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Brig.-Gen. Clark was also wounded. His I have the honor to be, with the greatest infantry (200 men) lost, in killed, 17, and respect, your Excellency's obedient servant,

wounded, 71. Col. Burbridge was severely wounded. Capts. Farris and Halleck, and Lieut. Haskins, were killed. Gen. Clark's cavalry, together with the Windsor Guards, were under the command of Lieut.-Col. Major, who did good service. They lost 6 killed and 5 wounded.

Brig.-Gen. McBride's division (605 men) lost 22 killed, 67 severely wounded, and 57 slightly wounded. Col. Foster and Capts. Nichols, Dougherty, Armstrong, and Mings were wounded while gallantly leading their respective commands.

Gen. Parson's brigade, 256 infantry and artillery, under command respectively of Col. Kelly and Capt. Guibor, and 406 cavalry, Col. Brown, lost-the artillery three killed and seven wounded, the infantry nine killed and thirty-eight wounded, the cavalry three killed and two wounded. Col. Kelly was wounded in the hand. Capt. Coleman was mortally wounded, and has since died.

Gen. Rains' division was composed of two brigades-the first under Col. Weightman, embracing infantry, and artillery, 1,306 strong, lost not only their commander, but thirty-four others killed and 111 wounded. The Second brigade, mounted men, Col. Cawthorn commanding, about 1,200 strong, lost twenty-one killed and seventy-five wounded. Col. Cawthorn was himself wounded. Major Charles Rogers, of St. Louis, adjutant of the brigade, was mortally wounded, and died the day after the battle. He was a gallant officer, and at all times vigilant and attentive to his duties, and fearless upon the field of battle.

Your Excellency will perceive that our State forces consisted of only 5,221 officers and men; that of these no less than 156 died upon the field, while 517 were wounded. These facts attest more powerfully than any words can, the severity of the conflict, and the dauntless courage of our brave soldiers.

It is also my painful duty to announce the death of one of my aids, Lieut.-Col. George W. Allen, of Saline County. He was shot down while communicating an order, and we left him buried on the field. I have appointed to the position thus sadly vacated, Capt. James T. Cearnal, in recognition of his gallant conduct and valuable services throughout the battle as a volunteer aid. Another of my staff, Col. Horace H. Brand, was made prisoner by the enemy, but has since been released.

My thanks are due to three of your staffCol. Wm. M. Cook, Col. Richard Gaines, and Col. Thos. L. Snead, for the services which they rendered me as volunteer aids, and also to my aide-de-camp, Col. A. W. Jones.

In conclusion, I beg leave to say to your Excellency, that the army under my command, both officers and men, did their duty nobly, as became men fighting in defence of their homes and their honor, and that they deserve well of the State.

STERLING PRICE,

Major-General, Commanding Missouri State Guard.

J. B. CLARK'S REPORT HEAD-QUARTERS, THIRD DISTRICT M. S. G., August 12, 1861. Maj.-Gen. Sterling Price, Commanding Missouri State Guard:

GENERAL: I have the honor to submit to you the following detailed report of the part taken by the forces under my command in the action with the enemy on the 10th inst., near Springfield, Mo.:

At about 15 or 20 minutes before 6 o'clock A. M., and while at breakfast, one of your aids, Col. Richard Gaines, brought me the intelligence that the enemy were upon us, and orders from you to form my command upon the crest of the hill under which I was encamped, and upon the line that I might then find formed, by other forces, ordered to the same point; my forces consisted of one regiment of infantry, commanded by Col. J. Q. Burbridge, and Major John B. Clark, jr., with 376 men, rank and file, and one battalion of cavalry, commanded by Lieut.-Col. James P. Major, with two hundred and fifty men, rank and file. I immediately despatched one of my staff, Col. R. H. Munson, with orders to Lieut.-Col. Major, (then encamped one mile and a half from me,) to report his command to me as early as possible at head-quarters. I also ordered Col. Burbridge, with whom I was encamped, to form his command instantly into line, which was promptly executed; and hearing cannonading at this time, I determined to move forward with this regiment of infantry to the position designated by your orders, leaving Capt. Jos. Finks, one of my assistant aids, with directions to order Col. Major, when he came up, to follow with his command.

