Cape May Ocean Wave, 29 August 1861 IIIF issue link — Page 1

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NUMBER H.

WHATTBTE DEMOCRACY THIKM. The Morris Banner, the BtfttWt Dem- * ocrat and the Salem Sunbeam are exer- ' ting a most healthful influence in tile j ■Democratic party, kj Vhutfwjul and pa- t x 1 triotic stand in ^Irthaif of the Uoion and ' $ / • ConatitutroiT.' There are other journals which are not far ont of the way, hut J these deserve more than common credit ' i « from the fact that they give the most . A undoubted reasons for this policy The j ■Democratic members of Congress from Sew Jersey, Messrs. Thompson, Perry, : 'Cobb and Steele, took high ground, and | •voted for men and money without stint •to pat down the rebellion. They were loyal and true. One of the best articles r which we have seen wo republish below. It it found in the Salem Sunbeam, nndS wo recommend it to all:-— Queer as it certainly is, yet there arc -o few Democrats hero and there whose | partisan feeling »* *° «trong, that they antagonize the Government in present , hands, merely because they are fearful or U » dlaaster to their own part;. In a time like thi*. when the connlry is in peril end the government is Strug rgling for its very existence, i« it becoming for Democrats to step into the shoes of the Hartford Convention and array thomteWes -against the Government ? We think mot, and for one. we enter our j | " v ' V , i I

earnest and solemn protc»t against any ancli course. It is true, the Democratic . party is not, in power, but is that any ^ reason why DontocraU ihonhl nbet trea- . »on£iD/i* true that the scepter has tornjM>ramy departed from our hands, hut is that a valid reason why -wo should eti- ' courage the traitors who sold us out when vietorywas in our very grasp ? It is true that a Hepwblienn fills the Presidential "Chair thfongh the bare- ' treacliery of those whose who are how : in arms ogahiat the country, but i« that j n fair TXeuse why Dintucrats should allow tho Government to be overturned ' and tho liberties or the people to be subverted by double-dyed villain* like Jeff. hA Davis k Co. ? i No ! but on tho contrary. It is the

bounded daty of every man, whatever ] ; his political creed or faith may be, to | i stand fairly and squarely by the govern- ' , incnt- in this awful crisis, and by every ' , means in his power «**i*t to crush ont j I the a cot rail spirit of this unhallowed rebellion, -instead of carping at the acts : or the President, or passing jesuitica! •resolutions to make the iuom of government niijoftly odious, V God help the Democratic yriirtj when 'it passes by tbe iHusrrluqs , sample of much men a* Stephen *. Dsnjh*, .\n •drew Johnson, Hobert J. Wa'ksfi*, ExSecretory Holt, Benjamin F. Butler, John A. Dix nnd oilier noble patriotic I Democrats, who, by word or deed, are j -tracts the flag of their country, to follow such political scavengers as Ben j Wood, of the New York Daily Newt j and Ma co-laborer, tbe editor of the Day Book. Some politician* assert that the President has acted unconstitutionally. Well, supposo that he has, did Jeff. Davit nnd his rufBanly gang act coosti- . nationally ? Geo.' Jackson assumed re spoaaihility, and we as Democrats have •defended and applauded him to the echo fat so doing, and now, we. think it ■comes witli bad grace, to find fault with Abraham Lincoln for doing what wc admired and endorsed in another. if the President had done less under the circumstances than he bos done, be would have deserved the execration of not only all loyal Americans, bat the r whole civilised world. Jf Mr. Lincoln had faltered or waited until armed trai- * tors bad possessed themselves of the ^rational Capital, he would have deserved ■deposition, but, as it Is, be not only de MTVM forgiveness for unconstitutional not i1. Uut infinite praUo for his promptitude afid courage.

