The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1862-07-26
From Gen. Curtis Army.
MARCH from BatesUtlIe to CI11'-
eM0O1e..11O .utles through the
Wilderness. - -


to reprint in full. We extract the most inter.
esting portions Of the narrative:
HELIHA, ARK, July..l2.
The army Of the Southwest, commanded BY
zen. Curtis, arrived at Clarendon, on the White
river, July 9th, having made hard march dur.
ing the day from Bayou Du Vue of twenty five
miles, and from Batesville, which place We left
on the 24th of May, one hundred and ten miles
Conceive the disappointment of General Curtis
when informed on the road by messenger from
osserhaus, whose division was in advance, that
the gunboats and transports which We expected
to find here loaded with abundant supplies, had
dropped down the river only the previous eve
ming. How vexatious the provoking news The
soldiers during many days bard and weary march,
nad suffered from thirst, were cut of entirely
from the outside world, engaged in several So
7th, cut their way through barbados of fallen
timber which blockaded the roads, and saw their
comrades frequently shot down by lurking foe
concealed behind trees and in the canebrakes !;
yet they endured all this cheerfully without
murmur, trusting to find . short respite from
their labors and feet Of friendly boats loaded
with ample supplies st Clarendon AZ no intel
ligence could be obtained with regard to the
destination of the boats, Gen. Curtis determined
to march to Helena, on the Mississippi, sixty Eve
miles distant from Clarendon, and about ninety
miles below Memphis Accordingly the advanc-
ed guard, comprising two thousand cavalry under
Gen. WashburI, were pushed forward 10 open
the way and obtain supplies, from the nearest
source. LEFT with the advance Friday morn.
ing at 4o'clock, and making forced march, day
and night, We arrived here this morning st nine
o'clock. The entire army will reach here in .
couple Of days Since our arrival We learn that
considerable concern for the safety Of the army
has been felt by our friends. This uncertainty
was doubtless owing to the fact that, In order to
eject . change of the base of operations from
the Pacific railroad to the Mississippi, It became
necessary to call in all our forces on our two
lines of communication with Rolla and Ironton,
thus giving an opportunity to McBride's and
Coiman's men to hover on. our rear, occupy the
places abandoned by us, and capture our mes
sengers bearing dispatches and letters to and fro
We were thus completely excluded from all in.
telhgence with'S Louis, and could send none
home. One of our messengers was hung. and
several captured by the enemy, and the letters
and dispatches taken.
FORAGE TRAIN FIRED oN-rHREE OF OUR MEN
KILLED AND -FOUR WOUNDED.
To-day (June 26th) while Post Quartermaster
Fuller was returning from foraging expedition.
eight miles south ef camp, the guard, in the rear
OF the wagons, consisting of Lieut. Griswold,
OF the Sd Of Iowa cavalry, with twenty men,
was suddenly fired upon from dense canebrske.
fne Lieutenant and two men were instantly
killed, the former being pierced by seven balls,
The cavalry rallied and returned the fire but at
great disadv antage, against hidden foe. The
rebels rushed out and succeeded in cutting the
harness q some of the mules, but they we're
soon driven back. The infantry we're scatter.
ed along the length of the train, and returned
Safe. The following is the list of killed and
Lieut.. Alvin H. Griswold, Company K.
Corporal Thomas Wasson,
Private Richard Luke, {"
WOUNDED.
Edwin Beckwith, Co. <, in elbow joint.
Wesley Pringle, '' flesh wound in side,
James Marsh, slightly in the head
Marcus Packard. slightly on the shin,
James L. Beacon was taken prisoner.
Fifteen horses and mules were killed.
TWO REGIMENTS OF CAVALRY SENT FORWARD.
Immediately on the news being received in
camp, Of this murderous attack, all WAS an.
im.tion, and the men were anxious to be led to.
wards the locality Of the attack. Gen. Steele
ordered Col. Buseey to march with bis entire
disposable force 70 reinforce the escort. and
Col. Bracket, of the 9th Illinois, was also des.
patched to reinforce the escort Of bis own. The
men were instantly in the saddle, and disap.
peared amid cloud of dust. Col Bussev met
bis forage train on the return, about one mile
this side Of the scene of the fight Some No.
groes stated that the rebels were determined to
attack the train again three miles this side. and
the Sd Iowa turned back with the train. Col.
Bracket, with the I'd Battalion, came M with
his own train, and tho Sd Battalion. under Ma;
Wallis. The latter, being thus reinforced.
towards Stewards farm to fill the wsp.
ons with corn. ..-,.,........
FIGHT.
The advance guard, under Capt. Wright, came
suddenly on the enemy and WAS fred on from
behind logs and treea The rebela were in .
strong position on the edge of swamp. A
shsrp contest ensued which lasted until dark.
aud vain effort was made to draw the enemy
from their ambush by falling back to . corn.
field. Col. Bussey on hearing the firing conn.
hie cavalry, and in attempting 10
flank the enemy come up to swamp, rendering
It impossible for him to relieve Col Bracket
and he therefore returned to his own train
bringing in their dead and wounded. General
Benton, of the Sth Indiana and Klaus' Battery
started on q double quick on hearing the firing.
The men bivouacked on their arms. All the
cavalry returned to camp the same night. 5Is
GENERAL BENTON GOES OUT NEXT DAY TO re-
- ~ lsi CoNNoIrRI. &f.&fD +
The next morning Gen. Benton marched With
the 9Th Indiana, the Esd Illinois, one battalion Of
the 9th Illinois cavalry, and battery. He cot
within two miles Of Grand Glaze, and the same
distance from the forks of the Augusta road.
whereit was reported from two to three hund-
red rebels were posted. He found two Of the
enemys dead, killed the day before. The rebels
sent in fag Of truce, asking permission to bu.
~ their dead. Gen. Benton became assured
from skirmishers that no rebels we're near bv IN
force, returned to camp and released the Aae Of
tfuces. iaaR ;1&0 49, . ~ d
Col. Brackett come literally within an inch
Of his life yesterday. A bah struck on breast
plate, which hs wore under his vest, within IN
inch Of the margin and glanced o6, passine out
through his coat few inches from where L eo.
tered. ~ 3a adS fi Is :.
LIST or KILLED, wouHDID AND xuss,xe uo9
Of the 9th Regiment Illinois Cavalry, in The
6ght near 0rand 0lase, jackson county. Ark.
% The evening Of June 2sth, 1861: -
!. .I.l.iass3 XIGlxO. &