When I had moved forward about three hundred yards from my encampment, I discovered the enemy strongly posted in our front, upon the heights, engaging the command of Brig.Gen. W. Y. Slack, upon whose left my forces of infantry were formed. In a few minutes after Col. Kelly, of Gen. Parsons' command, formed upon my left, and rapidly following came the command of Gen. J. H. McBride, who formed upon the left of Col. Kelly, and commanded a flank movement upon the right of the enemy.

In this position, by your orders, and led in person by yourself, the entire line advanced in the direction of the enemy, under a continuous and heavy fire of artillery and musketry, until we approached within range of our rifle guns, when we returned the fire with such terrific effect as to drive the enemy from his position, and cause him to make a rapid retrograde movement, after having borne up and resisted the steady advance and deadly aim of our riflemen for some thirty or forty minutes. At this

moment, a heavy cannonading was heard immediately in our rear, which seemed to be directed at our line, producing a momentary confusion, and causing a suspension of the pursuit of the enemy until Gen. McCulloch came up, and detached the Louisiana regiment, which had been engaging the enemy on the extreme right, and a portion of my own forces, and employed them against the batteries in our rear.

Gen. Parsons' battery, which had been previously engaged against the enemy, now moved forward in line with our remaining column immediately on our right, upon the left of Gen. Slack. A portion of the Arkansas forces, under the command of Gen. Pearce, also came up and formed on the left of the line.

pecially do I desire to bring before your particular notice the gallant and intrepid manner in which my orders were conveyed by Lieut.Cols. Wm. O. Burton and Samuel Farmington, the former of whom had two, and the latter one horse shot under them, while delivering orders.

Throughout the entire engagement, these officers were distinguished for their bravery and dauntless valor. I desire, also, to make my acknowledgments to Col. J. Q. Burbridge, who was severely wounded while gallantly urging forward his men. I desire, also, to commend to your favorable notice Major John B. Clark, upon whom was devolved the command of the regiment in the latter part of the engagement, and who ably and gallantly led his forces, continuously exposed to the greatest peril, but providentially escaped with a slight wound to himself and horse. I desire, also, to bring before your favorable notice Lieut.-Cols. James P. Major and Hyde, and Major A. H. Chalmers, who, at the head of their respective forces, rendered valuable service under many disadvantages. I desire, especially, to bring to your J. P. Orr, of Paris, Mo., who bore our standard through the heat of the conflict, though badly wounded, and having his colors torn into shreds by the bullets of the enemy. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, JOHN B. CLARK, Brigadier-General, Third District M. S. G. BEN. MCCULLOCH'S DESPATCH.

With this formation you ordered a rapid movement to be made in the direction the enemy retired, and after advancing a short distance we again found him drawn up in great force, who opened again with a brisk fire upon us. We continued to advance until reaching again the range of rifle shot, and then an incessant fire of artillery and small-arms commenced on either side, and was continued for about an hour, when the enemy disengaged, and terror-notice stricken by the number of his dead and wounded heaped around him, together with the fall of his chief and other officers, fled with consternation and confusion in sinall detachments, many of them abandoning their arms and am munition as they fled.

The first battalion of cavalry, at the moment of receiving my orders, were attacked by a detachment of the enemy which had come in upon the rear, and was so hotly pressed that Lieut.-Col. Major was driven to the necessity of having to retire under cover of the wood to form his line. After forming his forces, he marched in the direction he had been ordered, when, I regret to say, large bodies of horsemen, who had been cut off from their companies, rushed through his line, dividing his forces, and leaving the colonel with but one company. I am glad, however, to be able to state that the gallant colonel, aided by Col. C. W. Bell, assistant adjutant-general, and Captain Joseph Finks, one of my assistant aids, succeeded in gathering up some 300 mounted men, who, under his command, attacked the forces in our rear, commanded by Gen. Siegel, capturing 157 prisoners, and killing 64 men; the balance of his forces, under the command of Lieut.-Col. Hyde and Major A. H. Chalmers, succeeded in reaching the line of battle in time to form upon the right of Gen. Slack, where they rendered most prompt and efficient service. For full particulars of the operations of this battalion, I refer you to the report of Lieut.-Col. Major.

