Gen. Clark’s Division.—Infantry loss, 17 killed and 71 wounded; cavalry loss, 6 killed and 5 wounded. Among the killed were Capts. Farris and Halleck and Lieut. Haskins. Among the wounded were Gen. Clark himself, and Col. Burbridge, both severely, and Capt. D. H. McIntyre, now attorney general of the State.
Gen. Parsons’ Division.—Infantry loss, 9 killed and 38 wounded; cavalry loss, 3 killed and 2 wounded; artillery, Guibor’s battery, 3 killed and 7 wounded. Among the killed was Capt. Coleman, of Grundy county. Col. Kelly, commanding the infantry, was wounded in the hand.
Gen. McBride’s Division.—Total loss, 22 killed, 124 wounded. Among the latter were Col. Foster, and Capts. Nichols, Dougherty, Armstrong, and Mings.
Gen. Rains’ Division.—Weightman’s brigade, 35 killed 111 wounded. Cawthorn’s brigade, 21 killed and 75 wounded. Among the killed were Col. Richard Hanson Weightman, commanding 1st brigade, and Major Chas. Rogers, of St. Louis.
Two other prominent officers were killed,—Col. Ben Brown, of Ray county, commanding cavalry with McCulloch’s army, and Col. George W. Allen, of Saline county, of Price’s staff. The latter was shot down while bearing an order, and was buried on the field. Col. Horace H. Brand, of Price’s staff, was taken prisoner but released soon afterward.
The total of Price’s loss, according to the official reports, was—killed, 156; wounded 609; missing 30.
McCulloch’s Army.—The losses of McCulloch’s army in the aggregate was 109 killed, 300 wounded and 50 prisoners. Among the officers killed were Capt. Hinson, of the Louisiana regiment; Capt. McAlexander, and Adjutant Harper, of Churchill’s regiment; Capts. Bell and Brown, and Lieuts. Walton and Weaver, of Pearce’s division. Some of the severely wounded were Col. McIntosh (by a grapeshot), Lieut. Col. Neal, Major H. Ward, Captains King, Pearson, Gibbs, Ramsaur and Porter, and Lieuts. Dawson, Chambers, Johnson, King, Raney, Adams, Hardister, McIvor, and Saddler.
The aggregate Southern loss was not far from 265 killed, 900 wounded and 80 prisoners. A little heavier than that of the Federals, owing to the long range muskets and rifles of the latter and their more efficiently served artillery. All agree that the Confederate and secession batteries as a rule were not well handled.
DISPOSITION OF THE DEAD.
The dead at Wilson’s Creek were not well disposed of. All were given hasty and rude sepulture. Of course the Confederate slain fared the better, being buried by their own comrades. The Union dead were put under ground as soon as possible, and with but little ceremony. In an old well, near the battle field, fourteen bodies were thrown. In a “sink-hole” thirty-four of their bodies were tumbled. The others were buried in groups here and there, and the burial heaps marked. In many instances, a few Federal soldiers were present when the burials were made, and identified certain graves. Some of the bodies whose graves were so marked, were afterwards disinterred and removed to their former homes. A number of the Federal dead were never buried; this was particularly true regarding Sigel’s men. Dr. Melcher says he saw portions of the bodies of the German Federals along the line of Sigel’s retreat, several days after the battle, strewn along near the road, having been torn by dogs and hogs and buzzards. Skulls, bones, etc., indicating that at least a dozen corpses had been left above ground were gathered up. The doctor’s statement is corroborated by citizens who lived in the neighborhood.
The weather was hot—oppressively so. Putrefaction soon set in; there was a scarcity of coffins and coffin-makers, and coffin-maker’s materials, and perhaps the Confederates did the best they could. Their own dead were, in many instances, given imperfect burial.
In 1867, six years afterwards, when the National Cemetery at Springfield was established, the contractor for the removal of the dead bodies of the Union soldiers on the battle ground, took up and removed, and received pay for 183 bodies, as follows: Out of the “sink-hole,” 34; out of the old well, 14; from other portions of the field, 135.
THE HOME GUARDS AT SPRINGFIELD.
Back in Springfield there was a large force of Home Guards, numbering about 1,200, under Col. Marcus Boyd, from Greene and adjoining counties, all under arms, and all ready and willing to fight. But Gen. Lyon held their fighting qualities in such poor esteem—having no confidence that any other sort of troops but regulars would fight well—that he had refused to allow them to go to the field, saying that they would break at the first fire and demoralize the rest of the troops, and perhaps cause him to lose the fight.
But in all probability—no reason appearing to the contrary—if these 1,200 men had been taken out to Wilson’s Creek they would have fought well—as well as the volunteers, who fought as effectively as the regulars—and perhaps (who knows?) would have turned the scale in favor of the Federals. Gen. Lyon made a mistake, certainly, in not employing against the enemy in his front every man who could be induced to fire a musket; but his anxiety to not leave his rear and base wholly unprotected from a cavalry dash or sudden movement of some sort, led to his leaving this large force in Springfield, which stood in arms all of the forenoon and heard their comrades fighting so hard away to the southwest, and, anxious as they were to go to their relief, were forbidden to do so.
