Episode 43: SGT William H. Tunnard and the 3rd Louisiana at the Battle of Wilson’s Creek

At the Battle of Wilson’s Creek, 10 August 1861, SGT William H. Tunnard and the 3rd Louisiana advanced north against an artillery battery which opened upon them only to run into a Battalion of US Infantry. After being repulsed, the regiment hastened south to face a Union Brigade marching from the south.

Sources used for this episode:

Tunnard, William H. A Southern Record. The History of the Third Regiment Louisiana Infantry. Baton Rouge, 1866. https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc2.ark:/13960/t8kd1r57h&seq=9.

Scott, Robert N. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. ser. 1, vol. 3. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1881. https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=coo.31924079597021&view=1up&seq=3.

Transcript

0:22

Hello, everyone. My name is Bill Coghlan, and welcome to First Person Civil War Podcast, which retells the stories of the soldiers and officers on the ground in the battles of a civil war. Episode 43 is entitled, Sergeant William H. Tunard, in the 3rd Louisiana, at the Battle of Wilson's Creek, and relies on his book, The History of the 3rd Regiment, Louisiana Infantry, which he privately published in 1866. William H. Tunnard was born in New Jersey in 1838 to William F. Tunnard from New York City. While still a child, William's father moved his entire family west to Illinois, then finally south to New Orleans by 1842. By 1860, William Tunard's family had moved to Baton Rouge, where his father became a wealthy mechanic. Following John Brown's raid on Harper's Ferry, William Tunard decided to join the Pelican Rifles, which was a militia company that formed on 25 November 1859, in anticipation that a war was on the horizon. After the firing on Fort Sumter, the Pelican Rifles, as an entire company, answered the Governor of Louisiana's call for volunteers to travel by any means to New Orleans and form into regiments. Upon arrival at New Orleans, William Tunard and his company joined approximately 3, 000 men who had also heeded the governor's call. On 17 May, 1861, the Pelican Rifles, 87 men in all, mustered into Confederate service as Company K in the 3rd Louisiana. William H. Tunard received the rank of sergeant, and his older brother, Fred, received the rank of second lieutenant, also in Company K. What became commonplace in regiments both north and south was the presence of family members within the same regiments, and the 3rd Louisiana was no exception. Lieutenant Colonel S. M. Hyams, the second in command, had three sons in the regiment. There was also Major William F. Tunard, father to William and Fred, who held the third highest rank in the regiment, Once fully formed the third, Louisiana had a strength of 1085 men and departed for Arkansas after officially entering Confederate service. The regiment traveled by boat of the Mississippi and Arkansas Rivers until they arrived at Fort Smith on seven June. Here, the Louisianans were assigned to McCullough's Brigade. Commanded by Colonel James M. McIntosh, of the Western Army, commanded by Brigadier General Benjamin McCullough. The state of Missouri was a microcosm of the greater national divide between North and South. Missouri was a slave state, but many within its borders did not want to side with the South. As previously highlighted in an earlier episode, the state of Missouri furnished both Union and Confederate regiments, and the geographical position as a border state, meant that it was seen to some of the first offensive moves by both sides. At the outbreak of war. The state of Missouri declared armed neutrality, and the State General Assembly formed the Missouri State Guard to act as a force to defend the state of Missouri from both union and Confederate forces. Following the Camp Jackson affair highlighted in episode 41, The Union Army and the State of Missouri si Signed the price Harney Truce named after the two ascending military commanders, which essentially placed the city of St. Louis under the control of the Union Army while the Missouri State Guard controlled the rest of the state. The truce would not last, however, as the Missouri State Guard coordinated with the Confederate government for aid, and the Union Army, after gaining knowledge of this, fought several skirmishes with the Missouri State Guard. As these sides skirmished, the Missouri State Legislature was forced to depart Jefferson City, the state capitol. By late July, the union leaning Missouri Constitutional Convention, formed by special election in February 1861, reconvened, voted against secession, and declared the governor's seat, held by the Confederate leaning Claiborne Fox Jackson and the state legislature, vacant. On 1 August, Governor Jackson and a rump session of the Missouri Legislature, now both in exile in southwest Missouri, passed an ordinance of secession. After being pursued by Brigadier General Nathaniel Lyon's Army of the West, the Missouri State Guard encamped at Cassville, approximately 20 miles from the Arkansas border. It was here in late July that Sergeant Tunard, the 3rd Louisiana, and the entire Confederate Western Army linked up with the Missourians. On the 29th reached Cassville, where the regiment was greeted by the wildest enthusiasm by the Missourians. Amid vociferous