PROMINENT REGIMENTS AND OTHER SUBORDINATE COMMANDS ENGAGED IN THE BATTLE.
_Confederate Commands._—The 3d Louisiana Infantry—1st Arkansas Mounted
Rifles—2d Arkansas Mounted Rifles—McRea’s Arkansas Battalion—3d
Arkansas Infantry—4th Arkansas Infantry—6th Arkansas Infantry—1st
Arkansas Cavalry. _Federal Commands._—The 1st Iowa Infantry—1st
Missouri Infantry—1st Kansas Infantry—2d Kansas Infantry—Totten’s
Battery—Dubois’ Battery—Steele’s Battalion—Plummer’s Battalion—The
Home Guards.
The particular part taken in the battle of Wilson’s creek by some of the
leading regiments of each side may be of interest, and is here
described, the facts being obtained from actual participants—the
commanding officers when possible.
CONFEDERATE COMMANDS.
THIRD LOUISIANA INFANTRY.
A considerable portion of the services of this regiment have already
been narrated. Aroused by Gen. McCulloch himself, the colonel of the
regiment, Louis Hebert, formed the 3d Louisiana and followed the road to
Springfield, a short distance to a narrow by-road running north and
leading to Ray’s corn-field, then held by Plummer’s regulars. In front
of the corn-field was a dense thicket, through which the regiment
advanced, and here it instantly became engaged. At the first fire
Sergeant Major Renwick, of the regiment, and Private Placide Bossier, of
the “Pelican Rangers No. 1,” of Natchitoches, were killed.
The 3d Louisiana jumped the fence, charged, and soon drove Plummer’s men
from the corn-field. Still advancing, they reached an oat field, and
here Dubois’ battery opened on them, as did some of the Federal
infantry, and the regiment was driven back in some confusion. Col.
Hebert ordered it to fall back to the woods higher to the right, but the
regiment became separated, and the greater portion—the right wing and
some of the left—were formed outside of the field by Lieut. Col. S. M.
Hyams, and, by orders of Gen. McCulloch, went down the creek valley to
attack Sigel. Col. Hebert succeeded in forming two companies into a
detachment of about 100 men and marched in an opposite direction, toward
the force under Gen. Lyon. Col. Hebert advanced within about 500 yards
of Totten’s battery, where he remained in front of the Federal line for
nearly half an hour under a severe fire, when the detachment was forced
to retire. Again it formed and then marched down and joined the right
wing under Lt.-Col. Hyams, which had just returned from defeating Sigel.
The entire regiment then moved against the Federal position on Bloody
Hill.
The companies led by Lieut. Col. Hyams against Sigel were the “Pelican
Rifles,” Capt. John P. Vigilini; the “Eberville Grays,” Lieut. Verbois;
the “Morehouse Guards,” Capt. Hinson; the “Pelican Rangers No. 1,” Capt.
Breazeale; the “Pelican Rangers No. 2,” Capt. Blair; the “Winn Rifles,”
Capt. Pierson; the “Morehouse Fencibles,” Capt. Harris; the “Shreveport
Rangers,” Capt. Gilmore; a few of the “Monticello Rifles,” under
Sergeant Walcott, and a detachment of Missourians, 75 in number,
commanded by a Capt. Johnson. The regiment was conducted across the ford
of Wilson’s creek and down the valley in front of Sigel’s position by
Col. James McIntosh.
Arriving in front of Sigel’s battery, the regiment formed, and by order
of Lieut. Col. Hyams advanced up the steep hill to the charge. Near the
brow of the hill Lieut. Lacey, of the “Shreveport Rangers,” sprang on a
log, waved his sword, and called out to his company, “Come on, Caddo!”
Shreveport is in the parish of Caddo, Louisiana. The whole command
rushed forward, carried the position, captured the guns, and drove the
already panic-stricken Federal Germans in terror from the field. The
captured cannon were rolled down the hill, and one piece, with its
horses, was taken to the main command.
The “Pelican Rifles” and the “Iberville Grays” were under command of
Capt. Vigilini, of the former company. When within thirty or forty yards
of Sigel’s battery, Gen. McCulloch being in person with the 3d
Louisiana, a Federal soldier appeared in plain view on the hill. Gen.
McCulloch himself called out, “What troops are those?” The man replied,
“Sigel’s regiment,” at the same time raising his rifle to shoot the
general; but Corporal Henry Gentles, of Vigilini’s company, had his
Mississippi rifle in position and shot the Federal dead in an instant,
thus saving Gen. McCulloch’s life.
In the assault on Sigel Capt. Hinson and his brother-in-law, Private
Whetstone, both of the “Morehouse Guards,” were killed, it is said, by
the same shot. Among the members of the regiment who distinguished
themselves were Color-bearer Felix Chaler, Corporal Hicock (killed),
Drum-Major Patterson, Orderly Sergeant Alphonse Prudhomme, Private I. P.
Hyams, Corporal Gentles, and Sergt. W. H. Tunnard. The regiment was
especially complimented by Gen. McCulloch in his official report.
The 3d Louisiana lost in killed one commissioned officer, one
non-commissioned officer and seven privates; total killed nine; wounded,
three commissioned officers, six non-commissioned officers and
thirty-nine privates; total wounded, forty-eight; missing, three
privates. Total casualties, sixty.
FIRST ARKANSAS MOUNTED RIFLES.
The 1st Arkansas Mounted rifles was at the time of the battle of
Wilson’s creek in the Confederate service, and was commanded by Col. T.
J. Churchill. It belonged to McCulloch’s division and was encamped at
the lower end of the Confederate position. At about breakfast time
Sigel’s battery and his infantry opened on the regiment, which lay in an
open field. Being exposed to a raking fire from cannon and musketry, the
regiment fell back into the woods on the north, and there formed under
direction of Col. Churchill himself, who, as soon as his alignment had
been made, moved down on the wire road in the direction of Springfield.
Having reached the little valley of Wilson’s creek, Col. Churchill was
met by an aid de camp of Gen. Price, asking for a reinforcement to go to
the assistance of Gen. Slack, then being hard pressed. Col. Churchill
immediately moved his regiment rapidly forward, under a heavy fire, took
position on Gen. Slack’s left, and ordered his men to commence firing.
Here the 1st Arkansas fought for about four hours, being in front of
Totten’s battery and the 1st Iowa the greater portion of the time. At
times it would advance, then fall back, but its conduct was most
admirable, there being but little if any straggling or disorder. It
continued to fight until the Federals retreated from the field.
During the engagement Col. Churchill had two horses shot under him. The
lieutenant colonel, Matlock, and the major, Harper, of the regiment
evinced great bravery and gallantry. Adjutant James Harper, Capt. M. E.
Alexander, and Lieuts. Dawson, Chambers, and Johnson were killed; Capts.
Ramsaur and Porter, and Lieuts. King, Raney, Adams, Hardester and McIvor
were severely wounded, and Capts. Pearson and Gibbs and Lieuts. Saddler,
Wair and Head were slightly wounded. The 1st Arkansas suffered more than
any other regiment of Southern troops engaged in the battle. Its loss
was forty-two killed and one hundred and fifty-five wounded.
In acknowledgment of the conspicuous services rendered by the 1st
Arkansas to his army, Gen. Price, a few days after the battle caused the
following letter to be sent to Col. Churchill:—
Headquarters Missouri State Guard,
Springfield, Mo., Aug. 15, 1861.
