Arkansas true Democrat., 1862-04-03
North-westarn Arkansas.


 Considerable alarm IS manifested by the peo- pleI in the western portion of our State, at the withdrawal of our army and the danger of federal army making a descent in that quarter This apprehension has been extended to the citizens of Little Rock who imagine that the enemy can reach us from the west. We think the danger is greatly magnifed and the sole danger is from maurading parties of jayhawkers from Kansas, or tories who may take advantage of the absence of our army from their vicinity to do little robbery on their own private ac. count. This danger may be met by the citizens at home, having concert of action, leaders ana rallyng points, so as to meet these thieves and make stealing a hazardous business. The fed erals were retreating at last accounts, and 1t Is not probable they will ever bring another army in:o Arkansas. Our reasons for this are simple. WI hen they leave their railroads they have to haul provisions with them and keep trains on the roads bringing them supplies as fast as they consume them South west Missouri Is literal ly. eaten out There are not enough provisions left in 1t to feed the women and children, let alone large army. Itis literally shipped bare Besides the want of provisions many of the t:rms are ruined. Fences are destroyed, horses stolen, oxen killed and seed difficult to be pro, cured. Even if the people had the numbers and disposition to make a crop the ensuing season, they have not tie means to do so. Nor ;, north western Arkansas much better of. All the surplus food has been sold or given to the army, leaving barely sufficient for the wants of the people. A federal army, with all their dex- terity in stealing, could not procure supplies. l Every mile they travelled southward would in crease their expenses and enhance their dangers The destruction of trains behind them, at any point in line of over hundred miles of length, would reduce them to starvation Even at latest accounts, and we have 1t from escaped prisoners, who saw 1t with their own eyes, the federals were eating mule meat and parched corn. To advance, would be at the risk of starvation.
 It is questionable if the game would pay fol such costly candle. Admit that they coulc get to Fort Smith and take possession of tht barracks, it would be at such tremendous cost and of so little practical value to them, that i would do them more damage than they could inaict.
 But there is another and still stronger reason which will become more apparent in the course of few weeks. With Mcbride burning theiI stores at Rolla, tearing up their railroads an' some reports say, at Springfield destroying thei supplies and trains, it is a doubtful matter Curtis can ever succeed in getting back to St ] Louis. At all events; if the guerrillas in Ms sour can impede the retreat of the tederals fo few days they will need all SiegelS ability a a retreatng general to save them.
 { As to the danger of the capital from an in vasion by the west there need be no fears. l they could get to Van Buren and the river wa in boating stage, they would find no boats 0 means of transportation, and to come l60 mile by land, over rough country, and bring thei provisions, would be slow march, which, befor . it was half completed, would turn to be marcl | to death.
 Except some possible skirmi@hes and depre dations by jayhawkers, we do not apprehen' any danger in the west.
 '. One thing we are certain of, if the federal I ever get as far down as Van Buren, they vii never get back