Arkansas true Democrat., 1861-09-05
RATTLE OF THE OAK HILLS.
Official Report of Gen. McCulloch
HEADQUARTERS McCULLoCHs BRIGADE, Camp Weightmdn, neor Sprtngte'd,


 GEYERAL-I have the honor to make the 1oi lowing official report of the battle of the oak Hills on the 10th inst. Having taken position ohont 0 miles from Springfield, endeavored to oain the necessary information of the strength and position of the enemy, stationed Tn ana ahont the town. The information was very con A;ot;no and unsatisfactory. l however made up nv mind to attack the enemy in their position, and issued orders on the 9th inst to my force to start at o'clock at night to attack at tour olf' ferent points at day light. A jew days nelore, Gen. Price in command Of the Missouri lorce, 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, and Gen. frlce 5 command of Missourians.
 Nv effective force was five thousand three hundred infantry, fifteen pieces of artillery, and six thousand borsemen. armed with fint-lock muskets, rifles and shot guns. There were other horsemen with the army, who were entirely Yh- armed. and instead of being help were <con' tinually in the way When the time arrived for the night march, 1t commenced to rain slightly, and fearing, from the want of cartridge boxes, that nv ammunition would be ruined, ordered the movement to be stopped hoping to move t.e next morning. My men had but twenty i've rounds of cartridges, and there was no more to be had. While still hesitating, ill the morning | the enemy was reported advancing, and made arrangements to meet him. The attack was made simultaneously at half past fivs, A. M., on our right and left Hanks, and the enemy had gained the position they deslrei.
 Gen. Lyon attacked us on our lett and Gen. Siegel on outright and rear. From these points batteries opened upon us. My command was soon ready. The Missourans under Gems. Slack, | .i. Do md est the position taken by Gen. Lyon, with his main force; they were instantly turned to the l left and opened the battle with an incessant lire of small arms. Woodruff opposed his battery to the battery of the enemy under Capt Iotten, and constant cannonading was kept up be tween these batteries during the battle He berts regiment of Louisiana volunteers, and McIntosh's regiment of Arkansas mounted rifle men, were ordered to the front and after passing the battery (Totten's) turned to the left and soon engaged the enemy with the regiments deployed. Col Mcintosh dismounted his regiment and the two marched up abreast to fence around a large cornfed where they met the left of the enemy already posted terrible conflict ot small arms took place here. The opposing force was a body of regular U. s. infantry, command ed by Capts. Hummer and Gilbert.
 Notwithstanding the galling fire poured on | and, gallanty led by their Colonels, drove the enemy before them, back upon the main body. During this time, the Missourians, under Gen.. Price, were nobly attempting to sustain them selves in the center, and were hotly engaged on the sides of the height upon which the enemy were posted Far on the right, Siegel had open ed his battery upon Churchill's and Greer regi ments. and had gradually made his way to the Springfield road upon each side of which the army was encamped, and in prominent posi- ton he established his battery. 1 at once took two companies of the Louisiana regiment, who were nearest me, and marched them rapidly to the front and right to the rear, with order to Col Mcintosh to bring up the rest. When we ar rived near the enemy's battery, we found that Reid's battery had opened upon 1t, and 1t was al ready in confusion. Advantage was taken ot It. and soon the Lousianians were gallantly char3- ing among the guns, and swept the cannoniers away Five guns were here taken and Segel : command, completely routed were in rapid re treat, with a single gun, followed by some com panies of the Texas regiment, and portion Of \ Col. Majors Missouri cavalry. In the pursuit many of the enemy were killed and taken prison CTS, and their last gun captured.
 Having cleared our right and rear 1t was necessary to turn all of our attention to the cen tre. under Gen. Lyon, who was pressing upon the Missourians, having driven them back. To this point McIntosh's regiment, under Lieut. Col. Embry, and Churchill's regiment on foot, Gratiot's regiment and McRae's battalion, were sent to their aid.
 A terrible fire of musketry was now kept up along the whole side and top of the hill, upon which the enemy were posted. Masses of in frantrv fell back and again rushed forward. The summit of the hill was covered with the dead and wounded-both sides were fighting with desperation for the day. Carrol's and Greer s regiments, lead gallanty by Capt. Bradtute, charged the battery, but the whole strength of the enemy were immediately in the rear, and a ! deadly fire was opened upon them. At this critical moment, when the fortune of the day seemed to be at the turning point, two regiments | of Gen. Pearces brigade were ordered to march from their position (as reserveA to support the centre. The order was obeyed with alacrity, and Gen. Pearce gallantly rushed with his brig ade to the rescue.
 Reid's battery was also ordered to move for ward, and the Louisiana regiment was agaln called into action on the left of 1t. The battle then became general and probably no two op- posing forces ever fought with greater despe- ration inch by inch the enemy gave way, and were driven from their position; Totten's battery fell back Mssourians, Arkansans, Louisian- ians and Texans pushed forward. The inces- sant roll of musketry was deafening, and the balls fell thick as hailsones; but still our gallant southerners pushed onward, and with one wild yell broke the enemy, pushing them back and strewng the ground with their dead-nothing could withstand the impetuosity of our final charge; the enemy fled, and could not again be rallied, and they were seen, at l2 M., fast re- treating, among the hills in the distance. Thus ended the battle. It lasted hours and half
 The force of the enemy, between 5000 and 10000, were composed ofwell disciplined troops well armed, and large part of them belonging to the old army of the United States.
 With every advantage on their side, they have met with signal rcpulse. The loss o the enemy is at least 800 killed 1000 wounded and 300 prisoners. We capture six pieces O artillery and several hundred stand of smal arms, and several of their standards.
 Major General Lyon, chief in command, was killed. Many of the officers, high in rank, were wounded. Our loss was also severe, and wo mourn the loss of many gallant officer anC soldier. Our killed amounts to 256, 800 wound ed, and 30 missing. Colonel Weightman fell at the head of his brigade of Missourians, while gallantly charging upon the enemy. His place will not be easily filed Generals Slack and Clark, of Missouri, were severely wounded; Gen Price slightly. Capt Hinson of the Louisiana regiment, Capt. McAlexander of Churchill's re- giment, Capts. Bell aud Brown of Pearce' brigade, Lieuts. Walton and Weaver, all fell while nobly and gallantly doing their duty.- Col Mcintosh was slightly wounded by grape