The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1863-09-09
From q he 77th Ohio VOIuan-
teev Infantry.

Arkansas Expedition
CLARENDON, ARK, Aug. 19, 1863.
EDITOR STATESMAN Our division,
under command of Brigadier-G General
Rice, left Helena on the 11th, and march
ed overland distance of ffty five miles,
arriving here on the 15th-just four days
on the way. The weather is excessively
hot, and water not very plenty. so it re-
quired no little fortitude on the part of
many to make the trip. The 77th boys
endured the hardships and kept in the
ranks nobly; but on the afternoon of the
last day, many were compelled to fall be-
hind and find conveyance in ambulances
and wagons. Other regiments Jared no
| better.
Major General Steele arrived here yes
terday with the 2nd division, having left
Helena on the 18th. General Davidson's
division of cavalry and artillery, which
came across from Pilot Knob, Missouri,
crossed White river here last evening,
/ and will doubtless reconnoiter the Little
Rock road, at some point on which the
rebels under General Price are said to be
entrenehing
}, Three of our gunboats are here, and on
Friday last went up White river to the
mouth of Little Red river and captured
two rebel steamers They keep Smelling
the woods along the banks wherever the
, enemy appears.
|. 1t is generally conceded that the 77th is
n ore of the best regiments in the expedi-
: tion The officers of the 1st Missouri
n battery say they never marched after a
: regiment whose men conducted them
g selves in a more soldeirly manner. We
e have larger per cent. of our aggregate
IS for duty, it is said, than any other in tn,
l. corps Our discipline is much praised
IS and at headquarters the neatness and goot
e order of camp highly commended as ex
,r emplary. Colonel Mason is in command
i and Major Stevens is with US. Lieut.
% Colonel De Hass was in st. Louis on tn
le 9th, on his way here. Captain Sisson ha
le sent in his resignation. The Captains i
as the regiment will now be Lutgen, McCor
ID mick, Robinson, Chandler, McKittrick
l. Ross, Garrett, McNaughton and Morris
ps Lieutenant Mitchell doubtless will be pre-
to NOTED to Captain of Company G. Their
y are now three First Lieutenancies vacan
r caused by the resignation of Lieutenant
as Criswell, Burris and Moore. We are il
ut formed or high authority, that the III
in is to haveits full share of the drafted mel
is which L hope will be enough to fill it u
tie to the maximum.
lis | never saw the men more determine
he to add to their we'll earned laurels tha
est are our boys. They will remember the
Ir. noble and brave companions who sleep c
to the saneuinary fields of Shiloh and 'Fa
In len Timbers, five miles west; where '
Ily suffered so much on the 9Th and Sth
ID April, 1862. You may expect to hear
a good account of US, whenever we me
ig- the enemy.
no We get no news here The latest pap
* we have seen is dated the 9Th. They IA
,rk read with great ayidity, and hope y
will seld US yours regularly.
We have a report here this morni
that Charleston is taken, but of coul
d. not know whe.ner it is true or fal
1t is hoped that the hot-bed of rebeldt
has been made to feel the horrors of t
war it did so much to inaugurate.
eld We find the country we have pass
M very rich, but in very bad state Of C.
ers tivation. The negroes have mostly /
on ong this road, and many of them {
and iu the contraband camp at Helena.
his few of them-say three or four hundr
900 ARE armed and formed intoa battalion
ons Helena. Much as has been said abc
,m- what they did on the 4th Of July, wi
ing the place was attacked, all the offie
osts we have talked with unite in saying II
ung did not fire a gun. They answer "
sion we'll to dig bitches and build breastwor
!: a however. Yours,
lie; MAC