Lyon was killed in a charge at the head of his | REPORT OF MAJOR STURGIS. SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report of the battle of Springfield, fought on the 10th inst. on Wilson's Creek, some ten miles south of the city, between the United States troops under Gen. Lyon, and the rebel forces under McCulloch. On the 9th inst., Gen. Lyon came to the determination of attacking the enemy's camp, and accordingly dispositions were made on the afternoon of that day for an attack at daylight next morning, (10th.) The command was to move in two columns, composed under Lieut. Farrand, (First Infantry,) and one light battery of six pieces. This column was to march by a road on the left of the main Cassville Road, and leading to the supposed right of the enemy's position. Here my official information of the movements of Col. Siegel's column ceases, as we have not been able to procure any written report of its operation. Gen. Lyon marched from Springfield at 5 o'clock P. M., on the 9th, making a detour to the right-at 1 o'clock in the morning arriving in view of the enemy's guard-fires. Here the column halted, and lay on their arms until the dawn of day, when it again moved forward. Capt. Gilbert's company, which had formed the advance during the night, still remained in advance, and the column moved in the same order in which it had halted. A southeasterly direction was now taken, with a view to strike the extreme northern point of the enemy's camp. At daylight a line of battle was formed, closely followed by Totten's battery, supported by a strong reserve. In this order we advanced, with skirmishers in front, until the first out-post of the rebels was encountered and driven in, when the column was halted, and the following dispositions made, viz.: Capt. Pluminer's battalion, with the Home Guard on his left, were to cross Wilson's Creek, and move toward the front, keeping pace with the advance on the left opposite bank, for the purpose of protecting our left flank against any attempt of the enemy to turn it. After crossing a ravine, and ascending The first, under Gen. Lyon, consisted of one a high ridge, we came in full view of a considbattalion regular infantry, under Capt. Plum-erable force of the enemy's skirmishers. Major mer, Companies B, C, and D, First Infantry, Capts. Gilbert, Plummer, and Huston, with one company of rifle recruits, under Lieut. Wood; Maj. Osterhaus' battalion Second Missouri Volunteers, two companies; Capt. Totten's light battery, six pieces, and Capt. Woods' mounted company of Second Kansas Volunteers, with Lieut. Caulfield's Company B, First Cavalry, regulars. This constituted the first brigade, under Major Sturgis. as follows: The Second brigade, under Lieut.-Col. Andrews, First Missouri Volunteers, was composed of Capt. Steele's battalion of regulars, companies B and E Second Infantry; one company of recruits under Lieut. Lothrop, Fourth Artillery; one company of recruits under Sergeant Morine; Lieut. Dubois' light battery, consisting of four pieces, one of which was a 12pounder gun, and the First Missouri Volun teers. The Third brigade was made up of the First and Second Kansas Volunteers, under Deitzler, Col. Mitchell commanding the latter regiment. The First regiment Iowa Volunteers, with some 200 Home Guards, (mounted,) completed the column under Gen. Lyon. The second column, under Col. Siegel, consisted of the Third and Fifth regiments Missouri Volunteers, one company of cavalry, under Capt. Carr, one company of Second Dragoons, Osterhaus' battalion was at once deployed to the right, and two companies of the First Missouri Volunteers, under Capts. Yates and Cavender, were deployed to the left, all as skirmishers. The firing now became very severe, and it was evident we were approaching the enemy's stronghold, where they intended giving battle. A few shells from Totten's battery assisted our skirmishers in clearing the ground in front. The First Missouri and First Kansas moved at once to the front, supported by Totten's battery and the First Iowa regiment; Dubois' battery, Steele's battalion, and the Second Kansas were held in reserve. The First Missouri now took its position in the front, upon the crest of a small elevated plateau. The First Kansas was posted on the left of the First Missouri, and separated from it some 60 yards on account of a ravine. The First Iowa took its position on the left of the First Kansas, while Totten's battery was placed opposite the interval between the First Kansas and First Missouri. Major Osterhaus' battalion occupied the extreme right, with his right resting on a ravine which turned abruptly to our right and rear. Dubois' battery, supported by Steele's battalion, was placed some 80 yards to the left and rear of Totten's guns, so as to bear upon a powerful battery of the enemy, posted to our left and front, on the opposite side of Wilson's | whelming force against which they were unCreek, to sweep the entire plateau upon which flinchingly holding their position. our troops were formed. The enemy now rallied in large force