Total, six killed and thirty-two wounded.

The following extract from the report of Col. Greusel, commanding the Second Brigade, gives a complete summary of the part taken by the 36th Illinois in connection with the other regiments participating in the actions of Bentonville and Pea Ridge, which was dated at Pea Ridge March 12th, 1862, and directed to Col. Osterhaus, commanding the First Division.

COL. GREUSEL'S REPORT.

MARCH 6TH.—I received your order to march the brigade back to your assistance from Sugar Creek about 2 o'clock in the afternoon, and immediately halted the regiments and batteries on the road and marched them back on the double quick about three miles, where I found you hotly pursued by the cavalry and artillery of the enemy. I formed the 36th Illinois regiment in line of battle until you gave the order to fall back slowly for a mile, where I reformed four companies in ambush and marched the other six companies one mile east and formed them in line.

The enemy having given up the pursuit, I re-formed the regiment and marched to camp on Sugar Creek, the 12th Missouri Volunteers bringing up the rear, under Major Wanglin, whose horse was wounded in the retreat.

MARCH 7TH.-I received your orders at 8 o'clock A. M., and marched two regiments of infantry, Capt. Hoffman's battery and three twelve-pound howitzers of Capt. Welfley's battery in an open field or farm a little north of Leetown, where I formed the 36th Illinois regiment on the left, Hoffman's battery next on the right, the 12th Missouri on the right of Hoffman's battery. Three pieces of Welfley's battery supported by Company E of the 36th Illinois.

Previous to the arrival of my command on the field, the 3rd Iowa, the 1st Missouri cavalry and the Benton Huzzars, with two pieces of Welfley's battery, had charged the cavalry and infantry of the enemy in a cleared field about half a mile from our position. Just as the 36th Illinois Volunteers got into line, and while the 12th Missouri was forming, the cavalry commenced a precipitate and disorderly retreat which threatened a general stampede. It was a critical moment, and on the courage and firmness of the infantry depended our success. The officers, by their good example, inspired confidence in the men, the 36th Illinois and 12th Missouri standing their ground like veteran soldiers and preventing a disgraceful rout. Two pieces of artillery and one of Welfley's howitzers were left on the field, but Capt. Welfley succeeded in spiking them before he retired. These pieces were afterwards recovered by Company E of the 36th Illinois Volunteers.

It is to be regretted that the men attached to these guns were compelled to leave them by our own cavalry, who rode down, indiscriminately, men and horses, eight of Welfley's men having been severely injured by them. At the moment the last of our cavalry left the field, I opened a brisk fire of shell and shot in the bushes occupied by the enemy, which prevented them from following up the retreat of the cavalry. This fire was kept up for an hour and returned by them.

COL. GREUSEL'S REPORT.

177

At this time my attention was directed to a high and steep hill on my right and about a mile distant from our line. believed it to be the place selected by the Confederate commanders from which to direct the movements of their troops and to reconnoitre ours. I directed Lieut. Beneca's section of Welfley's battery to shell that point, causing them to disperse in double quick time.

My attention was now called to several regiments of infantry in our front and immediately opposite the 36th Illinois Volunteers, whereupon I threw out Companies B and G of that regiment as skirmishers. These companies crossed the field, and on entering the timber discovered the enemy in ambush-three regiments drawn up in line and others formed in square, evidently expecting another attack from our cavalry. A rapid fire was opened up by the enemy and returned by the skirmishers, which was kept up for fifteen minutes. Finding that they were wasting ammunition to but little purpose, the skirmishers retired in good order, with a loss of twenty wounded-thirteen in Company G and seven in Company B.

It was during this skirmish that an officer on horseback, who afterwards was found to be Gen. Ben. McCulloch, was shot dead by Peter Pelican, of Company B of the 36th Illinois Volunteers. The dress worn by the officer was a black velvet coat, vest and pants, long boots and white felt hat.

After the skirmishers retired I ordered shot and shell to be sent among the ambushed enemy, and then moved the 36th Illinois Volunteers forward, but the enemy retreated to a fence and thick underbrush, from whence they were shelled and scattered in great confusion. After the enemy fled I returned with the command to its first position.

At this time the 37th Illinois Volunteers, which were formed to my right, was attacked with great fury, and a heavy fire of musketry poured into the ranks of the 18th and 22nd Indiana regiments. This fire was returned by them in conjunction with the 12th Missouri, which did good execution and at last forced the enemy to retire with great loss. The 36th Illinois and 12th

Missouri then skirmished the woods and fields over an area of a mile square, taking several prisoners, after which, in accordance with your orders, I removed my command to a field about two miles in advance of our position of the morning, where we remained until midnight, when your orders were received to march to the Keitsville road, where we remained until the next morning. My command having had nothing to eat or drink for near twenty-four hours, and neither shelter or blankets during the night, suffered greatly from fatigue and exposure.

MARCH 8TH.-At 7 o'clock A. M., the enemy having commenced firing shot and shell, I received your orders to "fall in,' and marched to an open field about a mile in advance, where I formed my command in the following order: Welfley's battery on the right, joined by the 12th Missouri; Hoffman's battery and the 36th Illinois on the left, in close column, by divisions. Having been informed that a cavalry attack would be made upon us, we were prepared at any moment to form a square.

The enemy fired shot and shell while we were forming, and kept up a heavy fire for about two hours, which was briskly returned by our batteries until the rebel guns were silenced or ceased firing. After this I discovered several regiments of the enemy's infantry on the high hills in advance, and directed two companies from the 12th Missouri and from the 36th Illinois, which I increased to four from each of these regiments, to skirmish the fields and hill slopes. The skirmishers advanced in splendid style and drove the enemy before them, those of the 12th Missouri capturing three guns and a very fine silk Confederate flag from the Dallas battery.

At this time (10 o'clock A. M.) the 17th Missouri joined the brigade and the whole command moved forward, skirmishing to the telegraph road, repulsing the enemy, taking a number of prisoners and guns, a quantity of ammunition, flour and salt. From this advanced point, in accordance with your order, we followed up the repulsed and retreating rebel army rapidly for eight or ten miles, when we went into camp for the night. After this we saw no more of the rebel army, they having dispersed in all directions as they fled before our victorious columns.

CHAPTER XIV.

CONRAD'S EXPEDITION-RECUPERATING.

OR A number of days prior to the advance of the main Confederate army, roving mounted bands of reckless men traversed the country and showed great activity in their predatory incursions. Now they were hovering about our flanks, menacing the camps, harassing foraging parties, picking up stragglers, and perhaps the succeeding day or night the same bands would be heard from far in our rear, vexing the posts or trains and interfering with our communications. A thousand rumors were rife of an intended advance in force, but the report which gained most credence was to the effect that large numbers of Price's followers were drifting back into Missouri, passing our flank along the State line road for the purpose of demonstrating on our line of communication. The night attack upon Keitsville, the acts of lawlessness and of murder in the neighborhood of Cassville, together with the apparent ease with which these marauders traversed the woods, hills and valleys in the perpetration of their outrages, strengthened and gave color to such a belief.