Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1862-03-25
The Battle at Pea Ridge.


sas. IL viii be remembered that the iigh, lasted
three days, and was commenced by an attack
upon Gen Sigel
There can be no doubt that the retiring move
ment Of our troops, on both roads, was constru-
ed by the rebel officers into an intention to re-
treat, and in order to take advantage OF our
disposition they resolutely pushed on TO attack.
In plain fact it should be said that there was
some of cur officers who could not but look
upon our shattered little army and the swelling
columns OF the enemy with some misgiyings
that we were about to renew an uncquel strug-
gle not unlike Springfield The enemys force
as is nearly always the case, WIS vastly magni-
fed, and 1t was conceded on all hands tha. we
should acoep. battle at tho first offer.
The cutting off Of Il detachment from the
main body presented favorable opportunity
for them to lnaugurate the victory they confident
ly expected to gain 70 their griei they dis.
cUered they had the very worst man to deal
with they could have selected. Gen. Sigel,
with two blttalions Of Missouri infantry and
d squadron Of cavalry, formed the rear guard
Of bis division aud were DELAYED by the train.
which moved slowh along the rough roads lie
vas determined not to desert single wagon to
the enemy, although By 50 doing he could have
easily reached the main body The enemy made
his appearancewith about tour thousand caya-
ry at about ten IN the morning, a few miles
0ut ol beui0uY.ile ard immediaely commenced
the attack by a desperate charge. Sge had
with him near q thousand men Two hundred
Infantry be sent forward 70 Wcyent being cut
of. and with the remainder be received the
whole OF the vast army. Sigel's example at
Carthage bad JaugHt hlm how % bear himself
under slch desperate circumstances, and he or
derld bis men 60 stand firm, and take good aim
The teams were out upon good pace, and the
euemy came bounding along in several lines
The holsemcl On the lanks, and infantry in the
rear. awaited their approach until within about
two hundred yards, when they delivered terri
bic yolley OF MIME balls into their ranks winch
bad the effect OF throwing them into temporary
confusion Ia few minutes the leaders, by
dInt Of much shouting aud gcstculatiou, sue.
ceeded in getting them into something like Orde'
This time they came up TO close quarters. The
same volley succeeded by second and a third
greeted them. The enemy came on in crowds,
hooting and cheering as If IA glee at what they
laeo3unIedan easy capture. The Cnemy's cav
airy closed all round the little band nOtwitb-
standing that horses and riders were falling thick
and fast before our steady fire. Gen. Slgel rode
undismayed along the whole line insplriling hts
men. Some Of the cavalry on the llnk bad
succeeded IN getting across the road so as to cut
the tram IN two, and il was here that the enc
my set up shout ol triumph.
II was short lived. In minute more the
bayoucts Of our men had done their work, leav-
lng the enemy hundreds OF dead and wounded.
The enemy was driven of, broken, and dismay.
ed It i, hmentabe that at this point one Of
our teams containing three OF the wounded men
who had been placed in it was LETT behind The
mules had been shot, and nothing could be done
in the emergency to regain it.
Called and madlened at the repulse, the enemy
could De seen reforming to renew the attack.
The column was yet seven miles from the en-
campment, A dispatch had been sent forward
to Gen. Curtis, explaining the position and ask
ing tor assistance. 1t was hardly possible that
the messenger could have been captured. The
enemy was advancing along the road and along
the ridges uc.oscs the stream. Al about >
o'clock the second stack was made and dcsper
lately carried forward The re1el h0rsemen
suuIrei their horses right on to tie irresistible
Ihyanets. delivering their load ut buctshoi from
the miscellaneous gal,, and then hyaudlshing
their hugc knives winch every ono ui them car
lied Ia place OF sabers.
fhey surrounded tbc rear guard second time
aud 'or .ew minutes friend could hardly be
distinguished from Ice. The dense ,noke en-
yc.aped the whole OF The c0mmtants 50 that Tor
some time it was doubtful whether any OF our
litte band survived The rebels made ihe ar
rim. with lusty cheers aud oaths. The faithful
/ fs .tt ir.lf 4
tered Tor a moment. Their gallant leader struck
down doEn OF the sayageS vino elamored for
his life, and hewcd his way through line Of
them to reoin his command. The bayoneis
proved the inylneibiity of our troops against
horsemen. The foe retired second time, and
Tor an hour they could not be induced to return
by the most frantic Efforts OF their leaders. BY
ms time the advance, which had been constant.
ly skirmshng with the rebel cavalry, announced
that reiniorcemenS were IN sight, and the little
cheer went up, which was re-echoed by the
troops from the camp. A third and last attempt
was made to capture the train, 1t also failed
and the enemy withdrew about hali.past three
Gen. Sigel reached camp at halt past four to
receive the congratulations OF the entire camp
His loss in the entire march, it was estimated,
would reach sixty killed and two hundred woun-
ded. Many OF the wounded fell into the Lands
of the enemy, it being impossible to bring them
off. We lost three wagons, Numerous stories
OF herosm ON the part of both men and officers
were related by eye witnesses of tho fight, and
almost every survivor had scar or mark of
bullet through his clothing. Some of them had
the narrowest escapes. One eman had the bridge
Of his nose carried off another was sho. through
the ear. third with ball lodged in his breast
pocket. Most of the wounds were slight, and
our force of surgeons Immediately proceeded to
dress the heroic sufferers. All speak in the
highest terms of the bearing Of Gen. Sigel, Col.