near the foot of the slope, and under considerable cover, opposite our left wing, and along the slope in front and on our right toward the crest of the main ridge running parallel to the creek. During this time, Capt. Plummer, with his four companies of infantry, had moved down a ridge about 500 yards to our left, and separated from us by a deep ravine, and reached its abrupt terminus, where he found his further progress arrested by a large force of infantry occupying a corn-field in the valley in his front. At this moment an artillery fire was opened | from a high point about two miles distant, and nearly in our front, from which Col. Siegel was to have commenced his attack. This fire was answered from the opposite side of the valley, and at a greater distance from us; the line of fire of the two batteries being nearly perpendicular to our own. After about ten or twelve shots on either side, the firing ceased, and we neither heard nor saw any thing more of Gen. Siegel's brigade until about 8 o'clock, when a brisk cannonading was heard for a few ininutes, about a mile to the right of that heard before, and from two to three miles distant. Our whole line now advanced with much energy upon the enemy's position. The firing, which had been spirited for the last half hour, now increased to a continuous roar. During this time Capt. Totten's battery came into ac tion by section and by piece, as the nature of the ground would permit, (it being wooded, with much undergrowth,) and played upon the enemy's lines with great effect. After a fierce engagement, lasting perhaps half an hour, and in which our troops retired two or three times in more or less disorder, but never more than a few yards, again to rally and press forward with increased vigor, the enemy gave way in the utmost confusion, and left us in possession of the position. Meanwhile, Capt. Plummer was ordered to move forward on our left, but meeting with overpowering resistance from the large mass of infantry in the corn-field in his front, and in the woods beyond, was compelled to fall back; but at this moment Lieut. Dubois' battery, which had taken position on our left flank, supported by Capt. Steele's battalion, opened upon the enemy in the corn-field a fire of shells, with such marked effect, as to drive him, in the utmost disorder, and with great slaughter, from the field. There was now a momentary cessation of fire along nearly the whole line, except the extreme right, where the First Missouri was still engaged with a superior force of the enemy, attempting to turn our right. The General having been informed of this movement, sent the Second Kansas to the support of the First Missouri. It came up in time to prevent the Missourians from being destroyed by the over The battalion of regular infantry under Capt. Steele, which had been detailed to the support of Lieut. Dubois' battery, was during this time brought forward to the support of Capt. Totten's battery. Scarcely had these dispositions been made, when the enemy again appeared in very large force along our entire front, and moving toward each flank. The engagement at once became general, and almost inconceivably fierce, along the entire line; the enemy appearing in front often in three or four ranks, lying down, kneeling, and standing, the lines often approaching to within thirty or forty yards of each other, as the enemy would charge upon Capt. Totten's battery, and be driven back. Early in the engagement, the First Iowa came to the support of the First Kansas and First Missouri, both of which had stood like veteran troops, exposed to a galling fire of the enemy. Every available battalion was now brought into action, and the battle raged with unabated fury for more than an hour, the scales seeming all the time nearly equally balanced, our troops sometimes gaining a little ground, and again giving way a few yards to rally again. Early in this engagement, while Gen. Lyon was leading his horse along the line on the left of Capt. Totten's battery, and endeavoring to rally our troops, which were at this time in considerable disorder, his horse was killed, and he received a wound in the leg and one in the head. He walked slowly a few paces to the rear and said, "I fear the day is lost." I then dismounted one of my orderlies and tendered the horse to the General, who at first declined, saying it was not necessary. The horse, however, was left with him, and I moved off to rally a portion of the Iowa regiment, which was beginning to break in considerable numbers. In the mean time the General mounted, and, swinging his hat in the air, called to the troops nearest him to follow. The Second Kansas gallantly rallied around him, headed by the brave Col. Mitchell. In a few moments the Colonel fell, severely wounded; about the same time a fatal ball was lodged in the General's breast, and he was carried from the field-a corpse. Thus gloriously fell as brave a soldier as ever drew a sword-a man whose honesty of purpose was proverbial—a noble patriot, and one who held his life as nothing when his country