$Log1 <FONT=HelpText,C,20,20,20> March 7th, 1862
Leetown, Arkansas
 
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      Around noon the Union advance party clattered through the hamlet of Leetown, passed by Samuel Oberson's large cornfield, and entered a belt of trees. When Osterhaus emerged from the trees onto Wiley Foster's farm, he came to an abrupt halt. Directly in front of him was McCulloch's entire division advancing in a massive formation six regiments wide with flags flying and weapons gleaming in the midday sun. The Confederates had turned the corner of Big Mountain and were plodding eastward on and alongside Ford Road.
      Osterhaus was shocked by the sight of so many Rebels. This was not the modest-sized diversionary force he had expected to encounter. It appeared that he had stumbled upon half of the Confederate army! Then he realized that the massive enemy formation was heading directly toward the Union army's trains near Elkhorn Tavern, only two miles to the east. "Notwithstanding my command was entirely inadequate to the overwhelming masses opposed to me," he reported without exaggeration, "I could not hesitate in my course of action." Osterhaus directed Bussey to unlimber his three guns and fire on the tightly packed Confederate formation. The opening shots of the fight at Leetown struck down dozens of Rebel cavalrymen...the battle has begun.
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$Osterhaus <FONT=MsgFont,L,20,20,20>Osterhaus Headquarters <FONT=MsgFont,R,20,20,20>Leetown, Arkansas
12:00 noon, March 7th, 1862
<FONT=MsgFont,L,20,20,20>Colonel Osterhaus
      As requested, message is sent to General Curtis that we have engaged a large enemy force north of Leetown and urgently need reinforcements. 
 
<FONT=MsgFont,R,20,20,20>
Colonel Knobelsdorff - Adjutant
1st Division
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$Osterhaus2 <FONT=MsgFont,L,20,20,20>Osterhaus Headquarters <FONT=MsgFont,R,20,20,20>Leetown, Arkansas
2:00 P.M., March 7th, 1862
<FONT=MsgFont,L,20,20,20>Colonel Osterhaus
      General Davis' Division is arriving.  He has been briefed of the situation and will position his troops south of Morgan's woods, extending our line east.
 
<FONT=MsgFont,R,20,20,20>
Colonel Knobelsdorff - Adjutant
1st Division
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$Osterhaus3 <FONT=MsgFont,L,20,20,20>Osterhaus Headquarters <FONT=MsgFont,R,20,20,20>Leetown, Arkansas
afternoon, March 7th, 1862
<FONT=MsgFont,L,20,20,20>Colonel Osterhaus
      General McIntosh, a valued Rebel officer has fallen in battle.  His troops are already pulling back and showing disorder.
 
<FONT=MsgFont,R,20,20,20>
Colonel Knobelsdorff - Adjutant
1st Division
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$Osterhaus4 <FONT=MsgFont,L,20,20,20>Osterhaus Headquarters <FONT=MsgFont,R,20,20,20>Leetown, Arkansas
afternoon, March 7th, 1862
<FONT=MsgFont,L,20,20,20>Colonel Osterhaus
      Colonel Hebert, the ranking Rebel infantry officer, was captured along with much of his staff in Morgan woods.  Last reports were that the Rebels were falling back in that area of the battle.
 
<FONT=MsgFont,R,20,20,20>
Colonel Knobelsdorff - Adjutant
1st Division
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$Osterhaus5 <FONT=MsgFont,L,20,20,20>Osterhaus Headquarters <FONT=MsgFont,R,20,20,20>Leetown, Arkansas
afternoon, March 7th, 1862
<FONT=MsgFont,L,20,20,20>Colonel Osterhaus
      General McCulloch, the Rebel commanding officer, was reported as being carried from the battle, appearing to be mortally wounded.
 
