Col. John M. Harrell, Confederate Military History, a library of Confederate States Military History: Volume 10.2, Arkansas
Clement Anselm Evans, Ed.

[31] battery, overlooking the valley in which Price lay. General Rains had a large number of mounted men on the east of Wilson's creek, north of the road, and nearest to Springfield. Down the creek from Rains to Churchill and Greer the distance was three miles. As has been stated, the Confederate forces were in bivouac awaiting their postponed order to march on Springfield. At daylight no pickets were out, or those put out had been drawn in, expecting to march.

The Confederates were taken by surprise, few having arisen, when Totten's battery opened upon them from the north, and Sigel's from the south, at dawn Sunday morning, August 10th. The entire Southern army lay between Lyon and Sigel. Sigel had surrounded the camp in the night and stationed four pieces of artillery overlooking Churchill's camp from the east side of the creek. Leaving a small infantry force to support the battery, he then crossed Wilson's creek, below Tyrrell's creek, with the rest of his men formed facing north, on the west of the creek. General Rains' Missourians at the north end of the camp were quickly dispersed by Lyon's column, leaving an open sweep between him and Woodruff's battery on the hill farther down the creek. Churchill's and Greer's men went scrambling into the woods to their horses at the creek. Colonel Churchill was soon mounted, but without a saddle, and rapidly rallied his men. McCulloch and McIntosh at the north end were soon in their saddles. Lyon having crossed the creek above the hill, moving down the valley, came in range of ‘Bloody hill.’ Price had galloped up the hill to take command of Cawthorn's men, who were holding their ground as well as they could, when Slack came up with Hughes' regiment and Thornton's battalion, and formed on the left of Cawthorn. Meanwhile, Reid's Arkansas battery on the east of Wilson's creek opened upon Sigel's line, which was forming west of the creek, in the Confederate rear.

To Price's support, in front, other commands came