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July 4, 1861.
August 2, 1861.
General Lyon being thus compelled to act, and relying upon the
steadiness and efficiency of his army and superior artillery, decided
to meet the advancing foe with his small force, rather than retreat
and leave a large district of country exposed to secession ravages. In
order to meet the enemy on an open field he led his army as far south
as Crane Creek, 10 miles below Springfield. The march commenced
at 5 o’clock, on the afternoon of August 1st. The weather was
intensely hot—the baggage wagons were scattered over a distance of
three miles—the march slow, and one of great fatigue; and it was not
until 10 o’clock that the camping ground was reached and the march
ended, only to be resumed on the following morning, under a
burning sun and with but a very scanty supply of water. Slight
skirmishes occurred during the day, but the shells of Captain
Totten’s battery caused a hasty retreat on the part of the rebels. On
the arrival at Dug Springs the advance continued on, while the
skirmishers maintained a brisk fire with the retreating pickets of the
enemy; Captain Steele’s regular infantry taking the lead to the left,
supported by a company of cavalry, the rest of the column being
some distance in the rear. A body of rebel infantry were now seen
approaching from the woods with the design of cutting off the Union
forces. Captain Stanley drew up his cavalry, and opened upon them
with Sharp’s carbines. It was a desperate undertaking to keep the
rebels in check—scarce one hundred Union cavalry against more
than five times that number of the enemy. The rebel infantry kept up
the firing for some minutes, when an enthusiastic lieutenant, giving
the order to “charge,” some twenty-five of the gallant regulars rushed
forward upon the enemy’s lines, and, dashing aside the threatening
bayonets of the sturdy rebels, hewed down the ranks with fearful
slaughter. Captain Stanley, who was amazed at the temerity of the
little band, was obliged to sustain the order, but before he could
reach his company they had broken the ranks of the enemy, who
outnumbered them as twenty to one. Some of the rebels who were
wounded asked, in utter astonishment, “whether these were men or
devils—they fight so?”
The ground was left in possession of the Unionists, strewed with
arms, and the men were seizing the horses and mules that had been
left, when a large force of the enemy’s cavalry were seen approaching
—some three hundred or more. At the instant when they had formed,
in an angle, Captain Totten, who had mounted a six and twelve-
pounder upon the overlooking hill, sent a shell directly over them; in
another minute, the second, a twelve-pound shell, landed at their
feet, exploding, and scattering the whole body in disorder. The third,
fourth, fifth and sixth were sent into their midst. The horsemen
could not control their horses, and in a minute not an enemy was to
be seen anywhere.
The Union loss was four killed and five wounded, one of whom
subsequently died, while that of the enemy was very heavy, fully forty
killed and an hundred wounded.
Having routed the enemy, General Lyon continued his march until
he arrived at Curran, in Stone county, twenty-six miles from
Springfield, where he encamped in order to avail himself of a choice
of position. Here, from information that had been obtained of the
opposing force and movements, a consultation was held with
Generals Sweeney and Sigel, and Majors Schofield, Shepherd,
Conant and Sturgis, and Captains Totten and Schaeffer, when it was
determined to retire towards Springfield. The enemy was threatening
a flank movement, and the necessity of keeping a communication
open with Springfield was apparent to all the officers, and induced
General Lyon to return to that point. An important consideration
was, their provisions had to be transported one hundred miles—the
depot being at Rolla—and the men were exhausted with the excessive
heat, labors and privations of the campaign.
On the 5th of August they encamped at and near Springfield, and
awaited the expected encounter with firm hearts, resolute bearing,
and a determination to do or die.
SKIRMISH AT ATHENS, MISSOURI.
August 5, 1861.
The Federal loss was 223 killed, 721 wounded and 292 missing; the
rebel loss, (McCulloch’s report,) 265 killed, 800 wounded, 30
missing; Price’s report of Missouri troops, 156 killed and 517
wounded.
The death of the brave General Lyon was universally deplored.
Countless were the tributes to his memory, and deep the sorrow
when his body was borne homeward, surrounded with military
honors. From amid the murky smoke and fearful glare of battle his
soul was called home—the flashing eye dimmed—the good right hand
unnerved, and the fiery spirit, that scorned danger and hated
treason, was quenched forever.
SKETCH OF GENERAL LYON.
Brigadier-General Nathaniel Lyon was born in the State of
Connecticut, in the year 1818, and entered the military academy at
West Point in 1837, where he graduated four years afterwards with
the rank of Second-Lieutenant of the Second Infantry. In February,
1847, he was made First-Lieutenant, and for gallant conduct in the
battles of Contreras and Cherubusco, during the following August,
was breveted Captain. On the 13th of September he was severely
wounded in a most desperate assault, and in June, 1851, was
promoted to a captaincy, which rank he held at the time of the
troubles in Kansas. As has been stated, he was in command of the
Missouri Volunteers at the capture of Camp Jackson, and was for his
well-proven bravery and eminent ability, promoted to the rank which
he held at the time of his death. In personal appearance he was about
five feet and eight inches in height, his frame wiry and muscular. His
hair was long and thick, his whiskers sandy and heavy, and his eyes
of a blueish gray. His forehead was high and broad, with a firm
expression of the lips, and a countenance that indicated an intellect
of no ordinary capacity. He was a strict disciplinarian, endeared to
his soldiers, and universally regretted by the whole country which
followed him to the grave with deep and mournful affection. In his
will, made before he started on his last campaign, he left his entire
property to the country for which he gave his life.