Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1862-04-04
Thrilling Incidents Of the Pea Ridge Battle.
A BowtE-KN,rE CONFLICT.

Thrilling Incidents Of the Pea Ridge Battle.
BowlE-KNlrE CONFLICT.
While the fight was raging about Miser's
farm house on the ridge on Friday morning,
soldier belonging to the 25th Missouri and
member ola Mississippi company became
separated from their commands, and found
each other climbing the same fence. The
rebel had one of those long knives made Of n
file, which the South has so extensively pa
raded, but SO rarely used, and the Missourian
had one also, having picked it up on the field.
The rebel challenged his enemy to n fair,
open combat with the knife, intending to bul-
ly him, no doubt, and the challenge was
promptly accepted. The two removed their
coats, rolled up their sleeves and began. The
Mississlppan had more skill, but his oppo-
nent more strength, and consequently the lat
ter could not strike his enemy, while he re-
ceiyed several cuts on the head and breast.
The blood began trickling rapidly down the
Unionist's face, and running into his eyes, al
most binding him. The Union man became
desperate, for he saw the secessionist was un-
hurt. lie made feint; the rebel leaned for
ward to arrest the blow, but employing too
much energy he could not recover himself
at once. The Missouran perceived his ad-
vantage, and knew he could not lose it. In
five seconds more it would be to late. His
enemy glared at him like wild beast was
on the eve of striking again. Another icint !;
another dodge on the rebels part, and then
the heavy blade of the Missourian hurled
through the air, and fell with tremendous
force upon the Mssissippian's neck. The
blood spurted from the throat, and the head
fell over, almost entirely severed from the
body. CHASTITY sight, too CHASTITY even for
the doer of the deed He tainted ut the
spectacle, weakened by the loss of his own
blood, and was soon after butchered by Sem
mole who saw him sink to the earth.
zouAvE TACTICS SUCCESSFUL.
One of the Texan soldiers was advancing
with his bayonet upon Lieutenant of the 9th
Iowa, whose sword had been broken. The
officer saw his intention, avoided the thrust,
fell down at his ioeman's feet, caught hold Of
his legs threw him heavily TO the ground,
and before he could rise drew long knife
from his adversary's belt, and buried it in
his bosom.
The Texan, with dying grasp, seized the
Lieutenant by the hair, and sank down life
less, bathing the brown leaves with his blood.
that it was necessary to cut the hair from the
head Of the officer before he could be freed
from the corpse of his foe. .,..
A GALLANT UNION COLONEL.
Lieut.. Col. Heron, of the 9th Iowa, was
surrounded by ten or twelve of the enemy,
and ordered to surrender. He Immediately
refused, and, with his revolver in one hand,
and his sword in the other, kept his enemies
at bay, by placing his back against tree
lie killed and wounded four of the rebels.
when, having been twice wounded himself,
his sword was knocked from his grasp,
and his arms seized from behind. He
would have been killed, had not Southern
Captain, from admiration Of his courage, Or
dered his life to be spared Even while the
Colonel was captive, Creek Indian stole
up, and was about to plunge knife into his
side, when the Captain drew his revolver and
blew out the treachcrous creatures brains.
Lieut.. Col. Heron is still prisoner, but
it is supposed he will be kindly treated and
cared for until he is exchanged, which, ii is
to be hoped, will be at an early day, as our
country requires the services of such brave
and patriotic men as he has proved himself
to be on this trying aud important occasion.
A SECESSION lEONlDAS. .....
: On Saturday, while the force under Con.
Sigel was gallantly charging the enemy and
driving them from the heights they had oc-
cupied, one rebel officer, Captain of a Louisa
ana company, seemed resolved to throw away
his life. AS his fellow soldiers retreated he
advanced further toward our troops, until he
was almost alone. He waved his sword, and
cried in loud, ringing voice, for his men to
follow him, and denouncing them as towards
if they retrcatcd. They needed not his ap-
peals; and seeing himself deserted, he ran
towards our advance shouting like madman,
and saying something that sounded like II
am brave as Caesar. IL we are whipped do
not want to live. Come on you id Yam
KEGS" #
Our infantry were anxious to take this
Southern Iotspur prisoner, and would have
done SO, had not one Of our batteries opened
from the left on the retreating foe, and in its
iron storm swept down the single life which
so full of fiercencss ebbed itself away in the
sodden and Implying ground
The dismal wind of desolatc March night
swept across his stiifened form, and the rustic
Of the sere leaves was the melancholy chant
of nature over his unsepulturcd sleep.
After the battle inquired Of some of the
Louisiana prisoners concerning the fallen
Captain. No one knew his name, but sever
al said they believed he was the son Of su-
gar planter, living up the Bayou La Fourche
who had joined the Southern army because
he said he wanted to die; that if not killed
before the war was over he would commit
suicide. That some secret sorrow or rcmorsc
tortured him night and day, there was no
reason to doubt. He was often gentle, gen
erous, and affectionate, but under the inAu-
ence Of liquor, which he drank to excess, ov-
erbearng, rude and violent. lie had fought
two duels in Arkansas with his fellow Off
GERS and had thrice been attacked with dclir-
ium tremcns, that familiar foe of Southern
youth and Southern age. Doubtless, on the
morning when he so wantonly sacrificed him
self, liquor had turned his brain, and he found
the death he sought so perseyeringly amid
the iron tempest Of destructive battle.
ATROCITIES OF TIE INDIANS.
The Cherokee, Choctav, Creek, and Sem
mole Indians, of whom some three thousand
We're engaged in the battle, under command
Of COL Albert Pike, Northern man, who
deserves, and will doubtless receive eternal
infamy for his efforts to induce a horde Of
savages to butcher brave men who had taken
up asFsiss to prevent the subversion Of the Re.
public repeated the ontrages upon civilized
warfare, and the shocking barbarites with