other, the channel of the latter, back several miles from its mouth, breaks through into the White, thus affording easy communication. We were now in a broader stream and progressed more easily. The weather was delightful, and had there been foliage instead of gray pendent moss upon the trees, it would have appeared midsummer. Overcoats were discarded by many, and shirt-sleeve costume adopted instead. Every thing looked favorable, and feeling saddened at Vicksburgh became cheerful again. Habitations were few, and generally wretched pests, with scanty clearing surrounding. At rare intervals some building more respectable than those of the "poor white trash" greeted us, always built in rambling and roomy style, great porches, and surrounded by negro huts. The latter on these estates were much better than the majority of those belonging to white people. Old, sallow, wrinkled dames, drawn out by curiosity from their nests, and invariably knitting, would occasionally stand gazing at us, silent as if wooden blocks! Surrounded, framed as it were, by the house-moss, they seemed as much witches as those that brewed in Macbeth's time. Arkansas has never had an enviable name, and were the balance of it poor as that bordering its river, it would not be worth opening to trade. Truly, here's the land of the "Arkansas traveller," where a good share of the native talent is devoted to fiddling. Impoverished and wretched, the people could apparently have no worse fate than being left to themselves. At places, corn-bins were built upon the river's bank, generally empty, their contents having been slid into boats beneath and transferred up-stream. One or two, however, were blazing, and thousands of bushels thus destroyed. Sunken barges and scows, for a couple of years left to themselves, lay broken on bars. Every thing looked as if the people were trying to exhibit as little civilization as they could, while endeavoring, with the least possible labor, to bring forth the least possible crops. Occasionally horsemen the Texan Rangers, which infest this section - were seen riding at full speed over some field, out of rifle-shot. The skill they exhibited was surprising, making them appear like Centaurs — horse and man joined in friends of good wives, left off their agreeable lays and went to crowing whenever persons near were threatened by death. John, a negro servant, on board our vessel, the Ella, had a nightmare in consequence, and woke us at twelve o'clock by his loud cries. A better feeling already pervad ed the army, and night settled down clear and beautiful. Constant chopping resounded from the woods beyond, where the rebels were busy endeavoring to obstruct our expected advance by felling trees. With unfailing industry they devoted the hours of slumber to perfecting their means of defence. One doubt was most pleasantly removed; that an evacuation would be attempted. They were there to defend the Post, fortified by so much labor, and would not desert it. Confident in the immense strength of their works, the abattis, rifle-pits, and batteries, they awaited us. Constant skirmishing ensued between the pickets. At morning's dawn all was bustle in the fleet. Every vessel poured forth upon the shore its crowds of soldiers. Regiments collected, brigades formed, and at nine all moved forward, the intention being to surround the rebel Fort. Only half a mile away were their first line of works, where the levee, making a curve inland, had been raised in front and pitted behind. Among some sheds, grouped just before, preparations for masked batteries were visible, half finished. They had deserted these, and fled back to a seeond line, still more formidable, six hundred yards in the rear. The Eighth Missouri, Lieut.-Colonel Coleman, was pushed forward as skirmishers. This regiment, well known by its last exploits, decimated in half a dozen battles, and numbering only two hundred and ninety men, entered the woods. Almost instantly rapid musketry teld them engaged. The balance of General G. A. Smith's brigade followed. On those earthworks the rebels had placed logs, between the spaces of which they fired. Steadily up the hill, sometimes crawling, again gliding behind trees and trees, went the Zouaves, and back from these pits also, first slowly, then running, retired the confederate sharp-shooters. Meanwhile, stretching out in a line to the right, our army had passed from the fields into the woods, the let wing remaining at the river rifle-pits won. After toiling forward for several hours, only to arrive Thus passing along without incident, our gun- at impassable swamps and bayous, the centre. boats in front finally slackened speed and went and right had to return. On the river's bank, in! to reconnoitring. We were near