Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-04-09
Correspondence Of the Cincinnati Commercial
Tne Battle of Pea gtidge
RY AS oFFIcER " THE REGrLAR ARMY.

EDs. COM:-Ihe battle OF Pea Ridge was en-
phaticaly the Buena Vista of this war Com
mencns on the morning of the 6sh of March, by
the attack of the combined Confederate forces
upon Gen. Sgels Division then stationed at
Bentonyille. Gen. Sigel sending his train ahead
and reseryng one battery, with between eight
hundred and thousand men. commenced one Of
those mastery retreats which have already rem
dered his name famous. Planting a portion of
his guns. with his infantry TO sustain them, he
would pour the grape and she'll into their advan-
cling squadrOns, until, quaIling before the muir
derous fire. they would break in confusion. Be
fore they could re form, Sigel would timber up
aud fall back behind another portion of his bat
terry, planted ut another turn in the road. Here
the same scene would be gone through with, and
so ON continuously for ten miles
hat made this march more difficult achieve
ment was the condition of the roads which were
IN many places very narrow and badly cut up.
This brought General Sige's Division To the
west end OF Pea Ridge where he formed june
ton with Generals Davis and Cars Divisions.
Night coming on, strong pickets were placed, the
tea ms corralled, and the soldiers Law upon their
arms.
During this day, General Curtis was diligently
preparing earthwork detenses cutting timber dc d,
To check the progress OF the enemy along the
Fayetteville road, where they were confidently
expecte lr him. During the day and night of
the 9th. Van Dorm moved nis entire forces around
the west side of our army Gen. Price occupying
the Fayetteville road north of General Curtis :
camp, while NcCniloch and Mcintosh lay north
OF Gen Sisel. The Confederate forces fronting
South, Prices forces formed their left wing The
distance of the main bodies of the wings of each
army apart wds near three miles, thus forming in
fact four distinct armies. Van Dorm and Price
being opposed to Gen. Curtis, who had with him
Gen. Divis's, Cars and Asboths Divisions, while
McCulloch and Mcintosh were opposed tn Sigel.
who had but one Division, that of Gen Oster-
haus Gen. Curtis was compelled TO make 4
change of front; in doing this he withdrew all his
forces from the South range OF hills except a
few companies Ia guard the Fayetteville road |,
ana placed them almost two miles North their
front resting on the brow OF range OF hills front.
ing to the n orth.
On the 7th the battle commenced on the right
of our column, and ragged furiousy during the
entire day, Col. Cars division bearing the brunt
of il on our side. The Conlederates, owing TO
their immense superior numbers. the numerous
and deep ravines and the thick brush which
cred the hills. succeeded in driving right wing
from the ground occupied in the morning. The
loss here was severe on both sides the short range
at which the lighting was done giving the rebel
shot guns. which were loaded with from fifteen to
twenty buck shot each, great advantage over our
more deadly but single balls The Confederate
forces camper on tue Ddttle Efounu, Niuie our
right wing fell back about from one half mile TO
a mile The entire fighting ground occupied by
this portion OF the armies did not exceed three
fOurths of mile in diameter.
The fighting the left wing, this day pro
ceeded with various changes, and occupied far
greater field, extending over space ct from one
and half To two miles. McCulioch commenced
moving his forces to the south and east evident
ly intending to form a junction with Van Dorm
D.. 4
army on three sides. at the same time cut of to
tally all hope OF retreat of our forces General
Sieel, detecting this movement. sent forward
three pieces OF flying artillery. with supporting
force OF cavalry, Ia take a commanding position
and delay their movements until the infantry
could he brought up into proper position for an
attack.
These pieces had hardly obtained their position
and opened fire when an overwhelming force oil
the encmys cavalry came down upon them like
whrlwnd, driving our cavalry. scattering them
and capturing the artillery and setting il on fire
THIS onslaught. which made in the most
handsome style, allowed their infantry To reach
unmOle>ted the cover OF q dense wood " est of
this wood large open field Here and IN
the surrounding wood. prutractod struggle EN-
sued between McCulloci and Ostcrhaus Gene.
raj Davis was ordered up To Col O~teihaus's Is
sstauce; nd our forces. thus strengthened, final
McCuloch. Mcintosh and number OF the Con
iederte officers we're killed.
Thus While the Confederate forces had been
successful on our right We had been equally
successful on our lett. The m0raie however
was ia our ttvor. The discipline ot our troops
enabling our defeated wing 10 remain c0mfacty
together. whIe their defeated right oWlng to
their lack OF discipline and loss OF commanding
officers. was verp much disorg anized.
Duriuu tha fHltf al the .fh hpfh armies Ia
upon their arms. The Conleler,teS. how ser.
maiaeed To form junction of all their force,
upon The ground held las their leit wing, which
WIS naturally position cot great strength.
The morning of the 9Th Was one OF the deep
est anxiety Oh the part OF our army. The Con
feierate forces held the only road tor our retreat
both armies had drawn their lines close The
woods aud hills literally swarmcd With toes The
PRISONERS We had taken assured u> that the Con
feierstes were perfectly sanguine OF capturing
oar entire force together with all our supplies.
They outuumbered three To one besides. our
men were much exhausted with two days tight
iuc and the los ol sleep-the nights beng too
cod 90 sleep without ire and our proximit, 10
the enemy aud position. not allowing u u uuild
FIRE, along our advance lines. Near a thousand
of our men were dead or wounded. Both parties
wefc eager tor the trav-One, stimulated ~ All
apparent certainty OF success ami hopes OF plum
der. the other. determined 10 conquer or die.
The rising sun was salutei with the smoke and
roar of cannon Colonel Cars division was
strengthened by large part OF Colonel Davis
division-thus enabling cur right wing barely 10
maintain is position. Gen. Sigel having learned
the exact position of the enemy's batteries, com
menced 20 form hs line OF battle, by changing
his front 10 face tie right flank OF the enc
my's position. Probably no movement during
the war has shown more skill in the disposition
OF forces, or caused great destruction u the
party attacked, With - little lOs> % the attack
ins party lie first ordered the 25th Illinois
under the command Of Colonel Golfer, 10 take a
position along fence in open vieS Of the enc
rly's batteries. which al once opened re upon
them Immediately battery Of TX Of our
gun. sever al of them IL Founders. rhel Were
thrown into line one hundred PAGES ia the rear OF
our adv ncug infantry, on rise Of ground
The 10Th Missouri then wheeled into Inc.
with the 25th Illinois their lett and anoth
er battery Of guus was similarly disposed a
short distance behind them. Then another req
nlent and another battery wheeled into position
until thirty pieces OF artillery. each about fifteen
OF twenty PAGES from tie other were IN con
tuuous i!ne, With infantry lying down IA front.
Zach piece opened IRE n il came in position.
The IRE OF the entire line directed - 10
silence battery after battery OF the enemy Such