The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1862-03-27
TIE WAR;

The details of the great battle In Arkansas
have not yet corns TO hand; still everything
In connection with 1t will Ia terest the reader,
and we therefore copy the following from the
Little Book (Ark.) 7yas Dsmc~as. of March
18Th:
The battle ground extends over ten Ea:los,
ard on every Iaile Of the route are thousand
dead men. The battle was the most despe-
ra:ely con tssted Of any fought during the
war. Our loss in on GERS Is reported as teri;
bic. McCulloch, Mc1n Josh, McRas. Slack.
aud others, have f5lien. Bravsr and nobler
mon never died for 1reedons
Our forces at Boston Mountain were sup
posed 70 be In the neiSabcrhood of thirty
thousand, opposed 10 81, 00o Federsis. The lat
ter were western men and regulars. Among
the forces of the enemy was one regiment OF
cavalry armed with revolving rifles and with
Two extra cylinders, SC that they could hre
Is 900 shot without re-loadinx. They also
mad Hturgis's battery manned by regulars,
and said to be the best drilled apc disciplined
body on the continent, II. as We arg led 70
column from Kansas, tina odds Egafhss us
were az two TO one.
Our troops fought for three ays az nights,
ana more desperate fighting vas never seen.
ssK Prices RsrEsAr PROM sP1IReEIELn.
We have already pnblis he'd the Yankee PC
counts of Gen. Prices retreat from Spring
deld into Arkansas, previous 20 the battle of
Pea Ridge, rs we'll a. the Generals ofaoia,
repor: Of the AFFAIR, exposing the mendacity
OF the Federal comm ander. We now copy
from Louisiana paper portion Of q letter
written by one who shared the perils and
suReringe Of the retreat. The aliueion to the
brave McCuiic oh has additional interest,"
from Ii e sct that he has siuce persisted glo-
riously On the field Of battle:
All day Monday we fell back slowly, hut
10 good order. In the afternooa tine advance
guard Of the enemy made rush upon our
rear. and for nearly an boar Desperate CON-
fl.ct ensued, In which artillery was freely
used on both sides. We succeeded In driving
them back, the Oonfeder stes losing three
killed and seventeen wounded, the enemy lao
raj cavalry was go impetuous that they be.
came mingled With our troops, and there WAS
q free use OF sabres and small arms. They
could not stand, however, the deadly fire OF
forces reached their winter quar- sers 70 spend
the night, while Prices army occupied
Grosa Hollows, distant two and . half
miles. Ycuug'e Texas regiment camped With
Holiows and en- cam ped In an oIen field. THIS
day Rector's ana Mitcheii's regiments Joined
us. The lattes regiment had marched Is
miles without hating in twenty four hou.s
Ben McOulloch arrived and was me, with
% ch e STERN OF enthusiasm as seldom greets
any man. II made his men almost Wild to-
see him once more, and that. too, when
placed In such e psri'ous position without
Louisiana regiment gave him has Geld 1m
been heard Harirg his head, while his eagle
eye Lighted up with an unwonted nre, ne re.
marked, "meu. I am glad to zee you:" q
greenns which was respon ded 10 with inter
est. A line OF battle, uudeF McOullcch's en-.
ersetic direction, was formed, and soon every
hillside glistened with baycnetg and batteries
frowned upon every avenue Of appr0aeh.-
I'm Su~ 81 This aP
cold. The men, on account Of the suddsnnsss
of the demand for their services, wore with
out tents, btankets, or provisions.
That night we laid down upon the frogen
ground, around huge Ares, &c snatch, II pos.
sible, short sleep, while expec ung the eas.
my. To add 70 the hardships and trials
which we had encountered, 1t commenced a
cold, freezing rain. which continued nearly
nll night. some few slept through II AL;
but the shortly, Of the troops gathered In
shtvertnG groups around their camp 0res -
While thus waiting for the enemy . approach,
they suddenly apnsarad in Bentonviiie, on
our extreme left AAnk, taking possession OF
the quarters OF Rector's regiment. Two Of
th0lr scOots were also captured ON White
river, ON our extreme right, indicating an at.
tempt 70 aans our ~ SosIos
ETC.. Oflffet tors men, Desidles killing one or
two cisiz IONS, and committing other outraSss
too diaboiical to mont ton. Early on Tuet :
day morning We once moro abandoned oar
pcsiticn, and commenced rstreASlng in the
midst Of bitter storm Of siess and Snow
The mad was . solid mas OF ice, slippery
and as hard as q racx All d.y long the
weary march continued, while the besTds Of
the msn became white with their froEsu
breath the water even became tco in their can
teens. Weary, foot-sore. hungry and cold,
We arrived here last night, only to ind near.
~ every house dsssrted Of women and chill
dren, while every man had shoalS@sd his
rtns for the deadly strife. Lest niont th4
Northern Asayens were reddenAd Win tAs
glare OF our winter quarters given to dsssruc.
taon 10 pssvsnt their falling into the hanAi
OF the Heostans. NauGhe RENAME Of thool
dns and comfortable buildings now excep
heaps q smouidertne aches.
Price has conducted q mastery rot1OAt, 60.
vtstng, - he HAS, train o. $500 WUgons
loaded with HE army supplies. and movtnG
MY places Of artillery. Oar forces are nearly
oil in tie Held. We have Aoout iGhsy Veecol
OF eft1tlory. We expect 10 make ssA0A %
Dostoa Aountaan. and have cply sesruetet
thas far on account Of the scarcity of tUsAol
for the immense number 81 hosssss aa1 alss
TO- pfevens the sasmy cutting % oar supPtiee
to estimate the mum bars Of the enemy. TheJ
have very large. ~ we'll ~ The be.s organ
txao and "a Uippad agOy which Ne Eorthsk1
0ovsransas asve svsr sat tato ~ H..
Isfr-x sssss
fv"s4 sAesarxss Fsss.sea ssss ssSns ~.
mAke up the Ioitcsias sasn mary;
RIA pAgTLs q AaaAMsAe.
L 4 daspatsA 1AtaA fors Dmtth. An, MAs<l
4 D6Ansa = sa,iaeenss 80 haas rsssaasAtAa
ttJok IL. = Dneana, - p9tnoDoA -