the strength and position of the enemy, sta- were posted. Far on the right, Siegel had opentioned in and about the town. The informationed his battery upon Churchill's and Greer's was very conflicting and unsatisfactory. I how-regiments, and had gradually made his way to ever made up my mind to attack the enemy in the Springfield road, upon each side of which their position, and issued orders on the 9th inst. the army was encamped, and in a prominent to my force to start at nine o'clock at night to position he established his battery. I at once attack at four different points at daylight. A took two companies of the Louisiana regiment, few days before, General Price, in command of who were nearest me, and marched them rapthe Missouri forces, turned over his command idly from the front and right to the rear, with to me, and I assumed command of the entire order to Col. McIntosh to bring up the rest. force, comprising my own brigade, the brigade When we arrived near the enemy's battery, we of Arkansas State forces, under General Pearce, found that Reid's battery had opened upon it, and General Price's command of Missourians. and it was already in confusion. Advantage was taken of it, and soon the Louisianians were gallantly charging among the guns, and swept the cannoneers away. Five guns were here taken, and Siegel'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 and taken prisoners, and their last gun captured. My effective force was five thousand three hundred infantry, fifteen pieces of artillery, and six thousand horsemen, armed with flint-lock muskets, rifles, and shot-guns. There were other horsemen with the army, who were entirely unarmed, and instead of being a help were continually in the way. When the time arrived for the night march it began to rain slightly, and fearing, from the want of cartridge boxes, that my ammunition would be ruined, I ordered the movement to be stopped, hoping to move the next morning. My men had but twenty-five rounds of cartridge apiece, and there was no more to be had. While still hesitating in the morning the enemy was reported advancing, and I made arrangements to meet him. The attack was made simultaneously at half-past 5 A. M., on our right and left flanks, and the enemy had gained the positions they desired. General Lyon attacked us on our left and General Siegel on cur 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 Capt. Totten, and a constant cannonading was kept up between 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 regiments deployed. Col. | McIntosh dismounted his regiment and the two marched up abreast to a fence around a large corn-field, where they met the left of the enemy already posted. A terrible conflict of smallarms took place here. The opposing force was a body of regular United States infantry, commanded by Capts. Plummer and Gilbert. Notwithstanding the galling fire poured on these two regiments, they leaped over the fence, and gallantly led by their colonels, drove the enemy before them, back upon the main body. During this time, the Missourians under General Price were nobly attempting to sustain themselves in the centre, and were hotly engaged on the sides of the height upon which the enemy Having cleared our right and rear, it was necessary to turn all our attention to the centre, under Gen. Lyon, who was pressing upon the Missourians, having driven them back. To this point McIntosh's regiment, under Lieut.Col. Embry, and Churchill's regiment on foot, Gratiot's regiment and McRae's battalion were sent to their aid. The terrible fire of musketry was now kept up along the whole side and top of the hill, upon which the enemy was posted. Masses of infantry fell back and again rushed forward. The summit of the hill was covered with the dead and wounded-both sides were fighting with desperation for the day, Carroll's and Greer's regiments, led gallantly by Capt. Bradfute, charged the battery, but the whole strength of the enemy was immediately in rear, and a deadly fire was opened upon them. At this critical moment, when the fortune of the day seemed to be at the turning point, two regiments of Gen. Pearce's brigade were ordered to march from their position (as reserves) to support the centre. The order was obeyed with alacrity, and Gen. Pearce gallantly rushed with his brigade to the rescue. Reed's battery was also ordered to move forward, and the Louisiana regiment was again called into action on the left of it. The battle then became general, and probably no two opposing forces ever fought 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 hail stones; 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 conld 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. | ticular attention to my volunteer aids, Capt. Thus ended the battle. It lasted six hours and a half. Bledsoe, Messrs. Armstrong, Ben Johnston, BEN MCCULLOCH, MISSOURI "DEMOCRAT" NARRATIVE. Major-General Lyon, chief in command, was killed. Many of the officers, high in rank, were wounded. Our loss was also severe, and we mourn the death of many a gallant officer and soldier. Our killed amount to two hundred and sixty-five, eight hundred wounded, and thirty missing. Col. Weightman fell at the head of his brigade of Missourians, while gal- Night before last, a little