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

[502] a regiment of the enemy was in line, with a Secession flag and a Federal flag displayed together. This trick of the enemy caused me for a moment some uncertainty, fearing by some accident that a portion of our own troops might have got thus far in advance; but their fire soon satisfied me upon this head. I immediately opened upon them with canister from both pieces, in which service I am happy to be able to say I was ably assisted by Capt. Gordon Granger, Acting Assistant Adjutant-General, and 1st Lieut. D. Murphy, 1st Missouri Volunteers. The next step in the progress of the battle was where the enemy tried to force his way up the road, passing along by their battery toward Springfield. This was an effort to turn the left of our position on the hill, where my battery first came into position — and for a time the enemy seemed determined to execute his object. Four pieces of my battery were still in position there, and Capt. Dubois' battery of four pieces on the left near the road. As the enemy showed himself, our infantry and artillery opened upon his ranks, and drove him back, and he appeared no more during the day. About that time, and just after the enemy had been effectually driven back, as last mentioned, I met General Lyon for the last time. He was wounded, he told me, in the leg, and I observed blood trickling from his heel. I offered him some brandy, of which I had a small supply in my canteen, but he declined, and rode slowly to the right and front. Immediately after he passed forward, Gen. Lyon sent me an order to support the Kansas regiments, on the extreme right, who were then being closely pressed by the enemy. I ordered Lieutenant Sokalski to move forward with a section immediately, which he did, and most gallantly, too, relieving and saving the Kansas regiments from being overthrown and driven back. After this, the enemy tried to overwhelm us by an attack of some eight hundred cavalry, which, unobserved, had formed below the crests of the hill to our right and rear. Fortunately, some of our infantry companies, and a few pieces of artillery from my battery, were in position to meet this demonstration, and drove off this cavalry with ease. This was the only demonstration made by their cavalry; and it was so effete and ineffectual in its force and character, as to deserve only the appellation of child's play. Their cavalry is utterly worthless on the battle-field. The next and last point where the artillery of my battery was engaged was on the right of the left wing of the Iowa regiments, and somewhat in their front. The battle was then, and had been for some time, very doubtful as to its results. Gen. Lyon was killed, and our forces had been all day engaged, and several regiments were broken and had retired. The enemy, also sadly dispirited, were merely making a demonstration to cover their retreat from the immediate field of battle. At this time the left wing of the Iowa regiment was brought up to support our brave men still in action, while two pieces of my battery were in advance on the right. The last effort was short and decisive, the enemy leaving the field and retiring down through the valley, covered by thick underbrush, to the right of the centre of the field of battle, toward their camp on Wilson's Creek. After this we were left unmolested, and our forces were drawn off the field in good order under Major Sturgis, who had assumed command directly after Gen. Lyon's death. It should be borne in mind that in the foregoing report I have only glanced at the main points of the battle where the pieces of my own artillery were engaged. I have not entered into detail at all, and could not without entering into a more elaborate history of the affair than appears to be called for on this occasion from me. I wish simply now, in conclusion, to make a few deserved remarks upon the conduct of my officers, non-commissioned officers, and soldiers during the battle. In reference to Lieut. Sokalski, it gives me the liveliest satisfaction to bear witness to his coolness and bearing throughout the entire day; no officer ever behaved better, under such trying circumstances as he found himself surrounded by at times during the day. The non-commissioned officers and men, to a man, behaved admirably, but I am constrained to mention Sergeants Robert Armstrong and Gustave Dey, and Corporals Albert Watchman and Lorenzo T. Immell, who were on several occasions during the day greatly exposed and severely tried, and bore themselves with great credit. The other non-commissioned officers were equally deserving and meritorious according to the time they were in action, but those mentioned were constantly engaged, and deserve particular notice, and because they were always equal to the duties imposed upon them.

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Captain: I have the honor to report that after the pickets of the enemy were driven in on the morning of the 10th inst., I followed Captain Steele's battalion into action.

Having no position assigned me, I selected one directly opposite to and about four hundred yards from the advanced batteries of the enemy. My position was such that my men were partially and my horses entirely protected from direct musketry fire.

After assisting Captain Totten to silence the enemy's batteries, in which we perfectly succeeded, I received orders from Gen. Lyon to