(•JorncU Hniuetaity Hthraty 
 
 THE JAMES VERNER SCAIFE 
 
 COLLECTION 
 
 CIVIL WAR LITERATURE 
 
 THE GIFT OF 
 
 JAMES VERNER SCAIFE 
 
 CLASS OF 1889 
 
 1919 
 
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 Cornell University Library 
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 With the light guns in '61 -'65 
 
 olin 
 
 3 1924 030 922 060 
 
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FIRST LIEUT. OMER R, WEAVER. 
 Killed at Oak Hill, August, 10, 1861. 
 
^^^^TH THE LIGHT GUNS 
 IN '61-65 
 
 Remtniscences of Eleven Arkansas, Missouri 
 
 AND Texas Light Batteries, in 
 
 THE Civil. War. 
 
 " Hcec olim meniinisse juvabit. " 
 
 By W. E. woodruff. 
 
 Late MajoiT Art., C. S, A. 
 
 Little Rock, Ark. : 
 
 CENTRAL PRINTING COMPANY, 
 
 1903 
 
Copyright, 1903, by W. E. Woodruff, Jr. 
 
PREFATORY 
 
 The accompanying hastily written sketch out- 
 lining the career of his old companies and battal- 
 lion, is made at the request of old comrades. It is 
 written in the spirit that influenced the action at 
 the time of occurrence, and is the best a failing 
 memory can do; it will serve until a better ac- 
 count can be prepared, wholly or by amendment. 
 It is merely a jotting down of names, facts and 
 incidents as recalled while writing, with few mem- 
 oranda or persons to consult. It makes no pre- 
 tension to literary merit. 
 
 Some occurrences are probably stated out of 
 chronological order, and the rolls are defective by 
 omission of names, partial or total. Ten thousand 
 things omitted are ineflFaceably impressed upon 
 memory by the hard pounding endured — some im- 
 portant, others trivial or only amusing — but enough 
 is given to show the character of the new military 
 life in the "trans-Mississippi" country, in '61-5, to 
 friends and descendants, who care to learn of 
 what the participants endured, learned and saw. 
 Most of the officers and men are dead or removed 
 
4 Prefatory 
 
 to a distance; forty-two years have elapsed since 
 the organization of the oldest company. Al- 
 though prepared very late, it may still be useful 
 as a memorial in honor of, and it is dedicated to 
 the men and boys who tried to do their state ser- 
 vice in a cause they believed to be just, at peril 
 of their lives and fortunes. 
 
 A plan of the field covered by the battle of Oak 
 Hill (so called by the victors), otherwise known 
 as Springfield or Wilson's Creek, is attached. It 
 is the work of another participant; it varies in 
 some respects from the writer's recollection, but 
 on the whole gives a fair representation of the 
 theatre of the famous struggle, and the grounds 
 on which the several States' troops were camped 
 at its opening. 
 
 W. E. WOODRUFF. 
 
MILITARY LITTLE ROCK 
 
 About i860, and for many years previous, the 
 militia laws of Arkansas authorized only four vol- 
 unteer company organizations in a county, one 
 each of artillery, cavalry, infantry and light in- 
 fantry (or riflemen.) 
 
 The first company in Pulaski county w^ithin the 
 writer's recollection, was an artillery company, 
 commanded by Captain Albert Pike, the names of 
 the subalterns now forgotten ; it must have been 
 about 1839 to 1841. It continued for several years, 
 drilling usually as infantry, but performing artil- 
 lery service — firing salutes on National holidays, 
 inauguration of governors and the like on import- 
 ant occasions — having the privilege of using the 
 old iron guns in store at the United States arsenal. 
 It reorganized as infantry under the same captain, 
 in the early '40's of last century, under the name 
 of "Little Rock Guards." The writer thinks the 
 late David F. Shall and Jno. E. Reardon were 
 among the lieutenants; D. C. Fulton was O. S. 
 It was a finely drilled company, and for many 
 years performed military functions in the small 
 community of Little Rock. Its armory was in the 
 basement of the old City Hotel, which stood on the 
 ground now occupied by the Lincoln Drug Com- 
 pany and Fones Company. 
 
6 With the Light Guns 
 
 There was also a company of cadets, composed 
 of boys of from 15 to i8 years, drilled by Captain 
 Bingham, an efficient officer. Its armory was on 
 ground now occupied by Adams & Boyle. Jas. 
 DeBaun, Jr., was the first captain, and Jno. C. 
 Peay succeeded him. Henry L. Pitcher was one 
 of the lieutenants. It made a creditable appear- 
 ance on several occasions, and was an important 
 factor in all public displays. 
 
 At the outbreak of the Mexican War in the 
 spring of 1846, two mounted companies were raised 
 in Pulaski county, for service in the cavalry regi- 
 ment later commanded by Colonel Archibald Yell; 
 one was commanded by Captain Albert Pike, with 
 Hamilton Reynolds, W. N. Causin and Jno. C. 
 Peay as lieutenants. It was composed in large 
 part of members of the Little Rock Guards Infan- 
 try Company, recruited from the county then 
 comprising parts of the present counties of 
 Lonoke and Prairie, and Faulkner, possibly. It 
 retained the name of "Little Rock Guards" until 
 mustered out at the close of the war. At the bat- 
 tle of Buena Vista it formed part of the battalion 
 of Capt. Charles May, and rendered distinguished 
 
 *Rank and file of Little Rock Guards at battle of Buena 
 Vista, Mexico, February 21-22, 1847, with commissioned 
 officers as above: 
 
 First Sergeant John C. Stevenson, Sergeants Charles L. 
 Sullivan, James T. Stevenson; Corporals Wm. F. Hicks, Wm. 
 H. Toler, Hery Crease, Charles W. Wolfe; Bugler A. M. 
 Crouch; Farrier Joe Schneider; Privates Wm. L. Adamson, 
 Stephen Bales, Frank Bolton, John B. Borden, A. H. Brack, 
 James Brack, Samuel Brookin, Sterling G. Butler, C. An- 
 drew Sellers. Hugh Collins, Ellis B. Dismukes, R. L. Duff, 
 Edwin L. Erwin, Robert C. Farrelly, H. Freyschlng, D. O. 
 Furr, S. N. Garner, John Goolesson, B. Hammond, W. H. 
 Hammond, Bnos Hannegin, J. H. Hendricks, John Hogan, 
 Isaac Johnson, Jesse Jones, James McVicker, George S. Mor- 
 rison, Gage Musser, M. Pinck Newman, Edward Pile, Jacob 
 
With the Light Guns 7 
 
 The other company was commanded by Captain 
 Solon Borland, with C. C. Danley, Josiah M. Giles 
 and Hiram Carr as lieutenants. Borland be- 
 came major of Yell's regiment then ; Danley was 
 made captain and Isaac D. Hamilton was elected 
 as senior first lieutenant in his stead. 
 
 After the close of ±he Mexican War, the military 
 spirit subsided and there was no organization of 
 any kind for several years, until its revival as the 
 "Capital Guards," under the captaincy of Gordon 
 N. Peay, Sr., with Lieutenants Jno. E. Reardon, D. 
 C. Fulton and John B. Lockman, late in the '50's 
 of the late century ; J. V. Zimmerman was O. S. 
 
 In the last half of Gov. E. N. Conway's adminis- 
 tration, owing to his urgent recommendations and 
 methods, much interest was manifested through- 
 out the State in military affairs. 
 
 In 1859-60, Capt. Thos. J. Churchill, late an of- 
 ficer of Col. Humphrey Marshall's Kentucky cav- 
 alry regiment, raised a volunteer cavalry company, 
 with Lieutenants Morton Galloway, L. L. Thomp- 
 son, Hall McConnell and Geo. S. Morrison. The 
 militia company was armed with lances and sabres, 
 and made a fine appearance. Later it went almost 
 bodily into Confederate service. 
 
 In 1860-61, Capt. Dan Ringo, Jr., organized a 
 company of light infantry. 
 
 There was still room and a demand in Pulaski 
 county for another volunteer company, and as the 
 
 Tscheimer, Jonas Reed, George S. Rose. Lawson Sitzes, B. B. 
 Smith, John D. Tharpe, Morgan Ussery and Ai-len M. Wood- 
 ruff. David Pursely died in hospital February 22, 1847. 
 There were no others sick or absent. Sergeant Sullivan and 
 Isaac Johnson were slig-htly wounded. None killed or miss- 
 ing. Total officers and men, 52. 
 
 Scott and Henry Gfray are known to have been members 
 of this company. The latter died in service. 
 
8 With the Light Guns 
 
 county's quota of militia organizations admitted 
 of none other, it necessarily took the vacant line of 
 the artillery service. The general idea of the pro- 
 moters was to have the unmounted county com- 
 panies form a battalion and drill as such on im- 
 portant occasions. 
 
For the accompanying roll of the Capital 
 Guards, credit is due the Little Rock Democrat 
 of July 30, 1903: 
 
 EOSTEE AUD EOLL OF THE OAPITAL GUAEDS 
 
 (Co, A, 6th Ark. Inf.), mustered into Confederate service about June, 1861. 
 
 Commissioned Offioeis at OTganization i 
 G. N. Peay, Sr., Captain; elected Lt.-Col. regiment. 
 J. E. Reardon, 1st Lieut.; elected Capt., vice Peay. 
 David C. Fulton, 2d Lieut. 
 John B. Lockman, Bt. 2d. I^ieut. 
 
 Non-commissioned Officers and Fiivates : 
 
 J. V. Zimmerman — O. S. 
 
 Baer, Geo. — K. 
 
 Barrett, James 
 
 Brack, Fred.— K. 
 
 Bastable, A. N.— S. 
 
 Brisbin, John — C. 
 
 Brookin, Henry C. — K. 
 
 Burr, E. B. 
 
 Carter, W. W. 
 
 Gates, F. Pratt 
 
 Cremmel, J. 
 
 Cohen, Albert 
 
 Corr, L. C. 
 
 Elder, Maro M. 
 
 Ellis, Jos.— K. 
 
 ,!Faulkner, Wm. H. 
 
 Field, Ben. J. 
 
 Fischer, Henry — K. 
 
 Fischer, Wm. C. 
 
 Fletcher, J. G., e. Capt., v. Peay, p. 
 
 Garrahan, J as. — K. 
 
 Geary, John — K. 
 
 Green, Marion — K. 
 
 Goodrich, Ralph L. 
 
 Harris, W. R.— W. 
 
 Harris, Simpson — K. — p. Lt. & Adjt. 
 
 Hicks, H. H. 
 
 Hotze, Peter 
 
 Hudson, J, A. — C. — e. Lieut. 
 
 Hyneman, M. L. — C. 
 
 Abbreviations. — C. — Corporal. K. 
 geant, P. — Promoted. S.— Sergeant, 
 
 Ives, E. E. 
 James, Chas. 
 Jordan, R. H. 
 Kumpe, Ed. 
 Kumpe, L. 
 Kellogg, J on. 
 Lawson, Jas. — C. 
 Levy,J.H.— K. 
 Lincoln, C. J. 
 Meyer, Herman 
 Meyer, Louis 
 Murphy, J ohn 
 Motto, Jo. H. 
 Parker, Sam G. 
 Peay, Wm, N. 
 Penzel, Chas. F.— W. 
 Ratcliffe, Wm. C.—W. 
 Reardon, S. B. 
 Ring, Geo. — W. 
 Scull, Ben. F.— W. 
 Smith, J. H. 
 Streak, J ohn — K. 
 Starbuck, R. W. 
 Tucker, J. Wood. 
 Tyler, J. B.— W. 
 White, R. K.—W. 
 Walker, John R. 
 Watson, E. H.— K. 
 Winfrey, B. H. 
 Wright, G. C.—W. 
 
 -Killed in battle. 
 W.— Wounded. 
 
 O. S.— First Ser- 
 
THE TOTTEN LIGHT BATTERY 
 A. S. V. M. 
 
 The new organization was formed in i860, with 
 W. E. Woodruff, Jr., as captain, and First Lieu- 
 tenants Omer R. Weaver and Louis W. Brown, 
 and Second Lieutenant James W. Finley. The 
 company was named "Totten Artillery," in compli- 
 ment to Dr. Wm. Totten, who did service at the 
 Little Rock United States Arsenal from the laying 
 of its foundation (and was a favorite with every 
 child raised in Little Rock between 1839 ^^^ i860), 
 and of his son Captain Jas. Totten, U. S. A., of a 
 light battery stationed a-t Little Rock arsenal in 
 i860, and of which post he became commandant 
 a few months preceding the Civil War. 
 
 The new company drilled earnestly and industri- 
 ously. In a comparatively short time it was pre- 
 pared to participate in battalion drills at which the 
 four county companies were called upon to figure. 
 It did its part creditably, it is believed. Thence- 
 forward its life was that of the volunteer organiza- 
 tion in time of peace, holding its meetings and 
 drills according to the laws and regulations. 
 
 The policy of Gov. Henry M. Rector, who suc- 
 ceeded, was very much that of Governor Conway, 
 and everywhere in Arkansas military organizations 
 
 C9) 
 
lO With the Light Guns 
 
 were the fashion of the times. Captain Totten's 
 arrival at Little Rock relieved Capt. Richard H. 
 Fatherly, M. S. K., of the command of the United 
 States arsenal. His relationship (step-brother) 
 made Totten's introduction and that of his sub- 
 alterns, Lieutenants Andrew Merchant, Arnett and 
 DeLoney, very easy and agreeable to society. Tot- 
 ten was of Irish descent but Virginia born. There 
 was no question of his sympathy with the South- 
 ern people. That he changed was due, it is 
 thought, to domestic considerations. 
 
 The times were hot with the blistering political 
 campaigns attendant upon the State and Presiden- 
 tial contest of i860, between Johnson and Rec- 
 tor, and Breckenridge, Douglass, Bell and Lincoln. 
 The September (i860) State election resulted in 
 the choice of Rector as Governor and a Democrat- 
 ic Legislature. In November the State went for 
 Breckenridge. South Carolina seceded December 
 20, because of Lincoln's election, and the example 
 was followed by Mississippi Jan. 9, 1861, and Flor- 
 ida on the loth, Alabama on the nth, Georgia on 
 the i8th, Louisiana on the 26th, Texas on Febru- 
 ary 4th. The Alabama convention invited dele- 
 gates to a constitutional convention of the seced- 
 ing States to meet at Montgomery on February 
 4th. On January 4th, the Arkansas senators in 
 Congress advised the secession of Arkansas. Jef- 
 ferson Davis was elected Provisional President on 
 February nth. 
 
 The Arkansas Legislature met in November, 
 i860, and fired by the act of South Carolina, called 
 a State convention, which met early in 1861. A 
 majority of Union men, friends of Bell and Doug- 
 
With the Light Guns ii 
 
 las, dominated the body. David Walker was elect- 
 ed its president. Moderate counsels prevailed, in 
 hope of good results from the Crittenden confer- 
 ence. By common consent, the convention deter- 
 mined to await the action of Virginia, whose Leg- 
 islature met January 7, 1861. A temporary ad- 
 journment of the Arkansas convention was had, 
 subject to the call of President Walker. 
 
 Things "rocked along" — the Union men hopeful 
 of good results from the Crittenden conference, 
 and its eflFect on the presidential policy ; the friends 
 of secession incredulous. Then on April 15, 1861, 
 came Lincoln's proclamation, calling for the enlist- 
 ment of 75,000 men to suppress the rebellion. 
 Its effect was as horrifying as tremendous — like 
 th« John Brown raid upon Virginia in '59. It satis- 
 fied the South that the Northern policy of force 
 was to overthrow the constitutional rights of the 
 South. Seventy-five thousand (75,000) men ! It 
 seemed to the conservatives of the South an invad- 
 ing army as formidable as the flights of wild pig- 
 eons in the old days. Its effects were dreadful to 
 the lovers of the Union. At the South, as at the 
 North, it instantly drove — it did not convert — all 
 conservative into radical sentiment. As Mr. 
 Blaine said of the North — so at the South — "Yes- 
 terday there was division, today there is unity." 
 At the South resistance was the watchword, at the 
 North compulsion. Governor Rector, instantly and 
 rightfully refused to respect the President's requi- 
 sition for troops from the State. Immediately 
 President Walker called the State convention to 
 assemble on the 6th day of May. Virginia and 
 North CaroHna had acted, and the first act of the 
 
12 With the Light Guns 
 
 convention on re-assembling was to pass an ordi- 
 nance of secession, which was officially recorded 
 as unanimous, with the exception of one vote, that 
 of Isaac Murphy of Madison county.* 
 
 The Totten Artillery, before passage of the ordi- 
 nance — a foregone conclusion — had been ordered 
 by the State authorities to fire a salute in its honor, 
 after adoption. The battery was on the ground 
 outside, at the northeast corner of the State House 
 enclosure, and did the service. The powder used 
 was the first burned "officially" in Arkansas in hos- 
 tility to the United States, and it would never have 
 been so used but for the unholy levy upon the 
 State for troops to do the bidding of the stronger 
 States of the North, in violation, as was the gen- 
 eral belief, of the Federal Constitution, on a prede- 
 termined plan. 
 
 In February or March, while the convention was 
 awaiting the action of Virginia, as suddenly as 
 unexpectedly appeared at Little Rock, several com- 
 panies of troops under command of Colonel Pat- 
 rick Cleburne of Helena, with the avowed design 
 of capturing the United States force of Captain 
 Totten and the arsenal. Totten was prompt to 
 act on the defensive, and rapidly put his men and 
 cannon in the basement of the main arsenal build- 
 ing, in condition to repel assault. Wise counsels 
 prevailed and diplomacy of citizens accomplished 
 peacefully what if force had been used, might have 
 resulted in bloodshed within half a mile of the bus- 
 iness center of the city. Captain Totten, by agree- 
 
 *This was a monumental act; but It Is believed that It 
 is due to an omission of tiie secretary of tlie convention, 
 who failed to record the vote of John Campbell of Searcy 
 county against the ordinance. 
 
With the Light Guns 13 
 
 ment upon a show of sufficient military force, sur- 
 rendered the arsenal grounds and contents to Gov- 
 ernor Rector, and withdrew to the North with the 
 honors of war. In January and February, the arse- 
 nals at Baton Rouge and San Antonio were cap- 
 tured, the latter by Ben McCuUoch. 
 
 Up to the time of this movement, great hopes 
 had been entertained that Totten would join the 
 Southern cause. He and his officers were person- 
 ally very popular with the people of the city, who 
 honored him signally on the occasion of his with- 
 drawal, by escorting him and his men to the 
 Steamer which took them to St. Louis. 
 
 A week or two later, the steamer Blue Wing, 
 and other boats, were captured near the mouth of 
 the Arkansas, laden with military supplies for Uni- 
 ted States forces in Arkansas and elsewhere. 
 There was no telegraphic communication to the 
 east, otherwise than via Memphis. Rumor said the 
 boat had been sent up the Arkansas, but in what 
 custody was unknown. As a precautionary step, 
 the Totten Battery was ordered to take position 
 near the Point of Rock, where the southern ap- 
 proach of the Fort Smith railroad bridge is now, 
 and prevent her from passing the wharf on arrival. 
 On her approach in a day or so from below, a shot 
 across her bows arrested and brought her to. She 
 was in charge of Southern men. Her cargo of 
 valuable stores was housed by the State authori- 
 ties. 
 
 While awaiting the arrival of the Blue Wing, 
 Col. Solon Borland communicated to the captain of 
 the battery information of a projected expedition 
 to Fort Smith, to capture the garrison stationed 
 
14 With the Light Guns 
 
 there, Consisting of a squadron of United States 
 cavalry, commanded by Capt. Samuel Sturgis (the 
 junior company of which was that of Capt. James 
 Mcintosh), and solicited him to join. The cap- 
 tain expressed unwillingness to act on his own 
 motion, but said he would obey any order of the 
 Governor. An order came next day, and the expe- 
 dition was organized rapidly. 
 
 In a few days a force of near one thousand men 
 embarked from Little Rock under command of Col. 
 Solon Borland, in execution of the design. Among 
 the troops was the Totten Battery, with four pieces 
 of artillery, two mounted, with a sufficiency of am- 
 munition, shot, shell and canister in original boxes 
 from the United States arsenal supplies surren- 
 dered by Captain Totten. As recollected, three 
 steamers were required to transport the force — the 
 Little Rock, Capt. Jenks Brown ; the Lady Walton, 
 Capt. Ed. Nowland, and perhaps the Talequah, 
 commander's name forgotten. To the young men 
 and boys that composed it, now gray-headed 
 fathers and grandfathers, it was a picnic excursion, 
 heartily enjoyed all the way up. They were wel- 
 comed at every town, landing and woodyard by 
 the new-born secessionists, begot of the force proc- 
 lamation. The expedition had progressed to a point 
 between Arbuckle's Island and Mazzard Land- 
 ing, within a few miles of Fort Smith, when a few 
 minutes before dark a descending boat hailed. A 
 reply was made asking a halt of a few minutes for 
 conference. The voice was that of Capt. James 
 Mcintosh, late of the Fort Smith United States 
 garrison, whose resignation as captain had been 
 accepted at Washington and of which he had just 
 
With the Light Guns 15 
 
 been notified at Fort Smith. He was en route for 
 Richmond. He reported rumors of the Little Rock 
 expedition had reached Fort Smith, and that after 
 he left the garrison, hurried preparations were mak- 
 ing in the fort for either a fight or a flight. He 
 bade us God-speed and went on down the river. 
 Then things quieted and the hurry of preparation 
 begun. 
 
 Fort Smith was distant only six or seven miles 
 by land ; twice the distance by water. Colonel Bor- 
 land personally ordered the captain of the battery 
 to fill his limber chests with ammunition from the 
 boxes in the fore-hold. A brisk wind was follow- 
 ing our steamer's course up the river, and sparks 
 were flying from the boiler furnaces over the fore- 
 castle and bow, thick as lightning bugs on a sum- 
 mer night. He was inclined to demur, but just in 
 time, a fortunate turn in the channel sent the 
 sparks to leeward, and the boys went to filling the 
 chests. The work was hardly finished when the 
 rain of sparks began again. It seemed providen- 
 tial. After this, the disposition of the boys, when 
 time was ripe, was plain. The boats passed Van 
 Buren and arrived at Fort Smith a few hours later 
 in the night. It is not known to the writer if any 
 land force went over the short land routes from 
 Mazzard landing or Van Buren; if so, they de- 
 barked from some boat other than the Walton. 
 
