Report of Captain Westley Roberts, Roberts' Missouri Artillery (Confederate), on the Battle of Prairie Grove, Arkansas, December 7, 1862.
I went into the action with three commissioned officers, besides myself and ninety-nine enlisted men.
Early in the morning I was ordered to take a position with my battery in the road leading from Cane Hill to Fayetteville and at the point, or near the same, where General [John Sappington] Marmaduke's forces had previously and first engaged the enemy. After remaining in battery for about an hour, I was ordered forward. After advancing about half a mile I was again ordered to take a position with my battery at the church near the road.
I remained in battery here for about two hours, when I was again ordered forward about a mile, to the scene of the action. I took a position with one section of my battery on the hillside in full view of the enemy and opened fire upon them, but being in a very exposed position, and a well-directed fire from two or three of the enemy's batteries being concentrated upon me, I fell back to the top of the hill, where I planted a section of my battery (two rifled pieces) and again opened fire on the enemy. This section of my battery was planted in the road. The position was such that I could not bring my whole battery into action. Had I been able to, [I could] have played effectively upon the enemy with my two 6-pounders.
The enemy formed in line of battle four times in my front, infantry twice and cavalry twice, and were four times repulsed by shell and shot. One of the enemy's batteries was silenced by well-directed shots from mine. I received a slight wound on the leg, having been knocked from my horse by a fragment of shell. One of my cannoneers, a private, was slightly wounded in the hand by a fragment of shell. I had one wheel of my guns considerably damaged by a shell from the enemy. These were all the casualties that I met with in the action.
All of which is respectfully submitted,
W. ROBERTS,
Captain, Commanding Battery.
[Francis Herron Collection, The New York Historical Society]