Blazing Away with Our Belgian Rifles: With the 37th Illinois at Pea Ridge

In writing about the March 1862 Battle of Pea Ridge, Captain Eugene Payne of the 37th Illinois took special care to note how the men of his company fought the battle. Operating contrary to their training, the men didn't stand side by side in serried ranks; they took cover and fought while lying prone upon the ground. 

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For half an hour did our brave lads pour the deadly contents of their Belgian rifles into the enemy," he observed. "Lying upon the ground our boys would load, then turn over, get upon one knee, pick out a secesh, and blaze away. Our guns did fearful execution as the rows and heaps of dead and dying secesh testified afterwards in front of where our regiment lay. At this first stand of our regiment was where we lost most of our boys. Our right wing suffered the most, it being nearer the enemy than the left."

          Captain Payne’s description of PeaRidge first saw publication in the March 29, 1862, edition of the WaukeganWeekly Gazette.

Captain Eugene B. Payne, Co. C, 37th Illinois Volunteer Infantry

Sugar Creek,Benton Co., Arkansas

March 12,1862

FriendWerden,

          I wish to give our friends in LakeCounty a short description of our late battle with its incidents and willdirect you if you will be so kind to place the same before them by insertion inthe Gazette.

          At 1 o’clock on the night of the 5thof March, the camp of the 37th Illinois was aroused and surprisedwith the news that Price was advancing upon us with a large force, that he hadhad a fight with General Sigel’s advance guard, and had driven them in. Soonthe whole camp was in commotion, cooking rations for three days, and in gettingready for a fight. We worked and waited until daylight and then found thatPrice had moved to the west of us. About noon, we pulled up stakes and movedour camp about three miles to the northward.

The boys began to think the alarm was but a scare when aboutsundown the dead and wounded of General Sigel’s pickets began to arrive inconsiderable numbers. We learned that the 2nd Missouri has beenambushed and cut up badly and that Price had at one time during the daysurprised Sigel and about 700 U.S. troops with nearly 3,000 Rebels. General Sigelfought his way back to his command and we heard that a battle would be foughtin the morning.

About the middle of the next forenoon, the 7th ofMarch, the battle commenced in earnest. The booming of cannons was heard at ourcamp for two or three hours before our brigade was ordered into action. Weformed quietly and coolly. Marched about two miles to the little village ofLeesburg where we halted and disrobed ourselves of our knapsacks, overcoats,and every cumbersome article about us. We formed again in line and with a yellstarted for the battlefield about quarter of a mile ahead where Davidson’sbattery had already began to play upon the Rebels. This battery was placed in alarge cornfield surrounded by heavy woods, covered thickly with small red oaks,with the dead leaves still upon them.

Leaving the battery to our left, we passed up the east sideof the cornfield nearly to its northern fence then filed off into the woods ina northeast direction followed by the 59th Illinois untilwe met the enemy’s pickets who fired and retreated back. Here we halted and laydown while every eye was bent upon the thickets to the right and front of us.We had not long to wait for soon the bullets and buckshot began to play upon us,pattering the dry leaves like hail.

 

“Westarted off as if we were going to a ball or a wedding, the bands playingDixie.” ~ Corporal Owen M. Callaghan, Co. C, 37th Illinois

 

Then the secesh found out where the 37th Illinoislay. For half an hour did our brave lads pour the deadly contents of theirBelgian rifles into the enemy. Lying upon the ground our boys would load, thenturn over, get upon one knee, pick out a secesh, and blaze away. Our guns didfearful execution as the rows and heaps of dead and dying secesh testifiedafterwards in front of where our regiment lay. At this first stand of ourregiment was where we lost most of our boys. Our right wing suffered the most,it being nearer the enemy than the left.

The enemy’s extreme left rested about 15 rods to the rightand front of our right wing then its center and right stretched off in analmost northerly direction thus forming with our line, the letter V. On thisstand of Co. A of the 37th suffered their entire loss of killed andwounded together with the captain. Company after company were slowly drivenback until Cos. C and D were the only ones left on the field. For full tenminutes longer did these two companies face the music while the leaden hailfairly plowed the ground around and among them; then, they too were obliged toretreat to the regiment. We quickly formed again and advanced upon the enemy, drivingthem to and beyond the place of our first stand.

 

 “Igot two bullets through my pants and one ball struck the metallic plate of theU.S. in the center of the belt and glanced off which saved my life- a miss isas good as a mile. The bullets flew thick and fast on both sides but we got thebetter of them.” ~ Private Calvin F. Boardman, Co. C, 37th Illinois

 

Three times that day were the noble 37th Illinoisdriven back and three times did they rally to their colors and rush upon theenemy. It was now sundown. We had fought for six long hours over a space ofground not one-quarter of a mile wide and having driven the enemy but a littledistance beyond our first position. We lay down and slept upon the battlefield,our pickets and those of the enemy being only about 20 rods apart. During thenight we were not disturbed. Early the next morning, we formed again and withno breakfast, marched northward about a mile beyond the battleground of the daybefore, the enemy having fallen back during the night. We took up our positionagain on the right of our battery.

At sunrise the ball was opened by the artillery which didfearful execution and continued until near the middle of the forenoon whennearly every secesh battery being silenced or withdrawn, the line of infantrywas formed extending almost three miles in length. Our regiment occupying thecenter was ordered to charge and nobly was it done. Our boys, maddened todesperation, fought like tigers. The long line of infantry advanced at thedouble quick upon the Secesh camp driving the Rebels before them like chaffbefore the wind while the continued roll of musketry was fairly deafening.

We followed them until about 2 o’clock when we halted. TheRebels were fairly routed and their camp broken up, hundreds of them prisoners,and the balance of their army scattered over the country like frightened sheep.The battlefield for over two miles was literally covered with their dying anddead. Thus, the battle ended. Our victory was complete and although dearlybought, made us rejoice for our country’s sake even while we shed the tears ofsorrow over the dead bodies of our comrades who had fallen by our sides.

The loss of the regiment is 21 killed and about 125 wounded.Of my own company, I had three killed and 19 wounded and can say that I feel proudof Co. C and every man did his duty bravely and well. Our major Charles Blackwas wounded badly in the arm. Colonel White and Lieutenant Colonel Barnes cameoff unharmed although they were in the thickest of the fight both days, noblydischarging their duty like soldiers as they are. I must now conclude. It isgetting late and this mail is the only chance to send for some time.

Yours inhaste,

Captain E.B.Payne, commanding Co. C

Sources:

Letter fromCaptain Eugene Beuharnais Payne, Co. C, 37th Illinois VolunteerInfantry, Waukegan Weekly Gazette (Illinois), March 29, 1862, pg. 2

Letter fromCorporal Owen M. Callaghan, Co. C, 37th Illinois Volunteer Infantry,Waukegan Weekly Gazette (Illinois), April 12, 1862, pg. 2

Letter fromPrivate Calvin Fish Boardman, Co. C, 37th Illinois Volunteer Infantry,Waukegan Weekly Gazette (Illinois), March 29, 1862, pg. 3