The New York Herald Newspaper, March 19, 1862, Page 10

~ nobis 10 ——— THE GREAT BATTLE AT PEA RIDGE HIGHLY IMPORTANT FROM ARKANSAS Thirty Thousand Rebels Whipped by the Federal Troops. TWO DAYS’ ENGAGEMENT, ATTACK AT THREE POINTS. The First Day’s Fighting Unfavor- able to the Federal Arms. A Night in Camp Before the Enemy’s Lines. SIGEL TO THE RESCUE, MORNING OF THE 8TH OF MARCH. IMPOSING LINE OF BATTLE. The Rebel Position Shelled for Two Hours. VAN DORN’S ARMY PUT TO FLIGHT. Albert Pike’s Aborigines Dispersed. GENERAL CURTIS ORDERS A PURSUIT. The Rebels Followed About Twelve Miles. SCENES AND INCIDENTS OF THE BATTLE ‘SPECIAL REPORT TO THE NEW YORK HERALD; ae, de. de. ‘Pra Rives, Benrox Corry, ARKANEAS, March 9, 1862. ‘The first battle in Arkansas since the outbreak of the febdellion has terminated favorably to the Union arms. After an engagement of fifteen hours, extending through the larger portion of two consecutive days, the rebelforces ave been driven from the field, and the Stars and Stripes hoisted in triumph over the eontested ground. Defeated and demoralized, the Confederate troops are in fallretreat, and have been hotly pursued by a portion of our gallant army far beyond the confines of the State. + PRELIMINARY MOVEMENTS OF THE WEEK. Early in the past week several smal) expeditions were ent out in various directions for the purpase of capturing rebel bands said to be gathered in Southwestern Missouri and Northern Arkansas. (ne that proceeded to Pineville, Mo., arrived within a half mile of the object of its pur- puit, but failed to bring on an engagement. The expedi- tion returned safe to the camp of the army, crossing the route of the rebel forces but an hour before the latter reached the point.of the roads’ intersection. Another expedition, under Major Coonrad, consisting of six hun dred infantry, with a section of artillery and one bat- talion of cavalry, proceeded to Maysville, near the line of the Indian nation, and failed to return in due season. At last accounts it was marching northward from Maysville to escape the rebel army, and was considered out of im mediate danger. Still another, under Colonel Vandever, and accompanied by your correspondent, was sent to Hunts ille, Madison county, with the object of capturing 2 f an Arkansas regiment, said to bo en co suere. The rebel troops had left two days before our arrival, and the only prizes of im portance were several men just returned from the rebel army. Two of these had been sent away on the previous morning, and gave the exciting intelligence that the whole rebel force, under General Van Dorn, about thirty thousand, was then marching to attack the Union camp: A messenger was at once sent to headquarters with this gaformation, but he had scarcely left town before a de Spatch bearer arrived from General Curtis making the Same announcement, and ordering our immediate return. & forced march of forty-one miles was made to the camp of the main army, with but three halts of fifteen minute each during the entire distance. The infantry, consist- Ang of portions of the Ninth Iowa and Phelpa’ Twenty fifth Missouri, was much fatigued by the Jong journey, Dut awoke on the morning of the battle refreshed and ready for the encounter. No troops ever fought better. THE ENEMY ATTACK GENERAL SIGEL’S REAR GUARD: On the ist instant General Sigel moved his “amp from Osage Springs to & point near Bentonville, in order to secure a better region for forag- fing purposes. About the same time Colonel Davis moved to Sugar creek, while Colonel Carr remained at Cross Hollows. On receiving intelligence of the rebel advacee Goneral Curtis decided to concentrate his forces at Sugar creek, a short distance south of Pea Ridge, a good point of defence and abundantly supplied with water. On the 5th General Sigel received orders from General Curtis to join him at Pea Ridge, and on the 6th marched from Ben- tonville in obedience to those orders. His rear guard consisted of the Thirty-sixth Illinois infantry and a por tion of the Second Missouri. Four rebel regiments of in. fantry and cavalry surrounded this rear guard and en- gaged it vigorously, bat General Sigel, who had remain. ed behind, succeeded in cutting his way through, with a yore of twenty-vight killed and wounded. A portion of Company B, of the Thirty-sixth Ilinoie, ware captured during the encounter TRE REBELS MOVING TO THE ATTACK. ‘The camp whence the rebels marehed upon Goneral Curtisn, was situated on and naar the Boston mountains, about fifty miles from Pea Ridge. The rebe} commander, General Van Dorn, ordered the men to take four days’ cooked rations on the morning of the 5th and qove forward to the encounter. As our camp near Sugar creck was in its front a strong natural porition and difficult of access on either flank, General Van Dorn de- Cided to make his attack in our rear, thus cutting off our base of supply and reinforcement. The Union position as on the main road from Springfleld to Fayetteyitic, ‘nd General Van Dorn, in marching northward, loft that ond near the latter town and turned to the weetwar, parsing through Bentonville and entering the main road again near the State boundary, about eight miles north of Sagat creck. A small foree was left to make a feint upon our fromt, and a considerable body of Indians, under General Albert Pike, teok position about two miles on ur right to divert attention from the maim attack in the rear, THE UNION STRENGTH. ans Union forces engaged in the battle were as fol, wa COMMANDER-IN-CHIRP, BRIGADIER GENERAL SAMUEL R. CURTIS, FIRST DIVISION Colonel Uerennavs commanding. ‘Thirty sixth Mlmois infantry ‘Twelfth Missouri infantry Seventeenth Missouri infantry, Battalion Third Missoyr) iwfancry. Two battalions Benton Hussars, (cavalry). One battalion Thirty-ninth [linois cavalry Battery A, Capt. Welfrey, six guns. Battery B, six guns. FIRST BRIGADE, Colone} Cover commanding. Twenty-fifth Ilinois infantry. Forty-fourth Hlinois infantry. SECOND BRIGADE, Colone) GrevsEL commanding. SECOND DIVISION. Brigadier General Asboth, commanding, FIRST BRIGADB. Colonel Schaefer , commanding. Second Missouri infantry. Second Ohio battery (six guns), Lieutenant Chapman. SBCOND BRIGADE, Colonel Joliet, commanding. Fifteenth Missouri infantry. Capt. Elbert’s Flying battery (six guns). Sixth Missouri cavalry, Col. Wright. Battalion Fourth Missouri cavalry, Major Messaur. General Sige] commanded the First and Second diyi- sions, thus filling the position of Field Marshal, THIRD DIVISION. Col. Jeff. C. Davis, commanding. YIRST BRIGADE, Col. Barton, commanding. Eighth Indiana infantry. ‘Twenty-second Indiana infantry, Eighteenth Indiana infantry. Indiana battery, six guns. SECOND BRIGADE, Col. White, commanding. Thirty-seventh Illinois infantry. Ninth Missouri infantry, First Missouri cavalry. Battery, four guns. [The Ninth Missouri has been placed on the list of Titinois regimente, and now ranks as the ‘‘Fifty-minth Tiinois.’”