Henderson Times, ca March 19, 1910

Submitted by Deason Hunt

(The following information on the Civil War Battle of Wilson's Creek, Missouri is taken from a crumbling clipping of the Henderson Times. No date was on the clipping, but the approximate date is from an obituary on the page:  OBITUARY. On Saturday morning March 19, 1910, John Emory Roper closed his eyes in sleep -- that sleep from which none ever wake to weep. (At the end I have included some advertisements and news (names) from the back side of the 1910 clipping.) The headline:

An Interesting War Story

Written by M.D. Ector to the Henderson Times in 1861.

The sub-head: (word missing) the Battle of Springfield MO. and Sends News to Home Folks. ROUND SPRINGS, Four miles from Springfield, Missouri, August 12th, 1861

Editor Times: -- As we have just had a big battle, I hasten to give our friends at home through your paper a short report of it and our movements for a few days preceding it. From Fort Smith we made a forced march to join McCullouchs force. The fourth we came up with and were halted in its rear. Gen. Lyon with his army of about 12000 was known to be about 7 miles ahead of us in a strong position on the main road. All our forces numbering 12 to 14000 men were ordered to move at midnight and at daybreak to attack the enemy. It is a daring scene to witness the preparation for the fight, which everyone felt confident would usher in the coming dawn, and regiment after regiment filed into the position assigned to them, the pageantry and martial ceremony was calculated to animate and stimulate the brave, and make them eager for the fight. The country was broken and rocky, covered in many places with very thick underbrush and certainly the best watered country I have ever seen.(Ector then continued with a detailed description of the area and preparations for the battle and the battle itself. Included here are names of some of those he knew who were in the fight.) (August) The 8th -- ... On the 8th, 3 companies, one from Arkansas, one from Missouri, and one from Texas under command of Capt. Bradfute were sent out to approaches as near as possible to the town. This command was fired into 4 miles from town by the enemy's picket. Capt. Gaines company from Smith was the one which went with Capt. Bradfute, and when they were fired on, Capt. Gaines at the head of his company charged through the picket and back again. One of his men was slightly and several of his horses severely wounded....  The 10th -- ... The first five companies had moved out of the field where we had been encamped. I was ordered to bring up the others. On my return to them i found that the enemy had brought 4 pieces of cannon into the field and were firing on Col. Churchill and that portion of our regiment which was still in the field. I had left my little son, Walton, in charge of Rev. Mr. Clemmons when I had started off. I could see neither of them on my return. You can imagine my feelings..... Three companies were ordered to charge -- which they did in a gallant manner. Each man shouted for Texas. Our enemies fired upon us -- threw down their guns and fled.......Several of our best men fell in this charge. One from Capt. Cumby (?) company was mortally wounded, J. A. Wasson, being shot through the thigh. The ball entered near the body, passed along and around the bone and came out near the knee. It was a grape sho(t), Dr. Shaw thinks, that killed him. He lived until this morning, and had it not been for the extreme heat of the weather and the loss of blood he might have recovered. T. J. Barton was shot through the arm. Smith Hall received a very slight wound on the face -- it was very slight and will not be per???able in a few days. Gen. K??gore was sick when the fight commenced. I saw him ride out into the road. Since then we have not been able to hear from him....... The next day about 800 of our regiment marched into Springfield. They were received by quite a display of ladies and gentlemen who welcomed us to the hospitalities of the town. The flag presented by the ladies of Henderson, was unfurled from the cupolo of the courthouse and as it was lifted in the breeze, a shout went up which made the very heavens ring......I am sorry that our number was broken, and that this letter if it is the first news that you receive, should convey to the family and friends of our brother soldier, Wasson, the melancholy tidings of his death. He was as good a soldier as ever drew the breath of life......... M. D. Ector