An account of the battle of Wilson's Creek, or Oak Hills, fought between the Union troops, commanded by Gen. N. Lyon and the Southern, or Confederate troops, under command of Gens. McCulloch and Price, on Saturday, August 10, 1861, in Greene county, Missouri — John Shaqi
An account of the battle of Wilson's Creek, or Oak Hills, fought between the Union troops, commanded by Gen. N. Lyon and the Southern, or Confederate troops, under command of Gens. McCulloch and Price, on Saturday, August 10, 1861, in Greene county, MissouriHolcombe, R. I. (Return Ira)
History
An account of the battle of Wilson's Creek, or Oak Hills, fought between the Union troops, commanded by Gen. N. Lyon and the Southern, or Confederate troops, under command of Gens. McCulloch and Price, on Saturday, August 10, 1861, in Greene county, Missouri
Holcombe, R. I. (Return Ira)
Missouri -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865; United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Campaigns; Wilson's Creek, Battle of, Mo., 1861
On came McCulloch’s and Price’s men, the Louisiana regiment of Col.
Hebert (pronounced Hebare) which had been mistaken for the 1st Iowa
because of its pretty steel gray uniform, was in front, and following
them were the Arkansas regiments of Dockery and Gratiot, the 5th and 3d,
Greer’s regiment of Texas cavalry, Lieut. Col. Major’s Howard and
Chariton county battalion, Johnson’s battalion mounted Missourians, and
some other detachments. Up to the very muzzles of the cannons they came,
killing the artillery horses and what artillerymen were reckless enough
to remain, firing fairly into the faces of the panicky Teutons and
forcing them to throw themselves into the bushes, into by-roads,
anywhere to escape and scamper away as fast as their legs could carry
them. The color-bearer of Sigel’s own regiment was badly wounded; his
substitute was killed, and the flag itself was captured by Capt. Tom
Staples, a Missourian, of Arrow Rock, Saline county.
When the plateau was reached, the cannon captured and the field gained,
the infantry stopped and cheered, Reid’s and Bledsoe’s batteries fired
parting salutes into the flying blue-coats, and then, leaving the
cavalry to pursue, both infantry and artillery turned about and went up
to the other end of the valley to assist their brethren in that quarter,
and to participate in the final triumph of the day.
Away went the Germans, down to the south into Christian county, throwing
away guns, cartridge boxes, even canteens,—everything that hindered
rapid flight,—wandering about and hiding when they could with the Texas,
Arkansas, and Missouri cavalry leaping upon them incessantly and slaying
them wherever they made the least show of resistance. At Nowlan’s mill,
on the James, three miles from the battle-ground, it was told that four
fugitives skulked under the mill-dam and, refusing to come out, were
riddled with buckshot.
The next day men lay scattered all over the country, wounded or dead;
and yet Sigel lost but comparatively few killed. Prisoners were taken in
great numbers—run down by the Texas rangers and driven in like flocks of
sheep, as timid now and as harmless. Sigel himself got panicky after
awhile and fled for Springfield, across the country, accompanied by only
two guards, giving rise to the wicked stanza of the song sung in the
Confederate camps after the battle, concerning the battle of Wilson’s
Creek,—how,
Old Sigel fought some on that day,
But lost his army in the fray;
Then off to Springfield he did run,
With two Dutch guards, and nary gun.
At Mrs. Chambers’ house, four miles south of Springfield, Col. Sigel and
his two guards halted and procured a drink of water, and then rode away
to Springfield, as rapidly as their jaded horses could carry them. Sigel
himself arrived at Springfield with but one orderly.
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