} FOURTH DIVISION. Colonel Carr commanding. ‘FIRST BRIGADE, Colonel Dodge, commanding. Fourth lows infantry. ‘Thirty-fifth Ilivois infantry, First Jowa battery, Captain Jonos, six gups., SECOND BRIGADE, Colonel Vandever, commanding, Ninth Iowa infantry. ‘Twenty-fifth Miesouri infantry (Phelps? regiment), ‘Third IWinois cavalry. Dubuque battery, Captain Hayden, six guns. ‘The following were not brigaded:— Third lowa cavalry, two battalions, Colonel Bugsy. Mountain howitzer battery, four guns, Capt. Stevens, Battalion of cavalry, General Curtis’ body guard, Major W. D. Bowen. But few of the above regiments were full, many of ‘them having left considerable numbers of sick at Rolla and Lebanon. The aggregate number of offective men in the federal army on the morning of the battle it would mot be prudent to mention, but it is much smaller than generally supposed. THE CONFEDERATE STRENGTH, Tne rebel army, from reports of spies and prisoners, is estimated as follows:— COMMANDER-IN CHIEF, MAJOR GENERAL EARL VAN DORN. Missouri troops, under Brig. General Price, about.. 9,000 5 isfana and Texas troops, uni 4 Brigadier Goneral McCulloch, abou: Choctaw, Cherokee, Chickasaw and troops, with two white regiments under Bri adier General Pike, about THE CAMP ON THE MORNING OF THE 7TH. At the hour of reveille on the morning of the 7th there ‘was an unusual stir in the Union camp. Nearly every drum and fife that could be found was put inte use, and the forest became vocal with martial notes. Orders had been issued to prepare rations fer two days,to strike tents, load the wagons, and prepare to move at any mo. ment, Ata little past seven I issued from the tent of a colonel of @ regiment prominent in the fight, and found his men drawn up in line aad busy loading their guns, preparatory to marching to the field. This opera. tion required but a short time, and after it was performed the order for movement was anxiously awaited. Passing through the principal portion of the camp, the troops were nearly all found occupied with similar duties, and everywhere anxious to meet the enemy they had marched 80 far to encounter, GENERAL SIEGEL ENGAGES THE ENEMY. At about haif-past seven a scout arrived at headquar- ters, reporting a strong force of the enemy pested on some hilis and fields about three miles to the westward. In a few moments a messenger came in from the north (our rear) stating that the enemy was appearing on the hills and ridges near the junction of the Bentonville and Springfield roads, and about four miles from camp, As the reports indieated the force to the westward to be much the larger. General Curtis ordered Genera Sigel, witn his command (the first and second divisions), to proceed in that direction and dislodge and disperse the enemy, His troops were all in readiness,and a few momouts found him on the way. About three miles from camp Colonel Osterhaus’ division encountered what was sup- posed to be a small body of the rebels, posted in the edge of some timber and brushwood, and brought three guns to bear upon them, After a few rounds of shell, grape and canister the artillery was ordered to cease firing, and the Third Iowa cavalry, which then accompanied Colonel Osterhaus, moved forward to complete the clear- ance of the timber, The supposition that but few rebels were posted there proved erroneous, for the woods swarmed with such pumbers that the charge was at once broken and the Jowa cavalry driven back in disorder. Tho rebels followed up the cavalry in ils retreat, and, taking advantage of the confusion, succeeded in capturing the three guns with which they bad been shelled. Colonel} Osterhaus brought up his Indianfa regiments, and by a rapid succession of volleys of musketry, followed by a bayonet charge, covered the ground with dead Texans and Indians, and brought back the guns lost but afew moments before. General Sige! then came forward with the remainder of his command, and the force of rebe's in the timber being strengthened at the came time, a vigor- ous action commenced, The rebels brought their artil- lery into position, and a duel of heavy guns ensued, end- ing with the rebels doning their porition. A ran- ning fight next transpired, and @ vigorous pursuit was kept up for two or three miles, the rebels fleeing toward’ the north in order to form a junction with the force in our rear. General Sigel then abandoned the pursuit, and Teturned to the camp of the army, COLONEL DAVIS ADVANCES TO THE ATTACK, About the time General Sigel came up with the rebels and commenced the action of the morning, a force con sisting of two or three regiments of Arkansas infantry and a light Battery appeared in front of Colonel Davis’ position, evidently inviting attack. Subsequent events show that this movement on the part of the enemy, to- gether with the one upon General Sigel, were feints to prevent the coneentration of our strength upon the rear, where their grand attack was made. For tho time they were thus successful, and bad their energy been equa! to their strategy it could hardly have failed of success, Colonel Davis responded to their invitation to battle, and moved out for an encounter. A short but bloody contest, and the flight of the enemy by a circuitous route in the direction of their main force in our rear, were the results of this movement, In this affair, as well as in General Sigel's, many of the enemy remained scattored in the timber. In consequence of this, small parties and indi viduals attempting to visit the battle grounds later inthe day were repeatedly fired upon. These guerillas have not yet been completely driven out, but some of our cavalry are engaged in scouring the brash with a view to their expulsion. COLONEL CARR'S DIVIBION MOVING OUT. Simultaneously with the departure of Genora! Sigel to the westward, Colonel Carr's division wae sent to our rear to engage the enemy in that quarter, From the position of the army on the night of the 6th to the Missouri line is about ight miles. ‘The country here consists of level areas wooded with