, 1862-03-25

CANT PEA RIDGE. Arkansas,
Headquarters First and Second pisieione,
To the officers and soldiers of the First and Second
Divisions:
After so many hardships and suferings Of
this war in the West, a great and decisive VIC
tory has for the first time been attained, and
the army Of the enemy overwhelmed and per-
fectly routed. The rebellious flag Of the Con-
federate States lies in the dust, and the same
men who had organized armed rebellion at
Camp jackson, Maysyiile and Fayetteville,
who have fought Against us at Boony1le,
Carthage and Wilson's Creek, at Lexington
and Milford, have paid the penalty Of their Sc
refuge behind the Boston Mountains and the
shore of the Arkansas River.
The last days were hard, but triumphant.
Surrounded and pressed upon all sides by an
entcrprising, desperate and greedy enemy
By the Missouri and Arkansas Mouutaineers,
the Texas Rangers, the finest regiment Of
Louisiana troops, aud even the savage Indians,
almost without food, sleep, or camp fires, you
remained firm and unabashcd, awaiting the
moment when you could drive back your as
sailants or break through the iron circle by
which the enemy thought to crush or capture
rocky summit Of Pea Ridge.
You have defeated all their schemes. When
at hfcKiseick's farm, west Of Bentonvil1e, you
extricated yourself from their grasp by
nights march,. and secured q train Of two
hundred wagons before the enemy became
aware of the direction you had taken; instead
Of being cut of, weakened and driven to the
necessity Of giving battle under the most un-
favorable circumstances, you Joined your
friends and comrades ut Sugar Greek. and
thereby saved yourselves and the whole army
from being separated and beaten in detail
On the retreat from BentonTille to Sugar
CTeek-a distance Of ten mlles-you cut your
way through an enemy at least five times
stronger than yourselves. The activity, self
possession and courage Of the little band OF
six hundred will ever be memorable In the
history Of this war.
When, on the next day, the great battle be-
gan, under the command Of Gen. Asboth, you
assisted the fourth division with all the cheer
tulncss and aiacrity of good and h1thful SOL
dIer-that division on that day holding the
haus, co-operating with the third division,
battered down the hosts Of McCaHoeh on our
left, and Major Patten guarded our rear.
On the 6th, Jou came at the right time to
the right place. It Was the FIRST opportunity
sou had Of showing your full strength and
In line Of battle, advanced and co-operated
with our friends on the right, and routed the
enemy so completely that he fed like dust be-
fore hurricane. And 50 it will -always be
when traitors, seduced By selfish leaders aud
persecnted by the pangs Of an evil conscience,
aA@ AEdA4le% HO1NlEEb WQQ NGiEuQ q EQ0Q
cause, are veil drilled and disciplined, Obey
promptly the orders of their officers, and do
lot shrink from dangerous assault when, at
the proper and decisive moment, it is neces-
eary.
fou have done your duty, and you can just
y claim your share in the common glory OF
this victory. But let us not be partial, unjust
or naughty. Let US not forget that alons VIC
were too weak to perform the great work be-
fore Us. Let us acknowledge the great serv-
ices done By all the brave soldiers Of the Sd
and 9Th divisions, and always bea- in mind
that limited We stand, divided We fall" Let
Us hold opt and push the work throngh-not
| marches, By hasds 81 and fatigues, By strict
discipline and ehect{9e battles. :.
Columbus has failen-Memphis will follow,
and II you do in future as you hsre done in
these past days Of trial, the time will soon
| come when you will pitch your tents On the
| beautiful shores Of tie Arkansas river, and
| there meet your iron-clad propellers at Little
Rock and Fort Smith. Therefore, keep alert
my friends, and look forward With confidence.
| :: F. SIGEL,
Brig. Gen. Com'ding 1st and I'd Divisions.