The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1862-07-25

alrymen belonging to the 9th Illinois,
putting a charge OF buckshot in his hip.
July I'll rode with Gen Curtis, Steele
and Osterhans 10 take a survey Of our zig
gag path through thelblockade and thence
over the Cache river. II was at first
thought that the pOntoOn bridge would
have 10 be thrown across, bat believe
the river was forded, although miry and
tough looking crossing. My horse went
in over head and ears once. was fore
cd to mako for the shore the best way
possible, towing my amphibious steed
after me. Returning | found the narrow
defile over the crossing, just completed
in the miry road, perfectly jammed with
baggage wagons, intruded forward, COM
pletely blockading the way. Presently
we heard the roar of cannon on our front.
and all was in activity about the camp.
Col. Hovey had been sent forward to
make reconnaissance and clear the way
for the advance of the army. General
Curtis about this time received intelli-
gence, from negro, that from five to six
thousand rebels had crossed the White
river to attack him. subsequently events
render tprobable that the rebels intend
ed 10 dispute our progress, inch by inch,
near this dangerous passage but we were
too early for them. In an hour or two,
two wounded persOns-one with bloody
head, the other with a shattered arm
came RAINING into camp, bringing some
vague information regarding the fight,
which seemed to be raging within sound
of cannon. | rode forward four miles,
with General Steele and stat, expecting
every moment to hear the bullets whistl-
ing around our heads from the woods
We saw all our wounded lying in the Hill
House. | saw man with high fore
head, stretched out on a cot in the porch.
His fine looking face betrayed an ex-
preston Of intense suffering learned
that this was Major Clendenning.-
Stretched ont on blankets in the yard l
saw four or five wounded Texans. One
brawny fellow had the countenance of a
murderer. We turned to the right, down
the Des Arc road, where the fight during
the day occurred, and obtained an &C
count of
THE BATTLE NEAR BAYOU CACHE, ARK.
The battle of the 9TH near "Bayou
Cache "---won against tremendous odds
resulted in the death of over ITO reb.
els and the utter decentralization of six
Texan regiments, who have not yentured
to modest us since. The army of Gener-
al Curtis was encamped at the junction
of the Bayou Cache and Cache river,
where our progress was delayed by
blockade Of fallen timber. A road had
been cut through the blockade on the
evening of the 9th, and early next morn
ing Col. Hoyey, Of the SD Illinois, was
ordered by Gen. Steele 20 open the road
on the opposite side of the Cache, make
a reconnaissance in front down the Cla-
rendon road, along which the army were
to march, and also to scour the woods
thoroughly. Colonel Hovey detailed for
this enterprise the following force:
Col Harris, of the 18th Wisconsin,
with parts of four companies of his reg
iment, and also parts of four companies
Of the SD Illinois, and one small rifed
steel gun, belonging to the LIST Indiana
Cavalry. The whole force numbered
not over $50 men.
Col Hovey started about 6 A. NJ, with
Company ID of the 18th Wisconsin, ahead.
Sklrmishers were thrown out and in this
way they proceeded as far as the Hill
plantation, and the forks of the road,
four miles distant from the camp. On
the way some pickets were driven in.
The main road here leads TO Cotton
Plant and Clarendon. The road to the
left is neighbOrhood road, while that
turning to the side leads across the Ca
che four miles distant, and thence TO the
Des Arc on the White river. Detach-
ments were sent forward on each Of these
roads TO reCOnnOiter.
Col. Harris, with three companies Of
the 1lth Wisconsin, and Captain Potter.
with the small riiled piece, rapidly pro-
ceeded down the Des Arc road, having
no cavalry. They passed a corn field
on the left entered an open woods, and
reaching turn in the road at the same
time rising in elevation, they fell in with
two Texan regiments Of Cavalry, with a
regiment of cOnscript infantry drawn up
on their right ready TO receive them.
The rebels fred a murderous volley as
soon as our men got into the snare, kill
ing five of our men, and wounding Col.
Harris and Capt. Potter. Our men re-
turned the fire and fell back, the enemy
being too preponderating to Withstand
with our little force, Captain Potter
though wounded, gave them a few
rounds from the piece, and fell back, fir
ing into the enemy's ranks. The rebels
then made a charge, and the retreat Of
our men became temporarily n panic
Colonel Hovey hearing the firing, and
Judging the turn affairs were taking by
the clouds of dust which rose and filed
the air above the trees, took the remain
ing companies of the Thirty-third Hi
nois, aud FASTENED TO the scene Of action.
Some Of the first men fired on did not
stop till they reached Hills house, rush
ing past Capt Potter, who would unlim-
Der mis- gun, fire round, then retire thus
checking the advance of the rebels, un-
I'll Col. Hovey came up, The latter had
hardly time TO place his men ia ambush
behind fence at the angles Of the field,
when the rebels, coming furiously for
ward with loud yells, received well
aimed fire from Col. Hoyey and his men.
Twenty five rebels were killed the irst
pop. They were checked The column
reeled and staggered by the murderous
fire broke, and the men ned in confusion.
At the same time heavy column Of the
enemy was seen moving through the
woods between Colonel Hoyey's position
and our camp. Their intention was TO
get TO the road on our rear, cut us OF
from our camp, and thus surround our
brave men. But when they reached the
road, and seeing the Wisconsin troops,
which had fell back, and supposing the
latter TO be reinforcement 20 our aid,
they abandoned their design and return.
ed. Thus what appeared TO be disas-