, 1862-03-12
the ADVANCE INTO ARkAN-
SAS.
THE BATrLEOF SUGAR CREEK.
ol 0RtnuS VICTORY OF THE FEDERAL.
FORCES UNDER GEN, CURTIS.

GLORIOUS VICTORY OF the FEDERAL
FORCES UNDER CEN. CURTIS.
FRESH 1AuRE1s BIZ WESTERN
TROOPS. |
Ben, NcCu1loch Nortally Wounded-
Prices Hordes put to Flight.
TIE SITUATION BEFORE THE BATTLE.
General Curtis's Official Report.
federal Loss~-45o Killed and Wounded.
Rebel 1o S SSS fil':s fs1:a II F4.sSsas Ssasd'a
The Spring Campaign has opened act
lively in Missouri, For weeks antecedent to
movement in force, troops we're being con-
centEatcd from all parts Of the State, and the
military lines were extended far toward the
enemy's country. Early in February, Leba-
non, in laclede county, Was made the rendeZ-
yous cf the column destined for swoop to-
wards the Arkansas border, and thither were
sent some OF the best troops in the De-
ea1tment. Price was then at Springfield
with, large force, and squads Of
butternut foot aud horse were scattered
throughout Southwestern Missouri at various
points. The Federal troops at Lebanon were
under the command Of Brigadier General
Samuel R. Curtis, associated with Gems. Sigel
and AKboth. Their troops were collected by
railroad, giving them only the brief march
from Rolls, thus reserying their strength and
freshness and securing them abundant sup
plies and equipment Gen JEFF c. Dayis's
brigade, abont the same time largely reinfore-
ed, moyed from Warsaw to Osceola, and
thence to Lebanon, where he arrived on Tues
day, February 9TH, after a horrible march
through, rather than over, the midwinter
reads Of that section. On Tuesday, February
1ltb, the entire army, under command Of
Gen. Curtis, marched from Lebanon, forming
in three divisions, the right under Col JEFF
c. Davis, the left under Col Carr, and the
center under Gen.. sige1- Six miles from
Springfield, on the 18th, a skirmi=h took
place between our advance and party of
rebels, in which nine Of the latter were killed.
One Of our men was slightly wounded.
At sunset On the same day three hundred Of
the enemy attacked our pickets, and were
driven back with a loss of thirty. This was
regard ed as the commencement Of the battle,
and 5000 cavalry and infantry, with battery
/, Of artillery, were sent forward. The battery
IVES placed on an cmincnce commanding the
supposed approach Of the rebels, and three
shells we're thrown, to which no response was
! made. Our force then retired, leaving strong
picket guard During the night continuous
firing was kept up by the pickets. At three
! o'clock on the morning Of the 18th, our army
:: advanced in line Of battle. At daybreak the
; third division Of Col. Carr, headed By the 4tf
Iowa, entered and took full possession Of the
town. Price had1e at 2 o'clock on the same
morning, leaving orer 600 Of his sick, and
large quantities Of forage and wagons behind
him. He had L, 600 effective troops, and sc
pieces Of artillery Gen Prices rear guard
Was ovcrtaken in the pursuit from Spring
field, and, after brief resistance, the TebelE
fed, leaving the Toad etTewn with wagons anl
baggage
!; The rebels openly boasted that Gen Pdc'
had only fallen back to be reinforced By col
umn Of twelve or fifteen regiments from Ben
tonville, Ark, under Gems. Van Dorm an
Mcintosh, when he would return and cut Of
the Federal forces: But this did not in tn
least delay our leaders nor their troops bum
. ing for battle. The road had improved beloy
, | Springfield, and greater dispatch was made
the columns moving rapidly through the ste1
lie and mountainous Ozark region. At Cas-:
' vile much forage and stores left by the heeip
> enemy, fell into our hands. At Kcatgyin
l small ski11nish took place between on
7 scouts and the retreating rebels. On Monda
8 Feb. 18th, the Federal column crossed the b.
s kansas border. Price YRS driven ont Of Mi
souri. The troops cheered as they crosse
! the boundary, for the Union and the old 1af
The forces were now near one another, and 0
the afternoon Of that day Price made q stant
Sharp firing took place, and nineteen Of OF
: men were Killed. Night interyened. aud j
the darkness the enemy stole away. Many
1 their saddles were emptied by our sharl
e shooters.
l. This march from Lebanon is one Of the mo-
memorable in our war annals, and an ayerae
n Of twenty miles each day, WAS made. Tt
4 bealth and the spirit Of the troops continue
>, excellent AL along the route as our arm
advanced, were abundant tokens Of reb
). fight and the fright TINT possessed the inha'
q itants.
!" The inhabitants along the route from Cas-
II vile, were told by Prices rabble that Il
It Northern troops were marching down, al
h were burning all the houses, rayishing Il
women and killing the children. Those pc
pie believed the tale, and q general stamped
took place Men procured teams, gathert
E. up what little valuab1es could be car1it
e along, and taking their families aboard, d
$. serted their homes. Only three men we
n found in Casssille when our army arrived.
"a KeetETi1le, few miles further on, ner1y {
~ the Inhabitants had fed. From that point
~ Cross ..Ho11ows, ARK, shout two-thirds
the Inhabitants on the road deserted thu
l. dwellings. In several houses tbs tables we
g spread for breakfast, and in the haste Of fig
l. were thus left
le ! On tho 25th, the Federal forces were c
rs camped at Cross Holows, Ark, near
ID which large and freshly deserted rebel can
j was found. A few days later, the divisions
;, Gems. sigel and Davis broke up their temp
~ ra1y camp at Usage Springs, and TOOK up
ot*SA6 Eo9AAAN4 NJ AA514 ~4~~A1 NVAA ~1l
ID camp being twelve miles In adya:.ce. 7
il army was then TIVE hundred miles neal
ay southwest Of Ro1la, in the heart Of Bent
n. county, in the northwest corner of Arkans
N Price and Lis forces we're then in the Bost
ha Mountains, some ten miles to the southEal
- It is allowed by our officers that his retrt
was most ably conducted This Is the sit,
ton Of the forces up to the time when t
nexs comes to US Of o glorious victory Of Q
:. troops: To complete this portion Of I
sketch, we have timely communication frs
ne our special correspondent, written few d.
Jul antecedeut to the battle. as graphic .
IT. aashing view Of matters then transpiring,
It'll viii ftly preface the account Of the battle
The FROM TEE AMY IN ARKANSAS.
AL From our own Correspondent
H.. CAssvn1E, Mo-, March.
'sp The morning Of February Goth was cold {
me cloudy, and the ice-cogered ground, trees ;
bt- tents in the Federal camp at Sugar Creek,
bel kapsas. The rain and sleet OF the night :
lad yious had rendered the roads almost impaI
the Bile to man and beast; soldiers were crowd
aiu around camp fires to obtain thawed FOOT
w. and mules aud horses were shiyerine1y shy
ar,, into the Eon leaves at the roadside.
-. About midnight marching orders hadtb
wv convened fr fhe snraro1 hnad mt n a1a - !,