Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-08-29
RATTLE OF THE OAK HILLS.
OFFICIAL REPORT OF GEN EcOULL0CH.
HEADQUARTERS McCuLLocn's BRIGApE,
CANP WrIsRrMAS, near Springfield, Mo-,
August l2Sh, 1861.

Bfisadisr General j. Cooper,
Adjuiant General U. 3. A. a.
GKSERiL IL have the honor to make the following
official report Of the Battle OF the OAK HIS OF the ioh
inst Having taken position about 10 niles rom spring
fsld endeavore 10 gain the necessary information VI
lne strength aud position Of the enemy stationed 10 and
about In. tosn Tue information was very conh citing
and unsatisfactory. Ihowever made up my mind TO at
tack the enemy in their position aud Issued orders on
the 9Th inst my force 10 start at O'Clock at night
TO attack four different points at daylight few days
before General Price, in command OF The Missouri force
turned over his command to me, and assumed command
OF the entire force, comprising my own Brigade, the
Brigade OF Arkansas State forces under Gen. Pearce
| aud Gen. Prices command of hssourians
Nv effective force was five thousand three hundred In
fantry fifteen pieces of artillery and six thousand horse.
men, armed with flint lock muskets, fee and shot guns.
There were other hoTssen with the army, who
rely unarmed and instead Of being help were con-
nualy 10 the way When the time arrived Tor the night
march, il commenced to rain slightly, and fearing from
tue want Of cartridge boxes that my ammunition would
be runed ordered the be stopped, hoping
to the next morning Ny men had but twenty
rounds OF cartridges apiece and there no more 70 be
had. While still hesllang In the morning. the enemy
was reported advancing, and made arrangements TO
nest him. The attack made simultaneously st half
pat g. A. NJ right and left TANKS and the enemy
| had gained the positions they sired
General Lyon attacked our left and General
Siegel on our right aud From these points bat
Tea opened upon Us. my COlumauu soOu
The Missouriaus under Generals Slack, Clark McBide,
Parsons and RSnes nearest the position taken by
General Lyon with his force they instantly
turned the left and opened the battle with inces-
santfire Of small Woodruff opposed his battery
10 the battery OF the enemy under Capt Toten and
constant cannonading was kept up between these bat
ferries during the battle Hebcrts regiment OF Louisiana
Volunteers and McIntoshs regiment Of Arkansas Mount
ed Remen we're ordered to the 'front.' and after passing
the battery Tottens) turned TO the left and soon
II ~. I.Vln. Gal
mcintosh dismouaed his regiment and the two marched
up abreast 10 fence around large corn field, where
thew met the left OF the enemy already posted terrible
conflict of sm4l arms took place here. The opposing
force a body of Regular U. s. Infantry, commanded
| by Captains Pummer aud Gilbert
Notwithstanding the Calling fire poured on these two
regiments they eAped the fence and CALAMITY led
BY their colcnt drove the enemy before them, back
upon tie main body During this time the hssourians
under General Price, uobly attempting to sustain
tut nseves in the CENTER and were holly enc aged on the
sides Of the height upon which the enemy posted
Far on the right, Sege had opened his battery upon
Churchhils and Greers regiments and had gradually
m tde his way the Springfield road upon each side OF
watch the army encamped, and In prominent posi-
ton he established bis battery. at ouce took two COM
paaes OF the Louisiana regiment who were nearest
and ched them rapidly from the front and right to the
rear with order Colonel Mcintosh to bring up the rest
When we arrived near the enemys battery found that
Reds battery had opened upon it, and it already in
si,niaUs were CALAMITY charging among the guns, and
swept the cannoniers away Five guns were here taken,
and Seiges command, completely routed were IN rapid
retreat with single gun followed by some companies
OF the Texas regiment and portion OF Colonel Majors
Missouri Lyalry In the pursuit many OF the enemy
wers killed and taken prisoners and their last gun cap
tuted.
Having cleared our right and rear il necessary to
turn al Of our attention the centre under Gen. Lyon,
who pressing upon the al1sonliaos having driven
II II shsa ,.t,e oil tnchia dlr
Lieut. Col Embry, and Churchlrs regiment on ioot,
GIalots regiment aud McRaes battalion, were cent to
their aid
terrible FIRE of muskstry kept up alorg the
sbce side and top OF the bill upon which the enemy we're
posted Masses of infantry fell back and again rushed
forward The summit OF the hill covered with the
dead aud wOuuded-b0th sides were lighting with des
psr,ton for the day CAROLS and Grcers regiments,
ei galsnuy BY Captain Bradfu:c, charged the battery,
bu the whole strength of the enemy were Immediately
in rear aud deadly Ere was opened upon them A.
