The Portland daily press., 1862-12-31
BY TELEGRAPH
Bold and Successful Dash of Federal Troops
into Van Buren,, Ark.-Precipitate
Flight of the Enemy

Bold and Successful Dash of Federal Troops
into Van Buren,, Ark.-Precipitate
| Fnght OF the Enemy.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark, Dec. 80.
One Of the most difficult and daring raids
OF the war has just been made by part of the
army of the frontier.
Saturday, Gen. Heron started with a por-
ton of his cavalry and infantry for the other
side of the Boston Mountains Gen Blunt
left Cave Hill at the same time by another
route. The columns, about 5000 strong, went
in light marching order with six days cooked
ratlons, and marched forty-two miles without
stopping. Gen. Heron took two batteries
without caissons. The artillery and baggage
were drawn across the mountains by twelve
horse teams.
AT daylight yesterday morning the COM
mands Joined at Lees Creek, three miles south
OF the mountains, where the cavalry and ar
tillery, numbering 1000, started for Van Bu-
ren, leaving the infantry to follow as fast as
possible.
Rebel regiments of cavalry were encounter
ed at Dripping Springs. After sharp skir-
mish they were put to flight, leaving seven
killed and many wounded on the field Our
loss was nine killed and but few wounded-
Our forces Immediately followed the flying
rebels TO Van Buren,, where a splendid charge
was made, led by Generals Blunt and Heron
i'll person, resulting in a complete victory over
the enemy. The rebel cavalry rushed aboard
some steamers and escaped to the other side of
the river
Two steamboats, and over one hundred pris-
oners, among them several officers and Gen.
Hindman's express messenger. were captured
third boat was run ashore, which with
those that took the rebels across the river, will
be destroyed.
large quantity of corn, camp equipage,
transportation, mules and horses were also
seized. The full extent of the capture is not
known.
When the messenger left the infantry and
artillery were about eight miles in the rear
fastening forward as fast as the nearly impas-
sable roads would allow.
The people of that section were taken en-
trely by surprise and were terribly frightened.
Gen. Hindman is on the other side of the
river with his whole force, unable and unwil-
ling to engage us,
The pathway to the Arkansas river has now
been opened, and if the gunboats will open
the lower end of it, the winters work of the
army OF the frontier is clearly marked out
HEADQUARTERS, st. Louis, Dec 20.
III. w. Halleck, General in Chief:-Generals
Blunt and Heron moved over the Boston
Mountains on Saturday, and advanced without
haltlnS to Van Buren. They drove the enemy
across the Arkansas river, killed and wounded
few. and took three steamboats,, some camp
equipage. and one hundred prisoners. The
march of forty-five miles with arms and SER
vice, over the mountains and through the deem
mud Of the valley, was most gallant and ar
duous affair. S. II. CURTIS, Mai. Gen.
The Army of the Potomac not to Remain
Idle-Rumored Ambuscade of part of Gen
SIgePs Forces by Stonewall Jackson.
NEW York, Dec. 30.
The Herald's dispatch says it is not likely
that the army Of the Potomac will long re-
main idle. Its immediate destination, how
ever, is only matter OF conjecture.
Rumors have been current to-day that an
attack had been made by Stonewal jackson
upon Gen. Sigel's corps in the vicinity of Stat
ford Court House, and that after being re-
pulsed he had drawn a portion of Sigel's force
into an ambuscade, and captured large num-
Der of prisoners. No official information of
such an engagement has been received here in
any official quarter.
The Times dispatch states that Stuart
crossed to the Alexandria Pike and drove the
pickets into Fairfax Court House. when Gen.
Stoughton opened fire upon him with two
companies of the 18th regiment, concealed in
a piece of woods. The rebels then retreated,
and were fastened in their movement by
another volley of musketry and few shells
thrown from battery planted there for this
special purpose. None of the Union soldiers
were killed. The loss of the rebels is not
positively known, but il is supposed that sew
eral were killed. Two horses were killed and
two rebels captured. The last heard of Stuart
was at IL o'clock Sunday night, when he
passed through Vienna, closely pursued by
Col. Wyndhams cavalry brigade.