demanded it of him. Of this dire calamity I was not informed until perhaps half an hour after its occurrence. In the mean time our disordered line on the left was again rallied, and pressed the enemy with great vigor and coolness, particularly the First Iowa regiment, which fought like veterans. This hot encounter lasted perhaps half an hour. After the death of Gen. Lyon, when the enemy fled and left the field clear, so far as we supports of Dubois' battery, consisting of two or three companies of the First Missouri, three companies of the First Kansas, and two companies of the First Iowa, in quick time, and fell upon the enemy's right flank, and poured into nearly every man within sixty or seventy yards. From this moment a perfect rout took place throughout the rebel front, while ours on the right flank continued to pour a galling fire into their disorganized masses. could see, an almost total silence reigned for a space of twenty minutes. Major Schofield now informed me of the death of Gen. Lyon, and reported for orders. The responsibility which now rested upon me was duly felt and appreciated. Our brave little army was scat-it a murderous volley, killing or wounding tered and broken; over 20,000 men were still in our front, and our men had had no water since 5 o'clock the evening before, and could hope for none short of Springfield, twelve miles distant; if we should go forward, our own success would prove our certain defeat in the end; if we retreated, disaster stared us in the face; our ammunition was well nigh exhausted, and should the enemy make this discovery through a slackening of our fire, total annihilation was all we could expect. The great question in my ( mind was, "Where is Siegel? If I could still It was then evident that Totten's battery and Steele's little battalion were safe. Among the officers conspicuous in leading this assault were Adjutant Hezcock, Captains Burke, Miller, Maunter, Maurice, and Richardson, and Lieut. Howard, all of the First Missouri. There were others of the First Kansas and First Iowa who participated, and whose names I do not remember. The enemy then fled from the field. A few moments before the close of the engagement, the Second Kansas, which had firmly maintained its position, on the extreme right, from the time it was first sent there, found its ammunition exhausted, and I directed it to withdraw slowly and in good order from the field, which it did, bringing off its wounded, which left our right flank exposed, and the enemy renewed the attack at that point, after it had ceased along the whole line; but it was gallantly met by Capt. Steele's battalion of regulars, which had just driven the enemy from the right of the centre, and, after a sharp engagement, drove him precipitately from the field. Thus closed-at about half-past eleven o'clock-an almost uninterrupted conflict of six hours. The order to retreat was given soon after the enemy gave way from our front and centre, Lieut. Dubois' battery having been previously sent to occupy with its supports the hill in our rear. Capt. Totten's battery, as soon as his disabled horses could be replaced, retired slowly with the main body of the infantry, while Capt. Steele was meeting the demonstrations upon our right flank. This having been repulsed, and no enemy being in sight, the whole column moved slowly to the high open prairie, about two miles from the battle-ground; meanwhile our ambulances passed to and fro, carrying off our wounded. After making a short halt on the prairie, we continued our march to Springfield. hope for a vigorous attack by him on the enemy's right flank or rear, then we could go forward with some hope of success. If he had retreated, there was nothing left for us also. In this perplexing condition of affairs I summoned the principal officers for consultation. The great question with most of them was, "Is retreat possible?" The consultation was brought to a close by the advance of a heavy column of infantry from the hill, where Siegel's guns had been heard before. Thinking they were Siegel's men, a line was formed for an advance, with the hope of forming a junction with him. These troops wore a dress much resembling that of Siegel's brigade, and carried the American flag. They were therefore permitted to move down the hill within easy range of Dubois' battery, until they had reached the covered position at the foot of the ridge on which we were posted, and from which we had been fiercely assailed before, when suddenly a battery was planted on the hill in our front, and began to pour upon us shrapnell and canister-a species of shot not before fired by the enemy. At this moment, the enemy showed his true colors, and at once commenced along our entire lines the fiercest and most bloody engagement of the day. Lieut. Dubois' battery on our left, gallantly supported by Major Osterhans' battalion and the rallied fragments of the Missouri First, soon silenced the enemy's battery on the hill, and repulsed the right wing of his infantry. Capt. Totten's battery in the centre, supported by the Iowas and