, 1862-05-29

Interesting Letter From Arkansas
and the Parts Thereunto Adjacent.
correspondence Ct the Chicago Tribnne-]
GENERAL 5rEE11's DIVISION, |
I.crxnazHnET ARE NAV 10 1879

1hlceft enQ mcu. As IL lB reaa L01OuGn0ut the
Western army, and our friends at home look
to Its columns for accounts Of the movement |
and condition Of troops. . little sketch Of the |
country and and mode Of life Of the people |
where this division has been located, may in /
terest your renders.
Leaving the railroad, and what Eestiges there |
remain Of civilization, at Pilot Knob, our |
road that the rebel General Hardee took, |
when moving towards Fredericktown. At
lrontoD, q mile below Pilot Knob, Is located |
the Government hospitals, and little farther !
On Is Arcadia, the summer resort for people Of |
that section. In its day and generation, this |
probably was Hot an unattzaetive place. But
decay il now written on everything. Here
the Government has built Fort which CON-
commands the country for miles around.
This was first garrisoned by a detachment
from the 9th, who we're relieved By the 18th
Illinois cavalry
The mountains in and around Ionton, are
filed With iron ore, and untold wealth lies
concealed within their rough exterior. An
utter absence OF thrift is seen everywhere.
Loyal and enterprising men from the East and
West, were they to settle here, would soon
make this town ring with the clInk Of the
anvil and the hum Of factories. An air Of
cheerfuIness and life and activity would sue
coed to the deathlike stiffness that NOW broods
over this valley.
The country throughout, is wen watered:
fine streams and sparkling springs abound
pines, whose nots at night furnish fuel for our
Wearied troops after their long day's march.
No place affords better opportunity to
study human nature than does the camp. No
matter how hungry OF tired our soldiers arc,
there is little Of no grumbliqg have seen
bat an example of the spirit that perEades our
army-endure wearying marches through mud
and water ..and sWamps Of cyprus, without
food and without grumb bic. Never neglect
in their horses their first care after the days
march always was to provide for their dumb
friends. After that they cooked their scanty
rations. For geod part of the time
they have been Oh short allowance -
and ate them, or If entirely out Of provisions,
as was sometimes the case, with empty stom-
achs they laid down On the cold ground, with
naught but heavens blue vault above them,
the other. do not speak Of these things IS
h4rdships they: have suffered, but simply lit
1nconveniences at which less patriotic men
might xrumb1e. ----'
About halfway between the Knob and
Reeves etation, On Black River, Is Patterson
vile This town maB once haye had;200 in
habitants. The people are for the most part
intelligent and ID comfortable circumstance
Quite little piece Of otromance issssociated With
this place. At one time last summer while
| the rebel troops we're In camp near there,
Miss Patterson, daughter Of the gentleman
| from whom the town takes its name, and q
| Miss English, with pistols in their belts walk
ed to where 3 secesh tagg vas flying, cut 1t
| down, tore it in shreds and stamped upon it.
Thia, Of course, enhances their charms in the
| eyes. of Union soldiers.
| Four companies from the 9th Illinois cavalry
| we're stationed here for some time, and did
good service In securing. the country In all
directions They brought in at various
On one occasion 5000 pounds Of bacon.
= On another occasion scouting party was
| fred into at midnight By band Of coWardlY
rebels, while quietly lying in their camp.
| These same persons the day before had pre-.
tended to be much interested in the resto1a
| tion OF the Union-au anxious for the time
to come when they might once more liyc IN.
Ger the old constitution. The butternui
| gentry, or people Of this State Of misery, a:
The boys call Missouri, Ere loyal to your face
and dtceiEine traitors whsn your back is turned
| How often does their conduct and our axperi
ence Of their treacherJ, lead us to say, Isnaet
Daaars ct dona tsrtztes.
The same abundande Of water, fine forests
deserted houses, and filth and ignorauc'
among the people, that has go far character
Reevcs' Station, On Black River. This point i
come sizty-fye miles south Of Pilot Knob.