Colonel:—I am directed by Maj.-Gen. Price to thank you, in the name of
this army and of the State of Missouri, for the very important
services which you and your fine regiment of Mounted Riflemen have
rendered during the campaign in this State, and do particularly
acknowledge, in the most grateful manner, the eager bravery with which
your men met the enemy on the 10th inst.—the constancy with which they
fought, and the spirit with which they rushed upon and drove back his
disciplined soldiers. Your own gallantry and skill were so conspicuous
on that memorable day that every Missourian will always cherish the
remembrance of you with pride and gratitude.
I have the honor to be, Colonel,
Your obedient servant,
Thos. L. Snead,
Acting Adjt. Gen.
Col. Thos. J. Churchill, 1st Regt. Ark. Mounted Rifles.
SECOND ARKANSAS MOUNTED RIFLES.
This regiment was led by its commander, Col. James McIntosh, into the
battle, and took part with the 3d Louisiana in the fight with Plummer’s
regulars, in Ray’s cornfield, early in the morning. When first attacked
it was at breakfast, but, instead of retreating in confusion, rallied at
the call of the bugle, mounted, and was marched by Lieut. Col. Benj. T.
Embry to the timber on the east side of Wilson’s Creek, north of
Woodruff’s battery. Here it dismounted and stripped for the fight, and
Col. McIntosh then appeared and took it into the engagement.
After the fight in Ray’s cornfield, Col. McIntosh was sent for by Gen.
McCulloch, and Lieut. Col. Embry took command of the 2d Arkansas. The
regiment moved across the creek to the west and became engaged with
Lyon’s men on Bloody Hill. At one time it repulsed a desperate charge,
losing heavily in so doing, however. After this, under Col. Embry, the
regiment fell back to the creek and rested a short time, preparing to
receive a cavalry charge, which it was expected would be made. It then
moved up the hill again, but did not become engaged, and soon after the
Federals retreated.
The loss of the 2d Arkansas was, in killed, one non-commissioned officer
and 9 privates; total, 10. Wounded, one captain, two second lieutenants,
eight non-commissioned officers, and 33 privates; total 44. Total
casualties, 54.
M’RAE’S ARKANSAS BATTALION.
Upon the opening of the battle in good earnest, or about 6 A. M., this
battalion, led by its commander, Lieut. Col. D. H. McRae, moved up the
wire road toward Springfield, and formed to the left of the 3d
Louisiana, and in front of Woodruff’s battery. In a short time, by Gen.
McCulloch’s orders, it countermarched and moved off across the valley
toward the southwest to take and hold an eminence in that quarter
threatened by Sigel’s men. While on its way the battalion was broken up
by a large body of mounted Missourians, who, panic-stricken and
demoralized, were riding rapidly away from Totten’s battery and the
Federals on Bloody Hill. These mounted warriors rode wildly through the
battalion, threatening to trample down the men and forcing them to
scatter to save themselves. Col. McRae was able to take but one entire
company and a few files of another into the fight proper.
On arriving at the summit of the hill the battalion was fired on by a
battery reported as being Bledsoe’s, of the Missouri troops, but in
reality was Sigel’s. Thick brush intervening, Col. McRae was unable to
distinguish for himself, but at last charged at a “trail arms.” Within
twenty paces of the Fayetteville road a body of men were observed moving
rapidly away, and these were fired on. Here Col. McRae halted and formed
his men so as to sweep the road. In a short time another body came up,
and being dressed like the Confederates, and some of them calling out,
“We are from the South,” deceived Col. McRae until nearly all of them
had passed, when he opened fire on their rear. He then led his men to
the hill where Sigel’s battery had been captured, and here he found the
three companies of the battalion that had been cut off by the Missouri
horsemen. The united battalion then marched to the Fayetteville road to
the north, it having been reported that the Federals were reforming
there, but this report was found to be untrue, and Col. McRae returned
to camp.
The loss of the battalion was two men killed, one mortally wounded, one
severely wounded, and five slightly wounded.
THIRD ARKANSAS INFANTRY.
This regiment was commanded by Col. John R. Gratiot, and belonged to the
Arkansas State troops, Gen. Pearce’s division. Its lieutenant-colonel,
David Provence, and its major, Ward, were present at the battle.
In the first part of the action the regiment was moved to the support of
Woodruff’s battery, and here it remained for some hours under a heavy
fire of shot and shell. At about 11 o’clock Gen. Pearce ordered the
regiment to cross the creek and move to the help of Price’s division.
Col. Gratiot marched the men over the stream and up the ridge by a flank
movement and in column of fours. When near the Federal position the line
was fronted and faced the enemy, and moved forward, but just then a
heavy fire was opened in front, two guns of Totten’s battery turned
loose on the regiment with grape, and canister and shell, and so
terrific was the ordeal, that the regiment was obliged to lie down and
return the fire in that position. This was the last fight of Lyon’s men,
and they kept it up only about thirty minutes, when they retreated. The
3d Arkansas remained on the field in position long after the firing had
ceased.
After Maj. Sturgis had retreated with the remnant of Lyon’s division
from Bloody Hill, it was feared that he would cross the creek, move
round to the east and come upon Woodruff’s battery, still in position on
the ground it had occupied during the day. Col. Gratiot’s regiment was
again ordered to the support of this battery, and here it remained until
ordered into camp by Gen. McCulloch.
The regiment suffered most during the thirty minutes it was engaged with
the Federal infantry (Second Kansas and part of First Iowa), and
Totten’s battery on Bloody Hill, but it stood well and gave back blow
for blow. Capts. Brown and Bell were killed and about twenty-five other
brave men and true met their fate in this battle.
Capt. Woodruff’s battery, the “Pulaski artillery,” was attached to the
Third Arkansas during the battle. This battery did more execution and
service than any other Confederate battery that took part in the
engagement. The damage it inflicted on the enemy was prodigious.
Officers and men behaved with great coolness, courage and judgment.
The casualties in the Third Arkansas and Woodruff’s battery
were:—killed, twenty-five; wounded, eighty-four; missing, one; total,
one hundred and ten.
FOURTH ARKANSAS INFANTRY.
The Fourth Arkansas infantry on the morning of the battle was placed
under Adjutant-General Rector, who remained in command during the day.
The regiment was not brought into immediate action, being stationed on
the hill for the protection of Reid’s battery, and, although exposed to
the trial of having to submit to a severe fire from the enemy, which it
was unable to return, all the officers and men behaved with great
coolness during the day. There were none killed or wounded in this
regiment. [The colonel of the First Arkansas, J. D. Walker, is at
present (1883) one of the United States Senators from Arkansas.]
FIFTH ARKANSAS INFANTRY.
This, another regiment of Gen. Pearce’s division, was commanded by Col.
Tom P. Dockery, and for about two hours after the battle commenced was
posted on the height southeast of McCulloch’s encampment, and occupied a
hill east of Wilson’s creek as a guard for Reid’s battery.
When the Third Louisiana and Third Arkansas moved up against the
Federals on Bloody Hill Col. Dockery sent to their support Capts.
Titsworth’s, Dismuke’s, Neal’s, Dowd’s, Whaling’s and Lawrence’s
companies, all under Lieut. Col. Neal. While gallantly leading his men
Col. Neal fell severely wounded, and Col. Dockery then assumed command.
Only the companies named were actively engaged against the enemy on
Bloody Hill, the companies of Capts. Hartzig, Arnold, McKeon and
Hutchinson having been detailed to serve as skirmishers at one time
after Reid’s battery had changed position. The Fifth Arkansas did its
duty well in this battle, and its conduct was commented on by Gen.
