The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1862-04-04
From tho West.

Of the battle III Afkahsas we nave ye
feeeifod:
M1NPuls, March Is, 1862.
The details OF the battle in Arkaisa'
I come ii slowly. 1t appears, much 20 tht
4 Qualification Of every one. that Gen. Pric'
! was not wounded and that Col. Hebert
4 though wounded ana captured. was no
| killed Oar total loss IN killed. woundec
and prisoners, did not reach 500; that o.
4 the enemy is estimated to bs three times
as lafge-say 2500 They admit them
selves that they suffered greatly. The
! prisoners we took. reported at $50, have
not arrived yet. Such of the supplies We
took 40 could be used at the time, aiert
consumed by our men, and the remain
de, desilsyed. Onr own trains had been
withdrew to place of q. safety.
/ There was some confusion in the first
4 telegraphic accounts Of the battle, owing
I to the statement ti&t ibe Confederates
I had get'in tie rear os The Federals and
Wele driviae tliSta ssatlhft stnpi aip
4 that while McCulloch and Mcintosh we're
conducting the attack in front, Price
marched his Missouri troops fourteen
miles, by a circuiious route, to the rearfoi
the enemy. Unfortunately, just after he
had arrived and was getting into position,
he was informed by a courier Of the fall
OF McIntosh; and the confusion that sue
ce eded that untimely occurrence. Dur
ing this confusion in front and the hesi-
tation that followed in the rear, the enc
my changed his position and threw bis
entire force upon Price, who made most
noble defence, and inflicted tremendous
loss upon his assailants. Night coming
on, the fight ceased, and was not renewed
next morning, except as feint to enable
our forces to withdraw in the direction of
their supplies.
Thus it seems that two musket balls, by
killing the gallant McCulloch and McIn-
tosh, prevented us from gaining a great
victory. Had these chiefs not fallen, no
confusion would have ensued among their
followers; and had not this confusion oc-
cured, we should in all probability have
captured the whole Federal army, large
as it was. ChurchilPs Arkansas regiment,
which followed McCUlloch's victorious
banner through the smoke and carnage
at Oak Hills, was terribly cut up. 1t was
composed of the best blood in the State.
1t is rumored that Gen, Pike had ar
rived within few miles of the field at the
head Of his Indian regiments, but that
he took no part in the battle, The In
dians, it is said, were astonisbad, if not
frightened, by the tremendous roar of.the
artillery. They had never heard any
sound louder than their own war.hoop
except the voice of the Great Spirt,ut-
tered in the deep.toned thunder, and to
this they had been accustomed from in
fancy, Nor did they like guns that run
on wheels They knew what to do with
the rife, but such roaring, deafening
crashing monsters as twelve FOUNDERS
running around on wheels was something
entirely new to their untutored eyes and
ears. They arc not destitute of coulage,
however and il the report be true, which
| doubt very .mVqh, a short Slime win VOL
Zee % disabuse sicir nindsAo these FIRST
impressions.
Our last accounts represent the enemy
to be falling back. The capture and de-
struction of a large portion Of his sup
plies, both before and during the battle,
has doubtless compelled him to retrace
his steps in order to replenish his stores.
" Attack at once and Furiously."
We would commend this motto to our
soldiers in Tennessee. The Yankee
cannot stand sudden onslaught; but if
he can get time to look around, he is
certain to avail himself Of the safest and
best position. dhacl at once and fri-
ousH is the motto cf Gen. Magruder, of
the army Of the Virginia Peninsalar;
and we concur with the Richmond Wig
that that army will give good account
of themselves whenever they meet the
invader.
The following is a late order OF Gen.
Magruder's
HEADQUARTERS AR,r- or THE PrSrSsuLAn, I
Bartlctts Ranch, March 10, 1862.
GENERAL ORDERS, No. lj0.
All the arrangements having been
made for the defence Of this Peninsular,
anu llS NOulHdlNLuP ptHtIul, IT'S JnS
troops are stationed at different places,
not having it in his power to be at the
same time with each body of troops, the
following directions are given for the
government Of all, viz;
When any body of troops, large or
small, meet with any body Of the enc
my's troops however large, the Com
manding officer Of our troops will cause
the enemy to be Immediately attacked,
and the men will attack at once and fu-
riously. This is an order easily under
stood by officers and men, and will
doubtless be obcyed with alacriiy by
both,
The above Instructions aro not intend
cd for those who have special orders un-
der certain named circumstances not to
fight
BY command Of Gen. Maruder.
JouN DoSNEL SMITH,
Acting Aid.de-Camp.