The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1862-06-02
CAPTURE OF LITTLE ROCK, ARK.
~~~~~~~~>~~~~~~~~~~
Gen. Curtis Army in Full Pos
session Of the City.
The Progress Of the Army from
Missouri through Arkansas.
SKETCH OF LITTLE ROCK AND VICINITY,
&s., &c., &e.

special despatch from Cairo Saturday Says
An Arkansas refugee arrived from the feet to-day He
says that Little Rock il fully occupied by the Union
army, and that what citizens remain are decidedly
loyal.
The Arkansas State Legislature had scattered. and
the Governor fed the State He at jackson, Mis-
sissppi.
Tho Union army under Generals Curtis and Steele had
been steadily advancing this city from two north
ern directions the former arriving at Batesve on the
3D. and latter at jackson Port the I'd. junction
was afterwards formed between the commands. ana
they proceeded further south On the 10th General o.
tsrhaus, with about two hundred and fifty men, met
superior force Of rebels Searcy tho Little Rock
river, and after sharp skirmish put them to fight.
The chase was kept up with vgor and the rebels
finally routed. They however, succeeded In destroying
the bridges along the route to the CITY, II seems there
fore bo very certain that General Curtis has over
come all the distractions placed in his way, and now
holds Of tho capital Of tho rebel State of
kansas.
SKETCH OF LITTLE ROCK AND VICINITY.
Little Rock the capital Of the State OF Arkansas and
the seat of justice Of Pulaski county 1t is situated at
about the centre Of the Stae the right or southern
bank Of the Arkansas river distance OF about three
huadred miles from its mouth 1t 10 about hundred
and miles, in an air line, west by SOUTH of Mem.
phs, with which 1t is connected partly by and partly
by turnpike road and Ii thousand miles, the
bird dies westerly direction from tho national capt.
tal The latitude Of the city is "a 10 NORTH and the
longitude is 83 10 west Of Greenwich Tho city stu-
ated . rocky promontory bluff, about nfty feet
high and it is the first enencs that occurs in ascend
ing the river, the city commands delightful and sxtsn
sive view OF the surrounding country The town con.
tans very fns buildings. The State House is an
elegant brick edince, rough cast The United States
Arsenal, State penitsntary (which has been once or
twice burned down by the convcts the six brick built
churches and other buildings very nne Il has also
Masonic Hail. Odd Fellows Hall and several semi
nares. There are two or newspapers published in
tho city and previous the rebellion the United States
Court for the Eastern district held there Many OF
the resident citizens At time wealthy planters
who large estates this part Of tho State regu
lar line Of steamers st time constant com.
munieatisn between Little Rock and the disrsnt points
the Arkansas and Aissssipp rivers. Good clay for
bricks to be found in the vicinity quarrss Of nne
slate and granite, very like the Quincy granite but mot
hard. Previous 10 our national troubles company
had been formed by weltodo residents Of Cncn-
natl 70 work the slate quarry, which in the immediate
neghborhood and the prospects Of its very
fair. The population Of the city in 1850 2,1e7 but
during the three years II had increased to 1000
with rapid and continuous rise in the numbers
The origin Of tho Of tho city is explained a. fol-
ows-In ascending the river there appears south
bank rising out Of the water bald gpeons slate rock
which at low water about twenty-five feet above the
surface, but at high water 10 almost hidden from view
This gives the name to the city, and is called BY tho
townspeople the "Pont Of Rocks" Two miles above
this tho northern bank, another rocky bluff about
two hundred feet high, which is called tho "Bg Rock.n
The county, Pulaski is situated in the. o.cenra part OF
Arkansas and contains about twelve hundred square
miles or about seven hundred and sixty thousand
acres 1t 10 intersscted by the Arkansas river which
is navigablo for steamboats, and also drained by the
Big Mammele creek and by the Fourchs and Meto
Bayous. The surface Of the county is level in the
southern parts and hily in the northern and western
The soil is moderately fertile, and rich mino OF lead
and silver has been opened about ten miles north Of
Little Rock. The population OF the county last re-
turns about six thousand, about onsfth Of whom
we slaves.