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losses, and were running short of ammunition. I had watched anxiously forsigns of victory to come from the north side of the creek, but Totten’s bat-tery seemed to belch forth with renewed vigor, and was advanced once ortwice in its position. The line of battle on our left was shortening, and thefortunes of war appeared to be sending many of our gallant officers and soldiersto their death. There was no de-moralization—no signs of waveringor retreat, but it was an hour of greatanxiety and suspense. No one thenknew what the day would bring forth.
As the sun poured down upon ourdevoted comrades, poised and rest-ing, as it were, between the chaptersof a mighty struggle not yet com-pleted, the stoutest of us almostweakened in our anxiety to know theoutcome.
Just at this time, General Lyonappeared to be massing his men fora final and decisive movement. Ihad been relieved of Sigel, and Reid’sbattery was inactive because it couldnot reach Totten. This was fortu-nate, for my command, in a measurefresh and enthusiastic, was aboutto embrace an opportunity—such aone as will often win or lose a battle—by throwing its strength to theweakened line at a critical moment and winning the day. Colonel McIn-tosh came to me from General McCulloch, and Captain Greene from GeneralPrice, urging me to move at once to their assistance. General Lyon wasin possession of Oak Hill; his lines were forward, his batteries aggres-sive, and his charges impetuous. The fortunes of the day were balancedin the scale, and something must be done or the battle was lost. My menwere eager to go forward, and when I led the 3d Arkansas Infantry (ColonelGratiot) and the right wing of the 5th Arkansas Infantry (Lieutenant-ColonelNeal) across the creek, and pushed rapidly up the hill in the face of the enemy,loud cheers went up from our expectant friends that betokened an enthusiasmwhich, no doubt, helped to win the fight. Colonel McIntosh, with two piecesof Reid’s battery, and with a part of Dockery’s 5th Arkansas Infantry, sup-ported my right; the Federal forces occupied two lines of battle, reachingacross the crest of Oak Hill; and at this juncture our troops in front werecomposed of the Missouri forces, under General Price (occupying the center);Texas and Louisiana troops, under General McCulloch (on the right), andmy forces thrown forward (on the left), when a combined advance was orderedby General McCulloch. This proved to be the decisive engagement, and asvolley after volley was poured against our lines, and our gallant boys were
BRIGADIER-GENERAL WM. Y. SLACK,WOUNDED AT PEA RIDGE. PROM
C. S. A., MORTALLYA PHOTOGRAPH.