Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 2.
Frank Moore, Ed.

[498] 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.

Thus closed a day long to be remembered in the annals of history; a day which has brought gloom and sorrow to many hearts throughout the land; but fathers and mothers, widows and orphans, may receive some consolation from the fact that their relatives and friends presented on that day a wall of adamant to the enemies 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 emphatically 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.

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 report to too great a length if I should particularize in each individual case: Lieut. Conrad, Second Infantry, A. C. S. to Gen. Lyon, (wounded;) Major Wherry, volunteer aide-de-camp to Gen. Lyon; Major Shepard, volunteer aide-de-camp to Gen. Lyon; Mr. E. Cozzens, volunteer aide-de-camp to myself.

Gen. Sweeny, Inspector-General.--This gallant 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; Lieut.-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