<FONT=MsgFont,R,20,20,20>
Colonel Knobelsdorff - Adjutant
1st Division
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$EndMajorFail <FONT=EndFont,L,0,0,0>In northwestern ARKANSAS, near the MISSOURI border, our forces met the enemy in battle and suffered a major defeat.  Reports are just arriving by telegram to this office, but an anonymous source was quoted as saying, "An inquiry will be forthcoming, as certain officers should be removed from command immediately."  The flower of our youth has died on the field of battle.  A retreat is probable.  We must be prepared for the worst.  Heavy casualty lists are to follow...
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$EndMinorFail <FONT=EndFont,L,0,0,0>In northwestern ARKANSAS, near the MISSOURI border, our forces met the enemy in battle and suffered a minor defeat.  Reports are just arriving by telegram to this office as the fight continues.  A retreat is possible.  We must be prepared for the worst.  Casualty lists are to follow...
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$EndDraw <FONT=EndFont,L,0,0,0>A battle in the West was fought in northwestern ARKANSAS today.  Reports are just arriving by telegram to this office as the fight continues, but victory or defeat is still unknown.  We wish good fortune to the troops on that faraway field, and as always we must be prepared for the worst.  Casualty lists are to follow...
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$EndMinorSuccess <FONT=EndFont,L,0,0,0>In northwestern ARKANSAS, near the MISSOURI border, our forces met the enemy in battle and achieved a minor victory.  Reports are just arriving by telegram to this office as the fight continues, but there is a long road to march before we see the end to this struggle.  Casualty lists are to follow...
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$EndMajorSuccess <FONT=EndFont,L,0,0,0>In northwestern ARKANSAS, near the MISSOURI border, our forces met the enemy in battle and achieved a major victory.  Reports are just arriving by telegram to this office as the fight continues, but there is a long road to march before we see the end to this struggle.  Casualty lists are to follow...
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$EndKilled <FONT=EndFont,L,0,0,0>Today our side lost another valiant officer at the Battle of Pea Ridge, in ARKANSAS - Colonel Peter Joseph Osterhaus.
Osterhaus was born in Koblenz, Prussia in 1823 and was educated at a Berlin military academy. Like his friend Sigel, he left Germany after participating in the 1848-49 revolutions. He settled in Illinois where he established himself as a merchant and postmaster. He was also active in politics, where he became a supporter of the Republican Party and became acquainted with Abraham Lincoln.  In 1860, he and his family moved to Saint Louis where he established himself as a merchant and bookkeeper. He became active in the German-American community and helped train pro-Union "Homeguard" companies. When war broke out, he was promoted to Major and led a battalion of infantry at Wilson's Creek. At the battle, he distinguished himself as a brave and able commander. For his actions, he was promoted to Colonel and given command of the German-American 12th Missouri Infantry. When Curtis organized the Army of the Southwest along ethnic lines, Osterhaus was given command of the largely-German 1st Division.

  

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$BattleInfo <FONT=EndFont,L,0,0,0>WE devote page 196 to an illustration of the great battle fought by General Curtis at PEA RIDGE, ARKANSAS, on 6th, 7th, and 8th March. The official report of General Curtis is as follows:
HEAD-QUARTERS, ARMY OF THE SOUTHWEST, PEA RIDGE, ARKANSAS, March 9, 1862.
GENERAL,—On Thursday, the 6th inst., the enemy commenced an attack on my right wing, assailing and following the rear-guard of a detachment under General Siegel to my main lines on Sugar Creek Hollow, but ceased firing when he met my reinforcements about four P. M.
During the night I became convinced that he had moved on so as to attack my right or rear, therefore early on the 7th I ordered a change of front to the right, my right, which thus became my left, still resting on Sugar Creek Hollow. This brought my line across Pea Ridge, with my new right resting on Head Cross Timber Hollow, which is the head of Big Sugar Creek. I also ordered an immediate advance of the cavalry and light artillery, under Colonel Osterhaus, with orders to attack and break what I supposed would be the reinforced line of the enemy. This movement was in progress when the enemy, at eleven A. M., commenced an attack on my right. The fight continued mainly at these points during the day, the enemy having gained the point held by the command of Colonel Carr, at Cross Timber Hollow, but was entirely repulsed, with the fall of the commander, McCulloch, in the centre, 
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