The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1862-03-13

Cross Timbers, and have was made gallant
charge BY Col. Harry Pease and forty men.
Coming on the encmy's picket they drove it
IN, dashing At once into the very midst Of
his camp One Of our men, : lieutenant Of
Cavalry, was wounded, and Ave or six
horses killed. The enemy's loss was much
greater. This charge was really one Of the
most brilliant things that occurred on tie
route. On the 18th inst, We had several
skirmishesand at last discoyeged the enemy
in position on the south side Of Sugar Creek.
Taking it altogether, the fight Of Price, and
our pursuit, will form one Of the most inter
esting passages in the history Of the war.
Missouri has been freed from the rebels, and
the war transferred to Dixie.
THE CAVALRY CHARGE AT SUGAR CREEK.
At Sugar Greek We visited the gallant suf-
erers wounded near that point in the affair
of the 18th, when the cavalry. charge was
made, which in some respects was as bril-
liant as any made during the war. The ac-
counts of the skirmish received at Spring
field were in some particulars erroneous
The valley through which Sugar Greek pur-
sues its ineandering course is rearly half a
mile in width at Trott's Store. From the
brow Of the opposite ridges the distance is
somewhat more, as the, road winds. Skir-
mishing between. the pickets Of the two ar,
mics occurred during the morning when
Price moved out Of sight beyond the brow
Of the southwestern hills. His army, as was
since ascertained, then formed in two lines
on both sides of the road, and two Louisiana
regiments under command of Col. Louis
Herbert, which had arrived from Gross Hol
lows to reinforce Price, marched with their
batteries, determined to give US warm re-
ception. Twoof the enemy's cannon were
planted on the brow Of the hill overlooking
Sugar Greek, and their pieces were also
ranged along the road, about two hundre
yards apart, for half mile or more, These
pieces had prolongs attached, indicating that
. running fight was intanded in case Of pur-
suit. IS.
In the meantime our cavalry formed on
the opposite side Of the valley and marched
across the creek to point near Trott's store
and halted. The enemy then opened fire
from their batteries. One shot fell short,
and shell exploded over the heads of our
men stationed on the opposite Hill. doing no
damage. Capt. Handin, Of the Ninth Iowa
battery, answered the enemy's fire from the
opposite bluff. throwing three shells from a
howitzer with such good effect that the en-,
emy were forced to fall back with their bat.
terry. Gen. Curtis then ordered the cavalry
to move up the hill and charge on the re-
treating foe. The order was gallantly obey
ed by Col. Ellis, in command Of the First
Missouri Cavalry, followed by Major Wright,
leading his battalion, and Major McConn,ll,
with the third battalion Of the Third I'LL
nois Cavalry. The whole force Of our caval-
ry making the attack numbered some 500.
Gaining tho brow Of the hill it was ascer-
tanned that they had fallen back over mile
70 an open field, where their battery was
again stationed and the enemy in force FORM
ed in, line. 2t
Our cavalry, regardless Of danger, plunged
forward to the charge on the enemy $ posi-
ton, mostly screened by the intervening
woods Nothing could have withstood the
impetuosity of such charge, had not our
advance, led by Col. Ellis, when debouching
from the woods into the open field, been
met by murderous fire poured in upon
their ranks from behind the trees. Our loss
was severe in killed and wounded at this
point. Inevitable destruction, without a
chance to resist SO CALLING a fire. caused our
brave men to recoil, when Col. Ellis. with
great coolness and presence of mind, ordered
his men to right and left and scour the
woods. The order was obeyed with telling
effect on the enemy, many Of whom were
cut down behind their places of concealment,
and the rest fed. Meantime, Major McCon.
nell, with his battalion left the road, and de.
ploying to the left, advanced on the enemy''s
line, while Majors Wright and Bolivcr per
formed the same manoeuvre on the right.
Two regiments ofinfantry arrived to sup.
port che cavalry. and formed in line. Col
Phelps's regiment deployed on the left Of
the road, and Lieut.. Col. Heron, with the
Ninth Iowa deployed on the right. CAPT
Hayden, Of the Dubuque battery, answered
the eneny's batteries, which had onened
upon our advancing columns, with brisk
fire. The cannonading was kept up for q
few minutes, when the enemy precipitately
fed, taking away most Of killed. Other
regiments were coming into the field to take
part in the ball. Among the latter was the
Fourth Iowai the mon anxious for the fray
had pulled of their coats and threw them
aside. There is little doubt tina: if the rebels
had been followed up closely. the rout would
have been complete, and no time would have
been given TO them to burn their barracks
At Gross Hollows. As | have given . list SC
far ss ascertained Of our killed and wounded,
| It Is unnecessary to repeat Il. -
! The Col. Herbort who commanded tho
rebel brigade Was the gentleman of Califor
nia notorioty, who slew the waiter at VII
tliard's Hotel, al few years since. The other
7 fConfederate Colonels under him in the figh,
wsrs MoIsas and AcNair. Several instances