Lesson 59: Battle of Elkhorn, Arkansas - Part III

Our forces, some 20,000 strong, went into the fight hungry and worn out, having marched for two days and nights through the severest weather, with not as much as one good meal all told the whole time.

In this condition our gallant men engaged in a contest against a force of twice their numbers, rested, well fed, and well armed, many of them being able to shoot twenty-four times without reloading; besides they fought upon ground of their own choosing. Against these mighty odds, against these great disadvantages, for three days our soldiers struggled on, and bravely breasted the furious storm of battle, thinking of home! liberty! and victory! Notwithstanding we had every disadvantage to contend against, still victory would have been ours had it not have been for the untimely fall of Gens. McCulloch and McIntosh. If either of these had been spared us, we would have driven the ruthless invader from our soil. Still another cause of our defeat consisted in at least one-third of our force never being called into action. And although our forces had fought for two days without anything scarcely to eat, still they left the field with reluctance, believing that then we could conquer.

Capt. Russell, of Col. Greer's regiment, was sent back with his company to perform the last duty for our gallant dead. He reports that he could only find seventy-four men. Our wounded were not numerous; our loss in prisoners is reported less than three hundred, while we have fully that many of theirs, including several Colonels.

The loss of the enemy is supposed to have been very heavy, greatly exceeding ours. At any rate they would not allow Capt. Russell to go where they had buried their slain. Still another evidence that we had damaged them most severely is, that they attempted no pursuit. We came off with three pieces of cannon more than we had at the beginning, besides we captured twenty-four wagons, burnt, spiked and destroyed fifteen pieces of artillery. So, upon the whole, we got decidedly the best of the fight, and still we retreated. During the fight on the 7th, a detachment of the Federals were sent down to burn our train, but the gallant Gen. Green, of the Missouri army, and Major Crump, of Texas, who were left to guard the train, proved to be rather too much for them. The Louisiana regiment suffered the most of any regiment in the battle.

The fall of Gen. McCulloch brought grief, deep grief to the heart of every soldier in his command. A gloomy cloud of sorrow settled upon every face--a feeling, not exactly of despair, but rather of mournful sadness, seemed to pervade every bosom. The sad intelligence was communicated, not in a loud, hurried and news-like style, but it went from one to another in a low, mournful voice, scarcely above a whisper, "McCulloch is dead!" I have mixed much with his soldiers since the battle, and all express the deepest grief for the loss of their sagacious and brave General. Many think they can never be satisfied as well again under any other. They say not another can be found in whom they can place such an abiding faith, nor under whom they can march to battle with such high hopes and brilliant prospects of victory. His courage none ever doubted. And his entire military career, and more especially during this war, will prove to every candid and impartial judge, that he was endowed with a clear and superior judgment, with quick decision, and a remarkable degree of shrewdness. He always acted upon the sure plan--well he knew it was not our true policy ever to run any risk in a battle. Long and loud have been the clamors of the impatient, great and innumerable have been the bitter censures heaped upon the head of our lamented General. How low, how mean, how conscience-stricken, must the intermeddling, stay-at-home, false accusers, and base calumniators of this pure patriot, the noble self-sacrificing General, feel, when time, the unerring witness, comes forward and vindicates his entire course.

I am credibly informed that on the night of the 6th, he went to Gen. Van Dorn, before marching, and remonstrated with and entreated him "for God sake to let the poor, worn-out and hungry soldiers rest and sleep that night, then march up near the enemy and camp in a favorable position, reconnoiter the enemy, and then attack the next morning." Many wanted McCulloch removed from his command, but they knew not the great and wicked folly of their desire. Now he is most unfortunately removed forever, they can partially estimate his value. The enemy told Capt. Russell, they dreaded McCulloch more than any other. How unfortunate it is in human affairs we never know the worth of a true man until he is gone. Although our noble General is dead, ever fresh will be his memory in the hearts of his soldiers. Never will they forget his noble deeds of heroism, nor fail to speak of them with pride and pleasure--never will they forget his fatherly and Washington-like care and sympathy for his confiding soldiers.

Notwithstanding the bitter and incessant clamor against him, not a word of murmur escaped his lips, but he quietly, nobly, and zealously struggled on for his country's liberty. Wherever liberty and justice is loved and cherished, there will the name of McCulloch be held dearest. Let Texas robe herself in her deepest mourning, for she has lost her most faithful and gallant son.

Let the Nation toll her mightiest bells, and sound their mournful knells, for one of her mightiest has fallen. Let Liberty bow her head and weep for very grief, for her most devoted worshipper and faithful servant--the Hero, Ben McCulloch--sleeps in death!