New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-03-20


The fate of the Arkansaus was indeed distribu-
ton Of poetic justice.
The seeds of rebellion they had sown among the
Cherokees, like the teeth that Cadmus planted,
turned against them in their growing with fury and
with death.
THE CAUSE or THE UNEXPECTED ATTACK.
The sttack on our forces by the combined army OF
the Rebels aud Indians was from the north. rstesd
of the South, as was anticipated, the intention Of the
enemy being to place themselves between our army
aud the State lins, 80 as to prevent any retreat
Price and Mcintosh lad at 6rst supposed our force
equal TO fifty or sixty thousand men, and when they
learned is true number they dospised It's power sno
believed i an easy task to crush and even annbieie
it. For this reason they moved to the north, anc
opened the attack from three different points intend
ing 70 throw us into disorder and diemay by 20 uneX'
pecied q movement.
Our advance had been, as Is known, as far es Ben
touyile and il was nj Grst General Curtis intention
% camp there; but lie soon discovered the location
was much lees favorable than along Sugar Greek,
ana accordingly fell back and pitched hi. tents IN the
vicinity Of tlat stream. This movement completely
deceived the Rebels. They had no doubt we were
escape, they made forced marches by various roais
70 drive ne into their toir OF victory they Lad not
the shadow Of doubt. With them it was only &
question Of distinctions speedy, complete, and ce'-
t4in destruction.
The Secession chiefs nre sid 10 have congratulated
each other upon the trap into which they had drawn
our little army aud 70 have sworn that Of the
bmve soldiers should return 10 the North They
cousideTod the thing accomplished, and many OF the
Rebel oaicers became intoxicated over the entire
subyersion OF the Yankee invaders who had set ter
barbarous feet upon the ArCadian soil Of Arkansas
the blest.
How deep their disappointment, how great their
cbagrin, when forced to flee before the heroic hosi
they believed they could annihilae, Imagination may
paint, bu, pen cannot record.
TIE TWO ARMIES.
For ton or twelve days before the battle of Sugar
Creek began skirmiehes were OF almost daily occur
renee between forces and those Of the enemy,
and many feats Of daring were performed by the
Union oficers and men.
On Wednesday, the day preceding Tie battle, Gen.
Curtis was informed Of the intention Of the enemy to
attack hm with force OF at least 10000 Rebels and
Mdians-some 1900 OF 10000 from Missouri, Z, 600
or 900 from Arkansas, 1900 or 5000 from Texas,
and IA many more from Louisiana, aud Misss.
sippi, under the direction of Gen. Mcintosh who
bad tho chief command, Sterling Price, Ben Nc
Cu,loch, Col. Van Dom, and Albert Pike.
Our entire force not more than II coo, but the
Unionisis were determined, cool and enduring, and
resolved 10 fight re became their condition and their
cause.
TIE FIRST DAYS FIGHTING.
An attack was anticipated by Gen. Curtis from the
south and he ordered Gen. Carr to leave Cross Hol
lows and take bis position ON Sugar Creek. which
had the advantage OF superior strength. He also or
dered Gen. Sigel from 3entonyile to the same neigh
borhood and gave him charge OF tie entire train.
Ssel was a. that point distance of two miles from
the main land, when he attacked by about 9 500
OF the Rebel cavalry, anxious 20 obtain possession OF
the baggage aud stores. The brave German had
no more than 500 or 900 men-iwo bsttalions OF Mis-.
souri, troops and one Of cavalry.
70 the easiwsrd Curtis's encampment, add
Siyol anxious TO reach this and at the same time
carry the trains with him. The task was superhu-
MAN, the Rebels being upon bis steps, aud making
every effort 70 surround him. He exhorted his fol.
lowers To perish rather than retreat and thew con.
tested every inch Of ground il their souls saliva
ton depended on tie scne. Fear they did rot know
OF defeat they would not think. They ragged about
.her chief, who wa seen everywhere in the sirug-
Gle, like lions, and their eyes flashed defiance upon
their tra.torous Zoe.
Tie UnonisS suffered severely, but they gave
severer blows than they received and ever bore he
und.untod air that belongs TO who are resolved
not to be conquered.
sigei wssN last cut o. but bis energy and that
Of lis metS6ewed passage through the selried
ranks Of the Rebels, and once the scale of vic
tory hung in equal balance.
For FIX hours the fray waved more aud more ia
rious. The cavalry charged and rechersed upon ,ho
little band at Sgels back, but each time the Union
baycnes cleaned in their eyes, and the light drove
them back, discomfted bat not discouraged.
Never wa better fighting dcpe-Deyer ground