army of fifty-two lantly charging upon the enemy. His place hundred_men_moved in two columns on a will not be easily filled. Generals Slack and march of twelve or fifteen miles, to attack a Clark of Missouri were severely wounded-body of rebels twenty-two thousand strong. Gen. Price slightly. Capt. Ilinson of the In a military point of view the move was one Louisiana regiment, Capt. McAlexander of of doubtful propriety, not to say absolute rashChurchill's regiment, Captains Bell and Brown ness. The larger force were, with the exception of Pearce's brigade, Lieuts. Walton and Weaver of three thousand men, well armed and equip-all fell while nobly and gallantly doing their ped, and they had a very large body of cavalry. duty. Col. McIntosh was slightly wounded by But the question of evacuating Springfield, the a grape-shot, while charging with the Louisi-key of the entire Southwest, had already been ana regiment-Lieut.-Col. Neal, Major II. Ward, Captains King, Pearson, Gibbs, Ramsaur, Porter, Lieutenants Dawson, Chambers, Johnson, King, Adams, IIardista, McIvor, and Saddler, were wounded while at the head of their companies. Where all were doing their duty so gallantly, it is almost unfair to discriminate. I must, however, bring to your notice, the gallant conduct of the Missouri Generals-McBride, Parsons, Clark, Black, and their officers. To Gen. Price, I am under many obligations for assistance on the battle-field. He was at the head of his force leading them on and sustaining thein by his gallant bearing. Gen. Pearce with his Arkansas brigade, (Gratiot's, Walker's, and Dockery's regiments of infantry) came gallantly to the rescue when sent for; leading his men into the thickest of the fight, he contributed much to the success of the day. The commanders of regiments of my own brigade, Cols. Churchill, Greer, Embry, McIntosh, Hebert, and McRae led their different regiments into action with great coolness and bravery, and were always in front of their men cheering them on. Woodruff and Reid managed their batteries with great ability, and did much execution. For those officers and men who were particularly conspicuous, I will refer the Department to the reports of the different commanders. To my personal staff I am much indebted for the coolness and rapidity with which they carried orders about the field, and would call par discussed and settled in the negative. It was decided that the loyal citizens of Green and the surrounding counties should not have cause to say we had left them without a struggle, abandoned themselves, their families, their all, to a heartless and desperate foe, until the enemy had felt our steel and tried the mettle of our troops. The mettle proved itself worthy of the great cause in which it was engaged. The Union troops who fought and won the battle of yesterday need no higher mark, no brighter name, than the laurels earned justly entitle them to. They fought like brave men, long and well. General Siegel, with six pieces of cannon, his own regiment, and that of Colonel Salomon's, moved in a southerly direction, marching about fifteen miles, passing around the extreme southeastern camp of the enemy, and halted until daylight, or for the sound of artillery from the northwest to announce the opening of the battle. General Lyon, with the volunteers composing the Missouri First, Lieutenant-Colonel Andrews, Iowa First, Lieutenant-Colonel Merritt, Kansas First, Colonel Dietzler, and Second, Colonel Mitchell, part of the Missouri Second, under Major Osterhaus, and a detachment of twenty men from Colonel Wyman's Illinois regiment, three or four companies of mounted Home Guards, a force of regulars about eight hundred strong, and two batteries of four and six pieces respectively, left Springfield about eight o'clock P. M., marching slowly along until two a. M., when we halted for two hours, at which time | heavy force of infantry, not less than a full regiCaptain Gilbert's company of regulars and Ma-ment, and after a severe contest they gained jor Osterhaus' battalion were thrown out as skirmishers on either side of the column, and we moved forward. the summit, and the defeated rebels dispersed rapidly, going in a direction which rendered it impossible for any considerable number of them to again participate in the battle. Totten's battery then threw a few balls as feelers, to draw out the enemy's cannon. Colonel Blair's regiment moved forward, and were soon met by a well-equipped regiment of Louisiana troops, whom, after a bitter contest of forty-five minutes, they succeeded in routing, though suffering severely themselves. Captain Lathrop's company of rifle recruits now as Shortly after five o'clock a party of rebels, acting as a picket, were seen scattering over the hills to give the alarm; but a portion of our column had already penetrated far enough to cut off their route, unless they took a very circuitous one, in which case we should reach camp ahead of them. We soon came in sight of the valley in which they were encamped. A thousand tents, stretching off into the distance, and partially screened from view by a hill jut-sisted them, and together they, with Major Osting into an angle of Wilson's Creek, were before us, presenting as animated appearance as a young city. The enemy's camp extended from