the rebel posi- full view of the enemy, and commanded by their tion, Arkansas Post beyond, around a bend, and guns, was an excellent road, leading to a position as it was a favorable spot for disembarking, the nearer them, from which the army could then fleet drew near shore. Night had come on, and invest, by stretching at a right angle across the orders were given to wait until morning, mean- point. When friendly darkness came, our forces while throwing out strong pickets. The fields thus doubled back upon themselves, passed of "Haunted Farm," a great plantation with a through the left wing, still waiting there, and large half-ruined house and numerous negro huts, out upon this route. Gen. Thayer, with his bri were chosen to debark upon. Among the slaves gade, led, followed by Gen. Hovey. it was considered a spirit rendezvous. "Goblins It was a toilsome, dangerous, but successful damned" danced at midnight on the deserted march through a country unknown; having no cotton-fields, Luna gazing, occasionally flushed guide, the troops struggled forward, and at five blood-red in anger, spirits of defunct negroes o'clock next morning reached the opposite sid cried in the branches, and hens, those staunch of the bend and commanded the river above. one. All Saturday the rebels had fired at intervals, whenever troops appeared in range on the banks, generally using Parrott missiles. Cooperating with the army was Rear-Admiral Porter, who had brought up three iron-clads and several mosquito vessels from his Mississippi fleet. The former were the Louisville, Lieutenant Commanding E. K. Owen; Cincinnati, Lieutenant Commanding Bache; and De Kalb, (old St. Louis,) Lieutenant Commanding Walker. The Admiral's flag-ship was the armed transportsteamer Uncle Sam. Saturday evening, at dusk, to determine the enemy's strength, the iron-clads were pushed forward, and engaged the Fort for an hour or two, each being struck, but with trifling loss of life. Sunday morning was occupied in getting the troops into position and preparing for our struggle. The enemy, finding themselves outnumbered, had abandoned all their outer works, and retreated to the last and inner line. This, stronger than the others, run at a right angle from the front to the opposite side of the bend. For hundreds of yards in front, trees and bushes had been felled, giving a wide open space swept by cannon and commanded by musketry. Assailants must either charge over this, or make it an artillery duel. Their right was the river fort, a work of unusual strength. Walls twenty feet high, a deep fosse or moat surmounting, and mounting nine guns, two of which were protected by immense bomb-proof casemates shielded with iron, the others being en barbette. Across the sand-bar, between it and the long reach or channel, were placed guide-frames, by means of which to train the guns accurately upon any approaching vessel. The Fort could also change its fire to the plain, over which assailants would have to advance. The strength of their position was such that, although outnumbered, they expected to hold it successfully, and men would occasionally ride along their front, planting rebel flags. Our army stretched across, distant but half a mile, part slightly sheltered by a ravine, the others among the enemy's barracks, which, numerous and strong, gave a measure of protection. Gen. Sherman's corps held the right, disposed as follows: In Gen. Steele's division, Gen. Hovey's brigade holding the right, Gen. Thayer's the centre, and Gen. Blair's the left. In Gen. Stuart's division, Acting Gen. G. A. Smith's brigade the right and G. K. Smith's the left. Then General Morgan's corps holding the army's left. A. J. Smith's division, Burbridge's and Landrum's brigades, Sheldon's brigade, in Osterhaus's division, resting on the river-bank, the extreme left. Gens. Lindsay's and De Courcy's commands of the latter division, had been sent along the opposite shore when first landed, to cut off escape on that side. A simultaneous attack was to take place by both fleet and army. Our batteries had all been placed in position, and the enemy, alarmed, commenced shelling every position of the army ex posed to view. Their missiles fell thick, and ambulances commenced going to and fro. These carts with the red flags soon became busy enough hunting their loads. Just at noon the gunboats moved up, and went into action. The firing was instantaneous and terrific on both water and land; no feeble bombardment and manoeuvring, but a joint outburst from both army and navy. The Fort directed its fire upon the fleet, the gunboats pouring their welcomes into the casemates. The rebels hurled at our navy its own nine-inch shell, captured two weeks previously on the Blue Wing. Above the Fort the