After the battle at
dug Springs (q. v.),
General Lyon fell back to
Springfield, Mo. McCulloch was impressed by the result of the battle with the opinion that
Lyon's troops outnumbered the
Confederates in that region.
Price thought not, and favored an immediate advance upon them.
McCulloch would not consent; but, receiving an order from
General Polk, Aug. 4, 1861, to march against
Lyon, he consented to join his forces with those of
Price in attacking
Lyon on condition of his (the
Texan) having the chief command.
Price, anxious to drive the Nationals out of
Missouri, consented.
McCulloch divided the Confederate forces into three columns, and at midnight, Aug. 7, their whole army, 20,000 strong, moved towards
Springfield under
McCulloch,
Pearce, and
Price.
They encamped, on the 9th, near
Wilson's Creek, 10 miles south of
Springfield, wearied and half-famished, for they had received only half-rations for ten days, and had eaten nothing for twenty-four hours.
Lyon's force was so small that there seemed great risk in
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accepting battle, but he feared a retreat would be more disastrous.
So he proceeded to attack the
Confederates before they could rest.
Before daylight, Aug. 10, he marched in two columns—one led by himself, the other by
Colonel Sigel.
His own was to attack their front;
Sigel's, composed of 1,200 men, with six cannon, was to attack their rear.
A battle began at an early hour.
Lyon's column bore the brunt.
Wherever the storm raged fiercest, there he appeared, encouraging his troops by words and deeds.
First his horse was shot under him; then he received a wound in his leg, and another in his head, which partially stunned him. Swinging his sword over his head and ordering his men to follow, he dashed forward, but soon fell by a rifleball that passed through his body near his heart.
On the death of
Lyon, the command of his column devolved on
Major Sturgis.
Certain defeat seemed to await the little band.
Sigel had attacked their rear with his six cannon and was at first successful, driving the
Confederates out of their camp.
He was suddenly defeated by a trick.
Arrayed like National soldiers, a heavy force of Confederates approached
Sigel's line.
Deceived, he greeted them in a friendly way, when suddenly they displayed a Confederate flag and attacked the Nationals in the most furious manner, capturing
Sigel's battery and scattering all but 300 of his men. He saved one field-piece, but lost his regimental colors.
Twice afterwards during the battle the same trick was played, but the last time without success.
The belligerents were fighting desperately after
Lyon's death.
The Union column stood firm a long time against an overwhelming force.
At length it began to bend, when
Captain Granger dashed forward with portions of
Kansas,
Iowa, and
Missouri regiments, supported by
Dubois's battery, and smote the
Confederates so fearfully that they fled from the field in broken masses to the shelter of the woods.
The battle ended, and the
Confederates held the field.
The
Nationals fell back to
Springfield, and at 3 A. M. the next day, under the general command of
Colonel Sigel, the entire Union force began a successful retreat, in good order, to
Rolla, 125 miles distant, safely conducting a government train 5 miles in length and valued at $1,500,000. The Confederates did not follow.
The battle of
Wilson's Creek had ended after raging five hours. It was very sanguinary.
The
Nationals lost between 1,200 and 1,300 men, and the
Confederates about 3,000.