large timber, and generally with but little underbrush, At intervals are large farms, with cleared flelde for gras* and cereals, some of them extending along the raad for a half mile or more, and reaching away on either side from one to three miles. In places the general level is broken by gradual slopes, with an occasional stoep ascent, cover ed with sharp, angular fragments of stone, and bearing a seanty growth of low oak trees, West of the road, and converging #0 as to strike jt near the State lino, i@ a high ridge, acesssible at numerous points, and commanding the road Lo Bentonville, and also, in somo places, the bat. tle ground of the sth. As tho Missouri lino is neared low hills appear, sloping away to the north, but presonting an abrupt and precipi tows face to the south. These hille aro about two handred feet in height, and two miles below the Stato boundary. They upiie into @ continuows dou big ridge, forming a narrow valley six miles in length, with steep and heavily timbered sides. The main road passes through this valley in @ direction nearly due north. When McCulloch retreated from Missouri in September last, after his quarrel with Price, he ordered much of this timber to be felled across the way, to impede any pur- suit that might be made by the Union army. These obstructions the rebels were themselves compelled to re- moye when thoy subsequently advanced to encounte” Fremont. The valley is looked upon by all military engineers as a good position to hold against an enemy, COMMENCING THE BATTLE OF THE 7TH. Colonel Carr’s division advanced up this road to a point about four miles from the State line, Colonel Dod, brigade filed off upon a road leading to the east from the Elk Horn Hotel, and opened its battery upon the enemy, who was posted in a wood on a declivity in froat. They were promptly replied to, and a brisk encounter of artil- lery and infantry speedily ensued, Colonel Vandever’s brigade passed about half a mile beyond the hotel and took position on the left of the road, In front of them the ground descended to a dry ravine, and the opposite bank, which was somewhat abrupt and covered with low oaks, was held by the enemy. The Dubuque bat- ery opened upon the rebels, and the scattering of some of the infantry of the latter showed that the guns were well aimed. Tne rebel bat- ‘eries replied, and at the third fire @ shell frem their guns blew up one of the Union limber chests. It was about nine A.M. when the first gun was fired. Within fifteen minutes afterwards the whole line ‘of the division was fairly engaged. The explosion of the Mmber chest showed the rebels that their shots wore woll directed, and they appeared in large numbers, and poured ina terrific fire. Ten minutes after the blowing upof the limber chest another, belonging to the same Dattery, was exploded in like manner, badly burning Frank Thompson, one of the cannoniers. This explosion was the signal for a rush by the rebels upon the Union battery, and they succeeded in capturing one of the guns before they were driven back by the in- fantry. The enemy fell back to their cover,] eave ing the ground strewn with their dead and wounded, who had fallen before tbe rifles of the Iowa Ninth, EXPERIENCE OF A LOOKER ON. At the time of these occurrences your correspondent and a fellow journalist were standing in the road in front of the Elk Horn Hotel, where a good view was afforded, Shelis which were thrown too high for effect upon Col. Vandever’s brigade were just the elevation for the Elk Horn, and a rifled cannon projectile passing within afew feet, and bursting twenty yards beyond me, rendered my notes of that moment somewhat difficult to decipher, Two companies of infantry were drawn up near the house awaiting moving orders. A shell burst in their midst, killing two men and wounding five others. Another struck in the yard, in the rear of the house, in ita explosion shattering the leg of an old regulby soldier in Quartermaster Carr’s employ. Still another fell among some horse teams, frightening one into run” ning away, directly up the road and over into the enemy’s lines, where it was lost. In its flight several of our soldiers were run over, one being seriously and three or four slightly wounded. The drivers of some twenty or more wagons took fright, and started for the camp at full speed. Had it not been for the determined course of Quartermaster Carr, who, pistol in hand, brought them toa halt, a serious stampede would have been the result, A solid shot struck the house and passed completely through, injuring noone, as the family had taken shelter in the cellar. Long ago, at Wilson’s creek, learned sufficient of the sound and substance of military projectiles to remove everything like novelty from the present scene, and accordingly sought a locality afford. ing a fine view, but further removed from ‘the perilous edge of battle.’” COLONEL CARR FALLING BACK. One hour’s fighting in position on the slope accom. plished nothing for Colonel Carr’s division, except to re- veal the presence of an immense force of the enemy pre- paring to charge upon the Union troops. As auch a Movement, with the rebels’ overwhciming numbers, would be likely to lose us a battery, Colones Carr with- drew to a better point, abont a hundred yards to bis rear. Here the fight was kept up for some time, the rebels re- poatedly attempting to charge, but as often being driven back by the well directed volleys from the Iowa infantry and the Missouri regiment. Colone) Phelps and Lieuten- ant Colonel Galligan, of the Fourth Iowa, and Major Coyle and Adjutant Scott, of the Ninth Iowa, were wounded by @ fire of musketry, and carried to the hospitals ‘atthe camp. Another charge was made by the rebels, in which they captured a second piece of artillery and a caisson limber. Tho ground after each of these charges was thickly strewn with their dead and dying, mingled, too often, with the bodies of the brave men who opposed them. The charges of the rebels were not made with the bayonet, but with double barrelled shotguns, loaded with ball and ten buckshot. They discharged their pieces as they advanced, retaining most of their fire until with- in short range. Tho shotgun thus used is a terrific weapon, a8 the scattering of the charge renders it pretty certain to do execution without much regard to accuracy of aim. It was again necessary to fall back, and this time a stand was made near the hotel, and along the road leading to the east. A GLOOMY PROSPECT. The day