Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1862-03-27
THE STRENGTH OF THE REBELS
ATROCITIES or THE INDIANS.

Ine feucral army moved about 81
p weeks ago from Rolla towards Spring
- field, where Price was then cncampe'
The latter occupied this place after ii
evacuation of our troops, and swore b
would never leave it again without
fight, but Brig. Gen. Carr left Roll
with some twenty-five hundred cavalry
as IN advance, about the 1st of Feb. fol
lowed by several regiments under tn
command of Gen. Sigel, for the purpos
of engaging the rebels, and driving hin
out of the State, which for nine or tel
months he had kept in perpetual troubl
and alarm retreating and returning t.
overrun, ravage and destroy.
Price however before half his forc'
was collected at Springfield, evacuated
| the town, marching toward Brentonvillt
Ark, daily expecting reinforcement
from McCulloch, Mcintosh, Van Dorm
and Pike, with three thousand Chcro-
kee, Choctaw, Creek and Seminole In.
dians. A small engagement near the
State line resulted in the repulse Of
Price, and his crossing over into Arkan
sas followed by our army. Gen Curtis
force was generally stated at twenty
thousand, but in fact were little more
than half that number; while the strength
of the enemy after Prices junction with
the rebels ancampcd at various places in
Arkansas could not, at the lowest COM
putation, be less than twenty-five or
thirty thousand, besides having every
advantage from superior knowledge of
the country, and consequently more ia
vorable positions for attack and retreat.
Our advance reached Fayetteville, forty
five miles below the Missouri line, and
still Price retreated. At Boston Noun
tains Price was joined by McCulloch,
Van Dorm, Pike and his Indians, and
Mcintosh. Gen. Curtis hearing of the
rebel reinforcements, made a retrograde
movement, deserving the enemy, who
thought he was retreating, and hearing
from his spies the comparatively small
force of Curtis hoped to capture them.
Our whole force in the first days fight
did not exceed 10000, under Gems. ST.
gel Davis and Carr, while the rebels
were 10000 strong. consisting of 12, 900
Missourians, and the balance of Texas,
Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama
troops. The rebels had eighty-two field
pieces, some twenty of which were rifed;
while we had but forty-nine.
Gen. Curtis anticipated an attack from
The South, and had the trains placed on
The North under the protection of Sigel,
with body of 800 men the rebels by
'apid marches cndcavored to cross Sugar
Creek land by placing themselves on the
North cut off our retreat. An advance
# 1000 cavalry reached the desired po-
tien. and made fierce onslaught on
'igel, hoping to take possession of our
argo and valuable train. Sigcl proved
limself the right man in the right place.
often he was in the thickest of the fight {
lways cool, calculating and skillful; ex-
'osing himself as common soldier, and {
'et preserving the calm judgment of {
Sigels desire was t
keep the communication open between .
imsclf and the main camp; they closed
ound him with tumultuous shouts, and
)r two hours the strife went on with s
reat ardor on both sides; there seemed t
o hope for the Federalists. Again the /
raitorous shout went up to the sky; ma r
y stout loyal heart doubtless sank ,
hen that cry was heard, but Sigel t
rdered three companies of his men to t
harge, the rebel cavalry dispensing and o
ic way once more opened. The enemy r
ere losing ground. They rallied with o
'doubled force. The combat was o
and to hand; third time the Federal s.
is were surrounded. Firmer and frmer Il
ere the rebels closing round the five or ft
x hundred braves, 200 having already "
owed their patriotism with their blood d
My one way was left-'Follow me = fr
undered Sigel. A deep, strong, ear a,
'st cry from the Unionists, and they 2
ct the foe with the rush of determine b;
IN and the energy Of despair. The s.
emy's line recoiled, was thrown into kj
infusion and retired. The train was
we'd. The first day was won. o,
Tho enemy during the night and early b,
1t morning, poured and gathered in SC
avy force to our rear, and occupied a tu
sition from which it was absolutely al
cessary to dislodge them. Gen Carr's re