Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-09-25
srInni. I.nrresnnndenes.

threatened with invasion by powerful
army which is already upon her South
western borders. The strength Of the in
yading army is believed to be not less than
$4,000 armed men. The military authOri
ties of the State have not believed that
such an army was approaching, and have
therefore been slow in making PrePars-
tions to meet it.
General Schofeld who commands the State
forces, left the city yesterday with his staff
and body guard to take command in per-
son. in the Southwest. What force we
shall have there, is not made public, but
it is supposed that our numbers will be
less than those Of the enemy. General
Totten in command at Springfield is ae-
lively engaged in constructing defensive
works, and has called into requisitiOn all
the white and black labor in the vicinity
for that purpose.
General schofeld was at the head of
General Lyons staff and was with him
from the beginning to the close Of his
campaign in Missouri 1t is possible that
the battlefield of Wilson Greek, where
General Lyon fell, will soon be the scene
of another conflict, even more terrible in
slaughter than the first The circumstan-
ces under which General Schofeld will
meet the enemy, if he meets him at all,
will be far more favorable than those under
which Genera Lyon met him little more
than one year ago on the field Of Wilson
Creek.
General Lyons little army did not ex'
ceed 5000 effective men, while that of the
enemy exceeded 10000. In vain had the
noble and devoted Lyon asked for rein.
forcements and supplies. The bold and
confident enemy advanced with over
whelming numbers, deliberately selected
and prepared his position waiting the
movements of General Lyon, having plann-
ted the. destruction Of his army, whatever
alternative he might adopt.
The Confederate army lay for several
days quietly at Wilson Greek waiting for
Hardee to move up in Lyons rear and cut
of his retreat The loyal masses Of the
Southwest had warmly committed them
selves to the Federal cause. The noble
hearted Lyon felt that he could not leave
these people unprotected, and yet almost
certain destruction threated his little army
should he risk battle. After period Of
anxious doubt and hesitation retreat was
decided upon and prepared for. At this
juncture General Sweeney, who had pre-
ceded Lyon in command of the expedition
to the Southwest, while the latter was at
Bonneville, and was superseded by Lyon on
his arrival at Springfield, felt it his duty
to urge upon General Lyon the Importance
Of changing his plans. He accordingly
went Immediately to General Lyon and
told him that retreat without a battle was
impossible-that the enemy would pursue
and fatally cripple, if not entirely destroy
him and that he ought not to leave the peo-
pie of the Southwest to merciless foe
without making at least one last effort to
defend them.
He urged an immediate attack upon the
enemy, believing unless he were attacked
Immediately he would make an attack
General Sweeney argued that if victory
could not be gained over the enemy he
might at least be so crippled as to be una
BILE to pursue and prevent Lyons retreat.
Sweeney with the impulsive ardor Of his
irish heart earnestly persuaded Lyon. They
had been comrades and fellow officers in
the regular army for many years, and side
by side had fought the battles of Mexico,
where Sweeney had lost his right arm
Lyon listened and urged objections, which |
Sweeney yehemently silenced with senti- |
ments of energy and brave daring.
Lyon retired to his lodging room,
stretched himself upon his couch, appar- |
emily to sleep, but really to think. In an |
hour he arose, and, approaching Sweeney,
inquired if he was still of the same opin- |
ion. He assured him emphatieslly that he |
was. The battle was planned and fought |
Lyon was killed, and Sweeney wounded. |
The enemy so powerful and confident, was
terribly crippled, and really beaten, but
the remnant Of our brave little army, un-
Of the victory it had gained, and
knowing the superior numbers of the en-
emy, felt unable to hold its position. At
sunset on the day of the battle, the rem
nsnt Of Lyons army came back to Spring
field, leaving him with the dead and
wounded on the field. At three o'clock
the next morning, August I1th, the re-
treat commenced, and during thatday, was
rapid, but after that, deliberate but eau
tiOus, as Hardee was expected to intercept
our retreat. Fortunately, the early day
at whicfrthe battle was fought disappoint-
ed this plan of the enemy, and the retreat
was uninterrupted and safe
The battle of Wilson Greek, was the
most terrible and bloody conflict which
freedom and slavery have had on the soil
Of Missouri, and it has been hoped that
he remainder of the conflict between
-hese antagonists in Missouri, would be
through the peaeeable agencies of reason,
Justice and humanity, acting in obedience
10 the forms and spirit of civil law. But
his may not be yet, though freedom
stands forth not only with strong arm
If military power to vindicate its rights
md our science, but with a grand moral
md political sentiment ere long to be en-
bodied in the Constitution, and written in
he statute books of Missouri.
This evening a Convention has been held
n this city, to adopt measures for the po-
itical organization of emancipation for
st. Louis county, and to procede for the
Of an emancipation ticket for
he coming election. You may rest assur-
d that emancipation in Missouri is a
oregone conclusion, fixed fact, requiring
nly the sanction and forms Of law to
ender it complete.
Yours, Truly, RES