us a leader and we will follow to DEATH"
.ra ,nna,ny in oyerw helming num-
force. L VIII lead you, exclaims Lyon.
Oohe on brave men and placing himself
Il! Tue van, received iatai bullet Just at the
p,I vi iiie stothach' "ni*h Killed him instantly.
Inc lowahs delivered their fire and the enemy
Tellreu' SO there was no need of charging
oayohels' zen Lyons body was carefully
p!cAeu up ana conveyed lfeess toward the
ms aliioulaIiGes oy Two OF his body guard. In
ueath' as III MS lie, he was the same devoted,
patrlotlc soldier, regarding his own life as of
no no Value' II he could but rescue his country.
iIs oouy mas peeh brought mther aud EN-
o"'iiieu, ior conveyance 10 his friends In Con-
neo.iou.. Anere was no leelihg OF depression
on tne par Vi 'ie troops at the unexpected
c"ian,!y' out rather leelng OF quiet deter
n,'hal,oh 10 revenge MS death On the
uesu"y nishI previous he had arranged
iol uistt a,'ach upon lie enemy, but
sH,sui" iounu HithseH delayed Two hours
.,,.,,.. r 'A'S' W
. ' Vi sSlrIi'sh on the prairie west OF
we VIZ, owl anu lle attack was postponed
Wednesday lie sald 10 me wei, begin
oomnlatoS .tt ~ VI eol''ell"e Is ABOUT
coulpleleu nave tfleu earnestly to discharge
my whole duty to the government, and ap.
pea'eu 10 ineh Tor relnforcements and supplies.
Dut, alas' they 40 NOT come, and the enemy is
getting tne advantage OF u.s.. He then called
councli OIL war, al winch there was nearly
unanimous voice Tor evacuatng Springfield.
Ten oweeny plead eloquently against such
course, declared 1t would be the ruin Of the
Union cause IN that quarter OF the state, and
urged battle as soon as the enemy were
wltilh strlklnS distance lie also pointed out
Inc loss OF reputation both to the general and
ms officers winch would follow such step.
Inns eouhsel decided lie course to be pur-
sued' ana thursday, when the brigade quar-
termaster inquired when we were to leave
Springfield, zen. Lyon replied, mot before
we are whipped" This was the proper course
TO pursue. If he retreated without a battle
he would certainly have been pursued BY a
boastiul and unpunished enemy, and very like
ly have his retreat entirely cut off. After he
ing wounded he exclaimed 10 Major Schofeld
"Ihe day is lost, but the Major said. "No
General, let us try once more" So they tried
and the general icll 1t was now littIe ,ltor
nine o'clock, and the battle had raced with n
fierceness seldom it ever counle5 for nver
three hours The smoke hnnp Gpo 4 storo,
cloud over the valley, a fit emblem oi rn"Urr
ing for the departed hero
,He sleeps his last sloon I,o ,,o. e,...,..,
tie, ~ MS i'S' o"V
mil at-,I