cheers, the thunder of artillery, and waving of banners, the regiment marched past the camp of the State Troops, eliciting numerous remarks of praise and admiration. By their steady and regular tread, and their deportment as a disciplined body of troops. The Missouri State Guard combined with the Western Army and now had a numerical superiority over the pursuing Union Army of approximately two to one. But Brigadier General Lyon did not know this fact until he skirmished with the Confederate Army on 2 August at Doug Springs before retreating to Springfield. On the night of 4 to 5 August, the confederate army marched closer towards Springfield, code. And Sergeant Tunard, in the 3rd Louisiana, with little intelligence on the exact position of the enemy, expected a fight at any time. Tramp, tramp, tramp. Firm and undaunted, the army proceeded on its perilous journey like a band of dark spirits, over the hard and rocky road, accompanied by the dull rumbling of the artillery carriages over hills, along a road skirted by dense underbrush and tall trees. And through those narrowed defiles, the army proceeded. That was a night that tried men's souls. Although moving forward in momentary expectation of being attacked, nothing special occurred. As the first rosette hues of morn tinged the eastern horizon, our advance came upon the picket of the enemy, who were so completely taken by surprise that they precipitately fled, leaving behind them coats, provisions, and utensils. The Confederate Army established a camp along Wilson's Creek, which is southwest of the town of Springfield. With this knight movement, Brigadier General Lyon wrote to Major General Fremont, the commander of the Department of the West, of his plans to depart within the next few days. Before he could depart, Brigadier General Lyon planned an attack upon the Confederates on 10 August, to ensure no pursuit of his army as it retreated north. The Confederate Army also planned an attack for 10 August. But ultimately cancelled due to a thunderstorm. Sergeant Tunard and the 3rd Louisiana went to sleep, unaware of a blunder in the army that guaranteed a Union surprise attack the next day. At nine o'clock, the order for an advance was countermanded, but the troops required to hold themselves in readiness to march at a moment's notice. The picket guards have been recalled so as to be ready to march with their respective commands, and in expectation of momentarily receiving marching orders, the different regimental commanders objected to sending them out again. The Union Army of the West, despite being outnumbered, split in two, and on 10 August advanced upon the Confederate camp from the north and south. Sergeant Tunard, in the 3rd Louisiana, witnessed the opening of the fight from a distance, and quickly formed in line of battle. Scarcely had they formed in line, Ere McCullough dashed up, Furious with excitement and rage, And shouted, colonel, why the hell don't you lead your men out? The question was not repeated. As the regiment began to move into position, a puff of smoke arose from a clump of trees northwest of our position, followed by another, accompanied by an ugly scream of shot, and their sudden, dull thug into the ground. This was the 2nd U. S. Artillery, but the battery was too far away for the 3rd Louisiana to directly engage, as the 1st U. S. Infantry, commanded by Captain Joseph B. Plummer, formed in their front. The battalion was pushed forward rapidly, and soon, the enemy opened on us from the left. But his fire was light and easily quelled. Our advance was in the direction of the enemy's battery. On the hill opposite Lt. Du Bois battery, with the intention of storming it, should the opportunity offer. This was observed by the enemy, and a large force was accumulated in our front and on our left flank, and our forward progress was checked. Not all terrain. At the Battle of Wilson's Creek was advantageous for regiments to maneuver and Sergeant Tunard and the 3rd Louisiana had to form a marching column as they advanced toward the Union Army. As the regiment advanced through the dense undergrowth towards the open field, a terrible and scathing fire was opened on them by nearly double their numbers of us regulars. The flower of General Lyon's army. The regiment rapidly wheeled into line of battle, each company taking its position with prompt celerity. Numbers of the men had already fallen. Despite getting into position, Sergeant Tunard and the 3rd Louisiana had difficulty engaging the 1st U. S. Infantry, as they had to cross terrain on the western bank of Wilson's Creek. The enemy were securely posted behind the fence, while our position behind the bushes rendered it almost an utter impossibility to obtain a good view of them. Even by our coolest and clearest sighted marksmen. Seeking every possible protection and shelter The fight was maintained with a stubborn and determined valor. Not a stone's throw from each other, these lines of men, composed of old regulars and a virgin volunteer regiment of Louisianans, We're combating each other with dogged obstinacy. Men were dropping all along the line. It was becoming uncomfortably hot. When Captain Macintosh dashed along the line, shouting, Get up, Louisianans, and charge them! Do you all wish to be killed? The third Louisiana's charge was successful in Dislodging the Union regulars from