The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-01-24

T 4
der FIRE. and Davis was ordered 10 support it,
hut a sadden attack on the left changed the
direction OF the latter TO the relief of 0ster-
hsus General Curtis saws: " The battle ragged
in the center with terrible fury. Colonel Da-
Wis held the position against fearful numbers,
and our brave troops nobly stood or charged IN
steady lines The fate of the battle depended
on success against this flank movement Of the
enemy. and here, near Beetown, was the place
&c break II down. The fall of Generals McCul-
1och. Mcintosh and other officers of the enemy,
who fail early jim the day. aided us In our final
success at this most critical point; and the
steady courage Of officers and men in our lines
chilled and broke down the hordes Of Indians,
cavalry and infantry that were arrayed against
us While the battle thus ragged in the center
the right wing was sorely pressed. and the
dead and wounded were scattered over the
field Colonel Carr sent for re-enforcements,
and sent few cavalry and my body guard,
with the little mountain hewitzers, under Ma
ior Bowen. These did good service at a most
critical period. j urged Colonel Carr to stand
frm-fAat more force could be expected soon.
Subsequently Colonel Carr sent me word that
he could not hold bis position much longer. /
could then only reply by sending him the or
der to persevere' lie did persevere, and the
sad hav0c in the 9th and 9TH Iowa and Phelps
Missouri and Major Weston's 2sth Missouri
and all the troops in that division viii show
veEance."
Sicel detecting a movement on the part Of
EcCnlioch to Join forces with Price on the
south attempted 30 intercept it with cavalry
and three pieces Of artillery. By vigorous
onslaught of the Indian cavalry, the guns
were captured the cavalry routed and the way
opened fBr slcCuli0ch to obtain for his infantry
the rover of q dense wood, ON the west of
which WIS 3 large open field. Here ensued
protractea aud fearful struggle between Me-
CullOci and the forces under Osterhaus, who,
bT hard lighting. held his position until the
arriVal 81 Davis with has division, when, by a.
garaltiy executed charge the Ionfederates
were driven from the field. In the crisis of
the sfrnggie McGuliorh dashed forward TO re-
connoltrF- and fell q victim to his rashness.
Almost at the same moment Mcintosh fell
while ielaing cavalry charge upon a battery
Cf afliserr- Deprived of these two fav0rite
generals. the shattered forces Of the enemy re-
tired ~ disalag. 70 raiiy, after 3 wide circuit,
OF Prizes corps.
The conflict still rsged with unremitting
fury on lhe right aud center, where Price in q
determined attempt to carry that position, had
pushed It's troops into the fight regardless Of
loss At p. n. General Curtis ordered Sigel
to re-eaforce the Sd ard iih divisions.
Colonel Carr. covered with blood from three
wounds WITH one arm disabled, was falling
Slows irick, coHtes5ing tae ground stepby step.
ETDHHa DID his iEont covered wit rfe wounded
and dying add how stubborn had been the re-
sistatre oi the heroic sth division. The 4th
Iowa E.iiiRg hack for ammunition, dressing on
lis c8l0rs ia perfect hne was met by General
Eurta Wsg ordered the regiment TO face-ah0ut
and hold its position until re-enforeements
would arrive. Nolonei Dodge rode forward
and explained that his men were out Of car
tridEas. Charge with the bay0net. then"
Tflprl M the gsss.-
and, with cheer pressed forward. The
enemy, NOT liking the gittering steel, fell back,
and the lost ground was wen. where the gal
LIANT 3ih was ready to support them.
Arbeth plastel his artillery in the road and
opened Oh the enemy. The ID Missouri de-
pl0reu and pressed forward. The shades Of
might were falling, but the fight ragged with in
creasiAe Fehemence Colonel tssterhaus had
moved 60 the suPElort OF General Davis, who,
with portion Of lis division, EaSstill engaged
on Cars left; bnt il was too late when he got
into position to open tiTv aud his weary troops
bigouankad upDn the field.
