Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1862-04-16
THE BATTLE OF SUGAR CREEK, MISSOURI
AN anTueNTic ACCOUNT


Springfield in the expectation that Van Dorm ana
McCuIloch would be- able to join him there. and ar
rest the march of Gen. Curtis, who was known to
be advancing in that direction. Having waited in
vain for their appearance, and the Federals having
arrived within six miles of Springfield, nc struck
his tents and turned his face towards the Arkansas
line, hoping to draw them after him, at least, until
he could come up with Van Dorm As he expected
they would d., the Federals pressed forward and
more or less skirnishng ensued every day between
their advance and our rear guard. Curtis stopped
the pursuit at Cross Holows, near the Arkansas
line, and Price pushed on to Cove Creek, in Wash
inston county, in that State, where he rested his
men for several days, and was Joined by Van Dorm,
McCulloch and Mcintosh. Al length, every thing
being ready, and the men having prepared D DAYS
rations, the Confcderates turned back on the ROAD
by which Price had come out Of Missouri, and went
in pursuit of the enemy encamped at Sugar Creek
Upon their reaching Bentenville on their way up
they encountered the enemy's rear guard, and had
a slight skirmish, in which we lost one man ana
they lost eight or ten We also captured one piece
Of artillery The Confederates continued on their
march all that day and night withou; either ooa OF
sleep. At half past 10 O'clock next morning, they
came up with the enemy, whom they found IN pc.
s,ion in the Sugar Creek hills in great force ana
evidently awaiting our attack. In short time the
action became general, Price leading the attack on
the North, and McCulloch on the west-thus com.
pletely surrounding the Federal army.
The opinion in the army is, that our plan OF at
tack was unfortunate, inasmuch as it closed every
avenue Of escape to the enemy, aud compelled him
to fight or surrender a coward will defend him.
self as well as the bravest man, if you hem him in
corner 1t is now believed that if We had made the
attack from one point-the North-as Gen. Price
proposed 10 do, we should have driven Curtis aud
his army into the Arkansas river, and destroyed
and captured him and his whole force.
Mcl:ulloch and Mcintosh tell carly in the day,
after which some of their regiments became demon
allied Our forces engaged did not exceed 1900
men, some regiments having never been brought
into action at ALL owing to the fall Of their comman
de;s The enemy had at least 81, 900 fighting men,
vet the battle ragged on uninterruptcdy until night,
when it foun.i that we had driven them Two
miles from their encampment, which our men hel!
during the night with the greater part Of their
cornmissary stores. Our men had marched all the
previous day and night-were tired an5 hungry
and were glad to get into the enemys provision
stores.
Next morning the sth it was found that the en-
envy had taken much stronger position during the
night. The battle was renewed, however, and con-
tnued until about half past nine O'clock, under the
cover of which Gen. Van Dorm Withdrew his forces
Two rcasoEs are given for this movement: First, a
number of regiments in McCu!ioch's division be-
came denoralized after his fall and that of McIn-
unequal fight. In the second place. several Of our
ammunition wagons had been stampeded by two or
three companies of Germans (FederalistS) who were
flying from the field Being ignorant Of the points
Of the compass they fled in the direction Of am
munition train, and orr teaUsterS. taking them to
be the enemy advancing put whip t. their horses,
and disappeared. At one time considerable body
of Confederatcs reduced to four rounds Of am
muni,ion then to two, and finally to one while
several of the batteries did not have single charge
Such are the fortunate circumstances that led to
the retreat.
A short time before his DEATH the gallant McIn.
tosh made brilliant cavalry charge, passing en-
tirely through the enemys lines, ant coming round
again to his former position, and bringing with him
three pieces Of Federal artillery. McCulloch de-
sired him to make second Charge, and started with
him to show HIM where to strike, but while riding
through the woods he was shot through the heart,
and fell dead Mcintosh then sought to bring of
his leaders body, and while trying to get an Arkan
sas regiment to make the charge, a.ball entered his
heart and he, too, fell dead. Col Rector placed
himself at the head Of his regiment (Arkansas,) and
by bold charge succeeded III recovering the body
Of McCuoch That OF Mcintosh vas not brought
of until next day.
Many Of our men who were supposed to be cap
tnred haJe returned to camp. Our whole loss, in
killed. wounded and prisoners, will not it is be-
leved, exceed 6UD. Of this number, about 1875
| were killed, 275 wounded. and 2Ou taken prisoners.
! The ene:ny's loss, from all Can gather, Was very
much GREATER probably five or six times as much.
/ we took also about 225 prisoners one OF which, a
Colonel taken the first day. says their loss up to
the time Of his capture was Gghtfu, reaching from
twelve to fifteen hundred. Their loss also very
heavy during the second days ii hit including many
officers. Some of our men, who ped out of their
hands, state that the eEemy were not at all eXult.
ant over the result but acted and talked as If they
>, had been whipped, and had no stomach for any
! more such fighting
The retreat on the part of Gen. Prices forces was
conducted in good order-so much So indeed, tina,
many Of his officers supposed he was making flank
movement, and would soon renew the fight The
grieved and broken-near regiments Of McCulloch
and Mcintosh did not retire with altogether the
same degree Of order and regularity 1t is said that
there is nothing they 10 much desire as to be
led against the sayers Of their idolisel commanders
Several of our batteries in danger of being lost
owing to the difficulty of extricatng them from the
woods and hills. The enemy did not pursue, OK
cept to send out a few cavalry, who annoyed the
baggage train somewhat, but were easily driven
back We brought off four more pieces OF artillery
than we took into action. We lost two guns, which
were disabled and spiked and brought away six o.
| the enemy s-thus making clear gain of pieces
Several of the enemys batteries were captured a
some time during the fight but they could not bt
brought away. The guns were dismountcd, the
wheels removed, and leaves and dry wood piled OF
them, and the whole rendered entirely useless.
You have already seen the order Of General Var
+ Dorm, in which he speaks of the behavior of thu
men under fire. Prices veterans acquitted them
selves with the greatest possible credit and McCul
iochs followers, up to the unfortunate hour whe,
he and Mcintosh fell, fought with the most deter
mined resolution. COL Rives, of the Missouri Con
federates and Capt. Churchill Clark, In addition Il
many other officers, are numbered with our gallan
dead Among the wounded on the other side wa
Gen. Curtis himself who received slight wound
Gen. SeigIe was not wounded as at frst reported
Neither Price, Van Dorm, nor the army have sup
posed that they were defeated. On the contrary
the result Of the battle is equivalent to victory TO
boring us, and we'll provided with arms and ammu
milton, has been so crippled that he will be uaabl
to attack us without large reipforcepents wherea
Price and VansDdfn can march when and wher
: they please AT last accounts they were at Va