the fence who reformed closer to the same artillery pieces that had already opened upon Sergeant Toner and his comrades under the combined musket and Canister Fire, the Louisianans were forced to retreat and reformed behind the shelter of a Hill. The Union plan of attack at Wilson's Creek was a double envelopment, or a pincer movement, from the north and south upon the Confederate camp. Brigadier General Lyon commanded the northern pincer of three brigades, which arrived on the field first. Shortly afterward, Col. Franz Siegel's Southern Pinsir of 1 Brigade formed and saw initial success advancing upon the Confederate rear, which consisted of cavalry. As Col. Siegel's men advanced, Confederate leadership turned to Sgt. Tunnard and the 3rd Louisiana to march to the relief of the cavalry. The officers immediately began to form the regiment, which had become much scattered in their precipitate retreat when General McCullough rode up to the right of the line, and After making some inquiries and remarks, said, Come on, my brave lads, I have a battery for you to charge, and the day is ours. The men followed the leadership of their brave general with steady, regular tread along the valley, crossing around the base of the hill, over the creek. That is, Wilson's Creek, where the road took an abrupt turn westward and ascended a precipitous rocky hill, to the left of which was posted Siegel's Battery. As Colonel Siegel's brigade advanced to the sharp farm, he noticed that the constant roar of artillery and musketry from the north had all but ceased. With such a distance between the northern and southern pincers, these two formations could not communicate with each other. While the 3rd Louisiana rushed to the south, Colonel Siegel made a critical blunder. At this time, and after some skirmishing in front of our line, the firing in the direction of the northwest, Which was during an hour's time, roaring in succession, had almost entirely ceased. I therefore thought that the attack of General Lyon had been successful, and that his troops were in pursuit of the enemy, who moved in large masses towards the south, along the ridge. It was reported to me by Dr. Melchior and some of our skirmishers that Lion's Men were coming up the road. Lieutenant Colonel Albert, of the 3rd, and Colonel Solomon, of the 5th, notified their regiments not to fire on troops coming in this direction, whilst I cautioned the artillery in the same manner. At such an early time in the war. Not every regiment held to the blue uniform of the union or gray uniform of the Confederacy. The 1st Iowa Infantry of the Northern Pinser wore gray uniforms. And this was the suspected regiment marching toward Colonel Siegel's men. But it was not the case. Sergeant Tunard and the 3rd Louisiana, by sheer luck, were mistaken for a Union regiment. The men scaled the rocky hillside and came abruptly upon the enemy's guns. With loud huzzahs, they rushed upon the battery, sweeping it at the point of the bayonet, ere the amazed foe could recover from their astonishment. They fled into a cornfield and along the road in the rear of their lost battery, with the victors in close pursuit. The charge of Sergeant Tard and the third Louisiana successfully routed Colonel Siegel's brigade. Once the regiment reformed. The louisianans were called upon yet again to march North with orders to take the artillery pieces that opened upon them at the beginning of the fight. As the regiment deployed in line of battle for a third time, the Union Army was in full retreat and the Battle of Wilson's Creek ended. Sergeant Tunard was present with the 3rd Louisiana at the Battle of Pea Ridge. In the wake of that battle, the regiment reorganized, and William H. Tunard became a commissary sergeant for the regiment until it surrendered at Vicksburg on 4 July 1863. William H. Tunnard privately published his book, the history of the 3rd Regiment Louisiana Infantry in 1866, and was adamant in that his book was simply a retelling of a soldier's story from the ranks. That, truth is stranger than fiction, is an axiom as correct as it is trite. Thus I claim for these pages of history, a strict adherence to truthfulness in recording actual occurrences, facts garnered from the great and bloody drama of the late war, around which lingers imperishable glory, possessing all the fascination and interest of romance. This record has been dotted down on the long and weary march, in the quiet camp, within breastworks and besieged strongholds, before and after the fierce conflict and deadly strife. A correct record of events as they actually occurred, they are presented to the public. Thank you for listening to the 43rd episode. The link to Sgt. Tunnard's book and to social media accounts are now available on the podcast website, FirstPersonCivilWarPodcast. com. On Facebook, Instagram, X, and LinkedIn this week, you will find a picture of William H. Tunnard in 1866. Just a quick announcement, the next episode publishes on 2 April. For the rest of March, my schedule is becoming quite busy, and I am unable to publish an episode at that time. Thank you for your understanding. On two April. Major James H. Kidd, commander of the sixth Michigan Cavalry provides next episodes first person account at the Battle of Yellow Tavern. my name is Bill Coghlan, and thank you for listening to First Person Civil War Podcast.