Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-07-21
A WITH AN FOE.

AsKIRMIsH WITH AN UNEXPECTED FOE.
On Sunday last, the 9th inst, Gen. Fitch in
person landed 400 of the 10th Indiana regi-
ment, at ST.. Charles, with a determination to
pitch out into the country and learn for GER
tain whether Gen. Curtis's force was actually in
his vicinity. He marched his men eight miles
into the interior, followed mt a safe distance by
Lieut.. Col. Farrow, with about 400 Of the 43d
Indiana as a rear guard, 10 protect him from at
tack in that direction.
Gen. Fitch and his gallant lndianians were
marching quietly along, almost r ady to believe
that even the guerrillas had deserted that partic-
ular portion of Arkansas, when they suddenly
came upon the pickets OF the enemy in such
iorce as TO lead to the supposition that the rebels
were upon their front in gOodly numbers. The
Indiahians, with the General at their head,
charged upon and quickly drove in their pickets.
They merely fred their muskets and broke for
tall timber on the double quick" The Indiani-
ans followed close upon them, and actually sur
prised a division of Gen. Hindman's army, COM
posed of six regiments-peThaps not numbering
more than 5000, h~owever-which they had no
idea they had time to gain their position since the
time last heard from in a different direction. The
rebels, although surprised. were soon prepared
for battle, and opened a Eeavy fire upon the ad-
vancing Indianians. This was returned with
effect.
Then commenced a general engagement which
lasted for some hours, the rebels getting the nd
vantage slightly, and taking advantage of a mo-
mentary lull in the musketry, turning in a body
and charging upon the flank of Gen. Fitch's force.
the intention being to cut him off from a retreat
and capture him. The movement was bravely
met with the bayonet, and for a time the Spartan
band were apparently about to give way. But
they rallied, made their own peculiar and desper-
ate charge and repulsed the enemy.
The COnfederates had returned to the charge a
second time, and this time with a certainty of
hanking their exhausted foe, when just at the
proper ~juncture the tramp of the rear guard under
Lieut.. Col. Farrow was heard. This inspired the
10th with renewed courage. They re entered the
fight with removed energies and gave battle
against fearful odds with a most daring and de-
termined spirit. Then came Colonel Farrow with
his detachment of the 43d, and pitched in regard
less of consequences to the succOr and support of
the wearied and nearly conquered 10th. By a
successful movement, the enemy. instead of flank
ing the 10th as was intended, was itself lanked,
the ranks broken up. men scattered in dlsmay,
and finally, after the fight had lasted three hours,
fairly driven from the field of battle. The 500
Indianians soon occupied the rebel position but
were not out in numbers sufficient to make a pur-
suit prudent.
Thus, for the second time within the past two
weeks. have the troops of Hindman been routed
by the Union soldiers from the Hoosier State.
The rebel loss, so far rs ascertained, in the
skirmish OF Sunday, was twenty-fDur killed.
thirty wounded and about forty taken prisoners.
Gen. Fitch lost four men killed and three OF
four slightly wounded.
Had not Lieut.. Col. Farrow came in with the
reserve at the very moment he did, there is no
knowing what might have been the result to Gen.
Fitch. Upon one thing he had resolved, however
and his men would have stood by him to the
last-he would not have been taken prisoner. He
would fight until the last and perish with his en-
tire command before they would give up their po-
sitiOn. Happily Lieut.. Col. Farrow relieved them,
and together the two forces put the enemy to
fight.
Not knowing the force the enemy might have
in the vicinity, and being fully convinced that he
could penetrate into the interior no further liz that
direction. Gen. Fitch ordered back his men, and
after a short march of eight miles-sixteen in all
and three hours hard fighting. they were safe
ly on board the transports before sunset. Con
sidering they had no water during the whole time
excepting the little they could carry in their can
teens from the river, this was a pretty hard and
very fair Sundays job.
GEN. FITCH RETALIATING.
1t will be recollected that in a recent letter, /
stated that Gen. Fitch had captured seven of the
prominent residents in the vicinity of St. Charles
and held them as hostages for the good beha
vi0ur of guerrilla bands known to be on the river
banks. For a time, after these men had been pa
raded on the decks of the Transports, dressed in
Federal uniforms, and exposed to all the dangers
of the common soldiers who kept them company,
the rebels did not fire upon the steamers as they
piled the stream above and below st. Charles.
But subsequently. from haedlessness. or because
they had not been made acquainted with the
Generals promise, some guerrillas fred upon the
steamer Lexington last week almost instantly kill
ing her first engineer, who CHANGED to be sitting
at an open port at the time. As good as his
word, the General Immediately selected two of
the most rabid rebels Of the seven hostages,
and hung them by the neck until dead, in sightof
the Arkansas shore, and undoubtedly in view Of
their own neighbors and friends.
CHANGES OF COMMANDERS.
Gen. US Grant received orders last evening
to repair with his staff officers Immediately to
Corinth and report to Gen. Halleck. Gen Ho-
vey has command Of the Western District of
Tennessee in his absence, and Gen. Thayer of
the I'd division.