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panies of regular cavalry, belonging to and increased, until it was evident that the command of Major Sturgis. I left the main corps of General Lyon had enCamp Fremont, on the south side of gaged the enemy along the whole line. Springfield, at 6 o'clock, on the evening To give the greatest possible assistance of the 9th, and arrived at daybreak to him, I left my position in the camp within a mile of the enemy's camp, and, and advanced toward the north-west to after taking forward the two cavalry attack the enemy's line of battle in the companies from the right and left, I cut rear. off about forty men of the enemy's troops, who were coming from the camp in little squads to get water and provisions. This was done in such a manner that no news of our advance could be brought into the camp. In sight of the enemy's tents, which spread out on our front and right, I planted four pieces of artillery on a little hill, whilst the infantry advanced toward the point where the Fayetteville road crosses Wilson's Creek, and the two cavalry companies extended to the right and left to guard our flank. It was 5 o'clock when some musket firing was heard from the northwest. I therefore ordered the artillery to begin their fire against the camp of the enemy (Missourians), which was so destructive that the enemy were seen leaving their tents and retiring in haste toward the north-east valley. Meanwhile the 3d and 5th had quickly advanced, passed the creek, and traversing the camp, formed almost in the centre of it. As the enemy made his rally in large numbers before us, about 3,000 strong, consisting of infantry and cavalry, I ordered the artillery to be brought forward from the hill and formed there in battery across the valley, with the 3d and 5th to the left, and the cavalry to the right. After an effectual fire of half an hour, the enemy retired in some confusion into the woods and up the adjoining hills. The firing toward the north-west was now more distinct,

"Marching forward, we struck the Fayetteville road, making our way through a large number of cattle and horses, until we arrived at an eminence used as a slaughtering place, and known as Sharp's Farm. On our route we had taken about two hundred prisoners, who were scattered over the camp. At Sharp's place we met numbers of the enemy's soldiers, who were evidently retiring in this direction, and, as I suspected, that the enemy, on his retreat, would follow in the same direction, I formed the troops across the road by planting the artillery on the plateau and the two infantry regiments on the right and left, across the road, whilst the cavalry companies extended on our flanks. At this time, and after some skirmishing in front of our line, the firing in the direction of the north-west, which was during an hour's time, roaring in succession, had almost entirely ceased. I thereupon presumed that the attack of General Lyon had been successful, and that his troops were in pursuit of the enemy, who moved in large numbers toward the south, along the ridge of a hill about 700 yards opposite our right.

"This was the state of affairs at 8 o'clock in the morning, when it was reported to me by Dr. Melchior and some of our skirmishers, that Lyon's men were coming up the road. Lieutenant Albert of the 3d, and Colonel Salomon of the 5th, notified their regiments not to fire

execute, whatever the consequences might be. Second, the time of service of the 5th regiment Missouri Volunteers had expired before the battle. I had induced them, company by company, not to leave us in the most critical moment, and had engaged them for the term of eight days, this term ending on Friday the 9th, the day before the battle. Third, the 3d regiment, of which 400 three months' men had been dismissed, was composed for the greater part of recruits, who had not seen the enemy before, and were imperfectly drilled. Fourth, the men serving the pieces, and the drivers, consisted of infantry taken from the 3d regiment, and were mostly recruits who had only a few days' instruction. Fifth, about two-thirds of our officers had left us; some companies had no officers at all-a great pity-but the consequence of the system of the three months' service."

on troops coming in this direction, whilst off his retreat, which order I tried to I cautioned the artillery in the same manner. Our troops at this moment expected with anxiety the approach of our friends, and were waving the flag, raised as a signal to their comrades, when at once two batteries opened their fire against us—one in front, placed on the Fayetteville road, and the other upon the hill upon which we had supposed Lyon's forces were in pursuit of the enemy, whilst a strong column of infantry, supposed to be the Iowa regiment, advanced from the Fayetteville road and attacked our right. It is impossible for me to describe the consternation and frightful confusion which was occasioned by this important event. The cry, 'They (Lyon's troops) are firing against us!' spread like wild fire through our ranks; the artillerymen, ordered to fire, and directed by myself, could hardly be brought forward to serve their pieces; the infantry would not level their arms until it was too late. The enemy arrived within ten paces of the muzzles of our cannon, killed the horses, turned the flanks of the infantry, and forced them to fly. The troops were throwing themselves into the bushes and bye-roads, retreating as well as they could, followed and attacked incessantly by large bodies of Arkansas and Texas cavalry. In this retreat we lost five cannon, of which three were spiked, and the colors of the 3d, the color-bearer having been wounded, and his substitute killed."

