Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1862-03-29
THE REBELS BEGIN THE ATTACK.

passages:
THE REBELS BEGIN THE ATTACK.
The enemy made his appearance with
about four thousand cavalry, about ten in the
morning, a few miles out of Bentonvile. and
immediately commenced the attack by
desperate charge Sigel had with him near
a thousand men. Two hundred infantry lie
sent forward 10 prevent being cut of, and
with the remainder he received the whole of
the vast army. Sigel'sexample at Carthage
had taught him how tohcar himself under
such desperate cirs,nnsfaiftss anG he ordered
his men to stand firm and take good aim.
| The teams were put upon good pace, and
the enemy came bounding along in several
lines. The horsemen on the tanks, and
infantry in the rear, awaited their approach
until within about two hundred yards, when
they delivered terrible volley of Mimic balls
into their ranks, which had the effect of
throwing them into temporary confusion.
In few minutes the leaders, 10y dint Ofmuch
shouting and gesticulation, succeeded in
getting them into something like order
/ This time they came up to close quarters
( The same yollcy succeeded by Il second and
a third, greeted them. The enemy came on
in crowds, hooting and cheering, as if in glrc
at what they accounted an easy capture
The cncmys cavalry closed all around the
/ little band. notwithstanding horses and ri
dcrs were falling thick and fast before our
steady fire General Sigcl rode undismayed
along the whole line. inspiriting his men.
. Some of the cavalry on the flank had sue
/ cccded in getting across the real so as To cut
the train in two, and il was here that the
enemy set up a shout of triumph.
THE REPULsE.
...... ..l,.,,. ~ .,
bayoncts of our men had done their work.
leaving the enemy hundreds of dead and
wounded The enemy WAS driven of, broken
and dismuycd. 1t is lamcntable that at this
point one Of our teams. containing three of
the wounded men who had been placed in it
was left behind. The mules had been shot.
and nothing could be done in the emergency
To regain ii.
Called and inaddencd at the rcpulsc, the
enemy could hc sren reforming to ncncw the
attack The column was Yet seven miles
from the cncampment. A dispatch had been
sent forward to General Curtis, explaining
the position and asking for assistance. 1t
was hardly possible that the messenger
could have been captured, The enemy Was
advancing along the road and along the
ridges incosing the stream. At about two
O'Clock the second attack was made and DIES
peratclv carried forward. The rebel horse
men spurrcd their horses right on to the
irresistible hayoncts, delivering their load OF
buckshot from their miscellaneous guns, and
then brandishing their huge skivcs, which
,eycrv one of them carried in place of sabrcs
They surrounded the rear guard second
time, and for few minutes friends cOulu
hardly be distinguished from foes. Tho
dense smoke cnyelopcd the whole of tht
,k., N..,. inn, =
doubtful whether any of our little band sur
yivcd. The rebels made the mir ring viii
usty cheers and oaths The faithful Ger
mans, like league of brethren, never laltcrrd
for a moment. Their gallant leader struck
down II dozen of the sayages who clumorec
for his life, and hewed his way through lin,
of them o'reioin his command. The bayo
nets proved the inyincibility of our troop,
against horsemen The foe retired seconC
time, and for an hour they could not he indu
ced to return 10y the most frantic efforts o
their leaders. BY this time the advance
which had been constantly skirmishing Will
Il the rebel cavalry, announced that reinforce
ments were in sight, and the little cheer wen
up. which was rcechoed by the troops from
the camp. A third and last attempt Wa
made to capture the train. 1t also failed, an,
the enemy withdrew about three O'Clock.
PEA RIDGE.
Thursday night passed in state Of sus
pcnse. The houses in the valley had heel
appropriated as hospitals, and strong fore
: posted on the hill on the south bank of tn
creek under Colonel Carr, with General Sige
occupying the ridge on the north side, Will
9 Colonel Davis occupied the centre near til
A crossing The enemy, it Was supposed woul'
C naturally make the attack from the Fayette
. vile road, and the baggage trains and hospi
tails had been placed TO the rear of the line'
e During the hight the manifestations showe'