The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1863-09-29


fore leave that for another letter.
JED LAKE
HEAD Gas. 9TH Iowa, AsHLEY's MILL
Arkansas, Sept. 10th, 1863.
FRIEND Rich II last wrote you from
Brownsville on the 9Th inst. The eth
was then expecting 10 start for Little
Rock on the 9th. Instead we moved
our camp about two miles, in order to
get better water and more Off On the
9th inst. We received orders to march.
We were on the road in short time af.
ter receiving the order, and marched or,
of The timber that surrounds Br.,wns.
vile, and across a beautiful r.,sirie ahont
four miles wide, then INTO the incest
timber that | have seen since we came
10 Arkansas. Two miles further or
orougf., us TO Bayou Metre, being the
mrs. good water we had found since leav-
I ing White River, where we stopped fer
dinner. After crossing the Bayou we
entered wilder and mora dense growth
of timber which was filed with a thick
underground. Through CHS We march.
ed some six miles, and encamped on the
plantation o one of me wealthy planters
Of this region. Ills name l. did not
learn. In frJnt of this plantation was
Bear Lake, an extensive body of clear
wafer, being the first that had greeted
our eyes since leaving Cairo on The 2Oth
of November, 1862 On the 9Th we
moved our brigade to the front of Mai
Gen. Steele army, and eneamped about
O'Clock a. IN. at Asbley's Mills, on
Deer Skin Bayou. We staid at this
place until this morning. when we re-
! ceived orders to move at o'clock a. m :,
Col. True's brigade in advance Of the
! infantry, on the road TO Little Rock
Each man to take Two days rations in
his haversack, the teams to park as soon
AS they crossed the Bayou. About a.
m. we started. and after marching about
four miles we came to whore Brig Gen
Davidson S division ofcavalry was cross
ing the Arkansas River on a pontoon
bridge. The rebels had obstinalcly dis !
puted our crossing at this Point, and
there had been one Of the prettiest ar
tllery duels that could be imagined
When we arrived the rebels had skedad !
died and the firing ceased. Gen. Da
Wilson's division moved up on the south !
side of the river, and Col True's brigade |
on the north. After marching about
two miles Davidson found the rebels had |
made stand, and a severe skirmish en-
sued. The movements Of both armies |
ha loc
artiley was placed 10 position, and open
ed flank fire on the rebels across the
liver. After few rounds from our
guns huge dust was seen rising on the
road 10 Little Rock, and the shouts of
our men, and the dash of the cavalry,
showed that the rebels were max ing
long strides at double quick time for
Little Rock. Our artillery was again
sent forward and opened on them again
from favorable position. The column
was then put in motion and we soon
came to eartlworks recently erected and
abandoned BY the rebels. Our advance
guard found one man in the trenches at
work, the rest having left without mott
Tying him. la their camp was found
chickens and turkeys, dressed and on
splits before the camp fires, cooking;
dishes OF mush half-cooked. guns aban-
doned, and in fact everything to indicate
a very hasty leave taking About two
miles further on our eyes were greeted
by the houses Of the Capital of the State
Of Arkansas. In the river between us
and the town Law the burning hulks Of
five boats. The pontoon bridge across
the river here had been cut in twain and
set on fire, but few good swimmers
soon brought over the boats. extinguish-
ed the fire. and again the Arkansas Riv-
er was brldged. A litte before sunset
the Stars and Stripes waved over the Cap,
ital OF Arkansas. Al this writing, 10 a.
m, Sept. llth, 1868, Col. True's brig
ade are encamped opposite the town on I
the north bank of the river. Of the CT.
ty | cannot now speak, as | have not ,
been across the river yet. | did, how
ever, in common with several hundred
others, battle this morning in the river
The water is not deep bul is the cleares,
river water we have seen south Of the
Ohio.
JED Lave.
HEAnoUARrERs 2irm REc Iowa yoL'sJ /
Little Rock, Ark, Sept. -, 1863. a
FRIEND RICH The eth is still on !,
he north side Of the river opposite TO d
Iittle Rock We have not yet been per- Il
nlted 10 cross the river for the purpose i
# camping. From this side the town
ppears 10 be set on rocky bluff. that
ises very abruptly from the rivers edge "
o the height Of about fifty feet. On
scending this bluff you find the town
iualed Qua level plateau with nearly Z
Il the forest trees growing around the
uildlnss The dwelling houses are set