The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1862-07-29

b. The Battle Bayou Ceebe, Arkausas---1lO IL,
els klIIed---6O Horses Taken, aud six Texan Il,
% iments Driven Aersss the Cache River.
/" The battle Of, the 7lbonear "Bayou each
J, won against Tremendous odds--r suited
! the death Of over ll0. rebels, and the att
decentralization of six Texan Regiments, wi
!, bave mol yeptured TO molcst us since. III
: army under General Curtis was eucamped
tho Junction of the, Bayou y Cache and Il
Cache River, whore our progress was delaye
= by blockade Of fallen timber. A road la
been cut through this blockade on the ev
ming Of the 9th, and early next morning Co
Hovey, of the 33i Illinois Regiment, was o
/, dered 10y General Sbee TO open the rosd O
the opposite side cf the Cache. making a rt
connoisance in front down to tue Clarendo
: road, along which the army were 10 marcl
and also to scour the woods thoroughly. Co
Hovey detailed for this enterprise the follow
, ing force: Col.Y Harris, yf the lth Wiscon
sin, with parts of four rompanic Of his regi
ment, viz: Company D, Capt. Jesse Miller
Go. +, Lieut.. Chessebro ,i'Co. III. Capt. Chris
tie; Co, G. Capt. Pariridge; (; and also part
Of four companies of the 33I Illinois, vz:-
Co. r, Capt. Elliott Co. X, Capt. Nixon;
Co.eF, Capt. Lawson, aud Co. A, Capt. Por
tor, who took charge, and ono small rneo
steel gun. belonging to the lst Indiana Cav
airy. The whole force numbered not ovel
$50 men. Encountered by rebel force o
two cavalry regiments and regiment of con.
script infantry. our little force was compelled
to fall back, fighting AS they retired, one
charge of the r6ed gan killing twenty five
rebels. ,e.s ,.v s,..
At this time, (about half past ten) / icut.
Colonel Wood came up with the second bat
TALON Of the lst Indiana Cavalry, bringing
with him two steel rtled guns. This Aetach
ment had been ordered by General Curtis TO
the bayou De Vue--fifeen miles from camp
with orders to save the bridge a; that point
from being destroyed by the enemy. The ar.
rival OF this reinforcement pro ed extremely
opporiunely. Colonel Hovey WAS posted
about so wards from Colonel H's house on
the Des Arc road, aud The army were not in
view. Coming mp at full speed, having heard
the firing. the lst Indiana were welcomed with
enthusiastic cheers from the brave little band
Of Colonel Hovey. Tho cavalry, with shouts
and yells. plunged forward at n furious rate.
toward tho rebels. The horses leaped a ditch
four feet in width, which crossed their path
the bridge being torn up. a
The pieces, undor charge of Lieut.. Baker,
were unlimbered, and The cavalry brought H.
b. line of battle. The command was given.
'Poces by hand to the front; forward, march,
The cannoniers seized their pieces by hani,
and advanced on The enemy, the latter being
nov discovered advancing, with extended |
wings in the form of a V the concave side "a /
,ing toward our men. Their intention, il Nd.
Deared evident, was TO surround us. The |
ehels were dlsmounted, no horses being seen. |
Dur pieces were loaded with canister. and
.etling within point blank range-some two
lund'cd yards-we opened upon them with
terrible fire. The enemy halted and replied
" heavy vollay from their cross fire on orr
unners. Several OF the latter were wounded.
mt not disabled. The st.efrfl,,l cans now
elche forth a continued round OF firing.
'hen the enemy, finding 1t too hot, fell back
nto the woods out Of sight. The command
,as given again. "Pieccs by hand to the front
,rward, march," Col. Hovev himself caught
old Of the trail of one Of the guns and ex-
Iaimed, "Let's push them forward, Boys"
On the guns were pushed, the cavalry un
er Major Clendenning follc wing in line Of
attlc, ready for the c1argc. Our men press
4 on with enthusss'ic ardor. Advancing in
lis way quarter OF mile, the enemy W, re
nscried formed in the same mo le ms before.
1e got up to within 100 yards, when they
Dol ed fire upon us. We returned the fire {
i,h canister from the little guns, with occa.
onll carbine and pistol shots from the can $ 5
,tiers. The fire proving too CALLING for the
'emy, he again retreated, leaving a number y
dead strewn on the ground.
The order was given by Co'onel Wood to .
sjr Clendennng to draw sabre and charge. =
nkng companies K and q, the Major shout. ,
J, "Come on, bows; i's our turn now" and
unged down the road into the brush, where D
ey were met by a tremendous volley,' pour
in on them by tho rebels. At the first i
e The Major was wounded severely, receiy.
g ball through the left lung; and Captain
oane. OF company E, who was braveIy charo. O
g in fr,n', was Instantly killed by shot in
g head. The Major, unmndful of his wound. tc
i'll led on his men, and the later poured in )
veraI volleys on the rebels from their car c
nes and pistols, unhorsIng one and killing a d
mb'r Of the enemy. The rebels were stag n
red, anl turning on their heels, fed in con c.
'','''' D,"' ioioWtu CIOSeIy I'D. et
zen tho recall sounded, and tho cavalry fell le
ok behind She pieces, Major Clerdenning, in P
turning, tainted and fell from his horse. and Ia
picked up 10y one OF the men, who carried e,
NJ off the field on his shoulders. II N,
The pieces were then Dimbered up and a.
shed forward in pursuit, the cavalry keep u
close in the rear. To this way we advnn IN
three fourths Of n mile when small par I'll
= Of the rebels wero discovered. still rst,ea,. 10
2 The guns were again uDliInbered, ard b
iozen shells were thrown after them, killing be
", who were found at long disanc, ahead re
the road. soon after, by the pursuing caval.
Col. Hovey now ordered the Infantry to se
e front. intending 10 dcrloy them as skir SC
sbers, with an extended front, and follow n q
foe. A consultation was held by the Off he
Is, and il, was dccir Cd TO hold the ground to
eady won. and wait further developments la
as our force was getting 100 Ear from sue be
!, in a country with which we were perfect th
ignorant. The woods were ihick--the I'M
ce OF tho enemy unknown. We bad driy. so
The enemy three miles. Alter ba,tiug OF
're two hears, and no enemy making their pa
Pearance, Lieut.. Col. Wood returned 10 up
Clarendon road and wont 10 IL - ms