Springfield-Greene
County LibraryEarly and Recent History and Genealogical Records
of Many of the Representative Citizens
Chapter 11
Military History
Approved by Judge J. J. Gideon and Capt. George M. Jones
Part 4
Confederate Account of the Battle of Wilson's Creek
THE CONFEDERATE ACCOUNT OF THE BATTLE.
In describing a battle confusion would necessarily result if one attempted to give both sides of the conflict in detail at once. It is just as essential that we give here the Confederate side of the conflict at Wilson's creek as the Federal side, partly because the description of the fight would be incomplete did we fail to do so, and partly because, a large number of Greene county men were in the ranks of the Southerners. The part played by the troops of General Price and General McCulloch have been just as fully and as accurately recorded as was that of the Federals.
Whether General Lyon had attacked the Confederates or whether he had remained in Springfield, a battle would have been fought on Saturday, August 10, 1861, for General McCulloch had finally agreed to General Price's demand that the engagement, long pending, should be brought about at once, and they determined to break camp at nine o'clock Friday night, August 9th, and strike Lyon, at Springfield the day following. The march was to be made in four columns. Just after nightfall a light rain came on and there was every prospect of a severe storm later in the evening,, which was intensely dark. McCulloch well knew that many of the troops were not supplied with cartridge boxes, or cartridges either, and that if they moved out from under shelter, and it rained hard, as it then promised to do, their ammunition would become wet and unserviceable, carried, as much of it would be, in powder-flasks, shot-pouches and cotton sacks. There was also danger of the troops getting bewildered or lost, some of them, owing to the intense darkness, and not come up to the proper place at the proper time. So he countermanded the order to march just as some of the regiments were preparing to start, and the army lay down to sleep, each soldier with his gun by his side, holding himself in readiness to move at a moment's notice. However, few of the men got any sleep, for it was a most oppressive night, proper accommodations were lacking, and vicious mosquitoes swarmed up and down the valley, invading the tents of the soldiers. This arrangement did not suit General Price. He wanted to proceed to Springfield that night over the very route which General Lyon was at that time following from the town, by way of the Mt.Vernon road. The two armies would have met about midnight near the present site of Dorchester, each being thus surprised. What would have been the ultimate result in the confusion and Egyptian darkness no one would dare venture a guess.
McCulloch's official report states that his effective force at the battle of Wilson's Creek was five thousand and three hundred infantry, six thousand cavalry, and fifteen pieces of artillery. The majority of the cavalry were armed only with rifles, revolvers, shotguns and old flint-lock muskets. There were hundreds of other horsemen along with the army that were so imperfectly armed as to be of but little use; in fact, were only in the way during the battle. The guns were in two batteries, under Woodruff and Reid. The total strength being about eleven thousand, five hundred and fifty men. General Price's division was composed of the following sub-divisions: Gen. J. S. Rains—Infantry, thirteen hundred and six; cavalry, twelve hundred; total, two thousand, five hundred and six. Gen. W. Y. Slack—Infantry, six hundred and fifty-nine; cavalry, two hundred and thirty-four; total, eight hundred and eighty-four. Gen. M. M. Parson—Infantry, two hundred and fifty-six; cavalry, four hundred and six; total, six hundred and sixty-two. Gen. John B. Clark, Sr.—Infantry, three hundred and seventy-six; cavalry, two hundred and fifty; total, six hundred and twenty-six. Gen. J. H. McBride—Total, six hundred and five. Bledsoe's and Guibor's batteries numbered about one hundred and fifty men, making three thousand, one hundred and ninety-three infantry; two thousand and ninety cavalry, and a total of five thousand, four hundred and thirty-three men. Gen. A. E. Steen's division seems to have been attached to McCulloch's army. It was insignificant in numbers. [281-282]
There were in the column that marched under General Lyon to Wilson's creek exactly three thousand, seven hundred and twenty-one men of all arms, infantry, cavalry and artillery, not including the two companies of Home Guards under Captains Switzler and Wright. Sigel's column consisted of seventeen companies of infantry cavalry and artillery, not including the two companies of Home Guards under Captains Switzler and Wright. Siegel's column consisted of seventeen companies of infantry (eight companies of the Third Missouri and nine companies of the Fifth Missouri), numbering nine hundred and twelve men; six pieces of artillery, manned by eighty-five men; and two companies of cavalry of one hundred and twenty-one men, making a total in Sigel's column of one thousand, one hundred and eighteen men.
The Federal strength was four thousand, eight hundred and thirty-nine or, including the Home Guards, under Switzler and Wright, five thousand men. Thus it will be seen that the Confederate strength was more than twice that of the Federal. Col. T. L. Snead sat up all night on the 9th at General Price's headquarters, which were on the bank of the creek, at the foot of the sloping, rocky, black-jack hills on whose summit the main battle was fought. About day-break General Price arose from his couch in great impatience and sent McCulloch, who soon afterwards arrived, accompanied by Col. James McIntosh, of the Second Kansas Mounted Riflemen, the latter being McCulloch's assistant adjutant general. The four men sat down to breakfast. As the officers were eating, a messenger came running up from the front where General Rains' division was posted, a mile or more away, and informed them that the Yankees were advancing, fully twenty thousand strong, and were already on Rains' line, peppering his camp with musketry. "O, pshaw! That's another one of Rains' scares," said General McCulloch, laughingly, alluding to the Dug Springs affair, and added: "Tell General Rains I will come to the front myself directly." The four officers continued eating, and soon another messenger came up and reported that the Federals were not more than a mile away, and had come suddenly upon Rains' men as they lay on their arms and had driven them back. To this McCulloch again said: "O, nonsense! That's not true," but just then Rains' men could be seen falling back in confusion. Immediately General Price arose and said to Colonel Snead, "Have my horse saddled and order the troops under arms at once." He had hardly spoken when Totten's battery unlimbered and sent its first shot and about the same instant Sigel's guns opened over a mile to the south. Dispositions for battle were quickly made. The Confederate officers were all astir in a moment, and hurried commands were shouted up and down the camp, which stretched along the creek for a mile. Many of the soldiers were still asleep or just rising for the day and had not breakfasted. Fires were left burning and victuals cooking and tents in their disorder, guns were seized, horses saddled with all swiftness and everyone hurried as fast as possible through the gray dawn to the front. Price moved at once toward Rains with the rest of the Missouri State Guard. Pearce began forming on Price's left. Very soon Totten's battery was in plain view on the top of the hills in front and pounding away, while Sigel's guns in the rear plainly gave notice that the Federals were on all sides. The surprise was perfect. The few pickets that were out had nearly all been called in to prepare for the early march, and this enabled General Lyon to get close upon the Southern camp; in fact, he reached the skirmishers before being discovered. There was some delay on the part of the Missouri State Guard in getting out the horses, for nearly all of them were mounted, having insisted on riding when, they enlisted. The idea of walking was distasteful to them, partly because, it was laborious to begin with, and partly because it was considered in a measure disgraceful. And the horsemen, so many of them proved a serious disadvantage to the Southern cause. They stripped, the country in many parts of Missouri and other states, not only of provisions but of forage and provender, cumbered the roads and often in an engagement did more harm than good. At Wilson's Creek the horses became frightened, unmanageable, and at one time they and their riders came near stampeding the entire Confederate army. Hundreds of them tried to escape from the field by the Fayetteville road, but found it securely blocked by Sigel's troops. [283-284]
GENERAL RAINS OPPOSES GENERAL LYON.
