The Memphis union appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1862-1862, 1862-08-03
Latest from the sth Indiana.

Rev. A. w. Sanford writes TO the Indian
apolis Journal from Augusta, Ark, on the 5th
ult, and from Helena on the I4th ult, from
which letters we make the following summary
The army left Sulpher Rock and marched
to Jacksonport on Sunday, June 22d. On the
25th crossed Black river, and marched down
on the East side of White river on the 26th
and drove in the enemy's pickets. 9th, had
a severe skirmish with Hookers guerrillas sew
en- miles below Village Greek, loosing four
men killed and over thirty wounded, the reb-
els retreating, carried off their killed and
wounded The 2Sth was employed by the 8th
Indiana, SD Illinois, lst Indiana cavalry and
Klaus Battery in an unsuccessful effort to
find and cut up, or capture this band Of guer-
rillas. July lst, the army moved ten miles to-
ward Augusta, driving back the enemy's pick
cts, tsking twenty prisoners and encamped on
DR.. Picket's plantation, where they found
eighty contrsbands, big and little, deserted by
"mas'r," and having things pretty much their
own way. Laid over on the I'd, while an ad-
vance party removed timber felled by the reb-
els. Sd, marched through the scoTching sun,
and dust six inches deep, to Aunusta.
Here they celebrated the glorious Fourth.
Had prayer by the Chaplain, and Gen. Ben
ton, Col. Hovey, Col. Busby and Lieut.. Col.
Washburn made speeches, in beautiful grove,
where they also had some fine music by the
band of the 18th Indiana. At this time Mr..
| Sanford says:
"The health of the regiment remains ex-
| tremely good. Out Of seven hundred enlisted
men, only eighteen are unable to march
and there are no cases of dangerous or even
severe sickness among them. The weather is
very uniformly hot-about like our Indians
extreme midsummer-but the boys have be.
came so gradually accustomed to it that they
seem to mind it no more than an ordinary
summer at home"
On the 9Th they marched to Cache river, OF
the road toward Clarendon, and on the I'll
encountered 1000 rebels, killing from $50 t.
200-l03 of which they buried on th,
ground. This was an obstinate fight
but our men never gave back an inch
They followed the rebels on their retreat, anl
killed 40 to so more. Our loss is not stated
if anything. From Cache Crossing, the plac
of the above memorable fight, they marches
to Clarendon where they arrived on the 9th
Just in time to be too late, for they had moves
so slow that the boats from which they expects
supplies of provision and clothing had re
turned down the river. On the llth the,
moved toward Helena, which is one hundrea
miles below Memphis on the Mississippi
where they reached on the 18th. BY som
military blunder-and by the way, blundeI
are the rule, and good generalship the exceT
ton in this war-Gen. Benton's division Wa
sent one road and his wagons another, occs
sioning the men to perform march of fft
) miles without tents, blankets or provision, e1
cept four crackers apiece, which was furnishe
by Col. Carr's division, they taking the sam
road. Arriving at HeleRs, Mr.. Sanford thu
speaks of the health again:
. "The health of the regiment previous to Il
, last four days, has been remarkably good, b.
l fear our starvation march viii result In col
siderable sickness"