The Portland daily press., 1863-07-21
Tuesday Morning, July 81, 1863.


A special correspondent of the Missouri
Democrat gives the following description Of
the battle which took place at Helena, Ark,
or the 4th July instant, in which the rebels
got a very severe drubbing:
AT half past three o'clock in the morning
the rebels attacked the Notifications around
Helena at every point, with the exception of
the lower lines on their left, having driven in
our pickets with great rapidity by the impeiu-
osity OF their charges. Our troops were pre-
pared for them and repuised every attempt
made by them TO effect an entrance into our
works, until eight o'clock, when, by massing
their artillery and infantry upon our center,
they succeeded in capturing battery Z, not,
however, until all but three of the men had
been either killed or wounded. The lighting
at this point was terribly desperate, and the
rebels were number of times repulsed before
they succeeded in gaining q hold on our
works, which, however, they did not long re-
TAIN At one time rebel captain had got,
upon the parapet when he was seized by the
collar by one of our priyates aud handed over
within our lines and taken to the rear a pris-
oner- The rebels had only time to spike one
gun of battery z, when the guns Of Fort Cur
It's were brought TO bear upon them, and the
LIST lndiany cavalry dislnounted aud charged
upon the rebels in the battery and retook il.
d.
and 35th Missouri, who drove back the rebel
force, retook the rife pits ia front of our
works aud captured 600 prisoners.
AT the same time the rebel charge was
made on the center, similar assault was made
in great strength on battery ID, to the left, and
the rebels were repu!sed with fearful slaughter
In front of batteries G and u our troops buried
800 dead rebels.
Parsons brigade, which fought stoutly
against us at these points, was nearly annihi-
lated, and Gen. Parsons himself was killed.
Battery was located ON what was known
as Grave Yard Hill, aud such it really was 10
the rebel division which sought to possess it,
Meantime, Lieut. Colonel Johnson, of one
OF the Arkansas regiments, made flank
movement on our left, for the purpose of emf
ladng battery ID; but some of our unengaged
troops lying on the river bank to the left
closed in upon them, and captured the whole
crowd. This closed up the battle, and at about
ten o'clock therfiring ceased.
The rebels made the best time on record
towards Trenton, and were pursued some dis
lance by our troops; but Gen. Prentiss' force
was insufficient 20 admit of long pursuit, he
had less than $500 under his command: but
the rebels have put miles by the score between
them and Gen. Prentiss' boys, and will not
trouble the latter again for many day.
Our troops were materially assisted by the
gunboat Tyler, which did effective service.
Capt Prltchard managed his boat admirably.
throwing 800 shell during the engagement.
Zen. Prcniiss expresses unqualified admiration
at the assistance rendered him by the Tyler.
The rebels started from Jacksonport to
make the attack, Prices troops having had
their headquarters there. Old Pap having
come to fresh grief, will probably retire from
the field. The magic of his name, find, is
considerably dmmed among the rebels
The rebel loss in this battle was terrible. /
nave been able To get pretty near the correct
figures from two different sources In the
first place our troops buried $40 OF their dead
on the field of battle; then nearly 100 Of their
wounded have since died in our hands; $50
oil their wounded are now under treatment at
Helena; $50 now lie at Trenton, 100 too bad
y wounded to be taken further BY the rebels.
Taking into account the number OF other
wounded, and the whole number cannot be far
from 1000. In fact, these are the figures stated
by DIR. McPheeters of st. Louis. who has
charge OF the rebel wounded, and who is high
In position in the Confederate army. The
prisoners taken by ms cannot be less than
1900, including 30 commissioned officers.
The Tycoon took up North 6l2 prisoners,
including sixty-three commissioned officers;
the X. Z. Wood PIP, including twenty commits
stoned officers; and the Silver Moon ia, in
Guiding five commissioned officers; aud seven
ty-fve prisoners are now here.
Inc ngures oil tile rebel loss may be thus
recapitulated: Killed on the field $50; wound
ed, besides wounded prisoners, 1900; prison.
ers In all 1900; total rebel loss $500; While
the total Federal loss, all told, killed, wounded
and missing, was only go.
We made very grand haul Of field officers
Among the prisoners the following have gone
up the river: Col. Bell of Bells Arkansas
legion, Col. Hoot of an Arkansas regiment;
oo III LEWIS WIS o. the llth Missouri regiment.
Inc following were killed aud their bodies
iound oy our men: Gen. Parsons, Gen. McRea,
1 20. Mcnea' MAY. McRea, Maj. Martin and
MAJ. Smith. thought this must be a mistake
In regard TO so many McReas being killed
but am reliably informed il is correct. The
zen. Mckea Is from Missouri; the Colonies
and Lieut.. Colonies are from Misissippi.
The rebels were well provided with artillery.
having eighteen or twenty pieces of the best
KIND, and their muskets were the Enfield and
other excellent patterns.
am informed by Gen. Prentiss that the
colored regiments here. the % Arkansas, did
,niooiy during the engagement, standing up
tt,s ~