As already stated General Lyon attacked General Rains' division first. The latter, instead of becoming panic stricken, as some predicted, coolly and promptly got his troops under arms and in line of battle, some of his men scattering, it is true, but the main body responded quickly to his orders and as soon as taking their positions in the line began replying spiritedly to Union fire. As shown in a preceding paragraph, Rains' division was a large one, including all the men from the populous secession counties of Pettis, Jasper, Jackson, Saline, Lafayette and Johnson, and it held that part of the line in front of Totten's battery. General Price at once ordered the other division commanders, Parsons, McBride, Slack and Clark, to move their infantry and artillery rapidly forward to the support of Rains, whose second brigade was in the extreme advance and consisted of about fifteen hundred men, many of them mounted, and temporarily under command of Colonel Cawthorn. Slack's division of northwest Missourians was the first to come up, and under the personal direction of General Price himself, who had come to the front, took position on Rains' left, and became instantly engaged. It was only a few moments until General Clark's division came up and formed to the left of Slack. Next General Parsons' division, with Colonel Kelley's brigade at the head, went into line at the left of Clark. Then came General McBride's division who took position on the left of Kelly and commanded a flank movement on the right of the Federals, which movement was unsuccessful. These positions were taken under General Price's orders and led by him in person at the first, the entire line advanced in the direction of the enemy, under a continuous fire from Lyon's infantry and Totten's Battery, until it reached a position within range of its own guns when the Federal fire was returned. Many of the Missourians were armed with double-barreled shotguns, loaded with buckshot which now got in their work very effectively, the distance being less than one hundred yards. But after a few minutes of brisk fighting the Missourians were driven back.
General McCulloch had in the meantime hurried to the lower or south of the valley where his division was encamped and the aggressive Texas ranger quickly brought out of camp, Colonel Hebert's, Louisiana regiment and McIntosh's Arkansas mounted riflemen and hastened to strengthen the northern line under Rains and other division commanders. The force went to the east side of Wilson's creek and came up to the heavy rail fence enclosing Ray's cornfield, where the Arkansas riflemen dismounted and, together with the Louisianians, leaped over the fence and charged through the green corn higher than their heads upon Plummer's Battalion of Federals, driving them back upon the main line with considerable loss, in fact, the fight in the cornfield was one of the most severe of the day and when it was ended many a dead and dying man lay in the furrows recently made by the plow and there was little left of that year's corn crop. No sooner had the Federal infantry been driven back than Dubois' Battery opened upon the federates in the cornfield and death gathered an abundant harvest where only the peaceable husbandman had reaped before. The two Southern regiments were driven back with much loss and no little confusion, but soon reformed and were taken charge of by McCulloch in person, who led them to another part of the field. McCulloch had also ordered up Woodruff's Battery, which had engaged Totten and was doing excellent service. [284-285]
During the period of the fight in the Ray cornfield, Price's division was desperately fighting to hold its ground in the center and was hotly engaged on the sides of the height upon which the enemy was posted. Early in the engagement the First Regiment of Arkansas Mounted Rifles, which had been driven out of its camp by Sigel and had formed a few hundred yards to the north was brought up by Price's order to the support of General Slack and formed on his left. Here it fought during the battle, led in person by its commander, Col. T. J. Churchill, who was destined to become governor of Arkansas. During the battle he proved a most efficient officer and had two horses shot from under him. The regiment's loss was forty-two killed and one hundred and fifty-five wounded. Captain McAlexander and three lieutenants were among the killed. Col. B. T. Embry, commanding the Second Arkansas Mounted Rifles, also fought with Price's Missouri State Guard against Lyon's column, losing eleven killed and forty-four wounded. Then for several hours the battle waged furiously and stubbornly along the ridge, each side advancing and retreating a few yards alternately. Sometimes the advantage was with the blue, sometimes with the gray. The firing, both of infantry and artillery was incessant and a pall of heavy smoke overhung the field for a mile, north and south, the lines being so close together that only one cloud was formed. It would require a large volume to give in detail the many deeds of daring, heroism and gallantry performed by the troops and officers on both sides. There was no difference in the courage or ability displayed, both sides fighting equally well whether advancing, retreating, firing or falling back to re-form for another assault. There were some stragglers on both sides, some hiding among the rocks and bushes and doubtless many of these, rather than those displaying real nerve who stood in the front lines, later boasted of their deeds of daring. The impression has gone abroad and found lodgment in the minds of many that the sanguinary battle of Wilson's Creek was fought by neighbors, the army on both sides being made up principally by men from the counties of southwest Missouri, that brother fought brother and father son. The fact is that both armies were very cosmopolitan, including troops from many states and a number of foreign countries, a very large percentage of the Federals being Germans. It is true that men were there whose homes were in Greene county, who had long been familiar with the country tributary of the stream, along which they fought. But they were there from the cities, St. Louis, St. Joseph, Little Rock and others; from the warehouses, the store, the factory, the counting rooms, the law offices and school houses. Men fought who, when at home, could look over the rolling plains of Iowa, or across the muddy Missouri river westward over the prairies of Nebraska, then a sparsely settled territory. Men were there who lived within sound of the Father of Waters up beyond Hannibal or from the region of the Kaw in the Sunflower state, from the bayou country of the far South, and from the region of the cypress forests of Dunklin or the swamps of Pemiscot. They were there who had only lately looked upon the Brazos and the Rio Grande and they came from all parts of Missouri.
