The Battle Of Pea Ridge

S ome sis weeks ago the nrst jjeaerai movement was made frota Rolla, the present terminus of the southwestern branch of the Pacific Railway, toward SpriugfieW, at whieh welL known town Sterling Price was then encamped, with a body of Missouri State troops estima ted at cight to ten tbousand. Immediately after t'ae evacuation of Fremont's splerdid army, Prioe marched into Springficld and made bis headejuarters tbere, declaring, with the hugo oaths for whieh ho is remarkable, that lio would never again leave without a fight. Price violated bis word, once moro, and before bis own forco was eollected in the vicinity of Sprir.gfield, evacuated the town, marching dowutho Cassville road toward Bentooville, Ark., and daily expecting reinforcements from McCulloch, Mclntosb, Van Dorn and Albert Piko, with two or three thousand Cberokee, Cboctaw, Ureek and Seminóle Indiana. Various skirmisbes oceurred on the mareb, between our forces and those of the enemy, and a small engDgemeiit near the State line, resulting in the repulse of Priee, and his crossing over into sas, followed by our army. Since that event, thoso who knew our strength must have feit uneasy for the fate of our forces in Arkansas, whcre the foe must have every advantage from better knowledge of the country and its favorable positions for attaek and retreat, as well as superiority of numbers. Gen. Curtis' force was generally stated at about twenty thousand, but those who knew the fact'were awaro they were little more than half that nuraber; while the strcngtli of the enemy after Price's junction with the rebels cneampcd at various places in Arkansas, could nol, at the lowest computation, be less than twcnty-five or thirty thousand. Our little army geemed rather to oonsult its ardor than its prudcnee, and marched steadily on in the face of frowning dangers and formidable opposition. - Our advauce reachcd Fuycttcville, forty five milos below the Missouri State line, and still Priec retreated. At Boston mouutains tlio Missouri rebels were joined by Ben. McCulloch, Van Dorn, Albcrt Pike and bis Indians, and Mclntosh, who had been made Gcneralisshno of all the Socession forees in Arkansas, mucb to the chagriu of Sterling Price, really more desorviug of the great dishonor. At this time, Gen. Curtís, hearing of the rebel reiuforcements and knowing their foroes to be nioro than twice hif. own, had no doubt be wouldbe attacked or at least have an opportunity for battle in a very few days. He discovered thai the vieinity of Sugar Creek was muel better adapted for camping, and he tliere foro ordered his advance to fall back to tbo neighborhood of that streara. Up to this time Priee and Mclntosh had be lieved the Federal arniy at least 50,000 strong ; not supposing Curtís and Sigel would havo the tementy to enter a thtcli]y settled State, whose overy man, woman and child had been reported as hos tilo, to the last degroe, to the odious Yankees. Hearing of Curtís' retrogade movement, Mclntosli had no doubt that he was retreating in hot haste, anxious to excape from the toils ia which he had discovered himself, as it was hoped, too late for extrication. When he learned, too, through one of his spies, the exact number of the Federal troops, he was oonfident they were flyiag, and thereaftcr the ouly effort was to deatroy or capture the Yankee host. CHARACTER OF THE BATTlE GD.OUND. Benton cnunty ia ealled, in Arkansas, quite fertile, though ita appearance does not indícate ít, nor do I believe it would be so regardod in another State. It is rough aud hilly, often rocky, the soil bejng generally of a elajey character, and anvnrp.H in manv nlaoes with small trees, such as are kuown hercabout as black jack and post oaks, vith occasioually 'largor timbcr. The two principal roads are from Kciitpviilo to Payetteville, end these at var i ons poinU are well adfljrted by nature for Btrnng defenses, fiirnishing ready mcoTis for the succeesful resistance of a large by a small force. The roads are crooked and rucrged, nnd thogh easy for tbc pacaBge of liorscs, cattle and mules, are very difficult for the conveyauce of heavy