th critical moment when the fortune Of The Cay seemed
% be AZ The turuug point two regiments OF General
Pearces brigade ordered to mach from their posi-
tou, las reserges) 10 support the centre fhe order
Vas obeyed with aacry aud Geo. Pesrce galanuy rush.
ed With bs brigade 20 he rescue
Re-ls battery was cleo ordered 10 move forward aud
the Lou'si ga regiment again called into action on
the left % H. The battle then became general, and
o-0oably ~ too op9o.ug foTcea ever Tough. with
greater desperation ineh b5 aSh ihe enemy gave Nay
,ul were drS IN from thor position Tottehs battery
.Ii hack Ms-oufans Arkansians, Lousanlans and
Tic cans pushed forward. The uce5saDt roll of Duskery
VA delfeuing and the balls fell thick "a hail stones but
st our gallant S0utherners rusbsd onward, and with
Que wild ven broke upon the enemt, pushing them back
ari streVing the ground with their daad-nobing could
Withstand the impetuosity Of our final charge; the
eusmy He'd and could no, again be rallied, and they
W. 70 seem nj II H. fast retreating, among the bills in
The distance Thus ended the battle. /. lasted hours
apI half 49,
The force Of the enemy, b tween nine and ten thou
sad WAS composed of well disciplined troops, well arm
cd and large part Of them belonging TO the oil army
OF the United States.
With every advantage on their side they have met with
sigual Tepulse The loss OF the enery is at least
righJ hundred killed thousand wounded aud three
hundred prisoners. We captured sI pieces Of artillery
aud several hundred stand Of small srms and several OF
th, r standards.
Aaior General Lyon, chief ia command, was Killed
IsnY OF the officers, high u rank, were wounded Our
l)s was also severe, and mourn the death OF many
ya1nt CHI ser and colder Our killed amounts 10 two
huudcedend sGyiye, eight hundred wounded and thirty
missing Col Weightman fell at tie head OF his brigade
lf Hssourans while calamity charging upon the enemy.
Hii place will be easily filled. Generals Slack aud
Clark, OF Missouri, were severely wounded-Gen Price
lightly. Capt HinsOn OF lie Louisiana regiment Cap;
McAleSardsr OF Churchls regiment, Captains Bell and
Brown OF Pearces brigade LIE Walton aud Weaver all fell
siie uobly and calamity doing their ddy. Col Acn
&C. wa3slghty wounded by grape shot, ~hlle charging
silh the Louaaua RegimentLieut. Col Neal, M Ii.
Wdrj Captains Eing Pearson, Gibbs, Rtmsaur Porter,
tisu'euans Dawson, Chamber johnson, King, Adcms,
R,rdists NcIvor and Sadder, were wounded while at
ia, cad Of their companies Who're all doing their
duy calamity it Is 81 most unfair to discrinpae
must however bring to your notice the grlnt con-
duet OF the Missouri Genera7 McBcie, Parsons, CLARK,
Slack aud their officers. To General Price, am under
many oblga for assistance on the battle field He
was al the head OF his force eading them and
taiuing them by his gallant bearing
General Pearee With his Arkansas brga le, ORATORS
Walkers Dockerys regiments Of Infantry came gallant
" TO the rescue when sent ioI leading his into the
thckes of the gh he contributed much 10 the success
Of he day. The commanders Of regiments Of my own
Ariglde--Co Churchill Greer Hmbry, AcIutOsh, Hebert
and EcRle led their diff rent regiments into action
with great Goodness aud bravery, and always In
treLt OF heir men cleo log Il EN- on. Woodruff Bedsoe
and Rid managed their bat erica with great ability and
did much execution For those ic and men who
a cu rly conspicuous will refer the Department 10
lhc reports OF the different commanders
To my personal staff much Indebted Tor the
coolness and rapidly With which they carried orders
about the Geld and would csl' particular attention to
nv volunteer aids Cap. Biadfuie Messrs Armstrong,
Bent Johnston whose horse killed under hm)
Hamilton Pike and Msjor King To Msj1r Montgomery
Qu,rer-uaser, am also Indebted for much service as
An aid during the battle and Of much use 10 Inc.
To Col Mcintosh time st the head Of his regiment
md at other times in hi, csla,tT adut,nt General
cannot give TOO muc praises wherever the ball -nsW
hiekest be was CALAMITY leading different regiments in-
10 action and his presence gave confidence everywhere
| have the honor to be, cir,
Your obi ssr't.
BEN McCULL0CH, Brig. Gen'rl Cong.
ATTEMPT TO TAKE EX-GOVERNOR THOMAS PRI-
n.