Pearce in the warmest terms. It never wavered or showed the least sign
of demoralization. The loss of the regiment was three killed and eleven
wounded.
FIRST ARKANSAS CAVALRY.
Mention has already been made of the services performed by this
regiment. For a while it supported the Missourians of Price’s division;
then it charged by the flank on Totten’s battery; then charged again on
the position held by the Second Kansas, and all the time during the
engagement was under fire. While thousands of other cavalry were
demoralized and fleeing hither and thither, the First Arkansas kept on
the field and sought more than once to charge as cavalry over ground
almost Alpine in character—rugged, rough, precipitous and broken. Its
commander, Col. DeRosey Carroll, was complimented more than once for the
gallant conduct shown by himself and his regiment.
The loss of the First Arkansas cavalry was five killed; two mortally
wounded; twenty-six severely wounded, and nineteen missing, as follows:—
Capt. Lewis’ company—two killed, two mortally and five severely wounded.
Capt. Park’s company—one killed, three wounded, one missing.
Capt. Walker’s company—four wounded, including Capt. Walker himself, and
three missing.
Capt. Withers’ company—two killed, four wounded, two missing.
Capt. Perkins’ company—four wounded, four missing.
Capt. Kelly’s company—one missing.
Capt. Armstrong’s company—one wounded, eight missing.
FEDERAL COMMANDS.
THE FIRST IOWA INFANTRY.
The 1st Iowa Infantry was a three months regiment whose time had expired
several days before the battle, but it had remained on duty with Lyon to
aid him in his emergency. At the time of the fight its colonel, J. F.
Bates, lay sick in Springfield, and Lieut. Col. Wm. H. Merritt, led the
regiment. As has been stated the 1st Iowa was in Lyon’s column. At the
beginning of the fight it was in the reserve, but advanced when the 1st
Kansas gave way and received the first fire of the enemy while in a
state of some confusion, the result of the retreat of the Kansans
through the Iowa’s ranks. The regiment fired on a body of Confederate
cavalry advancing to charge Totten’s battery, and dispersed it, or drove
it back. Soon after the regiment became engaged generally, and bore its
full share of the conflict.
Four companies of the 1st Iowa, and a company of regular infantry under
Capt. Lothrop, supported Totten’s battery at the close of the engagement
and covered the retreat, receiving and returning the last fire of the
enemy. The regiment lost 13 killed (including Capt. A. L. Mason) 138
wounded and 4 missing. Total 155.
FIRST MISSOURI INFANTRY.
The 1st Missouri Infantry was led into the battle of Wilson’s Creek by
its lieutenant colonel, George L. Andrews, its colonel, Frank P. Blair,
being in his seat in Congress at the time. When Gen. Lyon’s column had
reached the immediate proximity of Rains’ division, the regiment was
brought forward to the head of the column and directed to march parallel
with the advance—Gilbert’s regulars—and about 60 yards distant to the
right. In a few moments orders were received to throw one company
forward as skirmishers, and Company H, Capt. Yates, was sent forward,
followed by the regiment in column of companies.
It is claimed that the action was begun by shots from Capt. Yates’
skirmishers. At any rate, soon after they opened fire Company B was sent
up as a reinforcement, and the regiment wheeled into line and
immediately became engaged, at first returning a fire directed against
its left flank. Very soon after Woodruff’s and Guibor’s batteries opened
on the Federal position and their shells fell uncomfortably plenty among
the 1st Missouri. One or two of the shells which did not explode were
examined and pronounced to be those furnished Sigel’s batteries, leading
to the conclusion that Sigel was firing by mistake against Lyon’s
column.
The regiment stood well in line and fought bravely. Capt. Nelson Cole
was severely wounded in the jaw, but remained on the field, and, though
unable to speak, from the nature of his wound, he continued to encourage
his men by signs to stand their ground. Capt. Cary Gratz, of St. Louis,
a native of Lexington, Ky., while advancing at the head of his company,
discovered a body of Confederates advancing, led on by a mounted
officer. Capt. Gratz fired with his revolver and the Confederate officer
fell from his horse, but rose and rushed toward his lines, when the
captain fired again and the other officer pitched headlong to the
ground. Almost immediately Capt. Gratz fell dead, being pierced by four
or five shots.
Capt. John S. Cavender, with his company, G, was in an advanced position
and several times prevented the left flank from being turned. Col.
Andrews, while with the left wing was severely wounded, but he procured
a big drink of whiskey, and soon returned to his post. In a few minutes
his horse was killed and fell upon him. Going to Dubois’ battery during
a lull in the fighting, Col. Andrews was sent to the rear by Surgeon P.
M. Carnyn.
The Confederates now pressed the 1st Missouri so vigorously that the
regiment in all probability would have given way had not Maj. Schofield
and Gen. Lyon opportunely brought up the 1st Iowa and Maj. Osterhaus
(assisted by Lieut. David Murphy, of the 1st Missouri) come forward with
his battalion of the 2d Missouri Infantry. The regiment then remained on
the field and did nobly during the remainder of the engagement, and when
ordered to fall back with the main column and leave the field it did so
in good order.
Out of 27 officers who went into the fight, 13 were either killed or
wounded. Capt. Madison Miller discovered a movement of the Confederate
cavalry to his rear and stopped it by the stout fight he made with his
company, assisted by the artillery. Capt. Cavender, though severely
wounded, refused to leave his post, mounted his horse and remained until
completely exhausted. Surgeon Carnyn, on more than one occasion, took up
a musket and fought in the ranks. Lieut. David Murphy, although severely
wounded in the leg, went to the rear and assisted in bringing up
Osterhaus’ battalion of the 2d Missouri. Adjt. Hiscock and other
officers bore themselves so well that they received especial mention.
Among the men Corporal Kane, of Company K, when the color sergeant was
killed and nearly all the color guard either killed or wounded, brought
the colors safely off the field. Sergt. Chas. M. Callahan, Company K,
Sergt. Chris. Conrad, of Company G, and Private Elworthy, of Company F,
were noted for their valuable services and for their coolness and
bravery. The part borne by the 1st Missouri may be imagined when it is
remembered that its loss was 76 men killed, 208 wounded and 11 missing.
FIRST KANSAS INFANTRY.
On coming upon the battle field in the early morning, the 1st Kansas
Infantry—led by its colonel, Geo. W. Deitzler, and its major, John A.
Halderman—was posted in the rear of the 1st Missouri and 1st Iowa. Very
soon Gen. Rains’ skirmishers or outposts were driven in, Totten’s
battery took position and opened fire, while the 1st Missouri was sent
up and soon became engaged.
At this time, under an order from Gen. Lyon, the 1st Kansas moved to the
front in “double quick,” while the right wing and one company from the
left, under command respectively of Capts. Chenoweth, Walker, Swift,
Zesch, McFarland, and Lieut. McGonigle—all under Col. Deitzler—advanced
to a position beyond that occupied by the 1st Missouri, and here,
forming in the very face of the enemy, engaged the Confederates and held
their ground steadfastly under an uninterrupted and murderous fire of
artillery and infantry.
The four remaining companies of Capts. Clayton, Roberts, Stockton, and
Lieut. Angell, under Maj. Halderman, having been posted on the right of
Totten’s battery as support, where they suffered severely from a
constant fire, were now brought up by Maj. Halderman, who called out,
“Forward boys, for Kansas and the old flag!” Aligning with remarkable
coolness upon the remnant of the six right companies the four left
companies settled down to work. With but slight and immaterial changes
of position the 1st Kansas occupied this ground for over two hours,
holding its ground and dealing and receiving severe punishment.
