[519]
We reached Springfield in safety.
Our pickets were stationed, and wagons sent for the balance of our wounded and dead.
Since 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon the wounded have been pouring in. The regular hospital building, a very large, new court-house, and dwelling attached, has been filled up, receiving about 120.
The Bailey House has been turned into a hospital and filled with at least as many more.
The Methodist church has been similarly used, and still they come.
But terrible as has been the slaughter on our side, it has been much more so on the side of the rebels.
In the first place, none of their shells exploded in the midst of our ranks, as several of ours did among them in the cornfield among their cavalry, and in the valley.
Our men we believe to be quite as good marksmen as theirs, and they had the advantage of firing into solid columns of the enemy.
Dr. Schenck, who visited McCulloch and Rains after the battle, while gathering our wounded, says their loss is much heavier than ours; that while our dead were comparatively few, theirs were gathered in great heaps under the trees.
He says that so many of their tents were destroyed by themselves, that not less than two-thirds of them would have to bivouac under trees and by camp-fires for the night.
Where so many daring acts and valorous deeds were performed, it were almost impossible to single any one as worthy of especial notice.
Among the latter, however, were Capts. Cavender and Miller, members of the ex-Legislature, Capt. Granger of the regulars, Major Porter of Iowa, Major Cloud of Kansas, Capt. Wood of the Kansas cavalry, and Capt. Wright of the Home Guards. Col. Bates, of the Iowa First, who had been confined for several days with a fever and diarrhea, mounted his horse and attempted to go to the field of battle on the evening preceding it, but was compelled to return to town, much to his regret, after marching two or three miles with the column.
On the march out many of those who now lie in their graves were joyously singing and feeling as gay as larks.
Among the songs I heard were the Iowas' favorite, which relates the doings of Jackson and Price at Booneville, how Lyon hived Camp Jackson, the chorus concluding:
Bound for the happy land of Canaan!the Kansas melody,
So let the wide world wag as it will,and many of a religious character. We took 400 horses and 69 prisoners. One of the latter was brought in from a squad of five rebels by your correspondent, who at that time was nearly hoarse from rallying the troops, regardless of any thing like personal danger. On the return to town, many were the anxious inquiries made after friends and comrades, and lucky was the man who made successful attempts to find and see a wounded brother. Gen. Lyon's body has been carefully laid out, and will be embalmed and sent to his friends in Connecticut. Our loss will probably reach two hundred killed, and six or seven hundred wounded. Since arriving in town, the military authorities have decided not to lose a moment, but to start at once for Rolla. They will leave before daylight. The baggage train is about five miles long, and if the rebels do not attack and secure it, they will be less able to pursue than we imagine. A considerable amount of powder has just been destroyed by the ordnance officer, because of no means of transportation. The Iowa regiment have also burned a portion of their baggage. On one or two occasions the enemy raised Union flags and cheered, causing us to fear we were firing upon Col. Siegel. The battle would otherwise have been much more disastrous to the rebels.
We'll be gay and happy still,