In the several engagements referred to, I regret the necessity of enumerating so large a list of killed and wounded, hereinafter stated.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo.,

VIA LITTLE ROCK, ARK., Aug. 12. > HON. L. P. WALKER: The battle of Oakhill has been fought, and we have gained a great victory over the enemy, commanded by Gen. N. Lyon. The battle was fought ten miles from Springfield. The enemy were nine or ten thousand strong; our force was about the same.

The battle lasted six and a half hours.

The enemy were repulsed and driven from the
field, with the loss of six pieces of artillery,
several hundred stands of small-arms, eight
hundred killed, one thousand wounded, and
three hundred prisoners. Gen. Lyon was killed,
and many of their prominent officers. Our loss
was two hundred and sixty-five killed, eight
hundred wounded, and thirty missing.
have possession of Springfield, and the enemy
are in full retreat toward Rolla.

We

BENJ. MCCULLOCH, Brigadier-General Commanding.

BEN. McCULLOCHT'S REPORT.

HEAD-QUARTERS MCCULLOCH'S BRIGADE, CAMP W VEIGHTMAN, near Springfield, Mo., August 12, 1861. Brigadier-General J. Cooper, Adjutant-General, C. S. A. : GENERAL: I have the honor to make the following official report of the battle of the Oak Hills on the 10th inst. Having taken position about ten miles from Springfield, I enes-deavored to gain the necessary information of

Before closing this report of the sanguinary battle of the 10th, I beg leave to make my acknowledgments to my staff; also Cols. Robert Walker and Woodson, my assistant aids;

the strength and position of the enemy, sta- were posted. Far on the right, Siegel had opentioned in and about the town. The information ed his battery upon Churchill's and Greer's was very conflicting and unsatisfactory. I how-regiments, and had gradually made his way to ever made up my mind to attack the enemy in the Springfield road, upon each side of which their position, and issued orders on the 9th inst. the army was encamped, and in a prominent to my force to start at nine o'clock at night to position he established his battery. I at once attack at four different points at daylight. A took two companies of the Louisiana regiment, few days before, General Price, in command of who were nearest me, and marched them rapthe Missouri forces, turned over his command idly from the front and right to the rear, with to me, and I assumed command of the entire order to Col. McIntosh to bring up the rest. force, comprising my own brigade, the brigade When we arrived near the enemy's battery, we of Arkansas State forces, under General Pearce, found that Reid's battery had opened upon it, and General Price's command of Missourians. and it was already in confusion. Advantage My effective force was five thousand three was taken of it, and soon the Louisianians were hundred infantry, fifteen pieces of artillery, and gallantly charging among the guns, and swept six thousand horsemen, armed with flint-lock the cannoneers away. Five guns were here muskets, rifles, and shot-guns. There were taken, and Siegel's command, completely routed, other horsemen with the army, who were en- were in rapid retreat, with a single gun, foltirely unarmed, and instead of being a help lowed by some companies of the Texan regiwere continually in the way. When the timement and a portion of Colonel Major's Missouri arrived for the night march it began to rain slightly, and fearing, from the want of cartridge boxes, that my ammunition would be ruined, I ordered the movement to be stopped, hoping to move the next morning. My men had but twenty-five rounds of cartridge apiece, and there was no more to be had. While still hesitating in the morning the enemy was reported advancing, and I made arrangements to meet him. The attack was made simultaneously at half-past 5 A. M., on our right and left flanks, and the enemy had gained the positions they desired.