While thus engaged, Capt. Chenoweth, Capt. Clayton and a portion of
Capt. McFarland’s company under Lieut. Malone, were ordered to charge
the enemy with their commands, which order they executed and drove back
the Confederates a considerable distance, although soon after they were
themselves compelled to retire. While leading this charge Col. Deitzler
had his horse killed under him, and was himself severely wounded. The
command then devolved on Maj. Halderman. The regiment now had a very
exposed position, lying in plain view, obliquely across a ridge, but,
though it suffered severely, it bore itself well.
When the 2d Kansas fell back the 1st formed on its left, three companies
remaining on the brow of the hill, and on the right of the battery.
After the severe volley firing had ceased for a few minutes—the
Confederates having retired—it was recommenced by them again as they
advanced, and kept up for nearly a quarter of an hour, when the whole
Federal line, apparently, opened on them and they again retired down the
hill. After this Maj. Sturgis ordered the retreat.
With scarcely any material change of its position the 1st Kansas stood
under fire and returned it, maintained every ground assigned it, without
turning its back on the foe, for the five long hours during which the
battle raged. Its loss was the heaviest in killed of the Federal
regiments engaged—77, one more than the 1st Missouri. It had 187 men
wounded and 20 missing; total, 284. It went into action with nearly 800
men, and left the field in good order with about 500.
THE SECOND KANSAS INFANTRY.
This regiment, as stated in the general description of the battle, was
at first stationed in reserve on a hill on the right of and overlooking
Ray’s cornfield, where Plummer’s battalion fought. After Plummer had
been driven back and the pursuing Confederates checked by Dubois’
battery, Lieut-Col. Chas. W. Blair, of the 2d Kansas, rode to Gen. Lyon
and requested that the regiment be given a place in the front. Gen. Lyon
gave the order and Col. Mitchell brought the regiment forward, in time
to take part in the last grand charge. Prior to this, and early in the
action, before the regiment, as a regiment, was fairly under fire, a
force of Missouri cavalry (presumably of Rains’ division) attempted a
flank movement, and Maj. W. F. Cloud, of the 2d, taking Capt. McClure’s
company and deploying it, drove them back after a few volleys.
As the regiment went up to the forefront, Gen. Lyon put himself at its
head and assisted the field officers in bringing it into action. Just as
the regiment raised the crest of the hill, and while it was still in
column, a terrific fire was opened on it, and it was under this fire
that Gen. Lyon fell dead and Col. Mitchell was severely wounded. Gen.
Lyon was leading the 2d when he was killed. After Col. Mitchell was
wounded, command of the regiment was assumed by Lieut-Col. Blair and
Maj. Cloud, who threw the men into line, and after a hard fight of
fifteen minutes the Confederates were driven down the hill, and a lull
in the conflict resulted.
About this time Capt. Powell Clayton’s company, of the 1st Kansas, was
attached to the left of the 2d, and the companies of Capts. Roberts,
Walker and Zesch, also of the 1st, were formed on the right. On the
right of this position a ravine stretched down to the enemy, and up this
ravine the Confederates (of John B. Clark’s division) attempted to flank
Col. Blair. Some men sent down it from Capt. Cracklin’s company did not
return, and then Col. Blair himself rode out to see what was the matter.
He had not gone twenty yards when he “found what darkened de hole!” A
sharp fire was opened on him and his horse killed, but the colonel
himself was unhurt, and mounting a horse brought him by his orderly,
Alex. H. Lamb, he was soon again directing the movements of his men.
Meantime, aware of the danger in front, Maj. Cloud had gone back to
Sturgis for reinforcements and obtained two guns of Totten’s battery,
under Lieut. Sokalski. These came up in good time. As they stopped,
Capt. Chenoweth, of the 1st Kansas, rode out to the head of the ravine,
and saw the Confederates coming up it in considerable numbers. Cloud and
Sokalski got the guns in position and opened on the ravine. As the
Confederates approached nearer Col. Blair ordered the men to lie down
and load and fire in that position and to be careful of their
ammunition. Here the men received a most terrific fire, which they
seemed to relish. Artillery and musketry were playing on them, but the
shot and shell went too high and only the grape, the muskets, and the
rifles of the enemy did execution. Yet not a man broke ranks or left his
place in the line. At last the Confederates fell back or slackened their
fire and the artillery limbered up and retired to the rear to join in
the general retreat, which bad been ordered some minutes before.
Maj. Sturgis, on assuming command after Lyon had fallen, sent Col. Blair
word to retreat as soon as he could do so with safety, and after the
Confederates had fallen back the last time he did so. The men were
brought off in good order and in slow time, without a panic or
confusion. After crossing the first ravine in the rear the line was
reformed and marched by the right flank to the main command and off the
battle field.
The loss of the 2d Kansas in the battle was 5 killed, 59 wounded, and 6
missing—total, 70. Both officers and men behaved splendidly. When Col.
Mitchell fell he turned over the command to Col. Blair, saying:
“Colonel, take the regiment and maintain the honor of Kansas.” As he was
being carried from the field he called out to Gordon Granger, of
Sturgis’ staff, “For God’s sake, support my regiment.” Of Lieut. Col.
Blair, it was said by Gen. Sturgis that “he attracted the attention of
all who saw him.” Col. Mitchell, Lieut. Col. Blair and Maj. Cloud were
all highly complimented by Gen. Sturgis and Gen. Fremont and recommended
for promotion. Maj. Cloud, Adjutant Lines and Capt. Ayres were mentioned
in Col. Blair’s report as conspicuous for their gallantry.
TOTTEN’S BATTERY.
The share of fighting done by this organization (Light Company F, 2d
Artillery), in the battle of Wilson’s Creek was large and important.
Soon after the skirmishers of Lyon’s advance fired on the Southern
pickets, the line of march, as directed by Gen. Lyon in person, lay
through a small valley which debouched into that through which Wilson’s
Creek runs at the point immediately occupied by the front of Price’s
troops and just where a road to Springfield entered the valley, keeping
along the foot of the hills, and soon after the battery opened. The left
section, under Lieut. Sokalski, was first brought to bear upon the enemy
in the woods in front, and shortly afterward the other four pieces were
thrown forward into battery to the right on higher ground. A few rounds
from the artillery assisted the infantry in driving the secession troops
back toward the crests of the hills, nearer and immediately over their
own camp.
Capt. Totten now conducted the battery up the hill to the left and
front, and soon found a position where he brought it into battery
directly over the northern position of the enemy’s camp. The camp of
Gen. Rains’ division lay directly beneath the front and to the left of,
though very close to, the position of the battery, while a battery of
the secessionists (Woodruff’s Arkansas) was in front and within easy
range. Of course Rains’ camp was entirely deserted, and therefore
Totten’s first efforts were directed against the Arkansas battery in his
front and right. The right half of Totten’s guns were principally
directed against Woodruff, although the entire six pieces as opportunity
offered, played upon him. The two batteries pounded away on each other
for some time, neither seeming to get much the advantage of the other.
As the position of the Arkansas battery was somewhat masked by the
timber, Totten’s gunners were obliged to give direction to their pieces
by the flash and smoke of the opposing artillery.
In the meantime, while this fight between Totten and Woodruff was in
progress, the battle was raging in the thick woods and underbrush to the
front and right of the position of the Federal battery, and the 1st
Missouri was being hard pressed.
