THE BATTLE OF PEA RIDGE

It was on March the Seventh in the year of sixty-two
We had a sore engagement with Abe Lincoln's crew
Van Dorn was our commander as you remember be
We lost ten thousand of our men near the Indian Territory

Pap Price come a-riding up the line, his horse was in a pace
And as he gave the word "retreat" the tears rolled down his face
Ten thousand deaths I'd rather die than they should gain the field
From that he got a fatal shot which caused him to yield

At Springfield and Carthage many a hero fell
At Lexington and Drywood, as near the truth can tell
But such an utter carnage as ever I did see
Happened at old Pea Ridge near the Indian Territory

I know you brave Missouri boys were never yet afraid
Let's try and form in order, retreat the best we can
The word "retreat" was passed around, it caused the heathen cry
Helter-skelter through the woods, like lost sheep we did fly

(this one I think is in the DT
The Sioux Indians

We shot the bold chief at the head of the band
He died like a warrior with a bow in his hand
And when they saw the bold chief lay dead in his gore
They hooped & they yelled & we saw them no more

In our little band there was just 24
And of the Sioux Indians 500 or more
We fought them with courage & spoke not a word
And the hoop of Sioux Indians was all could be heard

Barry