Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1862-03-27

Thirty-sixih Illinois, Col. Grsusel.
Twenty-Gfth Illinois, Col. Coler.
Forty-fourth Illinois. Co. Knoblesdorf.
SECOND BRoADE-cotoSEL osrzRuAus.
Twelfth Missouri. Col. Osierhnus.
Seventeenth Missouri, Col Hassendeufel.
Second Missouri, Col. Schneher.
THIRD BR~IoADg-coLosxL AsBorI.
Third Missouri. Col. Frnla.
Illinois Cavalry, lone bsttalion1 Capis. Jerks and Smith
Third lows Cavalry. |
General Davis Division.
FIRST BnsADE-coLoSEL BENTON.
Eighth Indiana. Col. Bcnton.
Eighteenth Indiana, Col. Patterson.
Twenty.serond lndiuna, Lieut. Col. Hendricks.
SECOND B-RGApE-ccLoSEL -.
Fity-ninth Illinois, Lieut.. Col. Fredericks.
Thiriy-sevcith Missouri, Col. -
Missouri Cavalry, battalion Msjor Bower.
Second Ohio Battery, Col. Carlin.
First Missouri Light Artillery, one battery.
General Carr's Division.
FIRST nIeADK-coLosEL DODGE.
Fourth Iowa, Lieut-Col. Gallighan.
Twcuty-ffti Illinois, Col. O.. A.. smith.
Twenly-iourth Missouri, tbatisIion,l Major Weston.
SECOND BRIoADE-coIosEL vASDgyfER.
Ninth Iowa, Lieut.. Col Heron,
Twenty.fiih Missouri, Col. Phelps.
Ninth Iowa Battery, Copt Hayden.
First Iowa Battery, Lisut. David.
THIRD BRoADE-coLoSKL ELLIS.
First Missouri Cavalry, Col. Ellis.
Third Illinois. Lieut. -Col. -.
Sixth Missouri, (bsltalion) MINOR Wright.
THE REBEL ARMY.
The rebel army was composed of nine or
ten perhaps twelve thousand Missouri State
troops, under Major. General Sterling Price;
some six or eight regiments of Arkansas,
under General Ben. McCulloch five or six
regiments of Texans, under General Earl
Van Dorm some three thousand Cherokee,
Choctaw, Creek and Seminole Indians, I'M
der Colonel Albert Pike, all under the com-
mand of Major General Mcintosh. In adj
dition to those mentioned, thore were two
or three regiments Of Louisiana troops, and
companies of Mississippi and Alabama sol
| diers, under their respective Captains, Ma
jors and Colonies, whose names are unknown
alike to your correspondent and to fame
The entire rebel force could not have been
less than thirty thousand many persons es.
innate it still higher.
ARMS OF Ill FEDERALIsTs N RERELs.
Our troops were Of course generally well
armed, while the rebels varied as usual in
the style, character and effectiveness Of theii
weapons. Many of the Confederate arms
were excellent, embracing Mimic rifles, En-
field muskets and good United States mus.
kets but the greater portion were rifles and
shot guns, with which Sterling Price once
swore he could establish the Southern Con
federacy against the opposing world.
The rebels had eighty-two field pieces
some twenty of which were ritled while w
had but forty-nine most of them, however
being of superior manufacture to those
made in Secessia.
THE FIRST DAYS FIGHTING.
As l have said, the rebels, before the,
began the now memorable battle in BentoI
county, Arkansas, on Thursday morning
March 9th, 1862, were entirely confident o
success, and their chief concern only how t,
destroy or capture our whole force.
Gen. Curtis anticipated an attack from th
South, and accordingly had the trains place.
on the north, under the protection Of Gen
eral Sigel, with body of eight hundred me,
the principal Federal encampments AM
main lines being to the eastward, near tn
head and on both sides of Sugar Greek
Meantime, tho rebel forces were moving i
full strength from Bentonville, whence the
had proceeded from Gross Hollows, and wit
rapid marches were endoavoring to eros
tho creek, and by placing themselves on tn
north, to cut off our retreat.
An advance Of about two thousand cavalr
reached the desired position, and made
fierco onslaught on Sigel, hoping. to TAX
possession Of our large and valuable trair
Sigel proved himself the right man in tn
! right place. He CALAMITY met the enemy
and while he repealed their charge, prevent
, cd them from seizing upon our wagons, III
brave and accomplished officer seemed ub
~quitous. He rode rapidly here and there
giving orders and observing the point of q
i. tack and the situation Of tho enemy, at tt
r same time cheering and encouraging HI
troops. 49,.
, Often no was in the thickest Of the fgh
and yet he was always cool, calculating on
|, skillful; exposing himself as common SC
/ der, and yet preserving tho calm judgme'
o and fixed purpose OF a Commander-il
d Chief.
Sigel's desire was to keep the commune
v ton open between himself and the mai
n camp, and the enemy's design to cut o
b this avenue for re.inforcements. They closs
round him with tumultuous shouts, and b,
lieved they, had accomplished their purPoss
IS when Sigel rushed in upon them with h
way. Sigsl could not rslinquish the train
to renewed hope and courage by his exar
pie. !.
,el For two hours tho strife went on vii
great ardor on both sides but it seemed
,r iftho Federalists would soon DO compelled
If Weld. There seemed no hope for thsI
They must become exhausted, and doubles
10 they must have done, 80, had their destil
y been in less powerful and expert hands tn
TO- Sigel's.
re The waves Of opposition rolled arour
n Sigels courageous band once moro, q
ar again the traitorous shout went up to
or sky, and swept. like q note Of victory alo
the rising hill. Many q stout loyal. he'
is doubtless sank whom that cry was hear
but Sigcl had no thoughts Of failure. ]
IT, was fighting for his adopted country and I
of salvation Of his litAe band, and orderi
DO three companies Of his men to charse bay