Arkansas true Democrat., 1862-01-30
From the Richmond Whig. 4 Card from Brigadier-General McCrllnch


 lowing reply, which you will please give g l place in your paper.
 Your correspondent says: With the exception of the battle of Springfield, not q sword has been drawn for the release of Missouri, except by her own sons." On the 4th of July, General Pearce, of Ar kansas, and myself, with all the forces we could command, entered Missouri, marched 10 aid the governor of the State in cutting his way through his enemies, capturing over one hundred of the enemy at Ne0sho, 8 point where we expected to attack Colonel Seigel with his whole command.
 So much for his first assertion.
 He further says, speaking of the battle of Oak Hills: ''The Confederate commander was asked for the assistance of three regi- ments to pursue defeated and diSorganiz- ed foe, when 1000 men and $1,000,000 worth of property were within our reach, but Gen. Price asked in vain.'' Immeli ately after the battle was over, and, in truth, before all my forces had returned from the pursuit of the enemy, orders were issue1 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 am munition. Several of my officers informed me (when they heard that order) thatsome of their men had fired their last cartridge at the enemy, as we had only twenty-five rounds to the man before the battle began, and no more within hundreds of niles. After a conference with Gen Price, 1t was thought best to let we'll enough alone. As to being asked for three regiments, have no recollection of any such request
 So much for his second accusation.
 Now for the third complaint, in which he wishes to convey the idea that l had not, nor could not, aid Missouri with man, q gun, or a percussion cap, and that l would not even protect 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 some six hundred and fifteen muskets. When our forces formed junction at Cassville, Col. Hebert, Of Louisiana, at my request, loaned Missouri officer about one hundred muskets.
 have several times since given the Mis- sourians the last cap l could spare from my own command. Let those officers say how many of their musllets were returned.- General Price, learned recovered ten, whilst Col. Hebert was only able to get 8 portion of those he loaned.
 Besides, 1t is . well known fact, that the arms of our dead and wounded were taken from the battlefield, nor dil we get any of the arms left by the enemy.
 As to the Kansas iaghawkers, and oul inglorious idlenessl Ny mounted men gave protection to the whole country on the borders of the Missouri for one hun dred miles north of the Arkansas lima, from immediately after the battle of Oak Hills, until in October, when Gen Price retreat ed from Lexington to that section of the State.
 50 much for these charges
 It will be remembered that was assign cd to the command of the Indian territory, with orders to defend 1t from invasion from any quarter consequently, my participation in the battle at Oak Hills was upon my own responsibility, with arel;ance of being sustained by my own government.
 AS to my men chafng, like cageI lion, to join the Missourians, ] must say this is new to me- It might be supposed the Louisiana regiment was exceedingly anX- ious to march, exposed to the sun and rain, with men covered with ninety-fve tents taken from themselves by order of . Ms souri general. These tents had the extra clothing of the men rolled in them, and were stored with merchant in Cassyi.le, 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, and not word of them or their contents men toned to me afterwards by any Missourian. If this was not enough to make that gal 1 lant Louisiana regiment chafe like cagcl lion to go 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 of taking : Col Seige's battery, which they did at the point of the bayonet.
 As to the troops from Arkansas, they were likely to z ohafo like caged lion, Y because they were not permitted to go 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 like caged lion,' because they could not have an opportunity of capturing another flag and piece of artillery, to be appropriated by the Missourians, whilst they (the Texans,) were continuing to pursue the enemy
 Perhaps all these gallant men were likely to " "chafe like a caged lion," because they could not march with men who took pos session of every mill and every blacksmith shop in the surrounding country, and at the same time placed guard over every store in Springfield, taking what they con- tained and applying 1t to their own use, thns depriving these men of the chance of getting change of linen, pound of bread stufs, or q horse shod, until after their wants were supplied. I greatly fear the effort of Mir. J, ", Tneker to disparage the gallant soldiers of Louisiana, Arkan- sas and Texas, and to deprive them of their just share of the glory of the battle ct Oak Hills, will add little to the good feeling which every true patriot should de- sire to see prevail among the soldiers of the different States at this time.
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