The New York herald., 1862-03-30
vRE BATTLE OF BLACK JACK FOREST.

vRE Battle OF BLACK JACK FOREST.
The Enemy Chased by Our Cavalry-A
Rebel Ohicer Killsd-A Cavalry Fight
by DI00nlight-Rebels Routed, Sc.
OUR ARMY CORRESPONDENTS.
PIrrsBuRc LANDING, Tenn, March 81 1862.
This place. contemplate, isolated little landing on
the Tennessee river about eight miles above Savannah
the county seat OF Hardin countys destined to become
famous.
l came up with the advance feet. When we arrived
there enemy within ten miles Of this place wo
have no battles record as YETI but few tits have
occurred between and the enemy's cavalry.
On Sunday last Major Bowman with about seventy OF
his battalion, reconnoitered westward the road to
Purdy and when about six miles out overhaulsd and
chased force of the enenys cavalry, about hun
dred strong killing an officer by the of W. R. Ro
per- and wounding several others. Roper beloved
have native Of South Carolina and was in tho re-
bel service at Pensacola shown by papers found upon
his person. He was shot through the head, and died
instantly. In this little encounter the rebels fed with
out firing shot consequently nobody was hurt on Our
sde
The following night expedition started for the
purpose Of destroying portion Of the Charleston and
Memphis Railroad in the vicinity Of Juca distant from
this point some twenty three miles, and thus cut of
munication between Memphis and the East Our force
consisted Of three hundred and atty cavalry and part
Of Major Bowman's battalion eighty six men, the whole
under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Heath. The
expedition started at O'Clock in the evening"
and intended making the whole journey before daylight
the next morning. II appeared that the enemy at
tho same timo organizing night attack against
'encampmsnt and the transports, which then dis
embarkng troops this place. and the sequel shows
but or the unexpected meeting Of forces which
sued there is telling the injury might have sis
NnAf0 o;rn
slate at the time, and were scattered about manner
quito inviting TO the enemy and had tho enemy with his
largo force of cavalry rushed in upon the night the
consequence might have been disastrous stampede Of
our troops.
consisted of 500 cavalry They rsndezvoused at
Pea Ridge, and advanced on over the Cornth
road, the same road taken by our expedition,
and when out about six miles from here the heads of tho
columns met IL is evident however, that the enemy
Fad the first notice Of the approach OF the crisis for they
had halted, prepared to receive US, and delivered
the Arst re The collision occurred Black Jack For
est, five miles this side of the Mississippi line The first
intmaton our forces had that the enemy we're upon us
was from fierce fre into our advance guard, which
wounded tho guide and several horses The advance
diaiely. Major Bowman instantly threw his command
into limo Of battle and advanced rapidly the enemy fall
ing back firing no WON'T while forces returned the
fire with tho greatest promptitude They fell back
farther and farther into the Forest and finally seemed
make stand and when they discharged their double
barreed shot guns, loaded with buckshot and balls
they revealed, by the glare Of their hre long line
in 'front.' and exceeding sixty yards from
IL. every occasion
carbines OF our cavalry-that is Bowman portion it
which threw their lines confusion anu they retreat
ed apparently in great disorder, making the wood fairly
ring from tho catter Of their sabres and trappngs
they plunged through tho thickets, followed by con-
tnuous Ore from the carbines OF our Major Bow
man maintained bis ground, thinking the enemy might
return but he gave no signs Of as tho cater OF sabres
aud patterng OF their horses grew fainter and fainter un
Tho damage our was one guide and four soldiers
woundcd-nono seriodsly-two horses killed and several
wounded. OF course We could not tell what loss the
had cnsiA Init
We took two prisoners, who stated that thoy quito
number Of their side fall but whether they were killed
or only dismounted they did not know. 1
was finally agreed upon by force TO return with
Che wounded were then without guide, aud, our
plan OF advancing upon the railroad being discovered IL
might result In loss, II to advance
The following day small body Of cavalry and force
had sep %
Upon examining the battle ground the afternoon il was
discovered that the rebels had st the ed extraor
dinary haste, leaving their hats guns, pistols. sabres
saddles and horses scattered in every direction for ak
miles beyond that tho brave cavaliers had
dashed their steeds down steep precpiccs against the
roots OF upturned trees, and into swamps whore they
remained until extricated by order Of the General In
snSrs Appeared 1y the evidence % palpsos BY daylight
the vicinity Of Pea Ridge that tho the most ex
traordnary heard Of The brave chivarous daring
rebel cavalry who asked anything better than to
be pitted against the cowardy Northerners In the pro-
portion Of to five (beng. fact, than FIVE TO
oue) were driven back and frightened cut OF their Wits
and actually destroyed hemselvss like the herd Of swine
who ran down into the sea- boing possessed OF the
uevtl.'
There Is something in tho battle Of Black Jack Forest
calculated 10 attract the attention Of tho reader In the
urst place. tho meeting Of tho two forces wholly
cidental; in the second place il highland who
heard OF night action bctwen two bodies OF ca
vaifyS-in the third place the enemy on his own
ground having selected his own position 10 begin the
light Again, the action spirited one. carried on
FOR half on hour IN tho woods by the light moon
and finally the enemy five hundred strong confessed
by themselves, whipped and put TO rsut by less
than ono hundred OF our troopers-thc balance
orce3bcng out OF sight and taking part in the action
hnr In xfnAn "a hnr nC HnNE TorK Ear
New Yorker. lawyer by profession. and recently prac
tsed In New York city.