had opened clear and still, and be‘ore the battle commenced, the purity of the atmosphere ren- dered every objecton tho hills and slopes distinctly visible. The smoke from the guns settled like a cloud upon the field, and an hour after the beginning of the en gagement the position of the enemy’s cannon was often- times only to be ascertained by the dull red flash at the moment of discharge. As the day advanced this cloud grew more and more dense, and long before nightfall thy contending masses of infantry were unable to discera each other, except at very short range. Hour after hour passed away, and still that one division was coping with arebel force nearly quadruple its strength. They were driven back inch by inch, until they were only a mile and a half from the camp of the enemy. Messengers bad been constantly going to bead quarters, bearing appeals for assistance, but none could be sent them. Sigel and Davis had not returned from the forces they lad been pursuing, and there had been nothing left in camp for its protection. ‘Two batteries and three regiments, or sunset and darkness, are the only alternatives for our safety,"’ was the remark of Colonel Carr after his division for the third time fell back. About four P. M. General Asboth returned from his pursuit of the rebels to the westward, and immediately went with two infantry regiments and a battery to the aid of Colonel Carr, The latter by that time bad fallen back to an open field, little more than a mile from camp. The reinforcements thus received enabled him to hold his ground, and when night closed upon the conflict, and ended the carnage, the little division was still in position at that field. The lines of the contending armies during the night were not more than three hundred yards apart,and each party rested on its arms and passed the long hours till dawn without lighting fires. The air was still, and conversation was carried on in low voices and whispers, through fear that ordinary tones would be overheard. THE CAMP AT NIGHT. In the main camp of the army everything was bustle and commotion. Coffee, bread and meat were prepared and sent out, with blankets and overcoats, for the com. fort of those who had so nobly fought during the day and were intending to renew the conflictat dawn, Gen. Sigel and Col. Davis had returned, ond were making all pro- paration to throw their whole force to the aid of Col. Carr, The teams were still attached to the wagons, and the braying of the mules—never melodious—became doubly dismal and discordant, The poor animals had been with- out food for forty-eight hours, and without water for twenty-four hours. They had been standing in harness since daybreak, and their usually hoarse tones gradually softened toa low, plaintive moan that was painful to bear. Most of the officers wero fearful of the results of the confitet on the morrow @ those of the day’s battle had been so unfavorable, Some turned their thoughts upon escape; but saw not how it was to be accomplished, as our only lines of retreat to the north were com- pletely cut off, Among the soldiers as they pat by the camp fires’ there was generally but one expression ,‘‘We must fight like heroes or surrender to the rebels, Thero is no falling safely back, as thore was at Wilson creek. Our only alternative is desperate fight- ing, and we will all do our best.”’ AT HEADQUARTERS, ‘Around headquarters most of the commanders passed a giceplees night. Though there were but few words apdicen, nearly every one felt that the following dawn wonld but ushor in our defeat. General Sige! brought his division into camp, where it wae ready at call, and then ecalinly ay down to sleep. Colonel Davis moved his com. mend at médaight, and anxiously waited the toming light. The Commemeler -in-Chief was hopeful but fearful, Colonel Dodgd and Colonel Vandever font in for a fresh supply of ammunition, and about mi inight visited the camp in person to swallow a sup of coffee and return to the fel, Ambulances we §* ronstant motion, bringing the wounded to the hospitals prepared for their reception , and surgeons were active in relieving the wants of the sufferers. APPEARANCE OF THE MEN. In the action of the day the Iowa regiments had suf- fered fearfully, Nearly two hundred each had been the loss of the Iowa Fourth and Ninth, and the latter had not @ single field officer ft for duty. Its Colonel was com- manding @ brigade, its Lieutenant Colonel (Herron) was made prisoner while gallantly cheering his men, afte" losing a horse and receiving a severe wound, and its Major and Adjutant were disabled and in the hospital. Still none of the men were despondent, but were all ready for the work of the morrow. From the camp of a German regiment, the notes of some plaintive air, possi- bly a love ditty, was wafted on the breeze in words un- intelligible to my ear, It reminded me that long ago in the Crimea, on the night before the storming of the Malakoff, the entire British army in the trenches before Sebastopol joined in singing a famous Scottish ballad, one f the sweotest evor known:— sang of love and not of fame; They 4. was Britain’s glor: Enc beast recalled ‘a differet mame, | But ali sang Annie Laurie. MORNING OF THE FINAL DAY. Daybreak and sunrise at last. Not the bright, clear sun that rose over Austerlitz and cheered Napoleon to his great victory, but a dull, copper tinted globe, slowly pushing itself up through the murky cloud of cannon smoke that even the long hours of a winter night had not dispellea, The heavens soon became overcast, as if the elements themselves foreshadowed an impending calami- ty. Every car was open to catch the sound of the first dull boom of cannon, and every eye was watching for the first curling wreath of smoke that should usher in the contest of the 8th. THE LINES OF BATTLE. ‘The fortune of the day was depending upon General Sigel, and that officer calmly, but carefully prepared his command for the conflict. Our whole force was concen. trated to the north of our camp, and what, till then, had ‘been our rear became our front. Colonel Carr’s division was placed in the centre, occupying the road s short distance on either side. The enemy during thenight had planted some of his batteries on an eminence about two hundred feet high, sloping away tothe north, but precipitous on the side in our front. Batteries and large bodies of infantry were posted at his right base of this bi‘] and at the edge of some timber to its left. Infantry and cavalry, with a