air was filled with dirt, bars of iron, and splinters. Vessels were hit repeatedly, and occasionally some huge shell would enter a port-hole or penetrate the wood, and burst inside. With the army, all our batteries along its front were in action, and the musketry incessant. The plain was swept by canister and ball in every direction, shell coming rapidly and accurately from each rebel battery. Behind their works, at short intervals, were placed field-pieces. The horses of these, and the rows of dodging heads, were all that could be seen. Protected by their earth-works, and possessing a great advantage over us, they fully appreciated it, and no portion of flesh belonging to the Confederacy was needlessly exposed. The merciless pelting of bullets into our ranks grew more rapid and deadly as we slowly advanced. As for the artillery, it could not be fired faster than it had been from the first. Our own batteries did excellent execution, dismounting one or two guns, and slaughtering their horses rapidly. The musketry proved less successful, although half the line was in action. The assailed exposed one tenth of their body, the assailants the whole, and thus the dice which death was throwing gave them odds of ten to one. Fortunately, the quarters were not close enough to avail them much. Had they been, the place would now be dearly bought. General Thayer, as usual, foremost where duty called, had his favorite horse shot under him. His brigade was composed of the Fourth, Ninth, Twenty-sixth, Thirtieth, and Thirty-fourth Iowa regiments, and First Iowa battery, who suffered severely. Acting-General G. A. Smith's brigade was warmly engaged, and he, also, while leading at the extreme front, had his horse shot. The Eighth Missouri, which name seems ever present where gallant actions are concerned, had been pushed into the hottest fire. Well led by Lieutenant-Colonel Coleman, who was slightly wounded, it suffered severely. Five officers were killed and disabled. Brave Kirby, its Major, had his horse shot, and was considerably bruised by the animal falling. Lieutenant Lee Morgan received a ball through the face. Capt. Jameson, wounded in arm at an early moment, refused to retire, and fearlessly led his men through the action. Lieut. B. W. Musselman, although on the sick list, joined his company and did good service. In General Morgan's corps matters went equal ly favorable. That leader, fearless and skilful, handled his troops well. All the Brigadier-Generals did their duty. Among the batteries most constantly engaged, was Taylor's, from Chicago. Twice charges were made by different commands, but so severe was the musketry directed upon them, that they fell back before getting to the works. The fire from the river fort for some time become feeble, suddenly ceased. The fleet was victorious at that point, and the principal dependence silenced, its bomb-proofs battered to pieces, and every heavy gun either dismounted or broken in two. Thirty artillerists lay dead within the walls, and the few stout buildings intended for protection from shell, were in ruins. Three vessels of the mosquito fleet had passed above, and were shelling the rebels in their rear. Our huge shot had pounded long at the great casemates before gaining admittance, and when they finally entered, the destruction of life was great. What had been intended for places of safety, proved deathhaunts. Behind the torn walls, however, sharpshooters still lingered. On land the cannonading and musketry grew more furious as our army pressed still closer. Night approached, the sun was hardly an hour high, and every nerve was strained to conquer before darkness set in. Rebel pieces were deserted, no gunner daring to approach them, so accurate had become our fire. Advancing steadily and surely, but commencing to pay dearly for it, preparations were made to charge in force. All prepared for the struggle they felt coming, when suddenly, while their fire was hottest, it stopped, and a white flag rose above the works; war ceased, as if by magic, and wildly cheering, the troops pressed forward and over the fortifications they battled so hard to gain. Far down along the river for miles, reaching to the transports, the crowds caught up the cry and echoed it back. Such a cheering had never been heard on the Arkansas before. Not that it could be called a great victory, but that it was an inspiring change from the blundering expedition of Vicksburgh. Within the walls were strewed dead and wounded, their number, however, not being large, only about a hundred and fifty. The mortality among horses was remarkable, eight or more of the mangled bodies lying around. Most of the dead men were much disfigured, evidently killed by shell -some ripped, open, and their bowels