WILSON’S CREEK, AND THE DEATH OF LYON.
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be hurled back before the withering fire as from the blast of a furnace and tocharge again with a like result.
At a moment when the contest seemed evenly balanced, except for theoverwhelming numbers of the Confederates on the field, Captain GordonGranger, noted for his daring and intrepidity, rushed to the rear and broughtup the supports of DuBois’s battery, hurling them upon the enemy’s rightflank, into which they poured a murderous, deadly volley, which created aperfect rout along the whole front.\ Our troops continued to send a gallingfire into the disorganized masses as they fled, until they disappeared, and thebattle was ended.
The order to withdraw was then given, and DuBois’s battery with its sup-ports was moved to a hill and ridge in rear to cover the movement. Beforethe withdrawal of the main body took place, Captain Granger and othersurged remaining on the ground, but Sturgis had received information ofSigel’s rout, and in view of his depleted, worn-out forces and exhaustedammunition, persisted in a return to Springfield. The infantry and artillery,as soon as Totten’s disabled horses were replaced, left the scene of conflict,and, passing through the troops placed in rear, took up the march for Spring-field. On reaching the Little York road, a body of horsemen was seen to thewest, which proved to be Lieutenant Farrand with his dragoons, leading ina remnant of Sigel’s brigade, with the one piece of artillery he had saved.In his hand he carried a captured flag, which he trailed by his side. He wasreceived with vociferous cheering, and became for the time the admirationof all, having marched around both armies and brought his command in safe. ☆
On reaching Springfield, Sturgis found that Sigel had arrived there halfan hour earlier. Regarding him as the senior, the command was given overto him. On the following morning the army withdrew.
\ In his report Major Sturgis gave great praiseto Gordon Granger, saying that he was “now sight-ing a gun of DuBois’s battery, and before thesmoke had cleared away sighting one of Totten’s;at one moment reeonnoitering the enemy, and thenext either bringing up reenforcements or rallyingsome broken line. To whatever part of the fieldI might direct my attention, there would I findCaptain Granger, hard at work at some importantservice.”— Editors.
■fe About this time, too, it was discovered thatin order to gather up the wounded on the fieldthe body of General Lyon had been taken fromthe wagon in which it was placed and had beenleft at the field-hospital. Lieutenant Caufieldwith his company B, 1st Cavalry , was dispatchedwith a wagon to recover the general’s body, andthe army moved on into Springfield, arrivingabout 5 P. M. Lieutenant Canfield proceeded tothe battle-field, and before reaching there foundthe Confederates had returned and engaged in gath-ering their own wounded, and had found GeneralLyon’s body. It was delivered by the enemy andwas brought into the town to the house occupied asLyon’s headquarters, and was placed in charge of
the late general’s staff, who carefully cared for it.The house belonged to Governor John S. Phelps ,and as it had been determined early in the even-ing that the troops would take up the retreat forRolla before daylight the next morning, Mrs.Phelps, a warm personal friend of General Lyonduring his sojourn in the town, was communicatedwith at her home in the country, and asked to havethe remains buried on her farm till they could beremoved. To this she gladly consented. The bodywas left in custody of surgeons who were to remainbehind, and the next day Mrs. Phelps took posses-sion of it, and General Lyon was laid to rest in hergarden, just outside the town. His body was sub-sequently removed to his home in Connecticut andburied with military and civic honors.—W. M. W.
Lyon was born in Ashford, Conn., July 14th,1818. He was graduated at West Point in 1841,and served in the army in Florida and in the warwith Mexico . He was brevetted captain for gallantconduct at Churubusco and Contreras. From 1849to 1853 lie served in California , winning specialmention for his services in frontier warfare. Heserved afterward in Kansas , and from that State wasordered to St. Louis in January, 18 61.— Editors.