The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-01-21
HE CAPTURE OF ARKANSAS POST.
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Interesting "Details Of The Brilliant Operations
Of the Military and Naval Forces Under
Cen. MtClrnand and Admiral Porter.
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Sketch OF the Village and
Notifications.
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TIE PLAN OF INVES TMENT.
The Cans Of the FOrt DiSm0Unted by
Shsls fron the GuHb0ats.
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Two Days Fighting and Final
Surrender.
SaDTgH on TIE REBEL COMMANDER,
&c, Gc, &c.
Our Expedatsomary Correspondence.

Mourn or WRITE RIVER, Ark. Jan. H. 1863.
fne expedition for the capture Of Arkansas Post has
proved success. Coming as it does directly Tic
heels of tho Ycksburg, it is especially
portlnt. All hearts TINT sad after recent
pase, while under tho command OF sherman
full Of JOY at achievement. strong position, the
key the caeesson Of Of the tributaries Of the Ms
sssippi q fortress mounting zinc heavy guns with .
garrison Of nearly thousand men, with al their
smal arms, ammunition and equipments for the fed,
have fallen into hands. Within week from The time
81 assuming Command OF the Army Of the Mississippi
General mcCIcyrand has maae sa important sag.,s u
II Vas vcksborg instead Of the present. looality or
exulsaiion would DO much increased
PRELIMINARY.
After INC ropulse Of General Shermana army and the
assumption OF the by General McCiernand, II
was decided withdraw frcm the Yazoo river II was
6rs ordered for the to dcbark at Mllkens hed
and 90 into encampment there, preparatory 70 ne
adoption of new plans FOR the campaign. Before
tbe troops had been placed on shore the order
was changed, and the expedition started NJ the
river az far as Montgomery Point opposite the mouth Of
White river II was announced that were 70 pro-
seed important military enterprise but beyond
ths nothing known II was generally suspected that
10 atteInp. the capture OF Arkansas Post
Al orr RENDEZVOUS
Tho military and naval reached Montgomery Point
the morning Of tho 8th and remained throughout Tt
day quietly rest On the morning Of the 9th the bas
commenced the ascent Of White river, the gunboas
Louisville and Pittsorg taking the Lead followed by the
Narora the transports The latter were headed by
no ssamey Tgrsss nagboat Of General McclernanS
Il was expected might be annoyed by rebel bat
series on the ban but discovered
oven solitary guerilla made his presence manifest
though il quite probable that many Of them were IN The
brushwocd netting our progress
NA1uEE OF
The White river is a narrow though deep stream nay
gable Of ordinary draught through most seasons
Of tho year for nearly hundred miles Of is course
Boats occasionally ascend far as Bates
Vile and on occasions have gone mp - Forsyth
Mo-, within Hfty miles Of Springfield Thirty miles from
mouth becomes that large transports
are unable 10 turn around obliged 10 back
AZ the stream with great Its waters Of light
gray color and in comparison with those Of the Msss
spp would be considered clear. On the upper portion
the scenery peculiarly wild and attractive, and is pei
Iucd current finds ,s way over clear gravelly bed
From the ciearness Of the the stream takes its
About ten miles from the mouth Of the White Is pas
sage into the Arkansas known as the cutoff This is
Gayigabe for the boats That ply the Arkansas and
White rivers and though much DISTRACTED by snsgs its
navigation il safer than that Of the former Be-
FORE The boats from the Arkansas river that
bound up the Mississippi always parsed through the
eli and entered the great river through the channel o
fhs lower White When the White Is higher than the Ar
kansas strong current sets from the for
ner stream TO the latter. When the case IL
reversed the fow R the other way. When the
Mississippi higher than both. the water up the
lower While and shrough the cutoG and finds its way
into vhe Mississippi again by way Of the lower Arkansas
predicted by river that the Mississippi will, er
many years, sweep the island away, snd carry with
she last remains Of the towR Of Napoleon T2e 9yers q
decency and good morals this 10 c5Ssamrnkon deTouy
70 be wished, AsosNt
r.- aAAr MOVING rP Sn wmn
The transports preceded by the gunbosts
White and reaching the cuson pushed steadily for
ward and were blowing the red waters Of the Ar
Ths stream for the last three hundred miles OF
is course, exceedingly tortuous and full Of snaSs and
saAdbars From tn csc causes our progress
BeIevie' small town on he south bank Of the river
aud about ten miles below Arkansas Post by the
Of the stream THIS place had been selected point
al rendezvous, preparatory TO the attack the Post
The boats OF division up 70 the south bank
while those OF other divisions the army fastened
~ the north bank about mile above, and commenced
shrcwng uoops ashore.