Again, these politicians hypocritically j whine over the "enormous expenses" of ] the war, &c. Well, in our judgment, . (and millions think the same) this Union t worth preserving if it costs a thousand ! millions of dollars, aye ! ten times that 1 nnd a million of men besides. I ; What are we worth bb a people, with ! the Union shattered to atoms and our Nationality gone 1 liCt some croaker calculate the matter, if the human mind is capable oi grasping the subjeut, in nil colossal magnitude. As a Democrat, we cannot consistently support the political Abraham Lincoln I of the Republican party ; but as a pntriot, we can, and do support Aorabnm Lincoln, the President of the United Slates, in nil his noble nnd honest measures to repress 'rebellion nnd crush out treason. A* a Democrat, it is utterly VJm possible for us to endorse and accept / the Chicago Platform, but it is perfectly natural for us, an American citizen, to love the constitution and flag of our country, and desire their perpetuation until the end of time. Wc did not wish * to occupy "a fajsc position or hove our ^ party do so, br having its democracy ; I flmrlnt wheels uf secession and sedition. | We conceive it to be our duty to sapport the government, although it is an s alien to our political faith and belief. — Why hot then for the time being, lay aside our little prejudices, and show by our nets, that while wc love our time J honored party and its ever -glorious

principles, wq l<ure our country and its 4 institutions so much better, that when- 1 ever it is necessary for -the common • : weal and common defense, "we can mug- 1 , nunimously rise fur above lite circum- f scribed limits of party. "In a word, if we bare differences to ; rettlm and wrongs to nvrng^upou the ' Republican party, let us Ik- geueroue, ,1 ami wait until secession 'receives its death, blow, and civil war gives way once more to happiness and peace."' •THE BATTLE HEAR BPEINGTIELD. It is our intention to present to our • renders, full acconnts of the noted batj ties which are fought during this war.— The recent encounter, at Davis* creek, a brief account of which vwc gave - n

| last week is next to the heaviest, so far, t{ | nnd we publish the following from the ei St Louis Democrat SccixoinKi.ii, Green Co.. Mo., ri Sunday, Aug. 11 1801. I" | Night before last a little mrmy-of fifty- '' two hundred men moved in two columns ! 0 i on a march of twelve 05,-fifteen miles e I to attack a body of rebate twenty-two j 8 ; thousand strong. In & military point of view, the move was one of doubtful ' ™ i propriety, uot to say absolute rashness * I The larger force were, with the exeep- 1 j tion of three thousand men, well armed 1 1 and equipped, «nd they had a very j ! large body or cavalry. But the quea- p tion of evacuating Springfield, the key j * ' of the entire gJOuthweit, hod already j ' [ been disccascd nnd Mttled in the ncga- { I tivc. It was decided that the loyol cit- j 1 I sens of Green and the surrounding 1 ' counties should not Imve cause to say ( j we had left them without a struggle, I ! abandoned themsdves, their families, ; 1 I their bH, torn heartless and desperate , ! ! foe, until the enemy iiad felt our sled 1 I and tried the mettle of our troops, j I : That mettle proved'ilaolf worthy ofUthc j ' | • great cause In which it was engaged. ! The Union troops who fought and won j ' | the battle of yesterday need no higher . j mark, no brighter name than the laurels , 1 earned justly entitled them to They . .! fought like bravo men, long and well. . Geo. Siegel, with six piece® of can- j 6 j non, his own regiment and that of Col. ' j Solomon's, moved in a southerly di- * j rectiou, marching about fifteen miles, ^ ! passing around the extreme southeastern camp of the enemy and halted uutil day- : j i light, or for the sound erf artlHory from j 1. 1 Abe uorthwest to aunonucc the opewing ( |«rf the bottle.

Gen. Lyon, with tbe volunteers, composing the Misaoori First, Lieut. Col. n Andrews ; Iowa Tirst, LieuL.Col. Mcr- e ritt ; Kansas Fir-t, Col. Deitzler ; nnd « Second. Col. Mitchell ; part of the fl Missouri Sicond, under Mrjor Gster- i haus > and a deUchmciit of twenty men s from Col. Wyman's Illinois Regiment ; r three or four companies of mounted t Home Guards; a force of regulars 1 1, bent eight hundred strong, and two 1 batteries of four and six pieces respec- s tivyy, left Springfield about 8 o'clock 1 1'. M. marching slowly along until t 2 A. ft , when we halted for two | honrs, at which time Copt. Gilbert's 1 ; company of regulars nnd Oster- I I haus's battalion were thrown out as slsir- < wishers on either side- ol the column, t ; and wc moved forwnrd. Slwrtly aftor 6 o'clock/ a party of reb- : , eh, acting -as n picket, was seen scatter- | ing over the hills to givo the alarm, bat , a portion of enr column had already 4 r jienetrated far enough to cat off their , route, unless tbey took a very circuitous , one, iu which ense we should reach r camp ahead or tltcin. We soon cauie f j in sight of the vailey in which they were J encamped. A thousand lehts stretch- . " log Off Into the distance, and partially . n screened from view by a hill jutting into nn angle of Wilson creek, were before y us, presenting as animated au appeary mice as u young city The enemy's e ' camp extended from the hcudof the vallS ley, oveilooked on the north, cast, and