 A considerable gathering of people was at the 
 wharf at Fort Smith on arrival, and it was an- 
 nounced that Sturgis and his forces, short a few 
 deserters, had fled towards Texas through the In- 
 dian Territory, supposably to join Capt. Emory's 
 command, thought to be in the vicinity of Fort 
 
i6 With the Light Guns 
 
 Washita. Immediately there was great rejoicing. 
 Colonel Borland's men occupied the garrison 
 grounds at once. Shortly after daylight the guns 
 of the battery were inside the garrison walls, 
 moved by hand by the gunners from the boat. The 
 roads were picketed and our first experience in 
 camp life other than drill began. Tents were 
 pitched, guards placed, messes formed and cooks 
 appointed, and drum and bugle sounded the orders 
 and hours. Sturgis left the garrison grounds in 
 profound confusion and disorder; saddles, bridles, 
 arms, revolvers, sabres, pistols and carbines, 
 blankets, clothes, ammunition — everything a sol- 
 dier needs or requires — were everywhere, evidenc- 
 ing the departure was in great haste. 
 
 In the middle of the night a bogus "surprise at- 
 tack" was organized, supposedly by Sturgis, which 
 brought the new garrison quickly to arms ; the 
 whole command behaved creditably. The cannon 
 were loaded with canister shot, intended for the 
 enemy, but the genuine attack having failed to de- 
 velop, the guns next morning were impotently dis- 
 charged into the Arkansas river at the wharf, in 
 an effort to practically observe their range, as well 
 as test the ammunition, which had been stored in 
 the magazine at Little Rock since the close of the 
 Mexican War, thirteen or fourteen years previous. 
 
 A day or two later Borland's men re-embarked 
 for Little Rock on the Walton and other boats, 
 which port was reached in two or three days. On 
 the return voyage, the reception of the "victorious" 
 army at every stopping point was enthusiastic, 
 inspiring. Cheering was the order of the day, on 
 shore and aboard. Artillery salutes and brass 
 
With the Light Guns 17 
 
 bands wore out all ears, patience and "Dixie." By 
 order, we had two field pieces on the Walton's 
 forecastle, firing salutes, which left a stink of sul- 
 phur and saltpeter and a ribbon of smoke from 
 Belle Point to Petit Rocher.* The folks at Little 
 Rock were not behind the tipper riparian popula- 
 tion in enthusiasm over the return ; it looked as if 
 all the men, women and children, black and white, 
 were out, lining the river banks on both sides, 
 from the point where the fleet escaped the curtain 
 of Big Rock until the boats' bows, after a graceful 
 curve, touched the wharf at the "lower landing," 
 as it used to be called, at the foot of Commerce 
 street. Then, as a general thing, each returned 
 veteran sought his particular home or people with- 
 out much regard to order or discipline. Evidently 
 the "war was over" and the "Yankees whipped." 
 The Tottens marched to their armory on Mark- 
 ham street, and were dismissed (vaingloriously) 
 after congratulation upon their soldierly conduct, 
 and notification to assemble for drill at the usual 
 time and place, according to the by-laws. 
 
 The little company was scarcely settled at home, 
 the men at their customary vocations, when the 
 alarm was again sounded. The convention had 
 made appointments of general officers and assigned 
 them fields of action and usefulness. Companies 
 were being organized all over the State. General 
 N. Bart. Pearce, a West Pointer, was appointed 
 brigadier general and assigned to the Northwest- 
 ern Military District, where he had established a 
 rendezvous post at Camp Walker, on the Western 
 
 ♦ The French names of Fort Smith and Little Rock in 
 the Louisiana provincial days. 
 
i8 With the Light Guns 
 
 Line of Benton county, near old Fort Wayne, or 
 Maysville, as the postofiGce was called. The con- 
 vention had also provided a Military Board to act 
 in conjunction with the Governor in handling mili- 
 tary matters. 
 
 Besides the Governor, Capt. C. C. Danley, a vet- 
 eran of the Texas War of Independence and of the 
 Mexican War, B. C. Totten of Prairie county and 
 C. W. Board of Jacksonport, composed the first 
 board. Later, Dr. L. D. Hill of Perry county and 
 Sam W. Williams of Pulaski became members to 
 supply vacancies. 
 
 Roster and Boll of Officers and Men Composing the PoIasKi 
 (Formerly Totten) Iiig'ht Battery, Volunteer Arkan- 
 sas Uilitia, Unlisted in May, 1861. * 
 Commissioned Officers. 
 
 Captain, W. E. Woodruff, Jr. 
 
 First Lieutenant, Omer R. Weaver, K. 
 
 First Lieutenant, Louis W. Brown, Ad. vice Weaver, K. 
 
 Second Lieutenant, James W. Finley, D. 
 
 Second Lieutenant, Wm. W. Reyburn, E. vice Finley, D. ; 
 Ad. (Jr.) First Lieutenant, vice Brown, Ad. 
 
 Second Lieutenant, Britton Bennett, B. vice Reyburn, Ad. 
 Noncommissioned Officers and Privates. 
 
 Anderson, James. 
 
 Armstrongr, William. 
 
 Banks, Richard. 
 
 Baum, Julian. 
 
 Bennett, Britton, E. Second Lieutenant, vice Reyburn Ad. 
 
 Bischop, Jo., B. 
 
 Blocher, Wm. D., O. S., vice Reyburn, E. Second Lieu- 
 tenant. 
 
 Brodle, James, Art. 
 
 Brown, James M. 
 
 Button, C. B. ("Billy"), S. 
 
 Byler, Hugh, K. 
 
 Byrd, Richard C, Jr., W. 
 
 Callaway, Sam. 
 
 Campbell, Wm., Art. 
 
 Carver, Wm. 
 
 Cavanaugh, Thomas. 
 
 Collamore, W^illiam. 
 
 Cook, James, Art. 
 
 Note — Abbreviations: Ad. — Advanced; Art. — Artificer; 
 B. — Bugler or Musician; C. — Corporal; D. — Died at home; K. — 
 Killed in battle; P. — Promoted from ranks; O. S. — First Sel- 
 geant; S. — Sergeant; W. — Wounded in battle; R. — Resigned. 
 
With the Light Guns 19 
 
 Connolly, Patrick., 
 Curry, Wm. 
 Culberson, William. 
 Davis. John H. 
 Davis, William. 
 Davis, Wm. R. 
 DeCourcey, Andrew. 
 Douglass, Wm. R., S. 
 Durr, John. 
 Frazier. 
 
 George, Alex, Jr., B. 
 Gibbon, Ed. 
 Green, Wm., C. 
 Halliburton, Harry, C. 
 Hardy, Chas. 
 Hardy, Hugh. 
 Higgins, James. 
 Hoskins, Chas. £}. 
 Jennings, R. Li., Jr. 
 Jones, Harper. 
 Kimbell, Joe W., S. 
 Kuykendall, M. 
 Lee, Thomas. 
 Levy, Julius. 
 Lewis, Chas. 
 Lowe, H. C, S. 
 McCarthy, Jas. 
 McLaughlin, Ed. 
 McNeeley, Jas. 
 Mahaffey, Bd. 
 Maharra, John. 
 Marshall, John G., S. 
 Mears, A., S. 
 Merrick, George A. 
 Meyers, George. 
 Mills, Anderson, C. 
 Newbern, Ben. 
 Osborne, Wm. C, C. 
 O'Toole, Owen. 
 Owen, Thomas. 
 Palmer, C. 
 Pa.rker, David W. 
 Parks, John. 
 Parks, Wm. P. 
 Pollock, Leo. 
 Quinlin, Harry. 
 Quinn, Mike. 
 Ream, Robert. 
 
 Reyburn, Wm. W., O. S. — E. Second Lieutenant, vice 
 Flnley, D. 
 
 Rider, William. 
 Rivers, James. 
 Skelton, N. B. 
 Smithee, James N., C. 
 Temple, Samuel. 
 Visart, Ed, S. 
 Watkins, Cam. B. 
 Watson, J. F. 
 Wilkerson, Wm. 
 Williams, Fred S. 
 Withers. 
 
 Woodard, A. F., Q. M. S. 
 Wright, David. 
 
20 With the Light Guns 
 
 Early in May, the company received instructions 
 by the hand of the secretary of the board to recruit 
 the company to the maximum, select ordnance and 
 stores from the arsenal, prepare clothing, and with 
 arms and baggage take a designated steamer and 
 repair to Fort Smith and report to General Pearce. 
 It was already equipped as a volunteer company, 
 with Minnie rifles. Two 6-pound bronze guns and 
 two i2-pound Howitzers with caissons, equip- 
 ments and harness, with sufficient ammunition to 
 fill the chests and a surplus, and commissaries for 
 the voyage, were loaded on the Lady Walton. The 
 ladies of the town speedily prepared uniforms of 
 gray jeans, and on the afternoon of the 15th day 
 of May, the company of about seventy-five men, 
 rank and file, with knapsacks on, was in line at 
 the armory, ready to march to the wharf at a given 
 time, when an aide of Gov. Rector delivered to the 
 captain a note asking "By what authority the 
 company was preparing to move?" Instantly 
 recognizing that the Governor was the constitu- 
 tional commander in chief, the captain replied, "By 
 order of the Military Board, which he supposed 
 included the knowledge and consent of the Gov- 
 ernor." This was satisfactory to the Governor, who 
 validated the board's order, and the company 
 marched to and boarded the Walton and departed 
 for Fort Smith in a few minutes. There is such a 
 thing as recognizing an "opportunity" when you 
 meet it on the highway. Only the late Wm. E. 
 Ashley was shrewd enough to detect how anxious 
 we were to be off — and the reason. As we 
 passed Van Buren the ordnance was stored 
 there, and the company went into camp at Fort 
 
With the Light Guns 21 
 
 Smith, at the west side of the officers' quarters, 
 within the garrison walls. 
 
 The company was thoroughly drilled in the Rifle 
 Manual on the hurricane of the Walton, during the 
 few days the trip consumed. Brigadier General 
 Ben McCulloch and Captain James Mcintosh were 
 passengers on the Walton on the same trip to Fort 
 Smith, and the officers and many of the men be- 
 came known to them. By request of General Mc- 
 Culloch, the company camped adjoining his quar- 
 ters and the officers were quartered adjoining his 
 rooms in the barracks, while there. 
 
 The General and Captain Mcintosh were favora- 
 bly impressed with the company, and manifested 
 their interest then and on many subsequent occa- 
 sions. Colonel De Rosey Carroll, commanding a 
 northwestern cavalry regiment, was commandant 
 of the post. Some of his men dismounted, and sev- 
 eral infantry companies were encamped within the 
 garrison walls, to the number of near one thous- 
 and men. Some of the companies were composed 
 of residents of Fort Smith. The men of these com- 
 panies, naturally sought more liberty by leave of 
 absence than those of the command not so conven- 
 iently near their homes. In a few days jealousy 
 and complaints of partiality to the Sebastian com- 
 panies became general in the camp, and caused the 
 commandant much annoyance. Accordingly he 
 issued orders greatly restricting the granting of 
 leaves, in frequency and duration. Just as naturally 
 this aroused a spirit of hostility in the resident com- 
 panies towards the commandant, who called a 
 council of officers to consider and aid him in ef- 
 fecting a proper solution of the trouble. The cap- 
 
22 With the Light Guns 
 
 tain of the Tottens had been much annoyed by 
 appHcations of his own men for leaves to visit the 
 city, which they thought they were as much enti- 
 tled to as the men of Fort Smith. When called 
 upon for his views, he stated the existence of the 
 discontent and the trouble it caused him, and sup- 
 ported the action of the commandant as the proper 
 remedy. This (possibly selfish though not inten- 
 tional) action caused a feeling of ill will towards 
 him on the part of some of the town companies' of- 
 ficers that lasted for many years ; and in one of them 
 during the continuance of his life, which was long. 
 He was a brave soldier and an excellent gentleman 
 and took a fatherly care of his men ; but he was 
 awfully "sot in his ways," as we used to say in 
 Arkansas. For many years after the close of the 
 war, we were socially, professionally and politi- 
 cally allied, but the writer cannot recollect any- 
 thing he ever advocated that the officer did not op- 
 pose, or oppose anything that the latter did not 
 advocate. Of course there are two sides to every 
 question. 
 
 The company remained in garrison at Fort 
 Smith some weeks, drilling as infantry long hours 
 daily, until it was thought perfect by its officers 
 and many competent judges. One such, an old cit- 
 izen, said it was as good as any regular company 
 ever in the garrison, which was high praise. On 
 the way to and at Fort Smith, we secured several 
 recruits, making the roll show a total of seventy- 
 nine men. We had a few opportunities to partici- 
 pate in battallion drill. Our captain was not 
 posted in Hardee's Manual then in use, but suffi- 
 ciently well acquainted with Scott's to enable the 
 
W i th the Light Guns 23 
 
 company to hold its own in battalion maneuvers. 
 The unsuspected fact helped him immensely with 
 his own officers and men. 
 
 On the i8th of June orders were received from 
 General Pearce to move by steamer Talequah to 
 Van Buren, go into camp and complete the outfit 
 of the battery with horses, harness, ammunition, 
 etc. Here we met a great loss, that of Lieut. Jas. 
 W. Finley. He was invalided at Fort Smith and 
 went on home to Little Rock on the same boat that 
 transported us to Van Buren. He died a few days 
 after arrival there. He was of a delicate frame, and 
 the faithful, hard work at drill was too much for 
 him. He became an efficient officer, acquiring the 
 good will of everybody^ officers and men. His 
 death was a loss as grievous to the service as to 
 his family. Sergt. William W. Reyburn was 
 elected by the company to succeed him as second 
 lieutenant. This was the only death from natural 
 causes during the campaign. 
 
 We were invited to camp in the court house yard 
 at Van Buren, and continued there during our 
 stay. The fence afforded security for our horses, 
 purchased and impressed by Col. Sam Hayes and 
 the authorities of the town, who greatly and will- 
 ingly facilitated the business. 
 
 While the first business was that of overhauling 
 ammunition and stores, and getting out harness, 
 saddles, etc., drills at the guns in the manual of the 
 piece occupied several hours, twice daily. At first 
 the officers were almost desperate at the thought 
 of gun drill. None had any experience at the spec- 
 ialty, excepting the captain, and his was limited to 
 two or three drills under Colonel (afterwards Maj. 
 
24 With the Light Guns 
 
 Gen., C. S. A.) Bushrod R. Johnson, at a military 
 school in Kentucky, barely sufficient to qualify a 
 gun squad to officiate in firing a salute, at some 
 "important" college function, attended by all the 
 pretty girls of Louisville and surrounding country, 
 under a manual obsolete in 1861. After a lapse of 
 nigh forty-two years the captain confesses how 
 the difficulty was surmounted. About the time we 
 left Fort Smith for Van Buren, Capt. James Reed's 
 Confederate (Fort Smith) Battery was outfitted 
 and went to drilling at the guns. Among the num- 
 ber of drill officers of the company, the captain felt 
 assured there must be some old United States artil- 
 lerymen of light batteries stationed at Fort Smith, 
 discharged from service at various times prior to 
 the war. Reed was on the eve of breaking camp 
 to go to Camp Walker. His hours of drill were 
 learned and, taking a lieutenant (Weaver, it is be- 
 lieved) the captain went over to Fort Smith to take 
 mental notes. Reed's men had scarcely unlimbered 
 and taken implements and posts, when the whole 
 modus operandi flashed back into the captain's 
 memory. He recalled how beautifully and 
 gracefully Col. Johnson and another profes- 
 sor, also a graduate of West Point and both 
 officers of the United States army, had handled 
 the gun implements, while illustrating the drill, 
 and the rhythm and harmony of the common 
 movement in execution: The captain knew the 
 new tactics by heart, and now felt assured that, 
 given a week to work, his men would suffer noth- 
 ing by comparison. Reed's company was composed 
 of excellent material and demonstrated its efficiency 
 when the day of trial came. 
 
With the Light Guns 25 
 
 Many efforts had been made to get rid of the ar- 
 mament of Minnie guns, always unsuccessfully; 
 but while in camp at Van Buren, the fine company 
 from Franklin county, of Captain Pittman, camped 
 near us for some time. The men of the two com- 
 panies mixed in idle hours, and the relations be- 
 tween the two companies became cordial. The two 
 captains managed matters so as to secure an order 
 for the transfer of the troublesome rifles, which 
 Pittman was as anxious to receive as the battery 
 was to get rid of. The men of the two companies 
 off duty had nightly reunions, and although 
 the Tottens had some illustrious stag dancers, 
 the honors were won by a Franklin man, 
 whom the Tottens nick-named "Claw-Hammer," 
 after his home-spun coat of that cut, then fashion- 
 able in the upper circles of outer Franklin. The 
 screams of delight with which our men hailed the 
 victory of Claw-Hammer over ' Young Aleck, 
 our best dancer, are iinforgetable. I hope Claw- 
 Hammer is still living, healthy, prosperous and 
 happy. So good a dancer must have made a good 
 soldier. Many a time has been recalled the shout, 
 "Go in, Claw-Hammer," with which he was al- 
 ways greeted when he appeared at a dance in our 
 camp. His was the first and only victory over any 
 of our men at anything. The rifles were turned 
 over to Pittman at or en route to Camp Walker. 
 
26 With the Light Guns 
 
 Just as our outfitting was completed, after ten 
 or twelve days at Van Buren, hurry orders came 
 from General Pearce to make as soon as possible 
 a forced march to Camp Walker, as signs of activ- 
 it}^ on the part of the enemy were visible in south' 
 west Missouri. The plight was the most trying in 
 the captain's life. Half the horses were unbroken 
 to harness and all to the artillery harness ; ammuni- 
 tion chests had been filled to regulation maximum; 
 the drivers (postilion), were all unused to manage- 
 ment of horses; the horses had never heard the 
 sound of artillery discharges. 
 
 The treatment of us by the Van Buren people 
 had been all the men could have asked — ^better then 
 they deserved, most generous and hospitable dur- 
 ing the brief sojourn. Never can be forgotten the 
 many acts of kindness and sympathy shown us 
 by all classes of the population, in sickness and in 
 health. Without meaning to be invidious, it is 
 just to mention the names of Mr. and Mrs. C. G. 
 Scott, Dr. and Mrs. James. Dibrell, Sr., Judge Tur- 
 ner and wife, Judge Wm. Walker and wife. Judge 
 John B. Ogden, J. S. Dunham, Dr. Pernot, the 
 Wards, Gross, Englands, the three Austin brothers, 
 Capt. Phillip Pennywit, and dozens of others. 
 When we arrived we had no horses. By the ef- 
 forts of these gentlemen, chiefly, the officers and 
 battery were soon supplied. The first impressment 
 was four white "over-land stage" horses — good 
 ones, too. Mr. Emzy Wilson, an old acquaint- 
 ance, furnished the captain with a fine mare, which 
 was cherished all her days, and they were many. 
 On the afternoon of the day before departure to the 
 north, the captain had a field piece and a caisson, 
 
With the Light Guns 27 
 
 both horsed, moved down to the river bank at the 
 foot of Main street, loaded them with solid shot, 
 shell and canister, and aimed and fired them down 
 and across the river, the purpose being to salute 
 the people who had been so kind, and to try the 
 effect of the reports on the horses. 
 
 Next morning we started early with teams at- 
 tached to each carriage, the battery wagon, forge 
 and train. We had hoped to camp at Dripping 
 Springs, some eight or ten miles up the road. Then 
 trouble began. Trouble with the largest of initial 
 letters. The men were new to "the route," the 
 road was new to the men, and commenced at the 
 foot of a steep and high mountain ; the harness was 
 new to the trained horses, and many horses were 
 untrained to drive at all; the caissons were loaded 
 to their full carrying capacity; the saddles of the 
 drivers were unpadded ; the' officers and drivers in- 
 experienced. "Speeding the parting guests," the 
 mistaken hospitality of some of the Van Buren peo- 
 ple had overflowed with something stronger than 
 water, and made three or four men add 150 per 
 cent, to the difficulties, already in stock. But we 
 had to endure it all. Finally the place of camp was 
 made by the head of column at Dripping Springs. 
 The battery and train, however, was strung all 
 along the road, from five miles north of Van Buren 
 to Dripping Springs. The better part of the next 
 day was spent in hunting for things overlooked, in 
 shoeing horses, adjustment of our new outfit, and 
 bringing up stranded carriages. But progress was 
 made. On the third day we camped — entire — near 
 the foot of Cane Hill, having made about twenty 
 miles by the "line road." On the fourth day we 
 
28 "With the Light Guns 
 
 made about twenty-six miles. In crossing the Illi- 
 nois river that evening, a gun wheel broke down 
 midstream. It was repaired in site by setting an 
 extra wheel from a caisson. That night a dispatch 
 came from General Pearce asking us to hurry, inti- 
 mating expected trouble. We started early in the 
 morning of the sixth day and reached Camp Wal- 
 ker about 9 a. m., after about fifteen miles of travel. 
 It was in Benton county, near old Ft. Wayne, near 
 the Indian border and the southwest corner of Mis- 
 souri. General McCulloch overtook us during the 
 morning and reached the camp a little ahead of us. 
 An amusing incident occurred after the last day's 
 march began. Riding ahead to force officers of sec- 
 tions to acquire experience and executive authority, 
 the captain observed at a distance, a horseman gal- 
 loping rapidly south. He was stopped to learn 
 news from the front. He was an old acquaintance, 
 a member of the Legislature. He reported the 
 enemy 10,000 strong was at Pineville, Mo., coming 
 south rapidly; would probably be at Camp Walker 
 by the time we got there. He was unmistakably 
 badly scared, but mindful of General Pearce's hurry 
 orders, the command was closed up until we ar- 
 rived at Camp Walker some miles ahead. 
 
 General McCulloch, in a few days after meeting 
 General Pearce, went across the Missouri line 
 to meet Gen. Sterling Price, whose force of Mis- 
 sourians was moving south towards Cowskin 
 Prairie, slowly, from the recent affair with Sigel 
 at Carthage, Mo., of which we now first learned. 
 
 The battery was assigned a pleasant position in 
 camp, tents were pitched and all made comfortable. 
 Next day we commenced the mounted drill, at a 
 
With the Light Guns 29 
 
 fine ground on the prairie, and soon picked up the 
 simple movements of going into battery to the 
 front, rear, right and left and of passing caissons. 
 In a short time the teams were well broken to 
 work, the drivers accustomed to their duties, and 
 the company manoeuvers creditably performed. 
 The artificers were put to work padding saddle 
 cushions, and other repairs. On the march, the 
 backs of some of the horses were lacerated by the 
 half-finished saddles, but they soon recovered un- 
 der careful treatment of Sergeant Button, who, 
 left in the hospital at Van Buren, had now come 
 into camp. On this march the officers learned that 
 the horses were to be their especial wards, and had 
 to look to them solely for protection. They soon 
 learned, as it was made their imperative duty, to 
 supervise the feeding, watering and currying at 
 stated hours daily. 
 
