The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-09-12
THR BATTLE OF OAK HIL-Tha official

nm DAii In or oAh hlLB.-1 uH U1Uclul re-
ports of the Federal officers of the battle near
Springfield, Mo, are colored to suit the taste
of the Northern people. We append an ex-
tract from the report of Major Sturgis, who
took command after the death of Gen LYON
1t will be seen that he admits n loss of 23;
probably much below the TRUTH while he.
magniied our loss of 265 killed, 500 wounded
and 80 missing, into loss of 900 Mai
Sturgis says:
After the death of Gen. Lyon. when the
enemy fed and left the field clear so far as
we could see, almost total silence reigned for
q space of twenty minutes. Major Schotield
now informed me of the death of Gen Lyon
and reported for orders. The responsibility
which now rested upon me was duly felt and
appreciated. Our brave little army was scat
tered and broken; over 10000 men were still
in our front, and our men had had no water
since o'clock the evening before and could
hope for none short OF Springfield, twelve
miles distant; if we should go forward, our
own success would prove our certain defpat
in the end; if we retreated, disaster stared us
in the face; our ammunition was well nigh
exhausted, and should the enemy make thi S
discovery through shckening of our fire,
total humiliation was all that we could ex-
pect. The great question in my mind was
"Where is Siegelf" If / could still hope for n
vigorous attack by him on the enemys right
flank or rear, then we could 20 forward with
some hope of success. If we had retrea ted
there was nothing left for us also In this
perplexing condition of affairs l summoned
the principal officers for consultation. The
great question with most OF lnem was, lis
retreat possible I"
The consul ton was brought to a close by
the advance of 4 heavy column of infdn try
advancing from the hill where Siegel's guns
had been heard before. Thinking they were
Siarel's men the line was formed for an ad-
vance with the hope of forming junction
with him. These troops wore dress much
resem bling that of Siegels brigade, and car
ried the American flag. They were there
fore permitted to move down the hill within
easy range of Dubois battery, until they had
reached the covered position at the foot of
the ridge on which we were posted, and from
which we had been fiercely assailed before,
when suddenly 4 battery was planted on the
hill in our front, and began to pour upon
shrapnel and canister-a species OF shot not
before fired by the enemy. At this moment
the enemy showed his true colors, and al once
commenced along our entire lines the fiercest
and most bloody engagement OF the day.
Lieut.. Dubois battery on our left, CALAMITY
supported by Major Osterhaus' battalion and
the rallied FRAGMENTS of the Missouri First,
soon silenced the enemv's ba ttery on the hill,
and repulsed the right wing of his infantry.
Capt. Totten's battery in the cen tire, ppor ted
by the 1owas and regulars, was the main point
of attack. The enemy could frequen tly be
seen within twenty feet of T0ttens guns, and
the smoke of the opposing lines was often SO
COMPOUNDED as to seem but one Now, for the
first time dnriug the day. our entire line main
tanned its position with perfect firmness. Not
the sligh test disposition to give way was mani
tested at any point, and while Capt. Steeles
battalion, which was some yards in front of
the line, together with the troops on the right
and left. were in imminent danger of being
overwhelmed by superior numbers, the con-
tending lines being almost muZzle to muZzle,
Capt. Granger rushed 10 the rear and brought
up the supports Of Dubois battery, consisting
of two or three companies of the First Mis-
souri,, three companies of the First Kansas,
and two com panies of the First Iowa, in quick
time, and fell upon the enemy's right flank,
and poured into it 4 murderous volley, killing
or wounding every man within sixty or seven
ty yards. From this moment perfect rout
took place throughout the rebel front, wnIle
ours on the right flank continued to pour a
CALLING hre into their disOrganiZed masses.
1t was then evident that Totten's bait, ry
and Steele's little battalion were safe. The
enemy then ned from the field. A few mo-
ments before the close Of the engagement, the
Second Kansas, which had firmly maintained
its position on the extreme right from the time
it was first sent there, found it's ammunition
exhausted, and l directed 1t to withdraw
slowly and in good order from the field, which
ii did, bringing of its wounded which left our
right flank exposed, and the enemy renewed
the attack at that point, after 1t had ceased
along the whole line; but it was calamity met
by Cnpt Steele's battalion of regulars, which
had just driven the enemy from the right of
the centre, and, after Il sharp engagement,
drove him precipitately from the field, Thus
closed--at about III o'clock-an almost unin
terrupted conflict of six hours. The order to
retreat was given soon after the enemy gave
way from our front and centre. After making
short halt on the prairie, we continued our
march TO Springfield.
Our total loss in killed, wounded and miss
ing, amounts to ,235-that of the enemy will
probably reach 5000.