On the right the lriHg continued until the
barterits -an out Of ammunition. the C0nfed-
crates L1Ing the last shot when the two Giris-
ions were arFayed al0ng the edge Of a piece of
timber with iiaidE in front, when, utterly ex-
hausfea the men sought rsst IN sleep.
The result OF the days fighting was not
cheering Id either general. The loss on Curtis
sight had been conn bv victory On his
LETT. hE discipline Dl Cars division prevent
q anything like panic. Trey had been forced
baek hF superior ElFHbeEs but had held to-
gether and, il proportion ID the numbers, the
division nas a. strong Tor service as before the
c0nfieF began. Nal D0rn's headquarters was
at EIklgrA Tavern, where Curtis had been on
the Trs sigas morning. Each army held It's 0p-
p1naHt liEIc OF tptrrat Llaere wAs 40 resource
bEt 10 tlt fer tAeir cgsanl lnicati0ns with their
r \
been hrid between Curtis ard Van Dorm, such
was the 4aKigfy 5f each 10 avoid battle on the
LaurrgE. it is highly probable that an arran ge-
lnelt c1ala have ses1 made - change the 20
sition pf their respective armies. 1t is said
thaf a officers Of the DBson army met al
the headquarters OF q division commander, and
RendiAg Zoe tIia colonel Of a caralrv regiment
direct Y llill, III ca5e uf defeat tc hold his Inen
III reaalilcss Ho escort them 60 The open country
ID Tae rear d Tao Denfederate lines They
were, however. prevented from riFaling The
eap-ait 81 tioFl asla Pillow, By d timely re-
turn Uf reas8n, and she dawn Of day.
On ilae lsasl 0l t5e lol4ledc1ates the retrospect
Tas scarcely more chceEiag. in his report
Nan b4Gr sags: About , p. IA received, by
aias ae-eafaFe the Indignation that Generals
Nelpiioet AGl Eelnt6sh and C0leneI Bcbegs
were kalea, 2nc tiaa. t@e division was without
any le1l- ] llcNertAellss pressed forward with
theattaeks and af sunset the encIay was fleeing
before aAr yjetal5eus fEoops ST every point il
our 'front.' aHa when night Eeli we bad driver
hiEn Hl.t resw from the Held OF battle
eHr FVops slei4 aF9n tAeir arms nearly
Mile beyond fhe point AZ which lie Elade hi
last sand. and nly headquarters for the nigh
Were at iAe Llkharn Tavern. We had t4lzeI
oltlHg tho Cay seven cannon and about 20
prisoners
I2 lhe course of the night ascertaines
tAat tas aAlIaaulti9a VAS almost exhausted
aao ihat the calces IL charge u the ordnanc
suppiiss could NOT Gnd his wagons, which, witt
the subs staiAee tIs.in, had been sent TO Benton
Elile Alast OF the troops had been withon
any i81a slnee tae morning Os the 9Th, ano tn
artillery horses were beaten out. IL was. there
fore Rth 10 iittlc ans3ety that ! awaited tn
dawn ~ day. When il came it revealed to 10
tbs eHcny in q ue@ and strong position, offer
ite h4tEle. 4 made my dispositions at once q
Aclepf the gaze. and BY o'clock The c2nnonad
in2 Ess Is heavy IS that Of the pregious day.
Tie txpc9isiOn bad proved a failure fr0u
the START LIS sappiy train was lost. Tn
tardE movements Of General Price had los
niE the opportunity 70 cut Of Sigel at Benton
yilie. Dne laaif Of his army had been terrIbi
defeated br Davis and 0sterhaus, and the cor
Bentr.ltiO2 Of Curtis entire force in his front q
Ikborn Tavern, which lie was j,oweriess /
rrpgct.t. convinced him Of the folly OF an
Farther attempt 10 obtain victory. His fir.
duty was 70 save ms array, and every NOV.
ment Aftneef0fwara was made TO that end.
TIE fight Of Tie following morning was
brief duration, bat Nas hoily contested Will
It insfa4. At To u clock Van Darn Garfdf-d