New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-08-06
Capture Of a Reba. Steamboat, Horses
Mules, and Supplies.
Inhuman Treatment Of Union Prisoners
at Little Rock.
From Our Special Correspondent.

cavalry 1t is now fully competent TO the conquest
Of Arkansas and Texas, the establishment of Fed
era authority therein, aud the organization of loyal
State Governments.
PREPARATION FOR \ MOVEMENT.
It's regretted by many officers that the army did
-ot move on to Little Rock in May, when there was
scarcely Rebel re mcut in the State to dispute its
progress aud that il did not throw itself upon the
country Tor subsistence. bu; the more careful policy
of TIE Commanding General was undoubtedly w,se-t
and best.
The Arkansas and White Rivers were ten in pos
session OF the enemy, and navgeLle, and large
fore might have been thrown 10 lis rear, aud bis
army captured by vastly superior numbers.
Now he case Is altered. Tbose rivers too
low for navigation, and their mouths are in pos
session, An early movement upon Litih Rock is
therefore not at all improbable. The movement from
Batcsville 10 the Mississippi was necessary TO get
within reach OF clothing and suphcs, Of winch the
army had become very destitute Its health, bow
ever, has at az times been good TIE constant
marching of the troops las saved them from the dis
eases Of camp lie, and the men look bale and hearty
with their sun-burnt faces and breasts and Their
general hardy appearance They have become we'll
accustomed to the heat aud to rough fare, aud should
another Pea Ridge encounter await them, they viii
show that they have not archcd Fix hundred miles
through the enemy s country in vain.
HINDMAN AND HIS REBEL ARMY.
Several eiters OF the Rebel Gen. Iindman have
been Intercepted in which be boasts that he is form
ina thirty regiments OF Arkansas and Texas troops.
But tie TACT Is well known from returned pris-
oners from Little Rock that re Las not more Than
five or six thousand troops all told. IL Is doubtless
intended FIJI up the res iments with conscrps,
who are being pressed into the Rebel seryice, and
are constantly escaping into our lines and the letters
reveal the TACT that lindman j. without for his
recruits.
THE SLAVES IN AND AROUND HELENA.
The region Of country now occupied by the army,
and the bottom Lands Of the Mississippi. above and
below for many miles, are among the richest IN the /
State, and largely devoted 10 the cultivation Of
cotton. Gen. Gideon y. Pillow, of unenvisble noto-
iiety owns several plantations in this neghborho)d
and 800 slaves The slave population is very large
and greatly exceeds tie number Of Inhabitants.
Since Gen. Curtis arrived with his army they
have "Guit work " ard made "a strike " for their
freedom. Slch Of the masters at home
profess to he loyal men; but the slave claim their b
freedom on the ground that Trey used in build
ing Fort Pillow. many Of them having been sent up
tie river and kept at work upon iorlieations upon
the reQusltion OF Generals Polk and Pillow.
The number of them in Helena ana in service IN |
the several commands servants cannot be less
than 2 600 or 5000 They come In from the neigh I
boring country, and present their own statements 20
Gen. Curtis who remarked 10 me the OTHER day that
he was surprised at the intelligence they manifest
aud their gerect understanding of the causes Of the
Rebellion and Of their OVID rights. The general
suppo,ition has been that the plantation negroes
were more ignorant than the slaves in towns and
cities: bat Gen. Curtis's observation cOnIadicts
this impression He says they are fully equal in
Intelligence and character, ana frequently evince
both skill and judgment and a full knowledge Of
their rights in stating tleir claims for free papeIs
DANGER OF INSTRUCTION.
The most perpexing question IL, What is 10 be-
come OF these freedmen and their families, when the
Union army leaves tnls place Large numbers OF
them nave received their reepapers. In this respect
Gen Curtis has irea ed them with Justice and libor
al;y Bat on the removal Of this army, will not
tie former masters attempt TO renew tbeir owner
slip over them Should this be the case, the attempt
is very likely % be resisted Having Tor "a time
tasted the sweets Of liberty and received wages,
having obtained their ficepapers and knowing their
rights, will they dare maintain them Ii they
could possess themselves Of arms, have no doubt
they would Try their strenSL rather than he reduced
again TO bondage.
Many OF these masters come and whine piteousy
10 our oficeTs about the " ingratitude Of these
slave, tel AOw they have LuIsec them when elck,
how leni-at they have been 10 them, and how The
unQrateful wIetches now leave their service and
reiuse longer 10 work for ttcm. IL ID strange they
should be 90 oblyions to The great wrong they have
been committing i'll rojbng these poor black people
oftbcir labor aud the fruits Of 1.-THE hard earUng8
Of a liietime-and dopr ing them Of the opportunity
OF sefmpfOvemcnt and the means OF knowledge
The should rather wonder at the 1Orbearance and
foleiying stint Of the slave in lot attempting TO
visit then with Ie'iibu'ion ior these wrongs.
A RIGHTEOUS RETRIBTION.
The slaves OF Gen. Pillow have been ret free, and
The Headquarters Of Gen. Curtis IL the fine
zion Of the Rebel Gen. Hmdman. overlooking the
river from the bills back Of the town For reveal
yearr Hiudnan las praoiced law IN tbs place, anf
has held seat IN Congress from tOls district; but
the people who remain here probes 10 Cespise hun,
and reproach linn as npincipled and bankrupt ~
character and estate. His negroes Lave also been
Get free.
SAILS OF COTTON BY THE NEGROES.
many Oh ,hese freed slaves are going ont with
Government teams and escorts and claiming the cot
ton on the plantations as THERE by right Of hayng
worked hard 10 raise il; and where their masters
are convicted OF dsoyalty, Gen. Curtis pernifs
them TO lave IL brought in ard sold for their own
benefit several thousand dollars have been realized
Tor them III lhls way, and 1t Is proposed 70 raise
money enough IRON these saes TO assist them TO get
70 some rec STATE ana commence lie on their own
account. Gentlemen here express n yyiIln,nese g.
20 with them, and assist them TO lind q place OF at
Element.
EXPEDITION Up TIE ST. FRANCIS RIVER.
Yesterday, Lieut.-Col. Wood returned from an
expedition on the steamer Belle up the ST. Franci
River. About 40 miles from the mouth be encoun- I
tered the Rebel Col. Burbrdge with 60 men on the |
south bank captured Lis carriage, sword, commits. |
sions Of bis officers bis wife, two children wounded
One OF his men, and caused the rest 10 " yamose" |
crying "Guuboatw "Gunboat" at every Jump. /
Further ~ the river, be encountered band Of GO |
more Rebels under Capt. Anderson, and killed and /
wounded several captured q large mail from Little
ROCK directed to Jeii. Thompson in Mississippi,
which were the intercepted letters Of Gen. Hind /
man, prevousy referred TO, aud brought il to Cen
Cunis, TOOK several cotton burners prisoners cap /
.uied the Rebel steamboat Novelty and destroyed 1
,hiee store boats. several fatboale, and brought |
a"ay considerable number Of comraband negroes,
horss and mules. Lieut. Andrew Park belonged TO !
'ne expedition, ard acted the part of an energetic
,noer ahd good soldier. Credit is undoubtedly due
o'heIs DtlGe me brave Lieutenant Colonel and bis
A-'es'sh"a'' baI have p9t their names.