New-York daily tribune., 1862-11-06
NORTHWESTERN ARKANSAS.
Cpcr ntions Of the Army Of the Frontier
Movcmcnts'of the Various Forces.
Oar Special Correspondent.

Operations OF the Army OF the Eronuer-
Movcmcnts'of the Various Forces.
From Our Special Correspondent.
HKAnQrKrrx. GRv HyRRoss DTvIsioy,l
Cross HoLlovs. AK, Oct "a, lutI.
The operations of the "Army Of the Frontier
are attracting considerable attention. on account oil
the important results 10 be accomplished by it during
the coming Winter campaign. The army in South
West Missouri aud Northwestern Arkansat is COM
manded by Brg.-Geu. Schofield, and consists oil
about 25 COO men, over one-third cf which number
il cavalry. Gen. Curtis, who commands this De-
partment has given this body of men the we'll
.ounding tile of the "Army of the Frontier" II
ia divided into tbree divisions, commanded re-
spectivcly rs follows: by Gems Blunt, TotteD, and
Heron There arc not lcts than City pieces OF field
a,il ery of character and calibsr suitable for this
hily. mountainous country. The force may be con-
sidered, With some exceptions, 10 10 very ehec1Ne
Gen Blunt has some 4, coo ludians in his command,
and one aborigue is not worth " live Yankees or
auy other man. The Missouri State Militia are also
hot above reproach en- 1t comes TO an estimate OF
soldiery value. They GIe about 1000 men raised
under some fpeeia act of the State Legislature as q
sort of Home Guard. For those who wish TO do SO,
this law eau be construed to keep them from cross
inc the State ine though the intention OF the repre-
eentaiives clearly was Tor these men 10 pursue and
destroy al the enemies Of Missouri wherever they
her borders. This little tecunissit ity has already
ca used trouble, ard upon several Instances revolt.
Some of them refused 10 cross the line few weeks
ego whereupon their General trained two pieces OF
artillery upon them, aud absolutely forced then TO
adyan. g. Their brief compliance amounted TO
poning for upon the fist opportunity they escaped
into their own State again.
Not ten days ago, when division, containing
regiment Of these men, arrived at the State me,
they refused TO 90 f1rner ana Ii was found noces-
sary TO threaten them with tour companies OF jrian
Try before tbey would yid. From tots, it will lie
seen they cannot lie fully trusted upon all occasions,
and men III tie volunteer service IoOk upon them
with oistrust. Much Dissatisfaction rs felt because
great share Of the command ia thls region has been
apportiOmcd TO these uieu. Many worthy O1icers
nre forced 10 digest the bitter thought tbat they
subject TO the beck and nod of military poieigns,
oil granIes in UNIFORM, and npl hng inbe1hes'
Southwestern Missouri wus for time almost
abandoned 10y the Union forces, during which perod
the Rebels obtained strong footLOld advancing
their pckes to within short Instance OF kclla IL
is but few days since they were driNen from cass
Vile aud SsrcCXie, and scarcely fortnight has
ca.sed since the DISASTROUS dash into NeWtoBla.
Not ten days ago Rains was reported TO be AT Pea
. Ridge with from 5000 TO $1,000 men, He WIS
there doubtless, with a larsc iorce-Dot le-s tLan
80. .tUG we are toiG3nt now they have iitted away,
leaving this art Of the country as destitute OF male
linhsbifaiits ~ the harcm Of IN Eastern iasuaw.
List week, Gen. ScAOieli headq quarters wero ~
Flkhorn Tavern 10 the er OF tho famous battle
field Of Pea Ridge, upon 'he same ground occupied
NV tbe Se-e-h IA lew aayt Oeiure. Iney tad prom
lsed us Eght if we woalt meet them there, aud
even The plan oi battle disclosed by then. They
utonosed 10 take tue sOulD OF the Iel snd give
us lie northern potion o tie rde reyere!ns ae old
order of he gt 80 the multef was well uu.er-
stood by cur men, and the "Aoie game studied ont
some hours before Tue expected contest was ~ coe
. ioE.
;. However, it was bloocless victory, after ll'.
i, Oar took Pea Ridte wihou, striking blow, os
R.le fsf. IA. .fttfs 80
% Ne neNT beard OF them VI Huntsville sOme ihitiy.
a i've miles from Tea Ridge AID there i. was conf.
y deDty expected they would give ns battle Prela.
=, Islions were hastily msce 10 meet them. Gen.
- uerrOn's command was cncaDped Ten miles west Oi
e i.a Ili4ge, On Sugar Creek, aud Gen. I0uens wa
4 cuaItcred at Pea lGdee ilrcIi. Orders esued
tos both Of tlese commands to move forward s,afi-
iog towards Hautsyle Monday iast al y loci L.,
The evening. IL Was thought they were lar euoIyh
apart keep out OF the way OF each other, Though
: as IL turned out they were not.
Gen. II IRONS division had Just got well started
on the road when Is met That OF Gen. Blunt moving
~ al opposite direcuon going TO occnpy IaysNIe
iLs Of encounter Is no small nirhap IN such
q country Us this. The roads lead through be ayy
timber end are u'ual just wide enough, aud that Il
sli for one wagon To pass along. A very ferious
difficulty be easily Imagined IN such when
two long trains of siA-mule wagons snd several tat.
tories L ee. Cavalry and Infantry get along very
well bat with the transportation IT is different.
7 After hours If vexatious delay, an incalcuiable
drawn trsius passed essh other and the officers re-
eed ia the idea that all was paln-saiiIng the reet
~ the way very nice little disappointment was
Ia wat for them In the shape of Gen Totens tram,
which mad tai ed on account OF o.okeDdown wagons
two miles hey oDd EkLorn Tavern. From Midnight
to day ligh, matters were III statn quo when the
miles aud mies of men and wagons drew their slow
{ leneth along
. The advance reached within striking distance OF
Hunisvie, or neariy 90, ut last but only to learn
that tie Rebels bad taken the wing once more, and
: gone around in our rear, making detOur Of many
4 les TO The south Of us, and thredenng our no OF
communication TO Springfield. We just picked up
our little dads and padded back 10 Cross Hoilows
fast legs could take us, travelling al night
and tho day in hopes of nabbiBg the Iascals.
The beet could Go, however, was TO get a few
shcts sc oftheir scouts and pokes, and capture
u few miserable poLiss which were abandoned by
! them when fired On. Marks made by their forage
wagons and the tracks Of nuInbcress ,are feet were
seen ia the dust Of the road, but they had 100 many
boaIs the start Of us. They were doubtlcss per.
fectiy informed OF our movements, for every woman
aud child in this region acts the part Of by and in.
former carrying intelligence upon fleet horses acr0ss
the hills a; all hours Of the day md night. Tis
nst be ever the Case In an eneiays country, and it
Us an evil which IL 10 hard 70 obviaie.
During all the time we were marching ana counter
marching across tLis yillaiDOus county Tie E.bels
who had gained our rear. were not idle. HEY lint
csught every Union man they could find uni who
resided IN this portion OF the county, aud murdered
him. 1iey do lhess iitlis jJbs win u coolness aud
Gang irCId that is only attained by public oxecu-
tioners. They hang or shoot Union ,nan with
gusto and retirement OF cruelty hat never has
boeu exocled hy tie aboriginal saytees OF this or
any other country.
Til, body Of men supplied themselycs with -four
a. lie plliis OF this vicinity, aud cOinilud other
petty depledations which told II sad tale OF their
poverty aud distress. They were q told o. rsaT4u-
ders, under the noted Coffee, who by thc way, is
cre of the -.arpeGt cOmmanders In lLs Rebel am y