It is related of a certain doughty captain of the Home Guards then and now a resident of Springfield, that on his reporting to Col. Boyd for orders the morning of the battle, the colonel sent him out on the Mount Vernon road, directing him to observe closely the country to the westward and to report promptly every half hour should anything extraordinary occur. In a few minutes after the opening of Totten’s battery, back came the captain ambling along on a little brood mare, which he was industriously larruping with a lath, and reining up his steed in front of Col. Boyd, he made a military salute and announced:—
“Colonel Boyd, Sir! The cannings is a-firing!” As the roar of every gun had been plainly audible to everybody, this was not a very new piece of information, but Boyd replied, “All right, captain; go back to your post.”
Flourishing his lath as before, the captain rode away, and promptly in half an hour—still in his hand the lath, which was doing double service, as a sword and a riding-whip—he returned:—
“Colonel Boyd, Sir! The cannings is still a-firing!” And so every half hour, until the “cannings” had ceased to thunder, when he returned, and making the same military salute, the faithful lath still in his grasp, he announced:—
“Colonel Boyd, Sir! The cannings is ceased a-firing!”
THE RETREAT FROM SPRINGFIELD.
Upon reaching Springfield the Federal army rested a brief time and got itself ready for flight. A conference of the principal officers was held, and the command of all the forces given to Col. Sigel, of whom it is reported Maj. Sturgis said he was not altogether successful in attack, but was “h—l on retreat.” The citizens were notified, and hundreds of them began packing up and preparing to follow the army. These were Union people who dreaded the approach of the Southern troops. The Home Guards also got ready to move as a part of the army. Many citizens of the county, living outside of Springfield, got their effects together and were ready to go.
A vast amount of money belonging to the bank had been made ready for shipment, by Lyon’s order, and was being guarded by a Home Guard company. Merchandise of all kinds was loaded into wagons and certain of the officers “pressed” teams for the occasion to load commissary and quartermasters’ stores into.
Sigel’s ordnance officer destroyed a considerable quantity of powder because there were no means of transporting it. The 1st Iowa also burned a portion of its baggage for the same reason. The town was full of frightened men, women, and children, wagons, teams, horses, mules, milch cows, soldiers, infantry, cavalry, and artillery, and there was the greatest confusion all of the evening and till long after dark, even up to the time when the hegira commenced. The public square was a perfect jam of cannon carriages, army wagons, farm wagons, buggies, etc.
CARE OF THE UNION WOUNDED.
By 10 o’clock in the forenoon the wounded Federals had begun to arrive from the front, where the battle was raging, with the news that Lyon was driving the enemy at all points, the Union people cheered, and bestirred themselves to take care of the stricken. The new court-house (the present) and the sheriff’s residence were taken for hospital purposes, and by midnight contained 100 men; the Bailey house was filled; the Methodist church building was similarly occupied. Ambulances, carriages, butchers’ wagons, express wagons, every sort of vehicle with wheels and springs, plied between the battle field and the town all day and until after dark, bringing off the wounded.
Many of the ladies of the town volunteered their services and became hospital nurses. Maj. Sturgis left with Dr. E. C. Franklin, of the 5th Missouri, the sum of $2,500 in gold, with which to purchase supplies for the wounded left behind, to care for Gen. Lyon’s body, and for other necessary expenses. This is upon the authority of Dr. Franklin himself. The doctor was given general charge of the Federal wounded.
THE ARMY SETS OUT.
At last all was ready and the army set out for Rolla, with a train of wagons three miles long and a huge column of refugees, men, women, and children, black and white, old and young, in carriages, wagons, carts, on horseback, on foot, “anyway to get away,” as it has been expressed. The march was begun at midnight, and by daybreak the head of the column was outside of the county. No attempt was made on the part of the Southern troops to pursue and capture the column with its $2,000,000 in money and stores, and it was not molested in any way—as, it would seem, it should have been. Sigel was not disturbed until near the crossing of the Gasconade.
Before crossing this river Col. Sigel received information that the ford could not be passed well, and that a strong force of the enemy was moving from West Plains towards Waynesville, to cut off the retreat. He was also aware that it would take considerable time to cross the Robidoux and the two Pineys on the old road. To avoid these difficulties, and to give the army an opportunity to rest, Sigel directed the troops from Lebanon to the northern road, passing Right Point, in the southeastern part of Camden county, and Humboldt, Pulaski county, and terminating opposite the mouth of Little Piney, where in case the ford could not be passed, the train could be sent by Vienna and Linn to the mouth of the Gasconade, while the troops could ford the river at the mouth of the Little Piney to reinforce Rolla. To cross over the artillery he ordered a ferryboat from Big Piney Crossing to be hauled down on the Gasconade to the mouth of Little Piney, where it arrived immediately after the army had crossed the ford. Before reaching the ford, however, Sigel had given up the command of the army to Maj. Sturgis, who marched it into Rolla August 19th, where it went into temporary camp, the first encampment being named “Camp Cary Gratz,” in honor of the captain of the 1st Missouri, killed at Wilson’s Creek. In a few days the Missouri and Kansas troops and the 1st Iowa, whose term of service had long before expired, were sent to St. Louis to be mustered out.