Gen. Lyon ordered Totten to move a section of his battery forward to the
support of the Missourians, which was done, the guns coming up on a run
and unlimbering in front of the right company of the regiment. A
Confederate regiment with a Confederate flag, which at that distance
seemed to be the stars and stripes, was two hundred yards away, and
fearing they might be friends Totten hesitated before opening. Their
fire soon undeceived him and he turned loose his guns upon them with
canister from both pieces.
The next important step in the progress of the battle was when a portion
of Clark’s (?) division tried to force its way up the neighborhood road
passing along toward Springfield in order to turn the Federal right. For
a time the situation was critical, for the Missourians were plucky and
were fighting hard. Four pieces of Totten’s battery were still in
position commanding that point, and Dubois’ four guns were on the left
also near the road and commanding it. As Slack’s men came in good view
and range, both artillery and infantry opened on them and drove them
back.
Just after this had been done Gen. Lyon came up to the battery and
complimented the men who were working it. Capt. Totten saw blood
trickling from Lyon’s heel and the general said he had been wounded in
the leg, but not seriously. The captain offered his commander some
brandy in a canteen, but the general refused it, and rode away, and that
was the last time Totten ever saw Lyon alive. Soon after leaving Totten,
Lyon sent him word to support the Kansas men on the extreme right, who
were being hard pressed. Lieut. Sokalski took up his section immediately
and saved the Kansans from being overthrown and driven back.
After this came an attempted charge on the Federal position by some
Missouri, Texas and Arkansas cavalry, of which there was a great
abundance. Some 800 of them, including a battalion or so of Greer’s
Texans and Carroll’s Arkansans, fresh from the southern end of the
little valley where Sigel had been so easily whipped, formed at the foot
of the hill on which four of Totten’s guns stood and were getting ready
for a charge, when the artillery and the infantry opened on them and
they were driven away so rapidly that they were out of sight in a
moment.
The last point where the battery was engaged was on the right of the
left wing of the 1st Iowa and somewhat in front. Lyon was then killed
and Sturgis was preparing to retreat. Totten’s battery was still in
action, two pieces in advance on the right so hot that the water thrown
on them almost hissed, and yet pounding away. The left wing of the 1st
Iowa came up and supported the guns from the field, and they were
brought away off the field and to Springfield, without the loss of a
sponge-stick. The battery lost 4 killed and 7 wounded; no prisoners.
DUBOIS’ BATTERY.
This battery so named consisted of four pieces of light artillery, three
six-pounders, and one twelve-pounder, commanded by second Lieutenant
John V. Dubois, of the U. S. Mounted Rifles, a semi-cavalry regiment.
Lieut. Dubois had been detailed from his regiment to command this
battery, newly organized and manned by recruits.
Entering the fight Dubois selected his own position, some 80 yards to
the left and rear of Totten’s battery, where his men were partially and
his horses entirely protected from the enemy’s fire. He assisted Totten
in clearing the ground of the enemy at the start, and under direction of
Capt. Gordon Granger (afterward a major general), opened on McCulloch’s
men down in Ray’s cornfield, who had just driven back Plummer, and drove
them in disorder, Capt. Granger directing one of the guns. The
Confederates rallied behind a house (J. A. Ray’s), on the right of their
line. Dubois struck this house twice with a twelve-pound shot, when a
hospital flag was displayed and he ceased firing. Using small charges of
powder, Dubois’ guns now shelled the thicket in the ravine, a short
distance in front, and forced some of Price’s Missourians to retire.
Bledsoe’s battery now opened on Dubois from the crest of the hill
opposite and “Old Hi’s” fire did great execution. “Old Sacramento,” as
Bledsoe’s twelve-pounder was called, got in her work very
disadvantageously to the Federals. The shots passing over Dubois’ gun
fell among the Federal wounded that had been carried to the rear and did
considerable execution. Dubois could not entirely silence Capt.
Bledsoe’s guns, but he made it very uncomfortable for him. One shot from
Dubois’ gun, killed two of Bledsoe’s battery horses, tore off one arm
and all of the hand of the other arm of the man who held them, Judge
James Young, now of Lexington, and killed another man far in the rear.
While engaged with Bledsoe and his Lafayette county battery, Lieut.
Dubois assisted in driving back the cavalry that formed to charge on
Totten.
During the last charge of Price and McCulloch on Sturgis, two of Dubois’
guns were limbered up to be sent to Totten, but before a road could be
opened through the brush and through the wounded, orders came for Dubois
to fall back to a hill in the rear and protect a retreat. This he did,
remaining until all the troops had passed when he turned and marched
toward the rear. Shortly after starting back the twelve-pounder broke
down. While it was being repaired Maj. Osterhaus’s two companies
remained with it to protect it, and then followed in its rear until the
main portion of the command on the prairie was reached. Here the battery
joined Steele’s battalion and formed the rear guard the rest of the way
into Springfield, neither firing or receiving a shot on the way and not
being molested in anywise—never seeing an enemy. Being well protected
during the entire engagement, the loss in this battery was very
slight—none killed and only two severely wounded. Several of the men and
Dubois himself received slight wounds.
STEELE’S BATTALION.
The battalion of regulars commanded by Capt. Fred Steele was composed of
two companies of the 2d regular infantry—company B, commanded by Sergt.
Griffin, and company C, commanded by Sergt. McLaughlin, a company of
“general service” recruits under Lieut. M. L. Lothrop, and a company of
mounted rifle recruits commanded by Lance-Sergeant Morine. It will be
seen that Capt. Steele had but one _commissioned_ officer under him.
During the early part of the action the battalion was in position to
support Dubois’ battery, but had no opportunity of engaging the enemy
except to assist in dispersing a body of cavalry that threatened the
rear. Soon after the fall of Gen. Lyon, Capt. Gilbert’s company joined
the battalion and Maj. Sturgis ordered Capt. Steele to form in line of
battle and advance against the enemy’s front. Heavy firing on both sides
followed, without any apparent permanent advantage to either, until the
suspension of hostilities mentioned before. During this suspension
Lieut. Lothrop took his company forward as skirmishers, but they were
driven back in very short order and without much ceremony.
A Confederate field piece (probably one of Guibor’s), was run up under
the hill and threw grape and occasionally a shell over Steele’s
battalion, but with no serious effect, as the shots passed too high. Two
other pieces were added and worked vigorously but not carefully, and
with no other effect than to cause Steele’s men to lie close to the
ground.
In the last grand charge on Totten’s battery and the main Federal
position, Steele’s battalion did good work, the men firing away nearly
all their cartridges. Just before the retreat began Capt. Gordon, with
his hastily collected detachment from different regiments, and Capt.
Steele repulsed another attack, and enabled Totten’s battery and other
commands to retire in good order. On the retreat to Springfield after
reaching the prairie Capt. Steele commanded the rear guard, and states
that he was not molested at all, “never seeing an enemy.” The loss of
Steele’s battalion was 15 killed, 44 wounded, and two prisoners. Sergt.
Morine, commanding the rifle recruits, was killed on the field.
PLUMMER’S BATTALION.
This battalion performed brave service at the battle of Wilson’s Creek.
It belonged to the 1st U. S. Regular Infantry, and most of the men had
been some time in the service. Frequent reference has already been made
to the part it performed in this battle. Gilbert’s company had the
advance upon reaching the battlefield and was the first thrown forward
on the skirmish line. The principal portion of the battalion, commanded
by Capt. J. N. Plummer himself, made the fight in Ray’s cornfield
against the 3d Louisiana and 2d Arkansas Mounted Rifles, and afterward
engaged in the terrible conflict on and along Bloody Hill.