General Lyon attacked us on our left and General Siegel on cur right and rear. From these points batteries opened upon us. My command was soon ready. The Missourians under Generals Slack, Clark, McBride, Parsons and Rains, were nearest the position taken by General Lyon with his main force; they were instantly turned to the left and opened the battle with an incessant fire of small-arms. Woodruff opposed his battery to the battery of the enemy under Capt. Totten, and a constant cannonading was kept up between these batteries during the engagement. Hebert's regiment of Louisiana Volunteers, and McIntosh's regiment of Arkansas Mounted Riflemen, were ordered to the front, and after passing the battery, (Totten's,) turned to the left and soon engaged the enemy with the regiments deployed. Col. McIntosh dismounted his regiment and the two marched up abreast to a fence around a large corn-field, where they met the left of the enemy already posted. A terrible conflict of smallarms took place here. The opposing force was a body of regular United States infantry, commanded by Capts. Plummer and Gilbert.

Notwithstanding the galling fire poured on these two regiments, they leaped over the fence, and gallantly led by their colonels, drove the enemy before them, back upon the main body. During this time, the Missourians under General Price were nobly attempting to sustain themselves in the centre, and were hotly engaged on the sides of the height upon which the enemy

cavalry. In the pursuit many of the enemy were killed and taken prisoners, and their last gun captured.

Having cleared our right and rear, it was necessary to turn all our attention to the centre, under Gen. Lyon, who was pressing upon the Missourians, having driven them back. To this point McIntosh's regiment, under Lieut.Col. Embry, and Churchill's regiment on foot, Gratiot's regiment and McRae's battalion were sent to their aid.

The terrible fire of musketry was now kept up along the whole side and top of the hill, upon which the enemy was posted. Masses of infantry fell back and again rushed forward. The summit of the hill was covered with the dead and wounded-both sides were fighting with desperation for the day, Carroll's and Greer's regiments, led gallantly by Capt. Bradfute, charged the battery, but the whole strength of the enemy was immediately in rear, and a deadly fire was opened upon them. At this critical moment, when the fortune of the day seemed to be at the turning point, two regiments of Gen. Pearce's brigade were ordered to march from their position (as reserves) to support the centre. The order was obeyed with alacrity, and Gen. Pearce gallantly rushed with his brigade to the rescue.

Reed's battery was also ordered to move forward, and the Louisiana regiment was again called into action on the left of it. The battle then became general, and probably no two opposing forces ever fought with greater desperation; inch by inch the enemy gave way, and were driven from their position; Totten's battery fell back; Missourians, Arkansians, Louisianians, and Texans pushed forward. The incessant roll of musketry was deafening, and the balls fell as thick as hail stones; but still our gallant Southerners pushed onward, and with one wild yell broke upon the enemy, pushing them back and strewing the ground with their dead. Nothing could withstand the impetuosity of our final charge; the enemy fled and could not again be rallied, and they were seen, at 12 M.,

last retreating among the hills in the distance. | ticular attention to my volunteer aids, Capt. Thus ended the battle. It lasted six hours and a half.

The force of the enemy, between nine and ten thousand, was composed of well-disciplined troops, well armed, and a large part of them belonging to the old army of the United States. With every advantage on their side, they have met with a signal repulse. The loss of the enemy is at least eight hundred killed, one thousand wounded, and three hundred prisonWe captured six pieces of artillery and several hundred stand of small-arms and several of their standards.

ers.

Bledsoe, Messrs. Armstrong, Ben Johnston,
(whose horse was killed under him,) Hamilton
Pike, and Major King. To Major Montgomery,
quartermaster, I am also indebted for much
service as an aid during the battle; he was of
much use to me. To Col. McIntosh, at one
time at the head of his regiment, and at other
times in his capacity of adjutant-general, I
cannot give too much praise. Wherever the
balls flew thickest he was gallantly leading dif-
ferent regiments into action, and his presence
gave confidence everywhere.
I have the honor to be, sir,
Your obedient servant,

BEN MCCULLOCH,
Brigadier-General Commanding.

MISSOURI "DEMOCRAT" NARRATIVE.
SPRINGFIELD, GREEN COUNTY, Mo.,
SUNDAY, August 11, 1861.

