The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-08-10
Greatest Battle Of the War

kansas line; had little skirmish, and
on our way back had sharp en-
gagement at Dug Springs. We then
encamped about two miles south Of
Springfield.
Lyon was in most critical posi-
tlon. His repeated calls for reinforce.
ments and supplies had not been re-
sponded to. The time of his mems en-.
llstment, three months, had expired.
they had received no pay; their
Clothing in rags, their shoes about
gone. What was he to do? His actual
base of supplies was st. Louis. or
Rolla, $50 miles away. The enemy.
reported to be $4,000 strong, was with
In few miles of us. Should be wait
to be attacked by this overwhelming
force and doubtless be compelled to
surrender, or make virtue of neces-
sity and assume at once the initia-
tive?"
He chose the latter alternative
On the evening Of August 9, Gener-
al Lyon rode along in front of the
paraded troops, told us that he in
tended marching that night, to attack
the enemy In the morning, and that
utmost silence must be maintained
no noise, no lights, not a sound. This
was almost an unprecedented thing
FOR commanding general to do; but
we loved and respected Lyon. and he
confided In us.
Ihat night we marched nine miles
southwest from Springfield, dropped
down on the prairie with our guns in
our hands, and for few short hours
slept that sleep which only the weary
soldier knows. No noise, no lights,
profound silence! Just before early
dawn we moved again, marched about
mile, down into the valley OF Will
/ sons Creek-and the deadly battle
was on
SlgeI's Mistake.
The surprise was complete. Sigel
had been detached with two regiments
OF infantry, battery of six guns and
two companies of regular cavalry, I'M
der Captain Eugene A. Carr, to make
detour and simultaneously attack
the enemy in the rear He carried
out his part admirably, and the first
roar of his guns reverberated through
that peaceful valley in unison with
ours. Let me here finish with Sigel.
His attack was a success-and por-
ton of the enemy, thus routed in his
camp, fed hither and thither in great
confusion. Had Sigel followed up this
suspicious beginning, all would have
been well His men, however, conclud-
ing that the battle was already won,
, scattered became disorganized, and
the enemy. rallying, vigorously at
tackled him. captured all his guns but
one, some prisoners, drove him from
| the field, and his command, upon
whose cooperation SO much depended
then and there ceased to be factor
! in the days fight. The entire force
of the enemy was then turned upon
| Lyon. On our side the battle now
ragged with great fury Nearly the
! whole rebel force, after recovering
| from their first surprise, met out at.
tack with equal bravery. The battle
had been opened by our First Nilsson.
ri Infantry supported by the First
/ Kansas. Then brave old Totten's bat
terry dashed into a commanding posi-
ton on the crest of a ridge. After
/ fierce fighting of half an hour. during
which time these gallant regiments re
! tired few yards only to advance
again with greater intrepidity, the
/ rebels fell back, and we had gained
an excellent position. On our imme
date left was corn field, and there
Du Bois regular battery, supported by
/ two companies of the Second Regular
Infantry and Osterhaus' Second Mis-
souri,, kept up a continuous and tell
ing fire.
And now, about 9 O'Clock, there
came a lull in the tide of battle. You
have all been there and know what
/ that means-the prelude to more dead
| " work. But bark! what sound is
/ that? New 10 our ears, DuI nedIu OIL
many a bloody field thereafter-it is
the terrible rebel yell. On they
come, full 10000 strong, sweeping
/ down upon our little army of only
1000. Now are we in the very SHOCK
/ and terror of battle. Here is what
Lyons adiutant general, Major (nov
/ General) Schof1eld. says: THE en-
gagn1ent at once became general, ant
almost inconceivably fierce, along the
entire line, the enemy appearing II
/ front. often in three or four ranks
living down, kneeling and standing, the
lines approaching to within thirty OF
! forty wards, as they would charge up
on Totten's battery and be driven back
Every able battalion was now brought
into action, and the battle ragged with
unabated fury for more than an hour
4 the scale running nearly all the time
equally balanced. our troops some
times gaining. then giving little
and rallying again"
General Lyons Death.