west fide* by bills and ridges two or c three hundred feet in height southward I about a mile, thence eastward a mile and | half, u nd then southward half a mile, j following the windings or the creek, ; 1 along whose bank* the gently sloping f hills ,on either side afforded the most ex- • ' cellent camping ground. Near the iiurlharu end of the valley ! lived John McNurr, .formerly from Iiuli- i ana, who, finding the rebels within five j miles, on Tuesday Inst, packed up his worldly goods, took bis family, und started for the old Hoosicr Stale, where it Ts not a crime to be loyol to the Government under which we live. Not less than twenty or thirty families, living on farms in tho vicinity, started about tho same time, most of ihetu having littlu or

no idea where lliey were going, except j '| escape from tho danger which llircut- g cned them. Ii The battle field, viewed by yonr cor- t respondent, where the most severe fight- t ing was done, wns along the ridges nnd t on either side (mostly on the west) 1 1 of the atrerfm for the first mile mention- > j ed above, where tho creek runs in n I southerly direction. t As we crossed the hill on the north, < i moving In a southwesterly direction, j Cspt. Wright, w ith tbo mounted Home ; ■ Guard., was sent to the cast side so us ' ' cot off a party of rebels seen in that ' 1 j direction Adjutant Unlock, with a | I glass, rode to the brow of the hill, : where, looking^lown. he could see eve- ' movement of theenemy beneath him. j ] His appearance in fall view caused n 1 ' grca*. hub bub in the robel camp, which ; already been thoroughly aroused by ; j our appearance, and camps and bag1 gage were hastily loaded and moved t toward the south. We had completely surprised ibeui. The evidence of that i fact was everywhere visible, hut they hod got quickly into line of battle—their j clouds or cavalry were visible, aud their twenty-one pieces of cannon were not | long rilent after ours bod opened the en- ' gageaicut. On the sides of tho first ridge on Ibo western side of • the valley, Col Blair's ltagimcut, at ten minutes after six . o'clock, encountered a heavy force of infantry, not less than a full regiment, . : am! after a tevcra contest tliry gained tbe summit, and the defeated rebels dis- ! trtrted ranidly, going in a direction ! which rendered it impossible for any ' j considerable number of them to again 1 participate in tbe battle ToReh's bat- ; ( Aery then thsew n few balls as feelers, to .draw out the enemy's cannon.

Cob Blair's regiment moved for- | »■ word, and were soon met by a well * equipped regiment or Louisiana troops, , ' whom,- after a bitter contest of forty- j ^ Sve minntes. they succeeded in rout- } though suffering screrely them- , selves. Captain Lathrop's company ol , rifle recruits now assisted them, and j , together they, with Major Ostcrhaus' < uien, moved op the second hill, which ; was considerably larger than the fijrt. and meeting a third regiment, finally succeeded in driving them back with the assistance of Totten's battery, und gaining the summit. In this part cf the fight tbe gallant Missouri boys acted bravely; indeed, no word* of praise could more than do litem justice. Of course, many acts of valor were j performed, not witnessed by me, but among those I saw, conspicnous were Capt. Gratz, lending bis men against overwhelming odds, and fulling in death ^Just as lie had repulsed the foe, Lieut. Murphy, dashiug forward abend ol the Hue, waving his sword high in the air, shouting onward to the almost wavering men, who gained fresh courage Trout the exhibition, nnd pushing forward, drove the enemy front the Geld. In' this fight, -many of- ouc-hravc-Soldiera fell - 19 Qse ■ no more, while Col. Audrews bad his horse shot frixm under him, and w«s • ; wounded himself slightly. Gen. Lyons suffered in a similar manner ; Captains • , Cavender, Cole, and Yates, aoch slightI «Ty, or ot least- not dnngerouslyN wound- • -.1 . 1 ....(■> U.itn-ii nnft .T fkll tl Soil . QUll ed Lieut*. nnd Johnson,

