, 1862-10-06
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Correspondence Of the Chicago Tribunsl
CAMP NEAR HELENA, Ark, Sept. rs, 1907.
On tho 18th Inst, six companies Of the SD
Illinois and one company OF the 10Th Illinois
cavalry, under command Of Lieut. Col. Lip.
pencott, embarked on The transports 1atan
and A1mambra, accompanied by tho ram
Queen Of tho West. on a cotton expedition
down tho river. Each Of tho transports h.d
on board one pisce Of ar tillcry, while the ram
carries ti1'guns. The monlhg was clear and
pleasant, and everything passed OF smoothly
until almost sunset. when We he'd arrived
within about half mile Of prenties, Bfiss., a
little village opposite the mouth Of the Ar
kansas River. At this place tho chanuel Of
tho river Ia Within fe@ yards Of tho Missis.
slppi shore, which Is here akirted with q
dense growth Of young cotton woods. Tao
oi the boats had alroady passed, but the Iatan,
having stopped few minutes before to take
on board negro, was noW about one-fourth
Of mile In tho rear, and, as II came down to
this l!ace. heavy ,YolIey vas poured into It
by band of gue1il!as, Hho were concealed
smid the eushee, instantly killing two men
and Wouuding several others. Without wait.
tpg to IRE another round, they pnt spurs to
their horses and we're soon ont Of sight, Il
was about twenty Minutes before the boats
could get Into position SO as to bring the ar.
tlllcry 70 bear on them, and presume they
escaped With but little or no loss.
Afler. shelling the surrounding country
pretty thoroughly, the boats oil landed a
Prentiss, and two companies of infantry were
ordered to 20 on shore and burn the place.
AS scon IS tblH was accomplished, and tho
men returned, the boats hauled of Into the
middle Of the river, anchored, and remained
oyer night. Tic next morning the Iatan
again landed at the same place, md we buried
tile two men who we're 1si!led the prayiou3
evening. We then crossed the river TO Napo-
leon, and remalned till about noon.
In the afternoon ne proceeded down the
river some twenty-five miles, to place In At
kansas called Cypress S1amp 8end. They
proceeded with greater caution than on tbs
previous day, and met with no accidents. At
ibis place they heard Of, a.Qualttlty of co!ton
only short distance from the shore; and We
remained at this point until the following
Thnrfday morning. While here, 200 bales Of
cotton we're taken on board, and abouta dozen
their maste1s, rho had repaired to The swamps
with their slaves TO keep out of the hands of
the "Yankcee." W. found no Indications Of
rebel force anywhere Ii this vicinity.
On Thursday VIC went DO IN tue river twelve
miles below, on Reconnaissance, and landed
ut Euniee, Ark, where we destroyed some
ilat boats and some property belonging to the
Mississippi, Wachi'a and Rcd River railroad;
ard in tht afternoon set out on our return to
CAMP VT stopped that evening about two
miles below Bolivar Bend and reInatned oyer
night. 4 dceertcr from the rebel army, who
lal made bis way from the Mississippi to the
Afkantas shore, YVES herr taken on board Of
that there was a force of about $500
rebels at Bolivar Bend, with four
pieces Of cannon; AID that they were
intending 10 sink our transports rs they went
ul. Staitiug out Friduy lll1ruing about eight
O'Clock, after lashiag all the boats to:sctlaer,
ae wc came into The bend VIC met fleet going
down with rehel prisoners. Tais prevented
the ehelliDE of the shore until We wGrd almost
opposite OF their battery, md our boats had
flrfd but two or three t'nt before they open
cd their battery gu US, and also heavy 1tres
over lle bow Of The: Iatan, OH the cabin deck
a1,d it struck the Aihalubra, but fortunately
1t did 10 damage. Tic cannister Bho!
llcw thick and fast, but they were
mostly aimed prttty high and went
abo,e the hurricane deck. The smoke.pipes
HCIt piGl nclt CHb up Luz uEG Has IL
tnInvd troin the boats with considerable yigor
| TIE loss on our side WIS only two men killed
and;;thtec wounded. The eskirmlsh lasted fol
| about t#cnty minu,ts, and judge the reoe
| loss during the time Pyas very seyero w
expected TO meet them again at Pfentiss, bn
| they did not lntke their appearance. III,
| remainder Of the day We Proceeded up tht
! river will, great caution, but we were mol
mo1,Eted. w arrived ia camp at OId,owl
Lartl1 < OH Sa.ntday oftrrnoun without an,
iur,Ltr difficulties With the eucrtllAs.
The ohjtct OF this expedition WAS chiefly tt
gather COTTON. Tue Atlambra WIS cnployct
by cGtton spcculator from Phi1adeIphil
aud q part Of ll0yey's brigade Wtra sent alon&
to protect ltiul iu bis Operations. Does 1t no
stem as il tho army u, the Southwest coalt
| Ing tpet ulators, aud especially at time whet
| t.t ltb:lh are boldly pressing on to the frt
Stasth? Is 1t just that our Soldiers s:lo,lls
Pclil thtfr lives for the }rceuniary beoclt Of
lew individuals. while the nation calls f0
every loyal arm to cn1ne forth to Its rc6cue Il
this its darkest hour OF pelil? frar there |
something wrong In Tie Southwest or ther
wou1t be greater activity.
The following is list Of killed aud wound
ed, Gs lear a: l could learn:
Sergeant Mike Kelly, company I, killed.
Cutporat IIo sard Miner, company f. killed
Isaac Calltnder, company l, hii!sa.
a gunner on the ram Sas Killed, bit di
not learn Ills nnrlc.
Sergeant Peter sowell, company +. woundc
| III nt1ll.
Thomas Fox, In head, co. F, since died.
1ieu,y Green, company /, since died.
| TLr.t natn Oh the ram were wounded who's
ua1l,es did 10: learn aud also two negroes
rho Lave since died.