The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-10

him and four OF those he rode were
wounded. Nevertheless when the order
came to retreat Col. Dodge fought stub
bornly on and simply sent bach word
that to retreat meant ruin.
In the battle Of Pea Ridge Dodge lost
one-third Of his entire command and
every one of his field officers was either
killed or wounded. He himself WAS seri-
ous.y wounded during the action. but
remained In command to the close of
the battle. For his services he was
promoted to the rank OF Brigader-Gen-
eral. Perhaps nothing can give bet
ter Idea OF the personality Of this brill
liant officer than his modest letter to
his father, written from the hospital
soon after the battle.
Dear father" he wrote. II know there
~ no one who would like to have a
word from mo more than you. I write
hut little--am very weak from my
wounds; do not sit M much but hope
ere long to he all right again. Nothing
now but the hattie will interest you.
at was a terrible three days to me.
how l got through God only knows.
got of n sickbed to go to the fight. and
! never got a wink OF sleep for three
days and three nights. The engagement
was SO long and with us 20 hot that
II did not appear possible for us TO hold
our ground. We lacked sadly In num-
bers and artillery. but with good judy
ment and good grit we made II win.
MY officers were very brave. Little
Capt. Taylor would stand and clap his
hands as the balls grew thick. Capt.
Burton was as cool "a n cucumber and
liked to have bled to death then the
men as they crawled back wounded
would cheer NEE cheer for the Union.
and always say. Don't give up, Colonel,
hang To them; and many who were too
badly wounded To leave the field stuck
to their places. sitting on the ground,
loading and firing | have heard Of brave
acts hut such determined pluck ! never
before dreamed Of
My flag bearer. after having been
wounded so he could not hold up the
colors. would not leave them. had to
peremptorily order him on. One time
when the enemy charged through my
lines the boys drove them back in con-
fusion.
Price fought bravely his men de-
served better fate: but although two
to one they could not gain much. Their
artillery was served splendidly-they
had great advantage over us In this,
Mine ran on, OF ammunition long before
night and left me TO the mercy Of their
grape and canister. Had ! had my full
battery at night could have whipped
them badly.
After the Fourth Iowa's ammunition
gave out, or before this, all the other
regiments and brigades had given way,
leaving me without support, and when
found my ammunition gone I never
felt such chilling IN my life. II is
terrible right I'm the midst of "A hot con-
test TO have your cartridges give out.
we had fired forty.two rounds, and
had but n few left. ! saved them and
ceased firing. falling back to my sup
ports.
The enemy charged me IN full force
| halted and they came within NIFTY
feet. We opened on them such a ter
rlble fire they fed. Gen. Curtis rode
into the fied then and asked me to
charge. This would have h'anched
anybody but an Iowa soldier. 30 ann
munition and To charge We hNcd
bayonets. and "a I gave the order the
boys cheered and cheered. swinging
their hats In every direction,
"Charcc,' and such yell a. they
crossed that field with you never hear,