The Great battle in Missouri.
Incidents of the fight.
The Little Rock True Democrat, of August 22d, contains a number of letters descriptive of the great fight near Springfield, Mo., from which we make some extracts.
One writer says: ‘ We were surprised at 6 o'clock in the morning. The artillery opened upon Colonel Churchill's regiment first. The battle closed at 12 o'clock and 15 minutes. We had in the conflict about 6,000 men and the Federals 10,000. Colonel Churchill had two horses killed under him; our Adjutant, James H. Harper, I fear, is fatally wounded; Sergeant Major Roberts, wounded; Captain McAlexander killed, and many other officers wounded. The loss of our regiment is 42 killed and 158 wounded. Woodruff's battery done flue service. Lieutenant Weaver was killed. We now have possession of the stronghold of Abolitionists, and the Southern flag floats over Springfield. The Dutch are retreating towards Rolla, the terminus of the Southwestern Railroad. Our entire loss is somewhere in the neighborhood of 200 killed and wounded; the enemy 3,000 killed, wounded and prisoners.
’ The following is from another letter:
‘ We have had a fight and a victorious one. It was a hard fought battle and our troops acted in the most gallant manner. Maj. McIntosh acted gallantly and get through unhurt. Gen. Pearce was in the hottest of the fight, and proved himself an able commander. I was assigned to the command of the 4th Regiment, and for the first time in my life had shot and shell whistle over and around me, but really I never felt like I was in danger. I played Colonel the first time, the Colonel of the regiment being sick, and I was honored with that command. I supported Ried's battery of artillery first, and afterwards General Parson's battery of Missouri troops. It was certainly a glorious victory, though many of our gallant fellows have fallen. Capt. Brown, of Van Buren, is among the killed; also, Jos. J. Walton. Poor Joe, as he fell, waved his hat to his men, and cried, ‘"onward, boys, onward"’ Maj. Harper, of Churchill's regiment, was taken prisoner, but afterwards made his escape. His brother, (Jim,) Adjutant of the regiment, is, I learn, mortally wounded.
Lincoln and all his host can't whip our men, when they fight as they did yesterday. They never turned their backs, but their cry was "onward."
A third letter says: ‘We killed Gen. Lyon and have about five hundred prisoners. Gen. Siegel is in the woods, we have taken all his cannon and cut off his command; we took about 150 of his men prisoners; the cavalry, Carroll's and the Texan regiment, are now after him. Ben Johnson had his horse killed under him, within about two feet of me. My horse was slightly wounded, but not enough to hurt — he stood the battle finely. I was by the side of Gen. McCulloch when a battery opened on us with grape, killed Johnson's horse and made the leaves fly around us; I did not feel frightened in the least. In riding about over the field, I had the grape and cannon balls to drop around me in all directions. Capt. Ried's battery did nobly; it disabled a battery of the enemy, but unfortunately it hit Capt. Hinson, of the Louisiana regiment, and killed him. This was the only unfortunate occurrence of the day.’
’ The attack by Capt. Woodruff upon Totten's battery is briefly but emphatically described:
‘ Woodruff tackled Totten and ‘"lifted him clear cut of the water,"’ and his track was marked by dead Dutch, as thick as pumpkins on bottom land. A gallant man fell of the Missourians, Col. Weightman, who said that morning before the battle, that he intended to redeem the character of Missouri, or lose his life. The Missourians fought well — all fought well. Nothing but blue hen's chickens could have won the fight, after the surprise and loss of position.
Gen. Pearce led the 34 regiment, and part of the 5th to McCulloch's aid, and saved the day. After the fight, McCulloch said, ‘"Pearce, you saved me and the battle; they had me down, you brought me the 34 and 5th and saved me."’
’ Other writers thus allude to the same attack:
‘ Woodruff's battery was brought against our friend Totten, and Woodruff compelled him to retire, killing nearly all his men. Woodruff is a gallant fellow, and made every shot count. Not an Arkansas man wavered.--Every man of them fought like demons. Ball, grape and small arms roared without intermission. All of our forces were not engaged. The enemy was said to have had 12,000 men.--Their force was certainly very large.
We took six pieces of artillery, and between 400 and 500 prisoners. It was the second Manassas, and the enemy will never forget the 10th day of August, 1861.
Capt. Woodruff sustained himself admirably; is a bold and gallant officer; has the praise of the whole army; threw shot, shall, and grape on Totten's battery to such an extent that he had to retreat; drew off his guns, and took charge of the infantry in a field where he was met and routed the second time by the Louisiana regiment and Gratiotte regiment, the 34 Arkansas regiment. At the change of Gratiot's and Louisiana regiments, Woodruff's battery threw shot and shell that had a telling effect.
’
The result.
The loss of the Southern army is stated to be about 265 killed; wounded, 890; and 30 missing. We have lost many valuable officers and men, and the wonder is, how they escaped from being entirely cut to pieces, after being surprised.A letter from the postmaster at St. Smith, says, ‘"the news from Missouri is better and better all the time, the Federalists have scattered to the woods and are completely routed."’ The State troops under command of Gen. Pierce left Springfield for Camp Walker on the 16th inst. Gen. McCulloch with his forces has gone to Ft. Scott.
