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. 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 Thus closed a day long to be remembered in report to too great a length if I should parthe annals of history; a day which has brought ticularize in each individual case: Lieut. Congloom and sorrow to many hearts throughout rad, Second Infantry, A. C. S. to Gen. Lyon, the land; but fathers and mothers, widows and (wounded;) Major Wherry, volunteer aide-deorphans, may receive some consolation from the camp to Gen. Lyon; Major Shepard, volunteer fact that their relatives and friends presented | aide-de-camp to Gen. Lyon; Mr. E. Cozzens, on that day a wall of adamant to the enemies volunteer aide-de-camp to myself. 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 emphati- | cally 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. Gen. Sweeny, Inspector-General.-This gal lant 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; Lient.-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 | my retired in some confusion into the woods 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. 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 retiring in haste toward the northeast of the valley. Meanwhile, the Third and Fifth 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 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 ene 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 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 ney Crossing to be hauled down on the Gasconade to the mouth of the Little Piney, where it arrived immediately after we had crossed the ford. Before we had reached the ford, Major Sturgis assumed the command of the army. I therefore respectfully refer to his report in regard to the main body of the troops engaged in the battle. troops were throwing themselves into the | artillery, I ordered the ferry-boat from Big Pibushes 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 Third, the color-bearer having been wounded, and his substitute killed. The total loss of the two regiments, the artillery, and the pioneers, in killed, wounded, and missing, amounts to 892 men, as will be seen from the respective lists. In order 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 off his retreat, which order I tried | to execute, whatever the consequences might be. Second. The time of service of the Fifth 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 Third 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 Third 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. With the greatest respect, your most obe- J. M. Schofield, Acting Adjutant-General:— At 6 o'clock P. M., of the 9th inst., the First regiment of Iowa Volunteers, under command of Lieut.-Col. Wm. H. Merritt, Col. J. F. Bates being sick, united with the forces at Springfield, under command of Gen. Lyon, and commenced the march to Wilson's Creek, twelve miles distant. Arriving within three miles of the enemy's camp and in close proximity to their pickets, the order was given to halt. The troops lay on their arms until 3 o'clock A. M. of the 10th inst., when they advanced on the enemy's lines. Ábout 5 o'clock A. M. our advanced skirmishers engaged the enemy's pickets and drove them in. The First Missouri and First Kansas Volunteers, and a battalion of regular infantry under command of Captain Plummer, with Totten's battery, very soon engaged a considerable number of the rebel forces. Dubois' battery took position a short distance east of where the enemy were being enAfter the arrival of the army at Springfield, gaged, and the Iowa troops were drawn up in the command was intrusted to me by Major line of battle on its left. A brisk fire was comSturgis, and the majority of the commanders menced and kept up for thirty minutes. The of regiments. Considering all the circum- enemy responded promptly with a battery in stances, and in accordance with the desires of the ravine, but their shot passed from ten to the commanding officers, I ordered the retreat one hundred feet over our heads. Detailed of the army from Springfield. The preparations Company D, First-Lieut. Keller commanding, were begun in the night of the 10th, and at and Company E, First-Lieut. Abercrombie comdaybreak the troops were on the march tow-manding, to act as skirmishers in advance of ard the Gasconade. Before crossing the river I received information that the ford could not be passed well, and that a strong force of the enemy was moving from the south (West Plains) toward Waynesville, to cut off our retreat. I also was aware that it would take considerable time to cross the Robidoux, and the Little and Big Piney, on the old road. To avoid all these difficulties, and to give the army an opportunity to rest, I directed the troops from Lebanon to the northern road, passing Right Point and Humboldt, and terminating opposite the mouth of Little Piney, where, in case of the ford being unpassable, the train could be sent by Vienna and Lynch to the mouth of the Gasconade, whilst the troops could ford the river at the mouth of the Little Piney to reinforce Rolla. To bring over the my line. Ordered to advance over the hill, engage the enemy, and relieve the First regiment of Kansas Volunteers. In advancing to engage the enemy, met the First Kansas retreating in confusion. They broke through our line on the right, separating companies A and F from the balance of the command. While in this confused state received a murderous fire from the enemy's infantry. Gave the command to fall back and re-form the line. The din of firearms and the loud talking of the retreating troops drowned my voice, so that the command could not be heard on the left. Led the two Companies, A and F, over the hill, halted them and ordered them to about face and fire on a squadron of the enemy's