Samuel Rutherford BELL (VETERAN CSA KIA)

CAPTAIN
Company C 3rd Arkansas State Infantry
Civil War Confederate
May 18, 1824 - August 10, 1861

*Obituary (New Article)
Fayetteville Democrat
Saturday, August 14, 1880

BELL, Sam R. – The annual reunion of the survivors of the old “Pike Guards,” the first military company organized in this county for the war, commanded by Dr. Sam R. Bell of this city, took place here Tuesday last, 10th day of August, the anniversary of the battle of “Oak Hills.” Of the 112 young men and boys who composed this company, only about 18 survived the war, several of whom live in distant counties and States, and were absent from the reunion Tuesday last. The meeting was held in the parlors of the Tremont House, where a sumptuous repast had been prepared for the occasion by the cleaver proprietor, Mr. H.L. Glass. Mr. J.T. Pogson, of the city, presiding, stated the object of the meeting in a neat and well-timed little speech, filled with touching reminiscences of the past and encouraging words for the future. Col. Can Boone of Madison County was the orator for the occasion, eloquently and satisfactorily did he discharge the duty assigned to him. He paid a beautiful and well-merited tribute to the memory of the gallant and lamented Capt. Bell and the brave dead of the old company. Both gentlemen were asked to furnish the Democrat with a copy of their addresses for publication, which request we hope they will comply with. It was agreed by those present to organize the remnant of the old “Guard” into a military company, to elect honorary members, and a committee was appointed to draft plans for the organization. The captaincy of the company was to be left vacant, through the respect to the memory of Capt. Bell. After transacting some other business, and after a pleasant and enjoyable reunion, the meeting adjourned until August 10, 1881. A large and elegant cake, beautifully trimmed and ornamented, was presented to the old veterans by Mrs. T.M. Gunter, with her compliments and wishes for many happy reunions of the survivors of the “Pike Guards.” This token of respect from Mrs. Gunter was duly acknowledged and highly appreciated. A copy of the “Weekly Arkansian,” published at Fayetteville by Wm. E. Smith, of date August 10th, 1861, preserved by Mrs. T.D. Boles, nee Miss Clem Watson, giving an account of the battle of Oak Hills and a list of the killed and wounded in the “Pike Guards,” was presented at the meeting and read with interest. There are yet living in this section of the State many who participated in that bloody battle, and an account of the fight would be interesting to them –even to this late day. We make the following extracts from the Arkansian’s report of the battle: On Tuesday night, the 9th inst., Gen. McCulloch being encamped with his army 9 miles this side of Springfield, had determined to advance upon the enemy at 11 o’clock that night. For this purpose he had issued orders for three day’s rations and forty rounds of cartridge. These orders had been obeyed; his arrangements fully completed; all his pickets called in, and was in the act of marching. At this juncture a storm arose, causing some delay in his movements; and upon a consultation with Gen. Price, of the Missouri army, and at the suggestion of Price, who stated that his command was poorly supplied with cartridges, and which must necessarily become greatly damaged if not rendered wholly useless from the rain, Gen. McCulloch abandon an advance until morning. To this end his army resumed a stationary position for the night, leaving but a few pickets out. Thus matters stood until 5 o’clock the next morning. At this hour, a simultaneous attack was made by the enemy with artillery from three commanding points, who had gained these positions by quiet movements, guided by Union citizens of the neighborhood who had been in our camps, gained all necessary information, and communicated the same to the enemy. With this information, and by judicious management on the part of the enemy who had suffered our pickets to pass undisturbed, they succeeded in a most complete surprise and an attack upon our army while yet sleeping, with heavy batteries, artillery, ball, shot and shell. The surprise, consternation and advantage thus acquired and produced, can only be imagined. The fete can only be equaled by the cool intrepidity and self-possession manifested by the active and prompt exertions of a brave, spirited and determined army, commanded by Ben McCulloch and his noble band of officers. At this great advantage gained by the enemy, the engagement at once became one of a doubtful result; but every inch of ground was contested by our brave arms; the batteries of the enemy were charged at every point by our forces and