The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1863-10-05

LITTLE Rock, Ark, Sept. II. 1863.

LITTLE Rock, Ark, Sept. IA. 1863.
EDS. GATH CRY Thinking that .
brief account Of the labors and successes
of the Arkansas expedition" might not
be uninterestiDg to you'll readers / take
leisure moment to write.
This expedition has been under the
control Of Major GENERALLY Steele, with an
infantry force from the vicksburg army.
The cavalry division Of Brig. Gen. David
son, from the Department Of the Missouri,
formed junction at Clarendon, on White
river, and on the 18th of August the cav
airy division crossed. and have been con-
stantly skirnishing with the enemy more
or less each day until the grand faale--
the capture Of Little Rock on the 10th
inst.
On the 9th ult. the cavalry made a
reconnaissance Of the enemy's works, and
after hard fighting drove him from his
entrenchmsnts on the east end Of Bayou
Metaire, and was only prevented from
taking Little Rock by the enemy burning
the bridges, and the impossible condition
of the Bayou. The Iowa troops engaged
in this fight was the LIST Iowa cavalry,
send Iowa infantry and Sd Iowa cavalry.
The loss in killed and wounded in the LIST
Iowa cavalry and the 32nd infantry was
severe. They fought with.the determine
ton and valor of Iowa troops, and that is
sufficient praise for any soldier. The LIST
Iowa made desperate. charge to save the
burning bridge, but were too late.
| Capt. Mcqueen, of Co. A. from your
city, was sick at Clarendon, and could
not be with his command, which the Cap.
tain very much regretted. Lieut.. Rey-
nolds, commanding the company, was
severely but not dangerously wounded
while leading his men in the charge to
save the bridge. The Sd Iowa cavalry
in this engagement was held as reserve,
and although al times under FIRE evinced
coolness and determination, showing
that they we're ready, as they always
have been, to perform their duty. Lieut..
Col. H. C. Caldwell, OF the Sd, now chief
of Gen. Davidsons staff, was in the front
rank during the entire day. and won
golden opinions for his GOODNESS aud cour-
age under fire, and bis.tact in manGuv.
ring troops during an engagement. A
great portion Of the day the troops were
under his command as the chief of the
commanding generals staff. Col. An
derson Of the lst, and Major Elerhardt Of
the Sand infantry, are held in high re
pute as fighting men and brave officers
On the 18th inst grand forward move
meut was made by both infantry an,
cavalry. The forces were concentrated
Il eight miles below Little Rock, on the Ar
: kansas river. On the morning Of tb
I 10th We moved up to give them battle
I The enemy had constructed formidabl
y. breastworks on the east side of the river
completely controlling every avenue t
- the place unless crossing could be mad
d to the west side. This once accomplish
ed the enemy would be compelled to 6gh
!. US on nearer equal terms. The cavalr
q division of General Davidson was assign
ed 70 do this duty, and by..day-light, un
der the protection Of heavy batter
planted behind a levee or embankment
we crossed the river and by dint of har
fighting all day that evening entered witt
= our victorious army another capital of tn
! would-be Confederate States.
e In this engagement all the troops show
r, ed unusual bravery. The lst end 3r
:, u cavalry we're the only Iowa troops engag
!. ed on the 10th. The 3rd Iowa had bee
=. hcldin reserve until about clock P NJ
n when the general commanding called o
II them to move to the front. All day the
= = had lisleneds,to the roar of artillery, an
\ rattle of small arms, with determine
countenances and lips compressed, an
e now they moved steadily to the front, tn
:. gallant Major Dufdeld.in command. tina
, whom no drawer or truer man ever drew
sabre from a scabbard. The. general in
q, structed the major to move cautiousl
f. forward at as rapid gait as possible. al
10 to ego in to Little Rock" The majo
- gave command forward" and on the
ty moved. The enemy was in full vie
ou the left. At this juncture Lieut.. Go
Caldwell, who had gained the privileg
of being with his old regiment, gallope
70 up with sabre high above his head. tel
IS, ing the men that " this was the day fe
~ which all other days we're made" !
s. wild yell was given. the major ordering