Early in the engagement, General Clark sent a mile and a half to the rear for his regiment of cavalry, Col. James P. Major commanding; he was attacked bv Sigel before he could get to the main line and was driven back into the woods with all his command. He reformed as quickly as possible and started toward the front to join their own division. Major's men were all broken up by large bodies of other horsemen, who were seeking to escape from Totten's grape-shot and Dubois' shells and the musket balls of the Kansas men. They rode through Major's ranks in all directions, dividing the forces and spreading their own terror to those about them, and the result was that Colonel Major had but one company intact with which he could advance. However, he succeeded in getting together about three hundred men, assisted by Col. Casper W. Bell, Clark's adjutant general, of Brunswick, Chariton county, Missouri, and Capt. Joseph Finks. Returning to the rear Major assisted in the defeat of Sigel. The remainder of those who could be formed into line were taken charge of by Lieutenant-colonel Hyde and advanced to the front where Lyon was, but while preparing to charge the Federal left they were driven back by Dubois' Battery and some infantry. [286-287]
After nearly six hours of desperate fighting between the columns of Price and Lyon neither side seemed to have gained a perceptible advantage. Each side had advanced many times, only to be driven back later—always with loss. Neither side could see victory ahead, although the more sagacious officers entertained fears that they could not hold out all day against superior numbers and with rapidly diminishing ammunition. Just when the issue seethed hanging in the balance, Price looked down the valley and saw McCulloch coming up with his column after having routed Sigel's force. So the Missouri State Guard was quickly reinforced by the troops from Louisiana under Hebert; by cavalry from Arkansas, under Carroll; the Fifth Arkansas Infantry, under Colonel Dockery; McIntosh's Second Arkansas Rifle Regiment under Lieutenant-colonel Embry; Gratiot's Third Arkansas Regiment; McRay's Regiment; Reid's Battery, also of Arkansas; greater portion of Greer's Texas Cavalry. When this large and effective fighting force got into position, it was soon seen that it meant the beginning of the end. The entire Confederate army threw itself furiously against the concentrated Union line along the bloody ridge. The musketry fire was incessant and the artillery-men redoubled their efforts. Masses of infantry fell back and rushed again forward. The summit of the hill was literally covered with the dead and wounded. Each advance was made over the bodies of fallen comrades. Both sides fought with reckless abandon and matchless desperation for victory. Both Generals Price and McCulloch took their lives in their hands and rode up and down their lines, freely mingling with their troops, encouraging them to do their utmost, animating them by their voices and presence as well as their example for courage and bravery. Although Price was slightly wounded he refused to leave the field. The infantry had been so hard pressed for such a prolonged period that McCulloch decided to make a diversion in their favor and press the cavalry to the front. Accordingly a line was formed composed of a portion of Greer's and Carroll's regiments and a large number of Missouri mounted troops to go up the valley and fall upon the Federal left, but Dubois' Battery and the Union infantry scattered the horsemen before the line could be properly formed. [287]
THE TURN OF THE TIDE.
Seeing that "the psychological moment" had arrived when something must be done; when a little delay might mean disaster, McCulloch determined to strike a vicious blow and ordered forward his reserves. Rapidly the rest of Pearce's Arkansas Division, Dockery's and Gratiot's regiments came up cheering and on the run, throwing themselves into "the jaws of death." They were "stripped for action," having thrown away everything that would encumber them, including their long, heavy knives, depending solely upon their muskets, most of them priding themselves as expert riflemen. Their work was most effective and was directed against the very center of the Union line. Reid's Battery was also ordered forward and Hebert's Louisianian were again called into action on the left of the battery. About the same time Guibor's Battery, of Parson's Division, opened with canister on the Federals and terrible was the noise and slaughter. The Union officers observed these movements and prepared as best they could to withstand the concerted charges, bringing forward all their available troops and once more the battle became general, violent and bloody, and over all blazed the August sun making the valley in which the Southerners fought a veritable furnace. With grim determination neither side seemed to take notice of the terrible heat of the sun and the battle, of the suffocating fumes of burning gunpowder, or shrieking shells and stampeding horses. They were fighting to kill, to hold their positions—to gain a victory at all hazards.
But it all ended suddenly "in the twinkling of an eye," or "as quick as a clap of thunder ceases," as some of the men later described it. The Federals retreated almost in a body, Totten's Battery, that had wrought such havoc all the forenoon, being first to withdraw and soon the entire Union force left the field in possession of the Confederates, but it was sometime before the sierred hosts of the latter realized just how the battle had gone. They expected another attack by the Federals and prepared for it, reforming their lines as best they could under the circumstances. Gradually, in the comparative stillness, the ground in front where Totten's Battery had stood was occupied, and then a line of skirmishers, pushing cautiously to the front, discovered that the victory was theirs. Strange as it may seem no attempt at pursuing the flying columns of the Northerners was made, although McCulloch had some six thousand cavalry whose horses were fresh and rested. Army officers were later greatly surprised that the Confederates did not cut off the retreat of Sturgis' army toward Springfield and capture it on the high prairies west of town. But the Federal officers asserted that the reason they were not pursued was because the Confederates were so badly cut up and exhausted that they could not do so. But Price urged McCulloch to pursue with his cavalry, but he refused, without giving any reason. The Federals believed if Lyon had not lost his life the results of the battle would have been different. [288]
McCULLOCH'S FIGHT WITH SIGEL.
At the beginning of the battle when Sigel struck McCulloch upon the southern end of the Confederate camp the troops he encountered were Churchill's Arkansas regiment, Greer's Texas Rangers and about seven hundred mounted Missourians, under command of Col. Benjamin Brown, of Ray county, Mr. Brown being at that time president of the Missouri state senate. These troops were completely surprised and were quickly pushed back up the valley across the Fayetteville road; McCulloch occupied the extreme right, the troops facing the east. When General Lyon first opened the battle, McCulloch hastened back to Price's headquarters and took up two of his best regiments (Herbert's and McIntosh's), to the assistance of his fellow commander. The position of McCulloch was greatly weakened by of these two regiments, and for a time Sigel had matters his own way. Pearce's Division of Arkansas state troops were put in position, somewhat in reserve. When McCulloch became fully aware that the Union attack was threatening danger to the entire camp, he brought back the Louisiana and Arkansas regiments and forming them with some of Pearce's Division and Brown's and Major's Cavalry; advanced to meet Sigel. The regiments of Hebert and McIntosh had been worsted in their engagement with the enemy in Ray's cornfield, but they now sought to win back their lost laurels and fought desperately. The attack was being made on Sigel's and Salomon's regiments and the four guns of Schuetzenbach and Schaeffer. As related on preceding pages there was only a half-hearted resistance on part of the Federals, who mistook the Confederates for regiments from Union lines, on account of similarity of uniform of two opposing regiments. However, it was no fault of McCulloch's men that Sigel's troops "Were deceived. It was the Louisiana regiment that was mistaken for an Iowa regiment. It will be remembered that at the outbreak of the war between the states the infantry uniform of the regular army of the United States was gray which was changed to blue when the Confederates adopted gray for their uniforms. During the first year of the war the similarity of uniforms resulted in many unfortunate mistakes, regiments composing the army not infrequently firing upon each other. The Southerners were surprised at being able to come almost within grappling distance of Sigel's men without being fired upon. When right at the cannons' mouths they made a well-directed and well-regulated charge, driving the Unionists from the field at one sweep. Then followed a vain attempt by some of the officers of Sigel's command to rally their troops, but a panic-stricken, headlong flight resulted, a great number being slain or captured by the cavalry, especially by the Texas Rangers. The confusion was greatly augmented by Reid's Arkansas Battery opening up on the unsuspecting Germans who made up many companies of Sigel's command. Effective work was also done at this time by Colonel Rosser, of Weightman's Brigade with Capt. Hiram Bledsoe's Missouri Battery from Lafayette county, with "Old Sacramento," a noted twelve-pounder and three other guns of smaller caliber. It took but a few minutes to accomplish the destruction of Sigel, and McCulloch knowing that he was needed at the other end of the field, left the flying fragments to be looked after by sundry detachments of his cavalry and returned with the larger portion of his cavalry and all his infantry to the assistance of Price, and the former's troops took a conspicuous part in the last hour or so of fighting against the Federals, in fact, it seems certain that the victory could not have been won had it not have been for the appearance on the field at the critical moment of the troops under McCulloch and Pearce. Left to itself Price's column doubtless would have failed to defeat Lyon's army, although the two were about equal in numbers. [289-290]
LOSS OF THE TWO ARMIES.
