New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-12-26

18th Kansas, and the 1st and Sd Cherokee Regi-
ments, the let Kanses and the "a Indiana batteries
and four mounted howitzers, leaving the First
Brigade Gen. Solomon, to protect my rear ana ianK
and NY supply train, meeting tue command OF Gen.
Heron about midnight, which causeu coDsidsraD!e
delay. -.
! did not reach Bentonvillo until daylight Of the
2lst. At this latter place halted until Clock p
nl at which hour my train, LETT behind Mt Pea
Ridge came up. Having learned from my scouts,
sent out during the day, that Cooper aud Sandwaite
were at or Msysville, with a force variopsiy
os'imated at from 5000 to 900, determined, II
possible, to reach tier camp ard attack lpe!l by
dnybreak. The distance TO march waa thirty mica,
and the road through q rough and wooded and billy
country. Three miles from Bentonyille directed
my train to 20 toto camp and follow in the morning
ct day light, end moved tire column forward, Gen.
Cloud brigedS being j. ,ne advance.
At about O'clock In the morning the advance was
halted by Col. Cloud with the view Of letting tie
column close up The men were %ea1y , eno Xxx s1,
dropped down in the brush by the wayside and
were soon fast asleep, being in the rear OF Col.
Clouds Brigade. After waiting hall an hour ~
halt took portion Of my body guard, went ahead
! TO learn the caugo OF tie delay, aud ordered tie
command to be moved Cd, going myself with the
advance guard After proceeding on five miles fur
Their 20 open prairie lay before Of some five miles
/ in extent over which we had to pass to reach the
Rebel camp.
/ AZ this poin. went ahea. Of the advance guard,
ACCOMPANIED by Capt. Russell, of tie "a karsas
Regiment AID two men, for the purpose OF getting
/ information. In this we succeeded admirably
STOPPING at large. fine house, at the edge OF the
prairie and disguised rs Rebel sodiers just escaped
rom the Unionis,s and wishing TO get with Coopers
command, readily enlisted the symlathies OF the
| LADY whose husband was soldier N she Rebel
camp. She informed me where their pickeis stood,
OF TIE location of their camp and Of their strength,
which was near 1000 men, two Texan regiments
haylog Joined them the day before.
now moved the advance across the prairie, and
halted quarter Of q mile from their outpost, which
was at tho edge Of the timber. Oh q h1lle wooded
stream, near the town Of Maysyilic. from this
/ poiut I sent COMPANIES b aud /, Of the ID Kansas
nnder command Of Capt. HOPKINS by cireuitous
route, to enter the town in the Of the enenys
pckets, for the purpose, II possible, OF capturing
thom without alarming their camp
Il This however, prov ed fruitess from the fact. a.
afterwari learned that they heard advancing
the prairie, ard ran IN, alarming the town q. they
went from which all OF the male inhabitants speed
lily deeamped, to seek Rebel projection,
Ii was now near O'Clock, and my desire was TO
attack ~ daylight; bat, While waiting TO give
Cspa rkins time 10 ge, in the rear Of their
pictet. on going back TO ascertain If the column
was olosei up, learned, much 70 my surprise and
disappointment, that daring the last two or three
hours march, The only troops with me had been
three compsries Of the Kansas %, two of which
had already been seut ahead, under Capt. Hopkins.
HE main column was back seven mi es, where 1t
was first hal.ed. After sending messenger back
TO order i, up, | proceeded with tho one company
remaining with me 70 the town, aud reached there
at the same time with Capt. Hopkins.
! There learned that intelligence Of an approach
had gone ahead OF W., and fearing that the enemy
would retire. At, sent Col. Cloud, who had come up
with me In the advance, back TO move bis brigade
forward "a rapidly US possible while, with the three
companies del ermined to push ahead, attack the
enemy aud eudeavor 10 hold them until enforce
mente could arrive. Finding Gn Intelligent contra.
band, whose master was in the Rebel camp, with
the locality OF which lie WAS well acquainted, had
no difficulty by promising him his freedom, IN en-
gazing his service as a guide.
The route from Maysville TO the timber where the
Rebels were poSted bay The prairie in south
westerly direction about three Gnd half miles dis
tant. Deshng on rapidly, we drove tho PICK Is
from the open ground under cover Of the timber.
Tie remainder OF tie "a Kansas, with ce two noun
tain howilzsrs attached, now came gallopng up, and
the whole regimen. was quickly formed III line and
! under command Of Lieut.-COi. Baselt was ordered
TO skirmisf the woods foot 70 ascertain the Iosl-
ton Of the enemy. At this point, five Of my body
guard captured ten armed Rebels, who hal been out
Of camp aud were endeavoring to get TO thei, com
mand Lieut.. Col. Bassett, not beineable TO ascer-
tain tie whereabouts 0. ne Rebel forces, was or
dered TO withdraw his men from tie woods aud
mount them.