An account of the battle of Wilson's Creek, or Oak Hills, fought between the Union troops, commanded by Gen. N. Lyon and the Southern, or Confederate troops, under command of Gens. McCulloch and Price, on Saturday, August 10, 1861, in Greene county, Missouri

by R. I. Holcombe; Thomas W. Adams

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.