dislodged from their commanding positions by daring and desperate charges made upon them. These accomplished with success, though at a great sacrifice of life placed us on a more equal footing in position with the enemy; and it was not long before evidences of success had taken the place of strong intimations of defeat; which served as a stimulant to our forces, and nerved them on to victory. With the advantage gained in the attack, and having very largely the preponderance in forces –numbering more than two to one, the enemy for the first three hours of the engagement, gave evidence of success of a very decided character, but when we had succeeded in turning the tide of battle against them by desperate charges upon their artillery with short arms in close quarters, the fortunes of the day were soon determined. To specify with any degree of particularity as to regiments engaged in this now desperate conflict, we are not able or willing to do so. The attack was made upon Churchill’s regiment of cavalry, they being in front and some distance in advance of the main army. The enemy leveled at them and did great damage to their ranks, but they soon extricated themselves from their more than perilous situation by extraordinary and almost super human exertion. The Louisiana regiment of infantry and that of Arkansas, commanded by Col. Gratiot, it seems, were the earliest from their positions, thrown into the engagement, all of whom acquitted themselves with great credit for their bravery in fighting and the skill of their officers. With them, and side by side, were found the bold, fearless and intrepid Texas Rangers, commanded by Col. Greer, whose conduct in this battle gave ample evidence that each pledge made by them had been fully kept and faithfully redeemed, yes, more, for they not only claimed pound for pound, but exacted and received two pounds for one. Among the many incidents of this battle, showing the wanton coolness and bravery of our troops, we note the following. One of the Texas Regiment who had been wounded by a grape shot in the back of the neck when carried to the hospital and having his wound dressed, exclaimed with a feeling of mortification at his ill luck, “Is this not hell –a Texas Ranger –a native of South Carolina –and shot in the back?” The Missouri Army, under command of Gen. Price, as far as they were armed and otherwise prepared, gave evidence of their valor and skill upon the battle field. A portion of the Missouri forces were not armed and therefore, could not and did not do much fighting. The brave and accomplished Waltman, perhaps the best military man in Missouri, fell at his battery early in the engagement. This was a severe loss to the Missouri Army. Of other regiments, Arkansas and Missouri, we have not been able to learn, but all acquitted themselves well. The fight commenced at 5 o’clock in the morning and continued for six hours and a half, during which time it is but reasonable to suppose that more men in proportion to the number engaged and the manner of fighting, perished than ever perished in any battle ever fought on American soil in double the number of hours. And here we take occasion to add, and we do so with a full knowledge that the facts fully warrants the assertion that our men done the best fighting that ever was done on earth.
But what shall we say of our dead, our wounded and our living? True we have not lost many, but the places of those we have lost can never be filled. Who can fill the place made void in the affections of our people by the death of Captain Samuel R. Bell, or who shall dispel the gloom which envelopes the sorrowing heart of a devoted wife, fatherless children and numerous relatives? Can his absence from the family circle and the society in which he moved be filled by any one? No. -And so of all who have fallen in the faithful discharge of their duty upon the battle field. We shall not attempt to give the names of the killed and wounded of any one company except that of the lamented Capt. Bell, for the reason we cannot do so correctly, not having received information sufficiently correct to warrant it. This company was composed of our own immediate citizens. Killed – Capt. S.R. Bell, Martin Hawkins, Thomas Neill, William Brown Wounded – E.B. Moore, Marshall Henry, Henry Knight –seriously; G.J. Pollard, Ton Watty Robinson, Henry Williams, N.F. Wax, James Neill –slightly. As far as possible, we have given a correct history of the battle, simply fought and won by an indomitable courage and bravery which stands unparalleled in the annals of history.

*Source: Sons of Confederate Veterans, Washington County, Arkansas 2009
Compiled by William W Degge

Contributed on 5/19/23 by judyfrog
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