Major-General Lyon, chief in command, was killed. Many of the officers, high in rank, were wounded. Our loss was also severe, and we mourn the death of many a gallant officer and soldier. Our killed amount to two hundred and sixty-five, eight hundred wounded, and thirty missing. Col. Weightman fell at the head of his brigade of Missourians, while gal- Night before last, a little army of fifty-two lantly charging upon the enemy. His place hundred men moved in two columns on a will not be easily filled. Generals Slack and march of twelve or fifteen miles, to attack a Clark of Missouri were severely wounded-body of rebels twenty-two thousand strong. Gen. Price slightly. Capt. Hinson of the Louisiana regiment, Capt. McAlexander of Churchill's regiment, Captains Bell and Brown of Pearce's brigade, Lieuts. Walton and Weaver -all fell while nobly and gallantly doing their duty. Col. McIntosh was slightly wounded by a grape-shot, while charging with the Louisi-key of the entire Southwest, had already been ana regiment-Lieut.-Col. Neal, Major H. Ward, Captains King, Pearson, Gibbs, Ramsaur, Porter, Lieutenants Dawson, Chambers, Johnson, King, Adams, Hardista, McIvor, and Saddler, were wounded while at the head of their companies. Where all were doing their duty so gallantly, it is almost unfair to discriminate.

I must, however, bring to your notice, the gallant conduct of the Missouri Generals-McBride, Parsons, Clark, Black, and their officers. To Gen. Price, I am under many obligations for assistance on the battle-field. He was at the head of his force leading them on and sustaining them by his gallant bearing.

In a military point of view the move was one of doubtful propriety, not to say absolute rashness. The larger force were, with the exception of three thousand men, well armed and equipped, and they had a very large body of cavalry. But the question of evacuating Springfield, the

discussed and settled in the negative. It was decided that the loyal citizens of Green and the surrounding counties should not have cause to say we had left them without a struggle, abandoned themselves, their families, their all, to a heartless and desperate foe, until the enemy had felt our steel and tried the mettle of our troops. The mettle proved itself worthy of the great cause in which it was engaged. The Union troops who fought and won the battle of yesterday need no higher mark, no brighter name, than the laurels earned justly entitle them to. They fought like brave men, long and well.

General Siegel, with six pieces of cannon, his own regiment, and that of Colonel Salomon's, moved in a southerly direction, marching about fifteen miles, passing around the extreme southeastern camp of the enemy, and halted until daylight, or for the sound of artillery from the northwest to announce the opening of the battle.

Gen. Pearce with his Arkansas brigade, (Gratiot's, Walker's, and Dockery's regiments of infantry) came gallantly to the rescue when sent for; leading his men into the thickest of the fight, he contributed much to the success of the day. The commanders of regiments of my own brigade, Cols. Churchill, Greer, Embry, McIntosh, Hebert, and McRae led their different regiments into action with great cool-the ness and bravery, and were always in front of their men cheering them on. Woodruff and Reid managed their batteries with great ability, and did much execution. For those officers and men who were particularly conspicuous, I will refer the Department to the reports of the different commanders.

To my personal staff I am much indebted for the coolness and rapidity with which they carried orders about the field, and would call par

General Lyon, with the volunteers composing Missouri First, Lieutenant-Colonel Andrews, Iowa First, Lieutenant-Colonel Merritt, Kansas First, Colonel Dietzler, and Second, Colonel Mitchell, part of the Missouri Second, under Major Osterhaus, and a detachment of twenty men from Colonel Wyman's Illinois regiment, three or four companies of mounted Home Guards, a force of regulars about eight hundred strong, and two batteries of four and six pieces respectively, left Springfield about eight o'clock P. M., marching slowly along until two A. M.,

when we halted for two hours, at which time Captain Gilbert's company of regulars and Major Osterhaus' battalion were thrown out as skirmishers on either side of the column, and we moved forward.

Shortly after five o'clock a party of rebels, acting as a picket, were seen scattering over the hills to give the alarm; but a portion of our column had already penetrated far enough to cut off their route, unless they took a very circuitous one, in which case we should reach camp ahead of them. We soon came in sight of the valley in which they were encamped. A thousand tents, stretching off into the distance, and partially screened from view by a hill jutting into an angle of Wilson's Creek, were before us, presenting as animated appearance as a young city. The enemy's camp extended from the head of the valley, overlooked on the north, east, and west sides by hills and ridges two or three hundred feet in height southward about a mile, thence eastward a mile and a half, and then southward half a mile, following the windings of the creek, along whose banks the gently sloping hills on either side afforded the most excellent camping ground.