THE CONFEDERATES ENTER SPRINGFIELD.
The battle of Wilson’s Creek ended at about noon of August 10; but not until about 11 o’clock of the next day, or nearly 24 hours after the close of the battle, did the first Confederate troops (save a few prisoners), set foot within the town of Springfield. Sturgis, with the remains of Lyon’s corps, was not pursued at all. Sigel’s “flying Dutchmen” were chased but a few miles, while no attempt at formidable pursuit or to follow up the victory was made by either McCulloch or Price. Whether this was because, as the Federals claimed, that the Southerners themselves were so badly damaged as to be unable to follow the Federals, but had to wait and allow them to go out of the country before moving camp, or whether Gen. McCulloch himself expected to be attacked, or had other good reasons for sitting quietly by, cannot here be stated.
Lyon’s body had been sent in. Certain citizens of Springfield had gone from town to the Southern camp, and back and forth had ridden many a man, but no movement was made until late Sunday morning. At about 11 o’clock some Missouri and Texas cavalry rode into town and halted. No pursuit worthy of the name was attempted after the vast crowd of citizens and soldiers and citizen-soldiery making its exodus from Greene county, in some respects like unto that crowd of fugitives led by the Jewish Lawgiver and guided by a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. Soon the town was pretty well filled with troops, and Price and McCulloch came in. The stores were visited and the proprietors interviewed, and there was great activity in mercantile circles for a time; thousands of dollars worth of goods changed hands in a few hours. Everything was paid for on the spot,—in Confederate or Missouri scrip.
The 11th was Sunday, but, as Gen. McCulloch remarked, “it was just as good as any other day in war time,” and so the troops were distributed around, encampments laid out, and preparations made to permanently occupy the land. On the next day, Monday, the 12th, Gen. McCulloch issued the following proclamation, which was distributed not only through this county but throughout the greater portion of the southern part of the State:—
PROCLAMATION OF GEN. M’CULLOCH.
Headquarters Western Army,
Camp near Springfield, Mo., August 12, 1861.To the People of Missouri:—Having been called by the Governor of your State to assist in driving the National forces out of the State and in restoring the people to their just rights, I have come among you simply with the view of making war upon our Northern foes, to drive them back and give the oppressed of your State an opportunity of again standing up as free men and uttering their true sentiments. You have been overrun and trampled upon by the mercenary hordes of the North; your beautiful State has been nearly subjugated, but those true sons of Missouri who have continued in arms, together with my forces, came back upon the enemy, and we have gained over them a great and signal victory. Their general-in-chief is slain, and many of their own general officers wounded. Their army is in full flight; and now, if the true men of Missouri will rise up, rally around our standard the State will be redeemed. I do not come among you to make war upon any of your people, whether Union or otherwise; the Union people will all be protected in their rights and property. It is earnestly recommended to them to return to their homes. Prisoners of the Union army, who have been arrested by the army, will be released and allowed to return to their friends. Missouri must be allowed to choose her own destiny, no oath binding your consciences. I have driven the enemy from among you; the time has now arrived for the people of the State to act. You can no longer procrastinate. Missouri must now take her position, be it North or South.
Ben McCulloch,
Brig. Gen. Commanding.
This proclamation was well received by the people of the county, especially the Union portion, who expected nothing else that they were to be treated with great severity. All looked forward to a season of security, if not absolute peace. It is painful to be compelled to state, however, that Gen. McCulloch’s proclamation was not long observed. Despite its declarations Union men were arrested and their property and that of their secession neighbors seized and appropriated whenever it pleased the subordinate Confederate officers to do so.
In connection with his proclamation, and on the same day McCulloch issued the following congratulatory order to the troops under his command over the result of the battle of Wilson’s Creek:—
GEN. M’CULLOCH’S ORDER.
Headquarters Western Army,
Near Springfield, Missouri, August 12, 1861.The General commanding takes great pleasure in announcing to the army under his command, the signal victory it has just gained. Soldiers of Louisiana, of Arkansas, of Missouri, and of Texas, nobly have you sustained yourselves. Shoulder to shoulder you have met the enemy and driven him before you. Your first battle has been glorious and your general is proud of you. The opposing forces, composed mostly of the old regular army of the North, have thrown themselves upon you, confident of victory; but, by great gallantry and determined courage, you have routed them with great slaughter. Several pieces of artillery and many prisoners are now in your hands. The commander-in-chief of the enemy is slain, and many of the general officers wounded. The flag of the Confederacy now floats near Springfield, the stronghold of the enemy. The friends of our cause who have been in prison there are released. While announcing to the army the great victory, the general hopes that the laurels you have gained will not be tarnished by a single outrage. The private property of citizens of either party must be respected. Soldiers who fought as well as you did the day before yesterday cannot rob or plunder. By order of
Ben McCulloch,
General Commanding.James McIntosh, Capt. C. S. A. and Adjutant General.
