Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-07-23
THE WAR IN ARKANSAS.
Gen. Curtis March to Helesa-ParticulaI
of the Fighting on the way.


Gen. Curtis March TO Helesa-Particulars
of the Fighting on the way.
The correspondent Of the Cincinnati Gazette,
with Gen. Curtis army, gives detalled account
Of the march from Batesvllle to Helena, from
Which we extract the following particulars:
THE BATTLE EEAR BAYOU CACHE, ARK.
The battle Of the 9TH, near "Bayou Cache, !"
NOn against tremendous odds, resulted In the
death Of ITO Rebels and the utter Decentralization
Cf six Texan regiments, who have not ventured
% mOlsstUs since. The army under Gen Curtis
vas encemped at the junction OF the Bayou Cache
end Cache river, where our progress was delayed
by blockade of fallen timber. A road had been
cut through this blockade on the evening Of the
OH, and early nett morning Col Hoyey, Of the
1hirtv-thrd liiiuois Regiment, was ordered by
G9n. Steele to open the road on the opposite side
Of the Cache, make reconnaissance In front
down to the Clarendon road, along which the
army were 10 march, and also 10 scour the woods
Colonel Hovey detailed a force numbering not
over $50 men, and started about a. m. with COM
pdny ID, llth Wisconsin, ahead. Skirmishers
were thrown out, and In this way they proceeded
&c the Hill plantation, at the forks Of the ro,d,
four miles distant from camp. On the way, some
p'ckets were driven in. The main road here
leads TO Cotton Plant and Clarendon. TIE road
TO the left is a neighborhood road, while that
turning TO the side leads across the Cache, four
miles distant, and thence to the Des Arc, on the
White river Detachments were sent forward on
each OF these roads to reconnoiter Col. Harris,
with three companies Ct the Ilth w sconsin, and
Cap,sin Potter, with the small rihed piece, pro-
cesded rapidly down the Des Arc road, having
no cavalry.
They passed a cOruheld on the left, entered an
CTen wood. and reaching turn In the road, at the
time risGg up In elevation, they fell in with
two Texan regiments of cavalry, with regiment
OF cOnscript Infantry drawn up on their right,
ready TO receive them. The Rebels fred a muir
defOuS vollsy soon as our men got into the
snare, killing five Of cur men, and wounding Col
RarTis aud Captain Potter. Our men returned
tue fire and fell back, the enemy being too pre-
pOnderating Ia numbers TO withstand with our
E'tle force. Capt. Potter, though wounded gave
q EN- few rounds from bis piece, and fell back
firing into tie ens1y's ranks The Rebels then
made Charge, and the retreat of our men became
temporarily panic. Col. Hovey, hearing the
firing, and Judging the turn aniirs were taking
by the clouds Of dust which rose and filed the
air above the trees, took the remaining compa-
mes Of the 33t Illinois and hlstened to the scene
o. actisn.
some Of the men first fred upon did not stoo
iili they reached Hills house, rushing past Capt
Potter, who would unlimber his gun, Ore round
and then retire, thus checking the advance OF
the Rebels until Col Hovey came up. The latter
lad hardly time TO place his men In ambush be.
hind the feBcs, n an angle Of the field. when
fhe Rebels, coming furiously forward with loud
ycils, received a well aimed FIRE from Col. Hovey
sHd bis men. Tweny-fre r. bells were killed
the nfst pop They were checked. The columns
rne ed ana staggered by this muTderous hre,
broke, and the men fed in confusion. At the
same time heavy column Of the enemy was seen
moving through the woo's between Col. Hovey's
position and our camp, Id thus surround our
brave men But when tney reached the road
and seeing the Wisconsin troops which had fallen
back, and suppOsing them to be a reinforcement
come 10 cur aid, ey abandoned their design
and returned Thus what appeared to be dis
asir"us a. one time turned TO our advantage
Col Hovey rallied hts command and advan-
cling one fourth OF mile to cotton gin, held the
position over hour.
At this time (4bout 1OX o'cIock) Lieut. Col.
