Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1861-08-16
LATEST NEWS
BIZ the Mails.


Fall and Interesting Account by ~ O6i.
Rolla..rhe Enenv Badly Cut Up.
Sr. Louis, Aug. l4-2P.h.
Especial Dispatch to the Chicago Tribune
The following is An account Of the battle near
Springfield BY Capt. Fsirchild, Of the LIST Kansas
Regiment, who has arrived 1t Kolla:
We had been diminishing 10 view 70 hnd the
enemy, when on Thundsy night, it was reported
BY party Of our cavalry that his outposts were
tour niiss south -vsst Of Springfield. The Let and
"a Regiments, two companies OF cavalry and two
OF three COMPANIES Of Regulars, we're ordered out
10 engage ii possible. When they came within
attacking distance, they formed line Of bstte,b but
the sneny Withdrew.
Next day st ?. y. We received orders take one
days rstions and prepare fos march. About
O'Clock in the even' ng greater part Of ue, under
Gen. Lson. left Springfield, while ) gel remained
behind as . reserve. Sgsl had about 500 men
ander him. We marched miles in the direction
Of the enemy, and then rested tor several hours.
At o'clock saturday morning, we resumed our
march. and after having proceeded three mi es
further, came upon the enemy, who were encamp-
cd on Q Iieoe Of ground admirably adapted "
their spssiss Of warfare covered at intervals with
brush wood and corn6eld, and covering ravines for
cohcealment. As soon Gen. Lyon cAme within
sight # the Coniederates, he opened scannonsds
IN them.
1t was promptly and ably answered, and the
battle now fairly commenced, and ia short time
became general along the whole line A ,istle be-
fore eight o'clock, Gen. Lyon Was wounded BY
shot in hts foot and his horse killed, and be re-
tired TO tho rear tor surgical treatment 1t so hap
pened that our troops we're hard pressed by the
Confederstes just at that time. Things began TO
assume . threatening aspect, and Gen. Lyon see
ing the danger, at once dismissed all thoughts of
his wound, mounted his hsrse and rode in front Of
his men Ynd waving his hat and handkerchief.
oAilsd out to tho boys to rally and liow him.
bail struck him in the back and KILLED him in
silently. Tho effect Of Lvsns death upon our
troops was terrible. A feeling Of CONSERVATION
spread through ur ranks aad depicted itself in
every countenance. At that moment, hal the
enemy made . charge, our troops would hardly
have resisted il with success, and their defeat
might have been easy; bat soon every other feel-
ing gave way to feeling Of revenge and deadly
determination. Ma or >turgis promptly assumed
the comm nd, and from that time until o'clock
il the afternoon, the combat lasted almost unnter-
ruptedly, and vas conducted With ierceness on
both sides rarely equslled in the annals Of war.
Our troops would have achieved . splendid vic
tory, had it not been for the fearful odds they had
to contend against. On the side of the Confede-
rstes, 10000 to $1,000 we're in the fight, and to
these, up 20 2 o'clock p. M, bedy OF only ., w
was opposed. 40 unfortunate circumstance tor
our troops WAS that during tho greater part OF the
b .ttle, they came so near the Confe0erates, that
tuc Olu HuOt kuoS 8uu OtucI luOlueIout W0opOuS VI
the latter could be used with the same deadly ct
feet As Minnie muskets. The ground, too, Was Of
the enemy's own choice, and our troops tent into
battle not knowing how far the line OF the enemy
extended, or whore his forces were.
At about o'clock P. NJ, Gen. Sigel having
from Springfield. He Immediately attacked the
enemy on his right flank, and did terri, le execu.
tion. The rest Of our troops seeing that Sigel
brought them succor, rallied and made one more
determined onset on the enemy but such were
the overwhsl ing odds aga nst which they fought
that the encounter anOuuted to nothing more than
a mutual cutting up; and by o'clock all parties
seemed to be anxious to withdraw from the
field.
The 8. troops retired to Springfield in good
order, and there the call Of the roll by regiments
was responded to usual.
Our informant counted lilo wounded in . hespi-
tai in Springfield. all belonging to the FIRST Kan
sas Regiment. lie did not ascertain the number
nf killed and wounded in other regiments but
the number may be pretty nearly inferred when it
Is taken into consideration that the First Kansas
Regiment wa in the thickest of the fight.
At o'clock On Sunday morning, Gen. Sigel
having concl lded that 1t would not be prudent to
sumo the battle, the whole column Of troops fol
lowed by large numbers of citizens, with ali they
could gather up in the shape of moveabIe goods,
commenced retreat ffom Springfield, in the di
res'ion OF kolla.
News Of the evacuation Of Springfield would run
for miles in advance of the troo;s, and ever and
anon some farmer with oil his moveables. v ould
stand waiting tor them 1t the door OF his house
and tall in the rear IS the column passed along,
He also noticed numerous fires around farm houses
and infcrs that what they could not take with
them they burned.
The following is an imperfect list Of the killed
and wounded officers, so far ascertained
kied--tien. Lyon Lieut.. G. Ayrisl, Company
K, Let Kansas Regiment Lieut.. l. L. Jones, OF
Capt Markins' Company, same regiment; Lieut..
Devar, Same regiment Lieut.. McGunnigsn, of
Capt AcCooks Company. ssme regiment.
Dangerously wounded-Coi. Mitchell, End Kan
sas Regiment Capt. Mcfarland, lst Kansas regi-
nsnt, skull fractured, supposed to be dead.
Wounded with prospects of recovery Col. Dletz-
ler. in left leg Major Hallerman. slightly injured;
I'd Lieut. Bsrke: Of Capt. Faircnilds company lst
Kansas Regiment, shot through the left hand.