The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1862-04-03
'Ehe RBaStIe OrE'ea Ridge, ArEnn-
Nns-EmrfhRr RnriicMlnr..

- n
sas-Further Particulars.
EARLY Thursday morning Sigel's division
was moving from Camp Cooper beyond
Bentonville, for Sugar Creek. His rear
guard, composed OF the Twelfth Missouri
Infantry, Captain jerks battalion of cavalry.
attached to the Thirty-sixth Illinois, two
companies Benton tlussars, and six pieces
of flying artillery tAlbert's tattery0 left
camp at . A. NJ. The main column march.
ed through Bcntouville without observing
any indications of the enemy. General
Sigel and staff, together with the rear guard
arrived at Bentonville in all hour and a half.
While resting here, black line was oh.
served on the prairie toward the South,
which al FIRST attracted no particular atten.
ton. Sigel with his glass soon became
convinced that the line was in motion 49,
Soon secesh flags seen moving on Benton.
vile, and the prairie became black with the
rebel masses of cavalry and infantry. The
rebel cavalry moved up rapidly and dcplov-
ing to the right and left, surrounded The
town. Clouds of cavalry were still obsery-
ed advancing at rapid speed.
Sigel moved toward the rear guard across
q ravinc on the margin of the town, and the
oppos te side of the ravine was occupied by
the rebels, who came rushing up with a
yell Noticing that they had formed on his
roar, he detached four companies Of cavalry
to hold them in check. Opening his lines
right and left, he sent his artillery to the
front, to meet force drawn up in line of
battle mile out Of town.
Turning to Capt. jerks, who had come
forward TO support the battery, Sigel said
"Captain, the enemy are On our front, ON
tier side of us, and all around us" Thon
raising his haad to level with his shoulder
and luuging it down with each sentence
exclaimed, awe must advance; we must cut
our way through" :" and concluding empha-
tcally, "tce shall cM our way through
Sigel then got OIL his horse, and personally
superintendent the planting Of the pieces in
position. He opened fire on tho enemy in
front, every shot having telling effect on
the enemy's rauks, which taltercd and fell
back in the woods. A rapid advance of
our column then took place, the eucny
seeming to retreat on either side, hut in
| stead they made detour and formed again
two miles further ON at the entrance Of a
| deep gorge. On reaching this position, il
was found they were supported by large
body of infantry, whose advance preceded
our arrival 10y taking a shorter road The
infantry were placed in ambuscadc, covered
by the crest of hill Our troops pushed
forward into the gorge along which the
road rams, when suddenly calling fire OF
+ nusketry was poured in along our whole
Inc. from the top OF the hill along our left
flank. The Twelfth Missouri charged up
! the hill in face Of the fve, and drove the
rebels over the hill.
During the charge Sigol ordered two
pieces forward about mile to a point
| where he could see the hill where the rebel;
supposed they were under cover The
/ guns were masked by a grove, and were
not observed by the rebels. AS soon as
tbs battery was planted, two cannon shots
were fired from the head of the column III
the valley, producing 40 effect but dcceivjng
the enemy. \ rapid advance of the whole
colnnn was then made, and as we reccdcd
from the enemy the latter covered the hl
in large numbers, advancing on our rear
The masked battery in front then opened on
| them, the balls passing over our column
stll in the gorge, which caused such des
truction to the rebels that they scattered IN
all directions and ceased to molest us any
! further.
The enemy during the night advanced
and took position one mile nearer our camp
occupying the extensive bluff to the left OF
Mithorn Tavern, where they had batteries
! pldlltcb NhlNIl CbliliildIlICu lIIc OlSH HNlNN
and bottom lands on this side. The open
woods, mile this side of the town, were
also occupied by the enemy in formidable
numbers. They had batteries pointed in
all available positions commanding the
approaches from this side. Gen. Curtis
designed to open the ball at day-break, and
gave the necessary orders for a change OF
front, the left wing having to be moved OBJ
1 LONELY forward.
The cannoia le opened twenty-five minutes
past seven, on Col. Carr's division. and the
portion of the latter engaged fell back
Genera. Davis advanced on the main road
aud took position on the right wing, while
Col Carr moved to the center, and dosul-
tory fire was kept up for a short time
! About eight o'clock General Sgels division
marched into the open field, AMI took posi-
ton on the left wing. His batteries were
planted along the elevations in this portion
of the field, with alternate regiments Of n
fantry.
The line as now formed was concave. with
the wings advanced toward the enemy while
seven batteries were planted along its whole
length. No more beautiful spectacle could
be conceived than the "magnihcentiy stern
array" presented by our line of battle. The
utmost confidence was at once restored, and
our men felt reassured that victory was with.
in their reach. -,
The bluffs occupied by the enemy on
their right were coverel with the Secesh
as thick as they could stand, while the In
tervening woods in front of our center were
alive with them. Our batteries were soon
oponed all along the line, and perfect wall
of fire blazed out in rolling volumes. Tie
enemy replied promptly with his batteries
with little effect, except disabling one OF
Sgel's guns. The murderous cross-fre of
our battries crashed through the timber with
terrific effect. The cannonale was terrible
for two hours and half during which time
the infantry advanced slowly under cover
of our fire from the batteries. : soon as
the enemy broke. the infantry advanced
with yell in double quick, sending volley
upon volley of well-aimed musketry. The
| Twelfth Missouri rushed forward and charg.
ed on the battery in the heavy timber, cap.
turing three guns, and flag belonging to
the Dallas Artillery The Twenty-second
Indiana also captured gun and two cais'
sous. At this time Gen. Sigel pushed the
enemy's right flank, while Gen. Davis and
Col. Carr drove forward his left flank The
! flight became general, and the ravine near
the Elkhorn Tavern was thronged with the
| flying enemy. The bluffs on the left, form