The Van Buren press., 1866-05-26

Three times the Federal forces charged
handsomely across the prairie, in lines as
regular as those of review, against the
Confederate position, which was in the
edge of prarie behind fence and in the
bushes grown up along it, and were re-
pulsed with great slaughter at each charge
the Confederates themselves charging af-
ter receiving the third charge. 1t was in
this charge that peasants was mortally
wounded. He had stood in the front
rank with his men, directing and encour-
aging them by his words and example,
filled with the most enthusiastic determi-
nation to loose all or win a victory, and
was the first to cross the fence at the or
der to charge, Passing the crest of the
prarie, which his men had already cover
ed with the dead of the enemy, he was
shot in the leg by a ball from q volley
which there met the advance of the
Confederates just before the enc
my withdrew from the field. AnnOunc-
ing his inability to go farther, he joined
in the stirring shout that hailed victo-
ry in that part of the field, and was borne
to the rear about four o'clock in the af-
ternOOn
1t was not long before heavy firing was
heard in the moment Of supposed sue
tcess, on the left Blunt had finally left
his position on Cane Hill, in which he
had been kept all the morning by the
Confederate Cavalry, momentarily expec-
ting an attack of Hindman's main army,
before he realized the situation. Par
sons, on the left Of Hindman's line, now
sustained the fight there against Blunt's
forces with complete success, also charg
ing and holding the field, when night clio
sed the scene. The cavalry, as well as
Roan's and Frost's divisions of infantry
were not engaged. Both armies slept
near by. Hindman commenced retiring
his infantry that night. Peasants
was conveyed with the first sent of, refu-
sing to submit to amputation. The next
day the whole army, Monroes cavalry
having made junction that night, was
ordered to the Arkansas river. On the
twelfth Col. Pleasants had declinci so
rapidly from his wound that it was de-
termned to resort to amputation. He
survived the operation but a few days.
Thus fell one Of the men who, by in
tclligence, energy, weight of character
and single hearted devotion to the cause
he deemed the cause of his country and
Of Constitutional Government, have con-
tributed to the unexampled resistance Of
fercd by the Confederate to the Federal
arms, and helped the heroes Of both to
win the laurels with which contemporaries,
friend and foe, have entwined the brows
Of the survivors, and appropriate the
immonelies which impartial history will
place on the tombs of the dead.
He was not forty years OF age; was
tall, well formed, of commanding pres.
encc, and a fine countenance. His hair
was light. His eyes were blae and brill
liant; his other feature were regularly for
med, and denoted suavity, united with
great decision and active intelligence
His voice was loud and sonorous, and
the men of Prarie Grove still remember
his command of "Charge"-which was
heard along the lines Of both armies
For many years he has been a planter on
the north side of the river ten miles be-
low Little Rock. He afterwards remov.
ed to lands he had previously purchased
in Arkansas County, from which place
he entered the service as an officer on the
staff of Gen Hardee, in 1861, He evin.
ced, throughout, the same devotion and
energy to his military duties that had
characterized him in peaceful pursuits.
He rapidly acquired distinction as an at
tentive, competent, unhinching soldier
and patriot whose spirit Of self-sacrifice
knew NO bounds.
His regiment afterwards commanded
by Col. Bell, who was captured in the as
sault or Helena, long retained his name,
by order. His son, youth, was elected
Captain by the men of the company which
the father had originally commanded in
the regiment; the company officers enti-
tied to precedence waving their right
thereto in order to compliment the son
as tribute to the sire whom they had
never ceased to revere, officers and men
The men and officers Of such regiment
were worthy of each other.
Col. Peasants, as We have described
him, was one of the representative men
Of his time. Such men were not spared
by war as deadly as that through which
we have just passed. Let us try to pre-
serve the memoiy Of them. That Of it.