The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1862-03-22
THE GREAT BATTLE OF PEA RIDGE
Full Particulars Of the Three Days
Fighting.
Correspondence Cincinnati Times.

Full Particulars Of thc Three Days
Fighting.
Correspondence Cincinnati Tines
CAMP SlGEL PEA RIDGE, Benton Co., Ark.
Monday Evening, March 10.
Before this reaches Cincinnati, you will have
learned of the great three days battle, fought
on Pea Ridge, in Benton county, Arkansas, CON-
mencing on Thursday morning, the 9Th, and
closing on Saturday afternoon, the Sth inst. !,
certainly one of the seyerest engagements du.
ring the war, and little, if any, behind the great
struggle at Fort Donelson.
This battle, like that up the Cumberland, ex-
tended over great deal of ground, and was
characterized by vast amount Of irregular fight
ing, such as it is impossible to embrace IHith
the eye, and almost impossible to describe in
in detail. Such particulars, however, as l can
gather amid the tumplt and confusion that at
tend and follow battle, will endeavor to fur
nsh in my usual crude and desultory form.
FEARS FOR OUR TROOPS.
No marvel fears were felt for the safety OF our
soldiers, Notwithstanding the confidence reposed
in such officers as Sigel, Carr, Davis, Osterhaus,
and others, who had been tested by severe or
deals on the fields. That their situation was
precarious-that the odds were largely against
them-and the prospect of their success dim
and distant, is evident at glance.
Our little army seemed rather to consult its
ardor than its prudence, and marched steadily
on in face Of frowning dangers and formidable
opposition. Oar advance reached Fayetteville
forty-ive miles below the Missouri State line,
and still Price retreated.
At Boston mountains the Missouri rebel was
joined by Ben. McCuoch, Van Dorm, Albert
Pike and his Indians, and Mcintosh, who had
been made Gcneralissimo of all the Secession
forces in Arkansas, much to the chagrn of Ster-
ling Price, really more deserving of the great
dshonor
At this time Gen. Curtis, hearing of the rebel
reniorcements, and knowing their force more
than twice his own, had no doubt he would be
attacked, or at least have an opportunity for
battle in very few days lie discovered that
the vicinity of Sugar Creek was much better
adapted for camping, aud he therefore ordered
his advance to fall back to the neighborhoOd of
that stream. Up to this time Price and McIn.
tosh had believed the Federal army at least So
600 strong; not supposing Curtis and Sigel
would have the temerity to enter thickly eet-
tied State, whose every man, woman and child
had been reported as hostile, to the las degree,
to the odious Yankees.
Hearing of Curtis retrograde movement Nc
1ntosh had no doubt that he was retreating in
hot haste, anxious to escape from the tolls in
which he had discovered himself, as it was hoped
too late for extrication. When he learned, too
through one Of his spies, the exact number Of
the Federal troops, he was confident they were
flying, and thereafter the only effort was to de-
stroy or capture the Yankee host.
THE FEDERAL ARMY.
Our effective force could not have been more
than twelve thousand on the day Of the first en-.
gagement, and was composed of Indiana, ILL
nois, Iowa, Ohio, and Missouri troops The army
was divided into three divisions, under the COM
mand of Gen. Samuel r. Curtis, brave and
patriotic officer, and was brigaded, as nearly as
! can learn, in the following manner
GEN. SIGEL'S DIVISION.
FIRST BRrGADE-CoI. GRKUsEL
Thirtysixth Illinois, Col. Greusel
Twenty fifth Illinois, Col Koler.
Forty.fourth Illinois, Col. Knoblesdorf
SECOND BRIGADE-coL osTERHAUs.
Twelfth Missouri, Col. Osterhaus.
Seventeenth Missouri, Col. Hassendeufel.
Second Missouri, Col. Schaeffer
THIRD pRIGADE-coI. AsBorB.
Third Missouri, Col. Friala;
Illinois Cavalry, Zone battalion,) Captains
jerks and Smith;
Third Iowa Cavalry.
GEN. DAVIS DIVISION.
FIRST BRIGApE-coL BENTON.
Eighth Indiana; Gel. Benton;
Eighteenth Indiana, Col. Patterson;
Twenty -secoDd Indiana, Lieut.. Col Hendricks.
SECOND BRIGADE-coL
Fifty-ninth Illinois, Lieut. Col. Fredericks;
Thirty seventh Missouri, Col.
Missouri Cavalry, battalion, Major Bowen;
Second Ohio Battery, Col. Carlin;
First Missouri Light Artillery, one battery.
GEN. CARR'S DIVISION.
FIRST BRIGADK-coL. DODGE.
Fourth Iowa, Lieut.. Col Galighan;
Twenty-ftth Illinois, Col. G. A. Smith;
Twenty-fourth Missouri (battaiion) Major
Weston.
SECOND BRIGADE-coL yANpEyIER.
Ninth Iowa, Lieut.. Col. Heron;
Twenty-ffth Missouri, COL Phelps;
Third Iowa Battery, Capt. Hayden;
First Iowa Battery; Lieut.. David,
THIRD BRIGApE-coL. ELLIS.
First Missouri Cavalry, Col. Ellis
Third Illinois, Lieut. Col ;
Sixth Missouri (battalion) Major Wright.
THE REBEL Army.
The rebel army was composed of nine or ten.
perhaps twelve thousand Missouri State troops.
under Major General Sterling Price; some six or
eight regiments of Arkansas, under Gen. Ben.
NcCniioch; five or six regiments of Texans, un |
DER Ten. Earl Van Dorm; some three thousand |
Cherokee, Choctaw, Greek and Seminole Indians
under Col. Albert Pike, all under the command |
OF Major General Mcintosh. In addition TO
those mentioned, there were two or three reei.
pients of Louisiana troops, and companies Of
Mississippi and Alabama eoidiers. under Their
Captains, Majors and CoIonels vhose
names are unknown alike to your corrc.non.,oas
and to fame. The entire rebel force could No.
bave been less than thirty thousand; many ner.
sons estimate it still higher.
ARMS or THE rEDERALIsTs AND REBELS.
Our troops we're Of course generally well arm.
ID, while the rebels varied as usual In the style
character aud effectiveness of their weapons
Many of the Confederate arms were excellent
MIME rifles, Enfield muske,s. and
FOOD United States muskets; but the greater
portion were rifles and shot guns, with which
'terling Price once swore he could establish the
southern Confederacy against the opposing
vorld
The rebels had 50 field pieces, some 20 OIL
Ihich we're riaed; while we had but 49, most
{ them, however, being of superior manufacture
, those made in 6ecessia.