The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-08-10

nearu from S1geI since early In the
morning. Just at this time q large
force OF infanary was seen moving
towards our left, and carrying our
flag. We supposed, Of course, that
it was Sigel's command None Of us
had any uniform. except the regulars
All at once battery dashed into po-
sition in our very front and began
rapid firing into us, showing the rebel
colors. There and then took place
the fiercest and deadliest onset Of
the day. Listen to Schofield again
"Du Bois' battery on our left, CALAMITY
supported by the rallied fragments of
the First Missouri, soon silenced the
enemy's guns, and repulsed the right
wing of his infantry. Captain Tot
tens battery in the center, supported
by the First Iowa, and the regulars,
was the main point OF attack. Our
line maintained Its position with great
firmness; finally the enemy gave way
and fled from the field
And thus closed about 1880 a. M,
an almost uninterrupted conflict of six
hours. Orders were given to retire,
and we fell back to Springfield.
After the death of Lyon, Major Stur-
gis of the regular army took command.
His report gives great praise to our
troops, and concludes thus: "The last
encounter lasted for over an hour, and
was furious. The enemy then fed
| from the field Our total loss in kill
ed and wounded amounted to 1926;
that of the enemy 3,000.' In sum-
ming up the account Of the battle,
General Fremont, commanding the de-
! partment, thanks the troops, gives
the number engaged as 1890 on our
side. and 10000 on the rebel side We
also received the thanks of the presi-
dent and congress. My own state.
Iowa, went wild over the news that
her gallant boys had nobly borne them
in their first battle; and today the
memory of the First Iowa is revered
| by every loyal man, woman and child
1 in the state.
| Greatest Battle Of the War.
My comrades, l have attempted to
give you some idea OF this battle, and
here let me say, without fear of sue
cessful contradiction, that, consider
ing the numbers engaged, Wilson's
Creek was as hard struggle as took
place during the war; and mark you,
was fought against greater odds than
any battle of the war-4,300 against
over 10000! On the southern side the
| troops were commanded by Major Cen
eral Sterling Price, who had been a
| brigadier general in the Mexican war.
In a strategical and tactical point of
view, there never was better planned
or fought battle. The surprise was
complete; and had not Sigels COM
! mand failed to carry out the advantage
already won, the victory would have
been perfect. Even then had not our
! leader fallen l give 1t as my deep
rooted belief, based upon nineteen
years. experience and study of mill
tary affairs, we would still have gain
ed decided victory. AS it was the
battle was a drawn one. The enemy
retreated one way as far as we did
the other-did not rally until the next
/ day, and several hours after we left
/ Springfield, they came slowly in, but
did not attempt to follow.
/ I was in the terrible conflict of April
/ 6, 1862, at Shiloh, where during long
summers day the dreadful tide of bat
4 tie ebbed and flowed in all its fury,
where bullets whizzed, where shrek
of shell and roar of cannon kept I'M
i ceasing noise, where the boys in blue
! peated onslaughts born of southern
dash and courage. During the cam
paign of Vicksburg / saw war in all
it's greatness and horror, the tempest
of battle guided by the mighty hand
4 of u. S. Grant-but this, all this, new
er filled my boyish soul with the sub
lime ecstacy, the enthusiasm of battle
which thrilled me through and
j through at Wilson'S Creek.
Lyon and his little army saved Mis-
souri, to the union. His movements
from early in 1S61-when he took
Camp Jackson, and held the United
States arsenal at St Louis-up tc
4 his death, were stamped with higf
order of military ability, unfailins
energy and courage.
4 The battle of Pea Ridge has a fame
as wide as our country. 1t commenc
ed on the afternoon Of March 6, 1862
lasted the 18th and ended on the morn
ing of the Sth. 1t was stubbornly
contested fight The battle of Will
sons Creek lasted but six and one-hali