The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-11-15

there r-tre instances of shirkinE "a VIII always
BE the case in anv battle, but they were not
numerous. Perhaps The knowledge that the
enemy was right on the line of communlca-
fious so rs 10 cut OF retreat and render Surren-
der necessary ia case Of defeat had something
10 do with the good conduct Of a few, but %
could not be the case throughout the whole
army Aud 10 do the rebels Justice, they dis
played similar courage, but they had tae ad-
vantage of being the attacking party and
knowing that they were superior ia numbers
60 the Union forces.
"On the morning Of the 3tl," said Harry. IN
his story of the battle, there was great activity
al through the Union camp. Every drum and
fife in he army was called INFO use and never
before had the woods OF Pea Ridge resouhded
90 SO much martial music. Rsj1ons for TWO
days had been PREPARED, the soldiers cartridge
boxes were flled 10 fHeir fullest capacity,
every man made a careful inspection OF the
lock Of his ride 60 make sure that II was in
periect or7cr and then the order was given 10
load with bail cartridge ana be IN Teadlness TO
advance when the word was given
eve were kept waiting while Gen. Sigel
had his Eght with the enemy on the left OF our
line that I've already told about. While we
were getting ready Tor work Jack aad went
T. Gen. Faudever and asked what we should
do.
What do you want 10 do? said ne.
go We want 10 do the best we can / au-
swcred. and help an we can. Wen do any
thing y0u ten MS 80 do
Well, then. the General said, very quick
", stay ncar me and act 3s my volunteer AIDS
til ] tei sou 10 do something else. Then ne
turned away 10 attend TO getting has brigade
In order sud We stood still and waited TIL he
came back.
He was gone only minute or two, and
then told Jack 20 ride over 10 Gen. Carr and
say the Second Brigade WAS waiting Tor orders.
lie told me to 60 10 Gen. Dodge and ask if he
had received orders TO move yet and 10 iet MIN
know whenever orders came.
Jack came back with the order for the bri-
Eade 10 follow that Of Gen. Dodge which had
received its orders Just before 1 got 10 it. One
OF Gen. Cars Aids had broughE tie order 10
Gen. Dodge aud be rode with me 10 Gen an
dever % repeat the order which Jack had al
ready brought
The order 70 advance was loudly cheered,
aud the men stepped OF as gaily as though they
were going to dEess-p parade, and most Of them
q great deal more 50. / couldn't help thinking
how many Of these gallant fellows would be
stark and 81 i on the ground OF suffering with
wounds before another morning sun woula rise
on hem. We could hear the roll Of musketry
and The booming Of cannon where Gen. Sigel
was eBgaEed ON the left. and before long our
advance was engaged with that of the rebels,
and the shot aud shell were crashing among
the trees rs their artillery opened upon Us.
Z
road toward the Missouri State line, and fled
of TO the eass near Elkhoru Tavern. As soon
as il got into position il opened with battery
upon the rebels who We're posted in a wood on
a slope IN front The battery was promptly
replied to- and then the shots were exchanged
with great rapidity There were six guns on
each side. though some OF our men thought
the rebels had eight or 10 guns, bat we after
ward learned they bad only six; but II was the
best battery in their whole army. Our battery
WAS the lst Iowa. aud its Captain prided him
self on having brought it TO a state Of great
efficiency, but he wasn't quite equal TO his
antagonist.
Gen. Eandevers Brigade went little be-
yond Elkhon Tavern and took position on the
left Of the road nearly opposi te To where Gen.
Dodge had stretched out 10 the right As / sst
on MY horse close behind the General. / could
see that we had dry rayine in front Of Us and
wooded slope farther on, and i did not need
sharp eyes 10 discover that this slope was well
occupied by rebels. The General ordered the
Dubuque batt y Capt. Hayden to open IRE
pa these gray and butteTuut coats, and as he
ala 50 there was a lively running of the lei
lows to cover They showed ny their act ous
chat Capt Hayden's shots we're well aimed: bot
we had nOt given them more than tyo three
rounds before battery on the other side re-
piled 10 rs.
That battery was evidently IL the hands o
good officer, IS be got our range at the very
hFst hre. slot cane whisUliug close TO tht
General and i thought it passed between hiG
and NE, but an officer who was there said il
went over eur heads. You have TO idea il
yOu ve never heard Il what spiteful screech.
ing a Canu9n-saot makes when 1t goes by you
lnvoiuntarily you dodge, but really lodging j.
Of no Use, Is the call has gone past you before
you bear il. A cauu08-bsIl moves q great dea
faster than sound According to our school
books sound moves 1,I42 feet 2 second, and the
scientific Sanuers say ne velocity Of a cannon
ball is from 400 10 l,S03 feet a second. Thai
Of a ridc-iaiI Is greater and SO by the time yOI
can hear the sound made bF a missile, whether
large or small. il has gone way past you.
As tie tllrd IRE the rebels blew up one O
our timber chests, which was standing close be
hind the gun 10 which il belonged. The grea
puf Of smoke thai rose from it showed Ii,
rebels that they were taking good aim. ant
they poured Ia their shot very rapidly ate
that. Ia 10 minutes more they blew Up an
other limbcr-chest, and then the General or
oered the battery 10 change lis position, and
sent me to carry the order TO Capt. Hayden.
il was about 8 o'clock in tie morning wheI
the FIRST shots were exchanged on this part O
the field, and ia j. minutes the whole Of Gen
Cars Division was engaged. Before / coull
gel to Capt. Hayden 10 give him Gen Faude
Eer's order tie rebels made a rush upon th
battery aud captured one Of the guns; tie res
were hsuled back short distance and at Tia
szme tine the 9th Iowa, which was supporting
the battery, poured IN 4 heavy IRE ana covere,
the ground wIth the enemy's dead and wound
ed. The rcbels were driven back to their cove
IN the WOODS and the gun that had been capt
uTed WAS retaken, as they did Lot have time /
drag IL from the Geld.
They stand ike veterans said Gen Van
deTer, referring 10 the soldiers Of the 9Th Iowa
Their long march yesterday hasn't afecte
their courage. There were never better me
on q battlefield.
" Just as he said this Col. Heron, Of the 81
came up and the General congratulated him
and then the General rode along the line an
said 70 the soldiers the same that he had
their commander. The men cheered him au
were evidently determined 10 do their part 1,
ward winning The battle Tor the Union sid
But could They succeed against all those mass,
Of men that could be seen on the hiIl-slone
the cast and west and crowded In the brusl
wood aud among the trees that stretched ava
30 the north.
After TINS for while there was a luIl in ii
hghtng and meantime We could hear the a
tillery and small arms to the left, where Ge
Sigel and Gen. Davis. with their divisions. wel
sustaining tile shock Of the enemy. They We
oyermstched in numbers, but their weapon
were more effective, and they had a betit
supply Of ammunition. Many Of the enem
were armed only with squirrel rifles and sho
guns, and, OF course, they could not load an
fire with the raFIdiTy OF our men. Had the