few guns, were posted on bis extreme left beyond the road, and to oppose these Colonel Davis was sent to our extreme yeft. It was apparent that if we could dislodge the rebels from this hill the victory would bo with our ban- ners. With the skill of an expert in military science, General Sigel arranged his columns for the coming action. His foremost line was drawn up in battle array, with infantry, cavalry and artillery, all in their proper posi- tions, At a suitable distance in the rear his reserves were placed, ready to be brought forward at any needed moment, 4 level, open field of great extent gave aplen- did opportunity for an imposing display. It had las, been a cornfield, and the white and withered stalks were stillon the ground, forming a fine background for tho dark blue uniforms worn by our men. Throughout the morning skirmishing and light encounters bad trans- pired with the portion of the enemy opposed to our centre and right, but on the left not a gun was fired until the whole of General Sigel’s command was in read! ness. OPENING OF THE GRAND BAI TLE. At a little past eight o’clock the decisive portion of the engagement commenced. Along tho entire line the can_ noniers stood to their guns and at the word of command fire was opened. It was interesting to watch the move- ments of the artillerists in getting the range. Each gun- ner took # tree for his mark and tried upon it.the e‘fec, ohis first shell. ‘Too high,” was the remark of the captain of a gun stationed near where I was standing. A turn of the elevating screw, a reload and another shot followed. “Still too high,’ and = second turn of the Screw was made previous to anothér abet. “Just right this time,” was the commentary on the direction of the third projectile, For the futur, trees were not the objects aimed at. A brisk cannonade was kept upfor upwards of two hours with occasional intervals of from five to fifteen minutes duration. The sharp booming of the six, twelve and eighteen pounders followed each other in rapid succession, and with such regularity that one could easily imagine that the huge dark object in that yellow field was an enormous organ on which a Mozart or a Verdi was executing one of his latest compositions. TAKING A BATTERY. ‘the shot from the rebel batteries were well directed, but failed of execution equal to those from ours. Several guns were disabled and taken to the rear, and their places speedily supplied by others. During the canncnad® Colonel Cars’ and Colonel Davis’ divisions ad vanced slowly upon the enemy until they held the edge of the timber where the rebels had position in the morning. A battery of three guns in front of a wooded space on the left of tho road at length became troublesome, and orders were issued for a bayonet charge tocapture it. Just at this moment a gust of wind blew away the smoke from the front of the rebels, revealing their exact position. The Twelfth Missouri was designated for the honor of taking the battery, and nobly acquitted themselves, advancing at the pas d¢ chav ge under a terribie musketry fire, possessing them- selves of the guns and holding them until their supports came up. Twelve of their men were killed in this charge and a large number wounded. Another gun was shortly after taken in the timber near by, and still an other spiked picce on the extreme right of Davis’ divi sion. , REBEL STRENGTH WEAKENED. After sustaining a heavy cannonade for two hours and ahaif the rebels showed signs of a desire to leave the ground. Their batteries were withdrawn from the hil and their infantry was fast melting away, large number, of them, as we since learn, fleeimg in terror at the fearful fire under which they had stood. The Eighteenth and Twenty -second Indiana regiments were ordered to charge, and did so in gallant style; but the rebels were too quick for the movement to sveceed in taking the guns. Their infontry fled in disorder, and their artillerymen had barely opportunity to attach their horses to the guns and move them from the field. It was useless to pursue with cavalry , the country being too densely wooded to admit of using this arm of the service, The entiro line moved for- ward to the support of the Indiana regiments, and up and down its entire length the air resounded with cheer upon cheer from our exultant troops. The enemy had been driven from his stronghold, and the victory was upon ou, banners. THE REDELS’ FLIGHT AND GENBRAL SIGEL’S PUR- suit. General Sigel went in pursuit of the fleeing rebels, fol. lowing their main body for twelve miles and capturing a considerable quantity of wagons, supplies, &c., several ammunition wagons, @ load of powder and nearly a thousand stand of arms. They fled too rapidly to permit of a capture of the entire force, and on the morning of the 9th General Sigel’s division returned tocamp. A portion of the rebels fed to the eastward, felling timber across the road to preveft pursuit. Another portion turned to the westward, fleeing by tho way of Benton ville towards the sunny South. When last heard from they were in camp eight miles to tho south. ward. A flag of truce came in to-day to arrange for burying the dead and making exchange of prisoners, HOSPITAL SCENES. The morning of the 8th I passed the hospital, where most of our wounded were carried on the previous night. Here lay dead officers and soldiers mingled indiscrimi nately together, most of them having died after or during amputations, Outside of the buildings were seve- ral legs and arms, the former with the stocking ‘and occasionally a portion of the pantaloons still unremoved. A row of corpses lay in front of the principal hospital, and a number of at- tendants were busy in their removal. Bach was covered with a blanket, and ths utmost nonchalance was displayed in all their movements. That’s Captain ——,' was @ remark as a blanket was turned down from the face of a corpre, revealing at the same time the double barred shoulder strap, ‘Thats private ——, of Com- pany —,” or ‘That's a,Sergeant of —— regiment,” and similar remarks were the onlyfhospitable eulogiums as the column of dead was passed by. Whatever bravery and daring were shown when these death wounds were received waa here wonoticed, the duties of the sargeon and bis aids not requiring such knowledge. Satiated with these horrors I turned away and hastened tothe fleid, whoro the final,battle was about commencing. BATSLE FIELD HORRORS. The appearance of tho hill and woods shelled by Genoral Sigel’s division atteste