Arkansas true Democrat., 1861-05-23

--the total rout and defeat Of the State troops. To have withsood an attack would have been sheer recklessness and cruelty to the men of Gen. Frost's command In short, the brigade was not by any means in a war condition. Gen. Frost stated, how ever, that he had no war to wage upon the United States or its troops; that he was only acting in cheerful obedience to the or dcrs of his superior officers, and in compli ance with the laws of the State; that he had anticipated no conflict, and would not willingly ieopardize the lives of his men ine anything that might be construed into hos tility to the United States government.- Only one course was to be pursued, and that was quickly agreed upon, viz-a sur render.
 The demand of Capt Lyon was accord ingly agreed to. The State troopsJ were, therefore, made prisoners of war, but an offer was made to release them on condi ton that they would take an oath to sup port the constitution of the United States, and would swear not to take up arms against the government These terms were made known to the several commands, and the opportunity given to all who might feel disposed to accede to them to do so. Some eight or ten men signifed their willingness, but the remainder, about eight hundred pre- ferred, under the circumstances, to become prisoners. A number of the troops were absent from the camp in the city, on leave. Those who declined to take the prescribed oath said that they had already sworn ale glance to the United States and to defend the government, and to repeat it now would be to admit that they had been in rebellion, which they would not concede.
 The preparations for the surrender and for marching. as prisoners, under the escort l of the arsenal troops, occupied an hour or two. The brigade was then formed in line, headed by Gen. Frost and his staff, on horseback, and with colors flying, and drums beating, marched through the wood skirting the road up to an opening that hal been made in the fence near the turnpike Here halt was ordered for some reason, and the opportunity was improved by a large crowd of excited citizens to draw near the officers of the staff and salute them with cheers. The men appeared deiccted and rather sad but evidently were not con | One of the officers achieved a voley of deafening huzzas by riding up to fence and hacking at it with his sword, breaking and bending it so as to render it entirely useless It was a very handsome sword costing Sl00, and was resent present from some military friends. This example was followed by others, amidst shouts of applause.
 About half-past five, the prisoners of the United States soldiers enclosed them by single file stretched along each side of the line A halt was ordered, and the troops remained standing in the position they had deployed on to the road in. The head of the column at the time rested op- posite small hill on the left as you ap- proach the city, and the rear was on a line with entrance to the grove. Vast crowds of people covered the surrounding grounds and every fence and house top in the vicini ty Suddenly the sharp reports of several firearms were heard from the front of the column, and the spectators that lined the adjacent hill were seen fleeing in the great est dismay. ltappeared that several mem bers of one of the German companies, on being pressed by the crowd and receiving some blows from them turned and dis charged their pieces. Fortunately no one was injured and the soldiers who had done the act were at once place under arrest.- Hardly, however, had tranquility been re- stored, when volley after volley of rife re- ports were suddenly heaid from the extreme rear ranks, and men, women and children were bcheld running wildly and franatical- ly away from the scene.
 Many, while running. were suddenly struck to the sod, and the wounded and | dying made the late beautiful field look like battle ground. We went over the grove immediately after the occurrence, and a more fearful and ghastly sight is seldom seen. Men lay gasping in the agony of death, and staining the green grass with their blood as it flowed from their wounds. Children of eight to ten years of age were pale and motonless as if asleep under the trees, and women cried in pain as they lay upon the ground. One, girl of fomteen, presented mournful picture, as she reclin ed against q stump, her face cold and white from the sudden touch of death. We counted fifteen dead persons and half as many wounded, lying around. The bodies recognized last night were those of Walter Mcdowell, living on Elizabeth street, kill ed by shot in the temple; Emily Som mers, a girl of fourteen, whose parents live on Carr and Seventeenth streets; 1hos. A. Haren, residence on Sixth street, above O'Falon, and Nicholas Knoblack, an ar tleryman, were recognized among the dead. A son of Captain Andrew lcenhowcr was killed by gun shot in the chest. A man named Clark, Mrs. McCauliff, and a me chanic at the Pacific machine shop, Chris tian Gean, were recognized after being taken to the dead house.
 The wounded, who were unable to be moved, were suitably cared for on the grounds. Mir. Claiborne Wilson was wounded in the thigh, the ball entering through his coat pocket, and forcing handkerchief with 1t into the body. Dr. Rople, living on Eleventh and Madison street, was wounded in the leg, Trueman Wright received two balls in the hip Frank Dallen, living on Spruce street, be- tween Sixth and Seventh, was wounded in the leg. Dennis Feliher injured in the same manner These were all the names that could be learned at the time, owing to the removal of the injured by their friends. To-day the bodies of the dead will be re- cognized and the names of the wounded ascertained. The total number killed and injured is about twenty-five. It was re- ported that the arsenal troops were attack ed with stones, and couple of shots dis charged at them by the crowd before they fred Whether this be true or not, a more reckless act has never been committed than an armed body of troops discharging those terrible instruments of war-Mine rifles among a crowd of Cefencclees spectators
 The most of the people exposed to the fire of the soldiers were citizens, with their wives and children, who were mercl y spec tators, and took no part in any demonstra- | tion whstpve The firinr was sa id tO have