In the following letter the chaplain of the 8th Indiana, Arthur W. Stanford, describes the regiment’s participation in the battle at Pea Ridge. Sanford was a Presbyterian minister who served as chaplain for two Indiana infantry regiments, the 8th and the 36th. His service with the 8th was from September 1861 to August 1862 and with the 36th from April 1863 to February 1864. Sanford resigned his post of chaplain in February 1864 due to health problems. He died in Detroit, Michigan on November 28, 1887.

The 8th Indiana was part of 1st Brigade, Third Division, Army of Southwest Missouri at the time of the battle. The unit was brigaded with the 18th and 22nd Indiana Infantry and 1st Battery Indiana Light Artillery. The brigade commander was Colonel Thomas Pattison. During both days of the battle the 8th Indiana was engaged in the area near the Elkhorn Tavern.

This letter appeared in the Indianapolis Daily Journal on March 19, 1862 on page 2 columns 1 and 2. The spelling and punctuation are unchanged from the original publication.


The Battle in Arkansas.
The Eight Indiana’s Share of It.
The List of Killed and Wounded.
Camp Pease, Ark., March 9, 1862.

Dear Journal: I had forwarded to you a somewhat detailed narrative of our migrations in connection with Gen. Curtis’s Expedition against Price, bringing it down to our arrival in this vicinity, the which has undoubtebly [sic] been captured by the rebels.

[No. It came through safely and was duly published.—Ed.]

A supplement thereto will reach you with this, (if not also captured,) and which is sufficiently independent of the other to bear publication without being preceded by it. Please give it to your readers, and I will “supply back numbers” when I have more leisure.

Well, at last we have had a fight—a big fight; and, thank God, a victorious fight. Not that we are, for it, indebted in the least to Sterling Price’s bravery, or to that of his ruffian forces, but to the fact, as here understood, that the forces of McCulloch and McIntosh were united with his, under the chief command of Gen. Van Dorn. Their number, as far as can be ascertained from intelligent prisoners, was from 39,000 to 42,000.

Intelligence of their advance upon, and proximity to us, reached our camp on the 5th inst., and preliminary arrangements for their reception commenced in the evening. On the morning of the 6th we moved from our camp in Sugar Creek Hollow, and took position on the hights [sic] overlooking it from the north.—To the Eight and the 1st Indiana Battery, six pieces, Capt. Klauss, was entrusted the holding of a point which commanded the main road to Cross Hollows, from which it was supposed the advance would be made, and it also protected our left flank, and, indeed, from which we could have hurled a fearful fire upon the enemy, coming upon us by any practicable approach, except the rear.

The men, ciated [sic] with the prospect of a battle, worked with energy—the battery was planted and a breast-work thrown up to protect the infantry, below and in front of the battery. No demonstration was made by the rebels during the day, except a little brush with part of Sigel’s command, near Bentonville. During the night, however, they managed to get in force on our right flank, and some three miles in our rear, on the main road to Springfield; and, on the 7th, about 11 a. m., the action opened with briskness and energy along both positions, raging at intervals with great fierceness. Toward evening they were effectually driven from their position on the right, nor has there been any fighting there since.

Not so in the rear, however. Here they supposed, doubtless, that they had us effectually trapped; as holding their position they would be able to cut off our supplies from the north. The conflict here was fearfully raging, and with doubtful prospect, when, about 3 P. M., an order from Gen. Curtis directed Colonel Benton to send five companies of the Eight to the relief of Col. Carr, commanding at that point. Such was the eagerness of all to go that it was decided between the two wings by lot, and the left, composed of companies F, G, H, I, and K, succeeded in getting the long “cut.”

They were instantly dispatched under Lieut. Col. Shunk, as also three pieces of Capt. Klauss’ battery, and reached the scene of action in quick time. The firing was then temporarily suspended, the enemy charging position. Being promptly formed, and the battery planted to rake the supposed position of the rebels, they marched into the brush in that direction, when a terrible fire of musketry, shot and shell opened upon them, raking them diagonally. Through this they marched without being able to reply, promptly reformed, when a still more murderous fire was opened upon them by another portion of enemy, who were concealed over the crown of a hill.

