New-York daily tribune., 1863-09-16
THE WAR IN ARKANSAS.
The Capture Of Brown.'ii,c-A sharp
Fight mnd II Eriiiinnt Vieiory-A Rebel
strony yhoid in our Possession.


CAN'T MAR BAYOU MrrArEE. Aug. 90 l-6]
The advance guard of Cen Stecle's army,
consisting q oo0 men principally cavalry and artillery
beside rcyera gimcnis OF mounted infantry arrived In
front Il Brownsville ON tie 25ih Of August the main
army being siill at Dusals Bluff twenty miles be-
hind Demonstrations were at made against the
enemy who found occupying the place but in what
force was unknown. line Of skirnishors covering
from, of nearly half mile thrown forward 90 feel
the positlon and try his strength. The Rebel pclots
which were posted about miles from town e.i back
before our advance firing few random shots they
want until they drew us into more open country when
,ley were re-enforced Here n stand Was mndc. tie
Rebels having the advantage II position being under
cover Il light rise of ground on the lcit and wooded
I'm on the right.
For fifteen minutes the skirmish at this point war
sharp but tho Rebels directly gave way aud began re-
treating s,gbborn, aud with occasional rirr As yet
no force had appeared 10 resist our advance except
heavy line Of skmi-hers and ns II was not known with
what strength the llaec Was occupied the Advance
was necessarily cautious For two hours the condition
of affairs only changed by the gradual falling back
of the Rebels aud the steady adanc. u our troops
But when within less than "a mile of the town. ;se
Rebels ccnsed firing and TcTeaied pfccipitately. De
Davidson pressed his advance with energy until the ont
skirts of the town were reached when il was dscov.
cred that the place had been evacuated Scouting par
ties had been out all day on either flank and had had
some skirmishin, but had been unable 10 draw
the enemy out. Gen Walker is supposed to bc In com.
mand of this force which less than 2 900 strong.
Immediate pursuit was deemed mpraciicable as the
nearly down. and both men and horses needed
rest Daylight Of the 10Th found everything ready for
u further advance. Bayou Metaife which had been
regarded rs the point NJ which the enemy would give
battle, - miles distant aud the greater the rn
pidiiy with which the pursuit pushed the fewer the
obstructions the enemy would be enabled to throw III
our way Gen. Davidson. who III cautious and guarded
enough 20 keep out of any traps that may be lald Tor
him. while at The time hc is possessed OF sufficient
energy aud dash 20 insure his being on hand at the
proper time fully appreciated this fact and acted nc
cordingly.
The iirrt few miles passed without any important
occurr,ncc hut the middle of the forenoon found our
advance. which was nearly mile ahead, engaged with
party Of Rebel scouts This however, proved TO be
II trle. Several times during the day squads ~
mounted men. who were watching our moI cmcnts
would hover around onr front until an opportunity
Offered for taking shot nj long range. This generally
resulted IN lively race for half II mile 0r more but
never In even momentary check Of onr ad, ancc. One
two of our men were woGnded-urhcr than this, no
damage done during the day.
Night found M within three moa of the Bayou, and
with the prospect Of fight next morning. To men
who have beeu weeks in the saddle the probabilities
VI battle present no dotTDont 10 sleep, No more than