upon the ground, others with heads cut open or limbs torn off. The rebel soldiers were gathered in crowds, evidently not much disheartened at being taken. They were composed of the following regiments: Twenty-fourth Texas, dismounted cavalry, Col. Wilkes; Twenty-fifth, same, Colonel Gillespie; Fifteenth, same, Colonel Sweet; Sixth Texas infantry, Colonel Garland, Colonel Taylor's regiment, and Colonel Darnel's. Six of the nine guns in the Fort belonged to Captain Hart's Arkansas battery, three pieces being twenty-pound Parrotts. The Commander-in-Chief of the confederate forces was Brigadier-General Churchill; Captain Ben. Johnson, Adjutant-General, Captain Wolf, Chief Quartermaster, Captain Little and Captain Brown, aids. Brigade commanders were Colonel Deshler, Colonel Garland, and Colonel Portlock. There was also a large number of captains and lieutenants. They will be sent to Cairo this morning. Our loss in the engagement was about one hundred killed, and five hundred wounded, who go up on the steamer January. To-day they are digging the graves and collecting the dead for burial. Fifty or more addi tional corpses have been found in the woods far back, evidently skulkers from the rebel army, killed by our shell. Prisoners are also constantly brought in, overtaken twelve or fifteen miles away. Of the entire force garrisoning the Fort, one thousand, mostly Texas cavalry, escaped, taking with them a great portion of the baggagetrain. These effected an exit on the night our forces were surrounding the place, and before it could be fully accomplished. The results of the victory are about four thou sand five hundred prisoners, about the same number stand of arms, and twenty guns. The post was an important one, and Gen. Churchill affirms he had orders to hold it to the last. Little Rock and the whole State are now open to us whenever we wish to move. Duval's Bluff, on the White River, has probably fallen ere this, under the attack of Gen. Gorman, and thus two tributaries of supply are shut to the rebels. These movements, although presenting no very brilliant victories, are yet the surest way at pres ent of crippling the rebellion. When unable, for want of subsistence, to mass their armies in one or two strongholds, they will have to come out of Vicksburgh and Richmond, and offer battle. The policy of letting them choose their own places for defence, exhaust military ingenuity in fortifying positions by nature almost inaccessible, then hurl our men madly forward under a dozen disadvantages, should, if disastrous warnings can penetrate the mind of Gen. Halleck, be abandoned. I have good authority for stating that the attack upon Arkansas Post was made without authority of, or suggestion by, the authorities at Washington. Those worthies were apparently busily occupied seeing that the hospitals before Vicksburgh and Fredericksburgh were well filled I mention but facts in saying that the feeling in this army against what they consider Halleck's blundering career, is universal and bitter. The soldiers are now busy destroying the works here, and burning the barracks. Every ditch has been dragged by adventurous ones in search of hidden property, and several hundred pistols and swords brought forth. Under floors, in hollow trees, everywhere that oppertunity offered, the rebels concealed what they could. Their sharp-shooters boast gleefully of skill in killing officers. One affirmed yesterday that he fired six times at Gen. Thayer, the fifth shot killing his horse Our next movement will, it is hoped, be to again operate against Vicksburgh, this time assisted by General Grant. On board the gunboats, which did such good service in this last attack, the loss is inconsiderable, about a dozen killed, and thirty wounded. One shell passed through the forward part of the Louisville, and striking the gun-deck, bounded into the steam-condenser, where its fuse was extinguished. The river fort, upon which the rebels placed so much confidence, and that fell before three vessels of our navy, is a complete ruin. Half its garrison were killed or wounded, a larger proportion than in any similar attack during the war. It is hardly possible now to recognize what were considered by the builders shot and shell-proof casemates. These resembled log-houses, with sides and roof of solid hewn oak timber, three feet thick, and covered by bars of inch iron. The sides faced the river, and out of the casemate in each had peered a nine-inch gun. These, hit by our heavy shot, were two of them broken off near the muzzle, another dismounted, while floors and frames around were clotted with blood as if a slaughter-house for cattle had existed there. A peculiar feature of this battle was that Texas defended Arkansas. All but a thousand