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Engagement at Carthage, MO
in the American Civil War
July 5, 1861
Online Books:
Official Records, Union
Reports (Pages 14-19)
Official Records,
Confederate Reports (Pages 20-37)
The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of
the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, by the United
States War Department, 1880
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Union Battle Summary |
| Carthage, Mo., July 5, 1861. Missouri State Troops.
All the men engaged in this fight, on both sides, were Missourians.
The Union forces, commanded by Gen. Franz Sigel, consisted of 550 men
of the 3rd regiment, 400 of the 5th, and two batteries of 4 guns each,
numbering in all about 1,500 men. Opposed to this force were about
4,000 infantry and cavalry and two batteries, under the command of
Gov. Jackson. On the evening of the 4th Sigel encamped on Spring river
southeast of Carthage. The next morning he resumed his march and about
half-way between Dry Fork creek and Carthage he found the enemy drawn
up in line of battle - probably 3,500 men - with a strong reserve in
the rear. The Union advance was soon engaged and Sigel disposed his
forces as follows: Two companies of the 3rd regiment and 2 pieces of
artillery were sent to the assistance of the advance guard; one
company of the same regiment and a piece of artillery were left to
guard the train; the 2nd battalion of the 3rd was placed on the left;
next to this were 4 pieces of artillery; the 5th regiment, in two
battalions, in the center; then the remaining three guns, and on the
right the 1st battalion of the 3rd regiment. When his line was thus
formed the entire body was advanced a few hundred yards, when the
whole seven pieces of artillery opened on the Confederate center.
Under this direct attack the enemy's lines began to waver, but before
Sigel could press his advantage he discovered that two detachments of
mounted troops were making efforts to gain both his right and left
flanks, which caused him to change his tactics and assume the
defensive in order to save his train. Part of the troops were
therefore ordered behind Dry Fork creek, while two battalions and the
4 guns of Wilkin's battery were hurried to the defense of the train.
At Dry Fork Essig's battery took a position behind the ford, where,
assisted by one company of the 5th and two companies of the 3rd
regiment, he held the enemy in check for two hours and inflicted
severe losses. This enabled Sigel to reach Carthage, where he sent the
train safely out of the way of capture and took a position on the
heights north of the town. Sending detachments to keep open his
communication with Springfield and Mount Vernon, Sigel now took
possession of the town long enough to give his troops a brief rest,
after which he commenced his retreat toward Sarcoxie, under protection
of the artillery, pausing now and then long enough to fire a few shots
at the advancing enemy. The Confederates soon tired of the sport and
withdrew the pursuit. The Union loss for the day was 13 killed and 31
wounded. The Confederates reported a loss of 40 or 50 killed and 120
wounded, but it was probably greater. This engagement brought Sigel
into notice as a master in conducting a running fight against almost
overwhelming odds.
Source: The Union Army, Volume 5, Cyclopedia of Battles,
1908 |
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