The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1862-07-20

portion Of his force, Colonel Wood found, on
reaching the river, that the enemy had dispersed,
after firing several shots At the boats and seriously
woundng Captain wadsworth, but njuring none Of bis
The fire OF these guerllas was promptly returned;
but as the bushes were searched their loss not
asesrtansd Natives in the vicinity reported nineteen
OF the rebels killed but their statement seems hardly
credible when recolsct that the rebels engaged
by but single company of infantry. After this occur
the boats moved unmolsstsd TO Augusta, where
the project Of taking them farther down abandoned
Such portions OF the cargoes useful to the army
were and the boats and the remainder Of their
ading committed to the flames Colonel Wood was fred
into on his way back the army and lost three Of his
men.
rHr COUNTRY rHRorcu WHICH WE PASSED.
We reached Augusta tho Fourth Of July, and on
arrival fred salute in honor Of the nations ndspen d.
snce and enjoyed ourselves best could under
adverse crcumtances Tarryng hore for two days. the
order issued for the entire force TO move out on the
following morning in the direction OF Clarendon. The
county, through which the army marched after leaving
Jacksonport Of the finest regions Of Eastern Ar
kansas short distance from the river the bluffs along
its banks fall away into low hills and gentle unduatons
these becoming less distinct UNTIL At the divide Of the
st. Francis and White rivers, IL becomes an almost un
broken level portion Of this fat alluval country
many places covered with canebrakss and often
flowed In high water. Al such tmss becomes almost
impossible succession Of swamps and quagmirss Al
present IL dry and nrm and Affords obstacle TO pas
sage save an occasional slough at the crossing Of creek
Intsrspefsed with these lowlands is series Of higher
grounds level and unbroksn by any considerable scva
tious These lands considered excellent for cotton
and until the present year have sent 10 market large
amount Of the textile product The inhabitants Of
the true stamp and walk about clad in the
pretending buternut Of the Southern rustcs while they
display the usual preudices Of the Arkansas natives
against all Innovations from the psrusa Of websters
spelling book up TO the vndcaton Of the national honor
At present their buccc pursuits are generally limited 10
the raising OF corn and few other nconsidsrabls pro-
ducts the Confederate authorities having here, else
where discouraged the culture Of cotton.
ywIISa AMONG THE NATIVES.
In many places along our line Of march the houses
were deserted but the cotton and had de-
stroyed save in few instances. The only Union ssuti
msnt manifested was by the negroes who nocked in
IN large numbers whenever they allowed General
Curtis freed oil those who had been used In cutting tim
Der obstruct the roads on our line Of march The
whites wore everywhere sulcn and unoommunicatve.
one man at Jacksonpor built high plank fence around
his house keep of the contamination Of the Yank
MOVING FROM AuGus1A.
All things being readiness, the army moved out on
the morning OF the 7th inst. tho head OF the column
getting In motion about bali past thros o'clock About four
miles from u found that the had feled
timber across the road In order TO impede the march,
IL was not long before the distractions removed II
was well known that tho rebels had o con.
siderable force Al Des Arc and Dsval's Bur,
composed mainly OF Texas cavalry and Arkansas con.
scripts under command OF General Albert Rust General
Curtis that thousand or these rebels were at Dos
Arc, and would probably march out to give us battle
and was consequently carefully watching for any demon
straton upon the line The distractions in the road
after leaving Augusta gave us warning OF the prox
unity Of the rebels and caused TO complete prepsra.
tions for resisting attack.
opsIAc1m IN TINS WAY
About oight A. NJ the advance reached tho cross.
ing Of Cuche river, and found q new cause VI
delay. There no bridge the rlvcr--which else
vheTs would deserve ouy the name OF cresk--snd thc
low boi,su % each aide ras sOfs muck n -hics TIC