The battalion was remarked as much for its coolness as for its bravery.
Upon the retreat of the Federals to Springfield it entered the town in
perfect order, the flag flying, the drums beating, and the men keeping
perfect step as if they were on parade or drill, and as collected and
unexcited as if nothing of consequence had taken place that day.
The battalion was composed of Cos. B, C and D, of the 1st Regulars,
commanded by, respectively, Capts. Gilbert, Plummer, and Huston, and
Lieut. Wood’s squad of Rifle Recruits. Capts. Plummer and Gilbert were
severely wounded, and Capt. D. Huston then took command. Out of 230 men
engaged, the battalion lost 19 killed, 52 wounded and 9 missing—a total
of 80, or a little more than one-third of the entire number in the
fight.
THE HOME GUARDS.
Two companies of mounted Union home guards—one called the Dade county
squadron, commanded by Capt. Clark W. Wright, and the other under Capt.
T. A. Switzler—were present at the battle, but took no very important
part. They made some charges on scattered squads of secessionists,
driving them under cover and out of all danger to the Federal line, but
for the greater portion of the time they were stationed to the right and
rear of Lyon’s position as a post of observation and to prevent the line
from being flanked by the enemy’s cavalry. In one of the charges Capts.
Wright and Switzler ascended a hill in plain view of Gen. Rains’ camp,
and counted a number of tents.
DISPOSITION OF THE BODY OF GEN. LYON.
Ah, Sir Launcelot. Thou there liest that never wert matched of earthly
hands. Thou wert the fairest person and the goodliest of any that rode
in the press of knights. Thou wert the truest to thy sworn brother of
any that buckled on the spur; * * * and thou wert the sternest knight
to thy mortal foe that ever laid spear in rest.
For the purpose of ascertaining the truth concerning the death and
burial of the body of Gen. Lyon, the writer hereof caused certain
newspaper publications to be made in the St. Louis _Republican_ and
other journals, making inquiries pertinent to the case. Many and varied
were the replies, some of which, perhaps, ought to be given, as
illustrating the different lights in which men see the same object, and
the morbid desire for notoriety on the part of others, which leads them
to lie like book-agents, in order that their names may be published in
connection with some notable event. No less than ten newspaper articles
were published and thirty-two written communications were received by
the compiler relating to the death and burial of Gen. Lyon. The result
was forty-two different versions thereof.
The work of ascertaining the truth was thereby complicated instead of
being facilitated. A dozen or more claimants for the distinction of
having first discovered the body on the battlefield appeared. Half a
score bore the corpse to Gen. Price’s tent. Twenty saw the body, noted
its appearance carefully, etc. Knowing from incontrovertible proof how
the general was dressed when he was killed, the writer inserted a test
question asking that his garb be described. Two ex-officers, one Union,
the other Confederate, answered that he was “in full general’s uniform.”
A minister of the gospel, who was also the “_first_ to discover the
body,” promptly replied that he was “dressed in a complete suit of black
broadcloth, white shirt, gold studs, fine boots and kid gloves!” The
majority of the answers, however, were to the same effect, that he was
dressed in his old fatigue uniform of his former rank—that of captain in
the regular army—without epaulettes or shoulder-straps. After much
labored investigation the writer has ascertained the following facts,
which he can easily substantiate:—
Gen. Lyon was killed while placing the 2d Kansas Infantry in position,
by a rifle or navy revolver ball through the region of the heart. He was
borne to the rear by Lieut. Schreyer, of Capt. Tholen’s company, 2d
Kansas, two other members of the same regiment, and Ed. Lehman, of Co.
B, 1st U. S. Cavalry, the latter the soldier who caught the general’s
body as it fell from the horse. As the body was borne to the rear,
Lieut. Wm. Wherry, one of the general’s aides, had the face covered, and
ordered Lehman, who was crying like a child, to “stop his noise,” and
tried in other ways to suppress the news that the general had been
killed. The body was placed in the shade of a small black-jack, the face
covered with half of a soldier’s blanket, the limbs composed, and in a
few minutes there were present Surgeon F. M. Cornyn, Maj. Sturgis, Maj.
Schofield, Gen. Sweeney, and Gordon Granger, and perhaps other officers.
Cornyn examined the body, and from the side of the face wiped the blood
made by the wound in the head. He also opened the vest and split the
general’s shirts, which were soaked with blood, and examined the wound,
which was found to be in the heart, the aorta having been pierced. The
minister’s story, which he has the effrontery to give a newspaper
publication, relates that two or three hours afterward the body was
neatly dressed, with its smooth _white_ shirt and studs, kid gloves,
etc.! Those best acquainted with the personal habits of Gen. Lyon say he
never wore a pair of _kid_ gloves during his term of service.
Maj. Sturgis ordered the body to be carried back to a place selected as
a sort of field hospital and there to be placed in an ambulance and
taken to Springfield. While the body was here lying a few Federal
officers examined it and one of them reports that the face had again
become bloody, from the wound in the head, and that the shirt front was
gory from the death wound. About twenty minutes after the body had been
brought back, Lieut. David Murphy, of the 1st Missouri, who was already
badly wounded in the leg, and Lehman placed the body in an army wagon,
being used as an ambulance, and belonging to Co. B, 1st U. S. Cavalry.
This wagon was about to start to Springfield, and contained already some
wounded men. A few minutes later a sergeant of the regular army came up
and ordered the body taken out, saying, “There will be an ambulance here
in a minute for it.” The corpse was then carried beneath the shade tree
where it had before reposed.
The Federal army now retreated, and the ambulance ordered never came up.
Before the Confederates came on to the ground where the body lay, which
location was 200 yards northeast of “Bloody Hill,” half a dozen slightly
wounded Federal soldiers had gathered about the dead hero, and an hour
after the Federal retreat a party of Arkansas skirmishers came upon them
and discovering the occasion of the crowd instantly spread the news that
Gen. Lyon had been killed. Immediately there was a great tumult and the
report was borne to Price and McCulloch by half a dozen. Many were
incredulous and did not believe that a body so plainly dressed—in an
old, faded captain’s uniform, with but three U. S. buttons on the coat
and a blue (or red) cord down the legs of the trousers to indicate that
he was in the military service—was that of Gen. Lyon.
The body was then placed in a small covered wagon, used as an ambulance,
to be conveyed to Gen. McCulloch’s headquarters (not Gen. Price’s) when
an order arrived that it should be taken to Price’s and delivered to Dr.
S. H. Melcher, of the 5th Missouri, who, as before stated, had come upon
the field in company with Dr. Smith, Gen. Rains’ division surgeon. Dr.
Melcher had been informed by Col. Emmett McDonald that Lyon had been
killed, and at once asked for his body. When the little covered wagon
containing the corpse had driven up and Gen. Price and Gen. Rains and
other officers had viewed the body, it was turned over to Dr. Melcher. A
number of Southern soldiers standing by drew knives and made attempts to
cut off some buttons or pieces of the uniform as relics, and one or two
expressed a wish to “cut his d——d heart out;” but Gen. Rains drew his
sword (or revolver) and swore he would kill the first man that touched
the corpse, and Emmett McDonald denounced the ruffianly would-be
violators in the harshest terms—and McDonald could be harsh when he
wanted to be!
Beside the body of Gen. Lyon was a wounded man, who was now taken out,
and then Gen. Rains himself and some of his cavalry escorted the wagon
to the house of Mr. Ray, on or near the battlefield. It is proper now to
give the testimony of Dr. Melcher himself, as given to the writer and
furnished the press for publication. Speaking of the courtesy of Gen.