 We remained at Camp Walker until near the end 
 of June, drilling long hotirs twice daily. The offi- 
 cers and men rapidly became proficient. The ne- 
 cessity was felt for accustoming the teams to the 
 report of artillery and small arms. At one day's 
 drill the battery was exercised in the firing of blank 
 cartridges singly, by the piece, by section, by half 
 battery and by battery. It proved to be a most 
 wholesome performance, as some horses were ex- 
 ceedingly restive. The echoes and reverberations 
 from the island-like clumps and groves of the 
 prairie were wonderful, and served the stead of an 
 answering enemy. Fearing a scolding from head- 
 quarters, as no leave had been asked, it was thought 
 best to report to General Pearce and ask permis- 
 sion to repeat the exercise once or twice more. A 
 
30 With the Light Guns 
 
 good humored caution against "wasting ammuni- 
 tion" resulted in the desired permission. Next day 
 the exercise was repeated and with excellent re- 
 sults. Later no horse flinched after the first re- 
 port. During these exercises it was discovered 
 that a large proportion of the old cup primers (we 
 used Linstocks and portfires to fire the guns) 
 were badly oxidized and corroded. (Friction 
 primers had been invented, but we had only a hand- 
 ful from our volunteer store), many being worth- 
 less from their long storage in the Little Rock ar- 
 senal. At every drill in the firings many crum- 
 bled or broke, or stuck in the guns, spiking them. 
 A thorough overhauling and examination of the 
 entire stock was made, and all defective ones 
 thrown out. Fortunately we had a surplus, and not 
 one "stuck" in our first fight. 
 
 In the last week of June a delegation from Gen- 
 eral Price arrived. It was reported that Sigel, 
 under General Lyon and an additional force, was 
 approaching from the direction of Springfield, 
 southward. The co-operation of General Pearce's 
 Arkansas and McCulloch's Confederate forces was 
 asked. Rumors of the mission leaked out, and our 
 whole army was ripe and eager for the proposed 
 movement. McCulloch's command included the 
 third Louisiana, Mcintosh's regiment and McRae's 
 battalion, infantry, and Churchill's cavalry. - Greer's 
 Texas cavalry was expected within a week. Then 
 and there we had the pleasure of meeting for the 
 first time, Col. Tom L. Sneed, Price's acting adju- 
 tant General, Major Majors, Colonel Harding and 
 other Missouri officers. There was a contention 
 among the general ofiicers as to the leadership of 
 
With the Light Guns 31 
 
 the proposed movement, which was finally decided 
 in favor of McCuUoch, after a brief delay. Orders 
 were issued by General Pearce for his forces to 
 move at a stated time, near the end of June, the 
 supposed destination being Cowskin Prairie, Mo., 
 near the State line; the object, a junction with 
 General Price. Our command moved in the direc- 
 tion of Beritonville, where we camped until the 
 movement north commenced. Here Artificer James 
 Cook accomplished quite a feat, and learned some- 
 thing. He left camp early the night before, to ex- 
 amine the surrounding country. He got back in 
 time for an early breakfast, but got none. The bat- 
 tery had gone! Not intimidated, he started after 
 it, and overtook it at Camp Walker. His travels 
 during the night are difficult to estimate, but added 
 to the twenty-five oi the day, he must have gone 
 fifty miles without rations, in the twenty hours. 
 He was "broke" of wandering ever after. 
 
 About July 3rd, we received orders to move to- 
 wards Pineville, Mo. At Sugar Creek, near the 
 State line, ~we overtook Gratiot's splendid Third 
 Arkansas regiment, while Captain Hart's company 
 was fording the stream. All officers and men car- 
 ried bundles of some kind, and apparently wore 
 tights. We had the pleasure then of making the 
 acquaintance of a future Governor and a circuit 
 judge of Arkansas, in that imposing and unbreeched 
 condition. That day we passed the site of the fu- 
 ture battle of Elkhorn. Memory has in mind a 
 distinct photograph of the old tavern. Thence we 
 marched nothward in the direction of Neosho. On 
 the night of the Fourth of July, the Arkansas in- 
 fantry and batter}"^ bivouacked at Camp Woodruff, 
 
32 With the Light Guns 
 
 near the Newton and McDonald county line, ex- 
 pecting the next day to go into a fight at or near 
 Neosho, eight or ten miles distant. We had in- 
 ducements to believe that a battle was really com- 
 menced that night in camp; being a surprise, im- 
 provised for us, supposed to be an attack by Lyon 
 from the east. All the Tottens were promptly at 
 posts ; they went into battery, but the enemy did 
 not materialize. The next morning we learned the 
 enemy we had hoped to meet at Neosho, had gone 
 east to join Lyon, leaving a company of "Dutch," 
 as we had learned from the Missourians to call 
 the Federals, to hold the town. However, two de- 
 tachments from Churchill's cavalry, one under the 
 colonel himself and one under Mcintosh, had gone 
 before on the Fourth to Neosho, and captured the 
 Federal company fortified in the court house. 
 There was nothing to do but to take the back 
 track for Camp Walker, where our baggage had 
 been left, as we did leisurely. 
 
 The sensations and views pictured in memory 
 of this first march, as part of an army, forward and 
 back between Bentonville and Neosho, were new 
 and can never be obliterated, especially in the prai- 
 rie country of both States in which the route lay. 
 We had never before seen a large army in motion. 
 The infantry seemed to roll and wind along the 
 curves and irregularities of the road like a great, 
 endless caterpillar, the spines of which were mus- 
 kets and bayonets fixed, and glittering in the sun- 
 light. There was something peculiar in the dry 
 atmosphere, unknown further south, which seemed 
 to invigorate one with new life and strength. The 
 rushing, rustling noise made by the cavalry flank- 
 
With the Light Guns 33 
 
 ers through the tall grass and brush, as they 
 neared the column, forced by natural obstacles 
 close to the road for passage, and their dispersal 
 on returning to the flanks, was very strange. We 
 did not realize that we were in the very forefront 
 with the advance guard, and blissfully ignorant 
 that if "business" was encountered we should be 
 engaged in the very first of it. The dust, too, was 
 Saharic, and so painted the face and person of 
 every man, especially the cavalry and artillery- 
 men, that friends could recognize friends by voice 
 only; no woman could have known her son. Later 
 that all became very commonplace. 
 
 On the road south I fell in with Col. Frank Rec- 
 tor, Pearce's adjutant general. As we rode, the 
 events and movetnents of the last few days were 
 discussed boy fashion, as well as the probable 
 movements of the future, by both the enemy and 
 ourselves — including Price — the junction being 
 considered certain. Before parting we concurred 
 in the opinion that Lyon was an accomplished sol- 
 dier, far superior to Sigel, fanatical and aggressive, 
 as evidenced at Camp Jackson ; that he would be 
 first to make a move towards Arkansas, with pur- 
 pose to entice us from our State, over-confident by 
 superiority in numbers, into pursuit ; and that he, 
 relying on his disciplined regular soldiers and well 
 trained dutch voluteers, composing a large per- 
 centage of his army, could and would try to turn 
 on us at his own pleasure at any moment, and 
 rout or capture the whole Confederate army. It 
 
34 With the Light Guns 
 
 was further settled between us that the probable 
 turning point would be about ten miles south of 
 Springfield. 
 
 We reached our rendezvous at Camp Walker, and 
 were happy on recovering our baggage-trains and 
 eflfects. Battery drill was resumed and 'the com- 
 pany, much sooner than anticipated, became pro- 
 ficient in all the manoeuvers of the school of the 
 battery horsed. It was becoming really a fine light 
 battery. Captain Mcintosh told the captain so, and 
 the captain told the boys. Mcintosh had been with 
 us from the departure from Little Rock to that for 
 Van Buren ; and while he had afterwards been with 
 his troops in and near the Indian country, had kept 
 us in mind. He came out to see us drill. The con- 
 sciousness of his favor had a fine effect on the men, 
 and made them anxious for opportunity to show it 
 was not misplaced, and feeling assured that our 
 battery was worth a dozen "ordinary" ones. 
 
 At Camp Walker the name of the battery was 
 changed from "Totten" to "Pulaski Light Bat- 
 tery." Meantime, during the last half of July, there 
 was contention again among the general officers as 
 to leadership in future movements. Half of Price's 
 men were unarmed. His column was hampered by 
 unwieldy private trains. The foraging of so large 
 a number of unarmed men was grievious to the 
 country and injured the cause. McCulloch and 
 Pearce turned over to Price a large number of mus- 
 kets and other arms. Pearce's army was to protect 
 Arkansas ; McCulloch's field was the Indian Terri- 
 tory, where he was as much ambassador as gen- 
 eral ; Price's sphere was for the present "any port 
 
With the Light Guns 35 
 
 in the storm," his ultimate hope the salvation of 
 Missouri. The attitude of Lyon was so threaten- 
 ing and the exigency so close, it was finally agreed 
 McCulloch should have chief command of the three 
 forces, and take the offensive-defensive, and march 
 to meet Lyon, who was moving from Springfield to- 
 wards Arkansas. 
 
 Accordingly, Pearce ordered his force to move 
 northeast about the ist of August. The battery 
 went from Camp Walker in the direction of Spring- 
 field, via Keittsville and Cassville, Mo. At Dug 
 Springs, near the State line, our advance met that 
 of the enemy, and skirmished. Here it is believed 
 Capt. W. P. Campbell's company from Augusta, of 
 Churchill's regiment, under Lieutenant Ramsaur, 
 won the honors ; the enemy were repelled. There 
 was continued skirmishing as we advanced. The 
 leading section (Weaver's) of the Pulaski went into 
 battery at a point in the road called, I believe, Mac- 
 culla's Store. Here it was learned certainly that 
 Totten's regular battery was in the Federal ad- 
 vance. At Crane Creek, a few miles in advance, it 
 was hoped the enemy could be drawn into ambush 
 at the ford on the road we traveled. The Pulaskis 
 were stationed in battery again on a hillside cov- 
 ering the ford nearly a quarter of a mile to the 
 right of the road. While resting awaiting devel- 
 epments, Flanagin's fine Arkansas regiment joined 
 the column. Lieutenant Colonel Flanagin, with 
 several other officers, paid us a visit on the hill. 
 Our officers were very much amused at a remark 
 of Colonel (later Governor) Flanagin. After pass- 
 ing the compliments of the day, he was asked "how 
 he liked soldiering?" "Wall," he replied, "we like 
 
36 With the Light Guns 
 
 it some, but the officers find it very difficult to pro- 
 cure washing." This raised a broad smile from 
 those of us who by this time were beginning to 
 feel like veterans. This remark, chimed with a 
 recent experience, on the march two or three days 
 before. Being temporarily without "help," the com- 
 pany officers concluded to do a little laundering for 
 themselves, at a stream lOO or more yards from 
 where the battery halted for repairs absolutely nec- 
 essary. While so engaged. General Pearce and es- 
 cort passed on the road about as far away. He did 
 not stop, but sent a messenger to have the captain 
 come and dine with him at headquarters next day. 
 At dinner were Mrs. Pearce and other ladies. Dur- 
 ing the meal the general said: "Captain," we caught 
 you in 'the suds' yesterday." "Yes, sir," the reply 
 was, "we just had to do it ourselves; there was no 
 other chance." The general alluded to the battery's 
 stoppage, the reason for which he learned as he 
 passed. The captain took his meaning literally, 
 supposing the employment of his officers and him- 
 self had been observed the day before. Col. Flan- 
 agin's remark brought this to mind, and was all the 
 more amusing; and he laughed, too, when fully ad- 
 vised. Mcintosh later became colonel of this reg- 
 iment. 
 
 A few minutes later occurred a moving scene. 
 General Rains' unattached Missourians in seeming 
 hordes, came rushing south across the ford at Crane 
 Creek, with any imaginable number and style of 
 vehicles and people, mounted and on foot. Our ad- 
 vance had feigned a retreat on overtaking the ene- 
 my, and fallen back in expectation of bringing on 
 at attack at the ford. The disorder was terrifying 
 
With the Light Guns 37 
 
 and had well nigh panicked the unattached and 
 unarmed Missourians. In the antecedent skirmish 
 the sound of artillery was heard for a time, and 
 really it looked as if the long expected fight was at 
 hand. 
 
 This day's march was the hardest within recol- 
 lection, the first day from Van Buren north, ex- 
 cepted. It was fearfully hot and the men were at 
 the verge of exhaustion. The tired Third Louis- 
 ianians swarmed about our guns on the road, hop- 
 ing and begging to ride. Our officers were com- 
 pelled to refuse — the teams had to be protected, and 
 they were just as tired as the Louisianians. The 
 captain and lieutenants were the horses' only 
 friends. On reaching camp at Moody's Spring, at 
 night, the men all fell where they halted, and went 
 to sleep where they lay, supperless ; and it was only 
 by personal exertions of the officers that the teams 
 were unharnessed and picketed. The captain and 
 officers were up before the rest next morning, and 
 after personally waking the non-commissioned of- 
 ficers and drivers, went half a mile to find green 
 corn to feed their individual horses, from a field ofif 
 the road, of which they had been advised. During 
 the night the captain received orders attaching the 
 battery permanently to the Third Louisiana, Col- 
 onel Joseph Hebert commanding, and with it con- 
 stituting the "advance" until further orders, and 
 designating its position in column for next day's 
 march. 
 
 At daylight, after disposing of what rations were 
 in the haversacks, the cannoners were mounted, 
 none too soon to secure our station in column next 
 to Colonel Hebert's regiment, as Captain Hiram 
 
38 With the Light Guns 
 
 Bledsoe, a brave and afterward renowned Mis- 
 souri artilleryman, was found trying to force his 
 battery into our place in column. Fortunately Ad- 
 jutant General Mcintosh appeared just as we drove 
 up, and enforced our right and title to the place. 
 The end of that day's march, August 6, took the 
 army to Wilson's Creek, and the battery crossed 
 and went into park and camp on the north side, to 
 which it was guided personally by the soldierly 
 eyes of Captain Mcintosh, to the position first held 
 in the battle three days later. The place was dis- 
 tant ten miles from Springfield, which Lyon had 
 fortified. The march was not resumed the next 
 day, nor the next, unaccountably to us. On the 
 morning of the 9th of August, apprehensive that 
 something might happen at the camp, the captain 
 examined the ground near his position, and con- 
 cluded to walk over to Colonel Hebert's camp, sit- 
 uated next south, and talk over possibilities and 
 probabilities, with a view to readiness for what 
 might occur. Half way between, the colonel was 
 met, on his way to our camp for a similar purpose. 
 Both went back to the battery and he was told 
 what was in the captain's mind. He agreed there 
 was ground to apprehend attack in site. They went 
 over the ground already examined, and jointly se- 
 lected what it was agreed was a somewhat better 
 position in case of attack. It was the ground of the 
 second position the battery took in the battle of 
 the loth. Later in the day an order came from 
 Gen. McCulloch to prepare to march at 9 p. m. to- 
 wards Springfield — and a fight. In the afternoon 
 a light rain fell, which continued until after night. 
 Most of our troops were without cartridge boxes, 
 
With the Light Guns 39 
 
 and for fear of wetting ammunition, the order to 
 move was modified, "to be prepared to move at a 
 moment's notice." The captain received no later 
 notice of any change of orders ; and fortunately 
 kept his horses harnessed and hitched, and his men 
 at ease or resting near posts, all night. No move 
 was made during the night, and very early the next 
 morning, the loth, the men got their breakfast, 
 largely green corn which they had gathered the 
 day before from adjacent fields. 
 
 In an old package of papers, yellow with age, is 
 found a substantial copy of the report of the Pu- 
 laski battery's participation in the battle of the loth 
 of August. It has never been published within 
 the knowledge of this writer, and it appears now, 
 as having been made when matters were fresh in 
 mind: 
 
 "Camp on Wilson's Creek, Mo., Aug. 11, 1861. 
 "Col. Joseph Hebert, Commanding Advance: — 
 
 "Sir: — My battery having been asigned to your 
 command, it becomes my duty to report its partici- 
 pation in the action of }^esterday on the ground it 
 occupies. If I am in error, please forward to proper 
 headquarters. 
 
 "On the morning of the 9th inst., I was ordered 
 to be in readiness to move promptly against the 
 enemy, at 9 p. m. Later, in consequence of the 
 r.-iin, I was ordered to be 'ready to move at a mo- 
 ment's notice.' My officers and men were ordered- 
 to remain at and near their posts, with teams har- 
 nessed and hitched, parked at full distance, and re- 
 mained so all night. 
 
 "About 6 a. m. on the loth, just as my men had 
 finished breakfast, a great commotion was observed 
 
40 With the Light Guns 
 
 on the Springfield road, in a direction northwest- 
 erly (as I take it) from my camp. Men, horses and 
 other animals, with and without wagons, carriages, 
 etc., were seen rushing hurriedly and confusedly 
 in great numbers down the roads and to the fords 
 on the west and south. It seemed to be a repeti- 
 tion of the affair at Crane Creek a few days ago, and 
 we were not greatly disturbed. Nevertheless, I 
 ordered officers and men to posts and mounted 
 drivers while awaiting orders. A minute or two 
 later, on the hill five or six hundred yards north- 
 west a rush of teams was observed, which rapidly 
 developed into a light batter)', that quickly unlim- 
 bered and commenced firing, seemingly in the di- 
 rection of General McCulloch's headquarters, or of 
 the crowd flying down the main road towards 
 Sharp's house. Almost simultaneously a second 
 battery or section rushed forward to the right and in 
 front of the first, about 200 yards, unlimbered and 
 commenced firing, apparently in the direction of 
 McRae's battalion, or Third Louisiana regiment.* 
 My men had been held a minute or two in expecta- 
 tion of orders, but satisfied the situation was grave, 
 I passed my caissons to the rear and ordered "in 
 battery," at the appearance of the first mentioned 
 force. The second battery or section of the enemy 
 observed my movement, and opened fire on us. We 
 were able to answer the enemy's third or fourth 
 fshot. Generals Pearce and McCulIoch were soon 
 
 * Curiously, the tactics outlined in Exodus 4-4 flashed in 
 mind at this time. 
 
 t Gen. Price "was grreatly aided from the beginning by 
 Woodruff, who had, with true soldierly instinct, thrown his 
 pieces into battery, on the bluff east of the ford, at the sound 
 of Totten's guns, and opened on Lyon a Are which checked 
 his advance and gave the Missourians time to reach Caw- 
 thon's position and form a line of battle there."- — Snead's 
 Fight for Missouri, p. 274. 
 
With the Light Guns 41 
 
 on the ground and approved the action taken.. 
 Within a few minutes after the enemy opened, the 
 report of a few shots of artillery to the southwest 
 was heard, or at both extremities of our camp. 
 Feeling the importance of staying the assault un- 
 til our infantry lines were established, the cannon- 
 ade with the hostile battery was continued half an 
 hour or more, with the double purpose of checking 
 it and for effect on his infantry lines behind.* 
 
 "Early in the action, the Missouri cavalry regi- 
 ment of Colonel Graves reported, in support of the 
 battery. The colonel was requested to take posi- 
 tion on our flanks and rear, if he approved. A con- 
 siderable force of the enemy was observed in the 
 cornfield near one-half mile immediately north of 
 our position. Foreseeing that it was intended to at- 
 tack our position and dislodge us, the appearance 
 and position of this force, regulars, infantry, cav- 
 alry and a battery, was quickly reported to General 
 McCuUoch, t who speedily opposed it with Mc- 
 Rae's battalion, part of the Third Louisiana, and, 
 I think, Flanagin's regiment, all under Colonel Mc- 
 intosh. They had to pass under the fire of our 
 guns, stationed at a higher level, to reach the ene- 
 my. With the rest of the Third Louisiana regi- 
 ment. General McCulloch, in a little while, moved 
 rapidly to the west or southwest. Our infantry line 
 being formed, and the threatened attack from the 
 hill north checked, our fire was thereafter directed 
 where it could be advantageously used without in- 
 jury to our own troops, sometimes at the opposing 
 battery, at others against the assaults of the enemy 
 
 *See p. 277; Snead lb. 
 
 t See last paragraph of Note 1 to appendix. 
 
42 With the Light Guns 
 
 on the hill to the northwest, in support of Colonel 
 Mcintosh, and after in support of our infantry line 
 on the enemy, when the latter was uncovered. 
 About 9 a. m., Colonel Gratiot's Third Arkansas re- 
 ported in support, and was requested to take the 
 position vacated by Graves' Missouri cavalry. An 
 hour later the Third Arkansas, Colonel Gratiot, 
 passed down the hill to the left of our position, di- 
 rected by General Pearce, and crossed the creek, 
 and in a little while went into action. Observing 
 a Federal regiment, uniformed in gray, advanc- 
 ing in fine order to meet Gratiot, and having 
 an excellent opportunity to enfilade it while Gra- 
 tiot was uncovered, we opened on it with the effect 
 of breaking its beautiful line and scattering it its 
 full length, to the depth of a company front or 
 more, when Gratiot met and dispersed it gallantly. 
 The enemy commenced falling back about noon, 
 to the northwest, in good order, their rear 
 covered b}' artillery and cavalry. We opened 
 on the retreating force, which gave our artillery 
 antagonists opportunity to send a few spiteful 
 shots at us in return. 
 
 "CASUALTIES. 
 
 "I have to report a loss of four officers and men, 
 killed, wounded and missing. First Lieutenant 
 Omer R. Weaver and Private Hugh Byler were 
 killed by cannon shot ; Private Richard C. Byrd, 
 Jr., was wounded in the leg by a minnie ball, 
 sufficiently to disable him from service for 
 some time; two horses were also killed. 
 The death of Weaver is an irreparable loss 
 to the battery and the cause. Byler was a 
 
With the Light Guns 43 
 
 brave and useful and exemplary soldier. Their loss 
 is all the more deplorable, because if a surgeon had 
 been attached, their valuable lives might possibly 
 have been saved. The missing man had gone to 
 the corral without permission at dawn, and was 
 cut ofif from return by position of the enemy and 
 his line of fire. 
 
 "During a lull in the action, by General Pearce's 
 order, the battery was limbered up and moved to 
 more elevated ground some one hundred yards to 
 the right and rear of the first position. 
 "Very respectfully, etc., 
 
 "W. E. WOODRUFF, Jr., 
 
 "Captain Pulaski (Arkansas) Light Battery." 
 
