The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1862-05-10
BURLINGTON, SATURDAY., MAY 10, 1852

myS advance forces. Immediately directed
some Of the troops 70 return to his relief In the
meantime be had advanced with his gallant litae
band, fighting ito way within three or four miles
Of our main forces. The two divisions turned
back In double quick, and . large cavalry force
also started, oil being anxious to join in rescue
Of their comrades In peril g
Part Of the First Division, under Col. Oster.
haus sson met the retreating detachment, and
Immediately opened with artillery and infantry,
which checked the further advance and termi.
mated the action for the day, In the re.reat and
final repulse, which occupied several hours, our
loss was some twenty five killed and wounded
j The enemy must have suffered more, az our
artillery had telling effect along the road, and
the rebel graves in considerable numbers bear
witness Of the enemys loss. 1ta'
The firing having ceased, sent back the other
troops that had Joined the movement, aud desig-
mated the positions on the right, which were
promptly occupied by the first and second divi-
siona 5a ~ ssa6f = ad
Our men rested on their arms, confident Of
hard work on the coming day. The accompa-
nying map Of the battle ground will fully illus.
trate the positions then and subsequently rs.
sumed Ei5a3
| On my front was the deep, broad valley Of Su.
gar Greek, forming the probable approaches Of
the enemy. Our troops extending for miles,
and generally occupying the SUBMITS Of head
lands on Sugar Greek. In my rear was broken
plateau called "Pea Ridge. !" and still further in
my rear the deep valley of Big Sugar Greek, or
"Oross Timbers" Ny own headquarters and
those of Generals Sigel, Asboth and other com
manders of divisions we're near. "Pratts House."
The lines A, B and 9 show the different fronts
assumed during the progress Of the battle.
The approach by Bentonville brought the en-
emy to my extreme right, and during the night
Of the 9Th and 9Th he began q movement round
my flank by the road above mentioned, which
crosses "Pea Ridge" some three miles north.
vest of the main telegraph road. ascevtained
in the morning this flank movement of the ene-
| my, which perceived was to attack my right
| flank and rear. therefore called my Com
manders Of Divisions together at General As
both's tent, and directed change of front to
the rear, so a. to face the road, upon which the
enemy was still moving. At the same time
directed the organization Of detachment of
cavalry and light artillery, supported by infanI
try, to open the battle by an attack from my
new center on the probable center of the enemy
before he could fully form. selected Colonel
Osterhaus to lead this central COLUMBIAN Off !
Ger who displayed great skill. energy and gallan-
try each day of the battle. e,,,-f ,.s @,i 49,
The change of front thus directed reversed
the order Of the troops, placing the First and
Second Divisions on the left their left still rest.
ing on Sugar Greek, Osterhaus and the Third
Division in the center, and the Fourth Division
became the extreme right, While was explain
| ing the proposed movements to commanders,
and Col Osterhaus was beginning to rally and
move forward his attacking column, q messen-
ger brought me intelligence that my picket CON-
maDded by Major Weston, of the twenty fourth
Missouri, bad been attacked by infantry. This
was at Elkhorn Tavern. where the new right
was to rest. Col. Carr being present, be was
ordered to move into position and support the
Major as soon as possible ..s.-1-5,...,
| This was the commencement Of the second
days fight. It was about half past ten o'clock,
and the officers separated to direct their several
commands. The fire increased rapidly on the
| right, and very soon opened in the center After
visiting the right where perceived the enemy
was making vigorous attack, and finding Col.
Carr under brisk frc Of shot and shell, coolly
locating and directing the deployment; return,
| ed to my central position near Pratt's house,
and sent orders to Col Davis to move near to
Col Carr, to support him. In the meantime
Col. Osterhaus had attacked the enemy and d.
vided his forces; but he was soon pressed with
greatly superior numbers, that drove back our
cavalry, and took our flying battery which he'd
advanced with it. The Colonel, however, was
we'll supported by bis infantry, and soon check
deployment of other forces. considered the
affair so imminent changed my order to Col
Davis, and directed him to move to the support
Of the center, which was his proper place ac-
cording to my order for the change Of front -
Ny new line was thus formed under the enemy's
fire; the troops generally moving in good order
and gallant bearing. q ,itv ssalI z.l1 trs]sh
Thus formed, the line was not continuous, but
extended entirely across Pea Ridge, the divis.
ions in numerical order, from left to right, Col
Osterhaus remaining in command of detaeh.
ment, and operating with Col. Davis in resisting
McCulloch and Mcintosh, who commanded the
cnemy's forces in the centre i,I l did not err in
sending Col Davis to this point, although Colo.
mel Carr, on the right, needed reinforcements.-
The battle ragged in the centre with terrible fury
Colonel Davis held the position against fearful
numbers, and our brave troops nobly stood or
charged in steady lines, The fate Of the battle
depended on success against the flank movement.
of the enemy, and here, near Lee Town, was the,
place to break it down The fall Of Gen. Nc.
Culloch, Mcintosh, ard other officers of the en-.
emy, who fell early in the day, aided us. in our
anal success At this most critical point; md the
steady courage Of officers and men in our lines
chilled and broke down the hordes Of Indian
cavalry and infantry that were arrayed against
US. Willie the battle thus ragged in the centre,
the right wing was sorely pressed, and the dead
and wounded were ecsttered over the field Col.
Carr sent for re endorsements, and sent him 4
few cavalry and my body guard with the little
mountain howitzers, under Major Bowen. These
did good service at . critical period Iurged
Col. Carr to stand firm, that more forces could
be expected soon. Subsequently Col Carr sent
me word that he could not hold his position
much Longer. 1 could then only reply by send
ing him the order to ''persevere He did ssper.
severe,"l and the sad havoc in the Ninth, and
Fourth Iowa, and Phelps Missouri and Major
| Weston's, Twenty fourth Missouri, and oil the
troops in that division, will show how earnest
and continuous was their perseverance, Seeing
| no signs Of approaching forces by the telegraph
road, I sent him three pieces Of artillery and
battalion of infantry of Col Benton's command
tpart of the Sd diyision) which had been located
at Sugar Greek to guard the approachese Each
small accession to the fourth division seemed, to
compensenate an oyerpowering force. As to the
| left, WAS repeatedly. informed that it stood
safe and, firm, although Threatened by, the foe.
! About 2 r., n. my aid, Capt, Adams, who had
| communicated with that wing informed me he
had just seen Gems Sigel and Asboth on Sugar
Greek, and there was still no, attack in that
! quarter, and no Appearance of an enemy. About
this time the enemys forces melted away in the
brushy centre, and fire gradually ceased
Believing that the left and centre we're no long
on the right, Iagain cent word to Col, Carr thai
be would soon be reinforced. Ihad now re.
solved to bring up the left and centre to meet
the gathering hordes at Elkhorn Tavern To
inform myself Of the condition of the extreme
left, went in person to that point. On my way
ordered forward the remainder of Col Benton's
command, three pieces Of artillery and bsttal-
lion, which had remained guarding the crossing
Of the main telegraph road. -, I''a''l n''a