The National tribune., 1884-09-18
PEA RIDGE.
The Part Taken in the Battle by the 44th III.

The Part Taken IN the Battle by the 44th Ill.
To THE EDITORS: Carleton" in his account
of the Pea Ridge battle, makes no mention of
the 44th Ill. The d4th was with Sigel, and had
been lying several days south of Bentonvlle.
On the night of March we received orders to
strike our tents, pack up load our teams and
be ready to march as soon as possible. Before
daylight of the 9th we were on the move to-
wards Bentonvil!e, passing through Benton
vile about daylight. AT that time | was with
the wagon train, and remember quite distinctly
of seeing Sigel and his staff in Bentonville as
we passed through. Shortly after leaving the
town we heard the rattle of small-arms in our
rear, and our regiment was ordered back on
the louble-quick. The Johnnies had got round
Bentonville, completely cutting off Sigel and
his staff had captured one company of the 36th
Ill, and came mighty near getting Sigel HIM
self; but by prompt action ON the part of those
sent to their relief the way was opened for
their retreat and the train saved, and most of
the company captured from the Both recaptured
or made their escape and joined their command
again. We had more or less skirmishing all
the way from Bentonville back to Sugar
Creek, 16 miles, arriving at Sugar Creek some
time in the afternoon of the 9th. Friday fore
noon we were held in reserve, but after dinner
we were ordered up, and took position on the
right of the road, facing Buck Horn Tavern.
The rebs at that time had forced our men back,
ground that our troops had occupied in the
morning. On the evening of the 9TH we fell
back to the left of the road, where we lay in
the woods all night, and iii the morning. just
at daylight, or soon after, the Johnnies opened
on us with solid shot; and i can just hear those
shot singing through the woods yet. The
rebel battery was placed in the small strip OF
| timber just south of the Buck Horn and on the
same side of the road Our regiment was
ordered ON the extreme left to support, i
think, the 1st Mo. battery. When we came
out of the timber we turned in an orchard
and lay down behind a rail fence, just in rear
| of the battery. We could see the rebs quite
| plainly from our position. Our artillery had got
/ cross fire on them at this time and was making
! things lively for the Johnnies, and they were
| also making it quite interesting for us. Oul
regiment was ordered back to take position in
rear of the orchard. While executing this
| movement 6-pound shell fired by the rebels
struck the ground in our rear, glanced and
/ struck Karl Wosner in the back, killing hin
! instantly and knocking down our First Duty
| Sergeant
| Right here let me say that here is as re-
markable a case of warning or premoniti0n O.
danger as theones Col. Fahnestock, of the S6tf
H., speaks of. In the morning while We Were
eating our breakfast orders were issued thai
| each man should take so rounds of ammuni
| tion-20 in his pockets and 40 in his cartridge
box. ] helped to distribute the ammunition
When came to Karl he said:
No, don't want any more, and never shall
| live to use what ! have"
We tried our best to talk that idea out of hi
head, but it was of no USE Poor fellow h,
never fired a shot What position the baanc'
| of our brigade held | am unable to say.
think the 25th III. was at our right The 2ls
H. (as " Carleton says was not there.
In your issue of Aug. q Serg't Nash, of th
25th H., says the 44th Ill. was armed will
Sharp's six-shooters. He is in error. We wer
armed with the Belgian single-shot rife
When we drew our arms at st. Louis in 1856
Cos. and b and 2o men in each of the othe
companies were armed with Colts five-sho
rifles, saber and bayonet; the balance wer
armed with muskets, and mighty poor ones
too. In February, 1862, we turned over all tn
guns we drew in 1861, and received in thei
stead the Belgian rifles We used them witt
such deadly effect that the rebels did not car
to visit US very long They commenced failin
back about 9 o'clock, when our whole line wa
advanced and drove them pell-mell from th
field.
/ would like TO hear from some the old mem
bers of the 44th and will call out L. w. Will
bur, of Co. B, who / know can give a goo
history of the regiment from its organization
as he kept a diary. Come, Lew, give us q
account of yourself-A. E. RIPLEY, Co. B, AT
ILL.,, Union City, Mich.