[417] night. One was not mortally injured, and some of our boys took him back to the hospital. The other was lying on his face, and had just life enough in him to appeal to us for aid, by slightly moving one of his feet; but he was so far gone that he was left to his fate; he died in a short time. I saw one rebel who had been shot while in the act of taking aim. One eye was still open, while the other was closed, and his hands were extended in the position of holding a gun, which lay beside him. Another died while in the act of placing his hand in his haversack for food. One rebel lay stretched, with his feet at the trunk of a tree which was speckled well with bullets. He had undoubtedly used the tree as a fortification, and in an uniucky moment had been shot in the head while trying to pick off our own men. Some were disemboweled by cannon-balls, others with half their heads off in the midst of brains and blood. During the engagement rider-less horses were flying in all directions. Wounded were borne off the field by hundreds, some with arms and legs off, writhing in agony. The log-houses, barns, and stables which had been deserted by the owners on the first lay's fight, were used as hospitals, and so designated by red flags. But they were soon so crowded that others brought in were placed in the open air, using the building as a shelter from bullets.
Doc. 115.-the battle of Pea Ridge.
Official report of Major-General Curtis.
Captain: The brief telegraphic report which I gave the ninth inst., is not sufficient to present even the general outline of the battle of Pea Ridge, and with the reports of my Commanders of divisions, I now submit a more general detail.
My pursuit of Gen. Price brought me to Fayetteville, Arkansas.
The entire winter campaign, from the twentieth of January to this time, including the march from Rolla to the Boston Mountains, two hundred and forty miles, was attended with continual exhibitions of toil, privations, conflict and gallantry, some of which I have telegraphed to headquarters, and may hereafter deserve more full development.
After reaching Arkansas, the forces of Gen. Price were rapidly reinforced by regiments which had been stationed in Arkansas and the Indian Territory.
I therefore expected these combined forces would return upon us to give us battle, and in conformity with the orders of the General, of the twenty-second of February, I selected Sugar Creek as the strongest of several strong places taken from the enemy, to make a stand against any and all odds.
I reported my force to you on the twelfth February, after Col. Davis's division had joined me, with twelve thousand and ninety-five men and fifty pieces of artillery, including four mountain howitzers.
My long line of communications required garrisons at Marshfield, Springfield, Cassville, and Keitsville, besides a constant moving force to guard my train.
My force in Arkansas was, therefore, not more than ten thousand five hundred, cavalry and infantry, with forty-nine pieces of artillery, including the mountain howitzers, one piece having been sent out into Missouri, and thus prevented from joining us in the battle.
The scarcity of forage and other supplies made it necessary for me to spread out my troops over considerable country, always trying to keep them within supporting distance, convenient to rally on the positions selected for battle.
On the fourth of March this force was located as follows:
The First and Second divisions, under Generals Sigel and Asboth, were four miles south-west of Bentonville, at Cooper's farm, under general orders to move round to Sugar Creek, about fourteen miles east.
The Third division, under Col. Jefferson C. Davis, acting Brigadier-General, had moved and taken position at Sugar Creek, under orders to make some preparatory arrangements and examinations for a stand against the enemy.
The Fourth.
division was at Cross Hollows, under command of Col. E. A. Carr, acting Brigadier-General.
My own headquarters were also at this place, within about twelve miles from Sugar Creek, on the main telegraph road from Springfield to Fayetteville.
Large detachments had been sent out from those several camps for forage and information--one from Cross Hollows to Huntsville, under command of Colonel Vandever, and three from Cooper's farm to Maysville and Pineville.
One of those, under Major Conrad, with a piece of artillery and two hundred and fifty men, did not reach us until after the battle.
All the others came in safe and joined in the engagement.
The enemy had taken position in the Boston Mountains, a high range that divides the waters of the White River and Arkansas. Gen. Price had rallied the forces that had fought at Carthage, Wilson's Creek, and Lexington, augmented by his exertions to recruit in Missouri during the winter.
On his arrival from Springfield in Arkansas, he reported to Governor Rector that between four and five thousand of these had joined the confederate service previous to leaving Springfield.
The circulation of all manner of extravagant falsehoods on his way induced the whole country to leave their homes, and for fear we would kill them, thousands joined his ranks.
General McCulloch brought at least eleven regiments to the field, and General Pike five.
Besides these regularly organized confederate troops which General Price met in Arkansas, there were many companies and regiments of Arkansas volunteers, most of the country people being required to take up arms.
From this data, and the general opinion of the country, I estimated the force of the enemy to have been at least thirty thousand or forty thousand.
This was the force in and near Boston Mountains, rallying to drive us from Arkansas and Missouri
The two armies thus constituted and located, were within hearing of each other's cannon, about thirty miles apart.
I submit an accompanying