The Van Buren press., 1861-07-24

Letters from tho Camps.
We have been permitted to make the
following extracts from letters to our citi-
zens. from members Of the army. now on
our northern frontier:
CAR BRowx.
Benton Co.. July IS. 1861
| Our Regiment, the Sd, COL Gra-
tiot, left Camp Walker, in conjunction with Gen'l
McCulloch's division, on Friday evening 18th inst
Our Camp tCamp Brown) 10 named in honor Of
Capt. H. T. Brown, of the "Van Buren, Frontier
Guards" We have been at this place, two miles
distant from Bentonville for the last two days for
the purpose Of having the ARTILLERY horses shod ;
but we shall leave for Sugar Greek in the morning,
where we shall probably encamp for from one to
two weeks for the purpose of the Brigade going
through regular course of drill, preparatory to
movement upon Springfield. No., (this is only .
supposition. founded upon our movements 90 far,
as nobody, or very few outside Of Gent AcCulloch
know what our movements heEsllaer are to be. }
Our forces now in Camp, coasist Of Co; Chwchills
Arkansas Regiment Of mounted men the Louisia-
na Regiment; Capt. Reeds battery some two or
three Companies Of independent mounted men,
and our Regiment the Sd infantry We are under
the command Of Genl MeCulloch. for the balance
CT our enlisted time-this has given a. believe,
the greatest satisfaction to our Regiment. can
speak authoritively to its being so with our Com
pany, the v. B. F. Guards. A Company of Chero-
med 7 h.
- and -- from Pops County, they
had been out in Missouri on . scouting party. &C.
eomPanied by some IndiAns, there being about $50
of them all. They went within ten miles of Mount
Veinon, where there were at the time, about three
thousand of the federal dutch troops and it being
reported to them that five thousand of the Ar
kansas cut throats were after them, they incon.
tinently fed back towards Springfield, although
they were strongly entrenched and fortified at Mt
Vernon. -Four Of our men have deserted because
We were understood to be going again to Missouri
their names rs known on the muster roll are
CSaddoek lst. Craddoek ID. FnHbriqhf, and Atkins
2d-if they should ever get back to Camp, they
will be disgraeed--in fact are now forever A re-
ward will no doubt be offered by the proper au-
thority. The men in our Company, snd generally
in the whole division, are we'll
Yours. CHARLIE
CAMP MIsER J.
Cave Spring Camp Cround,}
Benton. Co., Ark. July Is
We came Immediately from
Van Buren to Fayetteville, in accordance with the
Proclamation of Gen1 McCulloch, and from Fay
etteville were ordered over into Missouri, into
which we passed some miles to COL Harbins, (well
and favorably known to many of your citizens
We staid in his neighborhood (about three miles
north of Keatsville) for one week there being Eve
hundred and seventy five men of US altogether.
From Col. Harbin's moved down to this place,
in Benton County, and this morning order
ed to move to Usage Prairie, to form junction with
Genl MeCulloch, he left Camp Walker to go to
that point. Rumor says. Ito which not much cred
it should be attatched) that we are to be ordered
up to Missouri. to meet Gen. Lyons, who it is said
Neosho on the 18th, and is preparing to attack
Price and Rains, at their Camp on Cowskin.
There is no truth in the above recited rumors-l
Lyons, if he has advanced at all into South west
Missouri. has gone to Springfield, and has not been
at Carthage or Neosho, at all readers should be
careful not to give credence to most of the rumors
OF PRlss.
We learn that the Missourians now have in Camp |
at Cowskin Prairie, about $4,000 men, and that /
Gen. Pearce has at Camp Walker about 9, 500 men,
and Gen. Nc cCulloch has full 5000 men, besides |
our crowd of Ja,charkers, numbering at least 900
men, who are the most anxious crowd for fight,
perhaps that was ever seen. l am acting as Assist
ant Quartermaster TO the Exigency or Jawhawking
and find it sinecure. We consume
daily, three beeves, and two thousand bundles of
pats, as you may imagine this keeps pretty fully
engaged. The Misscurians regretted our leaving
hem Gen. McCulloch says the prompt move
made by the exigency men, had done a great
amount of good-that it has saved probably an at
ack upon Benton and Washington Counties, and |
1everted attack from other points, ana has fore
ID the enemy to gather at all points at Springfield
besides the moral effect that it has had in show
ng how soon We gather troops upon an emerg-
,ncy. We have sent companies within twelve
niles OF Springfield, and when we first went iato
Missouri, could have easily taken Springfield, but
lot to have held it without reinforcements
Judge Batson, John Houston, Rogers. and others
re with us, and make first rate soldiers.-Houston
s in fact an old soldier, having been through the
Mexican war. 1t is rumored to-day that all of the
'xgency men, including all those who enlisted for
hirty and sixty days will be discharged-a sufi-
.ient number of them. however to form a regiment
will remain and enlist for twelve months. l have
'een many of the Crawford County Boys, since
nave been up here-sll are well. Crawford Coun-
y stands at the head Of the list Is volunteer Coun
'y-and the very name of Crawford-tha. is on.
hailing from THERE'S open Sessme.
Yours, JAY.
CAAP, July 30, 1861.
After leaving Van Buren, We made our way to
Fayetteville. where we found COL McRea in wait
ing. to take charge of those who responded to the
call of Gen. McCulloch When we were about 500
strong, we marched up the Springfield road to
Sugar Creek, near the State line, where timber was
fallen ty us from the top of the hill on one side of
The road to the top ON the othe side, completely
the pass down that hollow-ve moved
up from there to Maj Harbin near Keetsville, and
camped one week, where we were mustered into
The confederate service for 30 days and months,
others for the emergency, and some full companies
Eor 3 and II mOnths. Our CaxsIxy vesa nen& out I
each day to Cassville, and af oue-iims went rear
Mount Vernon, where the D,tch who run &um
Gov. jackson were, they hearing that we were
SOOO strong tthere being but 4 900 Of them m)-the
next day or night they stopped TO rest in Spring
field. The Last day We were there, we vent up to
where there was . dinner given us dag
presented and speeches made, and one company Of
M;saourians raised.
Twelve month companies are constantly coming