Battle of the Oak Hills.
official report of Gen. McCulloch.
Headquarters McCulloch's Brigades, Camp Weightman, near Springfield, Mo August 12th 1861.
Brigadier General J. Cooper, Adjutant General C. S. A.: General:
--I have the honor to make the following official report of the battle of the Oak Hills on the 10th inst..
Having taken position about 10 miles from Springfield, I endeavored to gain the necessary information of the strength and position of the enemy, stationed in and about the town.
The information was very conflicting and unsatisfactory.
I however made up my mind to attack the enemy in their position, and issued orders on the 9th inst. to my force to start at 9 o'clock at night to attack at four different points at day-light.
A few days before.
Gen. Price in command of the Missouri force, turned over his command to me, and I assumed command of the entire force, comprising my own brigade, the brigade of Arkansas State forces under Gen Pearce, and Gen. Price's command of Missourian.
My effective force was five thousand three hundred infantry, fifteen pieces of artillery, and six thousand horsemen, armed with flint-lock muskets, rifles and shot suns There were other horsemen with the army, who were entirely unarmed and instead of being a help were continually in the way. When the time arrived for the night march, it commenced to rain slightly, and fearing, from the want of cartridge boxes, that my ammunition would be ruined, I ordered the movement to be stopped, hoping to move the next morning.
My men had but twenty five rounds of cartridges apiece, and there was no more to be bad. While still hesitating, in the morning the enemy was reported advancing, and I made arrangements to meet him The attack was made simultaneously at half past 5, A. M., on our right and left flanks, and the enemy had gained the position they desired.
General Lyon attacked us on our left and General Siegel on our right and rear.
From these points batteries opened upon us. My command was soon ready.
The Missourians under Generals Slack, Clark, McBride, Parsons and Raines, were nearest the position taken by General Lyon, with his main force; they were instantly turned to the left and opened the battle with an incessant fire of small arms Woodruff opposed his battery to the battery of the enemy under Capt. Totten, and a constant cannonading was kept up between these batteries during the battle.
Hebert's regiment of Louisiana Volunteers, and Mclntosh's regiment of Arkansas Mounted Riflemen, were ordered to the front, and after passing the battery (Totten's) turned to the left and soon engaged the enemy with the regiments deployed Col. McIntosh dismounted his regiment and the two marched up abreast to a fence around a large cornfield, where they met the left of the enemy already posted.
A terrible conflict of small arms took place here.
The opposing force was a body of Regular U. S. Infantry, commanded by Captains Plammer and Gilbert.
Notwithstanding the galling fire poured on these two regiments, they leaped over the fence, and, gallantly led by their Colonels, drove the enemy before them, back upon the main body.
During this time, the Missourians, under Gen. Price, were nobly attempting to sustain themselves in the centre, and were hotly engaged on the sides of the height upon which the enemy were posted.
Far on the right, Siegel had opened his battery upon Churchill's and Greer's regiments, and had gradually made his way to the Springfield road, upon each side of which the army was encamped, and in a prominent position he established his battery.
I at once took two companies of the Louisiana regiment, who were nearest me, and marched them rapidly to the front and right to the rear, with order to Col. McIntosh to bring up the rest. --When we arrived near the enemy's battery, we found that Reid's battery had opened up on it, and it was already in contusion Advantage was taken of it, and soon the Louisiana were gallantly charging among the guns, and swept the cannoneers away.
Five guns were here taken, and Siegel's command, completely routs, were in rapid retreat, with a single gun, followed by some companies of the Texas regiment, and a portion of Colonel Major's Missouri cavalry.
In the pursuit many of the enemy were killed and taken prisoners, and their last gun captured.
Having cleared our right and rear, it was necessary to turn all of our attention to the centre, under Gen Lyon, who was pressing upon the Missourians, having driven them back.
To this point McIntosh's regiment, under Lieut. Col Embry, and Churchill's regiment on foot, Gratiot's regiment and McRae's battalion, were sent to their aid.
A terrible fire of musketry was now kept up along the whole side and top of the hill, upon which the enemy were posted.
Masses of infantry fell back and again rushed forward.
