, 1862-05-21
FROM THE ARMY IN ARKANSAS.
Especial Correspondence Of the Chicago Tribune.1
CAMP OF THE 9Ta ILLINOIS CAVALRY
JACKsoNPoRT, jackson Co., Ark,
ThuIeda7 MaY 18th. 1862

We have possession Of the country SO far
without fighting except skirmish below town
between part of OUT advance, the 1st regiment
of Indiana volunteer cavalry, and the rear OF
Van Dorn's command, under captains Hooker
and Timothy Reeves. Two Of the Ipdianiaus
were seriously wounded, one through the
thigh, the ball striking the top Of the thigh
bone; the other struck in the forehead and
coming out little above and behind the ear.
They may recover. The rebel loss I did not
learn, though VIC took some prisoners.
There is plenty Of sugar md molasses here,
also, understand, some forty Or fifty sacks Of
coffee, and forage plenty. Yet our men have
short allowance, aud some regiments no coffee,
and arc compelled to buy Of these slarpers
who have run the price Of sugar from four up
to eight cents per lb. Although these people
expected that our troops were coming to de-
spoil and rob them, Jet finding that We treat
them with extra civility, paying enormous
prices for oil We get Of them, they become ill.,
eolent; and every loss Of chicken, piece Of
meat, or st1aying off Of . horse, mule or colt,
is made basis for q complaint against sol
dier, exaggerated in Its details and most gen
orally false.
III should see Yankee grasp fifty cent
piece fer 4 little sour milk, corn pone, aud
fried bacon served up on table covered with
dirt and grease, as have seen some of the
chipalry here do, l would be willing to &C.
knowledge the Yankee to be all that Southern
7 hate, ignorance and envy have prompted them
| to say and write Of Yankees generally.
| a few secretly rejoice to see US. The rest
| look upon US with malignant hate. One Of
them said, day before yesterday, "You eau
conquer uE, We know, but you cannot force
responded to him by saying, *'AIy dear sr,
| We came down here to enforce obedience to
| the Constitution and the laws Of the United
States. After that is done our mission is end
I'd, and VIC do not care whether you love us or
| not; that is none Of our busines5.'' Mr. Sc
| cesh seemed much surprised that we did not
crave the boon he was So unwilling to grant.
III my opinion such men. before hating aud
deEpi-ing us, will, when the war is ended, both
love, fear and resi- pect Us. At the beginning
they we're mad BECAUSE they thought we want
ed their negroes. now they have found eu1
| that We do not want, and viii not take tue ne
gro on whose possession they hare speci4ll5
prided themselves, they are more deeply IN
ge1ed, feeling some likethe woman WHO is ae
cused Of being ugly and repulslre; IN ange
tint humble their pride debasing them il
their Own estimation.
The regroes here are almost without excep
ton industrious, and very attentive to the1
duties, and seemingly coutented. Yet frou
ny conversation with them. am sure tha
tiere il in Them sort Of vague and unde6ne'
consciousness that there is in the presen
course Of things current that is drifting t.
1Itm better future; they do not know ho1
or what it is to be, but they believe it, an
that it is coming without action On their par;
, ard without harm to their masters and mis-
trtsses, whom they generally lore. Il is sol
, | Of blind faith with which the All-Wise Fathe
: I has endnWth thpm ffmnrFnp the nSncYIty {