The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1863-02-11
Special Correspondence of the Chicago Times.
The Expedition up White River.
Helena and it's Vicinity.
an incident an Connection Nth "Free
Anaericans Of african
Descent" dc. +.t.-y
STEAMER SILVER WAVE.
WHITE RIVER, Ark, JAM 10, 'e3.


While the good people of Chicago are
attending church and properly observing
the Sabbath, the Army of the Southwest,
under Gen. German, commanding the
District Of Arkansas, is ascending the
White River, into the very heart Of the
enemy's country. The Wave is one OF
tho feet Of forty, besides gunboais. We
are now about forty miles above ST.
Charles, or nearly a hundred and fifty
miles from the mouth of the river, which
is deep, muddy stream, of about thirty
rods average width. The country thro'
which we have passed, SO far, is low,
swampy, and worthless, except for raising
wild ducks, geese, DC. The river is at
medium stage, with twenty feet of water
in the channel, and generally speaking,
more than bank full ''.o" ''"
f'i Gen, German left Helena last Sunday,
"A week ago to-day, with large fleet. A
heavy force of cavalry has gone across the
country to meet us. Col. Bussey, of To-
wa, is Post Commandant at Helena,
where about five thousand infantry and
cavalry are stationed. ''''+ '
Helena is the county scat of Phillips
county, Ark, and an important point now,
rs il was before the war began. The VII
lage contains about two thousand inhab-
itants. 1t is situated on plateau, backed
by n range of broken hills extending back
two miles from the river, where the finest
prairie country the South can boast Of
commences. This prairie is about one
hundred and fifty miles wide, and thickly
covered with splendid cotton plantations.
The planters are, or were, previous to the
war; very wealthy, their plantations and
negroes being worth an average of about
two hundred thousand dollars each. The
Federal pickets extend two miles back
from the river Beyond them all are en-
emies. Guerrillas swarm through the
country, picking off pickets from one to
thirty night. Helena itself is all Sc
ccssion. There is not n truly loyal man
in the entire county, except those in uni
form. .i'' .aafI -'l 'f'A .'.''a prov
Since the lst Of January the children
Of Ham are having hard time Of il.
They are free with no one to care for
them, nothing to live on, half clothed and
worse fed. God only knows what will be-
come of the poor creatures. COL Bussey,
Post Commandant, is true gentleman
and well liked. Prompt, courteous, and
business-like, he is good man for the po-
sition. Every day negroes are coming
into his camp with their lit:le bundles,
claiming protection and food. Thursday
afternoon the following actual event took
place: ''e .. ''''. ..".' 5''
J. B. Pillow, brother of the rebel Gen
eral, who has n beautiful plantation few
miles from Helena, and who was worth
half n million of dollars previous to the
war, came into camp, through the lines,
with one hundred and eighty-three ne
grocs, of both sexes and Of all'ages. At
the head of his servants, who followed
in single file, he walked to the Coloncps
headquarters, where the following CONVEX
sation took place: 80 30. 1900
GOOD morning, sir" w. a..
"Good morning, sir" .,,.
"Where is tho Commandant Of The
pcstr =" y. I.
"Beforc you, sir" ~.
"Wcll, Colonel, here is my. small
change, 10 The shape of free American
citizens Of African descent, which / dc
liver over to you. Hero is a correct list
of their names, ages, sexes, and occupa-
lions. Please send them on TO the Presi-
dent, with my compliments, and say to
him that, il he wishes anything else I'M
der my root, on my grounds, or in my
pockets, all he has to do is to ask and re-
cciyeY" '..". ''''. ID. 40 '..., III"
"Mr. Pillow, cannot receive, these
people, have no food for them-have
nothing for them to do-hayc not food
enough for our soldiers, hardly"
"And | cannot use them. | had ba-
con to keep them on, but it has been
stolen. had corn, but it has been COB
bled. Now, have nothing for them TO
eat, and, as Lincoln has turned this army
into niger boarding house, you will
please seat these people at your table,
But l have no such power"
"Then give them work. If you fail
to manage them, | will teach you. The
art can be learned in about thirty years"
II have nothing for them to do"
"Nor have /. You will not sec them
starve, | hope. am loyal man,
have been prosperous one, but can no
longer care for these people. You have
surely some use for them. Nearly all
trades are hero represented among the
men. The women you can find use for
somewhere" .......,. -.
"Well, / can't take them
"My Godl what will they live on?
Can you sell me corn and bacon? They
will staryo unless you do" Il.
No, can not" ,.t
And you can not keep them ?"
"No."
"Well, God only knows what will be-
come Of them" is t,{, .-r,....l 4
At the head Of his old servants he left,
and the free people followed him back,