Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1862-12-26
GU R ARMY CORRESPONDENCE E.
CAMP BABcocK, BENTON COUNTY,
ARKANSAS, Nov. 23d, '62.


CAMP BABcocK, BENTON County,
ARKANSAS Nov. 23d, '62.
Mr.. EDlroR:-Having most effectually clean
ed out everything in the valley of Bush Creel
that could supply ourselves in stock with I
meals victuals, and further more having in
telligence that rebel army was feeling it
way up the Cherokee line, from Fort Smith
the regiments composing the 1st Division O
the Army of the Frontier pulled up stakes a
an early hour in the morning Of the 18th, and
after some preliminary marching and counter
marching, struck off west and southwest at 1
rate that seemed to indicate that something
was to pay somewhere. From early morn
ing until o o'clock at night, the march
was kept u2 with as much regularity
as our long train would admit. We had
made a nice little march oftwenty- three miles
far enough for weeks hard marching or
the Potomac, but only an ordinary days
work for Western men. l ..
Col Phillips, of the Sd Indian Regiment
had left Camp Bowen several days before
with detachments from his own and I'd In
dian, numbering about 1000 men and foul
howitzers, with orders to proceed as far in
the direction of Fort Smith and Fort Davis
as he could, and ascertain as nearly as possi.
bic the whereabouts, strength, condition, IN
tention, &C., of the enemy, and to report to
Gen. Blunt, wherever he might be, at the ex-
piration Of eight days. ....=-....Et.
The Colonel proceeded with his party,
without interruption, to Tahlequa, the Indian
Cap tai, and Fort Gibson, thence down the
Arkansas River to a point within twenty
miles of Fort Smith. At Webber's Falls he
made demonstrations of crossing the river,
whereupon the rebels appeared upon the op-
posite bank, in greatly superior numbers, ,wav
ing their hats and beckoning, as if anxious
to form a more intimate acquaintance. This
seemed agreeable all around, and, by way of
few shells were tossed among
the chaps, who left those parts. in their usual
lively manner, leaving five Of their number
dead upon the bank. Returning North,
along the line, the Colonel found himself close
upon rebel force Of $500 cavalry, encamped
at Cave Hill, thirty miles south of our pres
ent position. Not deeming it prudent to risk
a battle with force of such strength, he
lodged them by passing around them to the
not however without slight skir-
mish, in which our loss was five or six killed
and wounded. This was in the afternoon
and evening of the 18th. The same day we
marched from Camp Bowen, and Col. Phil
lips, having travelled all night, came sudden
ly on our camp, before daylight, on the morn
ing of the 14th. Having no knowledge Of
our movement, he supposed he had fallen in
with another rebel force, and made his dispo.
sitions for fight One Of his lieutenants
crept unobserved to farm house that lay be-
tween the two armies, and there discovered
that the Feds had come, thus preventing a
general muss.
The Cave Hill rebels followed Phillips to
a small village eighteen miles
distant, but have retired beyond the noun
tains. At Cincinnati and Dutch Town are
excellent Touring mills, which have hereto
fcre been the rebels, main dependence for
breadstuffs. These have not been occupied
by our troops, though we need breadstuffs
badly. The mills are capable Of turning out
seventy-fve barrels of flour per day, and
there is plenty of wheat in their vicinity, yet
we are.rut down to scarcely half rations Of
bread.
The Cherokee regiment sent out heavy
scout again yesterday. and it is said to be
with view of taking possession of the mills.
This regiment is doing good deal of good
work. They are invaluable as scouts and are
by no means slow in fight. They hate the
rebel Cherokee with hatred that can only
be appeased by blood. Stand Waitee's band is
obnoxions to them and they kill
every one they get hold of; IN one instance
I was told they first gave the unfortunate
prisoner a severe thrashing with switches be.
fore they shot him. Stand Waitee and his
men claim to be the ''hower and chivalry' oi
the Nation: they are ''the upper tens" the
"cream Of society,"" the slave holding class
while the Union or Penn Indians" are the
low common trash, who are unyielding in
their opposition to the upper crust, and the
"peculiar institution" ..
We have been more or less troubled by
bushwackers since coming out here. Several
small foraging parties have been fred on
one man killed and one severely wounded.
A company belonging to the 1st Arkapsas
was foremost in this vicinity, or rather I
should say were driven out from here into
Missouri, where they enlisted. This com
pany is now here on their first visit to theil
old homes. They are fierce and reckless
set of fellows, made so I presume by missr
les they have endured Being acquainted
with every road and path in the country
and moreover feeling particular interest in
the determination Of these bushwacking gen
try, they are making it extremely hot fol
that class of rebels. -
Twill give you specimen of their mode o
procedure. The day after we came out here
a butternut chap came hobbling into camp or
crutches. He was at the battle of Msysvillt
or Fl. Wayne, and had received q ballt hrougf
the calf Of his leg. His house is about milt
from camp. and one section of our grand
guard is posted near it. Day before yester
day party of the Arkansas troops passed
that way, and one Of them recognized thu
lame butternut standing by the guard ht
came forward and asked the guard if tina
man was his prisoner. The guard replied
that he was not. Then said the Arkansas t.
Kansas, will you please to stand little t
one side for moment? To this very polit'
and seemingly innocent request, though com