The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1862-04-05

~ We are indebted to our friend E

~ We are indebted to our friend E.
A. JONES. for the following letters. from G.
F. kemba. now of the sth Regiment, who
for long time was one Of the employees Of
A. Gaar g. Co. in the Spring Foundry in
this city. The details be gives Of the Battle
Of Sugar Greek. are highly interesting. Let
tors like these show that the mechanics in
our army are generally not only superior
workmen and good fighters. but good wri
tsrs:-[Eds. Pal
CAMP NEAR BESroNvrLLE. Arkansas,
March 18th, 1869.
Frirnd Jonss:-After all our tolls and
wanderings after the rebel Price and his
crew. we have at last met him and will
briefly give you the result. On the 5th our
forces were situated as follows:
Gen. Curtis's Division were encampsd at
Cross Hollows on the Fayetteville or Texas
road. Gen. Sigel with his Division held Ben
tonville and guarded the mills near by.
while Gen. Davis with his Division Ito
which we belong. held the post where the
Texas road crosses Sugar Greek. thus it
will be seen that the troops were in radius
or rather occupied the three corners Of a
triangle. ten miles equi dist ant from each
other, and so we remained until 10 o'clock
on the evening OF the 5tb, when our camp
was thrown into the widest excitement by
the scouts bringing in the intelligence that
Gen. Curtis was being rapidly driven by an
overwhelming force. Orders were given to
cook two days rations. and be ready at
daylight to take our place in the line Of bat. |
tle, which. by that time. would be agreed |
upon. At O'Clock on the morning of the |
9Th. our regiment was ordered to take po-
sition on the east bank of Sugar Creek. and
facing the Texas road where it leaves the
valley on the south side. In order that you
may more fully understand our position. I
would saw that the creek runs through
Tavine or valley about . half mile in width
with bsnxs on either side that are about
two hundred feet high; the stream is very
winding in its course, which make the banks
very irregular and leave bold tongues. as it
were. running out into the valley. The
Texas road enters this from the north. and ,
after crossing the stream downward for half !
a mile. leaves the valley directly in front of
ono OF these tongues which runs out some
two hundred feet, thus giving q clear view
Of the valley for a mile each way. On this
bluff was our position to support Klaus's
Battery; thus it will be seen that the S,h
held most important point. indeed it was
considered the post Of honor. or the posi-
ton OF the rest Of the forces 1 have neither
the time nor space to give. After taking
our position and putting everything in ths
best possible shape. we formed in line and
anxiously awaited the opening Of the ball:
but al remained quiet until about p. NJ.
when heavy firing was heard down the val
Icy aud in front of Sieels train. who was
being hotly pressed by Mccullough; but
Sigel kept him at bay until he came within
range Of our guns when he retired and night
closed upon as anxious body of men as
could have been found in the world; for we
had learned from our scouts and from some
prisoners taken, that Van Doren and Price
had forty five thousand men. and among
them four thousand Cherokee Indians, and
to oppose them we had but thirteen thous-
aud men, all told. and in reality not more
than ten thousand fighting men; but we did
not despond, all were anxious for the morn
ing light and the entertainment they knew
il would bring with it. 1t came at last and
We did not wait for them to begin. The
fight opened at A. NJ, by the Peoria bat
terry pouring q storm of grape and canister
which made their lines writhe and twist like
huge serpent in the agonies Of death; but
they stood manfully up to the work and
operations, the fortunes OF the day were so
evenly balanced that it would be hard to
say which had the best Of the day, if there
was any difference at all it was in favor of
Price. But the morning Of the Sth found a
very different state of things. During the
night Sigel had got his favorite position and
was fully able to give them such a orning's |
greeting that they will probably long remem- /
Der. For three hours there was such an |
awfully grand tIisl Of skill with the bate.
ries that very small thing would have Civ
en- the day to either side; but all went on
smooth. no chance shot crippled gun and !
the battle was fairly fought to the end. and
the little Dutchman was the victor. Prices
guns were senced, and the infantry came
in for their share of the work TO be done.
and well did they do it, for about one hour
there was no difference in favor Of either
side: but tie bulldog grit of the Federal
troops finally prevailed and they had TO
scatter; their rout was complete, they threw
away their guns and clothing and every.
thing that could hinder their flight, and per-
haps they made the best time on record.
There are many incidents that l would |
like to mention, but cannot for want Of time. |
The 4th and 9th Iowa regiments suffered
the most. The Is, Missouri cavslry were
almost annihilated. Company G. in our
regiment. suffered most
Our loss is not far from 500 killed AID
1000 wounded. while theirs is I.50O killed, |
and the prisoners say $500 wounded.
None OF the Richmond boys were hurt.
Yours, G.F. h.
CAMP NEAR BENroNvILLE. Arkansas,
March 18th. 1862
Friend Jones:-As our mail did n ot leave |
last n,arhh 4 thr.,..Aa I l.