i Corporals Conant nnd lingers, more or . j less severely wounded. 1 | During this engagement two compa- *, ' nlc9 of regulars were rent to the east- r side of the creek to engage a force which was operating against Captain 1 VV right's cavalry, sheltering themselves ' behind « fence. ^Capt. Ptoimncr and | Capt Gilbert, with their companies, , ' marched close up to the fence and delivered nn effective fire, but were compelled by great odds to retire, which they did, hut again renewed tbe nttack. ( The enemy being largely reinforced, and having nt leant- three thousand men, jumped over into the coru-fitld, and Capt. Pin moor's gsllant hand was ini- ; inin en liv threatened with annihilation. — 1 1 — .. 1 ..... I a.I r. i.iillv (irlf.tr (14 tlirv dill Thtj retreated rapidly, firing

so, when Lieut. Dubois havirfg got his under headway on tho. hill near ■ r the Missouri volunteers, seeing the post- ; -| ; tion of affairs on the opposite side of j t the valley, threw, in the moil precise «l j. manner, sevtral shells, which exploded l ■ as they reached the dense mass of ' ■ Secessionists, scattering litem lifeless on 1 thf ground in .scores, while all who • ( could were glad to nu? for dear life. ■ , I The gallant men in Col. Blair's regiment j , were, now ordered back and their position ( 1 tsken by the Iowa First. Gen. Lyon had , j previously had rf poor opinion of tho fight- 1 1 ing ipmlitie* of the«e aien. formed more j i Trom supposition than upon any real failure ! in doty, hut now tbe timi; had come for him • ! to reverse his judgment, which he did after ( their 6»Wt repulse of the enemy. They i 1 fought like tigers, drove the enemy l»i«k, j ■ and followed up tho advantage gained for a . considerable distance Capt. Mason, Con>: j 1 pany C, wee-lrilled soon aftor his regiment i was engaged. Lieut. I'ureell was inortslly wounded Major Porter and Col Merrill, ; gallantly "cheering op their boy* escaped ; \ unharmed. The Kansas First and Second j • Regiments were now ordered forward to I support the right flank of tbe Iowa'*, j Col. Green's regiment of Tennessee co- , j valry, hearing a Secession flag, now charged . upon our wounded, who were partially guarded by one or twocompaniea of infonlry Seeing the movement, Capt. Tollea poured ' a fow rounds of canister into their ranks, 1 just iu time to enve oar sick men from being , t trampled to death; dispersing tho rebel* so f completely that nothing more was seen of j , them daring the day. j Gen. Lyon now desired the Iowa boyswhom he had found so brave, to prepare .to j 1 meet tbe next^nset of the enemy with tbe j bayonet immediately after Bring. They 1 ' said "Give u* a leader and wo will follow .- ■to death-" On -came the enemy in over 0 j .whelming -nuuib«ri>, confident of victory iover each a miiagcr force. Nu tiuiu coalJ