To this they replied with two spirited and fatal volleys; preserving their line they deployed and fell back in good order, skirmishing meanwhile—took a new position, when being again attacked they repulsed the enemy, in vastly superior force, and held it, during the night sleeping upon their arms.

The disparity of numbers in this part of the fight must have been at least five to one in favor of the rebels.

During the night both armies increased their strength at this point, and on the morning of the 8th the battle again opened, and for hours nought but the roar of cannon and musketry could be heard for miles around, but with no doubtful result. Gen. Sigel with his “Dutch,” backed by brave Hoosiers, Suckers, Iowans and loyal Missourians, with perhaps, the representatives of other States, swept everything before them. The enemy was driven and routed from every position, and armed rebellion in this “neck of woods” is now pretty well “played out,” as far as facts at present indicate.

As the duty of holding our position in front, devolved, by express order, on Col. Benton, was one which at any moment might become of the most vital importance, he, like a true soldier, as well as a brave office, faithfully carried out the order, although himself and the gallant officers and men of the right wing were thereby prevented from participating in the fearful fray. But that the men were exceedingly anxious to “go in,” and that his fearless spirit chafed under the restraint, “like the steed under galling rein,” was evident enough from the promptitude and speed with which, upon the first intimation that he was relieved, they hastened to the scene of the conflict, just in time to see that the rout of the foe was complete.

I cannot better describe the conduct of officers and men than by quoting Col. Benton’s official report:

“I cannot close this report without honorable mention of the promptitude and fidelity with which each member of the regiment executed every order given. Officers and men, comprehending the magnitude of the task to be accomplished, all were eager to bear their part. And when the order came for a part of the regiment, the question was not which part would have to go, but which be compelled to remain—a question which was decided by lot.

Without intending any invidious distinctions, I will be permitted to say that Lieut. Col. David Shunk, upon this occasion, as upon all others, bore himself as a true man and a brave officer.”

Major Parrish, who had, on the morning of the 7th, been detailed with a fatigue party to obstruct the approaches, except such as we supposed could be commanded, and which precaution was deemed of sufficient importance to demand the superintendence of a field officer, on his return hastened to the field, and with his well known fearlessness maintained the reputation he so fully established at Rich Mountain—remaining all night on the field, nor leaving it on the 8th, until the victory being achieved, the regiment was ordered into camp.

Captain Klaus, and the brave Germans of his battery, also deserve honorable mention. Although but half his force was in action, he, unfettered by special orders as was Col. Benton, commanded in person, and to his bravery, and that of his men, we are much indebted for our success. I watched their firing near by, on the 7th, and it was almost as regular as the vibration of a pendulum, and directed with unerring and fatal certainty.

On the 8th he dismounted three of the enemy’s guns in the very commencement of the action, and, while I observed him, and as I am informed through the whole fight, he was as calm and cool at his post as if he had been merely sipping a glass of “lager.” His men also manifested as little concern about danger as though engaged at any ordinary avocation. They are generally men of intelligence and I am proud to say that he commands and they compose the 1st Indiana Artillery.
The following is our list of casualties:

Killed.
John Coburn, Henry Hardbarger and John Stiles, Co. F.

Lieut. James R. Smith and Samuel Harter, Co. H.
Wounded.
Thomas Leatherland, *M. Hogan, *Zenos Hessford, John A. Rhoads, Joseph Repp, Henry Griffy, and Rob. D. Hite, Co. F.

Lieut. J.W.Way, Allen O. Neff, B.C. Hoyt, Samuel H. Webb, Henry C. Voris, Grove G. Fowler, George W. Grimes, *James Malcolm, Wm. Prillaman, #Wm. Salisbury, and James T. Smith, Co. G.

*John P. Finkle, *Thomas Webb and Wm. Jay, Co. H.

Robert Torrence, *Wm. A Garrison, Flavius Brewer and Jethro M. Hall, Co. I.

George K. Maul, John Giles and Clinton Guthrie, Co. K.

Missing.
K. C. Hollingsworth, and Ed. T. Reilly, Co. G, and John T. Nottingham, Co. H—all supposed to be wounded and prisoners.
In haste. A. W. Sanford,
Chaplain 8th Indiana.

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*Severely; #dangerously; the others mostly slight wounds, though varying in degree. Those marked severely, except Garrison, will all recover under ordinary care and treatment, and he may.