 The average excellence of behavior of the com- 
 pany was very high. There was only one absentee, 
 and he, a boy, caught away from camp when the 
 battle opened, had no exemplar to point the way 
 to duty. His name is not mentioned. The army 
 roll is challenged for superiors or peers of Tom 
 Cavanaugh, Pat Connolly, Higgins, Cook, Lowe 
 and Quinn, as cannoneers. They were all artists 
 in the service of the piece. The names of a few 
 others are given alphabetically, special mention of 
 whom will excite no jealousy: Blocher, Brodie, 
 Button, Campbell, Curry, Davis, W. R. Douglass 
 George, Halliburton, Hugh Hardy, Jennings, Kim- 
 bell, Lewis, Marshall, Mears, Merrick, Mills, Os- 
 borne, the two Parks brothers. Pollock, Visart, 
 Watkins, Williams and Woodard, as deserving of 
 commendation. Judgment forbids extending the 
 
44 With the Light Guns 
 
 list, lest the heart run away with the pen and 
 cause it to copy the roll. Ten or more were boys 
 between 15 and 17, and their youth alone prevented 
 some from being placed as sergeants and corpor- 
 als. All seemed to vie as if each member felt de- 
 sirous of averting from the State of Arkansas, the 
 odium of an overwhelming disgrace, responsibility 
 for which might be settled upon each. 
 
 Many of the incidents of the fight are recalled. 
 It had been arranged between the company offi- 
 cers long before, that in our first engagement each 
 should take the post of gunner at designated pieces. 
 Weaver to take No. i, I to take No. 2 ( to be near 
 the center) Reyburn No. 3, and Brown No. 4, as- 
 sisted and rested by the proper gunner of the res- 
 pective pieces. From the shape of the gun, the ten- 
 dency is to "over-shoot" the mark, the outer sur- 
 face of the gun being much thicker at the breech 
 than at the muzzle. The difference is more than an 
 inch according to calibre, and in a distance of sev- 
 eral hundred yards the overshot is considerable.. 
 Only experience can qualify a gunner to determine 
 what elevation to give his piece, to strike with cer- 
 tainty a particular object. It was a fortunate in- 
 cident that our overshots were eflfective on the Fed- 
 eral lines and reserve behind. I fired the first shot 
 and the others followed. Weaver was struck with- 
 in the first hour. He had just been relieved by his 
 gunner. Sergeant Blocher, I believe, and, was 
 
With the Light Guns 45 
 
 struck a moment after with a solid shot, which 
 broke his right arm and crushed his breast. Some 
 one told me Weaver was wounded and wanted to 
 see me. I went to him immediately, and he said, 
 lying on the ground, his wounded arm across his 
 breast: "I am done for; can't you have me 
 moved?" I said, "Yes, immediately, and I will try 
 to get a surgeon." He said, "All right ; you had 
 better go back to your gun or post." I called Ser- 
 geant Button and told him to detail men to move 
 Weaver, and to get a surgeon if he could. The 
 fight was going on all the time. A little later Byler 
 was struck by a solid shot above the knee. He was 
 removed also. Within an hour Byrd was shot in 
 the leg with a minnie ball and was also removed. 
 Button managed to find Dr. Dunlap, of Fort Smith, 
 who ministered to all while there was life. A 
 wheel horse of the limber of Weaver's gun, one of 
 the "overland" white team, was also killed. All 
 the casualties happened at the same gun and its 
 caisson- — a piece of shell splintered the latter and 
 fell inside the chest — except another horse which 
 was killed near us to the left — a sergeant's horse 
 hitched to a small tree. 
 
 During the "cornfield fight," a battery, I think 
 Bledsoe's Missouri Battery, opened at a point con- 
 siderably to the left, west and south of us, and 
 fired apparently at the Federal regulars in the corn- 
 field four or five shots. At the time I thought it 
 
46 With the Light Guns 
 
 was Reed. It may be, however, that it was Gui- 
 bor's Missouri Battery,' which was camped over a 
 mile to the left and rear of us as we fired. Neither 
 Reed, Bledsoe or Guibor was in sight. This was 
 the only participation in the fight by the Missouri 
 batteries that I am aware of. It occurred to me at 
 the time, that the missiles of this battery were as 
 dangerous to Mcintosh as to the enemy. I had 
 partially discontinued firing in that direction for 
 that reason. The guns sounded beautifully and in- 
 spiringly, however. Reed fired a few shots at Si- 
 gel's battery, which we heard only, as he was out 
 of sight. All the reports of the Pulaski battery 
 "whipping Totten" are foundationless. He mani- 
 fested himself a couragous and capable officer. He 
 was in the fight from "end to end" and in the very 
 forefront. He fired, I think, his last shot at us on 
 the retreat, as stated in my report — though there 
 was another regular battery, Du Bois',tin the close 
 vicinity of the Federal force that made the cornfield 
 fight. Totten's guns were abandoned at one stage. 
 Colonel De Rosey Carroll's regiment (he told me) 
 went over his, Totten's ground, and found them 
 abandoned. They were recovered, however and 
 drawn away. I freely say that while our post was 
 
 *It was Guibor, as learned from Snead'.s book long after 
 Woodruffs official report was made. See note to appendix. 
 Guibor had to "move more than a mile" to reach his post 
 in Price'.s line, which he could not have done at the time 
 Totten opened fire with his battery, and for a half hour after 
 that time. 
 
 tit was DuBois. See note to appendix, next to last para- 
 graph. 
 
With the Light Guns 47 
 
 dangerous enough, I am glad the conditions were 
 not reversed. He was afterwards dismissed from 
 the army on account of dissipation, a weakness 
 which President Grant might well have overlooked, 
 as Totten suggested to him, when notified of that 
 President's approval of his dismissal. The unkind- 
 est thing I ever heard of Captain Totten was a re- 
 mark of Captain C. C. Danley, in '60 or '6r, who 
 remarked: "T. was always a bosom friend of the 
 man he drank with last." Certainly a testimonial 
 to his generous nature, and I can testify to his sol- 
 dierly qualities. 
 
 Generals McCulloch, Price, Pearce and Colonel 
 Mcintosh visited our position several times during 
 the day; also President David Walker of the State 
 convention. The demeanor of all was fearless. It 
 is recalled that Price wore throughout the fight a 
 black "plug" hat, which ranged over the field like 
 an orriflamme, to the Missourians. 
 
 The bearing of General Lyon was in plain view, 
 and was very gallant. There was another Federal 
 officer, a one-armed Irish man, named Sweeny, as 
 afterwards learned, whose actions were most gal- 
 lant in bringing up and encouraging his infantry as 
 his battallions were put into the fight successively. 
 He was always in the thick of it. We did not know 
 the names of either until later. One factor aided 
 the Federals greatly; all their infantry had long 
 range guns ; our men had very few ; the Federals 
 
48 With the Light Guns 
 
 could pick their distance out of range of our old 
 muskets, squirrel rifles and shot guns, when the 
 two lines clashed. This was signally manifested 
 when Gratiot's minnie rifles were pitted against 
 the last regiment put in the fight, which was ar- 
 rested long before a return fire was expected. The 
 difference in arms explains the heavy loss of the 
 Confederates. 
 
 Next day after the battle the captain went to 
 take a look at the "dutch" prisoners. As we passed 
 a group of Price's Missourians, one of them spoke 
 out so that he could be heard : "There goes the 
 little captain of the battery that saved us yester- 
 day." Then it was assured our boys had done 
 well. 
 
 Only such matters as fell under personal obser- 
 vation are mentioned herein, because the object of 
 the writer is merely to show the part played by the 
 Pulaski battery, and not to describe the battle. The 
 field of action to the south and west of us was 
 mostly out of view, though we could hear the noise 
 of artillery and small arms. We knew that the Mis- 
 sourians and Churchill's, Dockery's, Walker's 
 Carroll's and other Arkansas regiments were 
 earnestly engaged with the enemy, but the 
 trees and the smoke, as it rose high above, 
 obscured the ground, and the noise was our 
 only evidence. Reed's battery and Weightman's 
 men were entirely out of sight ; so were the opera- 
 
With the Light Guns 49 
 
 tions of the Third Louisiana in the fight that re- 
 sulted in the capture of Sigel's battery. One of 
 these guns was brought to the ground we occupied 
 during the fight. Another it is said bore the mark 
 of one of Reed's shots. We also secured one of 
 Sigel's artillery horses, which we put in place of 
 one horse killed. We named him Sigel.* 
 
 We remained in camp on the battlefield for two 
 or three days. Lieutenant Weaver's and Byler's 
 bodies were buried, but Weaver's was disinterred 
 and sent to Little Rock for final burial, in charge of 
 Lieutenant Brown. His grave is still bare of any 
 memorial stone. This ought not to be, as Arkansas 
 sent no more promising young soldier to the field. 
 
 After the death of Weaver, Lieutenant Reyburn 
 was promoted to the grade of junior first lieutenant ; 
 and Sergeant Britton Bennett was elected second 
 lieutenant. At the captain's request. Orderly Ser- 
 geant Blocher declined to be a candidate for the 
 vacancy caused by Reyburn's promotion. This was 
 on account of his usefulness as orderly sergeant. 
 
 How much soldierly ability was incorporated in 
 Lyons' command can be estimated from the fact 
 that besides himself eleven major generals and thir- 
 teen brigadiers were made from the officers 
 whom he commanded at Oak Hill. Among the 
 former were Schofield, Stanley, Steele, Sigel, Gran- 
 ger, Osterhaus, Herron, and possibly Curtis. 
 
 *See note to p. 64. 
 
50 With the Light Guns 
 
 Among the latter, Sturgis, Carr, Plummer, Mitch- 
 ell, Sweeney, Totten, Gilbert, Du Bois, regu- 
 lar's and Powell Clayton. 
 
 Of the regulars who participated, with all of 
 whom (except the company of dragoons with Sigel) 
 we were engaged at some period of the fight, were 
 Plummer's battalion, 1st infantry, 4 companies; 
 Steele's battalion, 4 companies, 2nd infantry; Tot- 
 ten's Company F, 2d artillery; DuBois' 6-gun bat- 
 tery ; Carr's company of cavalry ; Farand's com- 
 pany, 2nd dragoons, about 2,000 in all. Lyon's 
 line never got farther than 100 yards in ad- 
 vance of his original position, where Totten opened 
 the fight on Bloody Hill. His total loss is esti- 
 mated by Colonel Snead's "Fight for Missouri" at 
 1317 killed and wounded; McCulloch's at 1230; 
 Lyon and Sigel had 16 guns; McCulloch 15; 
 Churchill had 197 casualties, out of 600 men — the 
 heaviest regimental loss in McCulloch's forces. 
 On the Confederate side, McCulloch, Mcintosh, 
 Churchill, Greer, Dockery, McRae and Hebert, be- 
 came general officers. 
 
 The writer never went over a battlefield after a 
 fight, and had no knowledge of the execution done 
 by his guns or missiles until early in the '8o's, when 
 he in company with Lieutenant Cook and Capt. L. 
 L. Thompson, attended a "reunion" at Springfield, 
 Mo. There we met an officer (name forgotten) of 
 
With the Light Guns 51 
 
 the Iowa regiment we had opposed, who expressed 
 a wish to become acquainted. He had lost a leg 
 in the fight. He appeared to be an excellent gen- 
 tleman, and related many interesting incidents of 
 the afifair at Wilson's Creek. He recalled perfectly 
 the opening of fire upon his regiment by the Pulas- 
 ki battery, just before his regiment tried conclu- 
 sions with Gratiot's regiment. Among other things, 
 he said he "Had a young friend or relative in the 
 regiment in whom he felt a great interest. Nearly 
 all the men laid down for safety when the Pulaski 
 battery opened on them, but this young fellow per- 
 sisted in standing up, to be sure of missing nothing 
 in sight. Finally the colonel persuaded him to lie 
 down, but looking toward the curious man later, 
 he saw him half raised, looking with all his might. 
 'Lie down, I tell you, lie down ; you d — n fool, lie 
 down,' was shouted again, and just then," said the 
 colonel, "you shot my leg off." The climax was un- 
 expected ; we supposed the curious man would be 
 annihilated with a cannon ball. I told the colonel 
 it was pleasant to know that he hadn't been killed, 
 but it was too late to apologise. I felt as badly at 
 the time as if the injury was recent. As the war 
 resulted, it is just as well not to prosecute the in- 
 quiry as to the amount of damage done by us. 
 
 I took opportunity of the delay in camp to visit 
 Springfield on the nth, and found it well, though 
 hastily fortified. We should have had a much more 
 
52 With the Light Guns 
 
 difi&cult fight had the original plan of battle been 
 carried out. 
 
 On the nth and I2th, the three generals were 
 in heated conference over future plans. Price fa- 
 vored pursuit and making a fight for Missouri ; Mc- 
 Culloch had already overstepped the letter of his 
 authority, which held him to the Indian country; 
 besides his orders to the contrary, were peremp- 
 tory.* Pearce's force was composed wholly of 
 State troops enlisted for a short term (six months, 
 well nigh completed), for defense of Arkansas from 
 invasion. McCulloch's and Pearce's men were, on 
 the whole, well drilled and disciplined. The Mis- 
 sourians were not so well, but many had acquired 
 valuable experience in and out of battle, and a 
 large proportion was unorganized and without 
 arms. Most of those they possessed were obsolete 
 and inadequate to meet the modern arms supplied 
 the Federals. This last objection was obviated by 
 the result of the battle. All of these three generals 
 were right in their respective views as to their au- 
 thority; but as in the case of the Louisiana pur- 
 chase, in 1803, surrounding circumstances would 
 have justified some stretch of the constitution and 
 laws and department orders. Conceding the exi- 
 gency, the salvation of Missouri to the Confederacy, 
 any movement northward would have been "defen- 
 sive" of the territory of Arkansas, Louisiana and 
 
 *See Snead; p. 297. 
 
With the Light Guns 53 
 
 Texas. All were threatened by the advance of 
 Lyon's army. It was the plainest dictate of com- 
 mon as well as military sense to follow up the vic- 
 tory, and persist in an invasion which had been 
 provoked by Lyon's advance. The consequence of 
 failing to do so, was probably the loss to the Con- 
 federate cause of the great State of Missouri, at a 
 time when its adhesion to the Southern side meant 
 the success of the Southern cause. The Missouri- 
 ans were heart whole in the cause, and made im- 
 mense sacrifices in support of it. No better soldiers 
 ever joined in battle than they became. True, it is 
 that Price was ambitious and audacious in his mili- 
 tary views, but that was the kind of leader needed 
 for the special service, the holding of Missouri. 
 Later, his march to and success at Lexing- 
 ton, proved his policy was right. If he had been 
 strong enough to go to St. Louis, it would have 
 been still better. 
 
 When the conference was ended, the Pulaski bat- 
 tery was sent west by the Mt. Vernon road, and 
 went into camp at Little York, in the Granby lead 
 mine region. It remained there a few days, and 
 then resumed march homeward by way of Keitts- 
 ville. Mo. As I reached that town a little ahead 
 of the command, I stopped at the town pump and 
 dismounted to get a drink, carelessly observing a 
 man coming toward me ; but so thirsty and anxious 
 was I to get the "first drink," that no particular at- 
 
54 With the Light Guns 
 
 tention was paid him. "Captain, everybody says 
 our boys did mighty well at Springfield," he spoke 
 to me. Looking up, I recognized Smithee, who, 
 with two or three others, had been left at Camjy 
 Walker, sick with the measles. I shook hands and 
 asked where he was from. He replied from the hos- 
 pital; that he had walked all the way, hoping to 
 be in the fight, and had lived upon the country. 
 He tried to overtake us, but had miscalculated his 
 strength. "Well, let's sit down and talk; the boys 
 will be here directly ; they remember this pump," 
 I said. We waited and chatted about half an hour, 
 until the battery came up, when I turned him over 
 to Dave Parker, driver of the battery wagon or 
 forge, who cordially gave him a lift. We crossed 
 the State line in due time, and went on to Camp 
 Walker. 
 
 Orders from General Pearce were received here 
 to take a vote of the men of the company, at the 
 next camp, on the question "whether they preferred 
 to remain in the State service, or go with General 
 McCulloch."* At Elm Springs, Washington coun- 
 ty, where we camped next, the vote was taken. A 
 large majority preferred the State service, and it 
 was so reported to general Pearce. On enlistment 
 it was distinctly promised they should not be forced 
 to stay a longer term. He ordered us to remain at 
 Elm Springs and prepare muster-out rolls, but to 
 keep organization until Fayetteville was reached, 
 where the captain was directed to turn over the 
 
 *See note, appendix, last paragraph. 
 
With the Light Guns 55 
 
 guns, horses, ammunition, etc., to the Confederate 
 officer in charge. We marched next morning and 
 reached Fayetteville in due time. 
 
 The captain had intended to preserve the organ- 
 ization all the way home; but a little incident of 
 the last night at Elm Springs, influenced him other- 
 wise. About two or three o'clock in the morning 
 after the muster out, the camp was aroused by the 
 report of a cannon, very near. In an instant every 
 man was on his feet, wondering if the. enemy was 
 upon us. The captain saw through it instanter, 
 and immediately sent a sergeant to arrest and keep 
 under guard Blank and Blank. By their own ad- 
 missions the right men were in custody. That was 
 the captain's part of the joke. A little private 
 named Meyer from Hot Spring county was on post 
 that night. Blank and Blank had secured the as- 
 sistance, (or in collusion with) the sentinel at the 
 guns in park, who went off as Meyer went on 
 duty as sentinel, to ram a blank cartridge into the 
 gun and inserted a friction primer in the vent, to 
 which a long string was attached. When Meyer 
 had walked a few beats, late at night, just as he 
 had passed the gun, it was discharged. He wasal- 
 most paralyzed, and did not recover his wits for 
 several days. The perpetrators of the joke were 
 among the best soldiers of the company, in the line 
 of promotion. Considering the matter seriously, 
 the captain concluded it would be best to let each 
 man find his way home as best he could from Fay- 
 etteville, as Smithee said at Keittsville "living on 
 the country." They had acquired glory enough to 
 make the trip, he thought. He had no legal con- 
 trol over them, and would be merely keeping all 
 
56 With the Light Guns 
 
 together for their own comfort and convenience — 
 if they misbehaved to his own injury. The Meyer 
 case, he thought, was an illustration of what the 
 discipline would be on the way home. His occu- 
 pation was gone. The march was extended to Fay- 
 etteville the next day, where the public property 
 was turned over to Colonel T. C. Hindman, as di- 
 rected. In the note below is a copy of the receipt 
 therefor.* 
 
 From Fayetteville the boys made their way as 
 best they could to Van Buren. At the latter place 
 they used every imaginable conveyance to Little 
 Rock — by horse, wagon, skiff or other boat and in 
 some cases as "foot passengers," with an occasional 
 lift from people going their way. They were per- 
 sona grata everywhere and with everybody. The 
 captain, with Lieutenants Reyburn and Bennett, 
 got home by the horse-back method, stopping by 
 invitation a night below Van Buren, with Colonel 
 
 *(Col. Hlndman's receipt to WoodrufE) attached. See also 
 note to appendix. 
 
 F1TKASKI ABTHiIiER'T. — List of property turned over 
 to Col. Hindman September 2, 1861, t)y Capt. Woodruff: 
 
 Two 12-pound Howitzers (bronze) and equipments; two 
 6-pound guns and equipments; four caissons; one battery 
 wagon, one forge wagon, twenty-nine sets artillery harness, 
 five sets wagon harness, nine saddles, nine bridles, one set 
 carpenter's tools, one set blacksmith tools, one keg powder, 
 one lot iron and steel, assorted, one grind stone and gearing, 
 thirty-four wagon spokes, nine fellies, one can neat's fot oil, 
 one lot buckles and nails, one lot beef tallow, three sheep- 
 skins, one box black lead, nine picks, one dozen bridle bits, 
 one lot extra harness in battery wagon, nine spades, two 
 forks, three horse collars (extra), three Jack screws, eight 
 axes, three sponge heads, one rammer head, one box horse 
 medicine, one box battery equipment, one box currycombs 
 and brushes, fifty-six horses. 
 
 "Received of W. B. WoodrufE, Jr., Captain Pulaski Ar- 
 tillery, the articles mentioned in the foregoing list, being 
 part of ordnance, etc., transferred by the State of Arkansas 
 to Confederate States. These articles are not in first-class 
 condition, but have been used in the State service during the 
 existing war. (Duplicates.) 
 
 (Signed) "T. C. Hindman, Col. C. S. A." 
 
With the Light Guns 57 
 
 Emzy Wilson, one of the earliest settlers of Little 
 Rock, and a very early acquaintance, to thank him 
 in person for his goodness in supplying two of the 
 officers with excellent horses when they started 
 north from Van Buren. 
 
 In the last days of September, after five months 
 of hard service, the staunch old company passed 
 into history, as far as the writer's memory is capa- 
 ble of recalling its story. Barring the recruiting of- 
 ficer's scrutiny before enlistment in time of peace, 
 eighty better subalterns and men never organized in 
 any volunteer service. Some bad feeling was inev- 
 itable, from time to time, between officers suddenly 
 exalted and men starting from the same level, out 
 of changed conditions, but it is doubtful if in any 
 service the same number of men ever associated 
 longer in a business new to all, more harmoniously 
 and with less jar, than this company of men and 
 boys drawn from every calling. There never was 
 a difficulty or exigency or tangle in their afifairs, in 
 which the ability, and fortitude and disposition to 
 overcome or unravel it, were not forthcoming on 
 call. They never failed to do anything not impos- 
 sible in the line of their soldierly duties ; in fact, in 
 later business life, in the vocations in which he be- 
 came engaged, it was easy for their captain to se- 
 lect from among its ranks a proper man for any 
 emergency or station to be filled, who was equal 
 to the duty always — so well remembered were the 
 
58 With the Light Guns 
 
 qualities and characteristics displayed in military 
 service by his old men. Uniformly since their dis- 
 charge, there never was a company vv^ho, as a whole, 
 treated their former captain more kindly, and cer- 
 tainly there never was a captain who was prouder 
 of his old company. That fact is the sole — if sel- 
 fish — ground upon which this screed is given to the 
 public. 
 
 With him, as he trusts with them all, truly long 
 after these things transpired, it is delightful to re- 
 call them to memory. 
 
 They had sounded the gamut of military emo- 
 tions from its highest to its lowest note. They had 
 had one day of the very best of gunning, and had 
 reached the deepest depths of sorrow in the loss of 
 favorite comrades. For the present, of fighting, to 
 use the Arkansas vernacular, "they had had a plen- 
 ty." What they now needed for a time was, above 
 all things. 
 