the head of the valley, overlooked on the north, east, and west sides by hills and ridges two or three hundred feet in height southward about a mile, thence eastward a mile and a half, and then southward half a mile, following the windings of the creek, along whose banks the gently sloping hills on either side afforded the most excellent camping ground. Near the northern end of the valley lived John McNary, formerly from Indiana, who, finding the rebels within five miles, on Tuesday last packed up his few worldly goods, took his family, and started for the good old Hoosier State, where it is not a crime to be loyal to the Government under which we live. Not less than twenty or thirty families, living on farms in the vicinity, started about the same time, most of them having little or no idea where they were going, except to escape from the danger which threatened them. The battle-field viewed by your correspondent, where the most severe fighting was done, was along the ridges and hills on either side (mostly on the west) of the stream for the first mile mentioned above, where the creek runs in a southerly direction. As we crossed the hill on the north, moving in a southwesterly direction, Captain Wright, with the mounted Home Guards, was sent to the east side so as to cut off a party of rebels seen in that direction. Adjutant Iascock, with a glass, rode to the brow of the hill, where, looking down, he could see every movement of the enemy beneath him. His appearance in full view caused a great hubbub in the rebel camp, which had already been thoroughly aroused by our appearance, and camps and baggage were hastily loaded and moved toward the south. We had completely surprised them. The evidence of that fact was everywhere visible; but they had got quickly into line of battle-their clouds of cavalry were visible, and their twenty-one pieces of cannon were not long silent after ours had opened the engagement. On the sides of the first ridge on the western side of the valley, Colonel Blair's regiment, at ten minutes after six o'clock, encountered a terhaus' men, moved up the second hill, which was considerably larger than the first, and, meeting a third regiment, finally succeeded in driving them back with the assistance of Totten's battery, and gaining the summit. In this part of the fight the gallant Missouri volunteers acted bravely; indeed, no words of praise could more than do them justice. Of course, many acts of valor were performed not witnessed by me; but among those I saw Captain Gratz, leading his men against overwhelming odds, and falling in death just as he had repulsed the foe; Lieutenant Murphy dashing forward ahead of the line, waving his sword high in the air, shouting onward to the almost wavering men, who gained fresh courage from the exhibition, and, pushing forward, drove the enemy from the field. In this fight many of our brave soldiers fell to rise no more; while Colonel Andrews had his horse shot from under him, and was wounded himself slightly. General Lyon suffered in a similar manner. Captains Cavender, Cole, and Yates, each slightly, or at least not dangerously wounded; Lieutenants Brown and Johnson, and Corporals Conant and Rogers, more or less severely wounded. During this engagement, two companies of regulars were sent to the east side of the creek, to engage a force which was operating against Captain Wright's cavalry, sheltering themselves behind a fence. Captain Plummer and Captain Gilbert, with their companies, marched close up to the fence and delivered an effective fire, but were compelled by great odds to retire, which they did, but again renewed the attack. The enemy, being largely reinforced, and having now at least three thousand men, jumped over into the corn-field, and Captain Plummer's gallant band was imminently threatened with annihilation. They retreated rapidly, firing as they did so, when Lieutenant Dubois, having got his battery under headway on the hill near the Missouri volunteers, seeing the position of affairs on the opposite side of the valley, threw in the most precise manner several shells, which exploded just as they reached the dense mass of secessionists, scattering them lifeless on the ground in scores, while all who could were glad to run for dear life. The gallant men in Colonel Blair's regiment were now ordered back, and their position | quently against such a course, declared it would taken by the Iowa First. General Lyon had be the ruin of the Union cause in that quarter previously had a poor opinion of the fighting of the State, and urged a battle as soon as the qualities of these men, formed more from sup- enemy were within striking distance. He also position than upon any real failure in duty; but pointed out the loss of reputation both to the now the time had come for him to reverse his General and his officers which would follow judgment, which he did after their first repulse such a step. This counsel decided the course of the enemy. They fought like tigers, drove to be pursued, and Thursday, when the brigade the enemy back, and followed up the advantage quartermaster inquired when we were to leave gained for a considerable distance. Captain Springfield, Gen. Lyon replied, "Not before Mason, Company C, was killed soon after his we are whipped." This