Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1863-11-21
From :he First Indiana Cavalry.
PINE BLUFF, ARKANSAS, !
Nov. 8. 1863.
Editors Journal:

iNE OLOFF3 AkkANSAS,
Nov. 8, 1868.
Editors Journal:
L have not time to write very much,
but few lines at this time may not prove
unacceptable 1 got back yesterday
evening from long scout after Marina
duke. As usual, he skedaddled, and our
trip didsnot amount to much
But to begin at the beginning. Sew
eral weeks ago Col Clayton, who com
mands the post here, hearing that about
800 of them were encamped at Tulip, a
little place about fifty miles from here,
concluded to go and route them from
their camp. Taking 800 men from the
9th Kansas and 1st Indiana, with our
little guns, he started, attacked them be-
fore day, and completely routed them,
capturing number of prisoners, most
OF their train, a large number of guns
and sabres, and quantity of new cloth
ing they had just received. The force
consisted of fDobbins' and Newton's regi-
ments, and they were evidently prepar-
ing for raid on this place, but their
plans were somewhat frustrated by our
thus forestalling them. Smarting under
their defeat, and by a so much smaller
force, Marmaduke fitted out an expedi-
ton to take Pine Bluff and with so much
secrecy did he carry out his plans that
never word did we heariof it until our
pickets were attacked on, the morning of
the 25th of September, about s o'clock.
Your correspondent was quietly eating
his breakfast on the outer edge of the
city, where the enemy first entered. On
hearing the firing he rushed to. the door
and saw the pickets coming in, occasion
ally stopping and giving them a yolley.
1t did not take him long to consider what
to do, and for once legs came into good
play. How long it took him to make the
one-half mile between him and the court
house square | do not know, but am
certain he made telegraph time.
On arriving at the Court House, he
found all hustle and activity. The
square was selected as the fighting
ground, and the several streets leading
into the square were barricaded with
cotton bales, and the howitzers planted
so as to command each street. Lieut..
Clark of the 9th Kansas, who had started
out with small party that morning,
met flag of truce coming in. The Ma
jor who brought the flag wished to see
Col Clayton- ozark told him he
-oourd not receive it while his men were
firing on our lines, which they were doing
at the time. "Are You aware, sir" said
the Major, " do you know that have a
communication from Con. Marmadukr,
demanding the surrender of the placer"
E" Col. Clayton aud his command never
surrender" replied the Lieut. "If you
want them, come and take them, but get
away from this place quick, or | will or
der my men.to fire on you" He wheel
ed his horse, and putting spurs to him,
was soon out of sight.
Major Owen had been sent out with
several companies and a hewitzer to
check their advance while we could roll
the cotton bales out of the warehouse
and In proper position He held
them at bay for some time, until
we had got everything ready, when
the forces were collected behind
behind the breastworks, and two compa-
MES f and D, of the 1st Indiana, were |
placed on top of the Court House. The !
view from the cupalo was magnificent.
On every side.they could be seen planting
their artillery all aronnd the square.
Their forces were four thousand strong,
with twelve pieces of artillery To oppose
them we had six hundred men and six
howitzers. The skirmishers on each side !
were all busily engaged, and the sharp
crack of rifle and carbine could be
heard on every side. Soon, however.
the heavy artillery of the enemy
commenced opening out, and the !
crash of shot and shell, as they came |
tearing through the brick and mortar,
was anything but agreeable to those on
top of the house. Quite "a number were
knocked down by brick and mortar. and
at last Colonel Pace sent an order for
the companies to come down, as to bat
ter down the Court House seemed to be
their great aim and object
All around the lines now the work was
getting warm. The enemy, confident in
superior and overwhelming numbers, |
thought that few minutes close work |
would give him possession of the place;
but, after five hours fighting, enraged by
the stubborn resistance he met, he set |
fire to the town. Several blocks were thus
destroyed, but he soon found he could |
neither fight US out or burn us out, and |
about half past two o'clock he retired,
apparently in much disgust and chagrin. |
But he was not allowed to retire in peace. |
A portion Of the force was mounted. and
following up his rear, charged on them,
killing and wounding quite a number.
The result Of the battle may be briefly
summed up thus: our loss (both regi-
ments) in killed was 10, wounded %,
most of them slightly. Sergeant Tavoli,
of company B, had his neck and should
er torn off by a cannon ball; Corporal
Whitaker, of company G, shot through
the head by musket ball. Charles Steel,
(private,) of company G, had his leg
shattered by a cannon ball and died that
night The enemy's loss in killed and
wounded was one hundred and fifty,
we picked mp and buried 25 after the
battle was over, and quite number of
wounded 4
A few days otter the fight an expedi-
ton of 1000 cavalry started from here
to find their whereabouts We were as
far as Arkadelphia--the first three day Us
and nights out only getting six hours
sleep-but as usual, the enemy skedad-
died, and we returned without fight,
capturing 10 prisoners on the trip,
among them number of officers. But