The Federal loss in the battle of Wilson's Creek as officially reported, was as follows: First Kansas Volunteers— seventy-seven killed one hundred and and eighty-seven wounded, twenty missing; Second Kansas Volunteers— five killed, fifty-nine wounded, six missing; First Missouri Volunteers— seventy-six killed, two hundred and eight wounded, eleven missing; First Iowa Volunteers— thirteen killed, one hundred and thirty-eight wounded, four missing; Captain Plummer's Battalion—nineteen killed, fifty-two wounded, nine missing; Company D—First Cavalry, Captain Elliott—one wounded, three missing; Captain Steele's Battalion— fifteen killed, forty-four wounded, two missing; Captain Carr's Company— four missing; Captain Wood's Company of Kansas Rangers— one wounded; Captain Wright's Dade County Home Guards—two wounded; Captain Totten's Battery—four killed, seven-wounded Captain Dubois' Battery—two wounded, one missing; Colonel Sigel's Third Regiment Missouri Infantry—thirteen killed, fifteen wounded, twenty-seven missing; Colonel Salomon's Regiment Fifth Missouri Infantry— thirteen killed, thirty-eight wounded, fifteen missing. Total— two hundred and thirty-five killed, seven hundred and fifty-f our wounded, one hundred and two missing. Of the wounded forty-eight are known to have died of their injuries afterwards, making the actual loss in killed two hundred and eighty-three. The principal Federal officers killed were Gen. Nathaniel Lyon; Capt. Gratz First Missouri; Capt. A. L. Mason, First Iowa. Wounded, General Sweeney; Colonel Deitzler, First Kansas (twice); Colonel Mitchell, Second Kansas; Colonel Merritt, First Iowa , Lieutenant-colonel Andrews, First Missouri; Adjutant Waldron, First Iowa,Captain Plummer, of the regulars. [290]
Following is the loss in the Confederate army, Price's column, General Slack's Division, Col. John C. Hughes' Brigade, thirty-six killed, seventy-six wounded (many mortally), thirty missing; among the killed were C. H. Bennet, adjutant of Hughes' regiment; Capt. Charles Blackwell, of Carroll county, and Lieutenant Hughes. Colonel Rives' Brigade lost four killed and eight wounded; among the killed were Lieutenant-colonel Austin, of Livingston county, a member of the state legislature and Captain Enyart. General Clark's Division Infantry—seventeen killed and seventy-one wounded; cavalry, six killed and five wounded. Among the killed were Captains Farris and Halleck and Lieutenant Haskins. Among the wounded were General Clark himself and Colonel Burbridge, both severely, and Capt. D. H. McIntyre,later attorney-general of Missouri. General Parson's Division Infantry—nine killed and thirty-eight wounded; cavalry, three killed and two wounded; Guibor's Artillery, three killed and seven wounded. Among the killed was Captain Coleman, of Grundy county. Colonel Kelly, commanding infantry, was wounded. General McBride's Division—total loss, twenty-two killed, one hundred and twenty-four wounded. Among the latter were Colonel Foster (mortally) and Captains Nichols, Dougherty, Armstrong and Mings. General Rains' Division—Weightman's Brigade, thirty killed, one hundred and eleven wounded. Cawthorn's Brigade, twenty-one killed and seventy-five wounded. Among the killed were Col. Richard Hanson Weightman, commanding the First Brigade and Maj. Charles Rogers, of St. Louis. Two other prominent officers were killed among the Southerners, namely: Col. Ben Brown, of Ray county, commanding cavalry with McCulloch's army and Col. George W. Allen, of Saline county, of General Price's staff. The latter was shot down while bearing an order and buried on the field. Col. Horace H. Brand, of Price's staff, was taken prisoner, but released soon afterward. According to official reports, the loss in General Price's army was one hundred and fifty-six killed, six hundred and nine wounded, thirty missing. The official report of General McCulloch states that in the aggregate he had in his army one hundred and nine killed, three hundred wounded and fifty prisoners. Among the officers killed were Captain Hanson, of the Louisiana regiment; Captain McAlexander and Adjutant Harper, of Churchill's regiment; Captains Bell and Brown and Lieutenants Walton and Weaver, of Pearce's Division. Some of the severely wounded were Colonel McIntosh (by a grapeshot), Lieutenant-colonel Neal, Maj. H. Ward, Captains Gibbs, Pearsons, Ramsaur, King and Porter, and Lieutenants Johnson, Chambers, Dawson, King, Rainey, McIvor, Saddler, Hardister and Adams. The aggregate Confederate loss was not far from two hundred and sixty-five killed, nine hundred wounded and eighty prisoners. This was a little heavier than that of the Federals, owing, partly to the long-range muskets and rifles of the latter and their more efficiently served artillery. Military men agreed that the Confederate batteries were not well served, as a rule, in this battle. The combined loss the two armies was about five hundred killed and over sixteen hundred wounded. [291]
CARE OF THE WOUNDED AND BURIAL OF THE DEAD.
By ten o'clock the morning of the battle the Federal wounded began to arrive in Springfield from the front; where the contest was hourly growing fiercer, with the news that General Lyon was driving the enemy at all points. The Union sympathizers cheered lustily and bestirred themselves in giving every attention to the wounded soldiers. The court house on the west side of the public square, which had not long been finished and the sheriff's residence were appropriated for hospital purposes and by midnight contained one hundred men. The Bailey house was filled, the Methodist church building was similarly occupied. Ambulances, carriages, express wagons, delivery wagons of grocers and butchers, in fact every sort of vehicle with wheels and springs, plied hurriedly between the town and the battlefield all day and until after nightfall, bringing off the wounded. There was no "lack of woman's nursing, nor dearth of woman's tears," as we read of at the battle of Bingen on the Rhine; for a large number of the women of the town volunteered their services as hospital nurses and assisted in any way as best they could.
The dead at Wilson's Creek were not well disposed of. All were given hasty and rude burial. The Confederate slain fared somewhat better, being buried by their own comrades. The Federal dead were put under the ground as soon as possible and with but little or no ceremony. Fourteen bodies were thrown into an old well near the battlefield, and thirty-four were tumbled into a large "sink-hole" nearby. The others were buried in groups here and there, and the burial heaps marked. In many instances a few soldiers were present when the burials were made and identified certain graves. Some of the bodies whose graves were so marked were afterward disinterred and removed to their former homes. A number of the Federal dead were never buried. This was particularly true regarding Colonel Sigel's men, who were killed over a large stretch of country, some dying among the thick underbrush and were not hunted out. Doctor Melcher, mentioned in preceding pages, said that he saw portions of the bodies of the German Federals strewn along near the road, several days after the battle, having been torn by dogs, hogs, buzzards and beasts of prey. Skulls and bones later gathered indicated that at least a dozen bodies had been left unburied. Citizens in that locality corroborated the doctor's statement. The weather being oppressively hot putrefaction soon set in and as there was a great scarcity of coffins and coffin makers, perhaps the Southerners did the best they could under the circumstances. Their own dead, in many instances, were given imperfect burial. Six years after the battle, in 1867, when the National cemetery at Springfield was established, the contractor for the removal of the Union soldiers on the field of Wilson's Creek, took up and removed to the cemetery, one hundred and eighty-three bodies, including thirty-four from the "sink-hole" and fourteen from the old well, and one hundred and thirty-five from different portions of the field. [292]
GLOOM SETTLES OVER THE LAND.