wagons and artillery. In some capes our troops were detained for hours, and even duys, in traMfierring their cannon a disfairce of a few mile. Sugor Crcek ri.ses to the east of the Keatsville rood, flows tlirougb the lower part of Pea Ridga, whioh is about eight miles below the Missouri line, and flows toward Úg North. Pea Kidge is ratber a series of ridgofl cm a high table land, covercd with undergrowth and small sized trees, while in some quartors the timber is largo and tall. Last autumn a tornado visited nortbern Arkansas, and for several miles blew down the trees, which have lain ther anee, and offer serioi íions to tion of all kinds. Pea lüdge, on which tlio battle was foUght, yariea ia brcadth [rom two to five miles, and so uneven are its surfaces that no ono can seo for more than a few hundrêd yards at a time, in coDsequence of the intervening trees. TUF, ÏBDEBAl AlïMY. Our effectïre foroe eould not havo been more th ui twolve tliousand on the day of the first engagement, and wis composod of Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Ühio and Missouri troops. The army was under tbe commaml of General Samuel R. Curtís, a bravo and patriotio officer, and was org.inized into three divisions, coinmanded scverally by Gen. Sigel, Gen. Davis and Gen. Carr. Each división was subdivided into three b-igades, whieh were eonmianded by senior Colonels. TUE itEBEL ARMY. The rebel army wa.s composed of nina or ten perhaps twelve thousund Missouri State troops, under Mnjor-Gencral Sterliug l'riee ; some six or eight regiment.s of Arkansas, under General ]5en. Mc Culloeh ; five or six regimeuts of Tesans, under General Earl Van Dom ; some threo thousand Cherokee, Clioctaw, Creek and Seminóle Indiana, under Col. Albert l'ike, all under the command of Major General Mclntosh. In addition to those mentioned, there wero two or tliree regiments of Louisiana troops, and companies of Mississippi and Alabama soldiers, under their respectivo Captains, Majors and Oülonels, wUose ñames are unknown alike ío your correspondent and to faino. Tho entiro rebel force eould not have been less than thirty thousand , mauy persous estímate it stilt higher. AKMS OF THE FEBERAL1STS AND REBELS. Our troops wcre of course gonorally well armed, while the rebels varied as usual in the style, character and effective ness of thoir weapons. Many of the Confedrate arms were excellent, embracing Minie rifles, Enfield nmskets, and good United. States muskets ; but the srreater portion were rifles and shot-guns, with whieh Sterling Prioe once swore he could establish the Southern Gonfedoracy naainst the opposing world. "The rebels had eighty-two field pieees, some twenty of which were rirled ; wliilo we had but fortv-nino ; most of thern, however, being of superior manufacture to those made in Socessia. TITE FTEST DAY'S ÏKïHTtNG. As I havo Kuid, tho rebels, before they began the now memorable battjo in J3enton couuty, Arkausas, ou ïhursday mor ning, March Cth, were entirely coniident of suocess, and their chicf concern only liow to destroy or capture our whole force. General Curtis anticipatod an attack frora the South and accorclingly had the trains placed on the north, under the protection of General Sigel, with a body of eight iiundred men - the principal Federal encampments and main lines being to the eastward, near the head and on both sides of Sugar Creek. Meantime, the rebel forces were moving in f'ull strength from Beutonvillo, whenoe the} had proceeded from Cross Hollows, anc vith rapid marches were endeavoring to cross the creek, and by placing them elvesou the north, to cut off our retreat An advance of about tvo thousanc cavalry reached the desired position, and made a fierce onslaught on Sigel, hoping to tako possGSsion of our largo aud valu)le train. Sigel provcd liimself the right man in the riglit place. He gallantly met the enerny, aud whilc bc repelled thoir charge, Drevcntcd them from scizing upon our ivagons. The bravo and iccoiiiplisheil officer seemcd ubiquitous. He rode rapidly hero and there ; giving orders and observing the point of attack and situation of the cnemy, at the same time