"In order," adds Colonel Sigel, "to understand clearly our actions and our fate, you will permit me to state the following facts: First, according to orders, it was the duty of this brigade to attack the enemy in the rear, and to cut

General McCulloch, the commanderin-chief of the several divisions of the insurgent forces in the field, thus reports the operations of the day, his account abundantly confirming the valor of the assailants as reported by the Union officers: "General Lyon attacked us on our left and General Sigel on our right and rear. From these points batteries opened upon us. My command was soon ready. The Missourians under Generals Slack, Clark, McBride, Parsons and Rains, were nearest the position taken by General Lyon with his main force; they were instantly turned to the left, and opened the battle with an incessant fire of small arms. Woodruff opposed his battery to the battery of the enemy, under Captain Totten, and a constant cannonade was kept up be

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taken, and Sigel's command completely routed, were in rapid retreat, with a single gun, followed by some companies of the Texan regiment and a portion of Colonel Major's Missouri cavalry. In the pursuit many of the enemy were killed

tween these batteries during the engagement. Hebert's regiment of Louisiana Volunteers, and McIntosh's regiment of Arkansas Mounted Riflemen, were ordered to the front, and after passing the battery (Totten's), turned to the left and soon engaged the enemy with the regi-and taken prisoners, and their last gun ments deployed. Colonel McIntosh captured. dismounted his regiment, and the two "Having cleared our right and rear, marched up abreast of a fence around a it was necessary to turn all our attention large corn-field, where they met the left to the centre, under General Lyon, who of the enemy already posted. A terrible was pressing upon the Missourians, havconflict of small arms took place here. ing driven them back. To this point The opposing force was a body of regu- McIntosh's regiment, under Lieutenantlar United States Infantry, commanded Colonel Embry, and Churchill's regiment by Captains Plummer and Gilbert. Not- on foot, Gratiot's regiment, and McRae's withstanding the galling fire poured on battalion were sent to their aid. The these two regiments, they leaped over terrible fire of musketry was now kept the fence, and, gallantly led by their up along the whole side and top of the colonels, drove the enemy before them, hill, upon which the enemy was posted. back upon the main body. During this Masses of infantry fell back and again time the Missourians under General rushed forward. The summit of the hill Price were nobly attempting to sustain was covered with the dead and woundthemselves in the centre, and were hotly ed-both sides were fighting with desengaged on the sides of the height upon peration for the day, Carroll's and which the enemy were posted. Far on Greer's regiments, led gallantly by Capthe right, Sigel had opened his battery tain Bradfute, charged the battery, but upon Churchill's and Greer's regiments, the whole strength of the enemy was imand had gradually made his way to the mediately in rear, and a deadly fire was Springfield road, upon each side of which opened upon them. At this critical mothe army was encamped, and in a prom- ment, when the fortune of the day seeminent position he established his battery. ed to be at the turning point, two regiI at once took two companies of the ments of General Pearce's brigade were Louisiana regiment, who were nearest ordered to march from their position me, and marched them rapidly from the (as reserves) to support the centre. The front and right to the rear, with order to order was obeyed with alacrity, and Colonel McIntosh to bring up the rest. General Pearce gallantly rushed with When we arrived near the enemy's bat- his brigade to the rescue. Reid's battery, we found that Reid's battery had tery was also ordered to move forward, opened upon it, and it was already in and the Louisiana regiment was again confusion. Advantage was taken of it, called into action on the left of it. The and soon the Louisianians were gallantly battle then became general, and probcharging among the guns, and swept the ably no two opposing forces ever fought cannoneers away. Five guns were here with greater desperation; inch by inch

the enemy gave way, and were driven from their position; Totten's battery fell back ; Missourians, Arkansians, Louisianians and Texans pushed forward. The incessant roll of musketry was deafening, and the balls fell as thick as hailstones; but still our gallant Southerners pushed onward, and with one wild yell broke upon the enemy, pushing them back and strewing the ground with their dead. Nothing could withstand the impetuosity of our final charge; the enemy fled, and could not again be rallied, and they were seen, at 12 M., last retreating among the hills in the distance. Thus ended the battle. It lasted six hours and a half."

he had already done distinguished services at the battle of Rock Creek, where he commanded the State forces after the death of the lamented Holloway, and at Carthage where he won unfading laurels by the display of extraordinary coolness, courage and skill. He fell at the head of his brigade, wounded in three places, and died just as the victorious shouts of our army began to rise upon the air. Here, too, died, in the discharge of his duty, Colonel Benjamin Brown, of Ray county, President of the Senate, a good man and true." The story of the day multiplies these eulogies. We may accept them from both sides. Good men and true may be deluded by their pride or prejudices. The deepest sorrow for them, the heaviest indignation for the leaders, the traitorous conspirators by whom the offence cometh.