General Price was also seized with the proclamation fever and a few days after the occupation of Springfield, that is to say on August 20th, published the following:—
GEN. PRICE’S PROCLAMATION.
To the People of Missouri:—Fellow-citizens: The army under my command has been organized under the laws of the State for the protection of your homes and firesides, and for the maintenance of the rights, dignity and honor of Missouri. It is kept in the field for these purposes alone, and to aid in accomplishing them, our gallant Southern brethren have come into our State. We have just achieved a glorious victory over the foe, and scattered far and wide the well-appointed army which the usurper at Washington has been more than six months gathering for your subjugation and enslavement. This victory frees a large portion of the State from the power of the invaders, and restores it to the protection of its army. It consequently becomes my duty to assure you that it is my firm determination to protect every peaceable citizen in the full enjoyment of all his rights, whatever may have been his sympathies in the present unhappy struggle, if he has not taken an active part in the cruel warfare, which has been waged against the good people of this State, by the ruthless enemies whom we have just defeated. I therefore invite all good citizens to return to their homes and the practice of their ordinary avocations, with the full assurance that they, their families, their homes and their property shall be carefully protected. I, at the same time, warn all evil disposed persons, who may support the usurpations of any one claiming to be provisional or temporary Governor of Missouri, or who shall in any other way give aid or comfort to the enemy, that they will be held as enemies, and treated accordingly.
Sterling Price,
Maj.-Gen. Commanding Mo. State Guard.August 20, 1861.
It will be observed that the terms of Gen. Price’s proclamation differed somewhat from McCulloch’s. The latter declared that prisoners of the Union army would be released and allowed to return to their friends, while Gen. Price declared that no man who had taken an active part in the “cruel warfare which had been waged against the good people (i.e., the secession good people) of the State” should be protected in his rights. And yet Gen. Price was as much a friend of the Union people and Union troops as Gen. McCulloch, and showed them as many favors.
JOY AND CONGRATULATIONS.
The news of the battle of Wilson’s Creek was received with great joy throughout the Southern Confederacy and everywhere that the Confederate cause had sympathizers, and the event did much for that cause in Missouri, by stimulating recruiting and causing many an undecided individual to come down off the fence and stand on the Southern side. Some time afterward, November 4, 1861, when the “Claib. Jackson Legislature” (as the Legislature that passed the Neosho ordinance of secession was called), was in session at Cassville, it passed the following resolution, introduced by Mr. Goodlett, under a suspension of the rules:—
Resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring therein: That the thanks of the State of Missouri are hereby cordially given to Major-General Price and Brigadier-Generals Parsons, Rains, Slack, Clark, McBride, and Steen, and the officers and troops of the Missouri State Guard under their command, and to Brigadier-General McCulloch and officers and the troops of the Confederate States under their command, for their gallant and signal services and the victory obtained by them in the battle of Springfield.
The following resolutions were introduced into the Confederate Congress on the 21st of August, by Mr. Ochiltree, of Texas, and were passed unanimously:—
Whereas, It has pleased Almighty God to vouchsafe to the arms of the Confederate States another glorious and important victory, in a portion of the country where a reverse would have been disastrous, by exposing the families of the good people of the State of Missouri, to the unbridled license of the brutal soldiery of an unscrupulous enemy; therefore
Be it Resolved by the Congress of the Confederate States, That the thanks of Congress are cordially tendered to Brig.-Gen. McCulloch and the officers and soldiers of his brave command for their gallant conduct in defeating after a battle of six and a half hours a force of the enemy equal in numbers and greatly superior in all their appointments, thus proving that a right cause nerves the heart and strengthens the arms of the Southern people, fighting as they are for their liberty, their homes and friends, against an unholy despotism.
Resolved, That in the opinion of Congress, Gen. McCulloch and his troops are entitled to and will receive the grateful thanks of all our people.
CHAPTER IV.
PROMINENT REGIMENTS AND OTHER SUBORDINATE COMMANDS ENGAGED IN THE BATTLE.
Confederate Commands.—The 3d Louisiana Infantry—1st Arkansas Mounted Rifles—2d Arkansas Mounted Rifles—McRea’s Arkansas Battalion—3d Arkansas Infantry—4th Arkansas Infantry—6th Arkansas Infantry—1st Arkansas Cavalry. Federal Commands.—The 1st Iowa Infantry—1st Missouri Infantry—1st Kansas Infantry—2d Kansas Infantry—Totten’s Battery—Dubois’ Battery—Steele’s Battalion—Plummer’s Battalion—The Home Guards.
The particular part taken in the battle of Wilson’s creek by some of the leading regiments of each side may be of interest, and is here described, the facts being obtained from actual participants—the commanding officers when possible.
