The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1862-04-05
BATTLE OF SUGAR CREEK.
Or Pea Ridge.

March IL, gives the following interesting
particulars -
Sterling Price, after flying north for some
dis ance, turned to the West, and then re-
treated southwark. joining Van Doru. doubt
! less according to previous agreement, some
| where 10 the Boston Mountains.
AMAzKMENr OF THE REBELS AT THEIR De-
FEAr.-From some Of the prisoners | learn
that the rebel chiefs were perfectly astound-
ed at their defeat, and were at q total loss to
comprehend its cause. Their disappoint-
ment was all the more bitter, because they
regarded their victory as a fat aoconpli; SO
much so that they had agreed upon the
treatment of their prisoners aud the dispo-
siiion of our principal officers.
The enemy certainly had us at a great
disadvantage. and the man must have been
sanguine, indeed. who, on Saturday morn
ing could fiud food for hope. By all mill
tary rules and strategic theories, I think it
could have been clearly shown on Friday
night that We must be beaten on the follow
ing day.
Our forces were not half so numerous as
those Of the foe; they had every advantage
of position. full confidence and the embar-
rassment of Fridays success; and yet we
flogged them magnifcently in violation of
all martial ratoc ination, and in the face of
their declaration that nothing would save
the entrapped Yankees from utter annihia.
ton.
THE ScALprNG SAvAGEs AGAIN-Of the
statement that the rebels gave the Indians
large quantities Of whiskey in which gun
powder was dissolved. previous to leading
them into battle. there is now another ver-
sion. The enemy say the savages did not
receive any liquor from them, but that the
Indians discovered several barrels of whis.
key aud appropriated it to their own use
OF course they drank hugely; and while
their superlative stimulus contributed ltrge
ly to their fighting propensity, it exercised
no very favorable Influence upon their dis
elimination.
They were less timid aad more blood
thirsty after their intoxicstion; but it SO en-
larged their IDEAS of nationality. and restored
to recollection their wrongs from the white
race. that they determined to make no mar
row distinctions in regard to geographical
lines. Consequently they butcl eTsd and
scalped an Arkansan or Louisianlan with
as much self complacency as An ludianian
or Observation-Disclosures very pleasant
and commendable proceeding on their part,
but which the southerners. from some men,
tai obliquity fail to appreciate.
THEIR FAILURE AS WARRIoRS.-Ths In
dians during the battle. displayed very little.
if any. courage, and beyond the drunken
fray displayed at the expense Of those who
had induced them to take part in the war,
they did nothing commendable. Their
fighting was failure. They had little rel
ish for il; and they therefore confined them
selves to robbing the dead. killing the
wounded, and scaping alike their friends
and foes.
The experiment Of enlisting the Indians
in the rebel service will hardly be tried
again, think. The ensmy evidently deem
/. a hazardous business, and one that, on
the whole. al nits of little compensation
Some of the prisoners are greatly incensed
agains. the savages. and talk of hunting
them to death.
An Arsansan. who had been wounded
and partially scalped by one of the Chero.
KEGS, is so enr.ged against them as to be in
danger of apoplexy when their name is men
toned. Speaking on the subject this morn
ing he remarked that it was pretty idea
to coax set ofsred devils into the army to
give them an opportunity Of scalping you;
and, as for himself, he intended to kill eve
~ Indian he could find hereafter. no matter
where and under wha: circumstances.
HE MANNER OF MCCOLLoCH bEAId.-'
Concerning the death of McCulloch and
Mcintosh, there seems to be but one opin-
ion. Both of them we're mortally wounded
on Friday. during the heavy fighting by
General jeff G. Davis against the centre
column of the enemy. It will be remem-
bered the rebels gave way. and the two
chieftains made the most deter.
mined efforts to rally them in vain.
~ IL. u "a. ~ nen.a An
ball in the left breast-as | am assured by
one who says he saw him fall. and after he
was taken from the ground-while waving
his sword, aud encouraging his men to
stand firm He died of his wounds about
IL o'clock the same night. though he in
sisted that he would recover; repeatedly
saying. with great oaths. that he was not
born to be killed by Yankee.
A few minutes before he expired his ply
sician assured him he had bat very brief
time to live. At this Ben looked up incred-
saying. "Oh, He'll" turned away
his head and never spoke after.
presume if Ben be really dead, the
Southern papers will put some very fne
sentimen, into his mouth in his closing mo-
ments. but the last words have mentioned
are declared to be correct by prisoner-
They are not very elegant nor very dramat-
ic. but quite expressive. and in MeCulloeh's
case decidedly appropriate.
How McISrosH DIkD.-It is reported
that McIntosh was struck near the right hip
with q grapesho., while giving an order to
one Of his aides. and hurled from his horse.
The wound was CHASTITY one. and though
it must have been very painful. Mclntosh
uttered no groao, but calmly gave direc-
tIons fer his treatment. A few minutes At
ter be fell into a comstose state, from which
he never recovered-passingt through desth's
dark portal, while his attendants supposed
he still lay beside the golden gates OF Sleep.
REBEL HAraKD OF SIsKL--The seces-
ionists. SO far as can learn from the pris-
oners here. are very bitter against Sigel. on
account Of his nativity no less than his abil
ity. They attribute their defeat mainly to
him, and say they would not have cared
if they had been rspulsed by an American.
but to be overcome by q "d-d Dutch man"