A Crisis in Command

<i>We must not let the men know that General McCulloch is killed.</i><br>Benjamin Pixley, Lieutenant, 16th Arkansas Infantry<br><br>The general in charge of this half of the Confederate army - Texan Ben McCulloch - had formed his division, some 7,000 strong, just out of sight behind the trees you see in the distance. Before ordering a massive charge into Oberson's cornfield, "Old Ben," as his troops called him, rode alone to the edge of the trees for a final scout. Yankee skirmishers behind a rail fence shot the popular general dead.<br><br>No Confederate soldier or officer saw McCulloch fall. Minutes passed with no word. Finally second-in-command General James McIntosh took over, only to die while leading a charge out of the woods. With no leader to give orders for more than an hour, the momentum that might have led to a swift Confederate victory at Leetown was lost.<br><br><i>(Captions under portraits on the lower right):</i><br>General Ben McCulloch customarily wore a black velvet suit instead of a uniform. As the former Texas Ranger reconnoitered the woods' edge, he was easy to see. <br><br>General James McIntosh charged at the head of the 2nd Arkansas Mounted Rifles out of the line of trees and into heavy Federal fire. He died not 200 yards from the spot where McCulloch had been slain.