The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1862-05-10
the BATTLE OF PEA RIDGE.
Thrilling and Authentic

y Z, , Details.
OFFICIAL REPORT OF MAJOB
GENERAL CURTIS.
( Notwithstanding the length Of time that ha
elapsed since the great battle Of Pea Ridge, i
will be remembered that but few accounts Of i
have been written, and most Of them BY per
sons who never visited the field. We now have
the truth In oil its startling details, In clear
graphic and soldier-like manner. from the PEI
Of the General commanding the National troops
In the fearful conflict
oHx. CURTIS REPORT.
OAPTAIx !, The brief telegraphic report which
gave the och inst, 10 not sufficient to present
even the general outline Of the battle of PEI
Ridge, and with the reports Of my Commander
Of Divisions, now submit more general de-
tail. .s
Ny pursuit Of Gen. Price brought me to Fay.
ettevile, Arkansas. The entire winter cam.
paien, from the Goth of January to this time, in.
cluding the march from Rolla to- the Boston
Mountains. 24O miles, was attended With con.
tinual exhibitions Of toll, privations, conflict
and gallantry, some of which have telegraph.
ed TO headquarters, and may hereafter deserve
more full development. ash,
After reaching Arkansas, the forces of Gen.
Price were rapidly reinforced by regiments that
had been stationed in Arkansas and the Indian
Territory. therefore expected these combined
forces would return upon US to give US battle,
and in conformity with the orders of the Gen.
eral, of the r22d OF February, l selected Sugar
Greek as the strongest Of several strong places
taken from the enemy, to make q stand against
sny and all odds. f.., -. I
reported my force to you on the 18th Of
February, after Col. Davis, Division had joined
me, at 12,095 men and 80 pieces of artillery,
including 4 mountain howitzers Ny long line
OF communication required garrisons at Marsh.
field, Springfield, Cassyille and Keitsyile, be-
sides a mountaineering force toguard my train.
Ny force in Arkansas was, therefore, not more
than 10. 500, cavalry and infantry, with ~
pieces OF artillery, including the mountain how.
itzers, one piece having been sent out into Mis-.
souri. and thus prevented from joining Us in
the battle. .f-.-4i-- ..----., s,,,.-.issa
The scarcity Of forage and other supplies
made it necessary for me to spread out my
troops over considerable country always irving
to keep them within supporting distance, con,
venicnt to rally on the positions selected for
battle. On, the 4th Of March this force was 10.
Gated as follows: ,i.-f. -l,.i,.--.... 10
The First and Second Divisions, under Gems.
Sigel and Asbotb, were four miles south west OF
Bentonville, at Cooper's farm, under general or.
ders to move round to Sugar Greek, about four.
teen miles east.
The Third Division, under Col. Jefferson G
Davis, acting Erig. General, had moved and IA.
make some preparatory arrangements and exsmi.
nations for 4 stand against the enemy.
The Fourth Division was at Cross Hollows,
under command Of Col. E. A. Carr, acting Bri-
gsdier General. Ny own headquarters were al.
scat this place, within about twelve miles from
Sugar Greek, on the main telegraph road from
Springfield to Fayetteville.
Large detachments had been sent out from
those several camps for forage and information
-one from Cross Hollows to Huntsville, under
command Of Col Yandever, and three from
Coopefs farm to NarysvIle and Pinesvllle. One
Of those, under Major Conrad, with piece Of
artillery and $50 men, did not reach US until af.
ter the battle. All the others came in safe and
joined in the engagement - ~ r.'-
The enemy had taken position in the Boston
Mountains, high range that divides the waters
of the White river and Arkansas Gen. Price
had rallied the forces that had fought at Garth.
age, Wilson's Creek, and Lexington, augmented
the winter. On his arrival from Springfield in
Arkansas, he reported to Gov Rector that be-
tween four and fvc thousand OF these had join.
ed the Confederate service previous to leaving
Springfield. The circulation of all manner Of
extravagant falsehoods on his way induced the
whole country to leave their homes, and for fear
We would kill them, thousands joined his ranks
Gen. McCullOch brought at least eleven regi-
ments to the field, and Gen. Price five. Besides
these regularly organized Confederate troops
which Gen. Price, met in. Arkansas, there were
many companies and regiments of Arkansas
volunteers, most OF. the country people being
required to take rp arms, From this data, and
the general opinion of the country, / estimated
the force of the enemy to have been, at least
O,00O or 10000, This was the force in and
near Boston Mountains, rallying to drive usfrom
Arkansas and Missouri J.,., ,,,,....., a.; l.i.,,
The two armies thus constituted and located,
we're within hearing of each others cannon,
about thirty miles apart. Isubmit an accompa.
nying map, showing some of the topographic
features Of the country on the roads which we
have trayersed. Our troops were weary and
somewhat exhausted in their long, forced march,
es and frequent conflicts. Our cavalry hsd es-
pecially suffered in the breaking down and loss
OF horses. But our troops were generally we'll
armed, drilled, and anxious to encounter the
enemy at any reasonable hazard They were all
intelligent, ardent, flushed with our repeated
successes III many encounters ON our way and
all conscious of the righteousness Of their couns
The arrival Of Major General Van Dorn, on the
I'd of March, in the camp Of the enemy, was the
occasion of great rejoicing, and the firing offorty
guns. The rebel force was harangued by their
chiefs with boastful and passionate appeals, as.
kns,, I,os~
certainty Of an easy victory. Dispatches were
published, falsely announcing great battle at
Columbus, Kentucky, in which we had lost three
gunboats and twenty thousand men; and thus
the rebel hordes were assembled-the occasion
was now open to drive the invaders from the soil
Of Arkansas, and give q final and successful Blow
for Southern Confederacy. ~ i'aa l.'" 3i't
The 9Th of March was cold and clustering
The snow fell SO as to cover the ground. No
immediate attack was apprehended, and was
engaged in writing. About two o'clock, p NJ,
scouts and fugitive citizens came, informing me
Of the rapid approach Of the enemy to give bat.
tie. His cavalry would be at Elm Springs. some
twelve miles distant, that night, and his artillery
had already passed Fayetteville Satisfied Of
the truth of this report, Immediately sent cou.
riers to General Sigel and, Col. Ysndever,- and
ordered them to moye Immediately to Suga.
Greek. where also ordered Col Carr to move
witn nis division. a., Is 4i,a : 40 a,,,s ia sua
Ialso sent you dispatch, which may have
been lost With other mail matter, which l have
eince learned vas captured by the enemy. !
told you would give them the best reception
possible. All my messengers were successful ID
delivering their orders. Colonel Carrs division
moved about P. n. Colonel Vandever had in.
telligenos OF the movement Of the enemy before
my messenger reached him, and made immedi
ate change in his march, 20 that, with great ex
ertion, he arrived on the 9Th. General Sise
deferred bis march from Coopers farm till two
O'clock, in the morning of the 9Th, and at Ben.
eonville tafried himself, with regiment and
battery, till be was attacked about 8 A. NJ yi,
Iarrived at Sugar Greek at 2 o'clock, A. n,
on the eth, and Immediately detailed parties fos
early morning work in telling timber to obstruci
certain roads TO prevent the enemy having toe
many approaches; and, to erect field works d
increase the strength Of my forcesg Col. Davis
and Co. Carr, early in the day, took their posi-
lions OF the high; projecting hilis commanding
the valley ef the creek, leaving the right of IT.
line 70 be occapied by the first and second d.
Visions which were anxiously expected. The
valley Of the creek 10 low, and from . quarter "a
a half mile, vide. The hills, are high on botl
sides, and the main road from Fayetteville. b,
~ vY-sx H. -