The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1863-11-16
II IST q e -
or TIE
THIRD IOWA CAVALRY.

On leaving Clarendon-where, Dy the
BY the by, we didn't find the supplies we
.expected and stood SO much IN need OF,
having been for long time on short ra-
tions, and foragipg on the country-Gen
Washburne was sentwith detachment OF
cavalry to make dash on Helena, cap
ture whatever might be there, and open
communication with Memphis. One
hundred of the Sd Iowa accompanied
him and reached Helena July 10th. A
gunboat was hailed, and the "Army OF
the Southwest" restored to the light OF
civilization, from which it had SO long
been separated, and for time, rested
from the fatigues Of one of the most cele-
brated marches on record.
In august the Sd Iowa formed part OF
Gen. Washburne's expedition to Grenada,
Miss, daring exploit, during which they
penetrated to the heart of the enemy's
country, destroyed railroad connections 10
the face of their army, and safely return
ed across the Mississippi to Helena, hav-
ing skirmished at Coldwater and several
other points.
Col. Bussey assumed command OF
brigade in June, 1862, while on the
march to Helena, by virtue OF bis rank
aud from that time to the present has
been constantly in command either OF
brigade, division, or cavalry forces, the
regiment itself being commanded by Maj.
Drake, till his death, then by Maj. Scott,
till his resignation, short time since,
since when Mai. Noble commands.
September 18th, an expedition, com
posed of Gen. Benton's infantry brigade
and Bussy's cavalry, was sent to make
demonstration ON Arkansas Post. Land
ing from the boats at Laconia, the expe-
ditiion marched across the country to
White river. A few shots were exchanged
with the enemy's pickets across the river,
when, finding the means of crossing too
limited, we returned without effecting
anything more than gaining desirable IN
formation for future action.
Nov l6, 1862, another expedition was
projected against Arkansas Post, under
the command OF Gen. a. 2. Hovey, on a
somewhat larger scale. About Goo in
fantry, several batteries and 1900 cavalry
embarked on transports, with the inten-
ton Of proceeding up White river to a
point opposite Fort Hindman, on the Ar
kansas, and from there march across the
country some fifteen miles. and attack the
Post in the rear. The cavalry force,
which was under the command of Col.
Busy, debarked at Montgomery Point,
with orders to proceed across to White
river, and there form "a junction with the
infantry, who were to so up the river ON
transports. About twelve miles OF the
march was through the White river bot
bottom, which was struck about sundown n.
Recent rains had overlooked the country,
rendering horseback travel nearly imprac-
ticable, even by daylight. Darkness set
In and the rain came down IN torrents
still we pushed on, following the Colonel.
who, having before travelled the road,
acted both as guide aud commander. AS
we progressed, the roads got worse, and
for niles the horses .loied knee-deep, and
frequ ully belly deep through the mud,
till at last. about IL o'clock the head of
the column got inextricably tangled in
the grapevines, when halt was made and
orders were given to bivouac for the night.
And such bivouacl Not a solitary spot
Of terra .tirma-aucle deep III water
horses Laundering all night to keep from
miriug down-nothing that would burn TO
be found, and rain, ineessant rain, all the
time Each man disposed of himself as
comfortably ~ as he could-some lean
ing against tIees-some sitting on their
saddles, astride of logs, and all wet to the
bone, they waited for day. 1t did come,
at last, and such a set of half drowned
morials the sun never shone upon. Fires
were started with difficulty, and the laugh
and joke passed rapidly upon our miser-
able, yet ludicrous situation.
After disposing of already soaked "hard
tack" forward was the word, and at last
we reached the river; but no steamers
were there--no infantry. The low stage
of the river would not allow navigation,
ann after waiting nearly all day, it became
apparent we must retrace our steps
through the swamp, as our horses had
nothing to eat, and another night there
would leave them so weak that not a
1.-THE could wade through by next day
Several Of the boys swan the river under
cover of our sharpshooters, and killed
and captured several OF the euemys pick
cts, who were posted on the other side,
and brought over flatboat. Our howit-
zers,. which had already killed several
horses in dragging them through the
swamp, were put upon the boat, with
some forty men, who had left their horses
sticking in the mud, and started down
the flver to the fleet 1t was simply i'm
possible to haul them back by the road.
They arrived safely.
The return trip was fully as hard as
we expected-the tangled grape.vines
rendering It impossible to travel any,
where, except III the road, already horri-
bly, cut mp by the passage of 1900 caval-
ry the night before. by dint of indomi-
table perseverance We made it; but many
poor horse was left mired beyond re-
demptior. Our transports were ready to
receive US, aud after communicating with
the feet at White river, the expedition
returned. / have never been able to dis
cover whether it was an entire failure, or