CONFEDERATE COMMANDS.
THIRD LOUISIANA INFANTRY.
A considerable portion of the services of this regiment have already been narrated. Aroused by Gen. McCulloch himself, the colonel of the regiment, Louis Hebert, formed the 3d Louisiana and followed the road to Springfield, a short distance to a narrow by-road running north and leading to Ray’s corn-field, then held by Plummer’s regulars. In front of the corn-field was a dense thicket, through which the regiment advanced, and here it instantly became engaged. At the first fire Sergeant Major Renwick, of the regiment, and Private Placide Bossier, of the “Pelican Rangers No. 1,” of Natchitoches, were killed.
The 3d Louisiana jumped the fence, charged, and soon drove Plummer’s men from the corn-field. Still advancing, they reached an oat field, and here Dubois’ battery opened on them, as did some of the Federal infantry, and the regiment was driven back in some confusion. Col. Hebert ordered it to fall back to the woods higher to the right, but the regiment became separated, and the greater portion—the right wing and some of the left—were formed outside of the field by Lieut. Col. S. M. Hyams, and, by orders of Gen. McCulloch, went down the creek valley to attack Sigel. Col. Hebert succeeded in forming two companies into a detachment of about 100 men and marched in an opposite direction, toward the force under Gen. Lyon. Col. Hebert advanced within about 500 yards of Totten’s battery, where he remained in front of the Federal line for nearly half an hour under a severe fire, when the detachment was forced to retire. Again it formed and then marched down and joined the right wing under Lt.-Col. Hyams, which had just returned from defeating Sigel. The entire regiment then moved against the Federal position on Bloody Hill.
The companies led by Lieut. Col. Hyams against Sigel were the “Pelican Rifles,” Capt. John P. Vigilini; the “Eberville Grays,” Lieut. Verbois; the “Morehouse Guards,” Capt. Hinson; the “Pelican Rangers No. 1,” Capt. Breazeale; the “Pelican Rangers No. 2,” Capt. Blair; the “Winn Rifles,” Capt. Pierson; the “Morehouse Fencibles,” Capt. Harris; the “Shreveport Rangers,” Capt. Gilmore; a few of the “Monticello Rifles,” under Sergeant Walcott, and a detachment of Missourians, 75 in number, commanded by a Capt. Johnson. The regiment was conducted across the ford of Wilson’s creek and down the valley in front of Sigel’s position by Col. James McIntosh.
Arriving in front of Sigel’s battery, the regiment formed, and by order of Lieut. Col. Hyams advanced up the steep hill to the charge. Near the brow of the hill Lieut. Lacey, of the “Shreveport Rangers,” sprang on a log, waved his sword, and called out to his company, “Come on, Caddo!” Shreveport is in the parish of Caddo, Louisiana. The whole command rushed forward, carried the position, captured the guns, and drove the already panic-stricken Federal Germans in terror from the field. The captured cannon were rolled down the hill, and one piece, with its horses, was taken to the main command.
The “Pelican Rifles” and the “Iberville Grays” were under command of Capt. Vigilini, of the former company. When within thirty or forty yards of Sigel’s battery, Gen. McCulloch being in person with the 3d Louisiana, a Federal soldier appeared in plain view on the hill. Gen. McCulloch himself called out, “What troops are those?” The man replied, “Sigel’s regiment,” at the same time raising his rifle to shoot the general; but Corporal Henry Gentles, of Vigilini’s company, had his Mississippi rifle in position and shot the Federal dead in an instant, thus saving Gen. McCulloch’s life.
In the assault on Sigel Capt. Hinson and his brother-in-law, Private Whetstone, both of the “Morehouse Guards,” were killed, it is said, by the same shot. Among the members of the regiment who distinguished themselves were Color-bearer Felix Chaler, Corporal Hicock (killed), Drum-Major Patterson, Orderly Sergeant Alphonse Prudhomme, Private I. P. Hyams, Corporal Gentles, and Sergt. W. H. Tunnard. The regiment was especially complimented by Gen. McCulloch in his official report.
The 3d Louisiana lost in killed one commissioned officer, one non-commissioned officer and seven privates; total killed nine; wounded, three commissioned officers, six non-commissioned officers and thirty-nine privates; total wounded, forty-eight; missing, three privates. Total casualties, sixty.
FIRST ARKANSAS MOUNTED RIFLES.
The 1st Arkansas Mounted rifles was at the time of the battle of Wilson’s creek in the Confederate service, and was commanded by Col. T. J. Churchill. It belonged to McCulloch’s division and was encamped at the lower end of the Confederate position. At about breakfast time Sigel’s battery and his infantry opened on the regiment, which lay in an open field. Being exposed to a raking fire from cannon and musketry, the regiment fell back into the woods on the north, and there formed under direction of Col. Churchill himself, who, as soon as his alignment had been made, moved down on the wire road in the direction of Springfield.
