, 1862-03-19
the VICTORY AT PEA RlDGE,
THREE DAYS OF DESPERATE
FIGHTING.
vafor Of Western BOYS.

effect in the first battle on Arkansas soil that
viii be Of great advantage to the national
cause. The enemy himself offered battle,
choosing his Own ground, and ne have whip
forces
The following is the force under General
CEN s1GEI's DIVISION.
F1Esr BnsGApx-co14. GnEcsEs.
Thirty sixth Illinois, Col. Ggcnsel.
Twenty fifth Illinois, Col Coler-
forty '9sczth Illinois, Col. KHobiesdo1f.
eEcoHD RR1aADE-co1~ osrERHAr=.
Twelfth Missonti, Col, 0sterhaas ,
ssventesa:a sssns M,ssee5i % gsa Massendeafe''
THIED BfIIG GADE-coL- AsBoIh-
Third Missouri Co: F1!s,aii 1!..i,n, r,nt.,r. 1cnss
Hlinets C.,aly lone assfa'f0h' eap's'os 'cnss
Third Iowa C9ra1ry. ...-..-
GENERAL DAy1s's DIVISION.
Fms1 BR1aADE.-co1.. BENTON.
Eighth Iudfana, Col Benton.
EfEhteeuth Indiana. Col. Patterson.
GaR'z'ee00' SsiesE. indiana Asafe'ans Colonel Hell
SECOND aR1oApE-co1. JULES WHITE.
F1ty.uinth Illinois, Lieut. Col Frederlcks.
Thi1ty-seventh Illinois, Col White.
Missouri Cavalry, battalion; Mai Bowen.
Second Ohio Rairery, col Carlin
First Missouri Light Artillery, one battery
CEN cARR's DIVISION
T1BT 1RIaADE-cn14- DODGE.
Fourth 1ewa, Low; 3a 4asnt; Colonel ea11ishan.
TNenty fourth, Missouri attnlion-Xaj.N Weston.
SECOND paE.aADE-co1. :yAspEvEn.
Ninth lows Lieut. Col. Heron.
Twenty Missouri, Col Phelps.
Elnah 1owa 2. Ba.s!ers' f9sp1 9spat Hsyd1Sap' h3yx1a
1B1ED nn1eADE-coI. ELLIS.
First Missouri Cavalry, Col Ellis.
Third Illinois, Iient- COL
SIKH Missou1i {battallion.) Mai Wright.
For some days prior to the battle. Gen.
Curtis, whose headquarters Eas at 05sgc
Springs. determined to retire and occupy
stronger position on Sugar Creek, in anfici-
pation that the enemy, after Price's retreat,
would probably rally and attempt to roll back
the tide setting against him. About the first
OF The menrh, Gen Davis repaired with the
Third Diyision to Sugar Greek. Col. Carr
remained ut Cross H0llows, twelve miles in
extreme right at Camp Cooper, near Benton
vile, fourteen miles to Sugar Greek and
twelve to Cross Honows-our lines thu7forp,-
ing t1iaug1e-
0n wednesday, the 5th, Gen, Curtis receiv-
ed reliable intelligence that the rebels were
advancing, and intended to make IN attack
tie next morning. They were reported to
have seventy pieces Of artillery, and q force
numbering from =, coo to Il, COO men. Their
pickets were at Elm Springs, eight miles dis
tant- oeFeI9i 81 our 1oIaSS2hs p2rucs III mat
direction were taken in.
In pursuance Of his original design, General
Curtis ordered Colonel Carr and General Sigel
to move Immediately and form i junction with
Gen4 Davis at Sugar Greek Colonel Carr
moved his division across the divide the same
night.
The valley Of SUGAR Greek runs nearly east
ard Rest, and We were posted On the bluffs or
the northern side, in 3 position aforli1g Sreal
Natural advantages against the ATTACK OF the
<ncn,y from the sontll. Batteries were planted
along the bluffs, some breast works wers
thrown up, and q traverse battery Was erected
SO as to throw q cross fire on an enemy ap
preaching through the valley The cnem1
seemed 10 have too good evidence Of cur posi-
ton to attempt an attack on this forulidabl
side
Intelligence was received Thursday nl.,,
tl!at they were marching On cur flank By 'Ih
Beufonyinc road Tuesday morning larg
7nree WIS asccftaincd to have taken i position
directly On our rear ut Elk Horn Tavern, be
tween three and !cur miles from Sugar Cree,
valley. The enemy was also ascertaincd to b.
punrlng in Ut point along . road behind Lee
1owD, in countless numbers.
General Curtis, impressed with the critic
al situation OF affairs, changed his front i
right angles TO onr former position Colonc
Car waE Immediately seat forward with hi
division to attempt d dislodgeineat of til
en.nlF under Price and Van Dorm, ut til
same lime tlsat tic forces under AcCnllo:
and Mcintosh, pressing forward 10 join th
fcrner, were observed by Generals Davis an
Sigcl III the vicinity Of Lectown, q sual
Ea1nlct some two 1uiles west Of Elk Hor.
ly all next day between these two point:
Wcre severely contested, AID terribly d:strn,
tive On both eidcs.
