Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1862-04-08
The Late Battle of A. A.kansas..Statemen of
an Officer.

an Ufficer.
The Memphis Appeal has had an interview with
an officer direct from our army in the West, from
who m it obtains the following interesting details
of the late battle in Arkansas:
General Price had remained at Sprinpald rn.
til the enemy were within six miles OF the town.
when be put his army inmntion towards the Ar
Kansas line. There was more or less skirnllsh-
ing between MS rear guard and the enemy s ad-
vance, he crossed the Arkansas and effected a
Junction with Van Dorm and M G Cullech. In all
these sklrmlshes, our informant saws the Missouri
sharpshooters invariably got the best of their
pursufrs, Prices object was to draw them down
into Arkansas, since Van Dorm had not ioined
him at Springfield
me Commentaries rested a few days at Cove
creek, In Washington county, Arkansas, some
| thirty miles below the 'iue. At length. General
Van Dorr having got ready, he determined to go
| IN search OF the enemy, and to make the attacR
hlmseH. Ihe troops We're ordered to cook five
Gays provisions, ana move upon the enemy, who
nad stopped at Sugar creek. At Bentonvilie on
their way mp, they encountered the Federal rear
guard, and had quite a brisk skirmish, in which
"e lost one man, and the enemy eight or ten-
| We aSo TOOK one piece of artillery from them
! there. The Confederates marched all that day
and night without food or sleep, AMI came up
WI u the enemy In the Sugar creek hills at halt
! M..
| became general Tue enemy was completely
surrounded, General Price attacking them on the
north and General Mct:ulloch on the west
Ii II now generally believed that we made a
mist Ke IN surrounding the enemy and cutting of
every avenue of escape. 1t i. thought that II
We had attacked them from one SIDE only, as
General Prlce pr"po ed, We should haze driven
them OUT ana taken everything they had ere the
sun went down. AS it was, we drove them from
| hel heir mi
ment during the night. with the greater part OF
| their c0innissary stores, on which our half. fam
| ished men f d.
Many of our troops vLo were supI osed to be
| captured by the enemy, have C me in, and our
who'e loss In killed, wounaed aud prisoners, will
not exceed six hundred, viz: NE hundred and
twenty-five xii ed, two hundred and seventy five
wounded, and two hundred prisoners. The ene-
| my loss was lar greater-prOhably five to our
one A Federal colonel, who wa, taken on the
evening OF the first day, says their loss up to
that time was teirifc-probably twelve hundred
10 niteen hundred-and the next morning they
lost many more. Among whom were several Of
ncers. Such prisoners as have escaped say there
was no exu tation among them, SO heavy had
their losses been. The Conteferates took two
nundred and twenty five prisoners.
On the morning of the eighth, the enemy hav-
ing taker. strong position during the night, re-
opened the zig t. The action soon became gen.
1
O'Clock. by which time Gen. Van Dorm had CON-
pieted his arrangements to withdraw his forces.
| Inc sreasOns for our withdrawal were, first, that
a number OF the Southern regiments, after the
fall OF McCulloch and Mcintosh, became demor.
aized. Secondly, some two hundred Fede al
troors, (Germans,) while fleeing from the field,
came upon our ammunition wagons, and the
teams'ers supposing they intended an tack, put
whip to their horses and fed as rapidly as posi-
bic. This left several Of our batteries without a
single round. These unfortunate occurrences
rendered it necessary for the Cont derates to re-
tire, and that at time when victory had actual
ly perched upon their banners.
! With the exception of potion Of the regi-
mens thrown into confusion by the untmely fall
OF McCulloch AID Mcintosh, the retreat was con
Quoted in the utmost good ordrr-sO good, l.
deed that many did not know bat that hey Were
making a flank movement o: the eiemy until late
in the afternoon. Several OF our batteries were
in great danger, having t. be brought of through
the woods and over hills. The enemy did moi
pursue, except few squads Of cavalry, Who fol-
lowed ui' some OF cur baggage trains. W,
brought of four more pieces ot Cannon than W.
went with, having o ly lost two pieces, which
| were d sa led and slked.
Sew raj Of The ehemy'S batteries were taken.
but IN y ccnld not be brought OF They were
dismounted and the wheels taken off dry brush
and leaves were piled on them, and they
burnt by our troops.
Our list of killed and wounded is still imper
feet. Col. RiveS, OF the Missouri Confe erates
Catt, Churchill Clark, of the artillery, whose loss
has not heretofore been mentioned, were killed
Many OF her off ers were killed and wounded. :
G.n. V Dom paid high compliment to Gen
Pics's army. Many of heir charges would have
done credit to Lapo.eon's Old Guard. The
troops in McCuiloch $ division, up to The time OF
his and Mclntosh's fall, fought with the most de-
termined gall ntry, and covered themselves with
glory.
We left the field on he second day for the rea-
sons given above and yet the result of the bat
tie was good as victory to the Confederates
They have crippled the enemy that they i'll
be unable t" attack until they get reinforce
merits. Price aud Van Dora, how yer, can march
where they please ana without moiestati0n. Al
last accounts they were recruiting I'D getting
ready for another forward movement in direc.
tion bat little suspected by the enemy
| With the exception of Stanwatie'S regiment
our l: dian allies did net take mut b part in the
fight. TINS regiment took a battery, having ap-
preached il behind trees, and beh wed with much
courage and gallautry. Owing to the early fa
of MoCulocb and Mcintosh some six or seven
regiments never Drought inQ a-tion. The
enemy's forces were at least double ours.
The Battle ia the West.
! The following spirited ofdsr Was issusd by
Gen. Van Dorm to the gallant troops who were
Engaged 10 the recent battle in Nofthwe tern
A. kansas. The delicate om.'iment rendered
to the gallant old hero from Missouri evidences
not only the modesty OF tie commanding Gen
eral, bat also his high aI probation ct the glori
aus services rendered throughout tie War by tie
| D., Il !. 4, H..