The summit of the hill was covered with the dead and wounded — both sides were fighting with desperation for the day. Carroll's and Greer's regiments, lead gallantly by Captain Bradfute, charged the battery, but the whole strength of the enemy were immediately in rear, and a deadly fire was opened upon them.
At this critical moment, when the fortune of the day seemed to be at the turning point, two regiments of General Pearce's brigade were ordered to march from their position (as reserves) to support the centre.
The order was obeyed with alacrity, and Gen.Pearce gallantly rushed with his brigade to the rescue.
Reid's battery was also ordered to move forward, and the Louisiana regiment was again called into action on the left of it. The battle then became general, and probably no two opposing forces ever fought with greater desperation; inch by inch the enemy gave way, and were driven from their position; Totten's battery fell back.
Missourians, Arkansians, Louisianians and Texans pushed forward.
The incessant roll of musketry was deafening, and the balls fell thick as had stones; but still our gallant Southerners pushed onward, and with one wild yell broke upon the enemy, pushing them back and strewing the ground with their dead — nothing could withstand the impetuosity of our final charge; the enemy fled, and could not again be rallied, and they were seen, at 12 M., fast retreating, among the hills in the distance.--Thus ended the battle.
It listen 6 hours and a half
The force of the enemy, between 9,000 and 10,000 was composed of well disciplined troops, well armed, and a large part of them belonging to the old army of the United States.
With every advantage on their side, they have met with a signal repulse.
The loss of the enemy is at least 800 killed, 1,000 wounded, and 300 prisoners. We captured six pieces of artillery and several hundred stand of small arms, and several of their standards.
Major General Lyon, chief in command, was killed.
Many of the officers, high in rank, were wounded.
Our loss was also severe, and we mourn the loss of many a gallant officer and soldier.
Our killed amounts to 265 800 wounded, and 30 missing Colonel Weight man fell at the head of his brigade of Missourians, while gallantly charging upon the enemy.
His place will not be easily filled.
Generals Slack and Clark, of Missouri, were severely wounded; General Price slightly.
Capt. Hinson of the Louisiana regiment, Capt. McAlexander of Oaurchill's regiment, Capts. Bell and Brown of Pearce's brigade, Lieuts. Walton and Weaver, all fell while nobly and gallantly doing their duty.--Col. McIntosh was slightly wounded by a grape-shot, while charging with the Louisiana regiment.
LieutCol Neal, Major H Ward, Captains King, Pearson, Gibbs, Ramsaur, Porter, Lieuts. Dawson, Chambers, Johnson, King, Adams, Hardista, McIvor and Sadler, were wounded while at the head of their companies.
Where all were doing their duty so gallantly, it is almost unfair to discriminate.
I must, however, bring to your notice the gallant conduct of the Missouri Generals, McBride, Parsons, Clark, Slack, and their officers.
To Gen. Price I am under many obligations for assistance on the battle-field.
He was at the head of his force, leading them on and sustaining them by his gallant bearing.
Gen. Pearce, with his Arkansas Brigade (Gratiot Walker Dockery's regiments of infantry,) came gallantly to the rescue when sent for; leading his men into the thickest of the fight, he contributed much to the success of the day. The commanders of regiments of my own brigade--Cols. Churchill, Greer Embry, McIntosh, Hebert and McRae--ed their different regiments into action with great coolness and bravery, and were always in front of their men, cheering them on-- Woodruff and Reid managed their batteries with great ability, and did much execution — For those officers and men who were particularly conspicuous, I will refer the Department to the reports of the different commanders.
To my personal staff I am much indebted for the coolness and rapidity with which they carried orders about the field, and would call particular attention to my volunteer side, Captain Bledsoe,Messrs. Armstrong, Beat Johnston, (whose horse was killed under him,) Hamilton Pike and Major King.
To Major Montgomery, Quartermaster, I am also indebted for much service as an aid during the battle, and was of much use to me.-- To Col McIntosh, at one time at the head of his regiment, and at other times in his capacity of Adjutant General, I cannot give too much praise; wherever the ball flew thickest he was gallantly leading different regiments into action, and his presence gave confidence everywhere.
I have the honor to be Brigadier General J. Cooper, Adjutant General C. S. A.: General:
