The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1912-08-08
early in the day, followed by the struggling
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front and Joined their Arkansas and Mis-
souri, comrades engaged with Lyon. Here
the storm of battle ragged necessarily over
and around "Bloody Hill" till about IL
O'Clock. For seven hours there was no
pause in the deadly struggle. Lyon fought
desperately. With Siegel routed and hur-
rying away from the field, he led a forlorn
hope. His horse was shot from under him
on the summit of the fatal hill. He mounted
another horse and started to lead the First
Iowa, that had been rallied for one more
charge. At the head of this decimated
regiment the Union commander fell and the
battle suddenly ended. The remnant of
the invading army followed SiegePs mer-
cenaries back to Springfield, and the VIC
tory of Oak Hills was emblazoned on the
arms of the young and hopeful Confed-
eracy.
That the fighting at Oak Hills was stub
born and deadly is shown by the losses on
both sides. The loss of the Federals was
at least 800 killed, 1000 wounded and 800
prisoners. The Confederate loss was 265
killed, 800 wounded and thirty missing.
The Confederates captured six pieces of
artillery, several hundred stand of small
arms and several battle flags. Gen. Lyon,
known throughout Missouri for his treach
cry and brutality. His unprovoked and
indiscriminate slaughter Of innocent and
helpless women and children in the streets
of St. Louis, without the shadow of ex-
cuse, was an act more becoming a savage
than man claiming to be civilized.
The Union Army stopped few hours at
Springfield and then resumed the retreat
toward St. Louis. At Rolla, Mo-. the de-
moralized communicating that it was
not being pursued by the victorious Con-
federates-was reorganized and remained
there inactive for several months.
Gen. McCulloch buried his dead on the
battlefield and the next day, Sunday,
August nth, he marched into Springfield.
Those were the golden days of the South
ern cause, when the "Rebel Yell" was
proclaiming victory for the proud young
standard Of Dixieland from the Potomac to
the Western frontier
In the Confederate ranks at the Battle OF
Oak Hills and in the camps of Gen. McCul-
loch and Gen. Price were gathered gall
liant host OF Southern patriots. The Lou
isiana troops gave the Confederate Army
| its highest military tone. These splendid
sons Of the Pelican State, who had left
happy and luxurious homes to fight in the
ranks for Southern independence, were
idolized by the Southern ladies of Spring
field.
From the Western frontier of the impe-
rial Lone Star State, where the waters OF
the Rio Grand are musical with thousand
memories of romantic adventure, the dar-
ing Texas Ranger had ridden all the way
across the vast intervening plain to partic-
ipate in the glorious achievement of driv-
ing back the Northern invader.
The loss of the Third Louisiana Regi-
ment at Oak Hills was nine killed, forty
seven wounded and three missing. The
casualties of Company F-Shreveport Ran
gers-Capt. William Kinney commanding.
was: Killed-privates James Allen, j. S
Bromwell and John S. Brown. Died Of
wounds-E. M. Attaway, j. Coon, j. Don
ahue, Fourth Corporal H. Hicox and B. L.
Simpson. Wounded-T. c.. Bickham, j. H
Basser, F. A. Davis, Sergeant Ben Davis
j. w. Hecox and S. J. Manning. Cap.
tured-W. A. Shelton.
Col. Hebert was taken prisoner at the
Battle of Elk Horn (Pea Ridge) Ark, May
Z, 1862; was promoted brigadier general
and served in the Army of Tennessee ane
| olSoWncFc uulll Lu0 SuFFcuuef. I10 ulcu d.
Breaux Bridge about eight or ten years
ago. Capt. Jerome B. Gilmore, the frs
captain of the Shreveport Rangers, was
promoted colonel of the Third Louisiana
and was wounded at the Battle of Iuka
Miss, September 10, 1862. He died il
Shreveport about twelve years ago. The
last survivor of the Shreveport Rangers
Capt. William Kinney-died in Shreveport
about eight years ago.
1.-The thin gray line" of the glorious ole
Third Louisiana is nearly depleted. Among
its gallant and highly honored survivors
are three Past Commanders of the Lousi
ana Division of United Confederate Vet
erans-Major Generals j. A. Prudhomm'
of Bermuda, Natchitoches Parish; W. H
Tunnard of Shreveport, and A. B. Bootl
of New Orleans. Full of years and honors
may they long be spared to their comrade
and country!