The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1861-11-09
The Occupation Of SpFingaeld, Mo-,
9 1he FEDERAL EoTCeNs
: Great Joy of The Inhabitants.
''a CANP LYoS,
spRrSGyrrLD, Mo-, Sunday Eve, Oct. 275 z

CA1P LYON,
IS spRrSGyrrLD, Mo-, Sunday Eve, Oct 275 e
/ Editors Misso,ri Democrat = = ha
This has been n gala day for Springfield. On
the 11th day Of August last, Gen. Lyon's gallaqt
little band of heroes, unsustained in their hero
ic deeds AZ w ilson's Greek, unwillingly and re-
gretfully left Springfield to the not very tender
mercies Of the Rebel army. Hundreds of hon
eat citizens who had vslianuy done their duty in
defending their country and their hearth-stones,
we're now obliged to take hasty adieu Of their
families, and tear themselves away 70 return
when, the Lord only knew. Many families, fear
full Of the perils and the annoyances Of . so.
journ in the city when in the hands Of the enc.
my, hastily gathered together . few Of their
household goods, and Joined the general rout,
which, among the citisens Of the place, the re-
tirement gradually assumed. Hundreds Of these
people have since been wandering here and
there, exiles from their families and their homes
Many Of them Who preferred to remain in the
vicinity, have been liviag with their rifles among
the hills and prairies surrounding, they them
selves hunted down like wild beasts and their
property plundered and destroyed. Springfield
has ever been loyal town, and perhaps in no
city Of the State has there from the first beat
more honest, manly, Union. loving hearts than
in the pleasant little capital Of the Southwest
Under these circumstances, with friends and re
latves scattered to the four winds, 1t can be i'm
agined how longinsly and how wistfully have
the people of Springfield looked forward to the
day when the old Gag they all loved SO well
should again wave over them, and when old
friends and relatives, long banished, shosd
again assemble about the familiar haunts.
They have all been confident that the hour
would come, and have patiently bided their
time. Fremonts army was to them an army Of
deliverance, indeed. With what anxious long
ings had they listened to every rumor Of its pro-
gress. On Monday night last growing conf.
dent at its near approach, some of the bold spi
rits Of the place hoisted the stars and stripes on
the Court House, held as the town vas by the
Rebela It came near costing them some of
their lives, which we're only saved by . night
fight from town; but II showed the spirit which
animated the people, and was but the forerun-
ner Of what actually did occur, for all time, four
days subsequently. s
On the next Friday the Rebel occupants Of
the place were ingloriously routed, and to day,
exactly eleven weeks from the day our troops
left it, the city was formally re captured by our
forces
said it has been gala day for Springfield.
but will pot attempt to describe the almost
universal joy with which the re-appearance Of
our army has been hailed. Union flags brought
orLn from thelr niOlng places OF so many long
weeks, were again unfolded from the fences and
dwellings on all sides, while men, women aud
children rushed down to the roadside, often af.
fccted even to tears, but yet smiling through
them all, shouting out the most cordial vel.
come. aL
wrote you last night from Bolivar, mention
ing the departure OF Holmans sharp.shooters
by wagons, and am now happy to add that his
very excellent little battalion, of which We shall
hear more one OF these days, arrived here by
daylight this morning. Col. Carr's Third Iii.
nois cavalry arrived about nine o'clock last eve.
nlng. Three Regiments Of Sigels Division, the
S5th Illinois, and two other, with two batteries,
struck their tents ct midnight and made the
march of thirty miles here by one o'clock to-
day. The Benton Cadets left camp about four
O'Clock. and reached the city in good season this
afternoon. Gen. Fremont and portion of his
staff pushed ahead and arrived about two o.
clock p IN All of the above are now duly en-.
camped or quartered about the town.
Gen. Fremont is occupying the old quarters
Of Gen. Lyon.
Tie remaining portion of Sigers Division, and
perhaps portion Of Asboth's, will be here by
Tomorrow evening 4 ..-... -