The New York herald., 1863-07-18
INTERESTING FROM HELENA.
Details Of the Fight Between Gen. Prentlsv
and the Rebel Forces
OBJECT THE ATTACK.
How the People Of Helena Cele-
brated the Fourth,
&sss &ess &es

DraCe0 the x0urtn,
&s.s &e. &ss
Our Expediti0nary COrresp0ndencc.
STEAMER SILVER Moon,
En- ROUTE FOR 81. LOUIS, July s, 1868.
We have had considerable Of fight ct Helena since
last wrote you and chanced TO be upon the ground
and am now passing up to Cairo with the prisoners cap
tured you will have all the particulars early the
earliest.
THE FKpKaAL FORCES
at Helena consisting Of Western troops under General B.
NJ Prentiss numbered some four thousand. They were
in excellent condition, well drilled, free FROM
fatigue, and ready for fun, froic or fight as
ever who for several months had
been IN garrison and unannoyed by enemy.
The glorious Fourth was TO have been celebrated at
Fort Curtis in civil, but at the time an Imposing
style. Preparations to that end had been made: but
scouts sent out the previous day by General prentss
returned at night the Sd and brought the intelligence
that the advance Of what thought TO be consider
able rebel force known TO be within eight
miles of the place, and still marching forward. They un
doubtedly intended to give surprise the
morning of the anniversary OF Independence capture
US without struggle and then proceed to Helena
into second vicksburg, and blockade the rve this
point, thus temporarily cutting Off General Grants sup
plies, and using up his line OF communication. But Gens
Prentss thought with his that two could play at
that game with advantage, nd late the night of Fri
day orders issued for every to be prepared
to meet the enemy instead of the great day 40
had been proposed Yet the matter has turned ont,
who can say that the day not appropriately ceie1
bratedy
TIE OPENING OF THE FOURTH.
General Prenss early as two O'Clock yesterday morn
ing ordered tho rifle pits outside the works to be
pied by the riiemen. This DONE The artillery were
then called TO the siege guns in all the redoubs Of Fort
Curtis the field artillery were drawn out and placed in
he in "A IN a
preparation to give the rebels warm as well as well
reception II was some hours to when tho
pickets driven and reported the
rebels coming with great speed infantry, artillery aud
cavalry General Prentss received the news with COM
posure only desired that the rebels should not back
out before he had chance TO pepper them somewhat
THE ATTACK
made by the rebels 10 the centre left and right al
most simultaneously about three O'Clock, and IL was
mpetuous and partially successful charge According
among the prisoners TAKEN Parsons was ordered by
Lent Gen. Holmes, in command, 70 charge the centre,
consisting Of thrcc redonbts near the graveyard in tho
OF the town. He did and was partially success
He carried two Of the redoubts having hrst driven
OF their rifle pits These redoubs had three
guns They were for time silenced By the assaulting
party But Fagan upon the right and Marmaduke, with
his cavalry the left, failing to mako the connection
position where they received the enalsding Are
the remaining batteries Of the fort, and well sus-
tanned cross musket fire, were compelled 70 sur
render, or see their men cut down by hundreds.
Like sensible as they seemed TO be. they surren
dercd The prisoners quickly marched the rear
under the care Of general officer and commenced
embarking upon trat tspert@ Meanwhile
FIGHT CONTINUED
Parsons brigade. consisting of Whites regiment the
Seventh Eighth and Ninth Missouri and Pickets Tenth
Missouri having surrendered the tight continued by
Holmes, who had left him. Price In command OF only one
brigade and Marmaduke with division Of Missouri and
Arkansas troops,
his entire force the front and the consequence
was that after about three hours hard fighting the
rebels broken up, their many Of them killed,
and the remainder driven Oh in disorder They managed
20 take OIL nearly all their Killed and wounded however
THE HELD OURS.
Before yesterday not rebel to be seen in tho
vicinity that not dead. wounded prisoner. They
had made mpetuous attack in greatly superior force,
upon small but not an uuprepared garrison and had
been whipped driven OF, and seven hundred men
and officers made prisoners. Their killed and wounded
cannot be far from four hundred, though am unable to
obtain many facts In this direction from the prisoners
the boat with me- They remarkably silent on
that subject, though loquacous eaough when 70
tho manner in which they fought Having obtained my
knowledge that from other sources, am not in need Of
their facts, and doubt their being facts
As compelled 70 leave on the Silver Moon with
the prisoners late in the day and the returns having
come IN at hcadquarters, am unable 10 furnish list OF
killed aud wounded; but am assured by officer
VINO has been the field and among the hospitals,
that our loss cannot be more than hundred killed,
wounded and prisoners all told though the rebel officers.
claim that they carried of entire regiment az men
As none are missing-by regmentS-I must put that
down a. cdadrd.
THE PRISONERS
numbering seven hundred and twenty all told officers
and prvates route for ST. Louis. They are
little bsior in appearance than the generality of rebel
Missouri ArkaQ-
They pretend have had plenty eat and no very
hard lighting OF late, which is xctiy the kind OF war
fare they desire
On the Silver Moon with portions or Bells Az
kansas regiment OF infantry, Colonel Bell himself Ieue
nant Colonel Johnson Acting Adjutsn General Bell three
captains and ten first and second eutenaas of the same
force. Also one hundred and fifty eight enlisted men
There are forty men and captains and a eutenant
of the Tenth Missouri along with Colonel Lewis com
manding the same
of Green's Arkansas regiment have one capnin tho
quarerniaser three lcuenants and their men bu NOT
their colonel - '
OF Ganses Arkansas regiment, one captain and tnrco
leutenants, with their men.
Or the Tenth Missouri, three or four comnanice Win
nearly all their commissioned and non-comnisso oned
officers.
OF the Eighth Missouri, captain and eight l.eute
nants and their
OF Hawthorne's Arkansas regiment, Ave Heutcnants
and sergeant major, with the under tbon
raE REBfL MARCH.
COLONEL Lewis informs me that General Fapan brcadc
s from Little Rock which point IL left some months
SINCE Two brgades from Jacksonport on the plan,
river under Parsons and Mctray. There was also hri
gade OF cavalry, under Shelly and Marmadukc and some
artillery, but the latter not brought into action
he general excuse for the poor show made In the
Yesterday morning. as given by the men, Is that thew
nad made march OF eight miles previous 10 the
without rcpose, and they fought upon empty stomaohs
whether this IS the true cause is known but that
they were whipped all readily admit.