Rains in escorting the body to Ray’s house, Dr. Melcher goes on to say:
Arriving there the body was carried into the house and placed on a
bed; then I carefully washed his face and hands, which were much
discolored by dust and blood, and examined for wounds. There was a
wound on the right side of the head, another in the right leg below
the knee, and another, which caused his death, was by a small rifle
ball, which entered about the fourth rib on the left side, passing
entirely through the body, making its exit from the right side,
evidently passing through both lungs and heart. From the character of
this wound it is my opinion that Gen. Lyon was holding the bridle rein
in his left hand, and had turned in the saddle to give a command, or
words of encouragement, thus exposing his left side to the fire of the
enemy.
At this time he had on a dark blue, single breasted captain’s coat,
with the buttons used by the regular army of the United States. It was
the same uniform coat I had frequently seen him wear in the arsenal at
St. Louis, and was considerably worn and faded. He had no
shoulder-straps; his pants were dark blue; the wide-brim felt hat he
had worn during the campaign was not with him. After arranging the
body as well as circumstances permitted, it was carried to the wagon
and covered with a spread or sheet furnished me by Mrs. Ray.
When I was ready to start Gen. Rains said: “I will not order any to go
with you, but volunteers may go;” and _five Confederate soldiers_
offered their service of escort. One drove the team; the others, being
mounted, rode with me in rear of wagon. The only name I can give is
that of Orderly Sergt. Brackett of a company in Churchill’s Arkansas
regiment. Another of the escort was a German who in 1863 was clerking
in Springfield, and during the defence of Springfield against the
attack of Marmaduke, January 8, 1863, did service in the citizens’
company of 42 men which was attached to my “Quinine Brigade” from the
hospitals.
The following is a copy of a paper written at Mr. Ray’s house. The
original I now have:—[14]
Gen. James S. Rains, commanding Missouri State Guards, having learned
that Gen. Lyon, commanding United States forces during action near
Springfield, Mo., Aug. 10, 1861, had fallen, kindly afforded military
escort and transportation subject to my order. I have also his
assurance that all the wounded shall be well taken care of and may be
removed under the hospital flag, and that the dead shall be buried as
rapidly as possible.
[Signed]
S. H. Melcher,
Asst. Surg. 5th Reg. Mo. Vols.
Wilson Creek, Aug. 10, 1861.
_The above fully approved and indorsed._
[Signed]
James S. Rains,
Brig.-Gen. 8th M. D., M. S. G.
About half way to Springfield I saw a party under flag of truce going
toward the battlefield. Arriving at Springfield, the first officer I
reported to was the ever faithful Col. Nelson Cole, then captain of
company E, 1st Missouri Volunteer Infantry, who, with what remained of
his gallant company, was guarding the outposts. I passed on to the
camps of Gen. James Totten and T. W. Sweeney. Here Gen. Totten
relieved my escort and sent them back to their command, a new driver
was furnished, and I delivered the body of Gen. Lyon to Maj. J. M.
Schofield, 1st Missouri Volunteer Infantry—now Maj.-Gen. Schofield, U.
S. A.—at the house that had been used previous to the battle by Gen.
Lyon for his headquarters.
It is proper to state that Dr. Melcher’s testimony is corroborated in
part by two survivors of the 1st Arkansas, and by Mrs. Livonia Green,
now of Lane county, Oregon, and also by Mrs. Jerome Yarbrough, of this
county, both of the latter being daughters of the Mr. and Mrs. Ray
mentioned. (Mr. and Mrs. Ray are now dead.)
After Sturgis’ army had gotten well on the road to Springfield, it was
discovered that Gen. Lyon’s body had been left behind. Sturgis
immediately started back a flag of truce party under Lieut. Canfield, of
the regular army, with orders to go to Gens. Price and McCulloch, and,
if possible, procure the remains and bring them on to Springfield.
Lieut. Canfield and party went to the battle field, saw Gen. McCulloch,
obtained his order for the body (the general remarking that he wished he
had a thousand other dead Yankee bodies to send off) and there
ascertained that the body had already started for the Federal lines.
When the corpse was deposited in the former headquarters of the general,
on the north side of College street, west of Main, in Springfield, word
was sent to Sturgis. He and Schofield and other officers held a
consultation, and decided that the body should be taken with the army to
Rolla, if possible. There not being a metallic coffin in the place, it
was determined to embalm it, or preserve it by some artificial process.
Accordingly, the chief surgeon, Dr. E. C. Franklin, was sent for.
Responding to the inquiries of the writer, Dr. Franklin says:—
About ten o’clock p. m., on the night when it arrived at head
quarters, I was summoned there and then first saw the body of Gen.
Lyon lying upon a table, covered with a white spread, in a room
adjoining the one where two or three of the Union officers were
seated. Gens. Schofield, Sturgis, and others consulted me as to the
possibility of injecting the body with such materials that would
prevent decay during its transit to St. Louis. I prepared the fluid
for injection into the body, but discovered that instead of being
retained within the vessels it passed out into the cavity of the
chest. This led me to suspect a laceration either of one of the large
arteries near the heart, or, possibly, a wound of the heart itself.
This hypothesis, coupled with the fact that there was an external
wound in the region of the heart, confirmed my opinion of the utter
uselessness of attempting the preservation of the body during its
passage to St. Louis. These facts I reported to the commanding
officer, who then gave me verbal orders to attend to the disposal of
the body in the best possible manner. At this time preparations were
being made and the orders given for the troops to retreat and fall
back upon Rolla, some fifty or more miles nearer St. Louis. Returning
to the general hospital, of which I was in charge, I detailed a squad
of nurses to watch by the body of Gen. Lyon till morning, which order
was faithfully carried out. I then disposed of my time for the best
interests of the wounded and sick under my charge.
Dr. Franklin was furnished with money and directed to have the general’s
remains well cared for, and he ordered an undertaker, Mr. Presley Beal,
to make a good, substantial coffin at once. Early the following morning,
in some way, word was sent to Mrs. Mary Phelps, wife of Hon. John S.
Phelps, that the body of the great Union leader was lying stiff, and
bloody, and neglected in the temporary charnel house on College street.
Soon she and the wife of Mr. Beal were by his side, and watching him.
Not long thereafter came the wife of Col. Marcus Boyd and her two
daughters (one of whom, now Mrs. Lula Kennedy, still resides in
Springfield), and kept them company. And so it was that women, “last at
the cross and first at the tomb,” were those who kept vigil over the
corse of the dead warrior, who, although he died the earliest, was one
of the greatest Union generals the war produced.
The body had now lain about twenty-four hours in very hot weather. It
was changing fast, and its condition made it necessary that it should be
buried as soon as possible. Mrs. Phelps left Mrs. Boyd and her daughters
and went to see about the coffin. Dr. Franklin came in and sprinkled the
corpse with bay rum and alcohol. Mr. Beal brought the coffin, and soon a
wagon—a butcher’s wagon—was on its way to Col. Phelps’ farm with all
that was mortal of the dead hero, and with no escort save the driver,
Mrs. Phelps, Mr. Beal and one or two soldiers.
Col. Emmett McDonald, than whom the war produced no more knightly a
soldier, had been made a prisoner by Gen. Lyon, at the capture of Camp
Jackson. When Lyon was killed, Col. McDonald not only assisted Dr.
Melcher in recovering the body, but Dr. Franklin says of him:—
Here let me do justice to Col. Emmett McDonald, who called upon me at
the general hospital and after some conversation in regard to the
circumstances attending the death of Gen. Lyon, tendered to me an
escort of Confederate troops as a “guard of honor” to accompany Gen.