Wood came up with the second battalion Of the
First Indiana Cavalry, bringing with him two
sieeI rined guns This detachment had been or
dered by Gen. Curtis to proceed 10 the Bayou de
Nce-hf'een miles from camp-with orders to
save 1.-The bridge at that point from being DESTROYED
hy the enemy. The arrival Of this reinforcement
proved extremely opPoItune. Col. Hovey was
Posted about $50 yards from Col. Hips house on
the Des Arc road, and the enemy was not In
view. Coming up at full speed, having heard
the firing, the lst Indiana were welcomed with
enthusiastic cheers from the brave little CON-
mand Of Col. Hovpy The Latter exclaimed,
"Fheretcomes Col. Wood we are all rig ht now
hoysin and advancing to Col. Wood, he said,
You'll ind them (the enemy down there,
tolon,l, thick enough; pitch into 'em " The
cavalry, with shouts and yells, then plunged for
ward at furious rate towards the Rebels. The
Gorses Ieaped ditch four feet In width, which
crossed their path, the bridge being torn up.
One OF the horses had leg broken, and some
"f the meL were pitched to the ground while
making the PerilOus leap. Fortunately, none
were seriously hurt. A few rails were oiled into
the ditch, and the steel rinsd guns were passed
over. solitary Rebel was now seen advancing
TO within one hundred yards Of n front. He
Il o.,
c-7rg- Of Lieut. Baker, were unlimbered and the
cavalry brought into line Of battle The com.
bland was given :" Pieces by hand 10 the front
fiwdrd, march - The cannonier, seized tbeir
pieces by hand, and advanced on the enemy the
latter being now discovered advancing with ex
nded wings In the form Of V, the concave
s.ce facing toward our men. Their intention, 1t
appeared evident, was TO surround US. The Reb-
eIs were dismOunted, no horses being seen. Our
pieces were loaded with canister, and getting
within pOintblank raDge-Some 200 yards-we
Opened upon them with terrible hre. The
enemy halted and replied by q heavy voIley from
tneir cros-tre on our gunnen Several Of the
later were wounded, but not disabled.
Inc steel riH.d guns no belched forth a con-
unHed round Of firing, when the enemy finding
~ loo hot, fell back into the woods out Of ight
Inc command was given again, ''Pieces by hand
70 ine 'front.' forward, march," Col Hovey him.
eli caught hold OF the trail cf one Of the guns
AID exclaimed, Let's push them forward
ooy. Col Wood and Lieut. Baker also tool
lod OF the drag rope hooks, and assisted in NOV
ne cavalry, under Major CIendenning, follow.
az In line OF battle, ready for the charge Our
rel pressed on with enthusiastic afdor. Ad
salD, aInS IN THIS way quarter Of mile, the
shiy were deserted formed in the same mode as
ostoIe. We got up to within a hundred yards,
Nhen they opened hre upon US We returned
ne nre with canister from the little guns, with
o.laslonal carbine and pistol shots from the can.
hcalers The nre proving too CALLING for the en-.
SiIy, he again Ietreated, leaving a number of
dead strewn on the ground, and the blood be-
>meaTed the bushes In tae vicinity
The order was given by Col Wood 10 Major
IIehdenning to draw sabre and charge. Taking
companies and u, the Major shouted, UCome
n boys, us our turn now" and plunged down
'he road into the brush, where they were met nv
euehehaouS VoIley, poured in on them by the
Ieoels At the 9rst IRE the Major WI wounded
severely, receiving ball through toe left lung:
Snd captain Sloane, Of company E. who was
praseiy charging In front, was instantly III led
Sy ashot In the head. The Major unmfn tful Of
no,ss% ~Sand, nc stil led on his men, and the latter
IOited IN several volleys the rebels from their
-, o;aes and pistols, unhOnIng one and killing
.h3ef OF Tie enemy. The rebels were stag
sc,eu' ana turning on their heels, fed In confn.
IN, IN. ol' artillery followed close up, when the
an was sounded, and the cavalry fell bach
,stnini, Es pieces Major Clendenning, in re-
t.ihlhS1 tainted aud fell from his horse and was
picked up by one Of the men. who cs,,i.d hino
on the neld on bis shoulders
ms pieces We're then limbered nm and npsh sa
iorw-rd In hot pursuit, the cavalry feenino cIoss
"a "a me rear In this way we advanced' d,ivino
Tue Rebels before US, q distance Of three miis.
Ihe enemy's loss has been placed N no "A
R.baIs ~. AfTIn,es Arr people In sympathy with the
we ourled 81 Of their dead and th,nk tht. ~;