[
298]
 |
|
“Bloody Hill,” from the East.
From a recent photograph. |
N. B. Pearce, Brigadier-General, C. S. A.
I style this short account of my personal recollections of the battle of “
Oak hills” (as the
Confederates named the engagement) as above, because I was identified with the
State of Arkansas and her soldiers.
I also believe that subsequent events, developed by the prominence of some of the commanders engaged in this fight, have had a tendency to obscure that just recognition which the
Arkansas troops so nobly earned in this, one of the first great battles of our civil war.
The ninth day of August, 1861, found the Confederate army under
General Ben. McCulloch, camped on
Wilson's Creek, ten miles south of
Springfield, in south-west Missouri.
It consisted of a Louisiana regiment under
Colonel Louis Hebert (a well-drilled and well-equipped organization, chiefly from the north part of the
State);
Greer's Texas regiment (mounted);
Churchill's Arkansas cavalry, and
McIntosh's battalion of
Arkansas mounted rifles (
Lieutenant-Colonel Embry), under the immediate charge of the
commanding general;
General Price's command of Missouri State Guards, with
Bledsoe's and
Guibor's batteries, and my three regiments of
Arkansas infantry, with
Woodruff's and
Reid's batteries.
More than half the Missourians were mounted, and but few of the troops in the whole command were well armed.
The army numbered in all about 11,500 men,--perhaps, 6000 to 7000 of whom were in semi-fighting trim, and participated in the battle.
The Federal forces under
General Nathaniel Lyon, between 5000 and 6000 strong, occupied the town of
Springfield, and
General McCulloch was expecting them to advance and give him battle.
General McCulloch's headquarters were on the right of the
Springfield road, east of
Wilson's Creek, rather in advance of the center of the camp.
General Price occupied a position immediately west, and in the valley of the creek, with his command mostly north of the
Springfield road.
I had established my headquarters on the heights east and south of
Wilson's Creek and the
Springfield road, with my forces occupying the elevated ground immediately adjacent.
Detailed reports as to the strength and movements of
Lyon's command were momentarily expected, through spies sent out by
General Price, as