regulars, was the main point of attack. The enemy could frequently be seen It should be here remembered that, just after within twenty feet of Totten's guns, and the the order to retire was given, and while it was smoke of the opposing lines was often so con- undecided whether the retreat should be confounded as to seem but one. Now, for the first tinued, or whether we should occupy the more time during the day, our entire line maintained favorable position of our rear, and await tidings its position with perfect firmness. Not the of Col. Siegel, one of his non-commissioned offislightest disposition to give way was manifest-cers arrived, and reported that the Colonel's ed at any point, and while Capt. Steele's battalion, which was some yards in front of the line, together with the troops on the right and left, were in imminent danger of being overwhelmed by superior numbers, the contending lines being almost muzzle to muzzle, Capt. Granger rushed to the rear and brought up the brigade had been totally routed, and all his artillery captured, Col. Siegel himself having been either killed or made prisoner. Most of our men had fired away all their ammunition, and all that could be obtained from the boxes of the killed and wounded. Nothing, therefore, was left to do but to return to Springfield, where two hundred and fifty Home Guards, with two pieces of artillery, had been left to take care of the train. On reaching the Little York Road, we met Lieut. Farrand, with his company of dragoons, and a considerable portion of Col. Siegel's command, with one piece of artillery. At five o'clock P. M. we reached Springfield. Thus closed a day long to be remembered in the annals of history; a day which has brought gloom and sorrow to many hearts throughout the land; but fathers and mothers, widows and orphans, may receive some consolation from the fact that their relatives and friends presented on that day a wall of adamant to the enemies of their country, and when they fell it was in defence of a great cause, and with their breasts to the enemy. That three thousand seven hundred men, after a fatiguing night march, attacked the enemy, numbering twenty-three thousand, on their own ground, and, after a bloody conflict of six hours, withdrew at their leisure to return to their provisions and to water, is the best eulogium I can pass on their conduct that day; and indeed it would be impossible to refer to individual acts of courage without doing injustice to many gallant men. Yet, I am constrained to call the attention of the general commanding to the particularly important services rendered by several officers which came under my own observation. Wherever the battle most fiercely raged there was Gen. Lyon to be found; and there, too, was Major Schofield, his principal staff officer. The coolness and equanimity with which he moved from point to point, carrying orders, was a theme of universal conversation. I cannot too highly speak of the invaluable services Major Schofield rendered by the confidence his example inspired. Capt. Granger, Acting Assistant Adjutant-General on my staff, rendered such excellent aid in various ways that a full mention of these services would render this report too voluminous for an official statement; suffice it to say, that he appeared to be almost ubiquitous-now sighting a gun of Dubois' battery, and before the smoke had cleared away, sighting one of Totten's; at one moment reconnoitring the enemy, and the next, either bringing up reinforcements or rallying some broken line. To whatever part of the field I might direct my attention, there would I find Capt. Granger, hard at work at some important service; his energy and industry seemed inexhaustible. To the important services rendered by him, I beg to call the attention of the commanding General. The services of Capt. Totten are so emphatically interwoven with the various operations of the day as to appear in many, if not all, of the table reports, and his name deserves to become a "household word." Lieut. Sokalski also deserves great credit for the energy with which he managed the pieces of his section. I cannot speak in too high praise of the coolness and accuracy with which Lieut. Dubois handled his guns, and of the valuable services he rendered throughout the entire conflict. The following named officers came under my personal observation during the day, and deserve especial mention for the zeal and courage they displayed, although it would prolong this report to too great a length if I should particularize in each individual case: Lieut. Conrad, Second Infantry, A. C. S. to Gen. Lyon, (wounded;) Major Wherry, volunteer aide-decamp to Gen. Lyon; Major Shepard, volunteer aide-de-camp to Gen. Lyon; Mr. E. Cozzens, volunteer aide-de-camp to myself. Gen. Sweeny, Inspector-General.-This gallant officer was especially distinguished by his zeal in rallying broken fragments of various regiments, and leading them into the hottest of the fight. Assistant-Surgeon Sprague, Medical Department, attended the wounded with as much self-possession as though no battle was raging around him, not only took charge of the wounded as they were brought to him, but found time to use a musket with good effect from time to time against the enemy. Col. Deitzler, First Kansas.