The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-01-10
THE FRONTIER ARMY.
Experiences in the Battle Of Pea Ridge.

details and EMERGENCIES, find the story true
to events. But when you make Jack say IN
the issue OF Nov. 15 that there was MAJ. Post,
of the 37th H." etc, felt somewhat stunned
about the blnnder We all know that Gen. L.
S. Post is as brave and gallant soldier as ever
wore the blue, and do not wish to detract one
iota from all his hard-earned glory, both on
the field Of battle as well as in his last con-
gressiOnsl campaign; but the issue that am
raising is to give honor TO whom honor is
due" If the Major of the 37th Ill. is meant, 1t
certainly can be none other than our efficient
present Commissioner of Pensions, Gen. }. Z.
Black, who was then Major of our regiment
(37th III. J, and the words attributed by Jack as
coming from Maj Post were those OF Mag
Black, who had one of his arms shattered there
and would not give up until the battle was
fought and no doubt. so far as you have any ac-
quaintance with the Honorable Commissioner
YOU find ii characteristic of the man. Maj Post
was there also, but if my memory serves me
right. was then in the 9th Mo-, which, shortly
before the battle, was changed to the 59th Ill.
He likewise was wounded.
In connection with this think it about as
good an opportunity as need be to fulfill
promise given to yon some time back-to write
a short sketch of our part in the battle of Pea
Ridge; that is the part taken by Gen. j. Z,
Dayis's Division, to which our brigade, consist
ing Of the 37th and 59th III. and the Peoria
battery, belonged; but in doing so, can only
refer to what came under my own observation
as regards the 31th and those we came in I'M
mediate contact with during that engagement.
We all know that we had our hands full, and
more than full I have always found it most
convenient at such times to attend TO matters
before me, and let others do the same. Col.
knOx's story passes our doings by, merely stat
ing that % By-and-by we heard that Sigel and
Davis had driven the enemy and were slowly
drawing their lines" etc. So here it goes for
our share.
On the morning of March 6, 1862, while in
camp near Sugar Creek, orders were received
by our command TO cook three days rations.
During the afternoon we learned that Sigel
was hard pressed by the combined forces of
4 Van Dorm Price and Mccullough and we were
ordered to fall back to Sugar Creek Hill, facing
I the main road toward the SOUTH from whence
/ the rebs approached. We commenced to for
/ tify approaches during the evening and night,
! but morning showed our work was in vain, as
/ the whole rebel army had Outfanked us on the
/ left by road west and parallel TO us leading
! through IeetOwn 10 ElkhoTn Tavern, which
1 place was directly north and in our rear, on the
/ Texas and Springfield road, and forming the
! only practical outlet through the Ozark Mount
! ain Range, and commonly known as Cross Tim
/ Der Hollow. By this we were virtually cut of
/ from any retreat, and knew what was before
Us.
! When, therefore, on the forenoon of March
/ = our train, under escort of some of Gen. Carrs
Division was stopped this side of Elkhorn
Tavern by Prices forces stationed across the
/ road. who opened US with shot and shell,
/ Sigel's forces, being TO the left of Cars, were
1 involved also, and by 10 q. IN. the battle of
! Pea Ridge or EIkhorn Tavern commenced, and
soon developed all along the line After II M,
! there being somewhat of lull, our brigade
/ was ordered from where we had fortified to
/ near Leetown where Mccullough and McIn-
I tosh's forces were crowding our men pretty
! hard.
! After passing through Leetown, while the
9Th Ill unslung knapsacks, the rest OF the dlvis-
/ ion deployed behind rail fence facing north,
/ on either side of a lane or road leading toward
4 the rebel forces, which were beyond the field,
/ in the timber and still further north. The
/ 37th fled into the lane, having on our left a
/ fence and open field, wherein our PEORIA bat
! terry was stationed. Smelling the woods to the
north Of Us. On our right it was all timber,
/ with heavy scrub-oal brush. When about two
thirds the distance down the lane we fled into
/ those woods, Co. a on the right or lead. Having
entered the underbrush somewhat more than
I the length Of the regiment, we left-fanked,
1 which brought US in line of battle. Some OF
Go. A, noticing troops IN front OF us, wanted 10
4 fire, but as they wore blue oyercoats lhaving
stolen them the day before from some of Sigel's
! train or mem. an officer of Co. B cried out TO
! rs, Don't shoot; they are our own men,
/ Scarcely had these words been utteTed-and nc
/ doubt heard by them, as we were not over 10
rods apart-when we were staggered by heavy
voley almost in our faces, which extended not
only over our whole front, but also IN flank and
rear Of the first three companies. On the first
volley we dropped to the ground, and then lei
| them have il as fast as we could pull trigger on
our tive-shooters Cos. A and K, being flankinf
companies, were armed with Colts revolving
rifles, and our rapid firing disconnected then
somewhat: but, being whole brigade of Texas
and Louisiana troops, they soon crowded u
back there it was that Gen. Black was wound
ed, with heavy loss to the more advanced
companies. Back we fell, still firing, first NJ
/ the lane, then over the fence into the field
then behind the battery and up to the fence
/ above spoken Of hard pressed by overwhelming
numbers of Johnnies, Indians included. Blu
when once over the fence we saw the Indian;
Brigade composed Of the st, 18th and 22d Ind.
rise up with cheer, and they poured it int
| them which not only staggered and stopped
them, but sent them flying pell-nlell over tn
same ground they had chased US; the more 50
as about that time another of their leader
(Mclntosh) had fallen while shortly befor
that Mccullough was killed on the same lin
: by one Of the Both H., one of Sigels regiments
We drove them till nearly dusk, when we re
turned for knapsacks and to take care of on
wounded and we found that Co. 4 had los
others more or less wounded, out of a total Q
81 which entered the battle The loss of tn
J regiment was, l believe, 81 killed and IL
wounded.
2 During the night we slept on the bare frost
ground, on our arms, not knowing what an
e other day might bring forth for, though out
numbered at every place, we didn't fec
] whipped. During the night Tumors Of al
sorts spread through the camp; such as tina
7 Hunter, with 10000 men, was coming in tn
$ rear Of the rebels by way of Kansas with othe
$ rumOrs to keep UP our courage AT any rate
! dawn Of the Sth Of March found US all ready t
+ renew the fight and do our duty, whatever els
s might happen. A little before sunrise the SIT
s was ordered forward on the main or Texa
! road, but after a while filed to the left into
1 large clover meadow, divided by a rail fenc
e running east and west. Cos. A and wer
? ordered to level part of the fence, in order {
S enable our battery to go through and whe'
c into line. By the time we had done the leve
e ing part they galloped up, wheeled and III
S limbered, and we were ordered as support bt
e hind the piles of rails made by US. Just as tn
c orb Of day rose in the east our battery fred til
e sunrise gun into the rebel camp back of Ell
S horn Tavern, and situated on a rise OF groun'
d 60 that the battery had a good range, for "
:. could see by the commotion it caused anon
q the Johnnies, as we saw them run an
e dodge in every direction. It took them SON
n time to answer US, and when they did the
IS oyershot rs a good ways; but every shot can
e closer, till they began to drop in front of u