them abandoned to the enemy; while | nated the first Monday of the Nothe Rebels reported their loss at 40 to 50 killed and 125 to 150 wounded. Sigel, now outnumbered three or four to one, was constrained to continue his retreat, by Mount Vernon, to Springfield; where Gen. Lyon, who had been delayed by lack of transportation, joined and outranked him on the 10th. Meantime, Gen. Harris, Jackson's Brigadier for north-eastern Missouri, had rallied a considerable force at Paris, near the Mississippi, and hence commenced the work of destroying the Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad. Col. Smith's Union force attacked him on the 10th at Palmyra, whence Harris fell back to Monroe, fifiteen miles west, where he destroyed much of the railroad property. Here he was again attacked by Smith, and worsted, losing one gun and 75 pris oners. He thereupon disappeared; but continued actively organizing guerrilla parties, and sending them out to harass and plunder Unionists, destroying their property through all this section, until he finally joined Price, with 2,700 men, at the siege of Lexington. In fact, all over Missouri, partisan fights and guerrilla outrages were now the order of the day. The State Convention reässembled vember ensuing as a day of election, whereat the people should ratify or disapprove this decisive action; and, meantime, elected Hamilton R. Gamble Governor, Willard P. Hall Lieut. Governor, and Mordecai Oliver Secretary of State. These officers were that day inaugurated, and the Convention, immediately thereupon, adjourned to the third Monday in December. Their action was ratified, of course, and the functionaries above named continued in their respective offices. These proceedings were met by a proclamation from the Rebel Lieut. Governor, Reynolds, styling himself acting Governor, dated New Madrid, July 31st; wherein he declares that he has been absent for two months, as a Commissioner of Missouri to the Confederate States, and that now 5 "I return to the State, to accompany, in my official capacity, one of the armies which the warrior statesman, whose genius now presides over the affairs of our half of the Union, has prepared to advance against the common foe. *** I particularly address myself to those who, though Southerners in feeling, have permitted a love of peace to lead them astray from the State cause. You now see the State authorities about to assert, with powerful forces, their constitutional rights; you behold the most warlike population on the globe, the people of the lower Mississippi valley, about to rush, with their gleaming bowieknives and unerring rifles, to aid us in driving out the Abolitionists and their Hessian alat Jefferson City July 20th, and pro-friends, the war must soon depart Missouri's lies. If you cordially join our Southern ceeded-52 to 28-to declare the borders; if you still continue, either in offices of Governor, Lieut. Governor, apathy, or in indirect support of the Lincoln Government, you only bring ruin upon yourSecretary of State, with those of memselves by fruitlessly prolonging the contest. bers of the Legislature, vacant by the The road to peace and internal security is treason of their occupants, and all the only through union with the South. We acts of said Executive and Legisla- be bygones. Rally to the Stars and Bars, will receive you as brothers, and let bygones ture, in contravention of the Federal in union with our glorious ensign of the Constitution, and in hostility to the Grizzly Bear!" Union, null and void. They desig 4 Jackson followed this (August 6th) "Jefferson Davis, to wit. JACKSON'S SECESSION-DUG SPRINGS. by a Declaration of Independence, mainly made up of abuse of the Federal Government, and its efforts to maintain its authority in Missouri. He thus established his right to take that State out of the Union: "By the recognized universal public law of all the earth, war dissolves all political compacts. Our forefathers gave as one of their grounds for asserting their independence that the King of Great Britain had 'abdicated government here, by declaring us out of his protection, and waging war upon us.' The people and Government of the Northern States of the late Union have acted in the same manner toward Missouri, and have dissolved, by war, the connection heretofore existing between her and them. "The General Assembly of Missouri, the recognized political department of her Government, by an act approved May 10th, 1861, entitled, 'An act to authorize the Governor of the State of Missouri to suppress rebellion and repel invasion,' has vested in the Governor, in respect to the rebellion and invasion now carried on in Missouri by the Government and people of the Northern States and their allies, power and authority ‘to take such measures, as in his judgment he may deem necessary or proper, to repel such invasion or put down such rebellion.' "Now, therefore, by virtue of the authority in me vested by said act, I, Claiborne F. Jackson, Governor of the State of Missouri, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of my intentions, and firmly believing that I am herein carrying into effect the will of the people of Missouri, do hereby, in their name, by their authority, and on their behalf, and subject at all times to their free and unbiased control, make and publish this provisional declaration, that, by the acts of the people and Government of the United States of America, the political connection heretofore existing between said States and the people and Government of Missouri is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that the State of Missouri, as a sovereign, free, and independent republic, has full power to levy war, conclude peace, contract alliances, establish commerce, and to do all other acts and things which independent States may of right do." On the strength of the preceding, there was negotiated at Richmond, on the 31st of October ensuing, by E. C. Cabell and Thomas L. Snead, 577 on the part of Jackson, and R. M. T. Hunter acting for Davis, an offensive and defensive alliance between Missouri and the Confederacy; whereby all the military force, matériel of war, and military operations of the former were transferred to the said Davis, as though she were already in the Confederacy; to which was added a stipulation that she should, so soon as possible, be admitted into the Confederacy; and she has since been represented in its Congress, although no election for members thereof was ever held by her people. The Rebels, largely reënforced from the South, and immensely strong in cavalry, soon overran all southern Missouri, confining Gen. Lyon to Springfield and its immediate vicinity. Aware of their great superiority in numbers, Lyon waited long for reënforcements; but