The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-08-30
[BATTLE OF THE OAK HILLS.
OFFICIAL REPORT OF GEN. MocULhocH
HEADQUARTERS Mci;uLLooz's Bs,sApB,
Camp Weightman, near Sprir field,

I HEADQUARTERS Mo';uLLooz's BsIeADE,
Camp Weightman. ear snrirrtisld,
M August 18th 1861.
Brfgddfer General Cooper. AdIutant Gen
Gx.EsAL II havo the honor to maze tbs
F~Ilowing official report of the hattie Of ihs
Oak Hills on the l0sh inst. Havirg ssker
| position about 10 miles from Sprrgf1 ID I en-
| deavored TO gain the necessary informah OF
| the strength and position Of the enemy sta
toned in G nd about the town The informs
1 tion was very cor flictirg and ur satisfactory
however made up my mind to attack the
ene1rv IN their position, and issued orders "a,
| the 9.h inst. TO my force to start at o'clock
at nisht to attack ut four different prints At
Day light. A few days before, Gen. Price
In command of the Missouri force, turned
| over his command TO me, and l assumed
| command of the entire force. comprising nv
|! own brigade, the brigade Of Arksnsas State
forces under Gen Pearce, and Gen. Prices
| command Of Missouriaus.
| MY ehectve force was five thousand three
| hundred infant'y, fifteen pieces of artillery
End six thousand horsemen, armed with
| n.nt lock muskets, rifles and shot guns
There were other horsemen with the army,
who were entirely nrarmed, and instead 6f
being help were continually in tie way.
| Wnen the time arrived for the night march,
| 1t commenced to rain slightly, and fearing
| from the want OF cartridge boxes that my am
| munttion would be ruined ordered the
| movement TO be stopped, hoping to move tbe
nexs morning. My men had bu. twenty five
| more to be bad. While stirt hesitatiug, in
| he morning the enemy was reported aiyauc
| Ing, and made arraDgements to meet him
The attack was made sinlulta neousiy a half.
past nve, A. M, on our right and eft Il inks,
and the enemy had gained the position the J
| des ired.
| General Lvon attacked Us on cur left and
| General Sis gel on our tight and rear. From
| these points batteries Openej upon us. nv
command was son ready. The Mi sourians
undsr Genrals Slack, CLARK, McBri3e, Par
| sons and Raines, were nearrst the position ta.
ken by General Lvcn, with his main force
/ they were instantly turned to the left and
| opened thes battle with an incsssant fire ol
| small arms Woodruff opposed his battery te
| The battery Of the enemy III der Capt To.ten
and constant cannonading was kept up he
| tween these batteries during the battle. He
| bart's regiment of Loui siana Volunteers anc
| Melntosh's regiment OF Arkansas Noun ted
| h Il smen, were ordered to the front, and afte
passing the battery (Tottens) turned to tbe
| left and soon engaged the enemy with the regi
ments depiOyed Col. Mcintosh dismounted
his regiment and the two NJ rched up abreas,
| to fence around a large corntield, where the
met the lett of the eY envy already ros ted a
| terrible conflict Of small arms took place here
| TIE opposing force was body OF Regular u
5 Infantry, commanded by Captain. Piam
| mer and Gilbert.
Notwithstanding the CALLING FIRE poured or
| these two regiments, they le lped over tbs
! fence, and, gallsntly led by their Colonels
| drove the enemy before them, back upon the
| main body. During this time, the Nilsson.
| rians, under Gen. prce, were n bly, a.tem pt
| ing &c sustain themselves in the ecu re, spe
were hotiy 81 gsged on the sides Of the hsigh
upon which the enemy were pos ted. Ear q.
| the right, S'egel had opened his battery u pom
| Churchill's and Greer's regimeats and aar
grad ualiy made his way 20 the Spring fie d
| road upon each side of which the army was
! encampet, anu i'll prominent position ne es
| tabiished his battery. 1 at once to
| two c. mpanies OF the Louisiana regiment
l W no nearest end lrfApd
rapidly to the front al right to the Iear, ith
| order to Col. Mcintosh 20 bring up the rest -
| When we arrived near the enemy's battery
we found that Reid's battery had Orened no
| Oh il, and it was already is coniu7 ion Ad
vantage was taken OF it, and soon the Loui l.
| anians were PallanLly charging among tht
| guns, and swept The cannoniers away F1ye
| guns were here taken, and Siegels command
| completely route :, wsre in rapid retr@at, witt
| u single gun, followed by some corl panies Ct
| me Texas regiment, and a portion of Colonel
| Majors Missouri cavalry. L. The parsui'
many OF the enemy we're Billed and taken
| prisoner, and their last gun captured
| Having Cleared our rigat AID rear, 1t was
| necessary to turn all of our attea ton 20 the
! centre, nndar Gen Lyon, who was pressins
| upon the Missourians. having driven them
| back. To this point Mc1ntos his g'nent
| under Lieut.. Col Embry, aid Oh rchlrS
| Yes imt nj on foot, GratAot's regiment and BIZ
| Rae's battalion, were sent 10 Their aid.
