Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1861-09-03
BATTLE OF THE OAK HILLS.

BATTLE OF THE OAK HILLS.
OFFICIAL REPORT OF GEN McCULLoCH
HEADQUARTERS MoOULLocn's BRlGADE)
CAMP " EIGHTMAN, near Springfield, Mo-
August 18th, 1917
Brigadier General j. Cooper.
Adjutant General G. S. A.
General 81 have the honor to make The fol-
lowing official report Of the Battle of the Cak
Hills on the 10th inst. Having taken position
about 10 miles from Springfield, erdeavored 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. | however made up my
mind to attack the enemy in their position, and
Issued orders on the 9th inst, to ny force, to
start at CLOCK at night to attack at four differ
ent points at daylight. A lew days before, Gen
eral Price, in comb,and of the Missouri force,
turned over lis command to me. and | assumed
command Of the entire force, comprising my own
Brigade, the Brigade of Arkansas State ferces
under Gen~Pearce, and Gen. Prices command OF
Missourians.
Ny effective force was FIVE thousand three
hundred infantry, fifteen pieces of artillery, and
six thousand horsemen, armed with films lock
muskets, rifles and shot guns. There were other
horeemen with the army, who were entirely
unarmed and instead of being a help were cou-
tinually in the way. When the time arrived for
the night march, it commenced to rain slightly,
and fearing from the want of cartridgs-boxe3
that my ammunition would be ruined, | 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 had. While still hesitating 10 the
morning, the enemy was reported advancing, ard
| made arrangements to meet him. The attack
was made simultaneously at half past 8, A. M,
on our right and lett fanks, and the enemy had
gained the positions they desired.
| General Lyon attacked US on our left and Gen
eral Seigel on our right and rear. From these
points batteries opened upon US. My command
was soon ready. The Missourians under Gener-
ais Slack, Clark, Mcbride, Parsons and Ranes,
were nearest the position taken by Gen' Lyon,
with his main force; they were Instantly turned
TO the left and opened the battle with an inces-
SAINT fire of small arms. Woodruff opposed his
battery to the battery of the enemy under Capt.
Tottep, and constant oannonadDg was kept up
between these Batteries during the battle. Heb
ert's regiment of Louisiana Volunteers and Nc
Iutosh's regiment of Arkansas Mounted .ifelnen
were ordered to the front, and after passing the
battery iTotten's) turned to the left and soon
engaged the enemy with the regiments depnyed.
Col. Mcintosh dismounted his regiment and the
two marched up abreast to fence around a
large corn field, where they met the LETT Of the
lenemy already posted. A terrible conflict OF
small arms took place here. The opposing force
was body Of Regular q. S. Infantry, Command
ed By Captains Plummer ard Gilbert.
Notwithstanding the calling fire poured on
these two regiments, they leaped over fence and,
gallantly led by their colonies, drove the enemy
before them, back upon the main body During
this time, the Mssou.ians, under General Price,
q IN toin slvpc in
the center, and were hotly engaged on the sides
of the height upon which the enemy were pos
ted. Far on the right, Segel had opened his
battery upon Churchbill's and Greer regiments,
and had gradually made his way to the Spring
field road, upon each side of which the army was
: encamped, and in prominent position lie estab.
: lished his battery. | at once took two compa-
} MES of the Louisiana regiment, who were nearest
me, and marched them rapidly from the front
and right to the rear, with order to Colonel Nc
lntCsh to bring up the rest. When we arrived
near the enemy's battery, we found that Reid's
battery had opened upon it, and it was already
in confusion. Advantage was taken Of it, and
soon the Loulsianians were gaantly charging a.
mong the guns, and swept the cannoniers away.
Five guns were here taken, and SegtIs COM
Inand, completely routed, were ia rapid retreat,
with single gun, followed by some companies
of the Texas regiment and portion of Colonel
Majors Missouri cavalry. In the pursuit many
of the enemy were killed and taken prisoners.
and their last gun captured.
7 Having cleared our right and rear, it wasuee,
essary to turn allof onr attention to the centre,
under Gen. Lyon, who was pressing apon the
Missourians, having driven them back To this
s5p0int Mclntosh's regiment, under Lieut. Col
IEmbry, and Lhnrchhill's regiment on foot, Grat-
lots regiment and McRae's battalion, were sent
Ito their. aid.
A terrible fire OF musketry was now kept up
Ialong the whole side and top of the bill, upon
which the enemy were posted. Masses OF in
: fantry fell back and again rushed forward The
Isummit OF the hill was covered with the dead
j and wounded-both sides were fighting with
! desperation for the day. CAROLS and Greer's
Regiments, lead gaantly by Captain B adfute,
charged the battery, but the whole strength Of
the enemy were Immediately in rear and dead
J jly fire was opened npon 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 CEN
: tre The order was obeyed with alGcrity and
Gen. Pearce CALAMITY rushed with his brigade to
, the rescue.
Reeds battery was also ordered to move for
ward and the Louisiana regiment was again
), called into action on the left of it, The battle
: then became general, and probably no two oppo-
forces ever fought with greater desperation; inch
by inch the enemy gave way, and were driven
from. their position Totten's battery fell back
Mssourians, Arkansians, LOuisianians and Tex
} ans pushed forward The incessant roli of mus
Iketry was deafening, and the balls fell thick as
hail-stones bnt still our gallant SoutherDers push
ed onward, aud with one wild yell brok, upon
the enemy, pushing them back and strewing the
ground with their dead-nothng could with
[stand the impetuosity of cur final charge; the
enemy fed and could not again be rallied, and
they were seen, at II NJ, fast retreating, among
/. the hills in the distance. Thus ended the battle.
Il lasted hours and hall.
The force of the enemy, between nine and ten
Thousand, was composed of well-disciplined
troops, well armed and large part of them be-
longing 70 the old army of the United States.
i With every advantage on th>ir eide, they have
Imet with a sional repulse. The loss of the enc
3. at teasf efc bit hundred killed. one thousand
wounded and three hundred isoners. We cap
tured six pieces of art.sss r., several hundred
stand stan Of small arms saa q their stand :
have ths honor to3be, sir,
Our ob't ser't
BEN. MoCULLOCH, Big. Gen'rl CONG.
Plenty of LEAD.
The victory of our arms in Missouri has given
the South possession of the richest lead mine
n the world. This iEexhaustible mine of lead
/. Of Graphc IN,