cavalry advancing to charge on a section of Totten's battery. The fire was executed with promptness and effect, and after receiving the discharge from the battery, the enemy retired in double-quick time, leaving a number of dead and wounded on the field. Ordered Companies A and F to hold their position until further orders, and then returned to Companies I, C, H, K, G, and B, who had been left facing the enemy's line; found our troops advancing under a galling fire from the enemy's infantry. After repulsing the enemy they fell back in good order. Ordered Maj. A. B. Porter to proceed to the rear and take command of the four companies, "A," "F," " ""D," and "E," there stationed. Held our position in front for five hours, alternately advancing and retiring as the approach and repulse of the enemy made it necessary to do so. In every charge the enemy made we repulsed them and drove them into the ravine below. About 12 o'clock м. the order was given to retire from the field, which was done in good order. As we retired over the hill we passed a section of Totten's battery, occupying a commanding point to the right, supported on the right by companies A, F, D and E of the Iowa troops, under command of Major Porter, and on the left by one company of regular infantry under command of Captain Lothrop. This company sustained our retreat with great coolness and determination, under a most terrific discharge from the enemy's infantry. After the wounded were gathered up, our column formed in order of march, and the enemy repulsed, the battery and infantry retiring in good order. Thus closed one of the most hotly contested engagements known to the country, commencing twenty minutes after 5 o'clock A. M., and concluding twenty minutes after 12 o'clock M., in which the enemy brought to the field 14,000 well-armed and well-disciplined troops and 10,000 irregular troops, and our own force amounted to about 5,000 troops in the early part of the engagement, and considerably less than four thousand troops for the concluding four hours of it. It is with great pleasure that I acknowledge valuable aid and assistance from Major A. B. Porter, Adjutant Geo. W. Waldron, who was wounded in the leg, and Sergeant-Major Charles Compton; and to express my unbounded admiration of the heroic conduct displayed by both officers and men. No troops, regular or volunteer, ever sustained their country's flag with more determined valor and fortitude; they have crowned themselves with imperishable honor, and must occupy a conspicuous place in the history of their country. A list of the killed, missing, and wounded will be found attached to this report, together with such notices of individual prowess as were observed on the field. Before concluding this report, I must bear testimony to the gallant and meritorious conduct of Captain A. L. Mason, of Company C, who fell in a charge, at the head of his company. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, WM. H. MERRITT, Lieut.-Colonel Commanding. CAPTAIN TOTTEN'S REPORT. SPRINGFIELD, Mo., Aug. 11, 1861. SIR: In obedience to instructions, I have the honor to make the following report relative to the part taken by my company in the battle on Wilson's Creek, Aug. 10, 1861: Light Company F, 2d regiment of Artillery, marched in company with the other troops comprising Gen. Lyon's command from Springfield on the evening of Friday, Aug. 9, for the position occupied by the enemy. Early on the following morning, Aug. 10, the camp of the Southern army was discovered about one mile and a half south of the head of Gen. Lyon's column, and soon after the infantry of our advance was fired upon by the pickets of the enemy. From that time our march, as directed by Gen. Lyon in person, lay through a small valley which debouched into that through which Wilson's Creek runs at the point immediately occupied by the front of the enemy, and just where the main road to Springfield enters the valley, keeping along the foot of the hills, and soon afterward our skirmishers found those of the enemy and the battery opened. Here the left section of my battery, under Lieut. Sokalski, was first brought to bear upon the enemy in the woods, in front, and shortly afterward the other four pieces were thrown forward into battery to the right on higher ground. A few rounds from the artillery assisted the infantry of our advance in driving the enemy back from their first position, and they fell back toward the crests of the hills, nearer and immediately over their own camp. I now conducted my battery up the hill to the left and front, and soon found a position where I brought it into battery directly over the northern position of the enemy's camp. The camp of Gen. Rains, as I afterward learned, lay directly beneath my front and to the left very close to my position, and a battery of the enemy to my front and right within easy range of my guns. The camp of Gen. Rains was entirely deserted, and, therefore, my first efforts were directed against the battery of the enemy to the right and front. The left half battery was then brought into position, but the right half battery, in reality occupying the most favorable ground, was principally directed against the enemy's battery, although the whole six pieces, as opportunity occurred, played upon the enemy's guns. As the position of the enemy's guns was masked, the gunners of my pieces were obliged to give direction to their pieces, by the flash and smoke of the opposing artillery. In the mean time, the battle was raging in the thick woods and underbrush to the front and right of the position occupied by my battery, and the 1st regiment of Missouri Volunteers was being hard pressed. I now received an order from Gen. Lyon to remove a section of my battery forward to the support of the 1st Missouri, which I did