the terrific shower of miseiles that foll upon them. Walking over the ground iovmediately after tho flight of the enomy and the pur- suit by our forces, I found it thickly strewn with dead and wounded, most of them having fallen by the deadly artillery projectiles. Treo after tree was shattered or perforated by shot and shell, and many wero filled with NEW YORK HERALD, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 1862—TRIPLE SHEET. grape and canister balls. One treo was pierced through and through by a solid shot, its top shivered by a shell and the base of its trunk searred by seventeen canister and rifle balls. In one place lay the fragmentsof a battery wagon, wherein a shell had exploded, utterly jdestroy- gg the wagon and killing two mules which had been its motive power. A ruined caisson and five caunon wheels wore lying near it. Two dead artillerymen were stretched on the earth, each killed by a grapeshot, and by their side was a third, gasping his last, wih his side laid open by a fragment of a shell. On the hill, where the cannonade had been severe, trees, rocks and earth bore witness to its Nerceness. Fifteen wounded rebels lay in one group, and were piteously imploring each passerby for water and relief for their wounds. A few rods from them was another, whose arm had been torn off by & cannon shot, leaving the severed member on the ground a few feet distant. Near him was tho dead body of # rebel, whose legs and onc arm had been shattered by & single shot. Behind a tree a few yards distant was stretched @ corpse, with two-thirds of its head blown away by the explosion of a shell, and near it s musket, broken into three picces, Still fur- ther along was the body of a rebel soldier, who had been killed by @ grapeshot through the breast. A letter had fallen from his pocket, which, on examination, proved to be a long and well written love epistie from his betrothed in East Tennessee. It was addressed to Pleasant J. Williams, Churchill's regiment, Fayetteville, Arkansas, Around him in all directions were his dead and dying comrades, some stretched at full length on the turf, and others contorted as if in extreme agony. The earth was thickly strewn with shot and fragments of shell, ‘THE WOODS ON FIRB. ‘The bursting of shells had set fire to the dry leaves on the ground, and the woods were burning in every direc- tion, Efforts were made to remove the wounded before the flames should reach them, and nearly all were taken to places of safety. Several were afterwards found in secluded spots, some of them still alive, but horribly ‘burned and blackened by the conflagration. STRIPPING THE DEAD. ‘The rebels, in nearly every instance, removed the shoes from the dead and mortally wounded both of their own army and ours. Of all the corpses I saw I do not think one-twentieth had been left with their shoes untouched, In some cases pantaloons were taken and occasionally an over coat or @ blouse was missing. A large number of the killed among the rebels were shot through the head, while the majority of our dead were shot through the breast. The rebels, wherever it waS possible, fired from cover; and as often as ahead ap- pearel from bebind a tree or bush it became a mark for our men, The Union troops generally stood in ranks, and, except when skirmishing, made no use of ebjects of protection. AN INCIDENT. Adjutant Sullivan, of the Third linois cavalry, passed through the entire action unhurt, His horse was shot under him, but will probably recover from the wound, Adjutant Sullivan is the Sergeant Sullivan who received, in tho charge at Dug Spring, in August last, five severe wounds, two of which were supposed to be mortal. Tho horse which was wounded yesterday is the sume that he rode at Dug Spring, and now carries fourteen balls received om that occasion. REGIMENTAL AND INDIVIDUAL BRAVERY. Where all the troops did well, it is diMcult to partieu- Jarize instances of special regimental valor. The Iowa infantry came from the field covered with blood and giory, and the two batteries from the same Stato are equally deserving of praise. The Twelfth Missouri was successful in a bayonet charge for the capture of a bat- tery,and the Indiana regiments, by their determined bravery, more than trebly atoned for unpleasant memo- ries of Buena Vista. Colonel Hendrieke, of the Twenty-socond Indiana, was. killed while gallantly leading his men in the action of the ‘7th, under Colone! Davis. Two of the German regiments illustrated the Teutonic love of music by singing one of dhe songs of Faderland while they stood under fireof the rebel batteries on the morning of the 8th. The Illinois regiments wero not prominent in the action, with the ex- ception of the Thirty-fifth, Colonel Wm. Smith (wound- ed), and the Thirty-sixth, Colonel Grousel, but they were all prompt to execute every order which they received. The Forty-fourth Illinois was in the pursuit of the rebels and returned, bringing nearly a hundred prisoners ag many horses, Colonel Phelps, Twenty-fifth Mizeouri, was prominent in the action of the 7th, and lost nearly thirty per cent of the number that went into battle. Cor- poral J. H. Rowles, of Hayden's Dubuque bat- tery, was attached to one of the gurs taken by the enemy. While the gunners were retreat he rushed back and spiked the piece, which was nearly sur- rounded by the rebels. He received a musket ball in each log, and is now lying in the hospital. In a battle of such magnitude there were numerous deeds of individual daring and personal hardihood, rivaling the romantic ex- ploits of the palmy days of chivalry, that will require days and weeks around the camp fires to learn their history. CAVALRY USELESS—ITS Loss. ‘The wooded nature of the country where the battle was fougnt rendered cavairy of comparatively little value. ‘The loss of the Third Illinois, the First Missouri and the ‘Third Iowa cavalry regiments ws, nevertheless, quite heavy. Lieutenant Colonel H. H. Trimble, of the Third Iowa, and Colonel C. A. Ellis, of the First Missouri, were wounded, the former severely and the latter slightly. ‘The loss of rank and file of the cavalry in killed and wounded is about one-twenticth their strength THE REBEL LOSS. ‘There are no data as yet by which we can estimate the loss of the enemy. Their dead and wounded on the ground were much more numerous than ours; at least one half or two-thirds more. For ten miles on the road by which they retreated the houses were full of wounded, The whole line of buildings