Desperate Cavalry Charge Of The Third Iowa Cavalry At Pea Ridge

By the result of this charge, in which fifty out of two hundred and thirty-five men were place hors de combat in five minutes, I am reminded of the celebrated Balaklava charge, the valor with which our brave men rushed into the jaws of danger and death without quailing, being equally conspicuous with that of the gallant 600.

The Third Iowa in column of fours, as soon as the bugle sounded the charge, galloped down the narrow road leading along a fence on the south, with thick brush on the opposite side.  After going about three hundred yards in rear, and beyond the battery, a galling fire was poured in on them by a large body of McCulloch’s infantry, concealed in the brush in front, and to the right of the cavalry.  The latter wheeled and fired on the enemy, who were only a few yards distant.  At the same moment a large body of rebel cavalry made a charge through the woods and brush in the direction of our battery, and through the line of the Third Iowa, which had already sustained a heavy loss from the enemy’s deadly fire.  The rebel cavalry charged over the fence into the field on the left of the prairie, and were pursued by our cavalry.  A running fight ensued, in which the rebels suffered a very heavy loss.  Lieut. Col. Trimble was wounded at the first fire of the infantry, but succeeded in getting off the field.  The men being now without a commander, still pursued the enemy with great coolness, dealing powerful blows on their opponents, as the dead and wounded rebels (82 in number) left on the field, bear ample proof.  After the rebels were completely routed, the Third Iowa moved around the new position where the other detachment of cavalry had fallen back, and where Col. Greusel’s brigade was drawn up in line.  Here Col. Bussey rallied the First Missouri Cavalry and the Benton Hussars and formed a line on the east side of the field.

It has since been ascertained that Churchill’s regiment, armed with Mississippi rifles, gave the murderous fire on our cavalry. – Cor. Mo. Dem.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Thursday Morning, March 27, 1862, p. 2