Hero the division was first organizes
and the regiments brigaded by General Steele
Our leader, Brig. Gen. Frederick Steele, j
man Of perhaps five and thirty yea5s; Wit
quiet, self composed, and determined man
ntr. Courteous and agreeable to all, he com
n:ands from all, confidence and prompt obe
dieuce. Every soldier in the division respect
and admlres his General.
Had the means Of transportation been a
land On hiz arrival at Reeves Station, our I'd
I vance would have been made at once, and F
. then would doubtless have had "a brush Q
crossing the Arkansas line, instead Of quietl
eDteting the State a. we did q few week
Z later
, | represented here. Their representatives 81
worthy the fighting States from which the
come.
4 OfregImenta1 commanders of this divisIo,
r the most experienced, and IN appearance th
:: most commanding, officer is Colonel Abe
8 The gentleman soldier seems written in ii
t n,is.akahle lines upon Ills face. Wheney
II Col Brackett has had to treat with the peopl
- he has taught them that for traitors II
Government has no mercy ho has yet VI
their admiration by the Justice aud self forge
full manner that characterizes all his actions.
There Is Of course great rivalry among tt
# regiments for superiority- In the 1afantry
u lies between the 1lth Wisconsin, Col Harrl
J. and the 3sd Illinois, Col. Hovey. The art
If 1lor character I have not yet learned
:. which Of al the batteries the palm Is CO
l. cedtd.
l. In Tho cavalry arm, Col. BEscketts regime
r. undoubtedly leads: 1t il the largest mount
!, regiment here, and for discipline, equipment
10 horscs, or fighting men, will compare favt
f. ably with any regiment in the sctGicu, and
{, claim TO superiority Is not disputed. I Won
L. like to notice all the regiments here. Ea
= haye their good qualities, and this divisi
material ms any in tho West. But time, sp.s
and general orders forbid our giving anJ
Z. tails Of our strength. Tor this reason I HI
noriced those regiments which are conced
10 be the most proniaeut In the division.
s. From Reeves Station to The Little BIZ
9. River is twenty miles from there to Pitulai
&c Ferry OF Currapt River, twenty more This
:. by tar the worst ROAD VIC have found 1t j:
o1 The mud is over the horses knee, aud
+; Ihfantry are well pish lost in the mire- T
all struggle maufully With the elenlcnts !
g opposing circumstances, and once more p
60 severance and discrimination triumph over
20 obstacles.
to The people, if possible, are mora mise.a1
ae than any ne hare seen. The supply OF P
Sc visions is every day getting lower and 10 !
|
10 to to brought SO far that uuless wosre 6pAri
r. We =|eo will Bsson be out.
e, Women alone seem to live here; the n
, arc all gone Some to the war yoluutari
9th. rs Impressed iato the rebel service: o
o. Is still during the day take to the woods,
ot turning at night to their bones; this
n u natives call lying out. Those who do not tt
eo to tue woods, lie- at home Whenever occas
III Offers. this may be called lying in
u At Pitman's Ferry Ee halted for some d
aa beiorI crossing the river into Arkansas,
e lrrr also Nil halt in my letter. In my n
IL l will cross Currant River and try to reach t
point before close
er A write thfa, two companies OF tho Nj
L. | which have been out scouting, have
~ come 1n... They bring one man wound
or and one dead body. Both Were 8
ea while on duty By scoundreis coucea
~, in tho woods. The one deceased bad
- 8 balls in him, and his horse sixteen. The "
IN wish can have for the perpetrators Of !
foul murder Is that they may meet their
on reward for their crimes. Yours for the VIA
~ VoILl
The Case OF Capt. II. B. Hatcfas
Jas The St. Louis RepuNtedH .eayA Captain f.
rn- Batch Of n}iaois, whose 1Ate arrest It G
Ia caused eome newspaper comment, and who
LIZ Still fafcr been acting cpUmfrfafy Of sub