lost to select a leader. "1 will lead you." exclaimed Lyon. ••Come on bnve men!" and placing himself in the van, received a Tatnl bullet jn*t at the pit of tho stomach, which killed him instantly. The Iowa* delirered theft fire, and the enemy retired, so there wns no need of charging bayoncU. G«-n. Lyon's body was carefully -picked up • 1 uthl conveyed lifclew toward the ambulanby two of his body geard. In his death i a« In hi* Iff*, he was the same devoted, patriotic soldier, regarding hl« own lif# as of no value if he could but rescue his country. Hi* body Ira* been brought hither and cm- , bnlmed. for eonveyanco to his friend* iu Connecticut. There was no feeling of depression 011 the part of the troop* at tho unexpected calamity. Imt rather a feeliog of quiet determination to revenge hi* death. On tbe Thursday night previous, ha had arranged for a night all ack upon the enemy f hut singularly found himself delayed two j hoar* hrhiud the proper time for Marling ; by minors of n skjrmish on the prairie west of town, and tho attack was postponed. Wednesday ho sniJ to me. "Well, 1 becin to believe our term of soldiering is aboot completed. 1 liavo tried earnestly to discharge my whole duty to the Government, und appealed to them for reinforcement* and supplies ; out. ala* ! they do not come, ■ and tho enemy is getting the 'advantage « f us.'- Ho then colled a council of war, nt / which there was nearly n unanimous roil o J for evacuation -Springfield. Gen. Swoeny __ 1 pleaded eloqnently against *oeh a course, ; declarer! it would ho tho rain or tbo Uuioti > caa«» in that quarter of the State, and ; 5 urged a battle as «oon as tho enemy were wii bin striking distance. I!o ulso pointed ' 001 the loss of reputation, both to tho Geo" ' eral nnd hi* cUWrs. which would follow eral mill III* Cllicers, wnitw

such n slop. Thi* couidiel decided the course to be pursued, and Thursday, when the Brigade ifirartermaster inquired when wer« to leave S| xingficld, Gen. Lyon replied, "Not before we ere whipped."— Thin wnsTlie proper course to pursue. If retreated without a battle, ho would j certainly have been pursued by a boastful and unpunished enemy, and, very likely, ■ Iravo hi* roiront bntiroly cut olt -After l»e. huing wounded, ho exclaimed to Major Svliofleld. "the dny i* lost," but the Major ■ raid. "Nn. General, let 11* try once more.' I SsiHir; tri'd. *ud ih» Genoral fell. It waa now a little after nine o'clock, and the batI tie had raged with n BerconeW seldom, if ever, equalled, for over three hour*. Tho | smoke hung like a storm-cloud over the valley, u fit emblem of mourning lor the d - | parted hero. "Hr»lerpo hi* last sleep, he h«» fougtit hln Uittixttle, No -oaivl r.vn nwakc Ulrn to glory iisln."

The battle ragod for two hours more, tho rnminund devolving on Major Sturgis— enemy made repeated altumpt* l<» re- , i take the heigtaxTrom which they had been but wefo gallantly repulsed eiicl» lime. Tho Kansas regiment* behaved with bravery seldom or never equalled, forming ambuscades for tho,r«h*la by lying flat on the ground until tho enemy r.imn near ennugh for them to see tfioir rye-browr, when they would pour a deadly volley Jnto 1 their opponents, and again remain in possesion of the field. The la«t repulse of tho onemy wus the most glorhtus of all, und Whs participated in by mombers of oveisy regiment on tho field. The. enemy came fresh, nnd deceived oar men by bearing a j Union flag, enuring them to behove Bicgel i waa about making a junction with our farce*, Discoveridg the ro«e ju«t in June, our gaL | taut boya rushed upon the enemy, who, with j four cannon belching forth losd-uuMthud • I thundur, were on the point or having their ell'orts crowned with success, and ugaiu « drove tliera, with great loM.dowu tho rdbjra I on tho south side of tLe hill. Captain Totten's ammunition was now nearly exhaosteJ, aud placing Dubois' hat. it cry upon the hill, at the north end of the valley. Major Sturgis ordered the umbu lences to more toward* town. The infun try and Totien's full battery followed in good order, and were not pursued by tha enemy, who waa evidently glad to be let alone, Among Ike ptisoaera taken was n snr. geon firing in »st. Gbsrlei county. If* f j was immediately released, and Dr. Mer- | cher accompained him to tbe rebel genor- . at*, arranging for the return of our wagon* , to bring in oar wounded und dead. Lieutenant Colonel Horace II. Brand, r of the First Regiment, Sixth division, who 1 commanded the rebel force at JfoouevilU, . and who uaid he was aid to General I'rico f I wou taken prisoner early in tbe day. 1 j (l.wUi^uett on n *jj ,