Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-01-23
= CARD FROM BREGADIER-GENE-
BAL MCCULLOUGH.

4 CARD FROM ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
BAL McDUELOCH.
From the Richmond Wing
In your issue of yesterday there is a commu-
~nication signed j.. ". Tucker, in answer to
which l think proper to make the following re-
ply, which you win please give a place in your
paper.
Your correspondent says: " With the excep-
ton of the battle Of Springfield, not a sword has
been drawn for the release of Missouri, except
by her W sons" On the 4th of July, General
Pearce, OF Arkansas, and myself, with all the
forces we could command, entered Missouri,
marched to aid the governor of the State in cut
ting his way through his enemies, capturing over
one hundred of the enemy at Necsho, a point
where We expected to attack Colonel Sigel with
his whole command.
So much for his irst assertion.
He further says, speaking Of the battle Of Oak
Hills: "The Confederate commander was asked
Tor the assistance of three regiments to pursue a
defeated and disorganized foe, when 200 men
and 81 100000 worth Of property were within
our reach, but Gen. Price asked in vain" I'm
mediately after the battle was over, and, in truth,
before all my forces had returned from the pur-
suit Of the enemy, orders were issued for the
wounded to be brought from the battle field,
the dead to be buried, and the army to be ready
to march after the enemy that night.
We did not march, for the want of ammuni-
ton. Several of my officers informed me (when
they heard the Order) that some Of their men had
fred their last cartridge at the enemy, as we
had only twenty-five ounds to the man before
the battle began, and no more within hundreds
of miles. After a conference with Gen. Price. it
was thought best to let well enough alone. As
TO being asked for three regiments, l have no re-
collection of any such request.
So much for mis- second accusation.
Now for the third complaint, in which he
wishes to convey the idea Chat | had not, nor
could not, aid Missouri with a man, a gun, or q
percussion cap, and that | would not even pro-
tect Missouri from the Kansas jayhawkers.
At the time Gen. Pearce, of Arkansas. and
myself first entered Missouri, on the 4th of July,
we loaned Gen. Price som six hundred and if
teen muskets When our forces formed a iunc-
ton at Cassyille, Col. Hebert, Of Louisiana, at
my request, loaned a Missouri officer about one
hundred muskets.
| have several times since given the Nilsson
mans the last cap | could spare from my own
command. Let those officers say how many of
their musket5 were returned. General Price, I
learned, recovered ten, whilst Col. Hebert was
only able to get a portion Of those he loaned.
Besides, it IS a vel known fact, that the srms
of our dead and rounded were taken from the
battlefield, nor did we get any Of the arms left
by the enemy.
As to the Kansas jayhawkers, aud our inglo-
rious idleness My mounted men gave protec-
ton to the whole country ON the borders of the
Missouri for one hundred miles north OF the
Arkansas line, from immediately after the battle
OF Oak Hill, until in October, when Gen. Price
retreated from Lexington to that section Of the
State.
So much for these charges.
1t will be remembered that l was assigned to
{ tha rnpov,aud nf fbo Tud5ar. far~f~,rv xrfFb 3D.,
TO defend it from invasion from any quarter
consequently, my participation in the battle at
Oak Hill was upon my own responsibility, with
a reliance of being sustained by my own gov
eminent.
As to my men chatting, ike a Gagged lion. to
join the MissoUTIans, | must say this Is new to
me. 1t might be supposed the Louisiana regi-
ment was exceedingly anxious to march, ex-
posed to the sun and rain, with men covered
with ninety-hve tents taken from themselves by
order of a Missouri g neral These tents had
the extra clothing of the men rolled in them, and
were stored with a merchant ia Cassville, at the
time we marched upon Springfield, and were
taken out OF his possession by order Of Brigadier-
Gen. Parsons, conveyed on the same road with
that regiment, aud not a word Of them or their
contents mentioned TO me afterwards by any
I Mi5sourian. If this was not enough to make
that gallant Louisiana regiment ohate like a
Gagged lion to 90 with Gen. Price, they only had
to refer to his official report Of the battle Of Oak
Hills, to see how completely they have been
deprived Of the glory CT taking Col. S.gel's bat
terry, which they did at the point of the bayonet.
As to the troops from Arkansas, they were
likely to chafe ike a Gagged lion,' because they
were not permitted to 60 with their country
rifles and shot guns, and see how they handled
the muskets they had borrowed and would not
return.
Then there are the Texans They chafed
Ike a Gagged lion, !" because they could not have
an opportunity ofcaptuIing another flag and
piece Of artillery, to be appropriated by the Mis-
sourians, whilst they (the Texans,) were con-
tinuing to pursue the enemy.
Perhaps all these gallant men were likely to
+" ehafe Ike a Gagged lion,7 because they could
not march with men hotook possession of every
mill and every blacksmith shop in the surround
ing country, and at the same time placed a guard
over every store in Springfield. taking what they
contained and applying it to their own use, thus.
d~epriVing these men of the chance Of getting a
change of linen, a pound of bTeadstuil5, or a
horse shod, until after their wants were sup
Piled. 1 greatly fear the effort Of Mr.. J. W.
Tucker to dispaTage the gallant soldiers OF Lou
isiaua, Arkansas and Texas. and to dep i've them
of their just share of the glory Of the battle at
Oak Hills, viii add little to the good feeling
which every true patriot should desire to see
prevail among the sold ers of the different States
at this time.
1 have not thought proper heretofore to notice
any Of the Misrepresentation going the rounds
of the newspapers. First, because they had no
responsible indcrser, and secondly, because l
hoped for the sake of harmony in a common
cause, that there should be 10 war Of words
among ourselves, when the enemy were to be
met with the sword.
This hope has failed, and 1 am compelled to
notice this publication lest my silence be con-
strued as an admission Of the truth of Mr.. Tuck
er's statements-it being well known that was
in Richmond at the time his communication
was published. In conclusion, permit me to
warn my countrymen, and to beg Of them not
to put too much reliance in sensation articles,
written and published for effect Up TO the
present time, the country knows little Of what
has been done in Missouri.
Ihave.he honor to be your ob't. serv't..
BEN. MCCULLOUGH.
RICHMOND, Jan. II, 1862.