THE LAST GRAND CHARGE OF PRICE’S MEN.
The great questions in the minds of Sturgis and Sweeney and the other Federal officers, who had been informed of the plan of attack agreed upon were, “Where is Sigel? Why doesn’t he co-operate?” Although it seemed as if there must be a retreat should the Southerners make another vigorous charge, yet if Sigel should come up with his near 1,000 men, and make an attack on Price’s right flank and rear, then the Federals could go forward with strong hopes of success. If Sigel had been whipped, however, there was nothing left but to retreat.
Maj. Schofield, Lyon’s chief of staff, rode to Sturgis and informed him that Lyon was killed and Sigel could not be heard from, and moreover, that the ammunition was about exhausted, some of the troops being entirely out. Sturgis thereupon assumed command—although only a major at the time. He at once summoned the principal officers left and consulted with them. All agreed that unless Sigel made his appearance very soon there was nothing left but to retreat, if indeed retreat were possible.
The consultation was brought to a close by the advance of a heavy column of infantry from towards the hill where Sigel’s battery had been heard at the beginning of the struggle. These troops carried flags which, drooping about the staffs, much resembled the stars and stripes, and Sturgis and Schofield say the troops had the appearance of Sigel’s. A staff officer in front of where the consultation was going on rode back and called out delightedly “Yonder comes Sigel! Yonder comes Sigel!” and the officers departed, each to his command to arrange for the expected change in the programme.
On came the moving mass in Sturgis’ front, the soldiers cool and steady as grenadiers. Down the hill across the hollow in front they swept and took position along the foot of the ridge on which the Federals were posted. And now, “they are rebels!” was heard from the more advanced of the Kansans and Iowans. Suddenly a battery (Guibor’s) which had followed the line and had reached the hill in front of “Bloody Hill,” wheeled about, unlimbered and the command “Fire!” rang out and the guns belched forth shrapnel and canister before the trail pieces had hardly touched the ground. The infantry at the foot of the hill, now began firing and slowly ascending the hill, and at once commenced the fiercest and most bloody struggle of all that bloody day.
Lieut. Dubois’ battery, on the Federal left supported by Osterhaus’ two companies and the rallied fragments of the Missouri 1st, opened on the new battery (Guibor’s) and soon checked it. Totten’s battery, still in the Federal center, supported by the Iowans and regulars, seemed to be the main point of the Confederate attack.
The Missourians frequently came up within twenty feet of the muzzles of Totten’s guns and received their charges of canister full in their faces, and the two clouds of battle smoke mingled until they seemed as one.
For the first time during the day the Federal line never wavered and the Confederate line never flinched. At one time Capt. Steele’s battalion, which was some yards in front, together with the left flanks, was in danger of being overwhelmed and captured, the contending lines standing so close that the muzzles of their guns almost touched. Capt. Granger, of Sturgis’ staff, ran to the rear and brought up the supports of Dubois’ battery, consisting of Osterhaus’ battalion, detachment, of the 1st Missouri, 1st Kansas, and two companies of the 1st Iowa, in quick time, and took position on the left flank, and poured in a heavy volley upon the Confederates, which was so murderous and destructive that that portion of the line gave way. Capts. Patrick E. Burke and Madison Miller, and Adjutant Hiscock, of the 1st Missouri, were especially mentioned for gallantry in this assault.
The entire Confederate line now fell back a short distance and began again forming. Sturgis took advantage of this lull in the storm to make good his retreat. Perceiving that Totten’s battery and Steele’s battalion were entirely safe, for the present, and directing Capt. Totten to replace his disabled horses as soon as possible, Sturgis sent Dubois’ battery to the rear with its supports to take up a position on the hill in the rear and cover the retreat. The 2d Kansas, on the extreme right, having been nearly out of ammunition for some time, was ordered to withdraw, which it did bringing off its wounded. This, however, left the Federal right flank exposed, and the Missourians at that point, to the number of 100 or more, advanced at once; they were driven back, however, by Steele’s battalion of regulars and joined the main force reforming in the rear.