2

Letter from Arkansas.

SUGAR CREEK, Benton Co.,
Ark., March 9, 1862.

EDITOR ARGUS — Sir: I cannot give full particulars. We found the enemy at Springfield, Mo. Price made his exit immediately and we followed him at a speed which gave him much uneasiness, 70 miles over the Ozark Mountains, a most ruggid country, very mountainous, nothing but timber. Our advance guard and Price's rear guard had several small fights — nothing serious. At last, Price, pushed hard by our troops, was compelled to fight or surrender, and a few miles from this place our advance guard had a severe conflict, killing and wounding a large number. This skirmish brought the two armies together, and on the 7th of this month they went at it pell mell, early in the morning. It was thought at first that the enemy had the best of it. The 37th Ill. and 9th Missouri made a tremendous charge into the rebel ranks, while the artillery was giving them large pills, &c. Col. Barnes, with the adjutant at his side, led the regiment, the boys followed him bravely and fought like tigers — Capt. Curtis' company leading the regiment. This company, from Rock Island, had 5 killed and 24 wounded. Capt. Curtis received two wounds — not serious. Col. Barnes lost his horse. His horse was hit by a buck-shot, a skin wound only, which made him get quit of his rider. Our battery at this time was in the hands of the enemy, but only for a few seconds. Several other regiments coming up, the enemy fled in all directions. After sundown I went in search of the colonel's horse, and found him in the brush. The dead and wounded were lying in all directions. The number of killed and wounded of the rebels is very large — three to one against ours. We fought Ben McCulloch's division, under Gen. Davis. The gallant little general, Sigel, was fighting Price's division, 3 miles from us. Gen. Curtis was fighting Gen. Van Dorn's division, about 2 miles from us.

Night put a stop to this day's hard fighting, and we made fires in the wood and sat by them till day break in the morning. — Ben McCulloch had "got enough;" Van Dorn was also perfectly satisfied, but not so with Price. At 11 o'clock on the second day, our army completely routed him, taking two batteries of 12 guns. We opened fire on him at 7 o'clock in the morning, on his right, Gen. Sigel getting into his rear, whilst Gen. Curtis went at him on his left. When we opened fire upon Price he was having his breakfast. This was a warning that Uncle Sam was, this day, going to give them "old rats." The 37th and 9th Missouri dashed into the enemy like tigers, charged upon their battery, stormed and took it. One of our boys shot an officer of high rank — three stars on his breast — and took his sword and their colors. We have at this post 400 or 500 prisoners. It is all up — Uncle Sam rules!

Price has fled. His men have all left him, or nearly so. Gen. Sigel is after him, and we are waiting orders.

Gen. Sigel has passed a high compliment on the 37th. Col. White, of the 37th, who commands the 2d division, is a most daring, brave fellow — cannon balls rattling around him were heeded no more than waffs of wind.

It is a miracle how Col. Barnes escaped being wounded or shot. He cheered his boys on like a brave soldier.

Lieut. Wolferd is in charge of Capt. Frick's boys. Wolferd is a brave fellow. Wolferd had 1 killed and 9 wounded. He was slightly wounded in the left hand.

Sergeant Major Hartley was absent, being very sick with inflammatory rheumatism.

Ophir Bigelow died, this morning.

There were 144 killed and wounded in the 27th regiment.

The rebel soldiers are a ragged lot. There are very few rebels wounded. Our boys sent death into their ranks. One rebel regiment had eight hundred men when the fight commenced. New day one hundred and twenty-five was all they could muster.

The rebel loss, in killed and wounded, is supposed to have been about 2,500. We lost about 1,500 killed and wounded.

Ben McCulloch is supposed to have been killed by a cannon ball, in the first day's fight.

Yours respectfully,
DAVID HICK, of Coal Valley.

P.S. — I send you the following list of killed and wounded in Co. H, (Capt. Frick's,) 37th regiment, vix:
Lieut. H. Wolferd, slightly, in left hand, with a spent ball.

Corporal Joseph Cushman, slightly, in the head.

Kendall Willis, killed.

Joseph Smith, severely wounded, in the right arm.

Ophir Bigelow, severely wounded in right thigh — flesh wound, (since dead.)

Charles Taylor, severely wounded in the knee.

Cass B. Holstead, slightly wounded in the knee.

John Gray, severely wounded in the thigh; flesh wound.

Joseph Blair, slightly wounded in the side.
D. H.