Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1862-03-21
BATTLE OF PEA RIDGE!
. FULL AND INTERESTING
PARTICULARS.
THREE DAYS HARD FIGHTING
Three Battles ana q GSO'
riOsss ticiOry!
DETAILS, INCIDENTS, &c.

PEA RIpoE, AK, March ii.
THREE DAYS OF HARD FIGHTISG-TIREl
BATTLES AND A GLORIOUS VICTORY.
After three days hard fighting against
$4,000 rebels, commanded hy then
ablcst Generals, we have won victory
decisive of important results. We have
killed three Generals, stampeded the
rebel army, aud produced moral etiec'
in the first battle on Arkansas soil thai
will be If great advantage to the nation,
al cause. The enemy himself offered
battle, choosing his own grounc, ano
we have whipped him out and utterly
demoralized his forces.
For some days prior to the batt'e'
General Curtis, whose headquarters
were at Usage Springs, determined 70
retire and occupy stronger posi'loh
on Sugar Creek, IN Anticipation that 'he
enemy. after P,lce's retreat, wou'd pro-
baaly raj, aud attempt TO roll back the
tide S ting against him. About the
fist u The month, General DAVIS re-
barred With The Third DIVISION TO Sugar
Creek Colonel Carr remained at Cross
Uollows, twelve niles IN front, while
General Sigcl was encamPed on tue eX
tretGe Iighr, at Camp Cooper, near Ben
tonviIl., fourteen miles TO Sugar creek
and Twelve TO Cross llolows-ou lines
thus forming triangle.
FIRST NEWS OF THE REBELS ADVANCIS6.
On Wednesday, the 9Th, Gen. Curtis
l.. hal
rebel, were advancing, aud intended 10
make an attack the next mornlng. lhey
were reported tc have seventy pieces OF
art ley, aud force numbering from
25 900 to 10000 men. Their plckets
were at Elm Springs, eight miles DIS
tant. Several OF our foraglny partles
in that direction were taken III.
GEN. CURTIS CONCENTRATES HIS ARMY.
In pursuance OF his original design,
General Curtis ordered Col. Carr and
Gen. SIgel to move immediately and
form junction with Gcncr DAVIS at
Sugar Creek Colonel Carr moved his
dnl ion across the divide the same night
Owing to a lack OF transportation some
of our stores and DIR. Hunts medical
chest, cont aiming his surgical lnstru-
ments, were left beh nd and destroyed.
sIGEL VIII HIS REAR GUARD CUTS his
WAY TuKoUGH TIE ENEMY.
Early Thursday morning Slgel's divi
sion was moving from Camp Cooper, be
You'd BentonvlIc, for Sugar Creek. Ills
rear guard composed of the Twelfth
Missouri Infantry, Captain jerks bat
talon OF cavalry, attached to the Thirty
sixth Illinois, two companies Benton
llussars, and SIX pieces OF flying artil
lery (AIbcrt's battery, left camp at
a. NJ. The main column marched
through Bcntonvilc, without observing
any indications of the enemy. Genera
Sigel and staff, together with the reaI
guard, arrived at Benionville in al
hour and half While resting here, {
black line was observed on the prairie
towards the south, which at first attrac
ted no particular attention. Sigc, with
his glass, soon became convinced that
the line was in notion Soon secesh
hags were seen moving on Bentonvlle
and the prairie became black with the
rebel masses Of cavalry and infaotry
Tue rebel cavalry moved up rapidly
and, ieploying 10 the right and lett
surrounded the town. Clouds OF caya
ry were still observed advancing at rap
id speed.
siscl moved forwa the rear ouarC
across rasinc on the margin Of th,
Il. !.
Wa occupied ~ the rebls, who cam,
rush n ~ With a yell. Notlc'rg Il a
they had iortnc,! Oh II rear, he d.,ach
ed io"r COMPANIES o. cavalry to hole
them IN ch,ck. Opening his Ines righ
and le'', cs'nr his artillery TO ,he irou'
70 meet force dawn up 10 line Of lat
tie a IN t. out Of town.
lmniny I" Captain jerks. who la,
co"e t'r"ard to support the battery
Sl5el sad, Captain, the enemy are &,
Our front, on either side If US, and nj
asonod u-.' Tnen, IA sing his hand /,
level vi Ii his shoulder, aud unr,pu i
down wlth each sentence, exclaimed
We must advance We must cut ON
way throus h;' and, concud d empha,i
caIly, "we shaH ut our way through.
Sisel then got off ms horse, AMI person
ally snper'nlenacd the planting of I'll
pieces in position. He opened fire o.
the enemy in front, every shot having
telling effect on the ,nem,'s ranks, wi lei
fatered and fell back in the woods. I
rapii advance Of our column then TOO
place, the enemy seeming to retreat Of
e'''et SIDE, but instead they made de
tour and formed again two miles furth
er on at the entrance Of a deem GORGE
On reaching this position, it was toun,
!hey were supported by large BODY G
infantry, whose advance preceded on
arrival by taking a shorter road. IN
infantry were placed in ambuscade. Gov
cred by the crest Of hill. Oar troon
pushed forward into the gorge alon
which the road runs, when sud,enlv
Calling fire of musketry was nomed !;
along our whole line, from the ton
the hill along our flank. The Twelf,
Missouri charged up the hill in face 6
the tire, and drove the rebels over tn
bill. "
During tie charge, Sigel ordered tw
pieces forward about a mile to a poir
where he could see the hill where til
rebels supposed they were under cove
The guns were masked by grove, an
were not observed by the rebels. A
soon as this battery was planted, tw
cannon shots were fired from the hea
Of the column in the valley, producin
mn nth