of the men were from the former State. W. E. W. A REBEL NARRATIVE. YANKEE STEAMER NEBRASKA, Editors Richmond Enquirer: It is the first time in the history of this war that three thousand men have resolved to make a stand against fifty thousand infantry, with an immense quantity of artillery and cavalry, together with a cooperating fleet of gunboats, carrying one hundred guns; and it is the first time, too, in the history of the war, that a land-force has unflinchingly withstood a terrible gunboat fire for two days, lying motionless in the trenches, and receiving, at a distance of only two or three hundred yards, every shell, without being able to return a shot. This stand was made not because we expected to be enabled, unassisted, to hold our position, but because we were hourly expecting reënforcements, and because Lieut.-Gen. Holmes had telegraphed Brig.-General Churchill, commanding, to hold the position until all should be dead. We have fought the whole Vicksburgh expedition, and we are now all prisoners of war; but not willingly, nor of our consent. We have been devoted heroes, the Spartan glory that was reflected from face to face. Each and every man seemed to feel that it was indeed sweet to die for his country. There they stood, cheerfully awaiting the hour they should be called upon to yield their lives a willing sacrifice upon the altar of their country. Oh! shall I ever forget the day when I rode down the lines and looked upon those faces! The enemy stood in their front, in line of battle, fifty thousand strong; one hundred guns were approaching them by water on the right; a large body of cavalry already encircled them in the rear. But there they stood, like martyrs, glorying in the prospect of proving their devotion to their principles, by yielding up their lives in maintaining them. Before that hour I never knew what patriotism was. How dearly! how devotedly! I loved my country. I felt that each man before me was dearer than a brother, and to embrace him would be a blessing. The thunders of the right announced that the struggle had commenced. I stood and watched it with eager interest. Boat after boat approached our little fort of three guns, and hurled upon it their angry bolts of metallic fury. But thunders answered thunders, and slowly and solemnly the little fort, with its three guns, poured out its vials of wrath upon the cowardly foe, clad in steel. But it was of no avail. I saw gun after gun melt away, until none were left. Their boats passed us, but the Fort was not surrendered; for the fifty thousand had now advanced upon our whole line in front, and the small artillery from the Fort, and all along our line, were giving them the strength of Southern principles. Eight times they advanced upon us; as often they were repulsed, running and yelling like cowardly curs. The battle rages furiously. All our guns are shattered, and every horse is killed. But that devoted band heeds it not, for they were there to die. Their heroic General had told them in the morning: "Boys, let us whip them, or let us all die in the trenches." And they had answered it with three long, loud cheers, and, "General, in the trenches we will die." The struggle is renewed: the thunders of a dozen batteries open on us in front, on the right, on the left, and in the rear. Still that little band stands unmoved, alike by the thunders of artillery as well as by the crashing of musketry. A shout is heard. Churchill, who holds a charmed life amid a shower of bullets and shattering shell, raises his hat and shouts, "Boys, we are driving them," and dashing forward, exclaims, "Come on!" and on we dashed. alas! my God, shall I ever forget it? But betrayed into the hands of our enemy. Our gallant Gen. Churchill had determined to fight, and to fight to the last, and each man had made a solemn pledge to the General, and to each other, never to surrender, but to hold the Fort A hundred flags of the hated despot were seen until all, all! should die. Every man knew that unfurled and floating upon the ramparts of our to conquer was impossible, but to die fighting for sacred fort, amid the exultant shouts of a cowardhis country's honor, was a glorious privilege. ly foe. Oh! can the terrible vision be ever banOh! it was a sublime spectacle to behold our ished from my mind? My heart sank within commander as he rode along that little line of ❘ me. To surrender to that flag? No! never!! to twenty-five of mine. Guerrillas are threatennever!!! We could not do it; and we did not do it. Some base traitor had denied our gallant leader the realization of his fondly cherished hope; and when he had but begun to prove how faithful he was to his promise to yield his and our lives rather than give up the Fort, this craven wretch