Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1862-03-21
Battle of Pea Ridge, Arkansas.

ST. LOUIS, March II. The following
; is the official report of Gen. Curtis tc
J Gen. HalIeck
headquarters army Of Somhwest, }
3 Pea Ridge, Ark, March 9, 1862. {
GENERAL: On Thursday, the Gtl
inst, the enemy commenced an attack OF
my right wing, assailing and following
J the rear guard of a detachment under
Gen. Sigel 10 my main body OF Sugar
: Creek Hollow, but ceased firing wher
, they met my reinforeemcnts, about four
/ p. NJ. During the night | became con
vinced that he had moved on so as to at
tack my right rear; therefore, early on
the 9TH, ] ordered change Of front to
my right, which thus became my left, still
resting on Sugar Creek Hollow This
brought my line across Pea Ridge, with
my new right resting on Head Cross
Timber Hollow, which is the head of Big
Sugar Creek. also ordered an imme-
diate advance of the cavalry and light
artillery, under Col, Osterbaus, with or
ders to attack and break what / suppos-
ed would be the reinforced line of the
enemy. This movement was in progress
when the enemy, at II A. NJ commence
ed an attack on my right The fight
continued mainly at these points during
the day, the enemy having gained the
point held by the command of Col. Carr
at Cross Timber Hollow, but was entirely
repulsed, with the fall Of the commander,
McCulloch, in the center, by the forces
under Col. Davis.
The plan Of the attack on the center
was gallantly carried forward by Colonel
Osterhaus, who was Immediately sustain
cd and supported by Col Davis entire
division, supported also by Gen. SigeIs
command, which bad remained until near
the close of the day on the left. Colonel
Cars division held the right under
calling and continuous fire all day.
In the evening, the firing having en-.
tirely ceased in the center, and the right
being now on the left, reinforced the
right by a portion of tue second division
under Gen. Asboth. Before The day
closed, | was convinced that the enemy
had concentrated his main force on the
right. | commenced another change Of
front forward so as to face the enemy,
where be had deployed on my right flank
in strong position. The change had
only been partially effected, but was in
full progress, when, at sunrise on the 8th,
my right and center renewed the firing,
which was Immediately answered by the
enemy with renewed energy along the
whole extent Of bis line. My left, under
Gen. Sgel, moved close to the hills oc-
cupied by the enemy, driving him from
the heights aud advancing steadily to-
ward the head of the hollows. imme- |
diately ordered the center and right wing
forward, the right turning the left of the
enemy and cross firing on his center
This final position of the enemy was in
tie arc of a circle. A charge Of infant
ry extending throughout the whole line
completely routed the whole rebel force,
which retired in great confusion, but rath-
er safely, through the deep, impossible
defles of the cross timber.
Our loss is heavy. That of the enc
my can never be ascertained, for their
dead are scattered ovel large field.
Their wounded, too, many Of them, must
be lost and perish. Their force is scat
tered in all directions, but | think his
main force hes returned to Boston Noun
talns. Gen. Sigel follows him towards ,
Keithville, while my cavalry are pursu-
ing him towards the mountains, securing |
the country, bringing in prisoners, and ,
trying to find the rebel Major General .
Van Dorm, who had command Of the en-
tire force at this, the battle of Pea Ridge .
| have not as yet statements of the
dead and wounded so as to justify re-
port, but l will refer you to a dispatch
which | will forward very soon.
Officers and soldiers have displayed
such unusual gallantry that l hardly dare
to make distinctions Gen. Sigel gal
lantly commanded the right and drove
back the left wing Of the enemy; Gen.
Asboth, who was wounded in the arm in
his gallant effort to reinforce the right
Col. and acting Brig. Gen. Davis, who
the center where McCulloch
fell on the 9TH, and pressed forward the
center on the 8th. Col. and acting Brig.
Gen. Carr is also wounded in the arm,
and was under the continuous fire of the
enemy during the two hardest days of
The struggle. Illinois, Indiana, Iowa,
Ohio, and Missouri may proudly share
he honor of the victory which their gal
ant heroes won over the combined force
If Van Dorm, Price, and McCulloch at
D. D.luo q, ,Lo ,,,ounfo;nz of A rton