Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1862-03-29

conclusivcly that he was approaching in
great strength by the road leading from
Bentonvillc to Kcetsvlle. thus getting to
our flank and rear. This road lies. after
crossing Sugar Creek. over n high table land,
called Pea Ridge by the inhabitants from an
early tradition, now exploded, that nothing
but peas could be grown on it. 1t extends
from the stage road westwarClly some eight
miles along the right bank of Sugar Creek.
The right is covered with growth of
stuntcd oaks, with sprinkling of larger
growth. called here post-oaks. Three or
four farms are located upon the ridge two
miles west of the road, to which the name of
Lcctown has been given. 1t was ncar these
tarns that the principle part Of the fighting
took place.
CHANGE OF Pos1TIoN--TnE FIGHT RESUMED.
The evidences were very clear in the
morning that strong force had been posted
on the Fayetteville road, thus standing
directly between Us and our next line at
CassvillC, completely cutting off our commu-
nication with the outer world. The line OF
battle was changed. Colonel Carr was sent
back along the Fayetteville road two miles
with his right resting on Cross Timber Hol
lows at the head of Beaver Creek, tributary
of Big Sugar Creek. Immediately facing the
ebelr batteries situated on this side of Elk
horn tavern. General Davis with the Cen
tral Division, was posted on the top of Pea
Ridge, leaving Sigel to cover the camp with
his left wing, resting ON Sugar Creek. In
this position things stood when the rebels
opened the fight with artillery on the ex
trcmc right from II very advantageous posi-
ton al the distance OF mile
/ Our batteries soon replied the rebels fred
few solid shot, then she'll and then solid
shot again. The fight ragged quite lively il
/ front of Colonel Cars position from 10 unit
II o o'clock, when another battery was ordered
up to the support of COL Carr, who seemct
, to be hotly pressed. from the amount of firing
which took place in his direction. The left
as yet. had not been mcnaCed
| Our cavalry Penetrated along the mail
! ridge hcyond the read hy which the enemy
had come, and were on the point of sczinl
some of the enemy wagons, when brigad,
of rebel cavalry and infantry attacked them
! Then followed one of the most sanguinar,
contests that has ever been seen bctwcCi
cavalry. Most of the fighting was done Il
close quarters. Pistols and carbincs havin.
been exhausted, our sabrcs were brought int
rcquistion. The rattle of steel against steel
our sabrcs against their muskets and Cutlassc
was terrific Nothing like il has been hcart
before. The Rebels were Texan Ranger,
and fought like demons. The slaughter wa
awful, our Missouri cavalry clcaNing righ
and left, leaving in front Of their horses win
rows OF dead and wounded. The enemy fc
back in dismay, and our forces pursued ther
along the road for about mile, when the
opened a battery upon the mass of irien
and foe, blowing through them with soli
. LII, ~ L., y
ceedcd in his attempt, and retired, bringin
of his dead and wounded in safety.
~ spEArH OF a'ouIlocH.
Meantime the fight was raging furiousl
in the extreme right on both sides of tn
Fayctvillc road The First and Second low
Batteries. planted on an emincncc overlook
ing the dccliyity in the road, were kept bus
plying shrapncl and canister into the rani
of the enemy who appeared in immcns
numbers on all sides: as if to surround tll
right of our line and thus completely env
ron Us. In order to defeat this object,
severe struggle took place for the occupanc
of Il rising knoll on the cust side Of the roaC
The enemy gained upon Us, and it was M
until our men WAS half stricken down thI
they yielded the point. Word had bee
passed back to General Curtis that the EN-
my was pressing hardly on the right tlanl
and that our forces were sent back. \ Sc
ton of one of our batteries had been H.
on the hill, and the enemy were now turlin
il upon us Colonel Carr, fearing that /
achievements would arrive. collected h
strength and mustered his entire force for
last desperate charge, resolved To rctake Il
position or perish in the attempt. \ hcaN
firing on our centre and Il cheer from Il
advancing Division of General Davis iavort
, the effort, and our troops marched up to Il
battery amid storm of shot from their oW
| guns, and. after desperate hand-to-har
struggle, finally drove the enemy down Il
rayinc, in hopeless confusion. Colonel Ca
/ received a wound in the arm, but remain,
on the field
The great leader of the rrbels--thc ubiqu
tous Ben McCuloch--was among the slai
lie who had COntcmptuously spoken of Il
, Southrrners a. the natural masters
, Northern men, lay Il victim to his prcsum
; tion, his life fast ebhing by the hands
! those whom he styled nation of crave
: hearted cuwards.' The loss on both sid
in this conflict was severe. Our loss in HI
r ed and wounded could not have been |,
5 than three hundred that of the cncn
c must have been double.
DEVOTION or AN ARTILLERYMAN.
One of the most signal instances of sup,
human bravery is connected with the 10
{ of these guns. One Of the cannoncers, vi