CHAPTER IV.
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.