The daily Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1862-1863, 1862-07-22

Two SACKS OF SAT-, four horses, one DaTTel Oh
tar and nine guns were taken. The ferry
boats and a skif were destroyed, The cap
tured property was brought to this side, but
could not be transported to camp for want
of wagons.
THE BATTLE NEAR BAYOU CACHE, ARK.-1l0
REBELS KILLED go HORSES TAKEN, AND
SIX TEXAN REGIMENTS DRIVEN ACROSS THE
CACHE RIvER.
The battle of the 7th inst, near Bayou
Cache won against tremendous odds
resulted in the death of over 10 rebels and
the utter Decentralization of six Texan regi-
ments, who have not ventured to molest ns
since. Tue army under Gen. Curtis was
encamped at the junction of the Bayou
Cache and Cache river, where our progress
was delayed by a blockade of fallen timber.
A road had been cut through this blockade
on the evening of the 9th, and early next
morning Colonel Hovey of the 33d Illinois
regiment, was ordered by General Steele TO
open the road on the opposite side of the
Cache, make reconnaissance in front down
to the Clarendon road, along which the
army were TO march, and also to scour the
woods thoroughly. Col. Hovey detailed
for the enterprise the following force: Col.
Harris of the l1th Wisconsin, with parts of
four companies of his regiment. viz: Co. D,
Capt. Jesse Miller; Co. F, Lieut.. CHESHIRE !;
Co. II, Capt. Christie; Capt @, Capt. Pat
ridge; and also parts of four companies of
the 33d Illinois, viz Co. e, Capt. Elliott
Co. K, Capt. Nixon Co. F, Capt. LsWton,
and Co. A, Capt Potter, who took charge,
and one small riaed steel gun, belonging to
the 1st Indiana Cavalry. The whole force
numbered not over $50 men. Col. Hovey
1fn R,1 .brV4 ssk n IF
the llth Wisconsin, ahead. Skirmishers
were thrown out, and ia this way they pro-
ceeded to the Hill plantation, at the forks
of the road, four miles distant from camp.
On the way some pickets were driven in.-
The main road here leads to Cotton Plant
and Clarendon. The road to the left is
neighborhood road, while that turning to
the right leads across the Cache, four miles
distant, and thence to the Des Arc on the
White river. Detachments were sent for
ward on each of these roads to reconnoifer.
Col. Harris, with three companies of the
Eleventh Wisconsin, and Capt. Potter, with
the small rifle pieces, proceeded rapidly
down the Des Ars road, having no cavalry.
They passed cornfield on the left entered
an open wood, and reaching turn in the
road, at the same time rising up in eleva-
tien, they fell in with two Texan regiments
of cavalry, with regiment of conscript in
fantry drawn upon their right, ready to re-
ceive them. The rebels fired a murderous
volley as soon as our men got into the
snare killing five of our men and woundiag
Col. Harris and Capt. Potter. Our men re-
turned the fire and fell back, the enemy
being too preponderating in numbers to
Withstand with our little force. Captain
Potter, though wounded, gave them few
rounds from his piece, and fell back, firing
into the enemy's ranks. The rebels then
made charge, and the retreat of our men
became temporarily panic. Col. Hovey,
hearing the firing; and judging the turn af-
fairs were taking by the clouds of dust
which rose and filled the air above the
trees took the remaining companies of the
Thirty-third Illinois and hasteued To the
scene of action. some of the men first fred
upon did not stop till they reached Hills
house, rushing past Captain Potter, who
would unlimber his gun, fire a round, and
then retire, thus checking the advance of
the rebels until Col. Hogey came up. The
latter had hardly time to place his men in
ambush behind the fence, at the angle of
the corn6eld, when the rebels, coming furi-
ously forward with loud yells, received q
well aimeGsfire from Col. Hovey and his men.
Twenty-Five rebels were killed on the
first pop. They were checked. The COL
umn reeled and staggered by this murder
ous fire, broke, and the men fed in confu-
sion. At the same time a heavy column of
the enemy was seen moving through the
woods between Col. Hovey's position and
our camp. Their intention was to get to
the road on our rear, cut us off from our
camp, and thus sorround our brave men,
But when thep reached the road, and seeing
the WISCONSIN troops, which had fallen
back, and supposiDg them to be reinforce
ment come to our aid, they abandoned their
design and returned. Thus what appeared
to be disastrous at one time turned TO our
advantage.
Col. Hovey rallied the above companies,
and advancing one-fourlh of mile to cot
ton gin, held the position over an hour.
Al this time (about half past ten, Lieut..
Col. Wood came up with the second battal-
ion of the lst Indiana cavalry, bringing
with him two steel riaed guns. This de-
tachment had been ordered by Gen. Curtis
to proceed to the bayou De Vue-ffteen
miles from camp-with orders to save the
bridge at that point from being destroyed
by the enemy. The arrival of this re.in-
forcement proved extremely opportune.-
Col. Hovey was posted about $50 yards
from Col. Hills houze on the Des Arc
road, and the army were not in view
Coming up at full speed, having heard the
firing, the lst Indiana were welcomed with
enthusiastic cheers from the brave little
command of Col. Hovey. The latter ex-
claimed, There comes Col. 3ood we
are all right now, boys" and advancing to
Col Wood, he sAid You'll find them
1.-THE enemy down there, Colonel, thick
enough pitch into 'emp The cavalry,
with shouts and yells, then plunged forward
at a furious rate toward the rebels. The
horses leaped a ditch four feet 10 width
which crossed their path, the bridge being
torn up. One of the horses had leg bro
ken, and some of the men were pitched to
ground while making the perilous leap. :
Fortunately, none were hurt. a few rails
were piled into the ditch, and the steel rified
guns we're passed over. A solitary rebel
was now seen advancing to within hun
dred yards of our front He wheeled about
and fed. The pieces, under charge of Lieu
tenant Baker, were unlimbered and the
cavalry brought into line OF battle. The
command was given " Pieces by hand to