Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1862-04-02
Letter from Pea Ridge.
CAV, MA Hsrssv.lrs. Massh

southwest has rctrc0ted 10 Wtn1n Tue
lines Of Missouri, not compelled to do
50 BY the enemy, but by the great
scarcity of forage in Arkansas, at any
rate.the particular part where our army
has already campcd for month, and
before US the troops Of the enemy. The
country around Ksitsville and Cassville
is better provided, and we have gained
another advantage Of be Dg nearer to our
next posts, where our supplies can reach
US sooner; supplies not only Of clothing,
but Of ammunition we must have if we
want to learn old Price another lesson.
Our troops as they are now would not
be able to march, and very soon they
would have to fight with their fists.
Boots and shoes are particularly want
ed. The Rocky Mountains of south
west Missouri and northwest Arkansas
have had a terrible effect upon that ar
tcle Of clothing, so much SO that whole
companies are nearly barcfooted. Fro
visions are plenty and good and no COM
plaints are heard.
The glorious victory achieved Is OF
course known by this time all over the
United States and the official reports
probably already published ;; allow me
only TO add that even in Europe hard
or contested battle was never fought nor
a bloodier victory ever gained. Three
days hard fighting is something never
heard Of before. 90 the 9th OF March
at Bcntonville, where McCuloch's
forces tiled TO cut eft our rear guard
under Sigel, it commenced, and with the
exception of the nights only, it lasted
till 5 O'Clock p. ID. on the 9Th, when the
last shot was fired at the running enemy
about miles from Keltsville, AID never
did our fatigued and worn Iowa troops
have any rest until the evening OF the
OH, when they returned from KeitsviIle,
where they had followed in vain the
scattered forces Of Van Dorm aud
Price.
OF the glorious fight Sigel had with
about 500 men at Bentonville against
the fearful odds OF three times that
number of the secessionists, you have
undoubtedly heard, although l have not
seen it in any reports of the battle ;per-
haps General Curtis forgot to mention
it. but rest assured that the little band
that our General Sigel led so CALAMITY
through such an overwhelming force,
when we all knew that we we're sur
rounded and cut off from our forces, land
that we had 10 cut our way through or
be taken prisoners, will never forget the
9th of March, 1862. Nor will the
country forget it, whenever the true
facts become known. And truly Nc
Culloch has said that had he known
that Sigel was there in person he would
have sacrificed every man if he could
only have taken him prisoner. The en-
thusissm of the troops when they saw
their beloved General again, whom they
already believed dead. wounded or
taken prisoner, and the welcome that
greeted him on his arrival at camp Hal
leck, was beyond description, and think
that Sigc' never felt prouder in bis life
than in the moment when he told his
boys, ",he rascals cant catch me no
how" Well the rascals didn't, bat
they came mighty near it, and with
thankful heart Sigel looks upon that lit
tie band who SO molly stood by him,
obeyed his orders promptly, and enabled
him to cut his way through an enemy,
who, had he but shown half the grit OF
our troops could have crushed hin be-
yond doubt. l have dwelt at length
upon this affair, although it may look
rather small to some of your readers,
because l was there myself, and l can
assure YOU that having been in many
battles and skirn ishes there is no day
in my military life that look upon with
greater pride than the 9th OF March
1872.
On the Eth the lst division fought Gu
the left wing of the battle all day while
the 2d division reinforced the 4th on
.he right wing at O'clock p. m, and a,
that time by an aIvan with some
fresh troops on the left, Sigel drove the
enemy into the position he held on the
morning Of the 9Th, and the
firing only ceased when darkness
compelled the troops to lay on
their arms TO await a new battle
in the morning. That day, the Sd and
4th divisions under Coils. Davis and
Carr, and the lst division, under Col.
Os'erhous, done most Of the Fl lighting,
and some Of the regiments had hard
| time of it; particularly the OH Iowa,
| and it may be said here, that our Iowa
troops, with the exception Of the 81
Iowa cavalry, who returned from the
battle field contrary to orders once
they all fought nobly, and even when
they were reinforced by the I'd division,
under Gen. Asboth, now Withdrew, but
stood their ground, tired as they were,
aud after hard days work; yet still
more, they opened the firing again on
the morning Of the sth, and never failed
during that day.
And now the Sth of March, 1862
l wish you had been there, ard seen
how they fought; had heard the boom
ing ofthcscannon, listened the musket,y
fire, and finally, had seen our antago-