Oooops, I didn't look far enough, sorry.

Smith's Illinois Cavalry

Pea Ridge, AR after action report:

Report of Capt. Henry A. Smith, Illinois Cavalry.

SIR: I have the honor to transmit to you an account of the proceedings
of my command during the 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th instant, which
please find below:

March 6 left Camp Cooper soon after daylight, reaching Bentonville
at 9 a. m. with 47 men, Lieut. Chapman, with 20 men, having
gone on scout to Pineville the evening before. Three of my men,
being on provost guard, were not relieved in time to join the company,
and were in consequence taken prisoners by the enemy. After remaining
at Bentonville about half an hour the enemy appeared in sight on
both flanks and in the rear, their cavalry on the right moving rapidly
forward, with the evident intention of cutting us off, which they succeeded
in doing about 1 mile east of the towns where we were ordered
to act as flankers on the left-hand side of the road. The artillery and
infantry were here-engaged with the enemy for fifteen minutes, and
finally succeeded in driving them back, our company being under fire
during the time, but unable to make a charge on account of the brush
being so thick in which the enemy were concealed.

After passing forward for 2 miles farther (a continued fire being
kept up by the enemy and our skirmishers on the left and in our rear),
we were again obliged to halt and remain in a very exposed situation
in the road (the bluffs on each side being inaccessible to cavalry) for
some twenty minutes, during which time the firing was incessant. As
soon, however, as the artillery opened upon them in front the road
was soon cleared, and we passed forward to camp without further
trouble, Lieut. Chapman and his party coming in about an hour
after us by a different road.

At 8 a. m. on the 7th Lieut. Chapman, with the second platoon,
were sent into the valley on the Telegraph road to act as patrol, where
they remained until 3 p. m., when they received an order to join Company A.
I remained with the wagons until 3 p. m., when I received
an order from Gen. Sigel to proceed to the left wing of our division
with 20 men and report what I could learn in that direction. After
proceeding in this direction about 1 mile we fell in with and captured
33 privates and the following officers: Col. Hebert, Maj. and Capt.
Vigilini, of the Louisiana regiment, of McIntosh's division, the first,
Col. Hebert, being an acting brigadier-general in said division;
also Col. Mitchell and a captain of the Fourteenth Arkansas were
of the number taken, and had we been left there until night I believe
we would have captured at least 200 of the enemy. The prisoners
stated that they had become separated from their commands in a
charge made in the morning, and had been unable to rejoin them. At
5 o'clock received an order from Gen. Sigel to return to camp and
guard the prisoners and baggage train.

At 3 a. m. on the 8th was ordered to report to Gen. Sigel, and
was assigned a position on the left wing of our division, near where
the Benton and Fremont Hussars were in line, where we remained
until a short time before the firing ceased, when we were ordered to
a position farther to the left, in a plowed field, where we remained in
line until 11 a. m., when we received orders to move forward on the
Telegraph road in pursuit of the enemy. We camped with our regiment
that night.

March 9 moved forward to Keetsville with the advance, when I
received an order from Gen. Sigel to proceed to Cassville, but after
advancing 3 miles on the road met Col. Wright, with troops and
train from that place, and returned with him, the object of my orders
being accomplished. Reached our camp at Rose Hill at 7 p. m.

All which is respectfully submitted.

Yours, to command,

H. A. SMITH.
Capt., Comdg. Co. B (Cav.), Thirty-sixth Regt. Ill. Vols.

COL. NIOHOLAS GREUSEL,
Commanding Second Brigade, First Division.

Source: Official Records
PAGE 232-8 OPERATIONS IN MO., ARK., KANS., AND IND. T. [CHAP. XVIII.
[Series I. Vol. 8. Serial No. 8.]