Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1862-03-19
Official Report of Gen. Curtis of the
VICTORY IN Arkansas.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF SOUTHWEST. }
PEA RIDGE, Arkansas, March 9. {

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF SOUTHWEST, !
PEA RIDGE, Arkansas, March O.
GENERAL; On Thursday, the 9th inst,
the enemy commenced AN attack on nv
right assailing and following the rear guard
OF the detachments under Gen. Sigel to
my main lines, on Sugar Greek Hollow,
bat ceased firing when he met my reinforce
ments, about four o'clock 7. Il.
During the night | became convinced
that he had moved on, so as to attack nv
right or rear. Therefore, early on the nh,
| ordered change Of front to the right on
my right, which thus becoming my left,
still rested on Sugar Greek Hollow. This
brought my line across Pea Ridge, with
my hew right resting on the head Of Cross
Timber Hollow, which is the head of Big
Sugar Greek, | also ordered an advance
of cavalry and light artillery, under Col
Osterhaus, with orcers to attack and break
what he supposed would be the reinforced
line OF the enemy This movement was
IN progress when the enemy, at II o'clock
A. NJ, commenced an attack on my right.
The fight continued warmly at these
points during the Gay, the enemy having
gained the poiEt held in command by Col.
Carr, or Cross Timber Hollow, but were
entirely repulsed with the fall Of the rebel
commander, McCulloch, in the centre, by
the forces under Col. JEFF c. Davis, Of Mis-
souri,
The plan Of attack on the centre was
gallantly carried forward BY Col. Osterhaus.
who was immediately sustained! and super
seeded bY Col. Davis entire division, sup
ported also by Gen. Sigel's command, which
had remained till linear the close Of the day,
on the left
Col Carr's division held thcright under
calling and continuous FIRE al day.
In the evening, the firing having entire
Iy ceased in the centre, and the right be-
lnE now on the left, reinforced the right
by portion Of the second division, Under
Gen Asboth. Before the day closed, |
was convinced that the e2emy mad concen-
trated his main force on the right there
fore | commenced another change OF front
forward, SO as to face the enemy where he
had deployed on my right flank in strong
position. The charge had been partially
affected, but was fully in progress, when,
at sunrise on the 8th, my right and centre
renewed firing, which was Immediately an
swered by the enemy, with renewed ener-
gy, along the whole extent of his line.
My left, under Gen. SigeI, moved close
to the hills occupied by the enemy, driving
him from the heights, and advancing stead
lily toward the head of the Hollows |
Immediately ordered the centre and right
wing forward, the right wing turning the
LETT OF the enemy and cross firing in his
centre. This final position placed the en-
emy IN the arc of circle 4 charge Of
infantry, extending throu2 hout the whole
line, completely routed the whole rebel
force, which retired in complete confusion,
but rather safely through the deep impass-
able defles of Cross Timbcrs.
Our loss was heavy That of the enemy
can never be ascertained, tor the dead arc
scattered over large field. Their wound
ed, too, may, many of them, perish.
The enemy has scattered in all drictloRs,
but L think his main force has returned to
Boston Mountain. Gen Sigel follows the
enemy toward Keithsville, while my cav
airy is pursuing him towards the noun
talnsf securing the country, bringing in
prisoners, and trying to find the rebel Ma
jor General Van Dorm, who had entire
command of the entire force of the enemy
at this battle of Pea Ridge,
have not as yet statements of the dead
and wounded, so as to justify report but
will refer you to despatch which | will
forward very soon
The officers and soldiers under my COM
mand have displayed such unusual gallant
ry, that | hardly dare to make distinc-
tlon. must, however, name the command
efs of the divisions: Gen Sigel, who gal
! lantly carried the right and drove back the
LETT wing of the enemy, and Gen. Asboth,
who was wounded in the arm in his gal
liant effort to reinforce the right Col and
acting Brigadier Cen Davis, whocommand-
ed the centre, when McCulloch tell on the
7th, and pressed forward the centre on the
8th; Col. and acting Brigadier Gen Carr
who is also wounded in the arm, and wa:
under the continuous fire Of the enemy
during the two hardest days of the strug
gle.