The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-03-28
BATTLE OF PEA RIDGE.
FULL and INTERESTING
PARTICULARS.
THREE DAYS. HARD FIGHTING.
Three Battles and a Clio.
riOus Victory.
DETAILS, INCIDENTS, Sso.

Correspondence of the Missouri Democrat.
Pea RIDGE, Ark, March IL.
THREE DAYS OF HARD FIGHTING THREE
BATTLES AND A GLORIOUS VICTORY.
After three days. hard fighting against
10000 rebels, commanded by their ablest
generals, We have won victory decisive Of
important results We have killed three
generals, stampeded the rebel army, and
produced moral effect in the first battle
on Arkansas soil that will be of great ad.
vantage to the national cause. The enemy
himself offered battle, choosing his own
ground, and we have whipped him out and
utterly demoraized his forces.
FIRST NEWS OF THE REBELS ADVANCING.
On Wednesday, the 5th, General Curtis
received reliable intelligence that the rebels
were advancing, and intended to make an
attack the next morning. They were re-
ported to have seventy pieces of artillery,
and force numbering from $4,000 to 49,,
600 men. Their pickets were at Elm
Springs, eight miles distant. Several of
our foraging parties in that direction were
taken in.
sIGEL WITH HIS REAR GUARD CUTS HIS WAY
THROUGH THE ENEMY.
Early Thursday morning Sigel's division
was moving from Camp Cooper, beyond
BentonvilIe, for Sugar Creek. His rear
guard, composed of the Twelfth Missouri
Infantry, Captain jerks battalion of caval.
ry, attached to the Thirty-sixth Illinois,
two companies Benton Hussars, and six
pieces of flying artillery (Albert's battery,
left camp at A. M. The main column
marched through Bentonvile without OBJ
serving any indications of the enemy. Gen.
Sigel and staff, together with the rear
guard, arrived at Bentonviile in an hour
and bali. While resting here, black
line was observed on the prairie towards
the south, which at first attracted no par
tlcular attention. Sigel, with his glass,
soon became convinced that the line was in
motion. Soon secesh flags were seen NOV.
ing on BeDtonville. and the prairie became
black with the rebel masses of cavalry and
Infantry. The rebel cavalry moved up rap.
idly, and deploying to the right and LETT,
surrounded the town. Clouds of caval-
ry were still observed advancing at rapid
speed.
Sgel moved forward the rear guard
across ravine on the margin of the town,
and the opposite side of the ravine was oc.
cupied by the rebels, who came rushing up
with yell Noticing that they bad form
ed on his rear, he detached four companies
of cavalry to hold them in check. Open
ing his lines right and lett, he sent his ar
tilery to the front to meet force drawn
up in line OF battle mile out of town.
Turning to Captain jerks, who had
come forward to support the battery, Sigel
said, " Captain the enemy are on our front,
on either side OF US, and all around u.s."
Then, raisiug mis- hand to a level with his
shoulder, and lungiDg it down with each
sentence, exclaimed, We must advance:
we must cut our way through; - and, con-
cluded emphatically, Z" we shall cut our way
through" Sigel then got off his horse,
and personally superinteuded the planting
of the pieces 10 position. He opened FIRE
on the enemy in front, every shot having
telling effect on the enemy's ranks, which
faltered and fell back in the woods. A
rapid advance of our column then took
place, the enemy Sc ming to retreat on
either side, but instead they made detour
and formed again two miles further on at the
entrance OF a deep gorge. On reaching this
position, it was found they were supported
by large body oil infantry, whose advance
preceded our arrival by taking shorter
road. The infantry were placed in am.
buscade, covered by the crest of hill.
Our troops pushed forward into the gorge
along which the road runs, when suddenly
CALLING fire of masketry was poured in
along our whole line. from the top of the
hill along cur left flank. The Twelfth Mis-.
souri, charged up the hill in face of the fire,
and drove the rebels up the bill.
During the charge, Sigel ordered two
pieces forward about mile to point where
he could see the hill where the rebels sup.
posed they were under, cover. The guns
were masked by a grove, and were not OBJ.
served by the rebels. As soon as this bat
terry was planted, two cannon shots were
fired from the head of the column 10. The
valley, producing no effect but deceying
the enemy. A rapid advance of the whole
column was then made, and as we receded
from the enemy the latter covered the hill
in large numbers, advancing on our rear.
The masked battery in front then opened
on them, the balls passing over our column