in person, coming into battery just in front of the right company of this regiment. Within 200 yards of the position occupied by the section of my battery a regiment of the enemy was in line, with a Secession flag and a Federal flag displayed together. This trick of the enemy caused me for a moment some uncertainty, fearing by some accident that a portion of our own troops might have got thus far in advance; but their fire soon satisfied me upon this head. I immediately opened upon them with canister from both pieces, in which service I am happy to be able to say I was ably assisted by Capt. Gordon Granger, Acting Assistant Adjutant-General, and 1st Lieut. D. Murphy, 1st Missouri Volunteers. The next step in the progress of the battle was where the enemy tried to force his way up the road, passing along by their battery toward Springfield. This was an effort to turn the left of our position on the hill, where my battery first came into position-and for a time the enemy seemed determined to execute his object. Four pieces of my battery were still in position there, and Capt. Dubois' battery of four pieces on the left near the road. As the enemy showed himself, our infantry and artillery opened upon his ranks, and drove him back, and he appeared no more during the day. About that time, and just after the enemy had been effectually driven back, as last mentioned, I met General Lyon for the last time. He was wounded, he told me, in the leg, and I observed blood trickling from his heel. I offered him some brandy, of which I had a small supply in my canteen, but he declined, and rode slowly to the right and front. Immediately after he passed forward, Gen. Lyon sent me an order to support the Kansas regiments, on the extreme right, who were then being closely pressed by the enemy. I ordered Lieutenant Sokalski to move forward with a section immediately, which he did, and most gallantly, too, relieving and saving the Kansas regiments from being overthrown and driven back. After this, the enemy tried to overwhelm us by an attack of some eight hundred cavalry, which, unobserved, had formed below the crests of the hill to our right and rear. Fortunately, some of our infantry companies, and a few pieces of artillery from my battery, were in position to meet this demonstration, and drove off this cavalry with ease. This was the only demonstration made by their cavalry; and it was so effete and ineffectual in its force and character, as to deserve only the appellation of child's play. Their cavalry is utterly worthless on the battle-field. The next and last point where the artillery of my battery was engaged was on the right of the left wing of the Iowa regiments, and somewhat in their front. The battle was then, and had been for some time, very doubtful as to its results. Gen. Lyon was killed, and our forces had been all day engaged, and several regiments were broken and had retired. The enemy, also sadly dispirited, were merely making a demonstration to cover their retreat from the immediate field of battle. At this time the left wing of the Iowa regiment was brought up to support our brave men still in action, while two pieces of my battery were in advance on the right. The last effort was short and decisive, the enemy leaving the field and retiring down through the valley, covered by thick underbrush, to the right of the centre of the field of battle, toward their camp on Wilson's Creek. After this we were left unmolested, and our forces were drawn off the field in good order under Major Sturgis, who had assumed command directly after Gen. Lyon's death. It should be borne in mind that in the foregoing report I have only glanced at the main points of the battle where the pieces of my own artillery were engaged. I have not entered into detail at all, and could not without entering into a more elaborate history of the affair than appears to be called for on this occasion from me. I wish simply now, in conclusion, to make a few deserved remarks upon the conduct of my officers, non-commissioned officers, and soldiers during the battle. In reference to Lieut. Sokalski, it gives me the liveliest satisfaction to bear witness to his coolness and bearing throughout the entire day; no officer ever behaved better, under such trying circumstances as he found himself surrounded by at times during the day. The non-commissioned officers and men, to a man, behaved admirably, but I am constrained to mention Sergeants Robert Armstrong and Gustave Dey, and Corporals Albert Watchman and Lorenzo T. Immell, who were on several occasions during the day greatly exposed and severely tried, and bore themselves with great credit. The other non-commissioned officers were equally deserving and meritorious according to the time they were in action, but those mentioned were constantly engaged, and deserve particular notice, and because they were always equal to the duties imposed upon them. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, JAMES TOTTEN, Captain 2d Artillery, Commanding Light Company F. Captain GORDON GRANGER, Acting Assistant AdjutantGeneral, Army of the West. LT. DUBOIS REPORT. CAMP NEAR ROLLA, Mo., Aug. 17, 1861. Captain Gordon Granger, United States Army, Acting Adjutant-General, Army of the West: CAPTAIN: I have the honor to report that after the pickets of the enemy were driven in on the morning of the 10th inst., I followed Captain Steele's battalion into action. Having no position assigned me, I selected one directly opposite to and about four hundred yards from the advanced batteries of the enemy. My position was such that my men were partially and my horses entirely protected from direct musketry fire. After assisting Captain Totten to silence the enemy's batteries, in which we perfectly succeeded, I received orders from Gen. Lyon to |