Lyon’s remains to the place of burial, which I refused from a too
sensitive regard for the painful occasion, and an ignorance of
military regulations touching the subject.
Mrs. Phelps was practically alone at the time. Her husband was in his
seat in the Federal Congress, her son, John E. Phelps, had followed off
the Federal army, and even her faithful servant, George, had accompanied
his young master. But Mrs. Phelps was a lady not easily daunted, or one
that would shrink from what she considered a duty, no matter how
unpleasant it might be. The body was taken to Mrs. Phelps’ residence,
and not buried at once, it being the understanding that it would be sent
for soon. Mr. James Vaughan, who owned a tin-shop in Springfield, was
ordered to make a zinc case for the coffin, to assist in the
preservation of its contents.
The coffin was temporarily deposited in an out-door cellar or cave,
which in summer had been used as an ice-house, and in the winter as an
“apple-hole,” and was well covered with straw. It was here placed about
two o’clock on the 11th. A day or two later, the slave, George,
returned. While the body of Gen. Lyon lay in Mrs. Phelps’ cellar, the
place was visited by some citizens and many Southern soldiers. It is
much to be regretted that some brutes there were among the soldiers that
treated the remains of the dead man with all disrespect, cursing them
and him openly and in the vilest terms. One young officer is reported to
have said to Mrs. Phelps: “There is quite a contrast betwixt the resting
place of old Lyon’s body and his soul, isn’t there, Madame? The one is
in an ice-house; the other in hell!” he added with a heartless chuckle.
At last some drunken ruffians, by threatening to open the coffin and
“cut the d—d heart” of the body for a relic, so frightened Mrs. Phelps,
causing her to fear that the remains would be mutilated in some horrible
manner, that she asked Gen. Price to send a detail and bury the body.
This was done by volunteers from Guibor’s and Kelly’s infantry, of Gen.
Parsons’ division, at that time encamped on Col. Phelps’ farm. It is
believed the body was not _buried_ until the 14th. The slave, George,
dug the grave, which was in Mrs. Phelps’ garden. Some of the soldiers
stamped on the grave in great delight. An Irishman told Capt. Guibor,
“Be jabers, we shtomped him good.”
On the 22d of August there came to Springfield a party in a four-mule
ambulance, bearing with them a 300-pound metallic coffin. This party was
composed of Danford Knowlton, of New York City, a cousin of Gen. Lyon;
John B. Hasler, of Webster, Mass., the general’s brother-in-law, and Mr.
Geo. N. Lynch, the well-known undertaker, still of St. Louis. From Rolla
in, the party was accompanied by the gallant Emmett McDonald, who had
been up to arrange for an exchange of prisoners, and from whom, Mr.
Hasler says, they received many attentions and favors.
Arriving at Springfield, Mr. Hasler says, they visited Gen. Price and
handed him a letter from Gen. Fremont explaining their mission, which
was to bear the body of Gen. Lyon. As the letter was directed “To whom
it may concern,” Gen. Price, after glancing at the address, threw it
contemptuously aside, saying he could read no document thus directed. At
the same time he offered to grant them every facility for procuring the
body of their dead relative.
Repairing to Phelps’ farm the party disinterred the body and placed it
in the metallic coffin, after removing the zinc case made by Mr. Vaughn.
Gen. Parsons, whose division was encamped on the farm, came up,
introduced himself, and Mr. Hasler says, “showed us numerous civilities.
Among other attentions, he tendered a guard for the body and team over
night, which was accepted.”
The next day the party left Springfield and were in Rolla on the 25th
and in St. Louis the 26th. Here a military escort joined. From thence
the party proceeded to Eastford, Connecticut, the birthplace of the
general, which place was reached September 4th, there being great
receptions and honors paid the body in the cities and towns _en route_.
September 5th the body was buried in the family burying ground at
Eastford. “Upon the coffin, as it lay in the Congregational church when
the funeral ceremonies were being rendered,” says Mr. Woodward, who was
present, “were placed the hat, a light felt, which the general had waved
aloft when rallying his ranks at Wilson’s Creek, and also the sword,
scarred and weather-beaten from sharing in the long hard service of its
owner.” The hat was brought from the battlefield by the wounded men in
the wagon in which the general’s body was first placed, and was given to
Mr. Hasler by the driver, who had preserved it. Both hat and sword were
given to, and since have been in the possession of the Connecticut
Historical Society.
Gen. Lyon was born in Eastford, Connecticut, July 14, 1818. He entered
West point in 1837; graduated in 1841, standing eleventh in a class of
fifty. He served in Florida in 1841-2; was in the Mexican war under
Taylor and Scott; in California and on the frontier from 1850 to 1861.
He was never married. The statement that he bequeathed his private
fortune to the Federal government is erroneous.
FOOTNOTES
[1]The fight at Dug Springs was called by some of the Confederate
officers, derisively, “Rains’ Scare.”
[2]The following is a literal copy of the memorandum given to Col.
Phelps by Gen. Lyon, when the former left Springfield. Lyon
instructed Phelps to give this to Fremont: “_Memorandum for Col.
Phelps_.—See General Fremont about troops and stores for this place.
Our men have not been paid and are rather dispirited; they are badly
off for clothing and the want of shoes unfits them for marching.
Some staff officers are badly needed, and the interests of the
government suffer for the want of them. The time of the three months
volunteers is nearly out, and on their returning home my command
will be reduced too low for effective operations. Troops must at
once be forwarded to supply their place. The safety of the State is
hazarded. Orders from Gen. Scott strip the entire West of regular
forces and increase the chances of sacrificing it. The public press
is full of reports that troops from other States are moving toward
the northern border of Arkansas for the purpose of invading
Missouri.
_Springfield, July 27._”
[3]From statements of two prominent Union men of Greene county who were
present.
[4]Afterward Major General in command of the Federal troops in Arkansas.
[5]Gen. Sweeney said: “Let us eat the last bit of mule flesh and fire
the last cartridge before we think of retreating.”
[6]There are grounds for stating that Lyon knew of the intended attack
upon him within four hours after it had been agreed upon, receiving
his information through one of his spies, actually a commissioned
officer in the Missouri State Guard!
[7]It must be borne in mind that the Confederate line extended in a
general direction from the north to the south along Wilson’s Creek;
that Lyon attacked the northern end from the west and northwest,
while Sigel was stationed at the southern end, over a mile away.
[8]Afterward Major General and in command of this department.
[9]Which was done near Mr. Robinson’s.
[10]It was not Totten’s battery, but Reid’s Confederate battery, from
Ft. Smith, Ark. It was well supplied with grape from the Little Rock
arsenal.—Compiler.
[11]Since Governor of Arkansas.
[12]At the breaking out of the civil war, the color of the infantry
uniform of the U. S. army was gray. Upon its adoption by the
Confederates this color was changed, and blue substituted.
[13]Gen. A. E. Steen’s division seems to have been attached to
McCulloch’s army. It was insignificant in numbers.
[14]The writer has seen and carefully examined the original of this
paper. It is written in pencil, but is quite legible. The
handwriting of Gen. Rains was identified beyond question. The paper
was kindly furnished by Dr. Melcher for the purposes of this
history.
Transcriber’s Notes
—Silently corrected a few typos.
—Retained publication information from the printed edition: this eBook
is public-domain in the country of publication.
—In the text versions only, text in italics is delimited by
_underscores_.
—Created a Table of Contents based on the chapter headings.