Near the northern end of the valley lived John McNary, formerly from Indiana, who, finding the rebels within five miles, on Tuesday last packed up his few worldly goods, took his family, and started for the good old Hoosier State, where it is not a crime to be loyal to the Government under which we live. Not less than twenty or thirty families, living on farms in the vicinity, started about the same time, most of them having little or no idea where they were going, except to escape from the danger which threatened them.

The battle-field viewed by your correspondent, where the most severe fighting was done, was along the ridges and hills on either side (mostly on the west) of the stream for the first mile mentioned above, where the creek runs in a southerly direction.

As we crossed the hill on the north, moving in a southwesterly direction, Captain Wright, with the mounted Home Guards, was sent to the east side so as to cut off a party of rebels seen in that direction. Adjutant Hascock, with a glass, rode to the brow of the hill, where, looking down, he could see every movement of the enemy beneath him. His appearance in full view caused a great hubbub in the rebel camp, which had already been thoroughly aroused by our appearance, and camps and baggage were hastily loaded and moved toward the south. We had completely surprised them. The evidence of that fact was everywhere visible; but they had got quickly into line of battle-their clouds of cavalry were visible, and their twenty-one pieces of cannon were not long silent after ours had opened the engagement.

On the sides of the first ridge on the western side of the valley, Colonel Blair's regiment, at ten minutes after six o'clock, encountered a

| heavy force of infantry, not less than a full regiment, and after a severe contest they gained the summit, and the defeated rebels dispersed rapidly, going in a direction which rendered it impossible for any considerable number of them to again participate in the battle. Totten's battery then threw a few balls as feelers, to draw out the enemy's cannon.

Colonel Blair's regiment moved forward, and were soon met by a well-equipped regiment of Louisiana troops, whom, after a bitter contest of forty-five minutes, they succeeded in routing, though suffering severely themselves. Captain Lathrop's company of rifle recruits now assisted them, and together they, with Major Osterhaus' men, moved up the second hill, which was considerably larger than the first, and, meeting a third regiment, finally succeeded in driving them back with the assistance of Totten's battery, and gaining the summit. In this part of the fight the gallant Missouri volunteers acted bravely; indeed, no words of praise could more than do them justice.

Of course, many acts of valor were performed not witnessed by me; but among those I saw Captain Gratz, leading his men against overwhelming odds, and falling in death just as he had repulsed the foe; Lieutenant Murphy dashing forward ahead of the line, waving his sword high in the air, shouting onward to the almost wavering men, who gained fresh courage from the exhibition, and, pushing forward, drove the enemy from the field. In this fight many of our brave soldiers fell to rise no more; while Colonel Andrews had his horse shot from under him, and was wounded himself slightly. General Lyon suffered in a similar manner. Captains Cavender, Cole, and Yates, each slightly, or at least not dangerously wounded; Lieutenants Brown and Johnson, and Corporals Conant and Rogers, more or less severely wounded.

During this engagement, two companies of regulars were sent to the east side of the creek, to engage a force which was operating against Captain Wright's cavalry, sheltering themselves behind a fence. Captain Plummer and Captain Gilbert, with their companies, marched close up to the fence and delivered an effective fire, but were compelled by great odds to retire, which they did, but again renewed the attack. The enemy, being largely reinforced, and having now at least three thousand men, jumped over into the corn-field, and Captain Plummer's gallant band was imminently threatened with annihilation. They retreated rapidly, firing as they did so, when Lieutenant Dubois, having got his battery under headway on the hill near the Missouri volunteers, seeing the position of affairs on the opposite side of the valley, threw in the most precise manner several shells, which exploded just as they reached the dense mass of secessionists, scattering them lifeless on the ground in scores, while all who could were glad to run for dear life.

The gallant men in Colonel Blair's regiment

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