The daily Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1862-1863, 1862-12-22


The sun shown clearly in cloudless
slxv. and the air was balmy and quiet as
a June morning. 1t was remarked by
many old soldiers that if the continent
had been searched it would have been
impossible to have selected a more beau
tiful field of battle than that of Prairie
Grove. General Herron's force entered
it from the northern extremity, and
those of General Blunt from the south
ern. The rebels were posted upon the
hills and in the woods for four miles
along the eastern side of the field, while
our batteries occupied the elevations up
on the western side, little more than
mile from the rebel lines. The interview
ing space was firm sward, ploughed
fields, stubble land, standing corn, and
narrow strip of brushwood, which skirted
little brook running through the middle
of the valley. This open country was
held By our infantry, and there they went
through their maneuvers in full view of
Gen. Heron, who, for good portion of
the time, occupied little hill near Muir
phys battery, on the western side of the
field.
There could be witnessed the whole Of
this intensely exciting strife, not move
ment of which escaped the quick atten-
ton Of our young commander. The
brilliant but disastrous charges made by
the Goth Wisconsin and 18th Iowa upon
the rebel battery were as plainly to be
seen as the moves upon chess board.
The swarms upon swarms OF rebels that
came trooping out of the wood upon our
left in numbers sufficient to appal a
heart less stong, than that of our COM
mander were as openly seen with
their cleaning muskets and Haunting
banners, as if it had been a holiday
parade, instead of the hottest battle that
has ever taken place on this side of the
Mississippi As an imposing spectacle,
it was one of the most terrific, and, at the
same time, magnificent sights immagina-
BILE.
Our loss is roughly estimated at 500
killed and wounded. Col Mcfarland,
of the 10Th Iowa, is killed Major Hub
bard, of the 1st Missouri Cavalry, was
taken prisoner. Col Black, of the 9th
Illinois, and Major VIM. Thompson, of the
Doth Iowa, are slightly wounded. Capt.
McDermott and Lieut. Brinknuff, of the
Goth Wisconsin, are killed Several other
commissioned officers are wounded, but
none of them dangerously. One or two
field officers in General Blunt's com
mand, were severely wounded. have
not been able to learn his losses.
The rebel losses, as nearly as can be
ascertained, are three to our one. Their
officers and their deSerters all admit that
they have lost in killed and wounded
over 1000 Very few prisoners were
81 CO. oil Cf
were parolled this morning.
This defeat has been most disastrous
affair to the rebels The country around
about Fort Smith and Van Buren, ha
been CLEANED of every particle of forage
and provisions for distance of fifty miles
So northern Arkansas and southern Mis-
souri, are regarded by them as sort o
promised land, flowing with sorghum an,
hominy. The rebel expedition was care
fully fitted out with comfortable cloth
ing, abundant supplies of food, and tn
best of arms and ammunition. TIL
muskets were a complete copy of the En-
field gun, and stamped &C. S. A, Ricl
mond, Virginia" though they were III
doubtedly made in England A larg
number of them were captured, and a
showed the most perfect finish and worl
were stamped -. D. Lowe, Birming
ham," A portion of some few of thei
regiments were composed of conscript:
and when these men were exposed t
fire, they had regiment of cavalr
posted behind them with orders to shoe
them down if they did not fight. Ever
arrangement and exertion was made [
place the chances of victory beyond
peradventure. They are now beate
back beyond the Boston Mountains agaiI
disheartened and completely demora
lied.
The whole country lying north of th
Arkansas river is at our mercy, and notl
ing remains for US to do but to enter
and take possession. General Hero
has added new laurels to his bright repr
tation, and, as may be supposed, he
the idol of his men. Our Governmel
has in him vigorous and skilliul Gel
eral and sleepless soldier.
The army of the Frontier can no
march forward to new conquests with tn
prestige of q most glorious victory. 70
will hear from us next upon the banks
the Arkansas river.
All of the regiments engaged upon OF
side deserve a more particular mentiC
than | can give in this limited space, Fl
they all displayed most remarkable cou
age and gallantry Some other CORE
pendent must do them better justice thf
have the opportunity of doing at pre-
Yours rpSnactfullv