A REST. 
 
 By the end of the month, the whole company was 
 home again, many willing and anxious after a rest, 
 to enter the service again. Quite a number became 
 officers, as they deserved to be, and as it was the 
 policy of their old captain, they should — when op- 
 portunity offered in other companies — for which 
 they would be qualified, some by military schooling 
 at St. John's college, and others by drill and actual 
 experience in the Pulaski battery. Among these it 
 is a great pleasure, and there is a certain pride, in 
 mentioning the names of Captain Wm. P. Parks, 
 who, after the death of Captain Hoadley of the 
 famous heavy battery at Vicksburg, succeeded the 
 latter in command. He was a volunteer in the suc- 
 cessful run of the Confederate ram, Arkansas, from 
 Yazoo river to Vicksburg, past the Federal fleet 
 and batteries, in 1863. Captains Dave Wright, 
 Richard Banks, Wm. C. Osborne, George A. Mer- 
 rick, W. D. Blocher, H. C. West, J. G. Marshall, 
 Harper Jones, C. B. Watkins, and Lieutenants An- 
 derson Mills, James Cook, Edward Visart, W. R. 
 Douglass, Walter Stillwell, Hugh Allison, A. 
 
 (59) 
 
6o With the Light Guns 
 
 Mears, and S. L. Upchurch, who became officers 
 of other organizations (or of the new company), in 
 infantry and artillery service. Other names there 
 are equally deserving, which are not recalled at the 
 date of writing. 
 
WEAVER LIGHT BATTERY 
 C. S. A. 
 
 Boster and Boll of "Weaver Iiigrht Artillery," C. S. A., Be- 
 
 cmited in December, 1861, TTnder Authority of 
 
 Gen. Albert Pike. C. S. A. 
 
 Officers at organization: 
 
 Wm. E. Woodruff, Jr., Captain, P. Major Battalion. 
 
 Henry C. West, First Lieutenant. 
 
 Win. D. Bloeher, First Lieutenant (Jr.), Sr. First Lieu- 
 tenant, vice West, T. 
 
 James Cook, Second Lieutenant, P. First Lieutenant, vice 
 Bloeher, P.; R. 
 
 Capt. Joseph Stillwell, A. A. Q. M. & C. 
 
 J. N. Smithee, First Lieutenant and Adjutant Battalion. 
 
 Jordan, A. A. Surgeon. 
 
 Officers subsequently: 
 
 Wm. R. Douglass, E. Second Lieutenant, vice Cook, Ad. 
 Sr. First Lieutenant. 
 
 J. 6. Marshall, E. Captain, vice Woodruff, P. Major. 
 
 A. Mears, E. First Lieutenant, vice Cook, R. 
 
 Hugh Allison, E. Second Lieutenant. 
 
 J. V. Zimmerman, Captain, after consolidation, with Mar- 
 shall's. 
 
 Non-Gommiasioiied Officers and Friyates, 
 Alams, Ben W. 
 Adams, J. G. 
 
 Allison, Hugh, E. 2d Lieut. 
 Barnes, B. Frank — D., 
 P.aldwin, James. 
 Baldwin, H. T. 
 Black, Ben. 
 Bledsoe, Alf. 
 Bender, Walter. 
 Bennett. 
 Bernard. 
 Bittner. D. — B. 
 Bricelin, Milo. 
 Borland, George. — D. 
 
 * Abbreviations. — Ad. — Advanced; Art. — Artificer; B.— 
 Bugler or Musician; C. — Corporal; D. — Died at home or in 
 hospital; K. — Killed in battle; P. — Promoted from ranks; 
 O. S. — First Sergeant: S. — Sergeant; T. — Transferred to an- 
 other company; W. — Wounded in battle; R. — Resigned. 
 
 (61) 
 
62 With the Light Guns 
 
 Brodie, Robert — Art. 
 
 Brodie, J. K. 
 
 Brodie, Renton. 
 
 Brown, Joseph. 
 
 Buck, Charles. 
 
 Bunch, William. 
 
 Bushnell, William. 
 
 Button, C. B. "Billy." — S.-T. 
 
 Byrd, John. 
 
 Cavanaugh, Tom. — S. 
 
 Cavanaugh, George. 
 
 Crane, Charley. 
 
 Crane, George. 
 
 Clopton, Art. 
 
 Davenport, Calvin. 
 
 Davenport, Richard. 
 
 Davis, John W. 
 
 Davidson. 
 
 Davis, John H. 
 
 Davis, Wm. R. 
 
 Devlin, L. 
 
 Douglas, Wm. R., E. 2a Lieut. 
 
 Ducker. J. L. 
 
 Durr, John. 
 
 Elliott, Frank. 
 
 Englebright, J. 
 
 Penton, Preston. 
 
 Fitzgerald, Wm. J. 
 
 Fletcher, R. — D. 
 
 Fletcher, H. L. Jr. 
 
 Fletcher, T. J. 
 
 Fletcher, David. 
 
 Fones, Alvin Thomas. 
 
 Poster, Edward. 
 
 Foust, E. S. 
 
 Frazier. 
 
 Garritt, Wm. R. 
 
 Geyer, George. 
 
 Gibbon Ed. 
 
 Graves, Richard. 
 
 Galloway, Walter. 
 
 Green, Thomas. 
 
 Griffith, Chas. 
 
 Griffith. Joseph. 
 
 Griswell — B. 
 
 Halliburton, Harry H. — S. 
 
 Halliburton, Thos. 
 
 Hardy. Hugh. 
 
 Hardy, Robert. 
 
 Hardy, James. 
 
 Harney — D. 
 
 Hatfield, D. M. 
 
 Henry, Frank. 
 
 Henry, W. W. 
 
 Hicks, John L. 
 
 Hill, Frank. 
 
 Isham, Charles. 
 
 Imbeau, Julian. 
 
 James, . 
 
 Jenning's, Richard L., Jr. 
 
 Joiner, W. J. 
 
 Jones. 
 
With the Light Guns 63 
 
 Kirabell, Jos. W. — S. 
 
 Kuykendall, M. 
 
 Kuykendall, R. 
 
 Lewis, Didymus. 
 
 Lockhart, Wm. 
 
 Mahara, John. 
 
 Mahoney. 
 
 McCarthy, James. 
 
 McCorkle. 
 
 McGinty, J. 
 
 MoKinney, John — Art. 
 
 McRight. 
 
 Marshall, John G., O. S., E. 
 
 Captain, B. 
 Millsaps. 
 
 Mills, Anderson. — S; 
 Moore, J. M. 
 Mears, A. — S.; E. 1st Lt. 
 Moore, J. — ^W. 
 Morris, James M. 
 Morris, W. N. 
 Milliron, J. 
 Morrow, R. W. 
 Mulanphy. 
 
 Nelson, Jas. A. — ^Art. 
 Newbern, Ben. 
 O'Donnell, Dennis — T. 
 Palmer, Chas. 
 Parks, John. 
 Oliver. 
 
 Parker, David W. 
 Pennington, David. 
 Pinkerton, Bichard. — W. 
 Beynolds, John. 
 Ricliards, Wm. 
 Smith, Ad. F. 
 Smith, J. 
 Sliney, Joseph. 
 Smithee, J. N. 
 Schultz, Andrew A. 
 Stillwell, Henry — D. 
 Stillwell, "Walter— T. 
 Tilley, Louis. 
 Thuma. 
 
 Traywick, A. C. — ^Art. 
 Upchurch, S. W. 
 Vaughan, P. T. — ^W. 
 Vaughan, James L. 
 Visart, Ed S. 
 Walls. 
 Williams, F. S.— S. 
 
64 With the Light Guns 
 
 About the ist day of November, 1861, Captain 
 Woodruff received authority from General Albert 
 Pike, commanding the Indian Department, the same 
 position held by General Ben McCulloch, to recruit 
 a light battery for the Confederate service, to be 
 called "Weaver Artillery." He virent into camp at 
 Little Rock, with some thirty odd of his old men. 
 Recruiting was slower than in the early enthusias- 
 tic stage of the war, and it was late in January, 
 1862, before the company was ready to march to 
 the west. With a detachment he went to Devals 
 Bluff, and took from the bank of the White River 
 two light batteries of six bronze guns each, re- 
 ceived from Richmond for General Pike, and sent 
 them by rail to Little Rock, whence they started 
 by steamer for Fort Smith. On account of low 
 water, they were partly unloaded at Dardanelle. 
 The company, about eighty men, rank and file, left 
 Little Rock with some horses, and secured others 
 at Dardanelle.* There the battery was outfitted 
 partially. Thence the command went overland to 
 Fort Smith, by all methods of transportation avail- 
 able. Drill was commenced while in camp at Little 
 Rock, and continued at Dardanelle and Fort Smith, 
 where late in February the outfitting and ammuni- 
 tion supply was completed. 
 
 It was impossible to complete the work and to 
 reach General McCulloch, with whom Pike was, in 
 time to participate in the battle of Elk Horn, which 
 occurred on March 6th and 7th. Major Geo. W. 
 
 Among these, by what accident is not known, was discov- 
 ered and recognized by our old men, the horse "Sigel," who 
 was captured from Essig's Battery at Oak Hill — a light iron 
 gray or dapple. He did good service with the battery until it 
 reached Hot Springs, on the return from Port McCulloch. 
 On the last day's march he was overcome by the heat and 
 had to be abandoned. 
 
With the Light Guns 65 
 
 Clarke, Qr. Mr. C. S. A., was in command at Fort 
 Smith. After news of the Elk Horn fight, he or- 
 dered the command to cross the river at Van Buren 
 and effect a junction with McCulloch's forces, which 
 were falling back to the south in considerable dis- 
 order. We crossed at Van Buren and went up to 
 the Cove Creek road, above Oliver's where we met 
 Greer's Texas cavalry regiment, coming south, 
 under Major Ross, who ordered us to follow him 
 back. Returning, we stopped at Van Buren a day 
 and night, with a detachment, to receive the bodies 
 of Generals McCulloch and Mcintosh, both slain 
 at Elk Horn. They were delivered to us at Wal- 
 lace & Ward's storerooms in Van Buren. Their 
 bodies were prepared for burial there, and interred 
 in the government cemetery at Fort Smith (now a 
 National cemetery). They were conveyed to the 
 graves on two caisons of the battery, and buried 
 with military honors. McCulloch's body later was 
 disinterred and taken to Texas. Mcintosh's body, 
 it is believed, is still at Fort Smith, marked by a 
 handsome monument. The State of Arkansas owes 
 a debt of gratitude to these famed officers, and they 
 deserve each a memorial as high as the name of a 
 county, when the increase of population justifies 
 such establishment. These two were the bravest 
 men the writer ever knew. They lost their lives 
 through sheer excess of courage, and in doing du- 
 ties which should have been assigned to less im- 
 portant men. 
 
 At Fort Smith First Lieutenant H. C. West re- 
 ceived intelligence that he had been elected captain 
 of a new Desha county battery, and proceeded to 
 Dardanelle, where his guns were, to join and outfit 
 
66 With the Light Guns 
 
 his new command. Wm. R. Douglass was elected 
 to fill the vacant second lieutenancy occasioned by 
 the promotion of West; at the same time W. D. 
 Blocher becoming senior and James Cook junior 
 first lieutenants. 
 
 After Elk Horn, General Van Dorn, in chief com- 
 mand, established headquarters at Van Buren. The 
 orders of the Weaver battery were "to report to 
 General Pike at the North Fork Town," in the Na- 
 tion. Upon exhibition of the order to him, Van 
 Dorn curtly said, "Then report to General Pike." 
 The rest of McCulloch's army was shortly moved 
 east of the Mississippi river, to our great disap- 
 pointment. Dawson's regiment, infantry, Corley's 
 company of cavalry, and the Weaver battery, were 
 all the Arkansas troops left west of the Mississippi 
 river. The captain advised Major Clark at Fort 
 Smith of his purpose to move to North Fork Town 
 at once. Clark requested him to remain at Fort 
 Smith a day or two to aid him in some business 
 matters, but the Weaver battery under conduct of 
 First Lieutenant Blocher, marched for North Fork 
 that morning. 
 
 Two days later I started alone on horse-back to 
 overtake it by the direct route through Scullyville, 
 and the San Bois country. While riding around a 
 short bend in the road, just at Scullyville on the 
 east side, I came plump upon a light battery of 
 artillery, which I first thought was Blocher, but 
 soon saw they were in full United States uniform, 
 taking their nooning in the edge of the town. As 
 I was among them before realizing it, for a moment 
 I was dazed and took it for a Federal battery, part 
 of a force in pursuit of General Pike, or endeavor- 
 
With the Light Guns 67 
 
 ing to get to Fort Smith from the west. Very soon 
 I learned better. It was a regular battery that went 
 over to the Confederates in southwest Texas, and 
 enlisted as a whole, and had started to join General 
 McCulloch. It was in command of Captain James 
 Edgar who, a citizen of Texas, had been formerly 
 an orderly sergeant, and was very influential with 
 the men of the battery. After explanations, the 
 officers were very much amused when I told of my 
 fears. In a few minutes their bugle sounded and 
 the battery and I moved on our respective routes. 
 That -night, fearful of losing the way, was spent in 
 a clump of woods. The country seemed deserted. 
 The houses of the Indians, as a rule, were distant 
 from the road. Next morning the destination in- 
 tended for the night before on the San Bois, was 
 reached, a good breakfast had, and a pleasant talk 
 with the Indian host, after which the route was re- 
 sumed and the battery overtaken as the last bag- 
 gage wagons were fording the quicksands of the 
 Canadian. 
 
 At North Fork General Pike had left instructions 
 for the batery to follow him south and join at Fort 
 McCulloch, on Blue River, eight or ten miles east 
 of old Fort Washita. The route was resumed next 
 morning and prosecuted diligently a few days, until 
 we joined the main army in one of the prettiest 
 camps within experience. It was on ground, as 
 was later learned, on which was fought a battle 
 with the confederated wild tribes, by General Mat- 
 thew Arbuckle, about 1828 or 1829, in which Gen- 
 eral Pike was a participant — ^volunteer. 
 
 From arrival, the battery drilled diligently at the 
 piece and in the battery movements, several hours 
 
68 With the Light Guns 
 
 daily, and soon became expert in all the manoeu- 
 vers. The improvement was much more rapid 
 than with the old company — half of the men and 
 all of the officers being already experts, which gave 
 the officers relief from the drudgery of squad drills. 
 In about two weeks Captain Henry C. West ar- 
 rived, with his fine new battery, and camped with 
 us in battalion order. Captain West was an ac- 
 complished officer. By orders, a battalion was cre- 
 ated, of which the senior captain was placed in 
 command, and as was afterwards learned, recom- 
 mended for promotion. First Lieutenant Blocher 
 became commander of the Weaver battery, while 
 its captain was detached. An adjutant became 
 necessary, and Sergeant J. N. Smithee was recom- 
 mended for the position of first lieutenant and ad- 
 jutant of the battalion. 
 
 General Pike's command, besides Colonel Daw- 
 son's infantry, Corley's cavalry and the artillery 
 from Arkansas, was composed of several Texas reg- 
 iments of infantry and cavalry, under Colonels Rob- 
 ert Taylor, Alamarine Alexander and other colo- 
 nels, and the Indian troops. The last were not 
 much in camp, but were within easy call at points 
 not distant. Soon after camp was established. 
 General Pike commenced the erection of an 
 earthwork named Fort McCulloch, which 
 was built by daily details of working par- 
 ties from all commands, artillery included. 
 It was rather distasteful occupation, but 
 the duty was performed faithfully, if grumblingly. 
 
 After a month the senior captain concluded the 
 horses should be familiarized with the racket of 
 actual firing, and without asking permission from 
 
With the Light Guns 69 
 
 headquarters, treated the whole camp to a surprise 
 one morning by exercising the gun drill with blank 
 cartridges, by piece, by section, by half battery and 
 by battery. Instantly the prairie, which formed 
 a great part of the general camp, was as full of 
 astonished soldiers — Texas, Arkansas and Indian, 
 as a prairie dog town is of its denizens, which they 
 made it resemble. General Pike scolded the com- 
 mander good naturedly for the "indiscretion," as he 
 termed it, but was easily persuaded it was better 
 to stampede the army when there was no danger, 
 than to have the batteries go to pieces when the 
 enemy was before it. 
 
 A few days later there was a large delegation in 
 camp from the wild and roving tribes of the com- 
 mander's Indian allies — Kiowas, Comanches and 
 several other tribes, who had been summoned to 
 council by General Pike, some time previously. It 
 was a wonderful thing to see them as they sat in a 
 semi-circle in front of General Pike's large office 
 tent all day long, gazing at his striking and ma- 
 jestic person, as he sat writing, or reading and 
 smoking. They seemed to reverence him like a 
 God. The wild Indians were very inquisitive and 
 were suffered to wander through camp at their own 
 pleasure. Male and female, afoot or on horse-back. 
 These Indian ladies all used two stirrups in riding. 
 Next to General Pike's fine person, the bronze guns 
 of West and Blocher was the chief center of at- 
 traction. Both sexes fairly swarmed in and about 
 the artillery camps, and the squaws and girls soon 
 captivated the young men of the battallion. Every- 
 thing bright or gaudy in appearance or color, neck- 
 erchiefs, handkerchiefs and such like were speedily 
 
70 With the Light Guns 
 
 in their possession. One (future) county judge I 
 know was signally despoiled. By some means, the 
 report, of the gun firing a' few days previous had 
 come to their knowledge, and the whole wild lot 
 desired to hear the report of the guns and see the 
 eiifect of shell and shot. Accordingly, before the 
 council adjourned, the general ordered a section 
 to be taken to the outskirts of the camp, and a few 
 solid shot, shells, shrapnel and canister fired for 
 their delectation. The effect on an old chief stand- 
 ing near the officer commanding the firing party, 
 was amusing. His face had about as much expres- 
 sion as a raw-hide or grindstone, until the first 
 shell exploded about one-fourth of a mile distant. 
 The chief turned to the officer, all wonder and as- 
 tonishment, and holding up two fingers said : "Him 
 shoot twice," then relapsed as if ashamed, into the 
 grindstone stage. That the chief understood Eng- 
 lish was a great surprise to the officer. These wild 
 people had a bountiful provision of buffalo meat 
 and tongues, bows and arrows, and many curious 
 trinkets with them, and drove quite a profitable 
 commerce with our men. The officers laid in a 
 good supply of buffalo tongue, some of which was 
 brought home a little later. Lewis Tilly of Bloch- 
 er's, bought the smallest adult pony any of us had 
 seen, and was permitted to bring him along, as Cap- 
 tain Stillwell, acting commissary, said: "His stom- 
 ach capacity is too small to affect the commissary's 
 accounts, and grass is free." The men sent out to 
 graze the herd daily on the prairie, told remarkable 
 tales about the abundance and size of rattle snakes. 
 If anybody is curious about them, he is respectfully 
 
With the Light Guns 71 
 
 referred to Sergeant Billy Button, at the Soldier's 
 Home, for full particulars. 
 
 At Ft. McCulloch, Capt. Wm. Quessenbury, 
 chief q. m., who at that day was to Arkansas, what 
 Mark Twain is now to the rest of the world, got 
 up one of the greatest jokes known in financial 
 history. There were no Confederate notes of less 
 denomination than $5.00. He got hold of a lot 
 of marble and wall paper, and had change tickets 
 printed on the light side to supply the needs of 
 the army in small transactions. It was redeemable 
 on presentation in sums of $5.00 or over. It was 
 good money as long as it lasted — ^which owing to 
 the weather's changes and other incidents was not 
 long. 
 
 By permission of the general, I obtained leave, 
 with one or two of the officers, to visit old Fort 
 Washita, ten miles west, and was more than re- 
 paid for the trouble, if by nothing else, by the 
 pleasure of making the acquaintance of Major 
 Thomas Lanagin, commissary, in command, well 
 known to old Arkansawyers. There were no de- 
 fensive works at the fort, it being simply a military 
 station with depot buildings for stores, arms, am- 
 munition and clothes, and parade ground for tem- 
 porary garrison use. 
 
 About the middle of June, General Pike received 
 a letter from General Hindman, then commanding 
 at Little Rock, directing him to order the Weaver 
 battery to Little Rock for service. Pike's being an 
 independent command, diplomatic as well as mili- 
 
72 With the Light Guns 
 
 tary, he was loth to do so, but finally concluded he 
 would take the sense of the company, and directed 
 the captain to take measures accordingly. The 
 company resolved unanimously to return home. 
 The situation was distressing — Little Rock was 
 threatened by the enemy. A very small Confeder- 
 ate force, under General Roane was there, and mail 
 communication was difficult and infrequent. They 
 greatly admired General Pike, and under altered 
 circumstances at home, would have cheerfully re- 
 mained. The battery immediately took the route 
 via Boggy Depot, Doajcsville, Fort Towson, Center 
 Point, where a stop was made of two days; Mur- 
 freesboro and Hot Springs, where another rest was 
 taken. This route was taken because the shorter 
 and supplies more accessible than on the longer 
 road by Washington. 
 
 On this march, one afternoon, after an early 
 morning start, we camped on the bank of the Cad- 
 do, one of the most beautiful of streams. Dr. Jor- 
 don, our surgeon, had obtained leave to be absent 
 from camp on the night and day before, having rel- 
 atives and friends "a little oflf the road." Shortly 
 after making camp he came in, and after a myste- 
 rious delay in his tent, joined the group of officers 
 who tried to force him to give an account of him- 
 self. Blocher somehow disappeared. Jordan, who 
 was evidently suspicious, suddenly jumped up and 
 took after Blocher, as he emerged from the tent, 
 with a pair of big saddle-bags in his grasp. The 
 chase continued, around and through and up and 
 down the camp for some time, to the great amuse- 
 ment of all, until Blocher, who was getting winded, 
 headed for the bank of the creek, closely pursued. 
 
With the Light Guns 73 
 
 and feeling that he could not hold out much longer, 
 put all his strength into one cast and sent the sad- 
 dle-bags whirling into the stream, 10 or 15 feet 
 from shore. Jordan took to the water like a duck, 
 and secured his property, after getting a thorough 
 wetting. He returned sulkily to his tent for a dry 
 suit. No one ever found out what the contents of 
 the saddle-bags were, although hints and questions 
 were fired at the doctor for weeks. The scene was 
 very ludicrous and afforded so much amusement 
 to the boys that the breach of discipline had to be 
 overlooked. 
 