"The widows of Ashur are loud in their wail for those whose eyes waxed deadly and chill," was written in describing the scenes after the destruction of Sennacherib's army in the ancient days of the old Scriptures. Something similar would not be inappropriate in an attempt to depict the heart-rendering scenes following the great contest of arms delineated in the foregoing pages, for a pall of gloom, somber, impenetrable, spread its cloudy wings over the land, up and down the valley of the turbid Father of Waters for a thousand miles, as news of the conflict penetrated to the distant homes of those who went down "in the valley of death" in the Ozarks. The habiliments of woe draped ten thousand hearth-stones in mourning from as far south as central Louisiana, as far north as central Iowa and as far west as central Kansas and all over Missouri and Arkansas. Never again could they come back to the peaceful home, labor in their harvest fields or greet their little ones, wives or mothers at the thresholds they held so dear in days gone by. There they lay, weltering in their blood, ghastly under the cerulean skies, the hills and vales all serene once more and with the purling stream near by, heedlessly hastening on—incarnadined to the sea. [293]
GREENE COUNTY MEN IN THE BATTLE.
Capt. Dick Campbell's company of Greene county men fought in McBride's Division of the Missouri State Guards. Early in the engagement, this company, which was mounted, was sent to the westward, the right of General Lyon's position, and to the extreme left and a little to the front of General Price's Division. Here it remained, watching the Federals to prevent them from flanking the Confederate position. When the fight was practically over, the company withdrew from its position and came on to the main field. The men had been without water through the long morning hours and, running down the hill to a spring to quench their thirst which was becoming unbearable, they were fired upon by some lurking Federals; Martin McQuigg was mortally wounded, being shot through the body and died in a day or two. Dr. A. V. Small was slightly wounded; C. T. Frazier's arm was broken by a musket ball and Louis Tatum's horse was killed under him. On the whole it is rather surprising how few men from this county fought at Wilson's Creek. On the Federal side there were but few who took part, although back in Springfield over one thousand men stood ready and anxious to engage the enemy, eagerly waiting a call to assist Lyon or Sigel at any stage of the fight. With Sigel were the Union guides, John Steele, Andy Adams, Baker Owen, L. A. D. Crenshaw, and with Lyon was F. L. McElhany, Pleasant Hart, Parker Cox and others. It is believed that a number of over-zealous Union men went out unobserved with the First Kansas Regiment and fought independently, but their names have never been made public. John E. Phelps, son of Col. John S. Phelps, and afterwards a brevet brigadier general, early on the morning of the battle, set out for his father's home south of town, armed for the fight with a Maynard rifle and a Colt's dragoon revolver. Accompanying him was one of his father's slaves, a negro man named George, another negro named Amos, belonging to Major Dorn, of the secessionists and Pleasant Hall and Robert Russell, two young men, citizens of the county. They took the Fayetteville road, Phelps in the lead, and the party encountered Lieutenant Morton of the Second Kansas. The squad, now numbering six, hurried along as the firing began and soon encountered two pickets. Leaving the others to attract their attention, Phelps contrived to make his way to the rear of the pickets, and coming upon them suddenly leveled his rifle and soon had them prisoners. The party then rode on and soon encountered another picket. Employing the same tactics as those used on the former post, Phelps succeeded in capturing a well armed State Guard lieutenant of McBride's Division, named Kelly, who had four revolvers, a double barreled shotgun and a heavy dragoon saber. Buckling on the saber himself, Phelps rode to the main field of battle, and, encountering a detachment of Confederates, induced a negro belonging to an officer of the Louisiana regiment to ride out to him when, forcing the negro to follow and keeping him between the enemy and himself, Phelps retired in good order. He met a large squad at Ray's house still nearer the contending lines, was encountered in the house and taken in. Just then a newspaper correspondent named Barnes, representing the New York Tribune, came up, and of the event he wrote the following to his paper:
I now determined to cross the creek and see if I could find Colonel Sigel, as a report reached us that he was entirely cut to pieces. I had not proceeded, far on the eastern side of the creek, when I met the son of Hon. John S. Phelps, who had left town upon hearing the cannonading, with but a few troops, and, not discerning the exact positions of the two armies, had busied himself taking prisoners on the Fayetteville road and west of it. When I met him he had captured near a dozen, including a negro belonging to an officer in a Louisiana regiment. Placing them upon the trail of our guards and in charge of a Kansas officer, Phelps and myself proceeded, but found it unsafe to attempt to cross the Fayetteville road, and, seeing the army retreating, we joined them and returned to the city. [293-294]
Col. Marcus Boyd had in Springfield during the battle a force of Home Guards from Greene and adjoining counties, numbering twelve hundred men, all under arms, and all ready and willing to fight. But General Lyon looked upon them as an efficient fighting force about in the same manner as McCulloch regarded Price's Missouri State Guard. The former had no confidence that any other troops but regular's could fight well or be relied upon at a critical moment, and so he refused to permit them to go to the front, saying that they would break at the first fire and demoralize the rest of the troops, and perhaps cause him to lose the fight. But in this he was no doubt mistaken and had these troops been placed on the field would have fought as well as the volunteers in either army and might have been the cause victory, perching upon the banners of the Federals. General Lyon evidently made a grave mistake in not employing every man that could use a musket against the overwhelming forces of the Southerners. He has been criticized for not using the Home Guards and for permitting Sigel to take a position at such a remote distance from his column. Had he concentrated his own column and these additional divisions of over two thousand men, there might have been a different story following that fatal day. But his anxiety to not leave his rear and base wholly unprotected from a cavalry dash or sudden movement of some sort, led to his leaving this large force in Springfield, which stood in arms all the forenoon, hearing impatiently their comrades fighting assiduously only a few miles away, but were forbidden to join in the fray.
FEDERALS EVACUATE SPRINGFIELD.
