328

THE PEA RIDGE CAMPAIGN.

dorff, with his regiment, was posted as directed. General Curtis declaredhimself satisfied and rode off, hut scarcely had he left me when the can-nonade in front became very brisk, some of the hostile missiles burstingover our heads.

I mounted, told Colonel Osterhaus to take charge of our column and moveit to the position to be occupied; then, accompanied by Captain Asmussen,I rode to the front, where Davis’sdivision had formed into line, tosee what was going on. I foundone of our batteries hotly engaged,but compelled to withdraw, whichexposed the infantry on the rightto an enfilading fire, and alsoforced it to change its position.

One of the regiments—I think itwas the 2 2d or the 8th Indiana —was thrown into momentary dis-order by this surprise, and the menfell back toward an eminence onthe right of the road on which Iwas halting. I assisted their bravecommander to rally them, whichdid not take long, and spoke a fewwords to them, saying that if theright could hold out for half anhour, assistance would come, andall would be well. Meanwhile an-other regiment had formed on theleft, the battery had taken positionagain and was supported by fourother guns (of White’s brigade),farther to the left, diverting theenemy’s fire. The line stood firm,and as no hostile infantry appeared, I took leave of the commander of the“ Indiana boys,” and hastened to my own troops. I reached the head of thecolumn when it was just debouching from the woods, and the first batterythat arrived took position on the left of the 44th Illinois , which was kneelingbehind a fence. In about 15 minutes the First Division (Osterhaus’s) wasformed into line, with the artillery in the intervals between the infantry,the Second Division in reserve, about 250 paces behind our right, withGeneral Asboth at its head, who, in spite of his wound received on the 7th,was again in the saddle. Our position, in full view of the open fields, whichsloped gently down toward the long skirt of woods, where the enemy’s artil-lery and infantry were posted, was excellent, and allowed the full develop-ment of our forces. The enemy’s batteries received us well, but many of theirshots were either aimed too high, or struck the ground and were buried a short

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aSai;

PRATT’S STORE. RESERVE. GUARD-HOU8E. TROTT’S HILL.

30 IOWA CAVALRY. GEN. CURTIS'S HEAOQUARTERS. PEORIA BATTERY.

THE UNION RIGHT UNDER GENERAL CARR AT PRATT’SSTORE, SECOND DAY OF THE BATTLE.

FROM A FANEL TO THE PICTURE ON PAGE 330.