The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-08-23
VOL. XIII.-NO. 10.
THE SPRINGFIELD BATTLE.
Correspondence Of the St. Louis Democrat.
SPRINGFIELD, GREEN Co., Mo.
Sunday. Aug. IL, 1861.

Sunday, Aug. IL, 1861.
Night before last little army of fifty
two hundred men moved in two columns on
a march of twelve or fifteen miles to attack
a body of rebels $4,000 strong. In mill
itary point of view, the move was one of
doubtful propriety, not to say absolute
rashness. The larger force were, with the
exception of 5000 men, well armed and
equipped, and they had large body of
cavalry. But the question of evacuating
Springfield, the key of the entire Southwest
had already been discussed and settled in
the negative. 1t was decided that the loyal
citizens of Green and the surrounding coun.
ties should not have cause to say we had
left them without struggle, abandoned
themselves, their families, their all, to a
heartless and desperate foe, until the enemy
had felt our steel and tried the mettle of our
troops.
Gen. Sigel, with six pieces of caunon,
his own regiment, and that of Colonel Sol
onions, moved in a southerly direction,
marching about fifteen miles, passing around
the extreme southeastern camp of the enemy
and halted until daylight, or for the sound
of artillery from the southwest to announce
the opening of the battle.
Shortly after five o'clock party of rebels
acting as picket was seen scattering over
the hills to give the alarm, but portion of
our column had already penetrated far
enough to cut of their route, unless they
took very circuitous one, in which case we
should reach camp ahead of them. We soon
came in sight of the valley in which they
were encamped. A thousand tents stretch
ing off into the distance and partially
screened from view by hill jutting into an
angle OF Wilson Greek, were before US, pre-
senting as animated an appearance as a
young city. The enemy's camp extended
from the head of the valley, overlooked on
the north, east and west sides by hills and
and ridges two or three hundred feet in
height southwark about mile. thence east
ward a mile and a hall, and then southwark
half mile, following the windings of the
creek, along whose banks the gently sloping
hills on either side afforded the most excel.
ent camping ground.
On the sides of the first ridge on the ives.
tern side of the valley, Col. Blair's regi-
ment, at ten minutes after six o'clock, en-
countered heavy force of infantry, not less
than full regiment, and after severe con.
test they gained the summit, and the defeat
ed rebels dispersed rapidly, going in d.
rection which rendered it impossible for
any considerable number of them to again
participate in the battle. Totten's battery
then threw few balls as feelers, to draw
out the enemy's cannon. D raI .
Col. Blair's regiment moved forward and
were soon met by we'll equipped regiment
of Louisiana troops, which after bitter
contest of forty-6ve minutes, they succeed
ed in routing, though suffering severely
themselves. Captain Lathrops company
OF rifle recruits now assisted them, and to-
gether they, with Major Osterhaus' men
moved up the second bill, which was con-
siderably larger than the first, and meeting
third regiment, finally succeeding in driv-
ing them back, with the assistance of Tot
tens battery, and gaining the summit. In
this part of the fight the gallant Missouri
volunteers acted bravely-indeed, no words
of praise could more that do him justice.
Of course many acts of valor were per-
formed not witnessed by me, but among
those l saw conspicuous were Capt. Gratz,
leading his men against overwhelming odds,
and falling in death just as he had repulsed
the foe. Lieutenant Murphy dashing for.
ward ahead OF the line. waving his sword
high in the air, shouting onward to the al
most wavering men, who gained fresh cour.
age from the exhibition, and pushing for.
ward, drove the enemy from the field. In
this fight, many of our brave soldiers fell to
rise no more, while Colonel Andrews had
his horse shot from under him and was
wounded himself slightly. General LYON
suffered in similar manner; Captains Cav
ender, Cole, and Yates, each slightly or at
least not dangerously wounded Leuten.
ants Brown and Johnston, and Corporals
Conant and Rogers, more ar less severely
wounded.
During this engagement two companies
OF regulars were sent to the east side of the
creek to engage force which was opera
ting against Capt. Wright's cavalry shell.
tering themselves behind a fence. Capt.
Plummer and Capt. Gilbert with their
companies marched close up to the fence
and delivered an effective fire, but were
compelled by great odds to retire, which
they did but again renewed the attack
The enemy being largely reinforced, and
having now at least three thousand men,
jumped over into the corn field, and Capt.
Plummer,s gallant band was Immediately
threatened with humiliation. They retreat
ed rapidly, firing as they did so, when
Lieutenant Dubois having got his battery
under headway on the bill near the Nilsson.
ri Volunteers, seeing the position of affairs
on the opposite side of the valley, threw in
the most precise manner several shells,
which exploded just as they reached the
danse mass of secnssionista scattering thap,