Year: 1861

tended writing you full description of oul
trip to McCulloch's Store, and of the two bat


ties on that expedition namely, Mud Greek
and McCulloch's Spring-but the rapid sue
cession of events after that trip, and our con
stant excitement being virtually under arms
during the whole of the interval between
these and the great battle which eclipsed them
all, and has crowned the close of the Iowa
Regiments three months with halo of glory
absolutely prevented me from making the at
| tempt. AS it is now, writing from a lounge,
in most inconvenient posture, cannot say
much but must, as briefly as possible, give
Won sketch of the most interesting events
of the march and the battle of Wilson's Creek
For some days previous to the battle the
troops had been kept in state of constant
preparation for march. Horses and mules
were kept harnessed day and night, and the
wagons were forbidden to be unloaded The
prevalent opinion was that this meant re-
treat to Rolla; ana so believed, especially as
it was known that in a council of war this
course had been unanimously urged upon
Gen. Lyon by his field officers.


Two days previous to the battle the Iowa
Regiment broke up its camp on the edge of
Springfield, and leaving all the sick and those
unable to march behind, took up position in
line of battle, about mile and half south
west of this place, commanding road
leading that way. Or Friday, August
teams and baggage to retire to Springfield,
and to prepare to move. All was in hustle
in an instant The arms were discharged and
carefully cleansed and reloaded, and about
sunset the regiment was drawn up in battle
array. Gen. Lyon, in person, reviewed them,
addressing few brief but pithy and serious
words to each company. only heard those
addressed to company A. As the iron-fea-
turco man was speaking, thought then that
could detect traces of deep anxiety in his
countenancc and his voice. The latter was
more subdued and milder than usual He
said that the regiment were the sole represent
ativcs of the State of Iowa there: That they
were about to be placed in post where they
would need to maintain the honor of their
State: That the eyes Of their State and of the
whole country would be on them, in the NOR
ming: That they were about to engage in bat


tie of great Importance: If it was gained,
they would win the thanks of the whole
country; if it was lest, all was lost for this
part of the country That if they would stand
firm the enemy would not stand against them.
With different words like these he passed
along the whole line.


In a. few moments we were on our march,
each man taking a days rations with him.
We passed back through Springfield and tax
ing the Little York and Mt. Vernon road fol-
lowed it for five or six miles, and then turned
to the left over prairie, and without road
followed guide Silently under the starlight
with no unnecessary noise and conversing on
" in low tones. we marched towards the other
road convergng towards Major Sturges' col
umn for two or three hours, and halted at
length in sight Of the woods where the enemy
were supposed to be encamped. Here we lay
down on the ground and slept till morning.
You will recollect that we formed part of the
right wing and were led by Gen. Lyon, Maj.
Sturges led the center on the Cassville road


while Gen. Sigel led a body Of about 1000


men to attack the enemy on the left. Before
day, at about 4 o'clock, we were reused from
our deep sleep, for deep it was, there on the
prairie, stretched On the green earth, with
nothing between us and the heavens above.
It is to me singularly impressive scene, TO
behold an army of men moving onward, with
the world of life and animation which an
army always carries with it, suddenly sink
down, as it appears in the dimness of the
nicht, into the earth, and in a few moments a
perfect calm settles over the scene, moment
before alive with the moving forms Of martial
ed thousands To one standing by and view
ing it after all is hushed, it is as though the
spirit of sleep had swept over the whole null
titude with its shadowy wirgs, and like some
enchanter buried the whole host deep in the
earth. A few minutes march brought us to
the timber and the hills. Here we marched
more cautiously. We still cut out our own


path through all. After crossing two hills


our advance guard, who had previously sur


prised and captured the enemy's picSets with


out alarm, came upon the guards of the enc


mys camp and drove them in. So much Of a


surprise was it, that for twenty or thirty min


utes the enemy made scarcely a reply to thu


now rapid fire poured into their camp by thu


head of our column. Finally body o.


them moved up the hill and brisk firing


commenced on both sides, but they were soor


driven back Our whole column now came il
sight of the enemy's camp now deserted. L


was pitched on the side of hill north of ou
position. We were on two hills directly facing
it; between us was deep and tolerably wide


ravine in which had been also another camp
) We had gone completely around them ant
, were in their rear. -
In this ravine the enemy was stationed, ant
also on the side of either hill. AS the head Q
f our column gained the summit of the secon
: hill on our side of the ravine the cannon c


Dubois and Totten's batteries were rapid
, placed in position, and in less time than


takes to describe it bri>k cannonade wa
: opened upon the huddled and confused masse
b of the enemy. Al this time five regiments
e the enemy were taken with panic and file
c in confusion; the Missourians, especially, ra
; like deer, was told that the Louisiana an


Arkansas troops drove them together, an
. forced them with the muzzles of their guns
halt and rally. Our regiment, which was ne1
to the batteries, halted some thirty rods fro
h them, and stood waiting for orders Viii