All the afternoon following the battle, the Union regiments and detachments, batteries and ambulances poured into Springfield, all however, in tolerable order, but presenting on the whole quite a different appearance to that observed when they marched out on the previous afternoon. Begrimed with dust, smoke and sweat, torn uniforms and an air of dejection, they portrayed the day's events in an unmistakable manner. After a brief rest and refreshing themselves they prepared for flight. The principal officers held a conference, and, somewhat strange as it may seem, after the pitiable showing of Colonel Sigel in the battle, the command of all the forces were turned over to him. Major Sturgis is said to have favored his selection because he was especially good in a retreat, although not altogether successful in an attack. The citizens were notified and hundreds of them began packing up and preparing to follow the army, that is, the Union sympathizers who dreaded the coming of the Southern troops. The Home Guards also got ready to move as a part of the army. The movement was not confined alone to the people of Springfield but many who resided in the country also prepared to move. It seemed that General Lyon had a premonition before he went out to give battle that the end would be disastrous to the government cause and he ordered the large sum of money in the local bank prepared for shipment and guarded by a company of Home Guards. Merchandise of all kinds was loaded into wagons and certain officers "pressed" teams into service for the occasion, and commissary and quartermasters' stores were loaded into the wagons. According to Colonel Boyd one officer, high in Sigel's confidence, had no wagon or other accouterments for his regiment. He pressed a pair of mules and a wagon and instead of loading it with flour and bacon, piled it with seven barrels of whisky and one box of "hard-tack" for his fragmentary regiment of five hundred men on a retreat of one hundred and fifty miles. But it seemed that this far-seeing officer knew what he was about, and on the long march fed not only his own men but hundreds of refugees with the proceeds of trades and sundry traffickings for his much-sought after cargo, and when he reached Rolla, Phelps county, had two barrels of whisky left, besides seventeen wagons loaded with country hams, sugar, molasses, coffee and diverse other articles of food. Sigel's ordinance officer destroyed a considerable quantity of powder because there was no means of transporting it. The First Iowa regiment also burned a portion of its baggage for the same reason. The public square and streets leading thereto were literally jammed with army wagons, farm wagons, cannon carriages, buggies, horses, mules, cattle, infantry, cavalry, artillery. All was confusion, disorder. Wild rumors of all kinds kept frightened men, women and children in a turmoil and tumult, which continued all the afternoon and far into the night. Dr. E. C. Franklin was given general charge of the Federal wounded and Major Sturgis left with him the sum of twenty-five hundred dollars in gold, with which to purchase supplies for the wounded left behind, to care for General Lyon's body, and for other necessary expenses. Doctor Franklin was surgeon of the Fifth Missouri Infantry. [295-296]
The army did not get ready to march until midnight. The train of wagons that set out for Rolla was three miles long and besides the army proper there was a column of refugees, men, women and children, young and old, including many negroes; the citizens were in wagons, carriages, on horseback and afoot. Although this was practically three nights the troops had spent without sleep, they made a good march and reached the adjoining county by daybreak. A strong rear guard momentarily expected to clash with the cavalry of the enemy which, however, did not pursue, making no attempt to capture the retreating army with its two million dollars in money and stores. Why, the Confederate officers themselves never explained. Sigel marched on, undisturbed until near the crossing of the Gasconade river, Before attempting to cross this stream he had received information that the ford was not one that could be well crossed by his train, also that a large force of the enemy was moving across the country from West Plains to Waynesville, to cut off the retreat. He was also told that it would take considerable time to cross the Robidoux and Big Piney and Little Piney creeks on the old road. In order to avoid these difficulties and to give the army an opportunity to rest, Sigel directed the troops from Lebanon, Laclede county to the northern road passing Right Point, in the southeastern part of Camden county, and Humboldt, Pulaski county, and terminating opposite the mouth of Little Piney where in case the ford could not be passed, the train could be sent by Vienna and Linn to the mouth of the Gasconade, while the troops could ford the river at the mouth of the Little Piney to reinforce Rolla. He ordered a ferry boat from Big Piney Crossing to be hauled down on the Gasconade to the mouth of Little Piney, where it arrived immediately after the army had crossed the ford, and was used to take the artillery across. However, before reaching the ford, Sigel had given up the command of the army to Major Sturgis. The army reached Rolla on August 19th, where temporary camp was made which was named "Camp Carey Gratz," in honor of the captain of the First Missouri Infantry killed at Wilson's Creek. In a few days the First Iowa Infantry and the Missouri and Kansas troops, whose terms of enlistment had expired sometime previously, were sent to St. Louis to be mustered out. [296-297]
CONFEDERATE TROOPS ENTER SPRINGFIELD.
It was nearly twenty-four hours after the battle of Wilson's Creek ended before the armies of Generals Price and McCulloch marched into Springfield, the advance guard reaching there about eleven o'clock Sunday morning, August 11th. It was composed of Texas and Missouri cavalry. By the afternoon the town was pretty well filled by the Southerners and Price and McCulloch themselves came in. The stores were visited and the proprietors interviewed and there was great activity in mercantile circles for awhile, thousands of dollars' worth of goods being purchased in a few hours. Everything was paid for, but in Confederate or Missouri script. Encampments were laid out, troops were distributed in different sections of the town and preparations were made to permanently occupy it. Brigadier-general Rains confiscated the major portion of the medical supplies, leaving about enough for the Union sick and wounded to last a week and although Doctors Franklin, Melcher, Haussler, Ludwig and Davis of the regular army force of surgeons, assisted by several local physicians, labored heroically in saving the lives of many of the wounded, they were often in great straits on account of lack of proper medical supplies.
As intimated in the early portion of this chapter, those were days of frequent proclamations by the commanders of the various armies, and the day after the Confederates took possession of Springfield, Gen. Ben McCulloch issued the following: [297]
Headquarters Western Army, Camp near Springfield, Mo.
August 12,1861.
To the People of Missouri:
Having been called by the governor of your state to assist in driving the National forces out of the state, and in restoring to the people their just rights, I have come among you simply with the view of making war upon our Northern foes, to drive them back and give the oppressed of your state an opportunity of again standing up as free men and uttering their true sentiments. You have been overrun and trampled upon by the mercenary hordes of the North; your beautiful state has been nearly subjugated, but those true sons of Missouri who have continued in arms, together with my forces, came back upon the enemy, and we have gained over them a great and signal victory. Their general-in-chief is slain, and many of their other general officers are wounded. Their army is in full flight; and now if the true men of Missouri will rise up and rally around our standard the state will be redeemed. I do not come among you to make war upon any of your people, whether Union or otherwise; the Union people will all be protected in their rights and property. It is earnestly recommended to them to return to their homes. Prisoners of the Union army, who have been arrested by the army, will be released and allowed to return to their friends. Missouri must be allowed to choose her own destiny, no oath binding your consciences. I have driven, the enemy from among you; the time has now arrived for the people of the state to act. You can no longer proscrastinate. Missouri must now take her position, be it North or South.
Ben McCulloch,
Brig. Gen. Commanding.
This proclamation was posted all over Southwestern Missouri and it was well received by the people of Greene county, especially the Union sympathizers, who expected to be treated with great severity. All now looked forward to a season of security if not of peace. But the proclamation was not very carefully observed; Unionists were arrested and their property and often that of their secession neighbors seized and appropriated whenever the subordinate Confederate officer desired to do so. General McCulloch issued the following congratulatory order to the troops under his command as a result of the battle of Wilson's Creek, at the same time he issued the above proclamation: [298]
The general commanding takes great pleasure in announcing to the army under his command, the signal victory it has just gained. Soldiers of Louisiana, of Arkansas, of Missouri, and of Texas, nobly have you sustained yourselves. Shoulder to shoulder you have met the enemy and driven him before you. Your first battle has been glorious and your general is proud of you. The opposing forces, composed mostly of the old regular army of the North, have thrown themselves upon you, confident of victory, but by great gallantry and determined courage, you have routed them with great slaughter. Several pieces of artillery and many prisoners are now in your hands. The commander-in-chief of the enemy is slain and many of the general officers wounded. The flag of the Confederacy, now floats over Springfield, the stronghold of the enemy. The friends of our cause who have been in prison there are released. While announcing to the army the great victory, the general hopes that the laurels you have gained will not be tarnished by a single outrage. The private property of citizens of either party must be respected. Soldiers who fought as you did the day before yesterday cannot rob or plunder. By order of Ben McCulloch, General Commanding. James McIntosh, Captain C. S. A. and adjutant general.