Having reached the little valley of Wilson’s creek, Col. Churchill was met by an aid de camp of Gen. Price, asking for a reinforcement to go to the assistance of Gen. Slack, then being hard pressed. Col. Churchill immediately moved his regiment rapidly forward, under a heavy fire, took position on Gen. Slack’s left, and ordered his men to commence firing. Here the 1st Arkansas fought for about four hours, being in front of Totten’s battery and the 1st Iowa the greater portion of the time. At times it would advance, then fall back, but its conduct was most admirable, there being but little if any straggling or disorder. It continued to fight until the Federals retreated from the field.
During the engagement Col. Churchill had two horses shot under him. The lieutenant colonel, Matlock, and the major, Harper, of the regiment evinced great bravery and gallantry. Adjutant James Harper, Capt. M. E. Alexander, and Lieuts. Dawson, Chambers, and Johnson were killed; Capts. Ramsaur and Porter, and Lieuts. King, Raney, Adams, Hardester and McIvor were severely wounded, and Capts. Pearson and Gibbs and Lieuts. Saddler, Wair and Head were slightly wounded. The 1st Arkansas suffered more than any other regiment of Southern troops engaged in the battle. Its loss was forty-two killed and one hundred and fifty-five wounded.
In acknowledgment of the conspicuous services rendered by the 1st Arkansas to his army, Gen. Price, a few days after the battle caused the following letter to be sent to Col. Churchill:—
Headquarters Missouri State Guard,
Springfield, Mo., Aug. 15, 1861.Colonel:—I am directed by Maj.-Gen. Price to thank you, in the name of this army and of the State of Missouri, for the very important services which you and your fine regiment of Mounted Riflemen have rendered during the campaign in this State, and do particularly acknowledge, in the most grateful manner, the eager bravery with which your men met the enemy on the 10th inst.—the constancy with which they fought, and the spirit with which they rushed upon and drove back his disciplined soldiers. Your own gallantry and skill were so conspicuous on that memorable day that every Missourian will always cherish the remembrance of you with pride and gratitude.
I have the honor to be, Colonel,
Your obedient servant,
Thos. L. Snead,
Acting Adjt. Gen.Col. Thos. J. Churchill, 1st Regt. Ark. Mounted Rifles.
SECOND ARKANSAS MOUNTED RIFLES.
This regiment was led by its commander, Col. James McIntosh, into the battle, and took part with the 3d Louisiana in the fight with Plummer’s regulars, in Ray’s cornfield, early in the morning. When first attacked it was at breakfast, but, instead of retreating in confusion, rallied at the call of the bugle, mounted, and was marched by Lieut. Col. Benj. T. Embry to the timber on the east side of Wilson’s Creek, north of Woodruff’s battery. Here it dismounted and stripped for the fight, and Col. McIntosh then appeared and took it into the engagement.
After the fight in Ray’s cornfield, Col. McIntosh was sent for by Gen. McCulloch, and Lieut. Col. Embry took command of the 2d Arkansas. The regiment moved across the creek to the west and became engaged with Lyon’s men on Bloody Hill. At one time it repulsed a desperate charge, losing heavily in so doing, however. After this, under Col. Embry, the regiment fell back to the creek and rested a short time, preparing to receive a cavalry charge, which it was expected would be made. It then moved up the hill again, but did not become engaged, and soon after the Federals retreated.
The loss of the 2d Arkansas was, in killed, one non-commissioned officer and 9 privates; total, 10. Wounded, one captain, two second lieutenants, eight non-commissioned officers, and 33 privates; total 44. Total casualties, 54.
M’RAE’S ARKANSAS BATTALION.
Upon the opening of the battle in good earnest, or about 6 A. M., this battalion, led by its commander, Lieut. Col. D. H. McRae, moved up the wire road toward Springfield, and formed to the left of the 3d Louisiana, and in front of Woodruff’s battery. In a short time, by Gen. McCulloch’s orders, it countermarched and moved off across the valley toward the southwest to take and hold an eminence in that quarter threatened by Sigel’s men. While on its way the battalion was broken up by a large body of mounted Missourians, who, panic-stricken and demoralized, were riding rapidly away from Totten’s battery and the Federals on Bloody Hill. These mounted warriors rode wildly through the battalion, threatening to trample down the men and forcing them to scatter to save themselves. Col. McRae was able to take but one entire company and a few files of another into the fight proper.
On arriving at the summit of the hill the battalion was fired on by a battery reported as being Bledsoe’s, of the Missouri troops, but in reality was Sigel’s. Thick brush intervening, Col. McRae was unable to distinguish for himself, but at last charged at a “trail arms.” Within twenty paces of the Fayetteville road a body of men were observed moving rapidly away, and these were fired on. Here Col. McRae halted and formed his men so as to sweep the road. In a short time another body came up, and being dressed like the Confederates, and some of them calling out, “We are from the South,” deceived Col. McRae until nearly all of them had passed, when he opened fire on their rear. He then led his men to the hill where Sigel’s battery had been captured, and here he found the three companies of the battalion that had been cut off by the Missouri horsemen. The united battalion then marched to the Fayetteville road to the north, it having been reported that the Federals were reforming there, but this report was found to be untrue, and Col. McRae returned to camp.
