The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1862-07-20

animals sunk grth deep ~ every STEP With mncn
difficulty the wagons drawn through, and more
emerged upon dry ground short distance farths'
tho road came 70 Bayou de Cache, . small slough
running inland from the river, with banks SINH
lar TO those Of the Through this fringe OF
mud deposits the extended lines dragged their slow
lengths along the occasionally mring, and being
extrcaed with the utmost difficulty Beyond this Slough
Dsspond rsbes had made another barresde OF O
distractions which again proved hndrance to our pro
gress. Emerging from this diniculty the advance
ssng OF four companies OF the Thirty third Illinois, with
four companies from the Eleventh wisconsinall under
command Of Colonel Iiovsy, OF the former regiment
moved cautiously forward. The cavalry had been drawn
In with the exception Of some twelve or fifteen mouted
men, who were kept in front As iookouts. was not
deemed proper TO have large cavalry force exposed in
front during the march, whore would be liable to am
buscade but to hold in where would be
dy at any moment when needed.
SCENE FIGHT or 7rH
About two P. NJ, when Ave miles from the
ing Of Bayou de Cache the advance approached the plan
tation OF Colonel Hill, oncsr Of the Confederate
army, who was away from home at tho time
Of our visit At ,ns plantation a road from
Des Arc intersscts the over which army were
travelling at nearly right angles the point OF junction
being about ten miles from Dss Arc and four miles from
Cotton Plant, sma hamlet In the northern part Of s.
Francis county The land around this road crossing
mostly open timber and cleared patches though few
clumps Of small trees occasionally The road
from Des nearly due east and west South Of IL
and west OF the main road the timber quite dense.
Hs At the southwest angle Of the intersection
and his outbudings scattered msceanecusy around
North Of the Dss Arc road cotton gin and press and
near two aboriginal mounds, twenty thirty
in height Mr. Hill blessed with his third wife, and
on the sumits Of each Of these mounds he has located
the graves OF his and second wves and surrounded
them with fence OF white pangs On this side OF the
road the ground cleared and there few rrsguari
Ties TO afford cover to troops.
ACTION.
The mounted men in advance discovered signs OF
an enemy lurking the timber and brush the ssuther
" side Of the Dss road and both and west OF
Hills house. word communicated TO the infantry
and depoysd for skrmishins the Thirty third
Illinois taking the right wing and the Eleventh. Wisconsin
the left The eight companies OF infantry less than
six hundred strong aud found that they we're op
posed nftesn hundred drawn up in line Of battle
The disparity in numbers not in efficiency for the
rebel forces consisted OF parts Of two cavalry regi
msuts from Texas and portion Of regiment OF Arkan.
sas conscrpts green the most verdant troops tho
Confederate service. Tho rebels opened fire
advanced and though the conscrips ned sary In the
ght the Texan cavalry which had been dsmountsd for
the occasion, stood its ground finely. As right ap
preached the enemys left II received by sudden
rs from the bushes, which two OF the Illinois
companies to reooi The enemy perceived the sdvan.
tage gained and pressed forward 10 improve II,
but was received with q well directed volley Of
muskstry, followed by discharge OF grape
from the two steel howtzers accompanying tho First
Indiana cavalry, whose arrival most opportuns
Rapid discharges from these howitzcrs broke ths
rebel line and tho cavalry completed the disorder ard
put an the enemy to fight Some OF them aed along the
road in tho direction were travelling, while others
took the right route towards Des Arc In addition
TO the Gteen hundred rsbels thus dispersed wore vo
thousand who three four miles distant at The
crossing Of the Cache river and who had been unable to
get TO the east bark Of the stream the thsro
Too deep TO ford and ,he ferry accommodations are ne
cessary slow These returned 20 Dss Arc the same
evening, and at last accounts were s there bsyHs
gwen w the protest Of in.Ncsptpg our march.