 At Hot Springs we tarried a day or two,camp- 
 ing opposite the residence of H. A. Whittington, 
 at the foot of Hot Spring mountain. 
 
 We arrived at Little Rock sooner than was ex- 
 pected, in June. After a day or two there, rumors 
 of efiForts of the enemy on White river made it 
 appear that an early movement of the enemy might 
 be expected from that direction, toward Little 
 Rock; and we were ordered over to Bayou Meto, 
 and camped near the Pine Bluff road crossing on 
 the north of that stream. A few days later we had 
 hurry orders to return to Little Rock and camp 
 three miles out on the southern military road near 
 the Texas camp of General Nelson, and were in- 
 structed to place the battery bearing on the camp. 
 It afterwards appeared that dissension was rife 
 among the Texans of the camp and that an out- 
 break might occur. Nothing the captain knows 
 ever did occur, and a few days later we were or- 
 dered to the vicinity of Devals Bluff, to help stay 
 threatened attack by Federal gunboats on White 
 river. Quite an affair occurred at St. Charles a day 
 
74 With the Light Guns 
 
 or two previous to our arrival, w^hich resulted in 
 the destruction of a Federal gunboat, by a crew 
 of naval men under command of Captain Fry (who 
 later was assassinated by Spaniards at Santiago, 
 Cuba,) and Captain Dunnington of the gunboat 
 Ponchartrain (then lying at Little Rock). Some 
 skirmishing had also occurred on the west side of 
 White river, between troops landed by the gun- 
 boats and the commands of Colonel Anderson Gor- 
 don and Captain Pat. H. Wheat, which opposed 
 them. The Federals, in a short while after this 
 disaster, re-embarked and withdrew from the river. 
 This federal naval movement was in concert with 
 Curtis' army at Batesville, who was expecting to 
 make a junction with the Federal expedition at 
 Clarendon. We camped north of Devals Bluff a 
 day or two, then marched to Des Arc and camped 
 at the east side of the town. Here General Albert 
 Rust was in chief command. The Federals under 
 Curtis were moving south from Batesville to Clar- 
 endon, there to mature plans for a movement 
 against Little Rock. We remained at Des Arc two 
 days, ferrying Texans and part of General Dan- 
 dridge McRae's brigade, to which we were attach- 
 ed, across the river at the- town ferry. At nine at 
 night the captain was ordered to cross a section of 
 artillery and move with McRae's brigade in the 
 direction of Cotton Plant, where a meeting with 
 Curtis was expected. Lieutenant James Cook's 
 section was detailed for the service, and it, with a 
 wagon, crossed the river on a flat boat with one oar. 
 Lieut. Wm. R. Douglass also accompanied the sec- 
 tion. A mule attached to the wagon became unruly 
 and jumped overboard in the dark. The harness was 
 
With the Light Guns 75 
 
 quickly detached from the swingles. He passed 
 under the boat and swam to the south bank. He 
 was returned by the next boat and took his place 
 in the train. A hurried march toward Cotton Plant 
 was made, guided by Colonel Haralson, a planter 
 then residing near Cotton Plant. 
 
 The Texas cavalry at the head of the column 
 were all new men to service and behaved badly 
 when the enemy was found. The enemy's artillery 
 opened on them at meeting, and they gave way a 
 little short of Cotton Plant, if memory is correct. 
 They returned in great disorder and high speed. 
 Our doctor, who had gone forward in search of 
 business, caught the infection, and so swift was 
 his horse, he did not recognize his own comrades 
 as he tried to follow the Texans, with flopping sad- 
 dle bags. He was halted and told to take position 
 with the rear section, ready to minister to any 
 one who might get knocked from his horse by the 
 Texans. The doctor was really a man of courage, 
 but "lost his head" by example of the Texans. He 
 had never been in action. He stayed where posted 
 until we halted and went into battery to the rear, 
 at a little creek which crosses the road, beyond 
 which McRae's infantry formed line. The enemy's 
 artillery came up and sent two investigating shots 
 into the woods a little to our right. When General 
 Rust asked the captain why he did not reply, he 
 intimated he thought the enemy would have us lo- 
 cated then, and probably it would be better to wait 
 a little for him to come up, when we would have the 
 benefits of the surprise. But the enemy pursued 
 no further. McRae's command got back to the 
 river and crossed to Des Arc. The Texans had al- 
 
76 With the Light Guns 
 
 ready crossed. They swam the river, we were told. 
 With experience, a little later, they became as good 
 as any soldiers. Cook's section crossed after Mc- 
 Rae, and got into camp in the court house yard, 
 very tired with the night and day's work. As the 
 battery went into park there, the team of the left 
 gun straddled a yellow jacket's nest. It took some 
 time for the captain to be made conscious of the 
 fact, but Private Jno. H. Davis, of the wheel team, 
 of No. 6 gun, under stress of circumstances, made 
 an exception to the rule of "not talking back," and 
 the captain subsided, and drew the- battery far 
 enough back to accommodate Private Davis' views 
 and the yellow jackets' homestead. 
 
 In point of fact, the army of Curtis ran east, while 
 ours went west. The little opposition we gave at 
 Cotton Plant, however, had the effect to change 
 Curtis' plans. He went to Helena instead of Clar- 
 endon, as was the original purpose. On the whole 
 campaign we were victors, which is not much of a 
 claim. 
 
 We remained in camp between Des Arc and De- 
 vals Bluff until about September, when demonstra- 
 tions of the enemy in Northwestern Arkansas led 
 to a movement of General McRae's brigade in that 
 direction, via old Austin, across the Cadron, 
 through Springfield in Conway county, etc., to the 
 vicinity of Ozark, in Franklin county. At Spring- 
 field the battery laid by a day for shoeing horses 
 and repairs. An amusing incident occurred here. 
 An old-time citizen and friend of whom I thought 
 a great deal, came to my camp and made complaint 
 
With the Light Guns 77 
 
 that some of my men had depredated on his sweet 
 potato patch. The whole infantry command had 
 passed his patch the day before, without disturb- 
 ing it. I asked him what the amount of the dam- 
 age was. He said about $8. I paid him the amount 
 out of my own pocket, in Confederate money. He 
 then asked that a guard be placed at his patch. I 
 directed accordingly. We moved early next morn- 
 ing, and as we passed the patch a mile or so from 
 camp I saw Private Jno. L. Hicks on guard. Later 
 on I heard the boys thought the captain had paid 
 too much for the potatoes, and took steps to see 
 that the company got the worth of his money. He 
 never had any further bill for potatoes. Perhaps 
 Private (now Judge) Frank T. Vaughan could tell 
 something about this business transaction. 
 
 On this march through what was then Conway 
 county, we camped near the residence of the late 
 Jonathan Hardin for a night. The old gentleman 
 invited me and some of my officers not on duty to 
 take supper with him. We went, and had a supper 
 worthy of better times in old Arkansas. Before 
 breakfast next morning, a servant of Mr. Hardin 
 brought to my tent an excellent ham and shoulder 
 and two sides of bacon, home-made, with Mr. Har- 
 din's compliments to my officers and me. I relate 
 this merely because of certain evil reports circu- 
 lated in the newspapers a year or so ago about Mr. 
 Hardin and his home. While he was alive, he bore 
 
78 With the Light Guns 
 
 a reputation second to no man in Arkansas for hos- 
 pitality and good citizenship. He and his brother 
 Joab were very early citizens of the territory, com- 
 ing with the first American settlers. He or his 
 brother was a member of the first territorial legis- 
 lature. 
 
 From Springfield we passed west by Dover and 
 Clarksville to near Ozark, and then turned north 
 by Cass (Grimaldi Saddler's old place), toward the 
 War Eagle, a fork of the White river, camping at 
 "Saddler's, October 22, 1862. That night it snowed 
 and turned very cold ; the next morning there was 
 two or three inches of snow on my blanket; but 
 it was protected by a rubber piano cover given me 
 by Mrs. Wm. R. Miller, when the Weaver battery 
 first started for the west, early in the year. For 
 that night's comfort (as on many other nights) in 
 wet and cold, I was indebted to her kindness. 
 
 We were now near the northern line of Franklin 
 county. The enemy had passed the State line, 01 
 Fayetteville and were reported moving south. 
 Marmaduke and Fagan had been opposing them 
 with cavalry, and were on the War Eagle, falling 
 back in expectation of drawing them so far, Mc- 
 Rae's men could co-operate and reinforce them suf- 
 ficiently to attack. On the morning of the second 
 day's march from Saddler's, a few miles below 
 Huntsville, there was skirmishing. The Weavers 
 went into battery once and was ready to take part. 
 
With the Light Guns 79 
 
 but they never came — returned to Missouri or Fay- 
 etteville. Here I met my old friend and Lieutenant, 
 Captain Henry C. West, after a long separation. 
 He introduced me to Peach and Honey. It has 
 been considered a good thing ever since. His bat- 
 tery was attached to the cavalry after Pike's quar- 
 rel with Hindman. General Shoup now assumed 
 command of the division. We returned and crossed 
 the Arkansas river below Ozark by fording, a pro- 
 ceeding which proved much less hazardous in per- 
 formance than it appeared to be before going into 
 the water. I am afraid some of our ammunition 
 would have been wetted in crossing had it not been 
 for the kindly warning of General Shoup before 
 undertaking. We moved thence to Mazzard Prairie, 
 where we went into winter quarters. 
 
THE BATTALION.* 
 
 BoBter and Boll of Blocher's Ziitrlit Batter; 
 
 At organization, and subsequently till consolidation, etc.; 
 
 Capt. W. D. Blocher. 
 
 Sr. First Lieutenant James Cook, R. 
 
 Jr, First Lieutenant J. V. Zimmerman E. Captain, vice 
 Blocher, promoted. 
 
 Second Lieutenant, Ed Visart (E), Sr. First Lieutenant, 
 vice Zimmerman, Ad. 
 
 Officers subsequently: 
 
 S. L. Upchurch (B), First Lieutenant, vice Zimmerman, 
 promoted. 
 
 Walter Stillwell (B), Second Lieutenant, vice Visart, P. 
 of War. 
 
 A. A. Surgeon, Dr. Harris. 
 
 * WOODRUFF'S BATTALION, C. S. A., was composed 
 originally of the following Arkansas Light Batteries: 
 
 Capt. John G. Marshall's Battery— First Lieutenants W. 
 R. Douglass and A. Mears, and Second Lieutenant Hugh Alli- 
 son, of Pulaski County. 
 
 Capt. Henry C. West's Battery — First Lieutenants D. J. 
 Murphy, John Brooks. Pete DuMay, of Desha County. 
 
 Later this was detached or assigned temporarily from 
 Arkansas. 
 
 Capt. W. D. Blocher's Battery — First Lieutenants James 
 Cook and J. V. Zimmerman, Second Lieutenants Ed Visart, 
 Walter Stillwell and S. L. Upchurch, of Pulaski County. 
 
 While Woodsruff was major of the battalion the follow- 
 ing named light batteries were assigned to his command 
 from time to time, and were treated and styled as companies 
 of his battalion while under his command. 
 
 Capt. W. H. Etter's Battery of Hempstead county; Lieut., 
 DeLoney. 
 
 Capt. Pratt's Texas Battery; First Lieutenant, Hynson. 
 
 Capt. J. M. Daniels' Texas Battery; First Lieutenant, 
 Sam J. Wright. 
 
 Capt. J. Edgar's Texas Battery of Lamar County, and 
 Capt. C. Tilden's Missouri Battery; First Lieutenants, L. W. 
 Kingsland, Alex A. LeSueur; Second Lieutenant, Ed Chap- 
 pell. Kingsland later became Captain. 
 
 Capt. Ruftner's Missouri Battery. 
 
 This statement does not Include the Pulaski Arkansas 
 Militia Volunteer Battery or the Volunteer Bull Battery of 
 Capt. W. E. Woodruff and First Lieut. Anderson Mills in 
 September, 1863. 
 
 (80) 
 
With the Light Guns 8i 
 
 Non-Oommissioned Officers aad FrivateB, 
 
 Amos, 
 
 Brantley, J. K., O. S. 
 
 Bass, David., 
 
 Bryant, Ogden, S. 
 
 Byrd, John, S., 
 
 Brantley, John S., 
 
 Benton, 
 
 Cheatham, David, 
 
 Cain, Patrick, 
 
 Call, Thomas, 
 
 Cavanaugh, Thomas, 
 
 Casson, 
 
 Catharina, Sol., W. 
 
 Carpenter, Wm., 
 
 Choate, C. W., 
 
 Clary, S. B., W. 
 
 Cochran, 
 
 Coleman, 
 
 Conn, John. K., 
 
 Cox, H. J., W., 
 
 Dunnaway, M. D., W., 
 
 Davis, John H., S., 
 
 Davis, Henry, 
 
 Dawson, David, S., 
 
 Dickey, C, 
 
 Fitzpatrick, Peter, C, 
 
 Pore, David, 
 
 Fryar, Thomas, 
 
 Gallagher, A. J., 
 
 Gallagher, Larry, 
 
 Garvin, Martin, 
 
 Gibbons, Thomas, 
 
 Glover, Thomas, 
 
 Griffith, 
 
 Grady, Patrick, 
 
 Hillborn, Louis C, W. 
 
 Hill, Joseph. 
 
 Hogan, 
 
 Hurst, Thomas, 
 
 Johnson, John. 
 
 Johnson, B., W., 
 
 Keel, James, W., 
 
 Leach, J., K. 
 
 McComas, W., 
 
 McCraw, John, 
 
 McGehee, Thomas, 
 
 McKinzie, 
 
 Maddox, John, 
 
 Martin, Charles, 
 
 Martin, James, 
 
 Martin, W., 
 
 Pickler, 
 
 Rosenberg, 
 
 Ross, Thomas, S. 
 
 Sanders, 
 
 Tucker, Hardy, W., 
 
 Thomas, C, 
 
 Tyree, W. 
 
 Whiteley. George, 
 
 Wilson, Daniel, 
 
82 With the Light Guns 
 
 In addition to the above list of names are the following, 
 found on the roll of the consolidated battery (Marshall's 
 and Zimmerman's), *which are not remembered by the writer 
 as belonging to Marshall's battery at the date of his pro- 
 motion. It is probable that some of these belong to Mar- 
 shall's old company, and many to Blocher's: 
 
 Bass, David, 
 
 Brim, 
 
 Bender, Walter, 
 
 Collins, David, 
 
 Claude, 
 
 Cousey, 
 
 Crawson, 
 
 Dodson, 
 
 Dunn. John, 
 
 Frazier, 
 
 Fuqua, 
 
 Gardner, 
 
 Garrett, John, 
 
 Graves. Thomas, 
 
 Hadfleld, Hardy, 
 
 Hardy, John F., 
 
 Hainey, 
 
 Hawkes, George, 
 
 Hutchinson, 
 
 Kimball, John S., 
 
 Jones, 
 
 Kemp, 
 
 Lancaster, 
 
 Dangford, 
 
 Mays, 
 
 May, 
 
 McClarke, 
 
 McLaughlin, 
 
 Ray, 
 
 Rhea. 
 
 Savage, 
 
 Sohultz, Thomas, 
 
 Sawyer, 
 
 Thompson. 
 
 Walker, Thomas, 
 
 Wilkes, George, 
 
 Wilkes, J. T., 
 
 \^^lliams, Henry, 
 
 Winkles, George, 
 
 Young. 
 
 Tounger. 
 
 On the march west to Ozark, I received a com- 
 mission as major of artillery from Richmond (which 
 had been following me ever since I left General 
 Pike), with orders to report to him for duty. This 
 was wholly unsolicited and unexpected on my part, 
 as the only position I had ever applied for, that of 
 
 » Tiianks are due J . K. Brantley for these rolls. 
 
With the Light Guns 83 
 
 captain, had been refused in October, '61, at Ri<:h- 
 mond. Before accepting, the matter was reported 
 to General Hindman, with a request to be allowed 
 to accompany the War Eagle expedition; this was 
 granted. After going into camp at Mazzard, I was 
 assigned to duty as chief of artillery of Shoup's 
 afterwards Pagan's division, and my limited effects 
 were removed to headquarters. John G. Marshall, 
 first lieutenant, succeeded me as captain of the 
 Weaver battery. My command consisted now of 
 West's, Blocher's and Marshall's batteries, accord- 
 ing to seniority. 
 
 During November the enemy made a cavalry 
 foray south of Fayetteville, and pretty much all of 
 our division crossed the Arkansas and went up the 
 Fayetteville road some thirty or forty miles. Ex- 
 cept occasional skirmishes, nothing serious occurred 
 and we returned to camp, south of the river. In a 
 preceding paragraph it is stated the army forded 
 the Arkansas after returning from the War Eagle 
 expedition ; possibly it was at the end of this march 
 from up the road toward Fayetteville. The fording 
 occurred in point of fact — memory is defective. 
 
 In the last days of November the enemy were 
 reported in numbers in southwestern Missouri, evi- 
 dently intending to cross the Arkansas line and 
 re-inforce the command at Fayetteville. Our army 
 was instantly put in motion, with Major General 
 Hindman in command. We crossed the river and 
 
84 With the Light Guns 
 
 moved to the north in the direction of Fayetteville. 
 I was now with my three batteries attached to 
 Shoup's division, which moved up the Lee's creek 
 and White river roads, finally camping at Mor- 
 row's two or three days, until the 6th. On the 
 morning of the 7th of December, we broke camp 
 and marched in the direction of Cane Hill. As we 
 progressed there were signs of a sharp, running 
 cavalry fight by Marmaduke, where the road forked 
 — to Cane Hill to the west and Fayetteville to the 
 east via Prairie Grove. Part of Marmaduke's com- 
 mand moved towards Cane Hill, the rest continued 
 to the east. The Federals got much the worst of 
 it in the morning fight. Several dead and wounded 
 men were left and a few prisoners taken. Shoup 
 took the road east via Prairie Grove, a little hamlet 
 with a church of that name in the middle. Here 
 West's battery was temporarily transferred by Gen- 
 eral Shoup to Marmaduke. The division passed on 
 a mile or so to the crest of the hill overlooking the 
 Illinois valley. There the head of column halted. 
 General Shoup, with my adjutant Smithee, and my- 
 self, rode down to the foot of the hill, past the large 
 two-story residence that then stood at the left of 
 the road to Fayetteville. There we also found two 
 or three dead and wounded Federals, in the cor- 
 ners of the worm fence on the left. I shall never 
 forget the appearance of one of them, a large fine 
 looking fellow, shot through the head, his face al- 
 
With the Light Guns 85 
 
 ready black, who was kicking like a freshly slaugh- 
 tered hog. Here Shoup met an aide, I think, ol 
 Marmaduke, who had been forward towards the 
 river. He reported to General Shoup that the ene- 
 my had partly halted, and reinforcements were com- 
 ing up rapidly. General Shoup, in the morning ride 
 had given us to understand that he wanted to cross 
 the Illinois river and fight beyond it, so as to have 
 water behind him available to the troops ; also thai 
 he would himself take charge of the artillery foi 
 the day. 
 
 Just as Shoup was starting back for the crest of 
 the hill, to bring up his division, another aide, I do 
 not now recollect who, rode up and spoke to him. 
 The general as if reluctant, replied "all right; 
 
 though ". He turned to Smithee and said, "Go 
 
 back to the top of the hill and tell (General McRae, 
 I think), to form the infantry in echelon, by regi- 
 ments." To me he said, "Go back and post the 
 first of your batteries you meet on the edge of the 
 hill, near the little farm house, one-eighth to a quar- 
 ter of a mile to the right." I galloped back to the 
 top of the hill and met Blocher's battery just arriv- 
 ing, and went with it to the position designated, 
 and Blocher went into battery behind a worm fence, 
 which screened the battery from observation. He 
 was directed to destroy it before firing. In a few 
 minutes an enemy's battery opened on Blocher. 
 The first shot mortally wounded one of his men. 
 
86 With the Light Guns 
 
 Feeling the effect the casualty would have on his 
 men if left idle, he was directed to reply. A heavy 
 cannonade was continued from both sides. Think- 
 ing the sound from the guns would sufficiently no- 
 tify the general that B was in position, I remained 
 with him. One of B's officers advised me to dis- 
 mount, but I rode to the left of Blocher's battery 
 and took a position of observation. 
 
 An old wagon shed or stable stood at the foot 
 of the hill, half way between Blocher's left and the 
 two-story house. A party of infantry sent to sup- 
 port Blocher was gradually filing into this, one 
 by one, considering it as a safe place. I told them 
 they had better keep their distances in line away 
 from the shed; but they all went in. About that 
 time two or three shells tore through the shed and 
 exploded. The men got out in short order. Their 
 exit reminded me of a tall chimney falling upon 
 the crowd at a fire and the scatteration of the 
 crowd. They soon got back to their proper places 
 and duties on the line. Then I observed the ad- 
 vance of the line of the enemy's infantry skir- 
 mishers, over towards the river, and made back 
 to our own infantry line to report the movement 
 to them( an.d did so, but failed to find General 
 Shoup where he had appointed.) As I got to the 
 road Marshall's battery reached the crest of the 
 hill from the west. 
 
With the Light Guns 87 
 
 I told him to hold his battery back of the crest 
 sufficiently to shelter him from the enemy in case 
 of firing, and to await orders. 
 
 Earlier it was observed that General Marmaduke 
 had placed West's battery at the foot of the hill, to 
 the left of the road, looking east, near the large 
 house. The fire of several Federal batteries was 
 soon concentrated on him, and his loss in men and 
 animals was quite heavy. I saw one or more shells 
 pass through the gable of the house and explode. 
 
 While I was waiting for General Shoup at the 
 road as he had directed. General Marmaduke rode 
 up. I asked for General Shoup's whereabouts. He 
 did not respond, but asked me what had become of 
 West's battery. I reminded him that it had been 
 transferred to him at the church village, and said 
 I did not know. In the general noise of the fight, 
 and as it was not under my supervision, the silence 
 of West's guns was unobserved by me. He said it 
 had been moved without orders. Then he said : 
 "Let's go, and see if it has gone to the left." We 
 rode a furlong or so along the ridge of the hill to 
 the left of the house, without finding West, the 
 shells of several batteries bursting all about us. 
 Presently the General said: "We had better be 
 getting out of this — it is getting pretty hot." Both 
 turned instantly; just then a shell burst to our left, 
 a piece striking my left thigh, making a bad bruise, 
 but not breaking the skin. "I am hit, General," 
 
88 With the Light Guns 
 
 I said. He made no reply, (I don't know if he 
 heard), bttt continued ahead to the starting point. 
 Then he said : "Captain Blocher, you had better re- 
 turn to your battery;" I told him who I was, and 
 he said "Then go to General Shoup." I returned 
 on the infantry line to the right of Captain Blocher's 
 battery, to where the advancing enemy came in 
 sight. Just then the infantry line opened a tre- 
 mendous fire to which our infantry responded. 
 Sergeant O'Donnell, of Blocher's, came riding back 
 asking for orders for the battery. I directed him to 
 tell the Captain to commence firing canister. Re- 
 turning to the lines I found Generals Hindman 
 and Shoup, together, the first of whom sent me to 
 the left and south to see if there was any of the 
 enemy approaching from the direction of Cane Hill. 
 In the meantime the opposing infantry were heav- 
 ily engaged all along Shoup's line. I returned and 
 reported nothing serious from the direction of Cane 
 Hill. The General then directed me to find Mar- 
 shall's battery and post it at an angle with the 
 late line of battle, some distance to the right. This 
 I did, but there was no further assault by the 
 enemy. 
 
