Price, McCulloch, Van Dorn and Frost Defeated.
McCULLOCH MORTALLY
WOUNDED!!
ST. LOUIS, March 11. – The following is Gen. Curtis’
official report of the battle in Arkansas:
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF
THE SOUTHWEST,
PEA RIDGE, ARK., March
9, 1862.
To Major General Halleck:
General: On Thursday,
the 6th inst., the enemy commenced an attack on my right, assailing
and following the rear guard of the detachment under Gen. Sigel to near the
main lines on Sugar Creek Hollow. He
ceased firing when he met my reinforcements about 4 P. M. During the night I heard by scouts that he
had marched on so as to attack my right in the rear, therefore early on the 7th
I ordered a change of front to the right and my right, which thus became my
left, still rested on Sugar Creek Hollow. – This brought my line across Pea
Ridge, with my new right resting on the head of Cross Timber Hollow, which is
the head of Big Sugar Creek. Also
ordered an immediate advance of Cavalry and light artillery under Col.
Osterhouse, with orders to attack and break what I supposed would be a
reinforced line of the enemy.
This movement was in progress when the enemy at 11 a. m.,
commenced an attack on my right. The fight
continued mainly at these points during the day. The enemy having gained a point hotly contested
by Col. Carr at Cross Timber Hollow, but was entirely repulsed with the fall of
their commander, Gen. McCulloch, in the charge of our forces under Col.
Davis. The plan of attack on the centre
was gallantly carried forward by Col. Ostrahouse [sic] who was sustained by
Col. Davis and the entire division; also by Gen. Sigel’s command which had
remained till almost the close of the day on the left. Col. Carr’s division held the right under a
galling and continuous fire all day.
In the evening, the firing having entirely ceased in the
centre and there having been none on the left, I reinforced the right by a
portion of the second division under Gen. Asboth. Before the day closed I was convinced that
the enemy had concentrated his main force on my right. I therefore commenced another change of my
front, formed so as to face the enemy, when he deployed on my right flank in
strong position. The change had been
only partly effected but was fully in progress, when at sunrise on the 7th
my right and centre renewed firing along the whole extent of the line, my left,
under Gen. Sigel, moved close to the hills occupied by the enemy, driving him
from the heights, advancing slowly towards the head of the hollow.
I immediately ordered the center and right wings forward,
the right turning the left of the enemy, and cross fired on his center. This position enclosed the enemy in an area
of a circle. A charge of infantry
extending throughout the whole line completely routed the whole rebel force
which retired in great confusion but rather safely, through the deep and
impassable defiles of Cross Timber.
Our loss is heavy; the enemy’s loss can never be
ascertained, for the dead are scattered over a large field, and their wounded
too, may many of them be lost and perish.
They are scattered in all directions; but I think his main wing has
returned to Benton Mountains.
Gen. Sigel follows towards Kirtsville, while my cavalry is
pursuing him towards the mountains, scouring the country and bringing in
prisoners.
Major General Van Dorn had command of the entire force at
this battle of Pea Ridge.
I have not as yet the statements of the dead and wounded so
as to justify a dispatch, but I will refer you to a dispatch that I will
forward very soon. The officers and
soldiers in this command have displayed such unusual gallantry, I hardly dare
to make any distinction. I must however
name all of my commanders of divisions.
Gen. Sigel who gallantly carried the heights and drove back the left
wing of the enemy. Brig. Gen. Asboth who
was wounded in the arm in his gallant effort to reinforce the right. Colonel and Acting Brigadier General Davis
who commanded the centre when McCullough fell on the 7th, and
pressed forward the centre on the 8th. Col. And Acting Brig. Gen. E. Carr, who was
also wounded in the arm and was under the continuous fire of the enemy during
the two hardest days of the struggle.
Also commanders of brigades, Cols. Dodge, Osterhause and Vandever; while
that of Schiffer and Grupel were distinguished for their gallantry For that of others I must refer to the
reports of commanders. I must also
tender my thanks to my staff officers, Capts. J. S. McKenny, A. A. Adj’t.,
Capt. McStark, and Capt. John A. Hale and Field, and Lieuts. J. M. Adams and
Stills, all acting aids, and Lieut. Hooper, my only engineer officer.
All the staff officers did gallant service in carrying
orders and aiding in their prompt execution.
Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Ohio and Missouri may proudly share
the honor of the Victory which their gallant heroes won over the combined
forces of Van Dorn, price and McCullough at Pea Ridge, in the Ozark mountains
of Arkansas.
I have the honor to be, General,
Your obedient
servant,
(Signed)
SAM’L R. CURTIS,
Brigadier General.
A special to the St. Louis Democrat from Sugar Creek, says
after a contest of three days duration, we have beaten the enemy at Sugar Creek
Hollow. Their forces consisted of Van
Dorn’s, Price’s, McCullough and Frost’s commands, and were forced to retreat in
wild confusion, with the loss of a considerable number of cannon, flour,
muskets, ammunition, caissons, &c., &c.
Their forces are variously estimated at from 20,000 to
30,000. McCulloch is ascertained to be
mortally wounded, as well as McIntosh and Rector. The latter is a son of the Governor of
Arkansas. McRae and a number of other
persons are prisoners in our hands, and a large number of the rank and file.
– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye,
Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 15, 1862, p. 4
