The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1862-01-31
ARMY CORRESPONDENCE
Fort SMITH.


Smithland KY, Jan. 81, 1862.
Friend Journal IL anticipate few items
concerning the Union forces now eucamped
at this important point, would in some de-
gree interest your readers, and I propose to
PROFOUND few items In the first place I
must say the election passed off very quiet,
on last Monday. The secessionists looked,
what term, rather gloomy, or if allowed
the expression-down in the mouth. Al
though, rather than loose their votes-as
Dir. Trimble is good dealer in contraband
goods.-they united their votes for him.
His majority over Casey, in town, was
about fifty. The different precincts through
ont the county, polled but four votes.
Fort Smith at present is strongly fortified !;
the breastworks, constructed under the pro-
icient skill of Lieut.. Shelly DeBrul, stand
parallel to any in the West There are
mounted three siege guns: one 64-pounder
and two 32-pounders. The Entertainments
are entirely surrounded by strong pickets
/ covering space of ten or twelve acres.
| judge, since you heard from us, a great
change has taken place. Col Brands Ken
/ lucky regiment which was encamped here
| departed some two weeks ago for Louisville.
They were all in fine spirits, and anxious
for an engagement with the rebels.
On yesterday the steamer Chancellor
arrived, having on board the 7th Iowa, or
l may say part; for the chivaIry of Iowa's
sons was tested at the battle of Belmont
and the 18th Iowa, who stood for hours at
the point of the bayonet and kept at bay
the notorious Cheatham and his degraded
followers, until overpowered by REINFORCE
ments from Columbus-consequently over
five hundred were doomed to die l need
not dwell, or attempt to give a description
of the bravery shown by the Union forces
at that battle; history alone will record it.
Suffice it to say the Stars and Stripes still
wave triumphantly over the soil of Missouri,
and Sterling Price has creepe1 slowly and
| silently into Arkansas, where he can medi-
tate upon the sham proclamation he issued
some time ago: want and must have
fifty thousand men,"
| suppose that you are aware that Col.
Chetlan, who has had command of this post,
has been removed, with the balance of his
regiment, (l2th III. and two Companies of
| the Forty and FortyFirst, to Padueah.
| must say, and / think l speak for all the eI-
| tizens, that the department of the men while
| they remained with us, could not be criti-
cised by Chesterfield. They were liked by
all, and deserve great praise for industry
and attention to duty. The officers were
gentlemenl of great ability, and well discip-
lined in military tactics and the rules OF
etiquette In fact we feel as though we
had lost many friends. As the steamer left
the shore, many lovers took long linger-
ing look, and were notified by the waving
of a handkerchief that they were seen. I
shall not place the Colonel on the list OF
iovers-you cen Judge for yourself
The City of Memphis arrived last night,
with the Fifty-Second Illinois regiment,
commanded by Col. Wilcox It numbers
one thousand strong. They have gone into
camp at this point. 1t contains find brass
band, which discourses some beautiful Ma
tional airs, reminding one of the time when
we couldiproudly say,Sin the language of
Webster, The Union now and forever, one
and inseperable."
We are expecting several more regiments
this evening or tomorrow.
The health of the troops is very good. l
must say something in regard to the Ioca-
ton, for it stands unsurpassed by any in the
State for health and for erecting fortifca-
tions. About one hundred cavalry left here
some days ago. on a scouting expedition up
in Crittenden and Lyon counties. They
met no rebels, with the exception of two
who were enjoying the arms of Morpheus.
They were the horse thieves, Bob Melon
aid and Frizzle, who have been robbing 10y
| al men OF their horses and stock-and who
assisted SO conspicuously in arresting sever
al Union men in CarrsvilIe, some time ago.
They have been forwarded to Paducah,
where they will undergo trial
l have just learned the number of the
force now at Fort Smith, including cavalry
and artillerymen--it is about twenty-five
hundred
Everything is progressing finely and
think, before many weeks elapse, Clarks-
vile and Nashville will be ours. Geu eral
Smith has returned to Paducah. The Cum
berland river is very high and a prospect
of an overflow.
| Yours truly,
| AMO MEA PATRIA.
P. S. The gunboat Conestoga has just
passed on her way up the Cumberland river.
A MP