 The battle was won and the enemy withdrew 
 from the field. In the orchard or field to Blocher's 
 right, the fight had been very heavy and the loss 
 of both sides great. Blocher had been driven from 
 his guns and several of his men killed and wounded. 
 
With the Light Guns 89 
 
 He was overwhelmed by numbers, and lacked sup- 
 port. Draft for horses was speedily made on the 
 cavalry, his men collected and all made ready to 
 move. The army had been on short rations of 
 parched corn for two days. My own were about 
 gone. A flag came in from the enemy asking leave 
 to bury the dead and care for the wounded and a 
 cartel was made. Only headquarters, and the cav- 
 alry as rear guard, remained, occupying the battle 
 ground for several days. 
 
 There had been a concentration of the fire of sev- 
 eral batteries on West, and he was crippled by the 
 loss of men and horses. Being entirely without 
 support, he was forced to withdraw. Marshall did 
 not get an opportunity to fire a gun during the day, 
 though he was ready at any moment and his men 
 eager to fight. * 
 
 * The following Is a correct list of the killed, wounded 
 and missing of the artillery belonging to Second Division 
 (Shoup's), on December 7. 1862, at Prairie Grove, as re- 
 ported by the Chief of Artillery: 
 
 Casualties at Prairie Orove. 
 
 West's Battery, assigned temporarily to Gen. Marmaduke 
 — Killed: First Sergeant John B. Whitsitt, Corporal H. T. 
 Boatright, Private Peter Gallagher. V7ounded: Privates 
 Thomas J. Lane, left arm off; R. J. Irvin, slightly in face; 
 Charles Clifton, slightly in leg and head. Missing: Private 
 Albert Brooks. 
 
 Bloclier's Battery — Killed: Privates Joseph Leech and 
 John Conn. Wounded: Corporal A. Choate, arm oft; Pri- 
 vates H. J. Cox. right arm off; M. D. Dunnaway. left hip; 
 
 Louis Hillborn, left foot; James Keel, in the chest; Tyree, 
 
 left hand off; Musician Sol Catharina, supposed fatally. 
 Missing: Martin, wounded by fall of horse; Alex McComas, 
 left arm off; S. B. Clary, left arm; Hardy Tucker, in breast. 
 Missing: Ogden Bryant, Patrick Cain, David Cheatham, Pe- 
 ter Fitzpatrick, James Gibbons, Larry Gallagher. Patrick 
 
 Grady, Hogan, E. W. Johnston, Sanders, Daniel 
 
 W ilson. 
 
 Marshall's Battery — ^None killed, wounded or missing. 
 
90 With the Light Guns 
 
 In the afternoon, General Shoup ordered Mar- 
 shall and Blocher to withdraw from their positions 
 quietly, and they followed their respective brigades 
 during the night. I followed division headquarters 
 down the Lee's creek (I think) road a distance of 
 several miles, where it camped, and being thor- 
 oughly exhausted, went to sleep on the ground, 
 not knowing when and where I should eat again. 
 Seemingly only a moment later, a hand on my 
 shoulder and the words "Breakfast, Major," waked 
 me from a sleep almost as profound as death. The 
 voice w^as that of Major J. W. McConnaughey, of 
 McRae's staff. The breakfast was barbecued pig 
 and a cup of coflfee ; somebody, somehow, some- 
 where had found a pig and he was sacrificed to 
 the demands of hunger, and made a most memor- 
 able and enjoyable meal. I still cherish that pig's 
 memory. 
 
 The army marched slowly back to Van Buren. 
 At the ferry I overtook Blocher's battery. The 
 ferryman was objecting to Blocher's men crossing 
 without a pass. Said he: "You have no right to 
 cross without it." "No," said Blocher, "but I've 
 got the men ; drive on boys ;" and they did and 
 crossed. I explained to the ferryman my orders 
 were to cross the batteries immediately. Marshall 
 and Blocher went to their old camp at Mazzard 
 and remained there until near the end of Decem- 
 ber. 
 
With the Light Guns 91 
 
 Here the ammunition expended in battle, and the 
 damage to the carriages and outfit in the cam- 
 paign, made many things necessary that could not 
 by supplied bj' the ordnance department at Fort 
 Smith. Receiving orders from General Shoup to 
 proceed to Little Rock and make suitable requisi- 
 tions for the same, I did so, and returning put my 
 horse on a steamer until within a few miles of, 
 and got off at the mouth of Piney, to which point, 
 I learned, the army was falling back and was 
 camped near. Col. W. F. Slemons, who joined me, 
 and I arrrived at camp that evening. 
 
 During my absence the enemy's cavalry had 
 made a sudden descent upon Van Buren, and find- 
 ing two or three steamboats at the wharf captured 
 one or more of them. The batteries were ordered 
 out and posted on the south river bank, between 
 Van Buren and the camp. West was placed 
 opposite Van Buren, and ascertaining the boats 
 were in the enemy's hands, he shellled one of them, 
 the Frederic Notrebe, I think. A shot went 
 through her steam pipe with the effect of badly 
 scalding a large number of Federals and driving 
 the rest from the boat. One or more of the boats 
 escaped down the river it is believed. The last, 
 disabled by West, I think was destroyed. This 
 affair occurred late in December, in an eflfort of the 
 enemy to hold our troops at the west, in support 
 
92 With the Light Guns 
 
 of their movement from Vicksburg against Arkan- 
 sas Post. 
 
 Near the end of 1862, threatening rumors of de- 
 signs at Vicksburg, against Arkansas Post, were 
 received and our army was headed towards Little 
 Rock. Our division crossed and marched down 
 on the north side of the river. The weather 
 was bitter cold. Proceeding toward Little Rock, 
 on the night before the first of January, we camped 
 at McCann's, where I received orders to £o to 
 Little Rock and make preparations for camp and 
 shelter of teams. West had been permanently de- 
 tached at Fort Smith, and assigned to the cav- 
 alry under Marmaduke. We did not meet again 
 until the war was ended. During the night a tre- 
 mendous rain fell which turned into snow before 
 morning. I started in the morning and had pro- 
 ceeded past White Oak creek, where the condition 
 of the roads was found such, that reluctantly, I 
 awaited the arrival of the battalion, to help all 
 I could in getting it forward to Little Rock. Mar- 
 shall left one gun in the mud, two and one-half 
 miles from the city, which was brought up next 
 day by Lieutenant Zimmerman. 
 
 We crossed the river at Little Rock on a steam- 
 boat, and made camp for the men in two or three 
 warehouses then on the wharf. It was well into 
 the night before all this was done. ■ It was a most 
 miserable time for all. The horses were corralled 
 
With the Light Guns 93 
 
 in the old Conway lot, then on the south side of 
 Markham, between Ferry and Commerce streets. 
 That night several of Marshall's horses froze to 
 death. 
 
 McClernand and Sherman were then bombard- 
 ing Arkansas Post, and a considerable army was 
 immediately dispatched by steamers down the river 
 to reinforce General Churchill, in command at Ar- 
 kansas Post. We expected to have to go too, but 
 were ordered to remain. It was a characteristic 
 Holmes movement; a trip down the river and up 
 again, a reversal of the famous march of the 
 King of France — too late to be of any assistance 
 to General Churchill. Before starting, General 
 Fagan, then in command, selected quarters in the 
 old arsenal office building, nearest the west gate. 
 When he started, he instructed me to "permit no 
 one to occupy the office or disturb his things till 
 he got back. It was his headquarters." Next 
 morning. Colonel Clark, of Missouri, took com- 
 mand of the post, and as was his right, selected 
 this office for his headquarters, in person. I could 
 not dispute his authority, but I repeated to him my 
 orders. He was an excellent gentleman and had 
 been very kind to me in the past years. He was 
 for some years Congressman from Missouri, from 
 his father's (John B. Clark, Sr.) old district. He let 
 me hold the fort however until Pagan's return. 
 
 With the abandonment and return of Fagan 
 
94 With the Light Guns 
 
 from the river expedition, artillery camp was es- 
 tablished on the ridge east and fronting the resi- 
 dence (of today) of S. N. Marshall, where my com- 
 mand, Blocher's and Marshall's, reinforced from 
 time to time, by Tilden's and Rufifner's Missouri, 
 Etter's Arkansas and Edgar's Texas batteries, re- 
 mained for the winter. For a few days Col. Prov- 
 ince, lieutenant in Reed's old battery, was in com- 
 mand of the battalion. 
 
 As the cold weather passed and drilling time 
 came, the artillery camp was moved to the ridge 
 running south from St. John's College to the Gum 
 Spring, which last was the source of water sup- 
 ply for the battallion. Here I was appointed chief 
 of artillery by Gen. D. M. Frost, to whom com- 
 mand of the division was assigned, an especially 
 pleasant service. 
 
 General Holmes signalized the opening of spring 
 by a grand review to his own honor and glory. 
 Everything was in the utmost state of unreadiness. 
 I had no fears whatever, on account of Blocher's, 
 Marshall's and Etter's efficiency or readiness. 
 I was so taken with the fine body of men com- 
 manded by Tilden, that a great portion of my time 
 was personally devoted to drilling them. They had 
 been on the march nearly all the time since organi- 
 zation, and were not versed in the mounted drill. 
 They soon attained a par with the older batteries, 
 which is intended for high praise. During the 
 
With the Light Guns 95 
 
 spring and summer besides the company drilling, 
 a good deal of time was devoted to drilling Bloch- 
 er's, Marshall's, Tilden's and Etter's batteries as a 
 battallion, first moving slowly and then rapidly 
 in all the evolutions of the battallion. This work 
 was most creditable to them all, and did much to 
 show their efficiency. Some weeks were devoted 
 to this, being the first opportunity we ever had to 
 join in it. There are no pleasanter recollections 
 in army life than those of association with Cap- 
 tains Pratt, Daniels, Etter and Kingsland, (who suc- 
 ceeded Tilden) and Lieutenants Hynson, Wright, of 
 Texas, and LeSueur, and Chappel of the Missouri 
 batteries. All of them were strong men and brave 
 soldiers. They and their comrades were leading 
 men in their respective states and cities, and are 
 successful and representative men in politics and 
 every line of business and endeavor to-day. The 
 officers of the Arkansas batteries need no further 
 encomiums from me. 
 
 Three occasions of military execution occurred 
 during the career of the company. One three miles 
 south of Little Rock, near the old military road, 
 in '62; one while encamped on the Mulberry, in 
 Franklin county, in '62 or '63 ; and one south and 
 east of Eighteenth street and Broadway, in '63. 
 A strange thing it is that the circumstances under 
 which we were encamped at the time cannot be 
 recalled. I was by special orders to be present 
 
96 With the Light Guns 
 
 in command of the company or battallion on each 
 occasion — the last by order of Col. Province, Ch. 
 Art., for the time being. This was the most dis- 
 agreeable of all military duties that ever fell to my 
 lot. I think five men in all were shot to death. It 
 is hardly necessary to add that all of the victims 
 belonged to other commands. 
 
 AFTER HISTORY. 
 
 After my promotion as major, in 1863, Marshall 
 became captain of the Weaver battery. Some 
 months after my resignation, Blocher became 
 major, Zimmerman succeeded Blocher as captain. 
 Both batteries lasted until the "surrender," prior 
 to which time Marshall's was consolidated with 
 Zimmerman's, under the command of the latter, 
 and his officers. 
 
 During all the time the Weaver Battery was 
 under me, it was brigaded or in division with the 
 regiments composing the commands of Generals 
 Pike, Rust, McRae, Shoup, Fagan and Frost, and 
 in association with such famous regiments as had 
 the names of Asa Morgan, Hart, John C. Wright, 
 Pleasants, Pitts Yell, McNair, Hawthorne, Glenn, 
 Cad, Polk, Sam Bell, and many others on the roll of 
 field officers whose names memory will not give 
 
With the Light Guns 97 
 
 up on call at this writing — all of them good officers 
 and soldiers. 
 
 Last, but not least, was Capt. Cad. Hanks, adju- 
 tant general for both McRae and Fagan, who, as a 
 gentleman and soldier deserves setting in a para- 
 graph by himself. 
 
 Both batteries were at the battle of Helena,* and 
 Zimmerman was at Pilot Knob, in the last Price 
 raid into Missouri; they were both at Little Rock, 
 at the fall thereof. West was separated from the 
 battalion at Fort Smith after the battle of Prairie 
 Grove, and moved later in Texas and Louisiana 
 in the Red river campaign. The iirst two went 
 south with the army from Little Rock, and par- 
 ticipated in the affairs gro^ying out of Steele's ef- 
 fort to form a junction with Banks in the vicinity 
 of Camden, in 1864-5, at Prairie d' Anne and in 
 northwestern Louisiana; also at Jenkins' Ferry, 
 and possibly at Poison Spring and Marks' Mill. 
 Kingsland, (who succeeded Tilden) LeSueur and 
 Chapell, were also at the fight at Jenkins' Ferry, 
 where I saw the good company last; as was also 
 Ruffner's, another of my Misouri batteries. The 
 
 * The Weaver Battery had seven men wounded at Helena, 
 July 4, 1863, five seriously and one Banks, it is supposed, 
 mortally. Private Frank T. Vaughan, late Judge of the Pu- 
 laski circuit and eminent at the bar, lost an arm and very 
 nearly his life. Lieut. J. N. Smlthee was struck by a spent 
 ball. The other four names cannot now be ascertained. 
 
 Sometime after WoodrufC's resignation, by orders, Mar- 
 shall's and Zimmerman's were, designated the Third and 
 Seventh Arkansas batteries. Fifth Battalion of Artillery, 
 C. S. A., and later the two were consolidated. 
 
98 With the Light Guns 
 
 last suffered heavily in men and horses. The de- 
 tails of the experiences of all should, and I hope 
 will be written by some members of the several 
 companies. I do not know how Etter was assigned 
 with his fine company, nor its history after he left 
 Little Rock. 
 
 At Jenkins' Ferry Steele could have been trap- 
 ped under identically the same circumstances as 
 at Little Rock. A small force on the north or east 
 side of the Saline would have enabled it. It is 
 supposed Gen. Smith didn't want the territory 
 north of the Saline. 
 
With the Light Guns 99 
 
 THE BULL BATTERY. 
 
 Early in September, 1863, I was requested by the 
 military authorities at Little Rock, after Holmes 
 was relieved and while Price was in command, to 
 organize and drill a sufficient force to man a bronze 
 Napoleon gun and a twenty-four pound bronze 
 Howitzer, in possession of the ordnance officers, 
 during the defense of Little Rock, against the ex- 
 pected attack of General Steele, from the direction 
 of Clarendon. Horses were not to be had. So the 
 chief quartermaster was "requisitioned" for a suffi- 
 cient number of oxen, Texas brand, to move the 
 section. They were secured and attached to the 
 guns and caissons. The bull battery was stationed 
 near the river bank, behind a natural parapet, three 
 miles below the city on the south side of the river, 
 at the old "Noland place." Among my volunteers, 
 were First Lieutenant Anderson Mills, of Trigg's 
 battery, on leave, a few members of my old militia 
 company, and several citizens, exempt from, but 
 willing for service. In a week the new men became 
 adepts at the new business. Among them, I recall 
 with pleasure the skill with which the late S. H. 
 Tucker and H. D. Parker handled the gun imple- 
 ments, particularly the duties of "No. One." 
 
 On the morning of the loth, the enemy appeared 
 in force at Terry's ferry, on the north side of the 
 
lOO With the Light Guns 
 
 river, three or four miles below us, and began prep- 
 arations to place a pontoon bridge. They stationed 
 artillery (in plain view of our position), at the 
 upper end of the loop forming the bend (duplicat- 
 ing the process I suppose at the lower end of the 
 loop, out of sight), and commenced shelling the 
 woods on the south side, covering the work of their 
 bridge builders. We had a cavalry force under 
 Col. Dobbins and Capt. Corley, I think, on the 
 south bank, and west of Fourche, above its mouth. 
 Soon, our forces from the north side were observed 
 crossing the lower Confederate pontoon bridge, 
 just above the J. B. Keatts' (now Newton) place; 
 and in little while also at the upper pontoon bridge, 
 at the Little Rock wharf. It looked as if our mili- 
 tary authorities were convinced the assault of the 
 enemy would not be upon the earthworks Holmes 
 had erected on the north side; or that they were 
 going to abandon the town; and that whatever 
 fighting was to be done, would be in our field, be- 
 tween Fourche and the town on south side of the 
 river. To my uneducated mind it appeared that 
 Steele could have been easily caught in the move 
 he made, and cut off from all connection with his 
 base on White river. He was in a veritable trap, 
 his forces separated by the river. His move 
 would bring the bull battery into the thick of it 
 if a fight was to be made. 
 
With the Light Guns 
 
 lOI 
 
 About I p. m., Fagan, several regiments and 
 officers, and among them General Tappan and 
 others, came down and passed below or remained 
 with us. My bull section had been previously 
 moved from the river and gone into battery on 
 the south side of the road, behind a large drainage 
 ditch and embankment which afforded defensive 
 qualities. Blocher's battery arrived soon after and 
 Fagan personally directed it to be placed imme- 
 diately in front of my guns, instead of on either 
 flank, as they might easily and should have been, 
 mutually strengthening both. I told Blocher my 
 bulls were not good at maneuvering, they were 
 too new, and that when the ball opened, I should 
 fire straight ahead if the aim should happen to lay 
 that way, and that he must "look a liddle oud." 
 
 In a little while the enemy's shots and shells 
 begun falling a little to the south of our line. Di- 
 rectly General Tappan withdrew, and the infantry 
 and also Blocher received orders to with- 
 draw. Dobbins' column fell back to our 
 right, and then retired. It was now plain 
 the town was to be abandoned without an 
 effort. I had no orders from anybody to stay, 
 retire or do anything, but I ordered Mills to limber 
 up with the bulls, and follow the cavalry, "aid 
 them if necessary, but above all, to save the guns." 
 Such an achievement under such circumstances it 
 was thought would be advantageous to him. He 
 
I02 With the Light Guns 
 
 did so, and did it well. He followed the army from 
 the field behind the rear guard, south of Little 
 Rock, and turned the guns over to the ordnance 
 officers, and the bulls to the commissary, at Arka- 
 delphia. Mills was first lieutenant of Trigg's bat- 
 tery, so assigned from Marshall's. He was acting 
 captain for the new battery from its inception un- 
 til the surrender. He_ deserved promotion for sav- 
 ing these guns unsupported, when it was the plain 
 purpose of the authorities to abandon them. I don't 
 know what became of the bulls afterwards; but 
 as they did the Confederate States good service 
 while alive, I suppose they continued to help sup- 
 port the army afterwards as "commissaries." 
 
 Our cavalry made a stand on the Keatts place, 
 to. enable the infantry to move through and out 
 of Little Rock. Capt. Corley, of Helena, a brave 
 soldier and Christian gentleman, was killed in the 
 Keatts house-yard during the skirmishing. He com- 
 manded Corley's cavalry squadron, under General 
 Pike. 
 
With the Light Guns 103 
 
 AT LARGE. 
 
 After the withdrawal of the army from Little 
 Rock, I hurried to my home on East Ninth street, 
 and told my people good bye, loaded my impedi- 
 menta and some grub on my horse and with Wood- 
 son, my volunteer servant on a mule, and with the 
 Emzy Wilson mare and her fine colt, started for 
 the South and "Independence." A great smoke 
 appeared to the northwest of town when I got to 
 Rector avenue. The enemy's skirmishers behind 
 were arrived at the Hanger place. Fearful the 
 town was being fired, I went down to Markham 
 and Main streets corner, and discovered that the 
 smoke was caused by the burning of the gun boat 
 Ponchartrain, (once the old fast Louisville and New 
 Orleans liner, Lizzie Simmons), across the river, 
 and Captain Jenks Brown's boat. Little Rock, at 
 the south bank of the river just northeast of the 
 State House. Both were totally destroyed. Satis- 
 fied there was little danger of destruction to the 
 town, I made for the southern road, stopping 
 at Mr. Tucker's at Second and Spring streets, to 
 compliment him on his fine soldierly qualities as 
 manifested in the past few days, and deplore his 
 loss of a chance to fight, say good bye and take a 
 cool drink, then South for any port. 
 
 That night Bob Stevenson, Woodson and I occu- 
 
I04 With the Light Guns 
 
 pied sleeping quarters with our horses in Colonel 
 Arch Rutherford's calf pen near Collegeville, hold- 
 ing the reins of our horses. Mr. Rutherford had 
 hospitably offered us more comfortable quarters 
 which were declined for our horses' sake and for 
 warranty of title to them. Next morning our ap- 
 petites were stayed with cold victuals, with noth- 
 ing for the animals ; but passing Hon. J. H. Crease's 
 place, a little in advance, we found growing the 
 best crop of corn ever seen on the place ; there we 
 fed our horses and filled our saddle bags. Just as 
 we were mounting, Mr. Crease's man, Tom Pelton, 
 rode from the house, where we had been observed, 
 to stop the robbery. We told him by way of apol- 
 ogy to tell Mr. Crease there were 1,000,000 people 
 just behind us who would clean out the crop, and 
 that it might be a satisfaction to him to know 
 that his friends had harvested a part of it, and 
 would be grateful always. 
 