was the proper course regiment was engaged. Lieutenant Purcell to pursue. If he retreated without a battle he was mortally wounded. Major Porter and Colo- would certainly have been pursued by a boastnel Merritt, gallantly cheering on their boys, ful and unpunished enemy, and very likely escaped unharmed. The Kansas First and Sec- have his retreat entirely cut off. After being ond regiments were now ordered forward to wounded, he exclaimed to Major Schofield, support the right flank of the Iowas. "The day is lost," but the Major said, "No, General, let us try once more." So they tried, and the General fell. Colonel Green's regiment of Tennessee cavalry, bearing a secession flag, now charged upon our wounded, who were partially guarded by one or two companies of infantry. Seeing the movement, Captain Totten poured a few rounds of canister into their ranks just in time to save our sick men from being trampled to death, dispersing the rebels so completely that --nothing more was seen of them during the day. It was now a little after nine o'clock, and the battle had raged with a fierceness seldom if ever equalled for over three hours. The smoke hung like a storm cloud over the valley, a fit emblem of mourning for the departed hero. "He sleeps his last sleep, he has fought his last battle, No sound shall awake him to glory again." Gen. Lyon now desired the Iowa boys, whom he had found so brave, to prepare to meet the The battle raged for two hours more, the next onset of the enemy with the bayonet im- command devolving upon Major Sturgis. The mediately after firing. They said, "Give us a enemy made repeated attempts to retake the leader and we will follow to death." On came heights from which they had been driven, but the enemy in overwhelming numbers, confi- were gallantly repulsed each time. The Kansas dent of victory over such a meagre force. No regiments behaved with a bravery seldom or time could be lost to select a leader. "I will never equalled, forming ambuscades for the lead you," said Lyon. "Come on, brave men;" benefit of the rebels by laying flat on the and placing himself in the van, received a fatal ground until the enemy came near enough for bullet in the pit of the stomach which killed them to see their eyebrows, when they would him instantly. The Iowas delivered their fire pour a deadly volley into their opponents and and the enemy retired, so there was no need again remain in possession of the field. The of charging bayonets. Gen. Lyon's body was last repulse of the enemy was the most glorious carefully picked up and conveyed lifeless tow- of all, and was participated in by the members ard the ambulances by two of his body guard. of every regiment on the field. The enemy In his death, as in his life, he was the same came fresh and deceived our men by bearing a devoted, patriotic soldier, regarding his own Union flag, causing them to believe Siegel was life of no value if he could but rescue his coun- about making a junction with our forces. Distry. His body has been brought hither and covering the ruse just in time, our gallant boys embalmed, for conveyance to his friends in rushed upon the enemy, who, with four cannon Connecticut, There was no feeling of depres-belching forth loud-mouthed thunder, were on sion on the part of the troops at the unexpect ed calamity, but rather a feeling of quiet determination to revenge his death. On the Tuesday night previous he had arranged for a night attack upon the enemy, but singularly found himself delayed two hours behind the proper time for starting, by rumors of a skirmish on the prairie west of the town, and the attack was postponed. Wednesday he said to me: "Well I begin to believe our term of soldiering is about completed. I have tried earnestly to discharge my whole duty to the Government, and appealed to them for reinforcements and supplies; but, alas, they do not come, and the enemy is getting advantage of us." He then called a council of war, at which there was nearly an unanimous voice for evacuating Springfield. Gen. Sweeney pleaded elo the point of having their efforts crowned with success, and again drove them with great loss down the slope on the south side of the hill. Captain Totten's ammunition was now nearly exhausted, and placing Dubois' battery upon the hill at the north end of the valley, Major Sturgis ordered the ambulances to move toward town. The infantry and Totten's full battery followed in good order and were not pursued by the enemy, who was evidently glad to be let alone. Among the prisoners taken was a surgeon living in St. Charles County. He was immediately released, and Dr. Melcher accompanied him to the rebel Generals, arranging for the return of our wagons to bring in our wounded and dead. Lieutenant-Colonel Horace H. Brand, of the First regiment, Sixth Division, who commanded the rebel force at Booneville, Lyon to attack an army formidably armed and equipped and outnumbering his own more than three to one. It will be seen that to the last he was the gallant soldier and true patriot, with an eye single to the cause of the Union, and counting his own life as nothing compared with the honor and glory of his country. As I wrote you on the 7th, the enemy were encamped twelve miles from Springfield on Tuesday, while our force was