The Smoky Hill and Republican union. [volume] (Junction City, Kan.) 1861-1864, 1862-12-06
From the Kaasas Second.


From correspondent Of the Leaveuworth
Times we take the following. The letter is
letter is dated Browns Mills, Ark, Nov.
18th. The writer, after describing how the
Arkansas women chew tobacco, says:
Perhaps some of Jour gouty readers
will say never mind about the women,
what is our army doing? Well, principal
ly eating hard bread and bacon, and riding
Government horses at thirteen dollars per
month. But We are not idle always. Col.
Cloud still moves and has . being On
Friday, the 7th, with the Kansas Second,
and detachment from two companies Of
Sixth, be left this place on a scout South.
Six miles from here he came to a tannery
owned by q rebel. There were twenty.
four vats filed with leather Just ready TO
finish up and send to market. Before we
left they were emptied, the leather thrown
into buildings, and the buildings set on FIRE.
I suppose, at the least calculation, $50, 900
worth Of property was destroyed, 10 less
than three hours. A letter was discovered
from rebel General, ordering the owner
Of the tannery to have his leather ready to
ship South by the End Of October,
From thence we struck south, and, after
going about twelve miles, bivouacked for
the night. Before day We were again in
the saddle, and soon after sunrise came to
Rays mill, fine, large, steam grist mill,
about twenty miles from here. 1t was in
good condition, but not running. After
breakfasting here, We struck for Cane Hill,
some fifteen miles south, near the Boston
Mountains. Here we ran scross the pickets
of Col. Emmet Macdonald, Provost Mar
shall of Missouri. We soon scattered them
and pushed on for his camp, some six miles
distant. We soon reached the camp, but
found it deserted-their camp fires still
burning. We pushed on to the hills with
all possible speed, for about seven miles.
until We reached hollow, where the road
forked, one leading back to Fayetteville,
tho other through the Mountains to Van
Buren and Fort Smith. We halted here
few hours, and we're about to turn back for
Fayetteville, when two their scouts made
their appearance, and fred on our advance,
6 TO horse was Immediately sounded, aud
off we started, on full gaIlop, over one Of
the roughest roads ever saw. The chase
lasted ten miles, and ended in our taking
all their transportation Give wagons) and
baggage, killing one man and capturing
rebel flag, 1t was rough ride, but nice,
exciting chase, and but for the lateness of
the day. we would undoubtedly have fol-
lowed up the flying rebels, and captured
some men.
It was now sundown, our horses and
men tired, and fresh pursuit useless. We
were within twenty miles of Van Buren,
aud twenty-fv miles of Fort Smith, IA the
heart Of the Boston Mountains, with poor
prospect for forage for our horses. The
regiment was turned back about five miles,
when We bivouacked for the night. Early
next morning We struck out for Fayetteville
which place We reached in the evening.
campcd for the night, and reached our
homes next day in the afternoon.
The 11th and 18th Kansas regiment have
been with us for sometime. The 11th is
in the Sd Brigade, and the 18th in the
End Brigade. AS yet they are untried
but We all have confidence in them. and
believe them to be fully up to the standard
of Kansas troops for fighting. One thing
have noticed in them they are adopts at
foraging l think they run the business
little too strong. The old Kansas troops
the scum as the new levies term US.
generally leave something for the women
and children to live on but the bone and
sinew' take aN-strip them as bare as birds
just out of the she'll, I hardly think the
exigencics of case call for such extreme
foraging. The men generally 60 out alone,
and I suppose this is done without the
knowledge of their officers. J:hope so.
Camp rumor has it that we are to 60
back to Kansas to winter. l hope not. l
think if the matter Was left to the men (of
the End, at least) that you would not see
Us in Kansas again until after the close of
the war. We want to 90 further into Dixie,
where there are more chances of fun
Save me from Kansas; We had too much
,rouble in getting out of tho State last
summer ever to wish to get back again.
The health of the boys is good, We
have had some cool weather, but generally
it has been very pleasant.
Yours ever, &c, NJ"
News From Rebeldom.
The people of Richmond have been hav.
L. 4 l.