will hurry them forward. Marsh has called for help again. Enemy, 5,000 and Citizens have left Cape Girardeau. Answer if I must send them. B. M. PRENTISS, Brigadier General. over. CHESTER HARDING. ARSENAL, August 6, 1861. Prentiss telegraphs that hot fighting is no doubt going on at Cape Girardeau, and that he has on board, ready to start, four companies and two 6-pounders to go to his aid. He asks if he shall send them. Please answer him. Ought he not to increase the re-enforcements. Enemy 5,000 strong. CHESTER HARDING, JR. Major General FREMONT. CAIRO, August 6, 1861. Colonel McArthur, with six companies and four field-pieces, left for Cape Girardeau 7 a. m. Will hurry intrenchments at Bird's Point. R. M. PRENTISS, General Commanding. Major General FRÉMONT. WASHINGTON, August 6, 1861. Orders have been sent Governor Morton to forward five regiments to your department. Hoffinan's battery of artillery, from Cincinnati, have been ordered to report to you for orders. THO'S A. SCOTT, Acting Secretary of War. Major General FRÉMONT. HEADQUARTERS, August 6, 1861. Heavy battery of six 24-pounders and 1,000 men left at midnight for Girardeau under an experienced officer. Brigadier General B. M. PRENTISS, Cairo. J. C. FREMONT, Major General Commanding. DECATUR, August 7, 1861. Six companies of rebels (three from Williamson, two from Franklin, and one from Jackson county, in this State,) are reported as ready to join Thompson at Cape Girardeau to invade Illinois. They are drilled and uniformed, and pretend to be Union men. They ought to be looked after by you. They are armed. You may, if you desire, reach me until to-morrow morning at Centralia, Illinois. R. S. PHILLIPS, United States Marshal. General FREMONT. HEADQUARTERS FORT LEAVENWORTH, Kansas, August 7, 1861. : COLONEL I herewith enclose you a copy of the telegram received and shown you last night, to wit: "HEADQUARTERS OF THE WESTERN DEPARTMENT, "St. Louis, August 5, 1861. "CAPTAIN PRINCE: The commanding officer directs that Montgomery's force join General Lyon's command at Springfield immediately." Independent of the reasons set forth in my communication to you of the 3d instant, you will see the necessity for adopting at once the most active measures to unite your forces with those of General Lyon. The train is now loading, and the mule wagons intended for your regiment have, I believe, been turned over to you. I would therefore suggest that these mule wagons be loaded with arms and ammunition intended for the home guards at Fort Scott, with the rations of Colonel Weer's command, and such rations for your own command as will fill them up. By this arrangement you will be able to detach, if necessary, the mule teams for a more rapid march. I would also suggest the propriety of proceeding in advance of your command, with Lieutenant Hollister, United States army, the officer detailed to complete the muster of your regiment. This officer will leave this morning, and will move with rapidity, and I do not wish his labors delayed, upon his arrival at Mound City. This officer is charged also with the mustering in of home guards at Fort Scott, and is directed to apply to you for the arms received by you from the governor of the State, which will be turned over to the guards. Please respond to his requisition, and aid him in the performance, if necessary, of this duty. To carry out with the utmost promptitude, twenty mule wagons will be turned over to you for the transportation of these supplies. This will enable you to take ten days' rations for eight hundred men, besides the supply ordered for Colonel Weer's command, and the arms and ammunition for the home guard. I understand you have camp women to transport; if so, and such is your intention, they should be transported in ox teams, so as not to encumber the mule wagons. Respectfully, Colonel MONTGOMERY, W. E. PRINCE, Captain 1st Infantry. 3d Regiment Kansas Volunteers. HEADQUARTERS OF FORT LEAVENWORTH, August 8, 1861. Copy respectfully submitted for the information of the commanding general. 'W. E. PRINCE, Captain 1st Infantry. HEADQUARTERS OF THE WESTERN DEPARTMENT, St. Louis, August 8, 1861. In consequence of unfounded rumors, I send you the following despatch : Intelligence just received of a battle fought, Friday, at Dug Springs, nineteen miles south of Springfield, between Lyon's forces, eight thousand strong, and troops of McCulloch, estimated at fifteen thousand. Lyon's loss, eight killed, thirty wounded; McCulloch's, forty killed and forty-four wounded. Lyon seized eighty stand of arms, fifteen horses and wagons of .provisions. Twenty-seven United States cavalry came suddenly on the enemy's infantry, estimated four thousand, rode on them, created a stampede among the infantry, cut their way through, and came back with the loss of five men. Cavalry charge most brave. Enemy found with their heads cloven entirely through by force of sabre strokes. Enemy retreated during the night to McCulloch's store, a few miles