the disaster at Bull Run, and the general mustering out of service of our three-months' men, prevented his receiving any. At length, hearing that the enemy were advancing in two strong columns, from Cassville on the south and Sarcoxie on the west, to overwhelm him, he resolved to strike the former before it could unite with the latter. He accordingly left Springfield, August 1st, with 5,500 foot, 400 horse, and 18 guns; and, early next morning, encountered at Dug Springs a detachment of the enemy, whom he lured into a fight by pretending to fly, and speedily routed and dispersed. The Rebels, under McCulloch, thereupon recoiled, and, moving westward, formed a junction with their weaker column, advancing from Sarcoxie to strike Springfield from the west. Lyon thereupon retraced his steps to Springfield. The Rebels, now com UNION HEROISM-DEATH OF GEN. LYON. 579 and the 1st Missouri, 1st and 2d Kansas, and 1st Iowa regiments, with Steele's battalion of regulars, won immortal honor by the persistent and heroic gallantry with which they for hours maintained their ground against immense odds. The Rebels were re upon the Rebels in front, while Sigel, | both sides were brought into action; with his 1,200 men and 6 guns, almost simultaneously, assailed the rear of the enemy's right. The battle was obstinate and bloody; but the disparity of numbers was too great, and the division of forces proved, therefore, a mistake. The Rebels, at first surprised by Sigel's unexpected at-peatedly driven back in confusion, tack, and most gallantly charged by him, gave way before him; and he soon secured a commanding position for his artillery. But the weakness of his force was now manifest; and he was deceived by the advance of a Rebel regiment, which was mistaken by his men for Lyon's victorious vanguard, and thus came close to them unopposed. At a signal, Sigel was assailed by two batteries and a strong column of infantry, and instantly thrown into confusion. The enemy's fire was so hot that our cannoneers were driven by it from their pieces, the horses killed, and five guns captured. Our infantry fell back in confusion, followed and assailed by large bodies of Rebel cavalry. Of Sigel's 1,200, less than 400 were present at the next roll-call. One of his regiments, 400 strong, under Col. Salomon, was composed of three-months' men, who had already overstaid their term of enlistment, and who had reluctantly consented to take part in this battle; but who, when charged by an overwhelming Rebel force, were suddenly seized with a fit of homesickness, and fled in all directions. Meantime, our front or main advance, under Gen. Lyon, had waked up the great body of the Rebels; Capt. Totten's and Lieut. Dubois's batteries opening upon their immense masses with great vigor and decided effect. Very soon, the infantry on and the firing would be nearly or quite suspended for ten to twenty minutes; when, perceiving their decided superiority in numbers, since the rout and flight of Sigel's command, the Confederate officers would rally their men and bring them once more to the charge. Meantime, Gen. Lyon, who had led out his little army to fight against his own judgment, upon the representation of Gen. Sweeny, that to abandon all south-west Missouri without a battle would be worse than a defeat, and who had evinced the most reckless bravery throughout, had been twice wounded, and had had his horse killed under him. The second ball struck him in the head, and seemed for the moment to confuse him. He walked a few paces to the rear, saying to Maj. Schofield, his Adjutant, "I fear the day is lost;" to which Schofield responded, "No, General; let us try them once more." Maj. Sturgis offered him his own horse, which Lyon at first declined, but soon after mounted, and, bleeding from his two wounds, swung his hat in the air, and called upon the troops nearest him to prepare for a bayonet-charge on the lines of the enemy. The 2d Kansas rallied around him, but in a moment its brave Col. Mitchell fell severely wounded, and his soldiers cried out: "We are ready to follow-who will lead us?" "I will lead you !” replied "After the death of Gen. Lyon, when the enemy fled and left the field clear, so far as we could see, an almost total silence reigned for a space of twenty minutes. Maj. 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 scattered and broken; over 20,000 foes 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 Sigel?' ~ If I could still 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 but to retreat also. In this perplexing condition of affairs, I summoned the principal officers for consultation. The great question with most was, 'Is retreat possible?' The consultation was brought to a close by the advance of a heavy column of infantry from the hill, where Sigel's guns had been heard before. Thinking they were Sigel'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 Sigel's brigade, and carried the American flag. They were, therefore, permitted to move down the hill within easy range of Dubois's 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's battery on our left, gallantly supported by Maj. Osterhaus's battalion and the rallied fragments of the Missouri 1st, soon silenced the enemy's battery on the hill, and repulsed the right wing of his infantry. Capt. Totten's battery, in the center, supported by the Iowas and regulars, was the main point of attack. The enemy could frequently be seen within twenty feet of Totten's guns, and the smoke of the opposing lines was often so confounded as to seem but one. Now, for the first time during the day, our entire line maintained its position with perfect firmness. Not the slightest disposition to give way was manifested at any point; and, while Capt. Steele's battery, 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 supports of Dubois's battery, consisting of two or three companies of the 1st Missouri, three companies of the 1st Kansas, and two companies of the 1st Iowa, in quick time, and fell upon the enemy's right flank, and poured into it a murderous fire, killing or wounding 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. 'It was then evident that Totten's battery and Steele's little battalion were safe. Among the officers conspicuous in leading this assault were Adj. Hezcock, Capts. Burke, Miller, Maunter, Maurice, and Richardson, and Lieut. Howard, all of the 1st Missouri. There were others of the 1st Kansas and 1st Iowa who participated, and whose names I do not remember. enemy then fled from the field. The "A few moments before the close of the engagement, the 2d 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 center, and, after a sharp engagement, drove him precipitately from the field. "Thus closed--at about half-past 11 |