scattered upon the different roads leading to the city, at a distance of three to five miles. Two thousand were five miles from town, on the Fayetteville road, under command of Major Sturgis, of the regular army. This force was ordered by Gen. Lyon to be ready to move at a moment's notice, and at 6 P. M. on that day they were in ranks, artillery horses harnessed, and every thing in readiness. Shortly after 9 o'clock an incessant stream of visitors, messengers, and communications poured in upon the General, some reporting the engagement of Capt. Stockton of the Kansas First, and two companies of Home Guards with a party of rebel cavalry, on the prairie west of the town, in which two of the latter were wounded and carried off by their comrades; others receiving orders, and still others waiting for the same. Two com and who said he was now acting as aid to General Price, was taken prisoner early in the day. The Illinois Twentieth made themselves useful by guarding the prisoners. One of them had a horse shot under him. When General Siegel, who commanded the eastern division, heard the roar of Totten's artillery, he at once attacked the enemy in his quarter, driving him half a mile, and taking possession of his camp extending westward to the Fayetteville road. Here a terrible fire was poured into his ranks by a regiment which he had permitted to advance within a few paces of him, supposing it to be the Iowa First. His men scattered considerably, and Col. Salomon's could not be rallied. Consequently Siegel lost five of his guns, the other being brought away by Capt. Flagg, who compelled his prisoners, some sixty in number, to draw the artillery off the field. Our troops took some four hundred horses and about seventy prisoners, and compelled the enemy to burn nearly all of his baggage to keep it from falling into our hands. The enemy had twenty-one pieces of cannon, and at least twenty-six, including those taken from Siegel. There were none of them worked with precision, every shot for nearly an hour going whiz twenty feet over our heads. Our army reached Springfield in safety, and are now pre-panies were ordered to the relief of Capt. paring to move toward Rolla, but with no Stockton. Eight companies of the Kansas hopes whatever of reaching there. With a First, part of the Kansas Second, and Major baggage train five miles long to protect, it will Osterhaus' battalion Missouri Second, were orbe singular, indeed, if the enemy does not dered to a certain point in town to await the prove enterprising enough to cut off a portion arrival of Gen. Lyon, who, strange to say, was of it, having such a heavy force of cavalry. so entirely occupied that, instead of starting at 10 With two more regiments we should have o'clock, it was two hours later when he left his driven the enemy entirely from the valley, head-quarters, and without looking at his watch and, with a proper cavalry force, could have he proceeded to Camp Hunter, having already followed up such a victory with decisive re-ordered Major Sturgis to drive in the enemy's sults. Our loss is about two hundred killed pickets if within two miles of his own. Capand six hundred or seven hundred wounded, tain Steele's company of cavalry were despatchwhile the loss of the enemy must have beened on this errand at half-past 12, and General double our own. Dr. Schenck, who was in the Lyon, with the troops above mentioned, arrebel camp at a late hour last evening, bringing rived at 3 A. M. Here he consulted his watch, away our wounded, reports our men compara- and finding it more than two hours later than tively few with those of the enemy, whose dead he supposed, at once called together the prinwere lying thick under the trees. cipal officers, communicated his embarrassing position, and took their advice, which resulted in the withdrawal of the entire force to Springfield. The General had intended moving his force seven miles further, and attacking the enemy at daylight. On the return to town, the General said to a friend that he had a premonition that a night attack would prove disastrous, and yet he had felt impelled to try it once, and did not know but he must do so again. Before we reached Springfield it was daylight. An ambush was prepared a mile from the city, which would open upon the enemy if they pursued. -St. Louis Democrat, August 15, NEW YORK "TRIBUNE" NARRATIVE. SPRINGFIELD, GREEN Co., Mo., We have passed through one of the most terrible battles ever fought upon the continent, and, though we drove the enemy from his stronghold and successfully repulsed his repeated attempts to retake it, forced him to burn his baggage train and tents to keep them from falling into our hands, and captured large numbers of prisoners and horses, we have lost our commander, and our army is compelled to fall back by the numerical force of the rebels, who are seeking to outflank us, and cut off our communication with St. Louis. A review of the events immediately preceding the battle, will show the causes which induced Gen. During Wednesday continual alarms were circulating, and a real panic prevailed among the citizens, who rapidly packed up and left for supposed places of safety. The troops were under arms in every quarter, and several times it was reported that fighting had actually com, |