A terrible fire of musketry WAS now Kept up
| along The whole side ana top Of the hill, upon
| " hich he enemy were posted. D; asses OF in
fanny fell back and assin Tushed forward
| The summit of the hiil was covered wi Ii tnz
| dead and wounde1-both sides wera fighting
| with despeI alton for the day. Carrc rs &c d
| Greer's regiments, lead gaiiantiy b. Cap5slE
| 6radfute, charged the battery. but the whole
| re9r, and d deadly fire was opened upou
| them. At this critical moment, when the
I fortune OF tie day seemed To be at the .urnir
/ point. two regiments of General Pearce's
4 txry~s In .,x.Ie~ ~n..
| position (as reserve.) TO support the centre
! The order was obeyed with alacrity, snd Gen
| Pearce gallantly rushed with his brigade Il
! the rescue
| forward, and the Louisiana regiment was
sgdin cGiiea into acton the left or it The
| battle then bee llne general, and probably n(
| two oppc sing forces ever fought with create,
| 6espera' 'ion inch by inch the enemy gave
way, and were driven from their position
| T0tten's ba ttery fell back. Missnuriaas, ar
| kansians, LoaisianiaDs and T,x.ns pushed
| forward. The incessant roll OF nuskeIry wa,
| deafenipg, and the balls tell thick rs ha,i
| stones; but still our gallant 5outherner
pushed onward, and with one wild yell brok'
| upon the enemy, pushing them back an
stre|inx the g'ound with their dead-noth,n LES
| could Withstand the iInpetuosity OF our dna
| charge the enemy fec, aid could NOT agaii
| be rallied, and they We're seen, tst II IA :, fes
| retreating, among the hills in TIE distance =
| Thus enoed the battle. II lastea hours aat
| u half
The force Of the enemy, between 1000 ant
| 10 900, was com oosed OF woil disc. piincs
! troopsi well armed, and large part OF an
| beioaetrg to the OH army Of the United States
| Win every advantage On their side, they
| have met with g signal rspuise. The less c
the eneToy is at least 500 killed. eco wouao
ei, and 300 prisoners. We captorsd SIX piece
Of artillery and several hundred stand OF sinai
| arms. and several OF their standards.
Major General Lyon, chief in command, wa
killed. Many OF the officers, nigh il rank
| were wounded. Oar loss was also severe, ant
we mourn the loss OF Inany gallant offica
| wounded, and 80 missing Colonel WEIGHT
man fell at the head Of his briead
OF Missourians, while saliantiy charging IL poi
sns ',. enemy His place viii not. not De e eesii. Is
| souri,, We're severely wounded; General Pric
| slightly. Capt, Hinson of the Louisian
| regiment, Capt McAiexander OF Caurchili'
l regiment Capts Bell and Brown Of Pearce'
brigade, Lieuts Walton and Weaver, ali fel
while ncbiy and gallantiy Going their duty =
| Dol. McIntosh was slightly wounded by
| grape-shot, While charging with the Louisi
| ana regiment. Lieut. Col Neal, Major II
| WARD, captains King, Pearson, Gibos, Ram
saur, Porter, Ll-uts. Dawson, ChamOers
| johnson, King Adams, Hardista, McIvor an
| Sadler, were wounded while at the hea0 @
| their companies. Where ali Were d Ding thei
duty so gailantly, IL Is almost unfair to dis
/ crfminare.
must, however, bring TO your notice tn
gallant conduct of The II, issouri Generals, Nc
| Bride, Parsons, Clark Slack, and their orfl
GERS To Gen. Price arm under many obi ga
tions tor assistance on the battle fieia. II
| was at the head Of his force. leading them O
and sustaining them by his gallant bearing
Gen. Pearce, with his Arkansas Brig ai'
(Gratiot Walker Dockerys regiments OF in
Iantry) came gailantiy TO the rescae whe
sent for; leading his men into the thickess &
| the dght, he contributed much 10 the success
OF the day. The commanders OF regiments {
10 Nxlz hi Al
Embyy. McIEtosh, uebsrt and McRae-,e
/ their different regimen is into action wit