raised that symbol of cowardice, the white flag, exclaiming at the same time: "General Churchill says, raise the white flag." The enemy saw it, and, being near the lines, (before it could be arrested,) rushed into our Fort. "Treachery has done its work; and the gallant Churchill, who was so lately robbed of his most coveted privileges, beheld it like a brokenhearted hero, yet sublime in his mien, and appearing like some superior being amidst the multitude around him." We are now on our way to Yankeedom, but we are not conquered. R. H. F. HEREWITH I inclose you for publication an official communication just received from Colonel Penick, Fifth cavalry, M. S. M., commanding at Independence, that the community may understand and know the kind of foe we have to contend with in Missouri, and whether peace rules supreme within her border. How very pleasant the reflection that in the endurance of all the hardships imposed by our rulers in their attempts to conciliate traitors, upon the loyal inhabitants, that it is a necessity, to enable them hereafter to live in harmony with such demons as those who have perpetrated these outrages. The devils in hell, by comparison, would show as bright angels of light by the side of such men. BEN. LOAN, Brigadier-General M.S.M. ing Union women in the county. I am arresting the wives and sisters of some of the most notorious ones, to prevent them from carrying their threats into execution. They have also levied an assessment upon the loyal men of the county, and are collecting it very fast. There are many complaints on the subject, as some of those assessed claim to be Southern sympathizers. Some of the Union men have asked me if the order suspend. ing your assessment applies to the one spoken of above. I tell them I do not know, to ask J. Brown Hovey. Yours truly, General BEN. LOAN, W. R. PENICK, Colonel Fifth Cavalry M.S.M. Jefferson City, Mo. A true copy: H. W. SEVERENCE, Lieutenant and A.D.C. Doc. 103. MESSAGE OF JEFFERSON DAVIS. JANUARY 12, 1863. To the Senate and House of Representatives of the Confederate States: Ar the date of your last adjournment the preparations of the enemy for further hostilities had assumed so menacing an aspect as to excite in some minds apprehension of our ability to meet them with sufficient promptness to avoid serious reverses. These preparations were completed shortly after your departure from the seat of gov ernment, and the armies of the United States made simultaneous advances on our frontiers on the western rivers and on the Atlantic coast in masses so great as to evince their hope of overbearing all resistance by mere weight of number. This hope, however, like those previously entertained by our foes, vanished. In Virginia, their fourth attempt at invasion by armies whose assured success was confidently predicted, has met with decisive repulse. Our noble defenders, under the consummate leadership of their General, have again, at Fredericksburgh, inflicted on the forces under General Burnside the like disastrous overthrow as had been previously suffered by the successive invading armies commanded by Generals McDowell, MeClellan, and Pope. HEADQUARTERS FIFTH CAVALRY M.S.M., INDEPENDENCE, Mo., January 11, 1863. 【 GENERAL: Private Johnson, of the artillery company, was brought in dead to-day. He is the fifth one murdered last week, four from the artillery and one from the militia. If you could see their mangled bodies, you would not wonder why In the West, obstinate battles have been fought it is that I write you that guerrillas' wives should with varied fortunes, marked by frightful carnage be forced out of the country. They were all on both sides; but the enemy's hopes of decis wounded, and killed afterward in the most horri-ive results have again been baffled, while at Vicksble manner that fiends could devise; all were burgh another formidable expedition has been reshot in the head, and several of their faces are pulsed, with inconsiderable loss on our side, and terribly cut to pieces with boot-heels. Powder severe damage to the assailing forces. was exploded in one man's ear, and both ears cut off close to his head. Whether this inhuman act was committed while he was alive or not, I have no means of knowing. To see human beings treated as my men have been by outlaws, is more than I can bear. Ten of these men, armed as they are, with their wives and children to act as spies, are equal On the Atlantic coast the enemy has been unable to gain a footing beyond the protecting shel ter of his fleets, and the city of Galveston has just been recovered by our forces, which suc ceeded not only in the capture of the garrison, but of one of the enemy's vessels of war, which was carried by boarding parties from merchant river steamers. |