-He led his regiment into a galling fire as coolly and as handsomely as if on drill. He was wounded twice. Major Haldeman, First Kansas.—Early in the action he led four companies of his regiment (which had been held in reserve) gallantly, cheering them on with the cry of "Forward, men, for Kansas and the old flag." Col. Mitchell, of the Second Kansas.-He fell severely wounded in the thickest of the fight, and as he was carried from the field, he met a member of my staff, and called out, "For God's sake, support my regiment." Lieut.-Col. Blair, Second Kansas.-This excellent soldier took command of the regiment when Col. Mitchell was wounded, and, under a most deadly fire from the enemy, rode along the front of his line, encouraging his men, to the great admiration of all who saw him. Major Cloud, Second Kansas; Lieut.-Col. Andrews, First Missouri; Lieut.-Col. Merritt, First Iowa; Major Porter, First Iowa; Capt. Herran, First Iowa. The gallantry of the following officers was conspicuous from the beginning to the close of the battle: Capt. Plummer, First Infantry; Capt. Gilbert, First Infantry; Capt. Huston, First Infantry; Lieut. Wood, First Infantry; Capt. Steele, Second Infantry; Lieut. Lothrop, Fourth Artillery; Lieut. Caulfield, First Cavalry. Accompanying this report you will please find reports of the commanders of brigades, regiments, and battalions, also a list of the killed, wounded, and missing. I beg to say here that I am under many obligations to Major Schofield, from whose memoranda of the movements of troops, &c., on the field, I have drawn largely, and in many cases I have copied them literally. Our total loss in killed, wounded, and missing, amounts to one thousand two hundred and thirty-five-that of the enemy will probably reach three thousand. I am, sir, your obedient servant, GENERAL SIEGEL'S REPORT. HEAD-QUARTERS SECOND BRIGADE MO. VOL., GENERAL: I respectfully submit to you the report of the battle at Wilson's Creek, so far as the troops under my cominand were concerned: On Friday, the 9th of August, Gen. Lyon informed me that it was his intention to attack the enemy in his camp at Wilson's Creek, on the morning of the 10th; that the attack should be made from two sides, and that I should take command of the left. The troops assigned to me consisted of the Second Brigade, Missouri Volunteers-900 men-infantry of the Third and Fifth regiments, under the command of Lieut.-Col. Albert and Col. Salomon, and six pieces of artillery, under Lieuts. Schaeffer and Schuetzenbach; besides, two companies of regular cavalry, belonging to the command of Major Sturgis. I left Camp Fremont, on the south side of Springfield, at 6 o'clock, on the evening of the 9th, and arrived at daybreak within a mile of the enemy's camp. I advanced slowly toward the camp, and, after taking forward the two cavalry companies from the right and left, I cut 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. my retired in some confusion into the woods and up the adjoining hills. The firing toward the northwest was now more distinct, and increased, until it was evident that the main corps of General Lyon had engaged the enemy along the whole line. To give the greatest possible assistance to him, I left my position in the camp and advanced toward the northwest to attack the enemy's line of battle in the rear. 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 one 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 northwest, which was during an hour's time roaring in succession, had almost entirely ceased. I thereupon presumed that the attack of Gen. 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. Lieut. Albert, of the Third, and Col. Salomon, of the Fifth, notified their regiments not to fire on troops coming in this direction, whilst I cautioned the artillery in the same manner. Our troops in 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. 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 retirIt is impossible for me to describe the coning in haste toward the northeast of the valley. sternation and frightful confusion which was Meanwhile, the Third and Fifth had quickly occasioned by this important event. The cry, advanced, passed the creek, and traversing the "They (Lyon's troops) are firing against us! camp, formed almost in the centre of it. As spread like wild fire through our ranks; the the enemy made his rally in large numbers be- artillerymen, ordered to fire, and directed by fore us, about 3,000 strong, consisting of infan-myself, could hardly be brought forward to try and cavalry, I ordered the artillery to be brought forward from the hill and formed there in battery across the valley, with the Third and Fifth to the left, and the cavalry to the right. After an effectual fire of half an hour, the eneVOL. II.-Doc. 37 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 |