cbeering and enoouraging his troops. Ofteu he waa in the thickest of the fight, and yet he was ahvays cool, caleulating and skillful ; exposing hiniself as a common soldier, and yet preserving the calm judgment and fised purpose of a Cüinmander-in-Chief. Sigcl's desire was to keep the commu nication open betweon himself and the main camp, and the enemy's design to cut off this avenue for reini'orcements - They closed around him with tuinuiluous shouts, and believcd they luid aeenmplished their purpose, when Sigel rushed in upon tbem with his brave followers and compelled them to givo way. For two hours the stril'e went on with great ardor on both sides; but it seemed as if the Federalista would soon be lelled to 3'ield. iho wavcs ot opposition üllcd around Sigcl's courageous band )nce more, and again the traitorous ,hout went up to tbc sky, and swept liko i noto of victory alang the ríwng iiil!. - yiany a stout loyal beurt doubtlcss sank vhen that cry was heard ; but Sigel bad ao thoughts of failure. Ordering threo sompanies of his men to charge bayonets, tbe rebel cavalry was dispersed, and the ray was open opee more. Still no reinforcemeuts camo, and our irallant soldiers appearod contending aa a 'orlorn bope. The enemy wcre losing ground. ïhey rallied and feil with redoubled foree on our luroiy band, two hundred of wboin nad already provea their patriotism with their blood. The combat was hand to hand. Horsemen wero dismounted, and struggled with the iui'antry, while tbc offieers ware sometimos eecn defondiug themselvcs against the advaueing bayonets of tbe common soldiers. A superhuinan cffort on tbe part of the onemy, and the Federalista wero surrounded. Firmer and finuer wero the rebels elosing round the fivc or six drod bravos who wero evidently gouig to the wall. " Follcw me l" thuudered Sigo), and bis proud stecd trampled an approacliing rebel under liis haughty feet. A doep, strong, earncst cry from the Unionista, and tïiey met the foe with tbe rush of determination and the energy of despair. The secossion line could uot endure the shock. It recoiled, was thrown into confusión, and retired from a position that was iuimovablo as an Alpine rock. - The train was saved. The ürst day was wou. THE SECOXD DAï'3 BATTLB. The encmy, during the night and early in the rnorning, poured in from the Beutonville road, and gathered in heavy force to our rear, sweeping around to the right and occupying both sides of the Ketasvülo road, a position from whieh it was absolutely necessary to dislodgo them, or surreudcr all hope of succew;. Truly, bcforc the secoud dav's engagement bogan, the prospect was very dark. Pefeat secmed te rtaretts in the fö, fud tlB solo thing possiblc appearod a ] lo to prevent too disastroua a discomíi i ure. The way to Missouri was defended by hirty thousand of the enemy ; and we lad little moro tban ono-third of the umbcr to dispute tlie perilous passage. - f )n tlio soutli wero tho Boston ains. To the cast or west we could not ' gi Gen. Carr's división was sent by Gen. , Curlis fco force the enemy frotn their ■ ion, and about tcu o'olock in the j ing tbc battle was renewcd with in j creased ardor, and soon the batteries on )Oth sidcs wei-e raplying to eaoh otber . vith death-dealing voices. Tlio main aetion in tho moruing was to the right of , our eneampment, and for seven bours the ïold was hotly eoutested. Gen. Oarr made a gpirited and lieavy charge upon tho enemy under Mcöulloch and Price. Tlie rebels reelcd as we wout against tbera, but their eolumn did not reak. Tho charge was repeatcd. Sttll he foe stood firm, opening a galling firo 'rom two batteries wbose presence had ïot before been known. Our troops was throwD into confusión, and threo comlanies of infantry and Col. Ellis' Cava] ■y were ordered to silenco the dcst.ruct.ivc Luns. Like lightning our inen lenpcd orth, prompt to the word, and r ibout the rebel batteries as ravenous wolves around a sheepfold. Carr's eolumn ad vaneed and feil back and advanced again, and beyond them, up the hill the cavalry and infautry wero struggling to capture tho detestad guns. rhereaiment whiob protected the