on the route hence to Keetsville is one grand hospital. Our entire loss is estimated at little more than a thousand, of whom about one-fourth are killed. The full returns will not be in for several days. A fing of truce that has just arrived with reference to the burial of the doad and exchange of prisoners, reports that Briga- dier Generals McIntosh, Slack and McBride were killed. By numerous prisoners we have a report that General McCulloch was also killed; but the redoubt- able ranger has been slaughtered on 80 many occasions and afterwards, like the first husband of poor Pillicoddy’s wife, turned up again, that we are alt skeptical. Perbaps Benjamin has been ‘‘gathered to his fathers,’’ but nobody at present appears to see it. AFTER THE BATTLE. At present all is confusion with reference to the con. flict and the various statistics inse;arably connected with an engagement. We hardly know what we have accomplished, whither the enemy has fled, what is the extent of his calamity, bis present position, his strength and his designs for the immediate future, Neither are we fully acquainted with our own condition, our casualties, our deeds of daring and our ability again to enter the arena and cope with an enemy nearly treble our strength. When the smoke shall have cleared away from tho battle field, and the clouds that now obscure it are dispelled by the clear sunshine, we can speak more definitoly of its losses, its griefs, its incidents of knightly bravery, its triumphs and its accomplished results. Our number of killed, wounded and missing 1s not yot known, but it is estimated that our entire casualty list will not excoed a thousand. The reports will not be in for several days. Our heaviest loss was on the first day, with Colonel Carr’s division. Our lines sustained but little damage on the second day, notwithstanding the heavy artillery fire under which they stood forjtwo hours The Tarf. ‘Tue Trorrixa Skasox on Loxa Istanp.—The proprietors of the trotting courses on Long Island have issued their programme of purses, to be contested for a# soon as the weather becomes favorable. It will be seen, by roference to the advertisement 0° the Fashion Pleasure Grounds As- sociation in another column, that a now feature in trot- ting is to be inaugurated on their track—viz: handi- capping. Whether this system will become popular with trotting men remains to be seen. We see nothing objec- tionable in equalizing the speed of horses by weight. It will certainly add to the interest of the race, aad be popular with the patrons of the sport, however unfavor- able it may be viowed by the owners of fast horses who deeire to bag all the game. Scrnewe Covrt—Cincuit. Nom. 1576, 1765, 839, 1100, 1168, 1322, 1345, 128, 1399) 1868, 1464, 435, 1106, 1316, 357, 1496,'1304, 1763. Surenion Cover —Bart t—Nos. 60%, 4731, | 1254, 1669, 1671, 1873, 1575, 1677, 1579, 1681, 1683, 1587, 1589 1601," 1693. Part . 506, 1694, 7586, 1588, 1502; 1504, 1506, 1608, 1600, 1602,’ 1604, 1606, 1608, 1610, 1612." Fart! 3.—-Nos, 615, 2863, 1801, 1360, 1373, 1506, 1597, 1599, 1601, 1603, 1607, '1009,'1611, 1613, 1615. Part 4.—Nos, 1410, 1320, 1186, 1576, 1504, 906, 1614, 1616, 1618, 1620, 1622, 1624, 1626, 1628, ‘1690, 1682, 1634. COMMON PLEAB—Part 1—Nos. 407, 064, 608, 896, 057, 958, 059, 960, 963, 646, 910, O45, 965, 483, 718. Part 2— Now. 405, 495, 822, 611, 620, 1814, 647, 684, 093, 139, 737, 1, 222)4, 873, 404. tl THE NAVY. ‘The United States steam gunbcat Patroon was put into» commission yesterday, at the Navy Yard, Brooklyn. She is the Philadelphia freight and passenger boat of the same name, that plied between Troy and Philadelphis, The government bas had her overhauled and converted into a gunboat. Her length of keel is one hundred and ten feet, breadth of beam twenty-two feet, and depth of: hold eight feet. Her machinery was built at Pease & Mure phy’s, and consists of a low pressure upright engine, thirty-four inch cylinder, and thirty inch stroke, She carries four thirty-twoand one brass twenty-four pound- ers. Annexed is a corrected list of her officers:— Acting Master, Commanding—Rol 5 a Beccutive por tetas Me Merri” er: Aeting “Assttene Paymaster BON. Perry. Acting Second Ausisiont pene Swartwoute. F. Green ssistant ae les Bennett and fa: Mates—Ji 5 Hopkins, fo. Weigand bre Hanger, ae ia NE Yeoman—Hiram ¥, Clarke. = 7” Paymaster’s Stewara—W illiam J, Gregory. The United States steam gunboat Madgie, having her~ outfit and repairs completed, will go into commission to- day. The Madgie was formerly a passenger and freight: Propeller between New York and Philadelphia, being: employed in that trade for nearly eight years, and wag always considered a first class sea boat, She has been» completely renovated and§remodelied, retaining only a. portion of the keel and the after portion of the hall, and is now considered an improved model on the Sound pra-, pellers. Her length of keel is 180 feet, and 136° feet over all; breadth of beam 22 feet 6 inches: and depth of hold eight feet. Her engine is a Regnor & Neafle upright, twenty-four inch cylinder and twenty-six: inch stroke, with a return flew boiler and Martin come denser, capable of making 650 gallons of water every twenty four hours, She carries one fifty-pounder and one thirty-two-pounder Dahigren guns. The following is a corrected list of her officers:— Master—F. B. Meriain, Officer—Wm. C, Underhill, Sui ‘Louis Michel. aa nt Paymader—C. 4. Downes, ineer—Henry A. ‘ Acting Trird YA. Rockfoller, Acting Master's Ed. H. Vail, Ed. P. Blague ana Anson Ryon, ‘The Victoria sailed on Monday evening, and the Wam< sutta had sailing orders yesterday. ‘The school of gunnery on board the receiving ship: North Carolina is now attended by upwards of fifty mage ters and master’s mates, who are exercised daily for two hours at the guns. At present there are 600 recruits om board this ship. At the Marine Barracks the daily dress parades, whicl - were dispensed with during the winter, are to be re- sumed next week, and the marines will thenceforth daily use the parade ground inside the barracks. Lieut. D. M.: Cohen, of the Marine C rps, hasbeen promoted to the command of the post at the Boston Navy Yard, and lef} for his station last Thursday. —_—_-- The Confiscated Cotton. WHERE ITIS PREPARED FOR THE MARKET—VISIT TO- THE GOVERNMENT GINNING ESTABLISUMENT—DBe SCRIPTION OF THE ENGINES, BTC., ETC, While the rebel journals are constantly indulging ea¥castic remarks about the alleged (ailure of the troops to