, 1863-01-30
THE ARKANS4A& POST VIC
TOEfY.


HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF TUE M1ss1ss1rr1,
Posi- OF ARKAHsAs, January II, 1868.
GENERAL FIELD ORER, No. 7.-SoEdicrs Of
the army Of Mississippi: congratulate you.
Within seven days you have sailed two $50
miles, from Vicksburg to this post, borne
on numerous transports, from time to time
furnished with fuel cut By you from the for
est. With rnnks thinned by former battles
and disease, you hare waded and cut your
way through miles Of swamps and timber in
advancing TO the attack. You have stormed
the dcfcnces Of the enemy's position, which
both nature and art had combined to render
extraordinarily strong, capturing, after three
and 4 lalf hours hard fighting, tho whole
hostile force opposed to You, numbering
5000 men, together with 5000 stand Of arms,
twenty cannon, and large amount Of COM
m{ssary, quarter1naster and ordnance stores.
hitherto been achieved during tho war. It is
all Important step towards tie restoration Of
our national jurisdiction and unity over the
territory on the right bank of the Mississippi
River. 1t reflects honor upon your courage
and patriotism. 1t will challenge the grateful
acclaim Of your country.
Yourand my only cause Of regret Is the loss
Of the brave men who hare fallen, or been
wounded, in the defense Of JUST aud sacred
cause. All honorto them, Their names and
their memory will be cherished in the hearts
Of their conntryulen.
cursor Of still more important achievements.
Win for the army Of the Mississippi au upper
ishab&e renown. Sur1nonnt MI obstacles; and,
relying on the god Of battles, wrest from dcs-
tiny and danger the homage Of still more cx-
pressire Acknowledgements Of your uncon-
4ueMble constaucys and yalor.
Jo1rS 4. Mcc1nRsASD,
Commanding Army Of the Mississippi.
4. SCHWARTZ, Major and 4. 4. a. G.
OFFICIAL REPORT OF HEAR ADMIRAL PORTER.
limited STATES MISSISSIPPI SQUADRON
ARKANSAS PosT, Jan. II, 1868.
SIR: Iharc the honor to inform You that
on the 4th Of January, Gen. McClernand con
cIuded to move up thu river upon the Post Of
Arkansas, and requested my cooperation I
detailed three iron clads-thc Louisville,
Baron D"Kalb, and Cincinnati all the
light draft gnnboats, all Of which had to be
towed up the river
On the 9Th We assembled the Arkansas River
as high as Arkansas Post, when the army
The enemy had thrown up heavy carthworks
aud extensive rite pits along tho leree.
While the army was making 4 detour to sur
round the fort, sent up the iron clads to try
the range of their guns, and aftcrward sent nj,
tho Rather, Lieutenant Commander Watson
Smith, to clear out the rifle pits and the men
behind IN extensive breast work in front Of
; our troops.
The Blackhavk also opened on them with
her ri1cd guns, and after few shots the enc
my left the works, and our troops marched in.
At 3 o'clock Gen. McClcrnand told me the
troops would be in position to assault the
| main 1ort-a very formidable work-and held
all the vessels in readiness to attack when tue
troops were in position. 1t half past 5 In the
afternoon, Gen. McClcrnand sent Inc mes
sage stating that everything was ready, and
! and the Louisville, Baron Dekalb and Gin
LIZ, cI1 wit .F
fort, which then opened fire from their
heavy guns and eight riaed guns, and with
| 1nueketry. The superiority Of our fire WAS
| soon manifested. The batteries were silenced,
and VIC ceased firing, but no assault took
placc; and 1t being too dark to do anything.
the bank for the night.
The Baron De kalb, Lieutenant Command
| cr Walker; Louisville, Lieutenant Command
CT Owen, and the Cincinnati, Lieutenant Com
nlandcr Bachc, led tile attack, and when llotly
engaged. I brought up the Light draught yes.
| in sllrapncl and rifle shell. The f1rr was very
destructive, killing nearly all the artillery
horses III and about the fort.
! When the battery was pretty we'll silenccd,
| I ordered Lieutenant Commander Smith to
pass the fort in the light -draugat, iron-clad
Rather, and cntiladc it, which be did in very
| gallant and handsome manner, but suffered q
good deal in his hull doing SO. All Lis cabin
works wcrc knocked to pieces, and heavy
shell rackcd him from stem to stern in the
hull. Strange to Fay, tTo heavy shells strnck
his iron plating three quarter inch-on the
bow and never injured it: Hc got past the
fort, and became entargled among the snags:
placed in The river to impede our progress,
and lsad to return.
In the evening attack, tho vessels Of all the
commanders we're well handled, particularly
the iron.clads. It was close quarters all
thc .isnc. and not gun was fired from GU,
side until the gunboats were within 400 yards
Of tic fort. The condition Of the fort attest>
to the accuracy of the fire. and the person:
inside give the Baron Dc Kalb, Lieut.. Com
Walker, the credit Of doing the most exccu
ton.
! was informed again this morning by Gen
McClcrnand, that THO army was waiting fo
the nary to attack, when they weuld assault
| thc works. lordcrcd up the iron-clads, will
dfncctions for the Lexington to join in whet
The former became engaged, aud for tho fra'l
cr vessels 10 llaul M III the smoke aud do tn
lest they could. Tho Rattlur, Lieut.. Com
q mander Smith, and the Guide, Llsut.. Com