The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1863, 1862-03-13
Great victory in Arkansas.
Gen. Curtis Official Report Of the Battle
OfPea Ridge.
TERRIBLE FIGHT OF THREE DAYS
DURATION.
BEN MCULLOCH 6iELED,


HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE SourH J
WEST, PEA RIDGE, ARKANsAs,
March 9Th, 1869.
On Thursday the 9th the enemy com
menced the attack on my right, assaulting
and following detachment of the rear
guard under Seigel 10 my main lines on
Sugar Creek Hollow, but ceased when he
met my reiuforcements at about A P. NJ.
During the night beosme convinced he
moved so as to attack my right or rear;
therefore, early on the 7th | ordered q
change offront and right; my right thus
becoming my left. This brought my new
right ACROSS Pea Ridge. resting on the
head of Cross Timber Hollow which is
the head OF Big Sugar Creek. also or
dered an immediate advance Of Cavalry
and Light Artillery. under Col. Oster-
haus, With orders TO attack and break
what l supposed to be the re.en forced line
Of the enemy. This movement was in
progress when the enemy, at II A. M,
commenced an attack on my right. The
| fight continued mainly al these points
during the day. the enemy having gain
ed point, holly contested by Colonel
Carr, at Cross Timber Hollow, bu. was
entirely repulsed. with the fall Of :heir
commander. MeCullOch. in the center, by
the forces under Col. Davis. Tie plan
Of attack in the center was galIantry car.
ried forward by Col. 0sterhaus, who was
Immediately sustained and superseded BY
Col. Davis entire division, supported al.
so BY Sigers command, which had remain
ed, till near the close Of the day, on the
field. as..--
"Col, COrr's division held the right, un
der a calling and continuous fire, all day.
In the evening, the firing having entirely
ceased or the center, and there having
been none on the left. | re. enforced the
right by portion Of the second division
under Asboth.
Before the day closed was convinced
that the enemy bad concentrated his main
force on the right; then commenced
another change Of front, formed 50 rs 10
face the enemy when he had deployed on
my right flank in strong position. The
change had only been partially effect.
ed, but was fully in progress. when
at sunrise on the eighth, my right and
center resumed the fight, which was i'm
medately answered by the enemy with
renewed energy, all along the whole ex
tent of the line. My left, under SiseI,
moved close to the hills occupied by the
enemy, driving hum from the highs and
advancing steadily towards the head Of the
hollows. / Immediately ordered the cen.
ter and right wings forward, the right
turning the left Of the enemy and GROSS.
firing on his center. This final position
inclostd the enemy in the area of q circle.
GA charge of infantry extending thro'.
out the whole line completely routed the
hole rebel force. which retired 10 great
confusion but rather safely, through a
deep and impossible defils OF cross tim.
ber. Our loss is heavy. The enemy 3
can never be ascerlained, for the dead a.s
scattered over large field. and many of
their wounded. too, may be lost and per
| tish.
"The foe is scattered 10 all directions.
but | tbiak his main force has returned to
Bost on Mountains.
"Sgel follows toward Kei,sville, while
my cavalry is pursuing him toward the
mountains, securing the country, bring.
ing in prisoners, and trying to find the
rebel ajor- General Van Dorm, who had
command of the entire force.
IL have not as yet the statementsof the
dead and wounded. so as TO justify a re-.
port. but I will refer you to dispatch I
will forward very soon. Officers and SOL
diers have displayed such unusual gal.
antry hardly dare to make distinctions.
| must. however, name the commander
Of divisions. Gen. Sigel gallantly carried
the nights, and drove back the left wing
Of the enemy; Asboth. who was wounded
IN the arm in his gallant effort to re en-
force the right, and Colonel and Acting
Brig. Gen. Davis. who commanded the
center where McCulloch fell on the 7th.
and pressed forward the center on the
9th. Colonel and Acting Brig. Gen. Carr
is also wounded in the arm. and was un-
der the continuous fro Of the enemy du'
ring the two hardest days of fighting.
"I!linois, Indiana. Ohio and Missouri.
may proudly share the honor ofthe victo'
ry which their gallant heroes won over
the combined force of Van Dorm, Price
and Mc Culoch at Pea Ridge, in the Ozaru
IN ountsins of Arkansas.
II have the honor to be, General.
"lour obedient servant
s.srt "SAMUrL r. Curtis, so.a,
"Btigadier. General"