The Address of the State Convention was published on the 31st of the month, and presented the question before the people in a masterly and able manner. The rebel Lieutenant-Governor, Thomas C. Reynolds, found refuge under the protection of General Pillow, at New Madrid, and on the same day, in the absence of Governor Jackson, issued a treasonable proclamation to the people of the State. While these events were transpiring in other parts of the State, General Lyon had concentrated his forces at Springfield. Although he had perfect confidence in the bravery and discipline of his troops, he yet felt his inability to cope successfully with the superior numbers that he was warned were marching against him, and appealed to General Fremont to reinforce him. This General Fremont declined to do, alleging as a reason that his best regiments had been withdrawn to Washington and Cairo—to important points in the vicinity of St. Louis and the district under General Pope, that required to be guarded; and General Lyon and his little handful of brave men were left to meet, as best they might, the fast accumulating forces of the enemy who were bent on their destruction. BATTLE OF DUG SPRINGS. AUGUST 2, 1861. General Lyon being thus compelled to act, and relying upon the steadiness and efficiency of his army and superior artillery, decided to meet the advancing foe with his small force, rather than retreat and leave a large district of country exposed to secession ravages. In order to meet the enemy on an open field he led his army as far south as Crane Creek, 10 miles below Springfield. The march commenced at 5 o’clock, on the afternoon of August 1st. The weather was intensely hot—the baggage wagons were scattered over a distance of three miles—the march slow, and one of great fatigue; and it was not until 10 o’clock that the camping ground was reached and the march ended, only to be resumed on the following morning, under a burning sun and with but a very scanty supply of water. Slight skirmishes occurred during the day, but the shells of Captain Totten’s battery caused a hasty retreat on the part of the rebels. On the arrival at Dug Springs the advance continued on, while the skirmishers maintained a brisk fire with the retreating pickets of the enemy; Captain Steele’s regular infantry taking the lead to the left, supported by a company of cavalry, the rest of the column being some distance in the rear. A body of rebel infantry were now seen approaching from the woods with the design of cutting off the Union forces. Captain Stanley drew up his cavalry, and opened upon them with Sharp’s carbines. It was a desperate undertaking to keep the rebels in check—scarce one hundred Union cavalry against more than five times that number of the enemy. The rebel infantry kept up the firing for some minutes, when an enthusiastic lieutenant, giving the order to “charge,”