The loss of the battalion was two men killed, one mortally wounded, one severely wounded, and five slightly wounded.
THIRD ARKANSAS INFANTRY.
This regiment was commanded by Col. John R. Gratiot, and belonged to the Arkansas State troops, Gen. Pearce’s division. Its lieutenant-colonel, David Provence, and its major, Ward, were present at the battle.
In the first part of the action the regiment was moved to the support of Woodruff’s battery, and here it remained for some hours under a heavy fire of shot and shell. At about 11 o’clock Gen. Pearce ordered the regiment to cross the creek and move to the help of Price’s division. Col. Gratiot marched the men over the stream and up the ridge by a flank movement and in column of fours. When near the Federal position the line was fronted and faced the enemy, and moved forward, but just then a heavy fire was opened in front, two guns of Totten’s battery turned loose on the regiment with grape, and canister and shell, and so terrific was the ordeal, that the regiment was obliged to lie down and return the fire in that position. This was the last fight of Lyon’s men, and they kept it up only about thirty minutes, when they retreated. The 3d Arkansas remained on the field in position long after the firing had ceased.
After Maj. Sturgis had retreated with the remnant of Lyon’s division from Bloody Hill, it was feared that he would cross the creek, move round to the east and come upon Woodruff’s battery, still in position on the ground it had occupied during the day. Col. Gratiot’s regiment was again ordered to the support of this battery, and here it remained until ordered into camp by Gen. McCulloch.
The regiment suffered most during the thirty minutes it was engaged with the Federal infantry (Second Kansas and part of First Iowa), and Totten’s battery on Bloody Hill, but it stood well and gave back blow for blow. Capts. Brown and Bell were killed and about twenty-five other brave men and true met their fate in this battle.
Capt. Woodruff’s battery, the “Pulaski artillery,” was attached to the Third Arkansas during the battle. This battery did more execution and service than any other Confederate battery that took part in the engagement. The damage it inflicted on the enemy was prodigious. Officers and men behaved with great coolness, courage and judgment.
The casualties in the Third Arkansas and Woodruff’s battery were:—killed, twenty-five; wounded, eighty-four; missing, one; total, one hundred and ten.
FOURTH ARKANSAS INFANTRY.
The Fourth Arkansas infantry on the morning of the battle was placed under Adjutant-General Rector, who remained in command during the day. The regiment was not brought into immediate action, being stationed on the hill for the protection of Reid’s battery, and, although exposed to the trial of having to submit to a severe fire from the enemy, which it was unable to return, all the officers and men behaved with great coolness during the day. There were none killed or wounded in this regiment. [The colonel of the First Arkansas, J. D. Walker, is at present (1883) one of the United States Senators from Arkansas.]
FIFTH ARKANSAS INFANTRY.
This, another regiment of Gen. Pearce’s division, was commanded by Col. Tom P. Dockery, and for about two hours after the battle commenced was posted on the height southeast of McCulloch’s encampment, and occupied a hill east of Wilson’s creek as a guard for Reid’s battery.
When the Third Louisiana and Third Arkansas moved up against the Federals on Bloody Hill Col. Dockery sent to their support Capts. Titsworth’s, Dismuke’s, Neal’s, Dowd’s, Whaling’s and Lawrence’s companies, all under Lieut. Col. Neal. While gallantly leading his men Col. Neal fell severely wounded, and Col. Dockery then assumed command. Only the companies named were actively engaged against the enemy on Bloody Hill, the companies of Capts. Hartzig, Arnold, McKeon and Hutchinson having been detailed to serve as skirmishers at one time after Reid’s battery had changed position. The Fifth Arkansas did its duty well in this battle, and its conduct was commented on by Gen. Pearce in the warmest terms. It never wavered or showed the least sign of demoralization. The loss of the regiment was three killed and eleven wounded.
FIRST ARKANSAS CAVALRY.
Mention has already been made of the services performed by this regiment. For a while it supported the Missourians of Price’s division; then it charged by the flank on Totten’s battery; then charged again on the position held by the Second Kansas, and all the time during the engagement was under fire. While thousands of other cavalry were demoralized and fleeing hither and thither, the First Arkansas kept on the field and sought more than once to charge as cavalry over ground almost Alpine in character—rugged, rough, precipitous and broken. Its commander, Col. DeRosey Carroll, was complimented more than once for the gallant conduct shown by himself and his regiment.
The loss of the First Arkansas cavalry was five killed; two mortally wounded; twenty-six severely wounded, and nineteen missing, as follows:—
Capt. Lewis’ company—two killed, two mortally and five severely wounded.
Capt. Park’s company—one killed, three wounded, one missing.
Capt. Walker’s company—four wounded, including Capt. Walker himself, and three missing.