The Union forces, the morning after the battle, left Springfield, and began their retreat under command of Colonel Sigel, to whom Major Sturgis and the other officers assigned the direction of the movement, a distance of about a hundred and

The loss in this battle was very heavy in proportion to the number engaged. It appears by official returns that the loss of the Union army was two hundred and twenty-three killed, seven hundred and twenty-one wounded, and two hundred and ninety-one missing; a total loss in killed and wounded of about onefifth of the number engaged. General McCulloch, the Confederate commander, states his loss at two hundred and sixty-twenty-five miles in a north-westerly difive killed, eight hundred wounded, and thirty missing. General Price reports one hundred and fifty-six killed on the field, and five hundred and seventeen wounded of his Missouri State Guardabout one-eighth of his command. "This great victory," he writes, was dearly bought by the blood of many a skillful officer and brave man. Among those who fell mortally wounded on the battlefield, none deserve a dearer place in the memory of Missourians than Richard Hanson Weightman, Colonel commanding the first brigade of the second division of the army. Taking up arms at the very beginning of this unhappy contest,

rection, to Rolla, where there was railway communication with St. Louis. The southern portion of the State was thus left open to the depredations of the Confederates. It was more than a month. afterward, however, before they made any further inroad upon the north, when General Price, having mustered a considerable force, appeared before Lexington. The immediate result of General Lyon's battle was undoubtedly to give an important check to the movements of the secessionists. Its lasting influence was felt throughout the war, and will not be forgotten in another age. When public speakers would animate the valor of the

FUNERAL OF GENERAL LYON.

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newly-enlisted officers and their recruits," indomitable" General Lyon, which we untried in the experience of the camp, have already recorded in the official rethey held up the example of the courage port of Major Sturgis, he invited all to and devotion of Lyon; when Represent- " emulate his prowess and undying devoatives in Congress would stimulate the tion to his duty. The regiments and activity of generals in the field, they corps engaged in this battle will be perpointed to the energy of Lyon; when mitted to have 'Springfield' emblazoned patriots would rebuke the corrupt horde on their colors as a distinguished memoof army contractors, fattening upon the rial of their services to the nation." misfortunes of the State, they turned to dwell with admiration on the purity and self-denying virtues of Lyon, the singleminded lover of his country.

The body of General Lyon was placed in an ambulance to be carried from the field, and by some accident was not removed in the retreat; but was recovered by a flag of truce and borne to Springfield. There the remains were taken in charge by the wife of the Hon. J. S. Phelps, loyal member of Congress of the district, and entombed. They were presently removed to the East by two members of the family of the fallen General, who were received by the Confederate military authorities at Springfield with every consideration for their melancholy errand. At St. Louis, Cincinnati, Phila

General Lyon was never married. He left three brothers and three sisters. It was stated at the time of his death that he had bequeathed some thirty thousand dollars, the frugal gatherings of his career in the public service, to the nation; but this was an error. He made no such disposition of his property, nor was he called upon to do so. That such an anecdote was invented and generally credited shows, however, the view entertained of his character and devoted patriot-delphia, New York and Hartford, the ism. By no one was this devotion more warmly acknowledged than by MajorGeneral Fremont, the commander of his department. On the receipt of the official reports of the officers engaged at Wilson's Creek, he issued a general order, in which he announced "with pride and the highest commendation the extraordinary services to their country and flag rendered by the division of the brave and lamented General Lyon. Opposed by overwhelming masses of the enemy in a numerical superiority of upward of twenty thousand against four thousand three hundred, or nearly five to one, the successes of our troops were nevertheless sufficiently marked to give to their exploits the moral effect of a victory." Adopting the glowing eulogy of the

remains were accorded public honors as they were borne to a final resting-place in the rural district of Connecticut, the village home where, forty-three years before, the lamented patriot first saw the light. A large procession, military and civic, attended the funeral, and eulogies and addresses were delivered in front of the church at Eastford by the Hon. Judge Carpenter of Connecticut, the Hon. Galusha A. Grow, Speaker of the national House of Representatives, Governor Buckingham of Connecticut, Governor Sprague of Rhode Island, and others. When the National Legislature met in December, it was resolved, by a joint resolution of both Houses, that "Congress deems it just and proper to enter upon its records a recognition of the emi