The New York herald., 1862-03-26
General Sigels Address to His Soldier
After the Battle OF Pea Ridge.


FIRST AND SECOND DIVISIONS, March Is, 1862.
To THR OFFICERS AND SOLDIERS OF THE FIRST AID SECOND
After SO many hardshipe and suerings Of this war in
the West great and decisive victory has for the first
time boon attained, and the army Of the enemy over
whelmed and perfectly routed the rsosl',ous nag o.
who had organized armed rebellion at Camp jackson,
Maysve and Fayetteville; who have fought against US
at Boonsvilc Carthage and Wilson'S creek At Lexington
and Milford. have paid the penalty Of their seditious
work with their lives are seeking refuge behind the
Mountains and the shore Of the Arkansas river
The last days hard but triumphant. SurrcHvdSd
and prtssed upon all sides By e,trPrinc, desprae
and greedy sRemy-ty the Missouri aSd Arkdnsas &Ssta
tan.ers lie T4an Rd,.eers, the fna regiment ~ Louis
ana troops and the savage inai1ns-anaest Uitcs
food sep camp fires ryou ressGiHof y and unabdx<d
awaiting the moment when you could drive back your
assaants break through the iron circle by which the
enemy thought crush caTture 'is all and plant the
rebellous flag on the rocky summit Of Pea Ridge
You have defeated all their schemes When At Nc
Kissick farm Of Bcntonvle, you exricated your
selves from their grasp nights narch and secured
train Of hundred wagons before the enemy became
aware of the direction you had taken instead OF being
cut or weakened and driven to the ssty OF giving
ba. tic under the unavorable circumstances, you
Joined your friends and comrades at sugar creek and
thereby saved yourselves aud the whole army from
being separated and beaten in detail.
On the from Bontonvillc to Sugar creeka dis
tance of tea mcs-you cut your 'rdy Mro.gh an .nemy
self possession and courage Of the little band Of six hun
dred will be memorable In the hist ry OF this war
When the next day the great battle began, under
the command Of GEN Asbolh, you assisted the fourth
diyisi with all the cheorfuiness ard alacrty Of good
and faithful solers-tbat division ON that day holding
the most important pOsition-whle Col. Osterhaus
ouerating with the third DIVISION battered Gown the
hosts McCuoch our lett, aud Major paten guarded
our rear
On tho sth you came at the right time TO the right
place. 1t the first opportunity you had Of showing
your full strength and lower In less than hree hus
rou frmed in line Of bd1t, ddeancd and os. at 10Th
our fi-ds tie right aud foat d the enemy comJleeiy
fha, he fed like dust before havricd,b. Aud 20 1t will
always be when trstors scduced by selfish leaders and
persecued by the paDgs Of evil conscience, tight
lag against soldiers who defend good cause are well
drilled and disciplined obey promptly the orders Of
their officers, and do not shrink from dangerous ailt
when AT the proper and moment Is necessary
You may lok with pride On The few days ust asscd,
during which have 30 gvrousy defended the nag OF
the Union. From two ocock on the morning d the 6th
when you left Mcksscks aI until four O'Clock the
oventfu Afternoon o the 9,h, when arrived from
Kecsvie in the common encsmpnent, you mdrhsd ffty
ps. ouoh r,e battles took no, on,g Tat. and rag
from The eseray. ti than hundred and fftgp prf
sonrrs-among them acting priga sr General Herbert
the commander OF tho Louisiana forces and his MAJOR
Coorcl stone Adutant General OF Price forces. and
Ii utenant Colonel John H. Price, whose life was twice
spared and who has now for tl:o seconl time violated
his parole and was arrested with arms In his HAMS.
You have done your duty, aud you can justly claim
your in tho glory cf this victory. But let
us not be partial unjust naughty. Let not forget
that alouo we were perform the great work
before Let acknowledge the great services done
by all the brave soldiers of the Third and Fourth dyi
sons, always keep IN mind that 'unted We stand,
dyidsG VIC fal.n Let US hold out and push the work
thrprgh-not by words and great claInor bnt by
god marches by hardshps aud fatigdes by strict dsc
pline und effective battles.
Columbus has faen--Aemphis will fellow, aud IL you
do in future you have done In these past days OF trial.
the timo will como when you viii pitch your tents
the beautiful shores OF the Arkansas vr, and there
meet our ironclad propelers at Little Rock and Fort
Smith Therefore, keep alert my friends and LOOK for
ward with confidence. +. SlGEL,
Brig. Gen. Commanding rirstand Second divisions.