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
Assisted by Clark’s adjutant-general, Col. Casper W. Bell, of Brunswick,
Chariton county, and Capt. Joseph Finks, the colonel (Major) succeeded
in getting up some 300 men with whom he returned to the rear and
assisted in the defeat of Sigel. The remainder of those who could be
formed into line (and many of them could when they found that the only
road leading out of camp was held by Sigel), were taken charge of by
Lieut. Col. Hyde and advanced to the front where Lyon was, but while
preparing to charge the Federal left they were driven back by Dubois’
battery and some infantry.
At last, after Price’s line had advanced half a dozen times and been
driven back as often, and after the fight had been going on nearly six
hours and victory was not yet certain for either side, McCulloch came
back from whipping Sigel and brought with him the Louisianians,
Carroll’s (Arkansas) and the greater portion of Greer’s (Texas) cavalry,
Col. Tom P. Dockery’s 5th Arkansas infantry, McIntosh’s 2d Arkansas
rifle regiment, under Lieut. Col. Embry, Gratiot’s 3d Arkansas regiment,
and McRae’s regiment. Reid’s battery was also brought up.
THE BEGINNING OF THE END.
The terrible fire of musketry was now kept up along the whole side and
top of the hill on which the enemy was 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 all desperation for
the victory. Gens. Price and McCulloch were among their men animating
them by their voice, their presence, and their example. Price was
slightly wounded but would not leave the field.
To relieve the infantry McCulloch resolved to make a diversion in their
favor with the cavalry. Accordingly a portion of Carroll’s and Greer’s
regiments, and a mass of Missourians were formed to go up the valley and
fall upon the Federal left, but, as before stated, Dubois’ battery and
the Federal infantry scattered the horsemen before they could get fairly
into line.
VICTORY!
At this critical moment, when the fortunes of the day seemed at the
turning point, McCulloch ordered forward his reserves and threw them
into the scale. Forward came the rest of Pearce’s Arkansas division,
Gratiot’s and Dockery’s regiments, on the run and cheering. Into the
thickest of the fight and throwing away their “tooth-picks,” as their
huge knives were called relied solely on their muskets, and did most
effective work in the center of the line. Reid’s battery was also
ordered forward, and Hebert’s Louisianians were again called into action
on the left of it. Guibor’s battery, of Parson’s division, opened with
canister on the Federals, and terrible was the din and the slaughter.
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