EARLY Thursday morning Siscl's digisio
was moving from Camp Cooper, beyond Be,
tonyille, for Sugar Greek. His rear cuard-
S.nr7yneG3 s,f he <Trv,1f1f, r.,
Captain JeDEs's battalion Of cavalry, atteche
to the Tllirt3-aixth Illinois, Two compauie
Benton Hussars, and six pieces of 1lyiuE arti
1e1r {AbeE1's battery)-le1t scamp at 6 A. ,
The main column uaarehcd through Etn.o,
Vile without observing any indications Of til
the rear gusrd, arrived at Bentonyille in q
hour and halt While resting here,
black l1ne was observed on the prair
towards the south, whieh at first a
tracted no particular attention. Gener
S;gcl with his glass soon became CO
vinced that the line WAS in motion Sot
seccth flags were seen uloTing on Bcntonvil1
and the prairie bcca1ue black with the reb
masses Of cavalry and Infantry The re:,
casalIy moved Up rapidly, and dcp1osius
The right ABd left, surrounded the tow
Clouds Of cavalry were still observed adyan
ing al rapid speed.
S'gtl moved forward tic rear guard aero
ravine On the margin Of the town, and tt
opposite side Of 1be rasine was occupied
the rebels. who came rushing up with 4 sc
Noticing That they had formed on his rear,
detached four companies Of cavalry to ho
them in check Opening Iii. lines right III
left he gent his ARTILLERY 10 the front to mt
force drawn up in line Of battle mile 0
OF town.
Sigel got off his horse, and personally {
1c11utented the planting of the pieces in I
sitlon- He opened fire on the enemy in fro
every shot having 4 telling effect on the e1
my'h ranks which taltered and fell back in t
wondr. 4 rapid advance Of our column Il.
TOOK place, the enemy secmin. to retreat
either eide, but instead, they made detour a
formed again two mile further on Ut the {
trance OF deep gorge. On reaching this !
Eitiou, 1t Was found they wtre supported bl
1nrgc body Of infantry, whose advance pre-
ded our a111val by taking shorter raad 7
1nfsnt1y were placed u tie amhuseade. c'
cEd BY Tie crest OF 4 hill. Our troops pusl
1urwara into the gorge along which the re
TUBS, when suddenly 3 CALLING Ere Of musk
~ Vas poured in along our whole Line, frt
The ser Of The hill along our left tiank. I
18th Missouri charged up the hill in face
the hre, and drove the reheIs over the hili
During the charge Sistl ordered two pic
forward about a mile to a point where
corld sic the hill where the rebels spppo
Icy were under cover. Tue Euus "
H.1tktA bya grove. 0l,d veft: not ol.sc7Tr1
Tie rtbess-. as soon as this battery
planted, two Cannon shots wcr: fred from
a,tad Of tie column in she valley, protinc
no effect but d. ct1yiug the enemy. L RI
adsance of the whole column was then ma
aSd as We recedrd from the enemy the 1al
covered The hill in large numbers, adyanc
On our rear. TIE masked battery in II
then opened on them, the balls passing o
our column still in the gorge, which eau
= such destruction to the rebels that 11leF $,
tered ln I'LL directions a1d ceased to noles.
any further.
Company B, Thirfy-sixth Illinois, aud +
Of Company 4, were left in Charge OF q brol
down srntcnnfy1on wsgon. and FILLING behi
latter came up so suddenly thnt they were
ken 3or our men. WHEN the leader shouted {
1ay down your ar1ns or ne will Kill ey
man Of you-' Our men having no Que
command, obeycd the rebel order, th
>sz<1own their artns and delivered themselves
< Abunt fity surrendered a company Of
fired s yollcy into the steesh, and nearly a
the Illinois boys made their escape. In fac
IRE Of the enemy. Twenty-Five Of the n
ber, Including Lieut.. Wslker and Sergean
Douelns, are still prisoners The dead bo
o. INC secesh were observed lining the
Z ,1saf sagefs rear guard, cs the attack Of
gallant Twelfth. occurred near where S
.- :pla!sted his batteries the first time.
Facing toward the rorth from this DC
the eye rests upon high raoge Of bluff.
$ nile distant, covered wild. 61 ush and lin,
The intervening ground is low and bro
and also deasely wooded. The FaTettc
road Winds through here, and on both sid.
the LITTER CIR troops we're dcFloyed to M
concealed cnemy who had his batteries il
'<7tion ard whose numbers were unkut
Col. Wanderers Brigade formed and pln,
brnrkly forward into the brush on the Il
the Tosd. The enemy were encountered
<a5isen .-from their places Of conceasn