The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-08-22
You fights NIT Sigel?
Den Won drinks nit me


Den you drinks nit me"
These lines tell a story in themselves.
General Sigel was a hero among Germans,
and the soldier that fought under him be-
come heir to part of the generals glory
when he returned from the civil war. Sigel
was a German revolutionist who came to
this country and fought gallantly in the
sixties. He was a past master in the art
of retreating and saving his command.
In fact, this was the most notable phase
in his career. 1t does not detract from his
fame as a fighter-the battle of Pea Ridge
proves that. But Sigel could conduct a re-
treat in the face of overwhelming odds
neatly to enrage the enemy after
ward when il was seen what he had done.
and TO win for himself stars of glory and
promotion. Had he fought first Bull Run,
the name of that battle probably would not
have gene into history as the synonym
of an utterly routed army. Sigel began to
retreat before ne left Germany for America.
He saved his army of the Neckar by a
backward guide right march. In our civil
war Sigel retreated at Carthage, July 5,
1861, at or before Pea Ridge on March 5,
1862, and at Newmarket May IA, 1864. In all
cases Sigel outnumbered, yet ma
neuvered so as to save his command.
General Curtis, commander of the Union
forces in southwestern Missouri and north
western Arkansas, had about ten thousand
men and forty-eight cannon, divided into
four divisions, under Generals Sigel, AS
both, Davis and Carr. Sigel commanded
the right wing and had two divisions. Cur
tiss entire line fifty miles long. Van
ha at
tack on March on SigeIs divisions. which
were isolated from the rest of the COM
mand. But SigeI anticipating such a
move, sent most of his force on toward
Curtis, he himself remaining with 600 men
TO see just what Van Dorm intended to do,
on what roads he was coming and how big
his force was What he learned by stay
ing was that 5000 Confederates were after
him. They threw forward cavalry TO out
flank his little force and cut off his re-
treat. This Sigel prevented, and for six
hours had a running fight to get fve miles
to the rest of the army.
In the fight on the 9TH, Sgel, to bring his
division into place on the left wing, pushed
a battery forward, and while il was firing
rapidly, its infantry supports were brought
up to it by right wheel. This movement
was repeated twice, and advanced Sigel Sc
far as to encircle the rebels, who even
tually were defeated.
Pea Ridge was noted for it's Indian
lighters Albert Pike, the poet and gen gen
Confederates had they been impressed
with the lessons of history, never would
have resorted TO redskins. The French
did ii in the French and Indian war, and
were defeated; the British did it in the
revolution and again in 1872 and Amer
leans don't need to be told the result. But
the Indian agents i'm Indian Territory al
the outbreak of the rebellion were rebels
and the Confederate government, wher
formed, took in by treaty several thousand
Indians. The Union cannon at Pea Ridge
ra1 11xr hn 6nx-i1 ont Of rod
skins, who thought il going to be an.
other Bull Run, or Wilson's Creek with
unlimited chances for scalping So fright
ened were the CherOkees that at one time
they fired into the COnfederates with fata
result. The Confederates lost at Pes
Ridge two generals among the LOO mer
killed. $500 wounded and 1,600 missing anC
captured. The Union loss was 203 killed
972 wounded and ia missing.