south. Lyon took possession of the battle-field. Pickets fired on Saturday morning. Fight momentarily expected. Reports Sunday morning of a battle going on; not authentic. Rumors of a large force of rebels west of Springfield. Attack expected. ABRAHAM LINCOLN, J. C. FREMONT, Major General Commanding. President of the United States, Washington. BIRD'S POINT, August 8, 1861. The men want to go home, and if detained much longer the worst consequences may be feared. Their time of service expired yesterday. Provide for their return. They are of little use in their present spirit. I wait your answer ROBT. ROMBAUER. Major General FREMONT. HEADQUARTErs of the Western DepaRTMENT, General Lyon not defeated; had a brilliant and successful skirmish. Sent. telegram to Major Sidel. LOVELL H. ROSSEAU, J. C. FREMONT, Major General Commanding. SPINGFIELD, Missouri, August 9, 1861. GENERAL: I have just received your note of the 6th instant by special messenger. I retired to this place, as I have before informed you, reaching here on the 5th. The enemy followed to within ten miles of here. He has taken a strong position, and is recruiting his supplies of horses, mules, and provisions by forages into the surrounding country; his large force of mounted men enabling him to do this without much annoyance from me. I find my position extremely embarrassing, and am at present unable to determine whether I shall be able to maintain my ground or be forced to retire. I can resist any attack from the front, but if the enemy move to surround me I must retire. I shall hold my ground as long as possible, though I may, without knowing how far, endanger the safety of my entire force, with its valuable material, being induced, by the important considerations involved, to take this step. The enemy yesterday made a show of force about five miles distant, and has doubtless a full purpose of making an attack upon me. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, N. LYON, Brigadier General of Volunteers Commanding. Major General J. C. FREMONT, Commanding Western Department, St. Louis, Mo. Upon the 10th of August General Lyon was killed in battle. The Assistant Adjutant General's official statement of General Lyon's com The rebels are concentrating at Madrid. The least number reported me 10,000. They are procuring wagons, mules, and horses, by seizure from inhabitants, and are intrenching at Madrid. I have a man with them who will return on Sunday night. The force that was near Charleston is reported now to be at Madrid. They seem to await our coming. Major General FREMONT. B. M. PRENTISS, Brigadier General. CAIRO, August 12, 1861. A scout sent out several days ago from here has just returned. He left New Madrid on Saturday evening at six o'clock. He reports that the forces there are embarking to return to Memphis. Two steamers had left for below, loaded with troops, and some others were loading with troops and munitions. All the field artillery, some twenty or thirty pieces, were shipped. I think the information reliable. Scout came up through the country. Saw no indications of troops after leaving New Madrid. Other of our scouts were in Charleston this morning and report that there are no troops there or in that vicinity. The reason assigned for this movement, according to his statement, is that the confederate officers had information that General Fremont was preparing a move on Tennessee by way of Columbus and the railroad to Union city. Major General FREMONT. W. H. L. WALLACE, Colonel Commanding. HEADQUARTERS WESTERN DEPARTMENT, August 12, 1861. Will you ask the Secretary of War to send me Captain A. Baird with Captain Fry, as assistant adjutant generals. Work is heavy and aid of experienced officers is necessary. J. C. FREMONT, Major General Commanding. Hon. MONTGOMERY BLAIR, Washington, D. C. HEADQUARTERS WESTERN Department, August 12, 1861. Will you order the Groesbeck regiment, 39th Ohio, now at Camp Dennison, to be transferred to me? The regiment is willing to come. Hon. Mr. CAMERON, Secretary of War, Washington City. J. C. FREMONT, Major General Commanding. HEADQUARTERS WESTERN DEPARTMENT, Despatch received. Our soldiers are not promptly paid, partly from the small force of paymasters, more from want of money, which fatally embarrasses every branch of the public service here. I require this week three millions for quartermaster's department. J. C. FREMONT, Major General Commanding. Hon. THOMAS A. SCOTT, Assistant Secretary of War. HEADQUARTERS WESTERN DEPARTMENT, Let the governor of Ohio be ordered forthwith to send me what disposable force he has. Also governors of Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin. Order the utmost promptitude. The German Groesbeck, 39th Ohio, regiment, at Camp Dennison, might be telegraphed directly here. We are badly in want of field artillery, and up to this time very few of our small arms have arrived. The SECRETARY OF WAR, Washington City. J. C. FREMONT, Major General Commanding. |