Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 2.
Frank Moore, Ed.

Our total loss in killed, wounded, and missing, amounts to one thousand two hundred and thirty-five--that of the enemy will probably reach three thousand.

I am, sir, your obedient servant,

On Friday, the 9th of August, Gen. Lyon informed me that it was his intention to attack the enemy in his camp at Wilson's Creek, on the morning of the 10th; that the attack should be made from two sides, and that I should take command of the left. The troops assigned to me consisted of the Second Brigade, Missouri Volunteers--900 men — infantry of the Third and Fifth regiments, under the command of Lieut.-Col. Albert and Col. Salomon, and six pieces of artillery, under Lieuts. Schaeffer and Schuetzenbach; besides, two companies of regular cavalry, belonging to the command of Major Sturgis.

I left Camp Fremont, on the south side of Springfield, at 6 1/2 o'clock, on the evening of the 9th, and arrived at daybreak within a mile of the enemy's camp. I advanced slowly toward the camp, and, after taking forward the two cavalry companies from the right and left, I cut off about forty men of the enemy's troops, who were coming from the camp in little squads to get water and provisions. This was done in such a manner that no news of our advance could be brought into the camp.

In sight of the enemy's tents, which spread out on our front and right, I planted four pieces of artillery on a little hill, whilst the infantry advanced toward the point where the Fayetteville road crosses Wilson's Creek, and the two cavalry companies extended to the right and left to guard our flank. It was 5 1/2 o'clock when some musket firing was heard from the northwest. I therefore ordered the artillery to begin their fire against the camp of the enemy, (Missourians,) which was so destructive that the enemy were seen leaving their tents and retiring in haste toward the northeast of the valley. Meanwhile, the Third and Fifth had quickly advanced, passed the creek, and traversing the camp, formed almost in the centre of it. As the enemy made his rally in large numbers before us, about 3,000 strong, consisting of infantry and cavalry, I ordered the artillery to be brought forward from the hill and formed there in battery across the valley, with the Third and Fifth to the left, and the cavalry to the right. After an effectual fire of half an hour, the enemy retired in some confusion into the woods and up the adjoining hills. The firing toward the northwest was now more distinct, and increased, until it was evident that the main corps of General Lyon had engaged the enemy along the whole line. To give the greatest possible assistance to him, I left my position in the camp and advanced toward the northwest to attack the enemy's line of battle in the rear.

Marching forward, we struck the Fayetteville road, making our way through a large number of cattle and horses, until we arrived at an eminence used as a slaughtering place, and known as Sharp's Farm. On our route we had taken about one hundred prisoners, who were scattered over the camp. At Sharp's place we met numbers of the enemy's soldiers, who were evidently retiring in this direction, and as I suspected that the enemy, on his retreat, would follow in the same direction, I formed the troops across the road by planting the artillery on the plateau and the two infantry regiments on the right and left, across the road, whilst the cavalry companies extended on our flanks. At this time, and after some skirmishing in front of our line, the firing in the direction of the northwest, which was during an hour's time roaring in succession, had almost entirely ceased. I thereupon presumed that the attack of Gen. Lyon had been successful, and that his troops were in pursuit of the enemy, who moved in large numbers toward the south along the ridge of a hill about 700 yards opposite our right.

This was the state of affairs at 8 1/2 o'clock in the morning, when it was reported to me by Dr. Melchior and some of our skirmishers, that Lyon's men were coming up the road. Lieut. Albert, of the Third, and Col. Salomon, of the Fifth, notified their regiments not to fire on troops coming in this direction, whilst I cautioned the artillery in the same manner. Our troops in this moment expected with anxiety the approach of our friends, and were waving the flag, raised as a signal to their comrades, when at once two batteries opened their fire against us--one in front, placed on the Fayetteville road, and the other upon the hill upon which we had supposed Lyon's forces were in pursuit of the enemy, whilst a strong column of infantry, supposed to be the Iowa regiment, advanced from the Fayetteville road and attacked our right.

It is impossible for me to describe the consternation and frightful confusion which was occasioned by this important event. The cry, “They (Lyon's troops) are firing against us!” spread like wild fire through our ranks; the artillerymen, ordered to fire, and directed by myself, could hardly be brought forward to serve their pieces; the infantry would not level their arms until it was too late. The enemy arrived within ten paces of the muzzles of our cannon, killed the horses, turned the flanks of the infantry, and forced them to fly. The