, 1862-05-14

nj BcariGt, " NJ HEA1Q, d. LQEEpIelE. |
FIRST JL1lHoIs LIGHT AET1I!Enr-0. A.. Quill !
nnu, r. g. Fuller, J. G. Wilson, $. Smith, n.
Caieno, j. n. Allen, T. F. Kennedy
FROM GEN. CURTIS ARMY.
The War in Arkansas.
Especial Correspondence Of the Chicago Tribunal
HEAD Quarters Army OF THE SOUTHWEST, | |
CANP At BATEeyI1IE, Ark, May 4, 1861. !
May lovely, blooming rosy, May, with its
summer flowers, its sunny days, its roses and |
honey y-suckles, and nature dressed in bridal |
robes, and with sailing face, is here. The
rapid march Of time, as well is the rapid march |
Of our victorious army, find us far advanced |
in sDEie,'' and perhaps one Of the most de- !
Hghtful epots that can be- found From For
syfh to West Plains, owing to the bad condi- !
ton Of the roads, and scarcity Of forage, the |
different divisions Of the army took separate
routes; and scarce a bluff or ravine but re-
ceiyed flying visit from the "detested Feds"
OF ttbraye Union boys" as they were denom- |
mated By, the Hecesh or Union psocl.
vities Of the inhabitants Of this rugged
and sterill region. In these rock fastnes3es
in the deep receEses Of the fo1est-behind en-
trenchments made by natures God-hundreds
of sterling patriots can be found. The second
day from Vera Cruz, hearing that Was but
two miles from where lived Solomon Collins,
veteran Of 1879 who fought at New Orleans,
and again at the age Of seventy ire years-in
defiance Of the threats Of ferocious enemies,
came to Rolla, and with four SONS, again ca
rolled his name among the defenders Of the
same cause aud country and the same flag,
united in maintaining. I determined to SEQ
him, and following Z crooked path Was SOON
at his cabin. found him very low from dis
cases contracted while in camp. At the sight
Of the American uniform bis eye frightened,
and raising his withered hand, he thanked his
God that be yet lived to sec secession crushed
from tho lind.
At Forsyth I SOW another hero, not only Of
1912, but Of tue Revolution, in the person Of
Vim. J. Dotson, now 103 years Of age. He
had come twenty-five miles to see and talk
with Gen. Curtis; and through all the dark
and trying hours Of this rebellion, never for
day Ind the stars and stripes ceased to float
Over hts dwelling. For this he had been
Threatened with death. His reply Was, that
be bad already lived too long, aud would be
glad to die in SO good cause. 1t is curious
fact that tie Union soldiers from Missouri aud
| Arkansas are old men, while the rebel soldiers
are generally young men and boys.
While on the march, passed new made
ing, learned that q Lieutenant belonging to
! the 4th Iowa Cavalry, had been killed IN q
skirmish near Talcots'e Ferry IN Arkansas, and
| vas buried there. A squad Of 20 brave aHd
determined men have been sent to destroy
sha 81 sssfs s nsSs 1fk& of f5e 81 h fsi a
| after a fatigueing ride, came to the opposite
| side Of the river, and leaving half their num-
| ber TO guard the horses, the remainder pressed
conc natives to guide and 70 " them in canoes
which were found near by, they crossed over,
ard leaving four Of thei1 number to gnard the
boats and boatmen, whose treachery might
frusirate the whole scheme. The remaining
six proceeded to the mill, broke the engine,
destroyed what kettles and other property
they could, and then fired the buildings, max.
ing complete ruin Of everything connected
with the works, and then returned without a
siug1e m1shap to any one connected with the
enterprise. Fearing that twenty men would
| not be sufficient for the task, a detachment Of
cavalry Eas also sent to the ferry. The rebels
gathering in considerable numbers on the op-
posite bank. running FIRE waB kept up for
some time frona behind trees aud logs, during
which the Lieutenant was killed, and his re-
maius buried on a lonely mountain far from
human habitation The object Of the e1pdi:,
to camp again.
Until We reached West Plains, on the 9Th
u1t, our march was over pine-clad hills, and
down crooked and rocky rariines, and onr pro-
gzess was necessarily slow. But from thence
the roads were materially better, and the
country vastly improved il fertility as well as
beauty, and Jet II was but little more thick1y
| settled than among the sterile hills OF Mis-
souri. From West Plains ne struck directly
south, reaching Salem, the county seat OF
the people By surprise, they little dreaming
that cur forces were SO near. From thence q
forced <snarch was made to Batesyil,e, hoping
to surprise Coleman and his band, who were
reported there. Gen. Curtis headed the ad
staff 70 follow after. OuT forces reached the
town at daylight on the Sd instant, and, sur
rounding the place, marched to the river; buI
Coleman bad crossed bu1. .eEFseeF4t3ne before
retaining the ferry boat, 50 That pursuit was
prevented. 4 few Of his mcn weTe seen hur
| ryiDg away among the bushes, hut in {
short time returned in large numbers, aud II
hush-Thack style fired upon our men from be
bind trees, and an old house near by. Theil
fire WIS principally directed against Major
BoWen's command, who were In the advance,
, Not shot WIS returned for some time, which
. | emboldened the enemy until they came SO nes.
| as to converse with our men, calling then
= "coTardly Northern abolition h1rclings.f
Soon four howitzers were placed in position
and opened upon the rebels, who scattered
!. like sheep, and in few minutes not q batter
!. nut Was In sight. The first shell struck ths
| old house, its atfrghted tenants sWarmiug Liz,
:. bees in every direction, and were seen to car
. !. r. three Of their number away, who were sup
1 | c1awledRway In the bushes and were suppose'
. to be wounded. On our side no one was IL
J. jured. We captured three stragglers VIII
! we're IN the town, and they were recognize
/ IS old offenders who formerly resided nea
: We s1so captured a fatbaat loaded With 11ce
= suEur, and other army stores, and Has jus
!. ready to be taken across the river. 4 laFg
). quantity Of stores we're also taken, which th
enemy were unable to take with them.
u Jacksonport, twenty-EIx miles below Rates
8 vile, is also In our hands and occupied bY D.
T. + <is' and portion of Stcele's divisions Or
- movements were entirely unexpected. and on
b, presence Was generally the first lnt1natio
]: the people had Of our advance. A seccssio
l. mali was captured herc, and 1 have been a
lowed to look over 8 portion Of the letter
7' Among them we're many from soldiers VT
]. were in the battle nt Pittsbarg Landing, ar
It. !, much valuable Information has been ga1net
II q defeat. One poor homeslck slower
. after recopntlng his many heroic e
= =. ploits, among which Was the killing
~ s'1 Northerncls, relates the particulars Of
:. miraculous escape from the "Feds,," VIII
b. III bat SIX Of bis regiment were cut aow
: i Another, written BY citizen Of Batesvif
ID. and dated the "a inst, says that he has hea
that the Dutch" were at Pocahontss,
thought they would not have the tcmesity
=: come to Batesvillc. Alas for the transitu
" d1earns Of safety were sadly disturbed By t
booming OF our cannon carly the next mol
"a Thes5th Illinois ID encampcd near By. tt
Ad- highly eisied wit66 tie idea Of being faeed
ri The eouth. This IL admitted By all to be nb.
the best regiment In the field. Onward
our nDtto, and you may next expect to b
I'm from ps 1t so11e more distant point
'N~@ E Probably the most desperate, brfI1is
~. and thoroughly successful fighting of this
ss, son wss that whereby the national feet on
1d:. Aiseissippi assatled and passed the forss.