ARMY OPERATIONS. 



53 



have organized what is called Home Guard Companies, 

 partly of Union men and partly of Southern men, all 

 of whom are anxious to return to their homes. ^ e 

 are happy to tind that you and your men are not com- 

 posed of that class of persons commonly called jay hawk- 

 ers, who do not regard the rights of citizens and prop- 

 erty, but coutiue the war to its legitimate object. 



The falsehoods circulated concerning us have driven 

 thousands from their homes, and I take the liberty of 

 responding publicly to the sentiments expressed by the 

 writer, because these falsehoods have involved the 

 whole community in the troubles which he seeks to 

 mitigate. 



The only legitimate object of the war is peace, and 

 the writer'ouly does me justice when he says I adhere 

 to this legitimate object. Peaceable citizens shall be 

 protected as far as possible. I act under strict orders 

 .-Gen. Halleck. The flight of our foes from 

 their camps, and the imitation of their conduct by the 

 citizens, in fleeing from their homes, leaving their ef- 

 fects abandoned as it were for the victors, have much 

 embarrassed me in my efforts to preserve discipline in 

 my command, as these circumstances offered extraor- 

 dinary temptations. 



The burning of farms and fields of grain in Missouri, 

 and extensive barracks and valuable mills in Arkansas 

 by the enemy, has induced some resentments on the 

 part of my "troops, which I have severely punished. 

 Necessary 'supplies for my command could not keep 

 up with my rapid movements, and peaceable citizens 

 not being at home to sell them to my quartermasters, 

 I am compelled to take them without purchase, mak- 

 ing settlement difficult and doubtful ; occasioning ir- 

 regularities which I have always labored to counteract. 

 Il^peaceably disposed citizens will stay at home, or re- 

 turn homeland check the clandestine, stealthy warfare 

 that is carried on under the cover and cloak of peace- 

 able citizens, much of the havoc of war will be avoided, 

 and many poor families can be protected from distress 

 and miserv. I have followed the war-path through 

 the entire State of Missouri, have seen the havoc and 

 devastation surrounding it, and I deplore the prospect 

 of these disasters in the virgin soil of Arkansas. 



Armed men. in the garb of citizens, are concealed 

 by citizens, and the unfortunate condition of Missouri 

 w'ill be transferred to Arkansas, if you allow this com- 

 plicity of yourselves in the struggle. If you do not 

 discriminate by requiring soldiers to wear some dis- 

 tinctive badge, "you must not complain if we cannot 

 discriminate. 



There is no honor, no glory, no good that can be 

 gained by taking up arms in this way, to defend your 

 homes, for we do not wish to molest them if you are 

 peaceably disposed. We onlv wish to put down rebel- 

 lion by making war against those in arms, their aiders 

 and abettors. We come to vindicate the Constitution, 

 to preserve and perpetuate civil and religious liberty, 

 under a flag that was embalmed in the blood of our 

 Revolutionary fathers. Under that flag we have lived 

 in peace and prosperity until the flag of rebellion in- 

 volved us in the horrors of civil war. 



We have restored the Stars and Stripes to north- 

 western Arkansas, where I am glad to find many who 

 rejoice to see the emblem of their former glory, and 

 hope for a restoration of the peace and happiness they 

 have enjoyed under its folds. A surrender to such a 

 flag is only a return to your natural allegiance, and is 

 more honorable than to persist in a rebellion that sur- 

 rendered to the national power at Forts Henrv and 

 Donelson, at Nashville and at Roanoke, and throughout 

 the most powerful Southern States. Why then shall 

 the West be devastated to prolong a struggle which 

 the States of Maryland, Virginia". Kentucky, North 

 Carolina, and Tennessee cannot successfully maintain ? 



Disband your companies; surrender your arms ; for 

 in all instances where men in arms have voluntarily 

 surrendered and taken the oath of allegiance to our 

 common country, they have been discharged. No pris- 

 oners have, to my knowledge, been shot or hung, or 

 cruelly treated by us. 



I know of no instance where my troops have treated 



females with violence, and I have not heard of a com- 

 plaint of any kind. I enjoin on the troops kindness, 

 protection, and support for women and children. I 

 shall, to the best of my ability, maintain our country's 

 flag in Arkansas, and'continue to make relentless war 

 on its foes, but shall rejoice to see the restoration of 

 peace in all the States and Territories of our country 

 that peace which we formerly enjoyed and earnestly 

 desire ; and I implore for each" and all of us that ulti- 

 mate, eternal peace " which the world cannot give or 

 take away." I have the honor to be, 



Yerv respectfullv, vour obedient servant, 



SAMUEL R. CURTIS, 



Brig.-Gen. Commanding Army of the Southwest. 



On reaching Arkansas the forces of Gen. 

 Price were rapidly reenforced by regiments 

 which had been stationed in Arkansas and the 

 Indian Territory. Knowing this fact, Gen. 

 Curtis expected an attack would soon be made 

 npon him. He therefore selected Sugar Creek, 

 as the strongest of several strong places taken 

 from the enemy, to make a stand against any 

 and all odds. " The position of Gen. Curtis' s 

 force on the 6th of March was as follows: 

 The first and second divisions, nnder Gens. 

 Sigel and Asboth. were four miles southwest 

 of Bentonville under general orders to move 

 round to Sugar Creek about fourteen miles 

 east. The third division, under Col. Jeff. C. 

 Davis, had moved to take 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, about twelve miles from Sugar Creek on 

 the main telegraph road from Springfield to 

 Fayetteville. The number of his force is stated 

 by Gen. Curtis to have been not more than 

 10,500 cavalry and infantry with forty-nine 

 pieces of artillery. The following were the 

 forces engaged in the battle of Pea Ridge : 1st 

 division, under command of Col. Osterhaus. 

 36th Illinois, 12th Missouri. 17th Missouri, bat- 

 talion of 3d, two battalions of Benton Hussars 

 cavalry, one battalion 39th Illinois cavalry, bat- 

 teries A and B, twelve guns. A brigade, con- 

 sisting of the 25th and 44th Illinois, was com- 

 manded by Col. Coler. Another brigade was 

 commanded by Col. Greusel. 



The second division, commanded by Brig.- 

 Gen. Asboth, consisted of the 2d Missouri, Col. 

 Schfefer ; 2d Ohio battery, six guns, Lieut. 

 Chapman: 15th Missouri. Col. Joliet; 6th Mis- 

 souri cavalry, Col. Wright ; light battery of 

 six guns. Capt. Elbert ; battalion -ith Missouri 

 cavalry, Maj. Messaur. These two divisions 

 were commanded by Gen. Sigel. 



The third division, commanded by Brig.-Gen. 

 Jeff. C. Davis, consisted of 2 brigades : the 1st, 

 commanded by Col. Barton, was composed of 

 the 8th, 18th and 22d Indiana, and an Indiana 

 battery of six guns. The 2d brigade, command- 

 ed by Col. White, was composed of the 37th Illi- 

 nois, 9th Missouri, 1st Missouri cavalry, and a 

 battery of four guns. 



The" fourth division, commanded by Col. Carr, 

 consisted of 2 brigades ; the 1st. commanded by 

 Col. Dodge, was composed of the 4th Iowa, 35th 



