Springfield, August 6.
After another day's hardship and a night's repose, the morning dawned upon us with its fierce glare.
General Lyon finding himself short of provisions, his men weary and footsore, many of them sick from intemperate use of water and green fruits, with a powerful enemy encamped in front, whom he could not chase by reason of the precautions against surprises and flank movements — moreover, a large force of the enemy in the direction of Sarcoxie, and the necessity of keeping open his communication with Springfield — called a consultation with Brigadier-Generals Sweeney, Siegel; Majors Schofield, Shepherd, Conant, Sturgis; Captains Totten and Shaeffer, when it was determined to retire toward Springfield.
This conclusion seems to be well-founded when we reflect that the provisions for such an army must be transported from Rolla at great risk (of capture.
Nothing could be found either for man or horse on the track of the rebels.
Hardly had the decision been declared, when one of the cavalry scouts announced that he had witnessed the departure of McCullough's camp in the direction of Sarcoxie, describing the train as long as that usually pertaining to an army of seven thousand men.
On Sunday morning we retraced our steps, leaving Curran, Stone Co., the furthest point of our expedition, with reluctance at not meeting the object of our search, but with hearts gladdened that we were once more to be placed beyond the danger of starvation.
We marched thirteen miles during the day in a broiling sun. Several of our men fell from the fatigue and heat; two reported died from sunstroke.
At Cane Creek we found another deserter who had been forced into a Louisiana regiment, and had accepted the first chance to escape.
He is a German, and has a brother in the Missouri Volunteers.
His statements confirm those of the other deserter.
His regiment left New Orleans 1,050 strong, and when he left it, death, disease, and desertion had reduced it to 700.
His regiment was well drilled and armed.
Three Arkansas regiments were armed with old smooth-bore muskets; the balance with odds and ends of all kinds, some few being without arms.
Two Texan regiments are daily expected, with two brass guns.
He gives a deplorable account of their commissariat and subsistence department.
He is kept in close custody, both for his own protection and as a precaution against fraud.
We reached Springfield to-day, and were much surprised to learn that the inhabitants had been the victims of the most unreasonable fright,--a report having been spread during the night that the enemy was about to attack the town.
Singularly enough nearly all the pickets came into town, instead of remaining at their posts.
I ought in justice to say that these were “Home Guards,” who have been mustered into the service to meet the emergency.
We brought in sixteen prisoners, most of them taken in a hostile attitude toward the Government.
We witnessed a very salutary way of treating rebels.
Two or three prominent secessionists, who at one time were accounted respectable, are busily hauling the debris from the streets, and performing other such municipal duties under guard, greatly to the edification of a crowd of boys and negroes.
We think this is the happy medium between hanging our prisoners and swearing them.--N. Y. World, Aug. 12.
