Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-09-08
BATTLE OF OAK HILLS.
GEN. sIGEL,s REPORT.
Headquarters I'd Brigade Missouri Vol.

1ESEhAls- respectfully suDHft 70 Jou
the report of the battle at Wilson's Creek. 80
Tar as the troops under my command were
concerned:
On Friday, the 9th of August. Gen. Lyon
informed me that it was bis intention 10 at
tack the enemy in his camp at Wilson
Creek on the morning OF the 10th; that the
attack should be made from two sides, ana
that should take command of the left. Tne
troops assigned to me consisted OF the Sec
ond Brigade, Missouri volunteers-nine hnn-
dred men-infantry of the Third and Filth
Regiments, under the command of Lieut..
Col. Albert and Col. Solomon, and SIX pieces
of artillery, under Lieuts- Schaeffer and
Schuetzenbach; besides two companies OF
regular cavalry, belonging to the command
of Major Sturgis.
l left camp Fremont, on the south side 81
Springfield, at half past six O'Clock, On the
evening of the 9th, and arrived at day-break
within mile of the enemy's camp. l adj
vanced slowly toward the camp, and after
taking forward the two cavalry companies
from the right and left. / 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 i'm 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, planted four
infantry advanced toward the point where
the Fayetteville road crosses Wilson's creek,
and the two cavalry companies extended to
the right and lett to guard our tanks. 1t
was 81 O'Clock, when some musket firing was
heard from the northwest. therefore order
ed the artillery to begin their fire against the
camp OF the enemy, (Missourians.l which W as
so destructive that the enemy were >seen
leaving their tents and retiring in haste to-
ward the north east of the valley. Mean.
while, the third and fifth had quickly advanc
ed, passed the creek, and traversing the camp,
formed almost in the center OF it. As the
enemy made his rally in large numbers be-
fore us, about 5000 strong, consisting of in-
fantry aud cavalry, l ordered 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. Alter an effectual fire Of half all
hour, the enemy retired in some confusion
into the woods aud up the adjoining bills
The firing toward the northwest was now
more distinct, and increased, until it was evil
dent that the main corps of Gen. Lyon had
engaged the enemy along the whole line. To
give the greatest possible assistance to him,
l left position in the camp and advanced to-
ward the northwest, to attack the enemy g
line of battle in the rear.
Marching forward we struck the Fayette-
vile road, making our way through large
number of cattle and horses, until We arriv ed
at an eminence used as Strengthening 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 en-
emy's soldiers, who were evidently retiring
in this direction; and as | suspected that the
enemy on his retreat would follow in the
same direction. / 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, while the
cavalry companies extended on our tanks.
At this time. and after some skirmishing in
front of our line, the firing in the direction
of the northwest, which was during an houf7s
time roaring in succession, had almost en-
tirely ceased. 1 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
seven hundred yards opposite our right.
This was the state of affairs at eight and
half O'Clock in the morning, when it was re-
ported to me by Mr.. Melchoir, and some of
our skirmishers, that Lyons men were COM
Ing up the road LIEUT.. Albert of the
Third, and Col. Solomon. of the Fifth, noti-
fed their regiments not TO fire Oh troops com
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 signal to their comrades,
when at once two batteries opened their fire
against us-one in front. placed on the Fay
etteviile road. and the other upon the hill
upop which we had suppos d Lyons forces
were in pursuit of the enemy, while strong
column OF infantry, supposed to he the Iowa
regiment. advanced from the Fayetteville
road and attacked our right.
1t is impossible for me to describe the con-
sternation and frightful confusion which was
oceasioned by this important event. The
cry, .'They Uyon's troops) are fling against
u.s. spread like wild fire through our ranks;
the artillerymen, ordered to fire, and direct
ed by myself, could hardly be brought for
ward to serve their pieces; the infantry
would not level their arms until it was too
late. The enemy arrived within ten PAGES
of the muzzles OF our cannon, killed the hOr
ses, turned the TANKS of the infantry and
forced them to fly. The troops were throw
ing themselves into the bushes and by-roads,
retreating as well as they conld, followed
and attacked necessarily by large bodies of
Arkansas and Texas cavalry In this retreat
we lost five cannon, of which three were
spiked, and the colors of the Third, the color
bearer having been wounded, and bis slbsti
tute killed, The total loss OF the two regi-
ments, the artillery and the pioneers, in kill
ed, wounded and missing, amounts to 292
men, as will be seen from the respective
lists. $50.
In order to understand clearly our actions
and our fate, you will permit me to state
the following facts: First, according to Or
ders, it was the duty of this brigade to attack
the enemy in the rear and to cut off his re-
treat which order l tried to execute, what
ever the consequences might be.
Second. The time OF service OF the fifth re-
giment Missouri volunteers had expired be-
fore the battle. had induced them, compa-
ny by company, not TO leave us in the most
critical moment, and had engaged them for
the term of eight days, this term ending on
Friday, the 9th, the day before the battle.
Third. The third regiment, of which four
hundred three months men had been dismis-
sed, was composed of the greater part of re-
cruits, who had not seen the enemy before,
and were imperfectly drilled.
Fourth. The men serving the pieces, and
the drivers, consisted of infantry, taken from
the third regiment, and were mostly re-
cruits who had only a few days instruction.
Fifth. About two-thirds OF our officers had
left us-some companies had no officers Ut all
"a great pity-but the consequence of the
system of the three months service.
field, the command was entrusted to me by
Major Sturgis, and the majority of the COM
manders of regiments. Considering all the
and in accordance with the
commanding officers, ordered the retreat of
the army from Springfield. Tie prepara-
tions were begun in the night of the 10th,
and at daybreak the troops were on the
march toward the Gasconade. Before cross
ing the river, / received information that the
ford could not be passed well, and that a
strong force of the enemy was moving from
the South West plains) toward Waynesville,
to cut off our retreat. l also was aware that
it would take considerable time to cross the
RobidoGx and the Little and Big Pincy on
the old road.
To avoid all these difficulties, and to give
the army an opportunity to rest, directed
the troops from Lebanon to the northern
road, passing Right Point and Humboldt, and
terminating opposite the mouth of Little
Piney, where, in case of the ford being IN
passsble, the train could be sent by Vienna
and Lynch to the mouth of the Gasconade,
while the troops could ford the river at the
mouth of the Little Piney to reinforce Rolla.