yAyE MOVEMENT
One division had gone the White river without pass
ing through the cuto landed on the west bank Of
shst stream 20 as 70 come the leading from
Arksnsas POET 70 Little Rock and thus secure the H., ~
she rebels retreat 10 the interior the state Viii our
thus disposed We felt certain Of capturing the enc
mys position. We determined 10 leave them no oppor
avn lies 20 fee and ~ cutting them on ali directions
so mako oug success complete
sgxAvs.s rosr
Thu oldest settlement Ia ths State of Arkansas aud
VAS founded by ;ho French IN 1855. Tor my years
fro1tiot trading pcst, and was the resort u he
hunters ana aperr d. the Arkansas river and the ben
amus, unsnow Indian Territory. II Il situated 90 The
Drst hrn ground on tho Arkansas river and i o. huu
sa agsy , h s na ,oa = 'Se s9np sDs
sccs tho edge Of the bottom land reaching White
river high stage u water this land ,vsrowod, but
NJ present Comparatively dry tho buA and tc siopng
ground cleared while the sotoa pnd the
part covered ~ith dense cypress forest. es arms
and clcarlngs found bat by mr. the portion
ms never been redeemed rom IT. natural stsso.
The river bore makes sharp toad W the tofihward,
formnea oonps4,su The blir s,riErs the outside ~
the bond and lhe to~n pos lDlianns i-ss
ihan I'VE sundred Inhabitants, situated % the hun
near the river Just below IL IN position io0k.ug TOT
thres Miles down tho sweep below the bend r.bels
more than year ago erected tho which va aOw
shs p, bu' 50 20 repei attack from any oa.,ar
snd or each 'idc mounted txo heavy snos Those lock
rnsnder were lhirty.twos 5u the SWEEP Sahn "o,sn
the hnely 1rsshed hundr. poundtr par.
rott gun ths the rebels confidently bored voala II, ,pe
20 sink any boat having the temerlty 10 approach
PROTECTION tdRI
Around fort range NJ RIA pis ox,.,,
,,s aiong ia bluf 90 A. 10 role me ,r
~ long line u sbais, rendering 10 dircus u, apprrh
the In the construction Of these desnces inc
rebels showed especial All the roads errsnlln he
10 Little Rock had been obeructcd by feod tthe
and only the ingenuity q our soldiers prevented Their
npaing them formidable obstacles IN the way a move.
ment The garrsonf the fort had been ro,yrtcr at
seven thousand strong commanded by Brsadsr General
Garland
rsryiors .rrvnrT 70 c,rrrss ras sosr
An attempt made Ia October last 70 captHr. Az.
bansas Poet, bc, did not prove success General
P. Hovey, with a force OF 10 900 mea, IRON
Helena with tina; obiec, view. rhe White river vss
sscended 10 the entrance ~ the cuto1 bit n stage
water not sufficient 70 allow the trats ~ pass
through A ssyalry force wtnin too miles .,
tbe fort, frightening the garrison INTO preparations Tor
camping Failing 70 fnd sufficient ter 90 pr coed geu
Hovey returned 10 Helena Az VI that Instance he rcter
we're lrsA.rlnl v Ieaya % LL.l.lL --.L