Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-03-29
THE BATTLE IN ARKANsAs-FUR-
Their DETAILS.

Ger direct nom our q my IN the W eStg anu uOul
him obtainsd the following interesting details Of
the battle at Sugar Creek, or Elkhorn.
Gen. PRICE had renamed st Springfield until
the enemy were in six miles Of the town, wien
he put his army in motion toward the Arkansas
line. There was more or less skirmishing be-
tween his rearguaTd and the enemy's advance
until be crossed into Arkansas and effected
junction with VAN Dorm and MCCULLOCH.
In all these skirmishes, our informant says the
Missouri sharp shooters invariably got the best
Of their pursuers. PRIcE's object was to draw
them down into Arkansas, since VAN Dorm had
not Joined him at Springfield.
The Confederates rested few days at Cove
Creek, in Washington county, Arkansas, some
thirty miles below the line At length General
VAN Dorm having got ready, be determined to 60
in search Of the enemy, and to make the attack
himself The troops were ordered to cook five
days provisions, and move upon the enemy who
had stopped at Sugar Creek. At Bentonville, on
their way up, they encountered the Federal rear
guard, and had quite brisk skirmish, in which
we lost one man and the enemy eight or ten
We also took one piece of artillery from them
there. The Confederates marched all that day
and night without food or sleep, and came up
with the enemy in the Sugar Greek hills, at half
past 10 o'clock A. NJ, when the action at once be-
came general. The enemy was completely sur
rounded, Gen. PRICE attacking them on the
north and Gen MCCULLocH on the west.
II is now generally believed that we made a
mistake in surrounding the enemy and cutting
of every avenue of escape. 1t is thought that
if we had attacked them from one side only, as
it is understood Gen. PRICE proposed, we should
have driven them out and taken everything they
had ere the sun went down. As it was, we drove
them for two miles from all their strong posi-
tons, and held their encampment during the
night with the greater part Of their cOmmissary
stores, on which our half famished men fed.
Many of our troops who were supposed to be
captured by tho enemy have come in, and our
whole loss in killed wounded and prisoners, viii
not exceed six hundred, viz one hundred and
twenty-five killed, two hundred and seventy-fve
wounded, and two hundred prisoners. The enc
my's loss was far gTeater-probsbly five to our
one. A Federal colonel who was taken on the
evening of the first day, says their loss up to
that time was terrifc-probably twelve hundred
to fifteen hundred-and the next morning they
lost many more, among whom were several Off
GERS Such prisoners as haveescsped from them,
say that there was no exultatiOn among them,
so heavy had their losses been. The Confede-
rates took two hundred and twenty-five pris-
oners.
On the morning of the 9Th, the enemy, having
taken strong position during the night, re-
opened the fight The action soon became geR-
ersl and continued until about halfpast nine
o'clock, by which time Gen. VAN DORM had
completed his arrangements to withdraw his
forces.
The reasons for our withdrawal were, first,
that a number Of the southern regiments, after
the fall of MCCUILoCH and MCINTosH, became
demoralized and could not be relied upon. Sec
oRdly, some 200 Federal troops (Germans)
while fleeing from the field, came upon our am
munition wagons, and the tesmsters supposing
they intended an attack, put whip to their
horses, and fed as rapidly as possible This left
several Of our batteries without single round.
These unfortunate occurrences rendered it nee
essary for the Confede1ates to retire, and that at
time when victory had actually perched upon
their banners.
With the exception of portion of the regi-
ments thrown into confusion by the untmely
fall of MCCULLoCB and McINTosH, the retreat
was conducted in the utmost good Order-so
good, indeed, that many did not know but that
they were making flank movement on the enc
my until late in the afternoon. Several of our
batteries were in great danger, having to be
brought off through the woods and over hills.
The enemy did not pursue, except few squads
of cavalry who followed up some of our bag
gage trains. We brought off four more pieces
of cannon than we went on the feld with, hav-
ing lost only two pieces which were disabled and
spiked. Several of the enemy's batteries were
taken, but they could not be brought of. They
were dismounted and the wheels taken Off dry
brush and leaves were piled on them, and they
were burnt by our troops.
Our list of killed and wounded is still imper-
feet Col RIvEs of the Missouri Confederates
and Capt. CHURCHILL CLARK of the artillery
whose loss has not heretofore been mentioned
were killed Their fan is greatly deplored
throughout the army. Many other officers were
killed or wounded Gen VAN Dorm paid a high
compliment TO PRICES army. Many of their
charges would have done credit to NAPoLEOE's
old guard. The troops in MCCULUocH's divis-
ion. up to the time of his and MCINTosH's fall,
fought with the most determined gallantry. and
covered themselves with glory.
We left the field on the second day, for the
reasons given above; and yet the result of the
battle was as good a victory to the Confede-
rates. They have so crippled the enemy, that
they viii be unable to attack US until they get
endorsements. PRICE and VAN DORN, how
+ ever, can march where they please and without
moleststion. At last accounts they were recruit
Jag and getting ready for another forward move
Inent, in a direction but little suspected by the
enemy.
With the exception Of STANwATIE's regiment
Our Indian allies did not take much part in the
fight This regiment took battery, having ap-
preached it behind trees, and behaved with much
courage and gallantry Owing to the early fall
o. MoCULLoCH and McINTOsH, some six or
seven OF our regiments were never brought into
action. The eueuy's forces were at least double
ours.
q We ascertain from the DaIa Crescent that