Arkansas true Democrat., 1862-05-01
Clippings and Comments.


 them are, doubtless, regular Munchausens, and the others are exaggerated, but there is truth enough in few of them to make us wonder what our peo- pie are about. The Yankees have impotence and cunning, and relying upon these, they will under take ventures that holder men would shrink from.
 A correspondent of the Missouri Democrat, writ ing from Island 10, after it's capture, says:
 'In former letter, wrote of the oontenp plated attempt on the part of Lieut.. Allen, of company c, of the 27th Illinois, to spike the guns of the upper rebel fort at this place, chrstened we understand, Fort Polk. This bold task undertaken last Fri day night when the lieutenan. and four other men dropped down in skitf, and found largo body of rebels at work constructing platforms for supporting 1 their heavy artillery.
 l The lieutenant resolved noteso be totally disap- pointed, and landing, very cooly approached sent- mel, who pacing parapetat the lower extremity of the fort and representing himself as a brother l rebel remarked, "I will reiieye.you from duty now 1 sir" The rebel guard, wearedand thankful, moved off to his quarters when the lieutenant spiked tho 64 l pounder at the lower part of the fort, which served with such accuracy against us last Monday. The proximity of the labong rebels would not DOT nit him to prosecute any furthe, work which had already proven him daring officer,
 The vioksburg Citizen feruAliahes t ard adds the following comments:
 1 ''The above has been considered aa Yankee in- vsntion and reliance placed upon the atory, but 1t is evident that the most culpable negligence existed at the Island and 1t has been supposed that traitor among our own men did the spikirg, and has thus far eluded detection The fact, however, that gun 1 was spiked and the Yankee account corresponding so exactly with the time and circumstance, rendersit very likely that 1t the work of the enemy, and fear that disaster the-s was oasioned by the ] carlessness of our own men,.
 AS further illustration, read the following from the Atlanta Confectionery, of 18th April: l A D.p,No Frrrppprap )n raaterdov y,nrpir1 while the regular mall and passenger train on the State road was stopped at Camp MoDonald or Big Shanty, and the engineer conductor, and passengers at breakfast some four men, as yet unknown, after having cut loose All but the three foremost cars got upon the engine, pat steam, and shot away like an arrow, leaving tho baggage and passenger cars, passengers, conductor engineer and train hands, lost in amszement at this unparalleled sud daring out 1 rage.
 Some distance above they tore up the track and out down the telegraph wires and went on, stating to those who inquired who they were, CT what such an unusual train meant, that they had some ear loads of puwder and that the engines and train had 1 been pressed that morning by the government in great haee to carry the powder to cur forces near 1 Huntsville
 They arrived at Kingston, whers they met the ] down freight train and went upon the turnout showing that they understocd the schedule and min utest workings of the road. AS the trains passed them, the conductor thereon made the same inquiry of them concerning the unusual train, and received
 
 army. Az soon as tho down train passed and the switch could be changed they shot away with all their speed and mystery.
 We learn that a train has been put in pursuit of them having repaired the .rackand hopes to over take them before thoy reach any of the many bridges acress the Chicamangs and other streams No doubt they are Lincoln emmissar!es, sent down among us to destroy those bridges to retard our movements of troops and the thought is very serious one to l For cool impotence ald reckless daring, this beats 1 anything we ever heard read of. We are in an agony ofslspenseto hear the denoue.t of this strange and daring achievement
 r. S.-Since the foregoing In type. we have received additional particulars though nothing later.
 The conductor at Big Shsaty, MT. Fuller, ss soon as he found his engine gone in 80 mysterious and startling manner, brought into requiTuon hand car which luckily, st that place and followed with all speed. He soon came to where rail had been torn up and was carried off but tho hand car was soon lifted over. and again in hot rursus. On the WAY he learned that the engine had stopped to tlke in wood and water-represenlns that they hsd powder in the for the army.
 At Etowah MT Fuller obtained au engine iron, Mai. Cooper and pressed on with t.
 Arriving at Kingston, he got the Rome road engine with its engineer all in fne condion with perhapt forty armed men, and pressed on. He was just twenty five minutes behind the fugitive train when he left Kingston.
 At Adairsvilc the regular passenger trains, up and down. meet and the thieves would have to pass them there The down train, due here at p. m., has no, vet ?. m. arrived, and 1t Is feared there has been
 collision with the engines though the torn up track may Do the cause of the delay.
 Various surnsee looking to e solution of the mys- tory are induged here. Everybody at frs. conclud- ed that it most daring effort of some Lincoln
 es to burn the bridges o stop the transportation o troops the Stats road. IL Is reported that the whole of the troops at Camp Mcdonald were going off yesterday morning; large number of soldiers from came through Lers last night on their way | to the scene of action.
 Some said there really ammunition In the three box cars which they carried oil, and that the object WAS to take 1t to the enemy st Huntsville. We however learn officially that the attached 70 the l engine e'were empty.
 Another solution, which h.s gained credence and i- not at sll improbable, is, that they were simply thieves 8 large scale and took this method to es- cape We learn that very large amount of money wa. stolen in this vicinity night before last, and it is not improbable that theso were the thieves, and took this method to escape.
 LATER.-The Atlanta Intelligencer Of the 18th has the following. /
 Just before going to press we learn that four more of the rascals were captured beyond the Tennessee line by Col. Phillips and bis party, and have been brought to Marietta, and are now lodged in the jail 1 there
 Two more wcrs arrested at Camp Mcdonald and it is reported that two others slso have been caught
 The captured scoundrels have made "a clean breast oft" Twenty three in number composes the band The leader or captain as they term their chief. has not yet been caught. Their mission as we stated above was to spy out the land to burn and destroy, 1 especially the bridges on the State rosd'
 We read of Is federals marching into and taking possession of Nashville squads riding at will over the country, and not even solitary brave man to give them shot by way of & sal ute. People seem 1 paralyzed, and the Yankees look upon them as SO many sheep. Read the following from Southern paper, and see If the blood does not jingle to your fingers ends.
 BOLD YAEKgH-A man in federal uniform rode into Fayetteville, Tenn, Sunday last, conversed freely with the citizens, said he belonged to an Ohio regiment allowed citizen, who asked permission, to examine his gun, removed tho cap before handing it to him. dined at tavern with his gun on hls lap at the table had his horse fed sndleft Tho citizens thought him one of Morgans men, notwithstanding his representation. short time after, however they were undeceived. Coming four or live miles on the road to Huntsville, he overlook sn old white man with four negroes and three Ta2onb of bacon, he forced them drive their wagons close together put fodder under them, take out tho mu eS and retro few steps Then lighting match, he set fire to the wagons consumed them and their contenis. Riding to church Q few miles distant, where preaching was going on he asked the minister if any soldiers were there and saying if there were he wanted them Receiving negative answer he rode away, and crossed the road ten miles this side of Fayetteville, with two other federsls. That is the Inst we have heard of them. The owner of the bacon and wagons returned to Fayetteville with his negroes and mules snd reported his misfortune. Several men went in pursuit of the bold marauders, bue failed 10 md them Huntsrtlk Dem0crGt, eM
 The following special order was !ssced by Gen. Curtis on the 26th dated headquarters of the army