gain a foothold in any good cotton locality, it is a sufficient answer to all such ironical assaults thas ‘the government veescis arriving at this port every weels from Port Royal are heavily freighted with bales of exe celient Sea Island cotton. Indeed, the supply is so far from trifimg that the government agents havo found i$ necessary to seoure the most extensive ginning ostablish~ ment in the world, perhaps, for the purpose of preparing the cotton for the market,. This establishment je sites ated in Brooklyn, behind the Atlantic docks, about five minutes’ walk from Hamilton avenue ferry! It was for? merly the.Atlantic Wadding Mills, where cotton used tg Bs Sha se "a is the Proprietor, and the regularly appointed gor agents. ‘The process of ginning leery eerie rena eS separation of the seed from 5 Cage contraction of the word-engine, abbreviated thus by the contrabands, who have a happy knack of berg ng Kin English whenever it suits their purposes. ty-five machines are kept constantly rurning day an@ night by Mr. McCarthy, and twenty-five girls are em- ployed during the day tending the engines. During the night men take the place of the women in ginning the cotton, ‘The ginning machine may be briefly dosc:ibod as @ leather covered roller gnd a thin steel plate, bevelled a6 ‘one end, the bevel fitting close to the roller.’ The cottom is passed between this roller and ,and the seed ie separated from the fibre during peculiar action of tho machine. Th yo neh has a pere pendicalar motion by means of a crank shaft, and the ace tion of this shaft is oqual to six hundred revolutions pew minute. About three hundred and fifty pounds of cotton, or about one bale, is ginned by each machine in twelve hours. When the cotton is first brought to the cstablish- ment it is taken toa large room in the upper part of the building, where it is properly dried and then lowered to the first floor, where the ginning machives are perpetually at. work, After being ginned the cotton is closeiy packed fn bales containing about 350 pounds each. It is carted away to the places designated by the government agents, preparatory to being sold. The seeds of the finer quality of cotton are cureful.y preserved, placed nee and shipped to Port Royal, there to be replante1. 800 bales of ginned cotton are thus turned out woekly from the establishment ready for the market. Formerly the separation of the seed from tho fibre use@ to be done by hand, and how slow that operation wag may readily be imagined. The rapidity with which process is effected by the stexm machines is truly won derful. Huge piles of the seed may be seen boneath tha stripper a few hours after the giuning commences, and the fibre passes off in another direction, almost perfectly cleam and free from extraneo.:s matter. female operatives, who feed the stripper with cotton, work industriously and silently. In fact it would bo useless to attempt 8] asthe holse of the engines would drown all uttorance The establishment altogether has an air of business about. it, and is well worth a visit. Ball at the St. Nicholas Hotel. Messrs. Treadwell, Whitcomb & Co., proprietors of the- - St. Nicholas Hotel, gave a ball last evening for the enters tainment of the guests of the house. Several hundred invitations were also issued to our most prominent and influential citizens. Both branches of the Common Coune, cil, the bar and the bench, were well represented. One of the large dining rooms of the hotel was appropriated: to the use of the dancers, and at about nine o'clock the fine band struck up, and the floor was goon occupied by several hundred disciples of Terpsichore. Tho following was the order of dancing:— ‘ile, : Polka and Galop, $. Polka Rodowa and 1: Quadrili. |. Poika Redowa jalop. 14. Hi Quadrille. sid 16. Varsovienne & Fem’lia, 7. Redowa. }. Lancers. 8 Lancors. 17. Polka, Redowa & Schote 9. Danish Nance and Schot- tische. . tische. 18. Quadrille. ‘At twelve o'clock supper was served in the large dining room. The apartment presente. a magnificent appearance - with umerous lights, muitiplie! indefinitely by the Jarge full length mirrors with which the room is oneircled. « Tho tables were all handsomely and appropriately deco- rated, while the supper itself was well wortby the high . reputation which how ee rete +e justice ‘been done to the good things prov: , dancing was bray renewed, and kept up with great spirit anti abeut - two o’clock this morning. ‘The guests were all highly delighted with the enter-, tainment, and pronounced it one of the most pleasant and | fashionable hops of the season, and the brilliant appear- ance of the ball room, filed with upwards :f six hundred ;: Jadies and gentlemen, will long be remembered bv thos@’ > who had the goo: fortune to be present. City Intelligence. ‘Tue Car Manvracturres AGAiser THs Tax Bru.—A- meeting of the cap manu‘acturers of the city of New" York was held yesterday, to take into consideration . those portions of the proposed Tax bill which affect their - trade. Mr. L. J. Phillips, of tne firm of L. J. & 1. Phil, lips, was called to preside. Mr. Phillips, on taking the chair, remarked that he would heartily co-operate with. the other gentlemen presont in opporing the passage of. the Tax bill in its prosent shape; but he did not wish tg, be understood as unwilling to pay his just share towards supporting the government in ite financial straite, bie object boing merely to obtain a fair and equitable assesss4 pa #0 a8 to bear with equal weight on all. ment of the ‘preaches of trade. In his opinion the tax ‘about to be imposed on cap manufacturers would not only have a very injurions eect on the tvade in general,, but would also induce perjury, and expose the governs mont to fraud in large amounts. After a few o| tions of this kina, in which tho speaker incidentally pointed eut how onp manufacturers would be taxed, om the average, eight per cent on the amount of their busi-, ness, while other articles of clothin, d three per cont, the meeting proceeds cussion of the matter, and comoluded by appointing & committee to draft a ‘memorial to be presented to t Committee of Ways and Means. This memorial, being afterwards brought in, was real and unanimously adopt~ dia fresh committee, with L. J. Phiili; sas chaire ‘appointed to procead with the samo to Washington, and argue the case before the Committee of Ways Moans, ‘Ihe meeting then adjourned, SHIPPING NEWS. Below. ip Rates Choate, P| yD Ton bridyes=(All by pilot boat Bara Nye, No) §