A few days later General Price issued the following proclamation:
To the People of Missouri: The army under my command has been organized under the laws of the state for the protection of your homes and firesides, and for the maintenance of the rights, dignity and honor of Missouri. It is kept in the field for these purposes alone and to aid in accomplishing them, our gallant Southern brethren have come into our state. We have just achieved a glorious victory over the foe, and scattered far and wide the well-appointed army which the usurper at Washington has been more than six months gathering for your subjugation and enslavement. This victory frees a large portion of the state from the power of the invaders and restores it to the protection of its army. It consequently becomes my duty to assure you that it is my firm determination to protect every peaceable citizen in the full enjoyment of all his rights, whatever may have been his sympathies in the present unhappy struggle, if he has not taken an active part in the cruel warfare, which has been waged against the good people of this state by the ruthless enemies whom we have just defeated. I therefore invite all good citizens to return to their homes and the practice of their ordinary vocations with the full assurance that they, their families, their homes and their property shall be carefully protected. I, at the same time, warn all evil disposed persons, who may support the usurpations of anyone claiming to be provisional or temporary governor of Missouri, or who shall in any other way give aid or comfort to the enemy, that they will be held as enemies and treated accordingly.
Sterling Price, August 20, 1861
Maj. Gen. Commanding Missouri State Guard. [299]
It will be observed that the proclamations of Price and McCulloch differed somewhat regarding Union prisoners or sympathizers, the former declaring that all such should not be protected in his rights, while the latter declared that the prisoners should be released and allowed to return to their homes and their employments. Capt. Dick Campbell's company of Greene county secessionists, who had fought at Wilson's Creek, was assigned to permanent duty at Springfield and in their county over which they were well acquainted and were therefore able to give General Price specific information as to the Union families in that vicinity, which of them were entitled to special favors and which were not.
INFLUENCE OF THE BATTLE.
The battle of Wilson's Creek did much to strengthen the cause of the Confederates, the influence in Missouri being especially noticeable and had a very stimulating effect in recruiting for that army. Many who had been undecided as to what course to pursue took a stand for the cause of the South, and the news of the victory was received with great joy at the Confederate capital. On November 4, 1861, when Gov. Claiborne Jackson's legislature, in session at Cassville, passed the Neosho secession ordinance, also the following resolution:
Resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring therein: That the thanks of the state of Missouri are hereby cordially given to Major General Price and Brigadier Generals Parsons, Rains, McBride, Slack, Clark and Steen, and the officers and troops of the Missouri State Guard under their command and to Brigadier General McCulloch and officers and troops the Confederate states under their command, for their gallant and signal services and the victory obtained by them in the battle of Springfield.
The following resolutions were introduced into the Confederate Congress on August 21, 1861 by Mr. Ochiltree, who subsequently became prominent politician and a member of Congress of the United States from Texas, and were passed unanimously.
Whereas, It has pleased Almighty God to vouchsafe to the arms of the Confederate states another glorious and important victory, in a portion of the country where a reverse would have been disastrous by exposing the families of the good people of the state of Missouri, to the unbridled license of the brutal soldiery of an unscrupulous enemy, therefore
Be it Resolved by the Congress of the Confederate States, That the thanks of Congress are cordially tendered to Brigadier-general McCulloch and the officers and soldiers of his brave command for their gallant conduct in defeating after a battle of six and a half hours a force of the enemy equal in numbers and greatly superior in all their appointments, thus proving that a right cause nerves the hearts and strengthens the arms of the Southern people, fighting as they are for their liberty, their homes and friends, against an unholy despotism. [300]
Resolved, That in the opinion of Congress, General McCulloch and his troops are entitled to and will receive the grateful thanks of all our people.
DISPOSITION OF THE BODY OF GENERAL LYON.
Scores of accounts of the tragic death of Gen. Nathaniel Lyon on the field of Wilson's Creek have been published, very few of them agreeing in details. It was even difficult to get the true facts regarding his burial. The stories have been varied partly because in the excitement of the battle those who really witnessed the general's death saw the matter a little different from each other, and partly because of a morbid tendency of many who did not see it to desire notoriety, of having their names published in connection with some notable event, hence are willing to risk lying about it. But the corroborated and now undisputed facts in the case are substantially as follows:
General Lyon was killed about eleven o'clock while placing the Second Kansas Infantry in position, by a rifle or navy revolver ball which passed through the region of the heart. He was seated on a horse and as he started to fall was caught by a private soldier, Edward Lehman, of Company B, First United States Cavalry, who assisted him to the ground. Mr. Lehman, two other soldiers and Lieutenant Schreyer, of Captain Tholen's company, Second Kansas, bore the body to the rear immediately. Death was almost instantaneous, but Lehman heard the general whisper as he laid him on the ground, "Lehman, I'm going." As the body was borne to the rear, Lieut. William Wherry, one of the general's aids, had the face covered and ordered Lehman, who was crying like a child, to desist from any show of emotion, and tried every way he could to prevent the news of Lyon's death from spreading through the ranks, fearing its ill effects on the troops. The body was placed in the shade of a small black-jack, the face covered with half a soldier's blanket, the limbs composed and in a few minutes there gathered round General Sweeney, Major Sturgis, Major Schofield, Surgeon F. M. Cornyn and Gordon Granger. The surgeon examined the body hastily and wiped the blood from the side of the face made by a wound in the head, received previously, the fatal wound having been the third he had received within a half hour. Major 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 lying there the body including the face became covered with blood from the wounds. About twenty minutes after the body had been brought back, Lieut. David Murphy of the First Missouri Infantry, 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 Company D, First United States Cavalry. This wagon was about to start to Springfield and contained in addition a number of wounded men. A few minutes later a sergeant of the regular army came up and ordered the body taken out, saying that an ambulance would soon be there for it. The corpse was then replaced under the tree where it had before reposed. But a few minutes more and the Federal army was retreating and the ambulance never came up. The body lay about two hundred yards northeast of "Bloody Hill" and before the Confederates reached the spot a number of wounded Union soldiers gathered around their dead hero, and an hour after the army left the field, a detachment of skirmishers from an Arkansas regiment, came upon the group and discovering the occasion of the crowd, immediately spread the news that General Lyon was killed. Instantly there was a great tumult and a half dozen privates bore the news to Generals McCulloch and Price. Many did not believe the story upon seeing the plainly dressed body, in an old faded captain's uniform with but three United States buttons on the coat and a simple cord down the leg of the trousers to indicate that he was in the military service, they could not think that this was the famous General Lyon. The body was placed in a small covered wagon, used as an ambulance, to be conveyed to General McCulloch's headquarters, when an order arrived that it should be taken to General Price's headquarters, and delivered to Dr. S. H. Melcher, a surgeon with the Fifth Missouri Infantry. Doctor Melcher had been informed by Col. Emmet McDonald that Lyon had been killed and at once asked for his body. After the wagon reached headquarters and the body had been viewed by General Price, General Rains and other officers, it was turned over to Doctor Melcher. Lying beside General Lyon was a wounded soldier, who was now taken out of the wagon and then General Rains himself and some of his cavalry escorted the wagon to the house of Mr. Ray, on or near the battlefield. We continue the narrative in Doctor Melcher's own language which follows: 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 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 General Lyon was holding the bridle rein in the 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, General Rains said: "I will not order any to go with you, but volunteers may go" and five Confederate soldiers offered their services as escort. One drove the team; the others being mounted, rode with me behind the wagon. The only name I can give is that of Orderly Sergeant Bracket of a company of Churchill's Arkansas regiment. Another of the escort was a German who, in 1863, was clerk in Springfield and during the defense of that place against the attack of Marmaduke, January 8, 1863, did service in the citizens' company of forty-two men which was attached to my "Quinine Brigade" from the hospitals. [301-302]
General Rains offered the military escort and transportation subject to orders and he also assured me that all the Federal wounded should be taken care of, that they could be removed under the hospital flag, and the dead, should be buried as rapidly as possible.
