The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1862-03-21
MARCH 81, 1862
.Lke From the N. Y. Tribune
The Great Battle Of Arkansas.


submitted 60 the National Congress at Wash.
ingtou HE glorious schome Of Emancipa.
patton, battle commenced in the extreme
northwest portion cf the State Of Arkansas,
which has had, We believe, no parallel as to
its duration, and probably few as to its des.
psrste character, since the opening Of the
rsbeilion. We have to look over long
range Of history to Rnd a struggle between
huch an army as that under Generals Cur
tis aud Siegel on the National side, and Nc.
Cuiloch and'Van Dorm on the other-ex.
sending, as Il did, ovor throe whole days.
every inch Of ground contested with terri
BILE ouergJ; pluck, pride, honest conscience
aud bravo cause, against armed treason,
maddened to an extremity offury by the
lowering, deepening shadow of its approach
ing doom. The three days death giapple
among the ridges and hills which link to-
gether Missouri and Arkansas at their vest
ern boundary, must have beon a picture Of
rare, almost of inconceivable grandeur
~Siegel to the right, Asboth 10 the left, Oster.
haus and Acting Brig.Gen Davis in tho cen.
Ter; the right wing now sustaining gallantly
nlone the attack Of the combined rebel fore.
ss; then, turning the left of the enemy and
crossing firing on his center with tho enemy
pressed into The arc of circle; anon con.
4. tinued, glorious charge of tho National in
fantry, extending along the entire line; and
finally late in the third day. tho break in
the enemy's lines, the Tout and retreat in
broken and disordered sections through the
defiles of the mountains, with She brave Sie-
gel and q cavalry force in pursuit Such is
the broad outline of the picture as VIC see il
ju the rigidly subdued report Of Gen. Curtis,
1t was on Thursday last, early in the day,
that Gen. @. was attacked by the rebels. -
His right, under Gen. Siogel, was the FIRST
point for tho enemy's fire, and the General
seems to have gradually Withdrawn bis mon
towards the main lines, uGdor the protec
lion of q rear guard. Towards 4 in tho af
ternoon on Thursday, the junction between
the right wing and tho main body of the
National forces appears to have been ct.
fected, and the enemy, finding himself una
BILE further to pursue the fight, at once do
sisted firing, resolving, as it appeared, to de.
ploy during the night, and got, If possible,
20 the rear of the main force; on the morn.
ing, therefore, of the 7th, Gen. Curtis, with
admirable skill, at once changed his front,
his right now changed to tho left, resting
still on o stream called Sugar Greek, with
mis- new right, or former LETT, under Gen. AS
both, extending towards the mountainous
ridge eastward, which appears to run north
and south at this point. Meanwhile, the
National cavalry under Col. Ostorbaus were
ordered to mako an advance with the view
If possible, to break the enemy's line; and
while this order was being executed, the
rebol force made a dash at Gen. Asbo.h't
On the right. From this hour then, which
was IL o'clock on Friday morning. the enc
mys attack was mainly directed throughout
the day to the right wing; and several o.
our positions appear to have boon tempora
rily occupied by him until Acting Brig. Gen
Davis pressed forward to the center, whore
now McCulioch led the attack. At this
point tl,e notorious leader seems to have
fAllon-a sad disco MIXTURE alone to his fol
lowers, which was nobly improved by the
energy OF Coils. Osterhaus aud Carr-so thai
before nghttall the enemy was repulsed.
In this way closed the second day OF the
battle. Under cover of the night, IL was Gen
Curtis business to fortify his right, whici
bad been so sorely pressed by tho combined
rebel force It was therefore re.enforceC
before morning; and from the new position
which II was found tho rebels occnpied, an
other charge Of front forward was ordered
While this was being made, the Nationa
forces on the right and center opened FIRE
ut sunrise on Saturday. The Are was re
surned briskly along the entiro line; Gen
Siegel on the left wing. moving forward with
nnfiinching steadiness along tho dcfie anG
up the bills, forcing the enemy from one
hight after another until the National con.
ter was brought to the brave mans aid when
fhe'simultaneous fire of our infantry forces
broke the staggering line of the enemy, and
left him the inglorious resource of rout In
disorder and confusion through the narrow
paesos in the mountains.
In this decisive battle-among the mos
memorable that has ever been givon TO his
tory-Indiaua, Illinois. Iowa, Ohio and Nils
Bouri, each won laurels of imperishab
worth. The dash aud fire of sudden attack
and speedy victory, were eclipsed by tn
coolness and resoluteness by which the on
emy was ultimately forced into fight, an
we find the conditions OF meri;ed snccess 6
we'll fulfilled in every part Of the prolonge
struggle, that il is pleasure to linger owe
che story as II comes to us in tho simpl
Language of the Commanding General. BIZ
ter as the unreported incidents must be-
terrible as the losses are admitted to hav
been, II Is in such ways the nation is assert
ing Its manhood before the world, SO tina
les power shall be beld indisputable at home
hereafter, for all time, respected abroad.
--~-~~~-~~~--~~-~----
HARSH words are like hailstone in sum
Iaer, which, il melted, would fer!ilize a
the tender plants :hey batter down.
CAPTAIN SEMMEs, Of the Rebel steame