batteres met them fairly and frccly, and, for iif an hour, the two combátante wero so commingled tbat they almost failed to ■ecognize one another. " Qur men havo the batteries," was muounced, and the Federáis rent tho weikin with their huzzas. Yes, it waa so ! Xhrougli tho blue curling vapors our men could bc seen d ragging tho guns after them. Ere they had gone a hunebed yards, the robels were bohind them gtruggling like Hercules for the repossession of' tlie pieces. Briet triumph. Tho batteries aro lost Our men have been overpowcred by numbers. They retiro, and blood marks their progress, and inany dead are abandoned. The recaptured guns are revenging tbemselves. Tlieir shot and shell are tearing up the ground, and tearing open bravo bosouis, and niakjng bist-ory and peopling the graves. The batteries aro sought once inore. - We win them back with blood. We are hurrying thom off. Triumph is about to erown our cfforts, when a large foree of the ouciny, repulsed by Gen. Davis from that seetion of Pea Kidgo known as Leetówn, thronga to the regoue. A doaén combata over the guns, and the contest is stil] undeeided when the darkness gathers, and through tho night the enemy are seen bearingoff their tvvice captured, J;wice recaptured guus. Midniglit comes ; and the scattercd words of tho sentinel are heard ; and the Fcderalists and rebels are sleeping on their arms, dreaming, ie may bo, of the time when they were friends ai.d brothers. and Anjcrica had not become one vast military camp. the tiiird day's battlb,At six o'clock our guns opened ou the er.omy, and our fire was returned from twenty pioces. The uring did "little harm. The cnemy's shot passed above our beads. Our cause was growing darker. This day must win or lese the battle. As yet the fortunes of war incline not to our side. We have reasou to be alarmed, but hope and courage are strong counselors, and add strength to woak arnis. Gen. SIgel observes new positions for oporations. We plant six batteries at different points commanding their principal forcea. A firo of ball is sliatteri-.ig tbc spaeo with itl roar. The enemy's list of mortality is swelliug. ïhey do not uiidei-stand our great advantages. They turn palo and hesitato to advanee. No time s giren tliera for reflection. Üur entiro infantry is cngageil. The rebels incet our volleys of niusketry for a quarter of an hour, buL their uring glaokens Every inch of groundappears alive wilh troops. Kvery tu-ig and dry leaf seems ablazfl. The halls are falling like the large drops of a Slimmer shower The rebels can endure no longer the sheets of flimo. Thoy have lost their faHh in their bad carao and themselves. They are panic stricken. Thoy fly, and a roar of vietory follows them aa the waves of the river the lean aad hungry shore. Thoy turn not back. Two of their Generáis have receivcd thcir mortal wounds, and the word is : '■ Save hin.self who can." THE LOSS ON BOÏII SIDES, Our loss cannot ba kuown at this iime, but it must bo in the vicinity oí 1,700 - 500 killed and somc 1,300 wounded, most of tliein slightly. Our officers, contrary to the past experience of this war, suffered littlc, though thcy exposud themselvcs recklessly, as Amcrioans always will on tho battlc-iield. The rebel losa will never, I presumo, be accuracely aseertained, as tliey are Jyiug all over the ridges, in the ravines, among tho brush and along the roads.- The casualtiea among the enemy, howevcr, were far groater thau witb us, and three thousand, of vvhich nine or ten hundred were in killed, I am oonfident, would not be an overstateiüont of their loss. Their offieers feil tbick and fast in the engagement, and their doad and wounded Majors, Colonels, Captains and Lieutenants were at least doublé ours. - The secession offieers wcre generally brave and dashing, and fought in so praisewoitliy a manncr as to leavo us no regret so far as courage goos, that tliey jvere boru upon our beloved soil. Oüll PRISONKKS. Our priconers will roach sixteen hundred. They are usually dull and half intelligent fellows, who do merely as they are told by their leaders. They are being sent forward rapidly to Springfield.