The daily Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1862-1863, 1863-06-17
ARMY LETTERS.
From the First Indiana Cavalry

Editors Evansville Journal:
AS there is considerable said lately
about the raids our cavalry forces are
making in different parts of the country
I must notice one the cavalry made from
Helena, not long since, which for bold
ness, dash and success, has not been sur
passed.
Reports coming in thick and fast that
Price was this side of White river with
large army approaching this place, Gen.
Prentice determined on sending an ex-
pedition out to ascertain the truth .Ac-
cordingly the lst Indiana cavalry, num-
bering two hundred and sixty, 9th IIli-
nois, numbering two hundred and nine
ty, 5th Kansas, numbering three hun
-dred and forty, all under command of
Colonel Clayton, of the 5th Kansas,
started with eight days provisions, the
lst Indiana taking battery of three
guns along with them. The cavalry
were followed by force of infantry and
one section of the Dubuque battery, with
the Sd Iowa cavalry, who acted as a re-
serve force to fall back on in case they
were overpowered The first night they
camped at Big Creek and built bridge
across it on which TO cross over, and the
next day continued on, following the
Clarendon road. Before reaching that
place the command separated, the 5th
Illinois and 9th Kansas taking a right
hand road, while the lst Indiana pushed
on to Clarendon which was once a thriv-
hyc of OH md
inha abitants 1t is situated on White
river, about sixty miles from Helena.
The dilapidated houses, broken down
fences and few half-starved, halfterrifed
inhabitants show how heavily the hapd
of war has fallen on the place. There
was some expectation of finding force
here but about the only sight that greet
ed the eyes of the boys, was an old man
and his wife hastily Juggling a yearling
calf into the house where it was safely
deposited under the bed, while the old
COW was secured by rope and fastened
to the door knob. In another place &
rather poorly dressed, dingy looking
maiden, bridled an ancient looking mule
and seating herself on him maintained
defensive attitude until the awful Yam
KEGS left, which they soon did, finding no
enemy and apparently no friends.
They then started out on The Little
Rock and Memphis road, going in the
direction of Memphis. At a place cali
ed the Cross Prairies, they met with the
5th Illinois and 5th Kansas, as agreed
upon, neither party having found any
enemy except small squads of pickets
which they occasionally jumped up.
The next day they reached L. Anguille riv-
er and here the command again separa-
ted, the other two regiments taking an
other direction. Lieutenant Shugart. OF
company NJ, with his company, was left
to guard the bridge over the river and
The rest pressed on, Col Clayton going
with the lst Indiana. They had gone
but few miles when they Unexpectedly
came upon one brigade of Marmaduke' S
men drawn up in line of battle, together
with several pieces of artillery. Major
Pace Immediately dismounted the boys
deploying them on each side of the road
The Major took command of the right
wing, and Col Clayton took command
of the battery which was supported by
company G. All this time the rebe
shells we're flying thick and fast Lieu
tenant c. A. Denneman, of company f,
who had charge of the battery, quickly
got his guns in position being ordered
by Col Clayton to silence the enemy;
battery if possible Speedily but coolly
the boys commenced loading and firing
and soon drove the enemy from his posi-
ton. 1t was here, while sighting one o.
the pieces, Lieut.. Denpeman got severe
ly wounded, grape shot striking hin
on the leg Just below the knee, shatter
ing the bone and then dropped down in
side of his boot Here, too, Lieutenan
Wilhelm, of company A was severely
wounded--a musket ball tearing anC
twisting the muscles about in manner
anything but satisfactory to the Lieuten
ant. Fortunately the bone was no
touched Soon after he was wounded
his horse was shot dead under him.
1t was now drawing near the close o
the evening, and Col. Clayton informed
Major Pace that he was afraid the enem,
were making flank movement on hin
to cut off his return to the bridge, whicl
if they succeeded in destroying, woul,
place them in very precarious position
On falling back they found that Colone
Clayton antici pations were true Lieu
tenant Shugart, with his company, wa
already engaged with overwhelming
numbers, but stubbornly refusing t
yield an inch. On the arrival of Colone
Clayton and Major Pace, the enemy wa
quickly driven back. AS there wa
another stream few miles farther bach
it was important the bridge over it shoul
be also preserved. Lieutenant Shugar
was ordered to take his company an
hold it at all hazards Striking spur
into their horses, the brave boys dashe
away and did not get there one minut
too soon. Hastily dismounting his me
and drawing them up in line, the Lier
tenant addressed them few words {
! encouragement, telling them that o.
their efforts depended the safety Of tn
command, and here said he, 1--we wi