Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-03-15
Tbe Great Bat.Ie Of Arkansas.

From the NJ 4. IrlDune.l
On the same day that President Lincoln
submitted to the National Congress at Wash
ington his glorious scheme of Emancipation,
battle commenced in the extreme north
west portion of the State OF Arkansas, which
has had, We believe, n; parallel as to its du-
ratien, and probably few as to its desperate
character, since the opening of the rebellion.
We have to look over long range of history
to find struggle between such an army as
that under Generals Curtis and SiRel on the
National side, and McCulloch and Van Dorm
on the other-extending, as it did, over
three whole days; every inch of ground
contested witt terrible and unyielding ener-
~; pluck, pride, honest conscience and q
brave cause, against armed treason, madden
ed to an extremity Cf fury by the lowering,
deepening shadow of its approaching doom.
That three days desth-grapple among the
ridges and hills which link together Nilsson
ri and Arkansas at their western boundary
must have been picture of rare, almost of
ineonceivable grandeur. Sigel to the right
Asboth to the left, 0sterhsus and Acting
Brig Gen. Davis in the centre the right
wing now sustaining gallantly alone the at.
tack of the combined rebel forces; then,
turning the left Of the enemy and crossing
firing on his centre with the enemy pressed
into the arc of circle; anon steady, glo-
rious charge of the National infantry, ex-
tending along the entire line; and finally,
late in the third day, the break in the enemy's
lines, the rout and retreat in broken and dis
ordered sections through the de6ies of the
mountains, with the brave Sigel and caval-
~ force in pursuit. Such is the broad out
line of the picture as we see il in the rigidly
subdued report of Gen. Curtis.
It was on Thursday last, early in the day,
that Gen. Curtis was attacked by the Reb-
els. His right, under Gen. Sigel, was the
first point for the enemy fire, and the GEN
erRl seems to have gradually Withdrawn
his men toward the main lines, under the
protection of q rear guard. Toward in
the afternoon on Thursday, the junction
between the right wing and the main body
of the National forces appears to have been
affected, and the enemy, finding himself
unable further to pursue the hght, ct once
ceased firing, resolving, ss it appeared, to
deploy during the night, and get, if possi-
BILE, to the rear Of the main force on the
morning, therefore, Of the 7th, Gen. Curtis,
with admirable skill, at once changed his
front, his right (noW changed to the left
resting still en- stream called Sugar
Greek, with his new right (or former LETT,
under Gen. Asboth, extending toward the
mountainous ridge eastward, which ct this
point appears to run north and south.
Meanwhile, the National cavalry under
Col. 0sterhsus, were ordered 10 make an
advance with the view, if possible, to break
the the enemy's line and While this ordes
was being executed the Rebel force made
dash at Gen. Asboth's on the right From
this hour, then (which was IL o'clock on
Friday morning), the enemy's attack was
mainly directed throughout the day TO the
right wing; and several Of our positions
appear to have been temporarily occupied
by him until Acting Brig. Gen. Davis
pressed forward TO the center, where Mo-
Culloeh led the attack. At this point the
notorious leader seems to have fsllen-s
sad discontinue alone TO his followers,
which was nobly improved by the energy
Of Col. 0sterhsus and Col. Osrr-so that
before nightfsll the enemy was repulsed.
In this way closed the second day of the
battle. Under cover of night, it was Gen.
Curtis business to strengthen his right, which
had been 30 sOrely pressed by the combined
rebel force. It W6s, therefore re-enforced
before morning; and, from the new position
which it was found the rebels occupied,
another change of front forward was ordered.
While this was being made, the National
forces on the right and center opened FIRE at
sunrise on Saturday, The fire was briskly
returned along the entire line; Gen. Sigel on
the left wing, moving forward with unfiinch-
ing steadiness along the defle and up the hills,
forcing the enemy from one hight after another
until the National center and right were
brought TO the brave mans aid, when the
simultaneous fire of our infantry forces broke
th. staggering line Of the enemy, and left
him the ingloriOus resource of q rout in dis
order and confusion through the narrow
passes of the mountains.
In this decisive battle-among the most
memorable that has ever been given to his
tory illinois, Indiana Iowa, Ohio, and
Missouri, each won laurels of imperishable
worth. The dash and FIRE of sudden attack,
and speedy victory, were eclipsed by the cool
ness and the resoluteness by which the enemy
was ultimately forced into fight and we
find the conditions Of merited success 30 well
fulfilled in every part of the prolonged strug-
gle, that it is a pleasure TO linger over the
story as it comes to Us in the simple Ian
guage of the Commanding General. Bitter
as the unreported incidents must be,-teri-
bic as the losses are admitted to have been,
it is in such ways the nation is asserting its
manhood before the world, so that its power
shall be held indispntable at home, and
hereafter, for all time. respected abroad.
Col Harvey Brown, the gallant Command
er of Fort Pickens, has arrived in New