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, First Missouri Volunteer Infantry, who, with what remained of that gallant company, was guarding the outposts. I passed on to the camps of Gen. James and Gen. T. W. Sweeney. Here General Totten relieved my escort and sent them back to their command and a new driver was furnished and I delivered the body of General Lyon to Maj. J. M. Schofield, First Missouri Volunteer Infantry, this gentleman finally becoming rnajor-general in the United States army. The body of our chief was taken to the house that had been used previous to the battle by General Lyon for his headquarters.
After the Union army under Sturgis had gotten well under way toward Springfield it was discovered that General Lyon's body had been left behind. Sturgis immediately sent back a flag of truce party under Lieutenant Canfield, of the regular army, with orders to go to Generals Price and mcCulloch, and, if possible, procure the remains and bring them on to Springfield. Lieutenant Canfield and party went to the battlefield, saw General McCulloch, obtained his order for the body, and there ascertained that the body had already started back to the Union forces.
When the corpse was deposited in the former headquarters of the general on the north side of College street, west of Main street, in Springfield, word was sent to Sturgis. He held a consultation with Schofield and other officers and decided that the body should be taken with the army to Rolla, if possible. There being no metallic coffin available, it was determined to, embalm it and Dr. E. C. Franklin, the chief surgeon was sent for. After the war he made the following statement regarding this event: [303]
COULD NOT PRESERVE THE BODY.
About ten o'clock on the night when I arrived at headquarters, I was summoned there and then first saw the body of General 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. Majors Sturgis, Schofield and others consulted me as to the possibility of injecting the body with such materials as would prevent decay during its transit to St. Louis. I prepared fluid for injection into the body, but discovered that instead of being retained in 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 manner possible. At this time preparations were being made and the orders given for the troops to retreat and fall back upon Rolla, some one hundred and fifty 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 General 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.
Doctor Franklin was furnished with money and directed to have the general's remains well cared for and he ordered Presley Beal, an undertaker, 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 on College street. Soon she and the wife of Mr. Beal were by his side watching him. Soon came also the wife of Col. Marcus Boyd and her two daughters. The body was now changing fast, having lain about twenty-four hours in very hot weather. Mr. Beal brought the coffin and soon a butcher's wagon was on its way to the Phelps' farm with all that was mortal of one of the ablest warriors of the Union, and with no escort save the driver, Mr. Beal, Mrs. Phelps, and two soldiers. Col. Emmett McDonald, who had been made a prisoner by General Lyon at the capture of Camp Jackson, not only assisted Doctor Melcher when Lyon was killed in recovering the body, but Doctor Franklin said 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 General Lyon, tendered to me an escort of Confederate troops as a "guard of honor" to accompany the general'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. [304]
Mrs. Phelps was practically alone at the time. Her husband was in his seat at Washington; her son, John E. Phelps had gone away with the Federal troops, accompanied even by her faithful servant, George. But she did not hesitate to do what she regarded as her duty, and the body was taken to her residence and was held there some time, she believing that it would soon be sent for. James Vaughan, who owned a tin shop in Springfield, was ordered to make a zinc case for the coffin, to assist in rendering it air tight. The coffin was temporarily deposited in an outdoor cellar, which in summer was used as an ice-house. It was covered deep in straw. It was here placed about two o'clock on Sunday afternoon, the 11th. George, the slave, returned two days later. While the body of the general lay in the cellar it was visited by some citizens and many Southern soldiers. Mrs. Phelps asked General Price to send a detail and bury the body. This was done by volunteers from Kelly's and Guibor's Infantry, of General Parsons' Division, at the time encamped on Colonel Phelps' farm. It is believed the body was not buried until the 14th. The slave George dug the grave, which was in the garden at the Phelps home. Some of the soldiers stamped on the grave in great delight.
A four-mule ambulance arrived in Springfield on the 22d, bearing a three-hundred pound metallic coffin, and the following party: Danford Knowlton, of New York City, a cousin of General Lyon; John B. Hasler, of Webster, Massachusetts, the general's brother-in-law, and George N. Lynch, at that time a well known undertaker of St. Louis. From Rolla to Springfield, the party was accompanied by the gallant Col. Emmett McDonald who had been to the Federal camp to arrange for an exchange of prisoners and from whom Mr. Hasler said the party received many attentions and favors. Upon arriving here they visited General Price and handed him a letter from General Fremont explaining their mission, which was to bear away the body of General Lyon. As the letter was directed "To Whom It May Concern," and General Price, after glancing at the address, threw it contemptuously side, saying he could read no document thus directed. At the same time he offered to grant them every facility for securing the body of their dead relative. Repairing to the Phelps farm the party disinterred the body, removed the zinc cover and placed the body in the huge metallic coffin brought from St. Louis. General Parsons, whose division was encamped nearby, came up, introduced himself, and Mr. Hasler says, "showed us numerous civilities. Among other attentions he tendered a guard for the body and tent over night, which was accepted." The next day the party left Springfield and was in Rolla on the 25th and in St. Louis on the 26th. Here a military escort joined. From thence the party proceeded to Eastford, Connecticut, the birthplace of General Lyon, which place was reached September 4th , there being great honors paid the body in the towns enroute. On September 5th the body was buried in the family burying ground at Eastford. The funeral was held in the Congregational church and during the ceremonies, according to a Mr. Woodward who was present, the light felt hat which the general waved aloft while 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, were laid upon the coffin lid. The hat had been brought from the battlefield by the wounded soldier 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 the Connecticut Historical Society and have since been in the possession of the same.
Gen. Nathaniel Lyon was born in Eastford, Connecticut, July 14, 1818. He entered West Point in 1837, from which he was graduated in 1841, standing eleventh in a class of fifty. He served in Florida against the Seminole Indians in 1841-2; was in the Mexican war under Taylor and Scott; was in California and on the frontier from 1850 to 1861. He was never married. He had just passed his forty-third birthday when his brilliant and most promising life so tragically ended. [305-306]
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