Wednesday, August 17, 2011

1861 August 17

From the diary of Harrison B. Jones, Page Greys

Wet muddy & unpleasant
Frank McCullough has
the measles. heard the report
of a battle in Missouri, Gen
Lyon of the Federal army
killed, 800 of the enemy
killed & wounded

Frank McCullough, b. 1843, was listed as present through April 1862. AWOL May 1, 1862. Re-enlisted August 1, 1862, in Company D of the 7th Virginia Cavalry. Detailed as a provost guard in Page County April through August 1864. Farmed in Page County after the war. [Thomas M. Spratt. Page County, Virginia Men in Gray.]

Jones refers to the Battle of Wilson's Creek near Springfield, Missouri on August 10. Union Brigadier General Nathaniel Lyon led outnumbered forces against Confederate General Benjamin McCulloch and Missouri state troops under Sterling Price. Two Confederates charges repulsed the Federals and Lyon was killed rallying his troops. The Federals stopped a third Confederate charge but then withdrew from the field. The hard hit Confederates failed to pursue them and the Union forces retreated south west leaving a large section of Missouri in Confederate control. Jones 's sources underestimated the total enemy casualties. The numbers were given as 258 killed, 873 wounded and 186 missing. The Confederate totals were about 100 fewer. [E.B. Long. The Civil War Day by Day.]

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