Washington telegraph. [volume] (Washington, Ark.) 1839-1871, 1862-10-08


win (23d) says:
S!Ece last wrote home we have again ex- |
perienced the severe trial of another battle |
On or about the 9th Of this month, we left this |
place to attack the enemy's force, ca npel at
luka, in this State, on the Memphis and !
Charleston r. X some 80 miles east vi Cor
nth. We entered the town about tie 18th,
our cavalry driving the enemy out Just before |
our arrival. They retired towards COriuth.-
We captured u large amount OF uuartermaster
and commissary stores, Also, cases Of
small arms. the whole consisting OF -four,
bacon, crackers, sugar, coffee clothing, &c,
a large amount Of dlinties sardines, oysters,
cheese, &c, &c, valued at some $3.50 900. -
Also 800 bales uf Yankee cotton
On the evening Of the 18th the enemy was
reported advacing on the South side Of town
considerable force. Our Brig ade which
was on the n. w. of town, some mile mile
and half, was ordered Immediately to the
point where the enemy was reported to be
advancing, to check him. We double-quicked
it over there, and succeeded in reaching cur
position just in time to prevent the enemy oc
cupying it. Immediately the fight opened,
and the command to our men was always ''for-
ward" and we steadily moved on, driving the
enemy before us, until they arrived at their
batteries, which we Immediately charged, tax
ing all their guns they had in position, (nlne)
and taking a good number of prisoners, but Il
was a hard contested field. The men stool
at their guns until We had advanced within
about 20 or 30 yards Of the muzZles. anu then
some would not leave, but were e. Ken prison.
ers. The dead lying round tho battery were
cross and piled and strewel thick enough y
have walked on them for some distance. Fine
guns, swords, bayonets, SC, were lying thick
over the field.
heard some of the men telling an amu4n.
story about a wounded Irishman at one of the
Parrot guns captured. he cur-ing thu
l4th Iowa ret, calling them cowardly rascaIs
-runoff and made him loose his little Parrot
gun.
Our little regiment was protected by little
mo ind, or rather the brow of hill each time
We charged, and the only thing that protected
| US. The only man ] lost, was Ben Nhe 4,
| slightly wounded in tile head. None killed.
| Again have We to thank Providence for Hi~
| preservation and kindness. l came out IN
hurt Ed. and George both safe Our regi-
| iment, as soon "a we reached the guns, !aLA
| hold of them and commenced hauling them Mil
| We carried them down to Gen. Herbert, AMI
turned them over to him. The other rvEI-
ments assisting Us in hauling of tie other
| pieces | believe our regiment hauled oft
| three pieces. The fight lasted some time az
| ter night; the enemy making every eHertiOn CD
re-capture his pieces, but were rcpulsed every
tine. Our troops slept On the attlU-lelI 'mlI
| the groans of the wounded and dying, and tha
corpses of the dead.
The enemy being largely reinforced during
| the night, Gen. Price determined to retire, ana
on the next morning. between AMI o'clock
we left Iuka, bringing with All tie captur-
ed stores. The guns think. were spiked,
burned, and rendered unfit for further service.
unless remodelcd. In al, We gained decided
victory.
Adjutant J. p. Erwin, Of Cabelrs brigade,
in private letters Of ~Le 2ith and 18th, from
the same point, says that the objects ofthe ex-
petition to Iuka were fully accomplished II
was never designed By Gen. Price q make
permanent advance movement, but only 70 oc-
| cupy the immense forces under Grant, and
Roscncrantz, to prevent their Fastening I'm
make juncture with Buell. ia KcntuckT. The
action was a brilliant one, AMI on the field. 4
decided victory for Southern The with
drawal of our forces back into Mississippi
was in proper sense retreat although
n.cessary to avoil renewed contest With
much superior force. Ii was accomplished in
good order, and without loss. Pcrilap. thi-
action has saved u Kentucky. as cT.ctuail-
as blow struck upon the soil Of that State.
MARTIAL LAW II ARKAysAs.-Our readers
will remember that We published III our issue
two weeks since, some resolutions introduced
into the House by our Representative. Gen.
| Royston, making enquiry concerning tic an
.hority under which Gen. HindnAn had dr.
clared martial law and done other acts inter
feriug with the civil rights Ut tile citizens W
| Arkansas. The enquiries have elicitoi the
response published below, upon which W
make no comments at present.
We are highly grntided with the llulable
| zeal exhibited by Gen. Royston for the pro-
lection Of the civil liberties cf his constituents,
and whether Gen. Hindman may Or may not
be able to make satisfactory explanations, our
Represen tatiye is entitled to full credit for bis
jealous guardianship Of our rights.
Confederate STATES OF AMERICA. !
War Department, Richmond Sept g. 1862 J
His EIcelency, Jefferson Davis,
President @. s. A.:
SRI have received the two resolutions
adopted by the House Of Representatives on
the ST inst, and referred to this Department
for report by your Excellency.
In reply have the honor to report;
|. a contract has been made with the Rich
mond aud Danvile Railroad Company, under
the style of the Piedmont Railroad Company,
for the completion of the work. The company
has secured the charter and commenced opera
tions, but the Department is not informed Of
their progress.
2. The Department has no official inform
ton of the conduct imputed to Gen. Hindman;
but having seen orders pnrporting to come
from him declaring martial law and adopting
oppressive police regulations in Arkansas, Gen.
Holmes has been instructed to enquire into it,
and, if he found such to be the case. to rescind
the declaration of martial law and the regula-
tons adopted to carry it into effect. General
Holmes is also instructed as to the mod Of
executing the conscript law
Gen. Hindman not sent to Arkansas hv
the Department, and has never been Command
ing General of the trans Mississippi depart
ment.
Very respectfully, your obi serv't
GEO. w. RANDOLPH:
Secretary Of War.
sayAn order has beed issued BY the |
War Department in Richmond to the eff /
r IL l.