Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-03-20
rec GFsaI Ballle Of Pea Ridae.

60
Prom q very full and sententiou
eocount in the Cincinnati Times, Of tn
great Arkansas battle, We take the follow
ing description Of the desperate three days
fsht;
THR TIzsE DAH's TI0HTIEa.
As have said, tho rebels, before they
began the now memorable bsttle in BehtoI
county, Arksnsas, on Thursday morning
March 9Th, 1852, were entirely confdsht6 .
success, snd their chief concern only hoV
70 destroy or capture our whole force.
Gen. Curtis anticipated an attack from
the South, and accordingly had The trainl
placed on the North, under the protection
of General Sigel, With body Of eight hun,
dred men-the principal Federal enoamp-
msilts aad main lines being to the east,
ward, near the head and on both sides d
Sugar Greek. Meantime, the rebel forSeE
we're moviag in full strength from Benton.
vile, Whsn0s they had proceeded from
Cross HolloEs end with rapid marches
were endesvoring to cross the creek, and
By placing themselves on the North 70 out
o. cur retreat. r.
An advance Of about two thousand cav
airy reached the desired position, and made
q fierce onslaught o. Sigel, hoping 10 take
posssssien Of our large aud Vslusble train.
sigsi proved himself the right man in
the right place. BE CALAMITY met theen
eny, and while he Fepelled their charge,
prevented them from seiEing upon our
wagons. The brave and accomplished pfi-
Ger seemed ubiquitous. He rode rapidly
hsrs and there; giving orders and observ-
ing the point Of attack snd the situation Of
the enemy, at the same time cheering and
encouraging his troops.
Often be was in the thiokest of the fight,
snd jet be vas RlFsys cool, calculating
and skillf1l; exposing himself as a com
mon soldier, and yet preserving the calm
Judgment and fixed purpose Of Oomman-
dsrsin-C Chief.
Higel's desire Wss to keep the eOmmuni,
cation open between himself and the main
camp, and the snemy's design to cut of
this avenue for reinforoements. They
closed round him with tumultous shouts,
and believed they had accomplished their
purpose, when Sigel rushed in upon them
with his brave followers and compelled
them to give way. Sigel could not reln-,
Quish the trains and 90 he fought on, end
exhofted his men to renewed hope and
courage By his example. 20
For two hours the strife vent on with
great ardoE on both sides but il seemed
e II the Fedsralisls would soon be compel
led 70 yield. There seemed no hope Eof
them. They must become exhausted, and
doubtless they must have done 60, Had
the destiny been in less peWeEfal and ex-
peri hands than SigeliE. q Il
. The waves Of expedition rolled around
6iQels courageous band once more, and
again the traitoroas shout went up to the
SKY, and swept like q note Of victory along
the rising hill. Many stout loysl heart i
doubtless sank when that CRY was aelr ID;
3 but sigel had no thoughts Of failure. BE
was fighting for his adopted country and
ths salvation Of his little band, and order
E ing three companies Of his men 10 charge
bayonets the rebel cavalry was dispersed,
and the way was open once more. II
z Stll no reinforcements came, and our
gallant soldiers appeared OOntsnding as
fofIoEn hope.
About the trains tn din Of strife rose
louder han before, and the rattle Of mus
kerry azd the booming Of cannon ssoke
The surrounding echoes.
The enemy were losing ground. They
rallied and fell Eith.Fei ioubled force oA our
e1efoie hand TIVE hundEed Of ihom hs1 81
Oysd thsi p ssH Hi5 Asir
ThSeonbst was hsad to hand, Horse
ulea ret siissnou1t and stfdgSIsd with
the i7fsntry, while ~. officers we're some
ttnes Been defending themsslves against
the sayaneing bayOnets Of the common
soldiers.
a gupeFhuman effort on the part Of the
enemy, and 3 third time the Federalists
we're surrounded.
s = Iirmor snd fTmer were the rebels eios-
ing FUInd the i've or six hundred braves,
who we're evidently geing to the wall
4he sun Of Hope seemed sinking, though
/. that Of NstuFe vas shining clear from opt
tie quiet sky.
Sigei EEW the smile Of Heaven, only, and
/ Noald not despOnd. His eye flashed, and
his form expanded, as the shouts Of the en-
eny rose shove the din Of the struggle.
Only one way Wes left
Follow me 4, thundered SigeI and his
proud steed tranpled an approaching reb-
81 under his naughty feet. 4
a dsep, Strong, earnest cry from the
u1loniSts, sEd they met the foe viii the /
rush Of determination and the energy Of
Despair -
The Secession line could not endure the
shock. L reeoiled, was thrown into oonfu-
sion, and retired from g position that was
immoVable IS an ALPINE rock a ~
s And 6igel was victorious With the sun
stili beaming clearly out Of the quiet sky.
The train was saved. The frst day was
won. s,f-7r |
The prestige Of euccess was established,
and the future looked blue with hope as
the violets Of The early year.
-rrr dtrorsr =, a-i-
$ The enemy, during TIE night end early
II the morning, poured in from the Ben
.tQnVille road and gathered In heavy force
70 our rear, sweeping round 10 the right,
and occupying both sides Of the Keetsyil1e
road, position from which It was abso-
lntety necessary % dislodge them. or sur
render al hope Of SUCCESS.
% Truly, before the second days sReeee-
ment began, the prospect was very dsTf, |
Defeat seemed 10 stare Us in the faoA.
and The sole thing possible appeared 4 |
struggle 10 prevent too disastrous disoomi- |
8 re. e4r4r
The Wsy to Missouri was defended BY |
thirty thousand Of the enemy; and We hsd |
littl6 more than one-third the number 10 l
dispute The perilous passage. On the south
WeEs the ReSton Mountains. To the east |
q Host We could not 20. We're We not
hsmned u by nature and the enemy y.
Conld We longer resist Could We say
We EsEs oontsnding only for victory when
TIE sh6doFs we're lengthenine and deepsn-
Ing ID o1r hearts 'Idaaiav
Gen Cars division was sent by Gen. I
Curtis 70 force the enemy from their suosi- |
tion, and sbeat ten O'Clock In the morning
The bEtHs vas renewed with increased ar. |
doE sldl sssn the hatts8ias fEonI 5oll siIes /
Eera replying % each other vilh dsatb- |
dsatlne 7pioes, Ihs msin aohdh tii ithe |
morning RHs-to ths-Tight Of our -eneamp-
ment, and for seven hours the field var