New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-12-22
YUE BATTLE on FRAIAIE GROVE, ARA
eEpCRT or CUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
SPLENDID MARCH or GEN. HEhRON'SARMY
1000 Unionists Against26, GOO Rebels
A LONG AND OBSTINATE CONTEST.
Brilliant BayOnet Charges Of the
Iowa and Wisconsin Boys
Grand Effort to Crush Our Little Army,
cpportune Arrival of Gen. Blunt
GLORIOUS UNION TRIUMPH.
Cerrssperaence Of The Nissouri Democrstl.

Weeterp Arkansas, exceeding IN herceness tie
Smous contest at Pea Ridge, as was remarked by
some OF the veterans who were present on both OF
The occasions alluded to. The details follows:
Gen Blunt had advanced some twenty miles
routh Of Fayetteville, Arkansas, with bis forces,
and there drawn the attack of lTindman who I'D
vanoed upon him rapidly from Van Buren with
$1,000 troops and % pieces Of artillery. Blunt,
with his little command of $1,000 men, at Cane
Hill, would be but mouthful for such army of
well-discipned soldery as this. lie knew his dan
ser, and sent hurried messages to Gen. Heron who
has the command OF the Cd and Sd Divisions Of the
Army Of the Frontier, and was at that time at VIII
sch's Creek II miles south Of Springfield, Missouri.
The moment Gen. Heron received the intelligence
Of Gen. Blunts danger, he set bis army in motion
and nads forced marches, accomplishing the feat Of
pushing lis infantry 1lj miles in three days, and
LIS cayary $50 miles IN two days and half
On the morning Of the 9TH inst, as the advance
guard, consisting of the ist Arkansas Cavalry and
norton Of The 9Th and eth Missouri Cavalry, wcIe
entering wood upon the south bank Of Illinois
Creek, ten miles south of Fayetteville they were
fred uron from ambush end thrown into panic
that resulted in total rout and loss Of their bag
gage train Of twenty-four wagons. They went
iIain body, when they rallied once moIe. Major
Hubbard of Pea Ridge fame, with portion Of two
companies Of tie lst Missouri tried TO stem the tide
of Rebels bat without euccess. Their superior
numbers bore down everything before them, among
others this f,tle band. Major Hubbard himself and
two Of Lis Lieutenants were captured, and the re-
msinder forced TO retreat OF double quick.
Our infantry were soon brought forward and
few pecea Of artillery got into position that sent
she bold scoundrels back as rapidly as they came.
Gen. Heron followed mp bis advantage az quickly
rs possible and soon found himself in contact with
TIC main Rebel force This splendid array, con-
tray TO our expectations, was well clothed well
armed, and well fed, and better drilled than our
OWE aoldiery- II consisted Of corps of DC 900 men,
commanded by Gen. hindmau, and was in fonr III
visions commanded respectively by Gems. Parsons,
Msrmsduke, Rhone, and Frost, and WAS supported
by park Of artillery Of - gunG Beside this thcy
had tremendous advantage in position. The battle
field was magnificent stretch Of open ground,
.LiIted on the east by an abrupt hill covered with
thick woods On this bluff, concealed ny tie forest,
were posted The Rebels in full force.
Our forces only numbered $500 or 1000, and
consisted Of tie following infantry, the 94ta and
37th Illinois the 18th and Goth Iowa, the Goth Indi
ma. and 10th Wisconsin. In addition TO these were
Aeompanes Of artillery who worked some Il guns,
and about half dozen companies Of cavalry. Our
men were worn down with long and continuous
forced march, and some Of them had been without
food for q hours. However, when the ball opened
they deployed into tue field with loud huzzas, and
went ct the work in hand with great bravery.
It took some lille time TO get into position aud
place tie batteries in the most commanding loea-
lions, and il was fully 10 o'clock q. m before the
artillery duel was in full voice. AS may be imagined
40 or 50 cannon, well manned and discharged a.
1Apidly ~ possible, make tremendous racket This
vas KEEP. up until dark, when by that time green
troops who had never seen a cannon before, laid
down within yard OF gun and slept throughout
uadisturbed We did not lose O single man through
out the whole day by artillery, though score or
two Of horses were killed. Our gunnors were much
more ekiful and precise in their aim than those OF
tie Rebels, which was shown by tue result.
Upon tie bluff or ridge, occupied by the Secesh,
were many fine faFmhouses which bad been
erected upon the elevation TO escape the
lamps and vaJors Of the plain below. From the
year Of two Of there bOu.es was kept up weldrect
ed fire Of eigat or nine guns. Gen. Heron ordered
the whole fire Of our artillery to be directed upon tho
one nearest to MS, and silenced it in ten minutes.
The Doth Wisconsin Infantry, led by LiiutCol Ber-
tran then charged ~ the hill and took the battery
upon double quick. They had no sooner gained
possession Of the wcl-earned prize than the Rebels
srose in uyriads from the bushes in the rear Of the
garden containing the battery in question, and
po1rcd fire into the ranks Of our boys that sent
their columns reeliug back down tie deciyty again
with s1eat loss Of lie and limb.
Within twenty minutes t,erward the 10Th lOwpns
with the gallautry Characteristic Of the soldiery Of
shSt State, etsayed tho vain feat with similar i'll sc
ess. They performed deeds Of yalor almost incrcd-
ible, and shed their blood in torrents but il Wa all
tie!ess. They retook the battery, aud were upon
.hs roil, Of removing within our lines, when the
Rebels poured in upon them in endless numbers. and
forced them back with great slaughter Lieut.. Col
mcfarland, who led this glorious charge, lost Lie
lie, hHd many priyaos also were left upon the field
The lor-bearer rallied the regiment twice, and led
them up to the very lannon's mouth.
IFS battery was. alterward entirely disabled the
horses killed and gun-cauisges broken In pieces by
IRE OF one Of our batteries, who Lit their marx
n'' precisely a. distance Of two miles with mis-,
hes discharged from Parrot guns, and the four Gals
"h' Aiied with ammunition were subsequently cap.
iuTrd and brought away. Tho different Rebel bat
'sies were sileieed one by one, until the booming
VI cannon bad nearly ceased. I'he enemy perceived
va. nothing could DO aceompli he'd at long range
sOmey massed themselves upon our front a.d both
tSnks, md commenced advancing to capture our
bs''sriss, lmmense L0rdes came Ga. Of tho woods