Capt. Withers’ company—two killed, four wounded, two missing.
Capt. Perkins’ company—four wounded, four missing.
Capt. Kelly’s company—one missing.
Capt. Armstrong’s company—one wounded, eight missing.
FEDERAL COMMANDS.
THE FIRST IOWA INFANTRY.
The 1st Iowa Infantry was a three months regiment whose time had expired several days before the battle, but it had remained on duty with Lyon to aid him in his emergency. At the time of the fight its colonel, J. F. Bates, lay sick in Springfield, and Lieut. Col. Wm. H. Merritt, led the regiment. As has been stated the 1st Iowa was in Lyon’s column. At the beginning of the fight it was in the reserve, but advanced when the 1st Kansas gave way and received the first fire of the enemy while in a state of some confusion, the result of the retreat of the Kansans through the Iowa’s ranks. The regiment fired on a body of Confederate cavalry advancing to charge Totten’s battery, and dispersed it, or drove it back. Soon after the regiment became engaged generally, and bore its full share of the conflict.
Four companies of the 1st Iowa, and a company of regular infantry under Capt. Lothrop, supported Totten’s battery at the close of the engagement and covered the retreat, receiving and returning the last fire of the enemy. The regiment lost 13 killed (including Capt. A. L. Mason) 138 wounded and 4 missing. Total 155.
FIRST MISSOURI INFANTRY.
The 1st Missouri Infantry was led into the battle of Wilson’s Creek by its lieutenant colonel, George L. Andrews, its colonel, Frank P. Blair, being in his seat in Congress at the time. When Gen. Lyon’s column had reached the immediate proximity of Rains’ division, the regiment was brought forward to the head of the column and directed to march parallel with the advance—Gilbert’s regulars—and about 60 yards distant to the right. In a few moments orders were received to throw one company forward as skirmishers, and Company H, Capt. Yates, was sent forward, followed by the regiment in column of companies.
It is claimed that the action was begun by shots from Capt. Yates’ skirmishers. At any rate, soon after they opened fire Company B was sent up as a reinforcement, and the regiment wheeled into line and immediately became engaged, at first returning a fire directed against its left flank. Very soon after Woodruff’s and Guibor’s batteries opened on the Federal position and their shells fell uncomfortably plenty among the 1st Missouri. One or two of the shells which did not explode were examined and pronounced to be those furnished Sigel’s batteries, leading to the conclusion that Sigel was firing by mistake against Lyon’s column.
The regiment stood well in line and fought bravely. Capt. Nelson Cole was severely wounded in the jaw, but remained on the field, and, though unable to speak, from the nature of his wound, he continued to encourage his men by signs to stand their ground. Capt. Cary Gratz, of St. Louis, a native of Lexington, Ky., while advancing at the head of his company, discovered a body of Confederates advancing, led on by a mounted officer. Capt. Gratz fired with his revolver and the Confederate officer fell from his horse, but rose and rushed toward his lines, when the captain fired again and the other officer pitched headlong to the ground. Almost immediately Capt. Gratz fell dead, being pierced by four or five shots.
Capt. John S. Cavender, with his company, G, was in an advanced position and several times prevented the left flank from being turned. Col. Andrews, while with the left wing was severely wounded, but he procured a big drink of whiskey, and soon returned to his post. In a few minutes his horse was killed and fell upon him. Going to Dubois’ battery during a lull in the fighting, Col. Andrews was sent to the rear by Surgeon P. M. Carnyn.
The Confederates now pressed the 1st Missouri so vigorously that the regiment in all probability would have given way had not Maj. Schofield and Gen. Lyon opportunely brought up the 1st Iowa and Maj. Osterhaus (assisted by Lieut. David Murphy, of the 1st Missouri) come forward with his battalion of the 2d Missouri Infantry. The regiment then remained on the field and did nobly during the remainder of the engagement, and when ordered to fall back with the main column and leave the field it did so in good order.
Out of 27 officers who went into the fight, 13 were either killed or wounded. Capt. Madison Miller discovered a movement of the Confederate cavalry to his rear and stopped it by the stout fight he made with his company, assisted by the artillery. Capt. Cavender, though severely wounded, refused to leave his post, mounted his horse and remained until completely exhausted. Surgeon Carnyn, on more than one occasion, took up a musket and fought in the ranks. Lieut. David Murphy, although severely wounded in the leg, went to the rear and assisted in bringing up Osterhaus’ battalion of the 2d Missouri. Adjt. Hiscock and other officers bore themselves so well that they received especial mention.
Among the men Corporal Kane, of Company K, when the color sergeant was killed and nearly all the color guard either killed or wounded, brought the colors safely off the field. Sergt. Chas. M. Callahan, Company K, Sergt. Chris. Conrad, of Company G, and Private Elworthy, of Company F, were noted for their valuable services and for their coolness and bravery. The part borne by the 1st Missouri may be imagined when it is remembered that its loss was 76 men killed, 208 wounded and 11 missing.