 We went on to Arkadelphia, where I joined A. 
 J. Ward's cotton train as prearranged witih Mr. 
 S. Smede, his agent, one of the finest men I ever 
 knew. I remained with him until Washington, 
 Arkansas, was reached, and finding no occupation, 
 concluded to go on through the Territory, and 
 through Bonham to Dallas, Texas. At the latter 
 place I overtook Capt. Wm. S. Davis, of the Nitre 
 and Mining bureau, then on duty at New Braun- 
 fels, Texas, and concluded to go on to Austin, 
 
With the Light Guns 105 
 
 where Major N. B. Pearce was C. S. chief purchas- 
 ing commissary. The General instantly gave me a 
 clerkship and a district, the country included with- 
 in the triangle formed by a line joining Austin, 
 Cameron and Belton, with headquarters at Belton, 
 in the duties of which I at once engaged. I remained 
 until the news of my father's exile from Little 
 Rock by General Steele. I hurried back to Wash- 
 ington, and after seeing him comfortably fixed with 
 Judge Daniel T. Witter, his life long friend, was 
 invited to take a place in the office of Colonel L. 
 W. O'Bannon, Qr. Mr. General of the Trans-Mis- 
 sissippi Department at Marshall, Texas. 
 
 While at Washington, Ark., before joining Col. 
 O'Bannon, Judge Edward Cross, C. S. Treasury 
 agent, employed me in the work of exchanging the 
 Confederate "new issue" (money) for the "old 
 issue," at the camp in Lafayette and Union coun- 
 ties. The exchange, as I recollect, was at the rate 
 of two of the former for three of the latter, or a 
 reduction of one-third of the amount presented. 
 It was surprising how readily citizens and soldiers 
 submitted to the tax of 33 1-3 per cent and sur- 
 rendered their old currency for my unbonded 
 script. I collected and turned over to Judge Cross 
 over a million dollars for my paper, which is prob- 
 ably still outstanding in the Southwest, as curi- 
 osities of Confederate finance. I advanced my 
 
io6 With the Light Guns 
 
 own expenses for the month's work, for which 
 the Confederacy perhaps still owes. 
 
 A little later Major Benj. J. Botts offered me 
 chief clerkship in the office of the tax-in-kind de- 
 partment. I remained with him there for over a 
 year and until "the surrender," in May or June, 
 
 '65- 
 
 Members of both Blocher's and Marshall's bat- 
 tery wrote me in '74, at Marshall, Texas, that a 
 state election was to be held in the army on a 
 day in '74, for officers of Pulaski county, as the 
 law then authorized, and they were going to run 
 me for the legislature, in opposition to my old 
 friend, the late Thomas Fletcher. I wrote in re- 
 ply not to do it, that my old company had a 
 dozen of his connections in it, that I was and had 
 been for many years, a supporter of "Col. 
 Tom," and that I would even come up to 
 vote for him — thinking that was the end 
 of it. Later I was greatly surprised to re- 
 ceive notification of my election, from the Secre- 
 tary of State, Col. Oliver H. Gates. Shortly after 
 I had a notice of intended contest. I wrote Col. 
 Tom that I surrendered ; that I had legged for him, 
 as always, and that we would not fight; that Pu- 
 laski county had need for men in the legislature 
 who would be able to know what was going on; 
 he filled the bill and I did not. But as a compli- 
 ment from my old boys, their demonstration of 
 
With the Light Guns 107 
 
 good will was something more precious that pro- 
 motion or office. It showed that notwithstanding 
 the many meannesses, indignities, snubs and 
 senseless impositions and punishments which it is 
 within the power of a small commander to put on 
 his subordinates, my old comrades still thought 
 kindly of me. The value of such a compliment is 
 above price. I shall die — many years hence, I hope 
 — in the belief that the men in these three compa- 
 nies, Marshall's Blocher's and West's, and the bull 
 battery as well, all in one, were among the best 
 that ever marched, or fought or died for any cause, 
 and that my Missouri and Texas companies were 
 a close second to them. 
 
 I had fully resolved to go to Oregon Territory 
 or the British possesions Northwest, when the inev- 
 itable hour came, as plain to be seen — it must soon, 
 when the news of Lee's surrender was received. 
 I had just twenty dollars in gold dollar pieces, not 
 to mention Confederate money, sewed in my cloth- 
 ing, which was carried during the entire campaign- 
 ing of four years, a horse and mule and a colored 
 servant. Churchill's division was encamped in the 
 vicinity of Marshall. Captains Anderson Mills, 
 Billy Irwin, Cam Watkins and the late John Hutt, 
 came to see me. All were homeward bound and 
 all were "strapped." The inclination homeward, be- 
 came infectious. Lieut. Hynson, of Marshall, (Ar- 
 kansas born) formerly of Pratt's battery, came into 
 
io8 With the Light Guns 
 
 my room next morning and said, "Woodrufif, I un- 
 derstand you have concluded to go home; that is 
 the right thing to do. I suppose you are broke; 
 I am at home. Here is a $20 gold piece for which 
 I have no use. If it will be of service, it is yours. 
 Pay it back when you are able, or not at all." The 
 situation of my party was stated, and the belief 
 expressed that with what we all could muster, we 
 all could get home with aid of this double eagle's 
 wings. The money was refunded a few months 
 later. 
 
 We all reached the picket station live miles out 
 from Little Rock in due time. The Federal officer 
 in command sent a guard with us to the provost 
 marshal's tent at St. John's College grounds. His 
 office tent was on the very site of my own tent 
 where I was camped last in 1863. There I "took 
 the oath." 
 
 There are a great many things more than are 
 embraced in this recital in the storehouse of mem- 
 ory, but it fully outlines the bearings witihin which 
 the writer moved for more than four years. 
 
 His summing up of the whole awful business is, 
 that General Sherman's definition of "war" is 
 strictly accurate. "Reconstruction" was worse 
 than war; but it is right and just to add, that bad 
 as both were, the sum of both was not so bad as 
 his preconceived idea of the result of secession, 
 before the first shot was fired — whether by John 
 
With the Light Guns 109 
 
 Brown, General Beauregard or Mr. Lincoln — 
 it is the province of history yet to determine. 
 But it is not questioned or doubted that 
 when the rightful judgment of the impartial his- 
 torian is made up after reviewing the whole case: 
 the origin of American slavery, the habitat of its 
 introducers and promoters, the compromises which 
 resulted in the adoption of the Federal constitu- 
 tion, its provisions and meaning, the true story 
 of emancipation by individuals and states, North 
 and South, the fanaticism, and craft of the stronger 
 side, which drove the weaker to passionate obsti- 
 nacy and resistance at so great a sacrifice of life, 
 limb and property — ^that the verdict of history will 
 not be adverse to the rightfulness of the Southern 
 cause. 
 
 All the result of the civil war proved was, that 
 the North by reason of numbers had the power, 
 not the constitutional authority, to abolish slavery, 
 without first compensating the owners to the ex- 
 tent of many billions of dollars, for property vir- 
 tually taken for public use, without just compen- 
 sation. The victor could have accomplished the 
 same solution honestly and honorably, at a less 
 cost of blood, and treasure, and without sectional 
 ill feeling, by constitutional means, before the war, 
 by the simple tender of a plan of compensated 
 emancipation. It is not recorded that the North 
 ever did tender such a plan in a constitutional way. 
 
no With the Light Guns 
 
 If it had, it would in time, have been accepted. . Not 
 at once, under the whips of fanaticism, incendiarism 
 and murderous assault, but after sufficient time 
 had been given for the "sober second-thought of 
 the people" to do its work, under the light of ad- 
 vancing civilization. In truth and in law, the 
 "war amendments" (so called) to the constitution, 
 have for their sanction only the acquiescence of 
 the South (which is good law while it continues) 
 and this acquiescence evidences good faith. 
 
 i ; jnn-'lJ''I I JJlUi1Ui1h^''n=^^ 
 
 TAPS. 
 
APPENDIX TO PULASKI BATTERY. 
 
 In 1886, the late Col. Thomas L. Snead, aide and A. A. G. 
 of Gen. Price, at the battle of Springfield, published a book 
 entitled, "The Fight for Missouri," a work of ability and 
 historical importance. The writer is indebted to him for 
 many kind things said in it about his little command and him- 
 self. A few comments on Snead's statements are added here, 
 which it Is thought will be approved by most of the ofllcers 
 and men who participated in or witnessed that part of the 
 battle which signalized "Bloody Hill." 
 
 Woodruff's official report (ante,) Includes no occurrences 
 prior to the appearance of the disorderly, panic stricken mul- 
 titude who came rushing Southwest on the Fayetteville road 
 from the direction of Gen. Rain's camp, only giving the par- 
 ticulars from the time of his interposition in the fight. 
 Therefore it is thought proper to condense, from Col. Snead's 
 account, and attach as an appendix, in order to give the 
 reader a connected story of the main features of the battle 
 of August 10, 1861. 
 
 On page 299 of his work. Col. Snead claims that the Mis- 
 souri Confederates "bore the brunt of the battle for five 
 hours, and with the aid of Churchill, Gratiot and Woodruff, 
 won* the main flght on "Bloody Hill." This is complimentary; 
 but the relish is lessened because of a full appreciation of 
 the value of the services of Gens. McCulloch and Mcintosh, 
 both of whom were brave and capable soldiers and command- 
 ers, as was demonstrated in this battle. 
 
 Lyon left Springfield according to Snead about 5 p. m., 
 August 9th, and about 1 o'clock on Saturday, the 10th, came 
 in sight of Rains' camp fires, which extended northward as 
 far as Gibson's Mill. He had completely turned the Con- 
 federate left, as they camped, and was in their rear. Halting 
 at dawn, he resumed the march with Plummer's regular in- 
 fantry battalion in advance, followed by Osterhaus' Missouri 
 (Union) volunteers and Totten's regular battery. The Con- 
 federate pickets had been withdrawn at midnight. Col. Caw- 
 thon in command of part of Rains' brigade, about the same 
 hour sent out a picket to the north. About one and one-half 
 miles beyond Gibson's Mill they discovered Lyon's approach. 
 They reported the fact to Cawthon, who sent Col Hunter with 
 
 (111) 
 
112 Appendix 
 
 300 men to ascertain if Lyon was in force. Hunter's first 
 intention was to attaclc; but Lyon seeing his advance was 
 discovered, deployed into line, sending Osterhaus' battalion to 
 the right and Plummer's to the left as skirmishers, and the 
 First Missouri to the support of Totten. Hunter retreated, 
 Lyon following, Cawthon meanwhile formed the rest of his 
 brigade on the north side of Bloody Hill. He had 600 men 
 In line. Before Hunter's detachment could join on Cawthon's 
 right, Lyon appeared on the brow of the opposite hill with 
 a Missouri and a Kansas regiment and Totten's battery; a 
 brisk infantry skirmish occurred and Cawthon was driven 
 back to the south slope of Bloody Hill. Hunter did not re- 
 join him until late in the day. 
 
 While Lyon was getting into position, Sigel had done 
 his part. He left Springfield at sunset, moved four miles 
 down the Fayetteville road, then made a detour to the left, 
 and came about daybreak within a few hundred yards of Wil- 
 son's Creek, near the mouth of Tyrell's Creek. He had 
 turned the CJonfederate right, which latter forces were 
 camped between him and Lyon, ignorant of their proximity. 
 Churchill's and Greer's cavalry were camped across the creek 
 hardly 500 yards away. Leaving Bssig's six gun battery and 
 a small support to arrest stragglers, Sigel crossed the creek 
 below the mouth of Tyrell, and awaited Lyon's signal guns. 
 Churchill and Greer, like Rains, had drawn in their pickets 
 during the night. 
 
 Gen. Rains' headquarters were some distance south of 
 Gibson's Mill, and upon hearing that Hunter had gone to the 
 northwest. Gen. Rains ordered Col. Snyder, of his staff, to 
 go forward and see what was the matter. Snyder returned 
 and reported the Federals were advancing, his "troops and 
 cannon covering the whole prairie." Rains sent him to report 
 the facts to Price. 
 
 It was "nearly 6 o'clock, and neither Price nor McCul- 
 loch, who were then at Price's headquarters, had any cause 
 to suspect that Lyon had even left Springfield," when Col. 
 Snyder came in breathless, with haste and excitement told 
 Gen. Price that "Lyons was approaching with 20,000 men 
 and 100 pieces of artillery, and was then within a mile of 
 Rains' camp." In two or three minutes another officer 
 dashed up and reported "Rains was falling back before over- 
 whelming numbers." "Looking up," says Snead, "we could 
 ourselves see a great crowd of men on horseback, some 
 armed and others unarmed, mixed in with wagons and teams, 
 and led horses, all in dreadful ' confusion, scampering over 
 the hill and making down towards us — a panic-stricken drove. 
 In another instant we saw the flash and heard the report of 
 Totten's guns, which had gone into battery on the top of the 
 hill not more than 1,000 yards away, and throwing shot into 
 the flying crowd. And then in quick response came the sound 
 of Sigel's (Esslg's) guns, as they opened upon Churchill, 
 Greer, Majors and Brown, and drove them in confusion out 
 of the valley" of their camp Into the thick woods of Skegg's 
 branch. 
 
 McCulloch and Mcintosh mounted and hastened to take 
 command east of the creek, "and Price having ordered his 
 Infantry and artillery to follow, was galloping up Bloody Hill 
 to take command of Cawthon's brigade, still falling back 
 before Lyon, resisting him all that It could. Price hoped with 
 it to hold the Federals in check till the rest of the Missou- 
 rians could come up. These were already forming along the 
 Fayetteville road, and were within a few minutes hastening 
 
Appendix 113 
 
 up the hill at double quick. Hardly had Price gotten Caw- 
 thon's men into line under the brow of the hill where they 
 were out of the range of Totten's guns, and under cover of 
 the trees and dense undergrowth," when Slack's brigade 
 came up and "formed on the left of Cawthon." Clark also 
 tooK position to the left of Slack. "Then came Parson's 
 division and Guibor's battery,"* while on the extreme left Mc- 
 Bride took position with two regiments. Then came Rives, 
 and "a half an hour later Weightman, whose brigade* had 
 been encamped a mile or more from the rest of Price's in- 
 fantry, came with two regiments and fell in between Slack 
 and Cawthon." "The lines thus formed by Price aggre- 
 gated 3,100 men, with four pieces of artillery. He was greatly 
 assisted from the beginning by Woodruff, who had with true 
 soldierly instinct, thrown his pieces into battery, on the bluff 
 east of the ford, at the first sound of Totten's guns, and 
 opened on Lyon a fire which checked his advance, and gave 
 the Missourians time to reach Cawthon's position and form 
 a line of battle there." Col. Snead mentions that Price on 
 
 * Price directed "his most determined efforts against 
 Totten's Battery, for which Woodruff's, which was pitted 
 against it, was no match at all." — Century "Battles and 
 Leaders of the Civil War," Federal account, page 292, to 
 which is added this additional note: "Woodruff's Little Rock 
 Battery was composed of guns which had been captured at 
 the seizure of the Little Rock arsenal, of which Capt. Totten 
 had been in command. Woodruff and his gunners had in 
 fact been drilled and instructed by Totten. — Editors." lb. 
 'The reader must decide as to which oflicer the above quota- 
 tion is most complimentary. It is a fact that Totten never 
 "drilled or instructed" this battery — unless upon the field. — ^W 
 
 "Lyons main attack was met by Price with about 3,200 
 Missourians, Churchill's regiment and Woodruffs Battery 
 both from Arkansas." — lb., page 271. 
 
 "Totten's Battery, in the center, was the main point of 
 assault." — lb. "'The infantry and artillery as soon as Tot- 
 ten's disabled horses were replaced, left the scene of con- 
 flict, and passing through the troops placed in the rear, re- 
 treated" towards Springfield. — lb., 297. 
 
 "Capt. Woodruff's Battery was ordered (by Gen. Mcin- 
 tosh) to occupy a hill commanding the road to Springfield, 
 and the Third Arkansas was ordered to support him." — Con- 
 federate account, lb., page 300. 
 
 "Totten's Federal Battery was pushed forward and took 
 its first position on the hillside, north of where the main 
 fight afterwards took place. I had directed Capt. Woodruff, 
 who was posted within easy range, to give attention to Tot- 
 ten; and the two batteries were soon engaged in a lively 
 artillery duel, being well matched in skill and mettle. Lieu- 
 tenant Weaver, of Woodruff's was killed, and four of Totten's 
 men were killed and wounded in this engagement." — lb., lb., 
 300-1. 
 
 "Woodruff's Battery was again placed in position, and 
 Totten [DuBois], who was covering the retreat of Sturgis, 
 received the benefit of his parting shots. We watched the 
 retreating enemy, and were glad to see him go." — lb., ib., 303. 
 
 A few days after the battle, Pierce's brigade of Arkansas 
 militia were disbanded on the expiration of their term. — lb., 
 ib., 303. 
 
114 With the Light Guns 
 
 account of the inferiority of the arms of the Missourlans, 
 shot guns and "squirrel" rifles — the lines were about 300 
 yards apart — were compelled to advance or to await the 
 attack of the Union forces, and "chose the latter alternative." 
 In a few moments the Federal command "forward" was 
 plainly heard and "quickly followed by the tramp of men." 
 When they arrived within easy range of Price's Missourlans, 
 then rang out of the ranks of the latter, upon the air, the 
 sharp click of 1,000 rifles and as many shot-guns, "and the 
 roar of Gulbor's guns, and the battle of Wilson's Creek had 
 begun in earnest." Missourlans fought Missourlans, and 
 Totten. who had been stationed at Little Rock, where his 
 relations still resided, fought furiously against Woodruff's 
 Little Rock battery, which now opened upon him "the very 
 guns "Which had been taken from him a few months before." 
 The battle was now waged upon the hillside for hours with 
 intense earnestness. 
 
 While McCulloch was making dispositions of Pearce's 
 troops to meet Sigel's anticipated attack near Skegg's branch, 
 a messenger from Woodruff advised him that part of Lyon's 
 column, constituting its extreme left, was demonstrating as 
 if intending to cross to the east side of Wilson's creek and 
 move down toward the battery. Gen. McCulloch immediately 
 ordered Gratiot to Woodruff's support and sent Mcintosh 
 with his regiment dismounted and several companies of the 
 "Third Louisiana and McRae's battalion to meet the Fed- 
 eral force. They moved rapidly to the front on the east side 
 of the creek. Though covered somewhat by Woodruff's guns, 
 Mcintosh was greatly harrassed by DuBois' guns, who hurled 
 grape shot and shell from the eastern brow of Bloody Hill. 
 Crossing the Fayetteville road, Mcintosh led his men to a 
 large corn field, behind whose fence the Federals had taken 
 position. They were Plummer's Battalion of U. S. Infantry, 
 supported by Home Guards. A fierce conflict ensued, the 
 Confederates fighting under cover of the brush and the Fed- 
 erals behind the fence. Mcintosh, finding the enemy's fire 
 was playing havoc with his men, ordered a charge and, lead- 
 ing the way, leaped the fence. The greater part of his own 
 regiment and the Third Louisiana followed him, and they 
 quickly put Plummer to flight and drove him back to Lyons' 
 main body. In the ardor of pursuit the Confederates were 
 annoyed by DuBois' Battery and Osterhaus and had to re- 
 tire in some confusion. This engagement began about 7 
 o'clock and lasted about an hour. Plummer's 300 regulars 
 lost 80 men and he was himself severely wounded. Mcintosh 
 took into action about 1000 men; his loss was over 100. 
 
 While the cornfield fight was going on Sigel advanced 
 leisurely through the cavalry camps from which he had 
 driven the Confederates early in the morning, and took posi- 
 tion, with 1,200 men and six pieces of artillery, near Sharp's 
 house, on high ground on the bluff of Skegg's branch, a com- 
 pany of regular cavalry on each fiank. He intended to cut 
 off the Confederate retreat after Lyon dispersed them. Sigel's 
 further advance was barred by Pearce's infantry. 
 
 McCulloch, after the cornfield fight, finding that further 
 advance of Slgel was barred by Walker's and Dockery's reg- 
 iments, and Reed's battery, hurried back to Gen. Mcintosh, 
 and learning that the cornfield fight was over, took the re- 
 maining Third Louisiana companies, with those of Mcintosh 
 to follow, and hastened to Skegg's Branch, determined to 
 attack Sigel. Rosser's and O'Kane's battalions and Bledsoe's 
 battery were in position on the road north of the branch. 
 
Appendix 115 
 
 Sigel and his men were ignorant of all that was happening 
 jn the front. At last one of his men saw a regiment uni- 
 formed in gray hurrying down the road. The First Iowa 
 wore a gray uniform, and he reported its advance to Gen. 
 Sigel, who warned his men not to fire on them, and his flags 
 were waved in welcome. Just then Reed to the east and 
 Bledsoe to the west opened fire on him. The cry "they are 
 firing on us," spread through Sigel's -ranks. His artillery- 
 men refused to serve their guns, the infantry would not 
 level their pieces until too late, and with McCuUoch and Mc. 
 Intosh in the lead, the Third Louisiana, Rosser and O'Kane, 
 charged Essig's battery. Sigel's whole force made instant 
 flight, abandoning five of their six pieces of artillery. 
 
 Sigel and Salomon with 200 of their Germans and Carr's 
 regular cavalry, tried to go to Springfield by the route they 
 came, but were abandoned by Carr and Sigel. They were 
 set upon by Majors' Missourians and Greer's Texas cavalry, 
 and nearly all killed, wounded or captured. 
 
 Churchill, after Sigel's early morning attack, rallied his 
 men in the road and first went into the fight on Price's ex- 
 treme left flank. Later he moved to the center of Price's 
 line, where it was hardest pressed and again went into the 
 fight, on the left of Slack, in the front of Lyon's attack, where 
 the Missourians moat needed help. Totten with a section 
 strongly supported, enfiladed the Confederates at 200 yards, 
 Totten and Granger helping to work the guns. McCulloch 
 diverted this fire by going back to the valley and sending 
 Carroll's cavalry and part of Greer's to turn Lyon's right 
 and charge Totten's guns. They were repulsed but the move- 
 ment relieved Price, at the same time increasing Lyon's anxi- 
 ety. Lyon then ordered the First Iowa to the front and 
 sent Steele's battalion of regulars to the support of Totten. 
 Price and Pearce then sent Gratiot's regiment up the hill, and 
 as it passed it came within range of Totten's guns, 
 and several of Gratiot's field and staff oflicers were 
 killed or wounded. The regiment held its position under 
 a fire so furious that in thirty minutes 100 of its 500 men 
 were dead or wounded. "The engagement became general 
 and almost inconceivably fierce along the line." (These are 
 the words of Schofleld and Sturgis.) "The enemy often ap- 
 proached to within thirty or forty yards as they charged Tot- 
 ten's battery to be driven back." Lyon was killed about 
 this time. Sturgis succeeded him and decided to retreat. 
 Steele's regulars covered the retiring Federals. "Then the 
 Confederates gave voice to that exultant cry which is never 
 heard except upon a field whereon its victors stand."