Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1862-03-27
xeImont Chronicle.
The Great Battle Of Pea Ridge.
FUN Particulars of the Three Days
Fighting.
fAnay Correspondence Of the Cincinnati Times ]
fvsNr CAMP SIGEL, !
-PrA R,DaE, Benton Co.; Ark. !
Mopdav awning. March 10, !

D0ItlO tato :
have learned Of the great three days bat t
tlo, fought on Pea Ridge. in Benton county, Q
Ark, commencing on Thursday morning,
the 9th, and closing on Saturday afternoon, O
the Sth inst, certainly one of the severest t
engagements during the war, and little, 1t q
any, behind the great struggle at Fort Don y
elson. ]
This battle, like that up the Cumberland; a
extended over a great deal Of ground, and c
was characterized by a vast amount OF lrreg-
ular fighting, such as it is impossible to G
embrace with the eye, and almost lmp0Sssi- I
bic TO describe in detail. Such particulars, '
however. as | can gather amid the tumult
md confusion that attend and follow a bat.
tie, / will endeavor to furnish in my usual
crude and desultory form.
The FIRST MOVEMENTS TOWARD ARKAN-
sAS.
Some six weeks ago the first Federal
movement was made from Rolla, the pres
vent terminus Of the Southwestern branch OF
the Pacific Railway, toward Springfield, at
which well known town Sterling Price was
then encamped, with a body of Missouri
State troops estimated at eight to ten thous-
and. Immediately after the evacuation Of
,Fremont's splendid army, Price marched into
Springfield and made his headquarters there,
declaring, with the huge oaths for which he
Ia remarkable, that he would never again
leave it without a fight. Acting Brigadier-
General Carr left Rolla with some twenty
four hundred cavalry, as an advance, about
the LIST Of February, followed by several
regiments under Gen. Sigel, for the purpose
of engaging the troublesome rebel, and
driving him out of the State, which for
nine or ten months he had kept in perpet-
uai trouble and alarm, retreating and re-
turning to overrun, ravage and destroy.
Price violated his word once more, and
before half his own force was collected in
the vicinity of Springfield, evacuated the
town, marching down the Cassville road to-
wsrd Bontonville, Ark, and daily expect
ing re.enforcem ents from McCulloch, Me-
Intosh, Van Dorm aud Albert Pike, with
tive or three thousand Cherokee, Choctaw,
Greek and Seminole Indians.
Various skirmishes occurred on the march,
between our forces and those Of the enemy,
and q small engagement near the State line,
resulting in the repulse OF Price, and bis
crossing over into Arkansas, followed by
our amy.
Since that event, those who knew our
strength must have felt uneasy for the tate
Of our forces in Arkansas, where the foe
must have every advantage from better
knowledge of the country and its favorable
positions for attack and retreat, as well Of
superiority of numbers.
General Curtis force was generally stated
ct about twenty thousand, but those who
knew the facts werc aware they were littl'
moro than half that number; while thu
strength of the enemy after Prices junction
with the rebels sneamped at various place
in Arkansas could not, ut the lowest com
putation, be less than twenty-five or thirt.
thousand.
ta'a9 FEARS FOR OUR loops
No marvel tears were felt for the safety Q
our soldiers, Notwithstanding the cOnfidenc
reposed in such officers as Sigel, Carr, Da
Wis, Osterhaus, and others, who had bee
tested by severe ordeals on other fields
That their situation was precariOus--tha
the odds were largely against them-an
the prospect of their success dim and dis
tant, is evident at a glance.
Our little army seemed rather to consuI
its ard0r than its prudence, and marche
steadily on in the face Of frowning danger
and formidable opposition. Our advanc
reached Fayetteville, forty-ive miles belo
the Missouri State line, and still Price re
AT Boston Mountains the Missouri reb,
was Joined by Ben. McCulloch, Van Dor
Albert Pike and his Indians, and Mclr
tosh, who had been made Generalissimo
NIL the Secession forces in Arkansas, muC
TO the chagrin of Sterling Price, really MOI
deserving Of tho great dishonor.
Al this time Gen. Curtis, hearing Of tn
rebel ro.enforcements, and knowing the
force more than twice his own, had no doul
he would be attacked, or at least have a
opportunity for battle in q very few days.
He discovered that the vicinity of Sugl
Creek was much better adapted for cana
inc. and he therefore ordered his advant
To- fail back to the neighborhood of tn,
stream. Up to this time Price aud Nell
tosh had believed the Federal army at len
10000 strong not supposing Curtis on
Sieel would have the temerity to enter
thickly settled State, whose every maj
Woman and child had been reported as no
lie. TO the last degree, to the odious Yal
Wees.
Hearing of Curtis retrograde movement
Mcintosh had no doubt that he was retrea
inr in hot haste, anxious to escape from Il
tolls in which he had discovered himself,
Il was hoped, too late for extrication.
VrL., La aarnad TOO through ana nf h