Des Arc semi-weekly citizen., 1861-07-13
Letter from Col. Cleburne's Regiment STEAMER Ono BELLE,
 .IuIy 9lh 1861.

FRIENDLY CITIZEN :-For ever thus has every man Tn our regiment regarded ..The Citizen." When assailed by dsap- pointed politicians who sought to command us, your vigorous pen Was ever ready m our defence, and woe be to the unlucsy wight who fell under it's displeasure. Righ, nobIy and without fear has it been wielded, and words fail 10 express the deep gratitude we feel to you.
 On Saturday evening the Ohio Belle left her moorlngs at Memphis with the Harris Guards. Monroe Blues, Rector Guards and Napoleon Grays on board. I will attempt to give you short sketch of our trip, for 1 am confident 1t will be interesting to your readers. We arrived at Helena on Sunday morning and found the banks crowded with ladies who came 10 welcome husbands, brothers and sweet hearts. We saw the warm embrace of the mother as she folded her soldier boy to her boson-the red blood mantle beau tvs cheek as her hand was clasped by her lover and tears well-up in strong eyes that were unused to the "melting mood. " A looker-on, we gazed on the scene before us while our heart sweled and struggled in our throat as visions of home and loved ones f1oated before us. The "Old Play Ground,' 1.-the master so kind and true" /" s'the old oaken bucket "lhe prairie flow- err like panorama was before us. Un- der the guidance of our friend J. c. O.. Smith, the two hours allotted to Us passed quickly, and in the midst of our enjoym- nt the signal bell called us aboard. With sinking hearts we wended our way to the river, and were soon gliding down the the Mississippi.
 'Twasa warm greeting we received at Laconla, and the generous deeds will
 long live in the memory of our regiment. Lovely women and brave men with music welcomed the tent-worn soldier and then they furnished the troops with every des- cription of tood-such that IS not usually furnished by the commissariat department. They supplied us with wagon-loads of vegetables. barrels of milk. beef, mutton, pork and chickens. Much is due 10 our worthy Surgeon General for these timely gifts, for Il was at his suggestion that his neighbors learned our wants and gene rously supplied them.
 At ten o'clock P. M. we arrived at Ma poleon and although unlocked for, yet as soon as Il was made known, in true Ark ansas style, the laieh-slring was put out from their hospitabIe homes and they en- lertaIncd us with good cheer lill one clock our time of departure.
 On Monday night we reached Clarendon where we again tarred to give the Harrls Guards an opportunity 10 vish their trleDds. A dance was proposed, and soon The par Tor of the hotel was crowded, and tw,uk- ling feet kept tune 10 merry music untll the tolllug announced the tune for leave taking. The ladies accompanied us 10 the bank, aud in the faint twilight we could see the flut.ering of handkerchlets as they waved us long farewell. Those brief visits will ever remain fresh aud green as the few bright spots that dot the life ot d soldier
 We are in sight of Des Arc. and am forced 10 close this hurried letter, but upon reaching our destination will occasionally drop You a line PEDRO.