New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-12-22


distance like nest Of ants. Our infantry seemed
mere handful in comparison to this multitude, but
they held them in check while Coles battery ran
up aud stuck their guns under their very noses and
fired canister into them with such deadly effect as 10
cause them fret TO pause in their career, and then lie
down, and finally to retreat hastily back. Again
they made their appearance still further on the lett
in number equal apparently to our entire iorce'
Their bat cries again opened fire briskly and for n
time the fortunes of the battle seemed against uf.
The immense and overwhelming odds enabled them
to harrass and approach us from three directions.
The greatest dscoursging circumstance, however,
was in the fact that a new battery had opened a
tremendous fire at our extreme right, nearly two
miles from our center. This at 3 o'clock in the
afternoon good portion Of our infantry was fear
July cut up and nearly dshearened Everything
nearly pointed toward defeat of our forces. MuT-
phys battery, portion Of Backofs, and the Peoria
battery, kept pouring calling FIRE into the opposing
forces. The men were again rallied, and at 81
o'clock the lippity whiz of tue Shells the booming
of the cannon, and the continuous roll of the mus.
kerry, told us that our boys were determined TO hold
the field, if possible, till dark.
The Rebels fought desperately, and seemed no
more to regard a ehower of bullets or storm Of
grape than if il had been but q Summer wind. No
sooner had a solid shot powed it's way through their
columns, or shell opened O gap in their
lines, than tho vacancies were filed again by
others. They advanced steadily once more upon
our LEFT, and there ~e knew would be the hardest
tug Of tie day. ct is darkest just before the
dawn" some ore has said. L was SO in our case.
By bold movement Of the 9th Illinois the Rebels
were once more checked, ard just then the word
came that the firing upon our extreme right was
Gen. Blunt who had arrived with q strong battery
and about ), O0O men. This intelligence added new
courage TO our men and sent vigor into every
movement that meant victory or death.
Cen Blunt ranged bis y-four pieces in line
and opened CALLING Gye uron the left wing Of the
Rebel army and drew p portion Of their aiiension
toward bis forces. They advanced upon him tgon
the woods at double q o., in eight ranks,
seemingly half nile long They went down
gentle, smooth slope with an easy prey apparently
in view. Wien they lad got TO q certain point!
within canister range he opened biz entire fire upon
them, fairly lifting them from the ground, as be
d.scribedit This checked their impeiu-
ositv and put terror into their hearts, but siil they
went on. Another and another vollcy was given
to them, until they broke and fed; and when the
remnant Of this siormiug party left the field The
ground was strewn and piled with Rebel tain.
In the mean time our boys bad not been iilc
They pressed the enemy holly a, every point, aud
as The sun went down they wero falling back 10
every direction. y fore II had become fully dark
the only sounds Of firing besrd were those Of onr
oyrn rou,ketrv aud osaugn. Ire field was won
he victory gained
~ v',iyok Tic saEe evening The enemy were in
full retreat toward Van BureD, and al daylight this
Loriing they were twelve miles away. more
complete and glorious victory never was obtained.
As soon az the pail Of hight had descended upon
their motions perfect stampede took place. Every
thing this morning denotes h4s,y fight and crea,
fear lest we should pursuo them. Although their
force was largo enos b % crush us completely IN
fact annib,a,e us, and they were well equipped and
commanded, our little army Of comparatively mex
perieuced troops effected brilliant repulse and won
an unquestionaJle victory. This morning all The
contested ground, and every inch Of the battlefield
are in our hands, and the only Rebels in Wow are
ibe piles Of dead md the ambulance parties carry
log away the wounded.
Long before daylight this morning Gen. Marms-
duke and two Of bis staff came into our Inca with
LAC Of truce aud remained over two hour, evi.
denly with view Of creating delay, as the pur-
port Of their mission WIS frivolous in the extreme.
He had no sooner reported back when another mes
sage came requesting an interview with Gems. Blunt
and Heron. This consumed three hours more, and
by that time their army was at a safe distance.
This is only specimen Of the tricky cunning OIL
Gen. Hindman. The ruse was perfectly transparent
Yet the game had progressed too far 10 be stopped
without transgrossing the etiquette OF war before
their intention was fully OWNED.
The weather OF the 9Th wac delightful The sun
sone clearly in a cloudess Sky, and the cir was as
balmy and quiet as on Juno morning. 1t was re-
marked by many old soldiers that il the continent
had been searched il would have been impossible to
select more beautiful field of battle than that OF
Prairie Grove. Gen. Herrons forces entered it
from the northern extremity ard those Of Gen. Blunt
from the southern. The Rebels were posted upon
the bills and in tie woods for four miles along the
eastern side Of the field, while batteries occupied
he elevations upon the western aide, little more
than mile from the Rebel lines. The Intervening
space was firm sward, plOwed fields, stubbo land,
standing corn, and a marrow strip Of brush wood
which skirted little brook running through the mid
de Of the valley. This open country was held by
our infantry, and lLeyI went through their uaneu'
yres in fall view Of Gen. Heron, who, for good
portion Of tho time, occupied little hill near hIrr-
phys battery on the western eide Of the field. There
coud be witnessed the whole Of this intensely ex-
citing strife, not "a movement Of which escaped the
quick attention OF Our young commander. Tic bril-
liant but disastrous charges made by the ooh Wis
consin and 19sh Iowa upon the Rebel battery were
ag plainly to be eeen IS moves upon chess board.