True Democrat., 1863-01-28

burg. Receiving none, at eleven a. m, went for ward about two miles, and overlook the marching column. It was painful to observe the exhaus- i ton of the They had marched nearly ff- teen miles. None of them had eaten since the pre- ceding day. The rations of all had been insuffi- cent for over thirty days. Many overcome with l fatigue, were left on the roadside
 | Brig. Gen. ShOup met me, and stated that Mar. | maduke was falling back before the enemy's in- l fantry, which advancing, and that he had therefore put his division in position to resist at tack.
 I found the position taken by Gen. Shoup an ex- | ceedngly strong one. It was upon the edge of hill, densely wooded descending abruptly to Craw- ford's prairie, half mile in width, winch eacrced all its northern half. Five hundred yards in rear was another prairie. Between the two, on the right and left. skirt of woods connected the tim Der of the hill with that beyond. The Cane Hill and Fayetteville road cuts the centre of this hill, passing by Prairie Grqve church which is upon it's summit. A cross route, from the Cane Hill and Fayetteville to the Cove Creek road, passes also Immediately by the church, dividing the sonth pra, Tie from the growth upon the hill. By the time | had completed my reconnaissance of the ground, a regiment of federal cavalry, with two pieces of artillery, opened fire upon the captured train and prisoners, that had been ordered towards Morrow's. and also upon hospital established by my Med cal Director for the the treatment of the wounded | of the federal cavalry. No loss ensued ard this force retired rapidly, upon observing Parsons brig ade. Shortly after, dense columns of smoke, in the direction of Rays Mill, and between there and Newburg, indicated that Blount lad retreated has ty, destroying his stores, and Was moving to unite with Heron.
 imme lately ordered forward Parsons brig ade. BiOunt's aGyaF-ee soou appeared upon the farther side of Crawford's rrairie. The interval of time in which might rave attacked Heron was past. Circumstances i'd not permit me to avail myself O. 1t, for the man lfest reason that at the favorable moment, the ear of my column could not be where the head of it was. Evidently, the combined forces of Blcunt and Heron would spec dily attack I made such arrangements as seemed best, to meet that contingency. The line of battle determined on was nearly in the form of horse shoe, conform ing to the shape of the hill- Only Shoups division and Shelbv's brigade of Mar. maduke's division ,-the latter dismounted,-were at first placed upon that line, filling the centre and right, opposite u line taken by Heron, which was upon the a'.ther side of Crawford's prairie on binft that ros up steeply behind stream flow ing into lIlino $ river. Frosts dvsion,-to which had been ad Jed the brigade of Texans, with Clark's Mis sQuri regiment commanded by Brig. Gen. Roane was held in reserve, to await the movements of Blount- McDonald's regiment of Missouri lvalry, and Lanes regiment of Texas cavary,- the latter commanded by Lieut-Col. R. |. Crufnp were held in readiness to meet any at tempts W oon the Hanks.
 Abea' twelve, the enemy opened with artie cry, to which urs began responding, but this prohibited. At one ?. m., aided by a-tremendous artillery fire, theinf antry of Herron's g command advanced against the ? ,sition held by Shoup and Marmaduke. It was permitted to approach within sixty yards, and thH as it charged. rushing gallantIy past one of our batteries, and having it for a jment in pos sion Fagan's Arkansas igade, part of Mcl2aes v gade, and the Missourians under Shelby, deliv red terrific fire from their shot guns, rifles and muskets, and charged the enemy iuriousy. flaw thorne's regiment Of Arkansians retook the bat
 I L al sued them far into the prairie. The slaughter was great,-the earth in many places strewn with fede- ral wo led and Getd.
 Very soon, the attack was renewed a little farther | 10 my ght. with great vigor and determination. | I ordered Shsver's Arkansas brigade of Frost's division, to the support of Gen. Shoup. The enc my was again repused with heavy loss, and retired | in confusion.
 Bount had now formed line of battle, two thou sand yards to the front and left of ShoUp, and commenced advancing. l ordered Frost's division formed on the left of Marmaduke. The thick dergrowth on that flank rendered it difficult to ecute the movement, which was further embarrass- cd by the well directed and destructive fire of the enemy's batteries. There was, however, no con | fusion. By the time Frost was in line, the enemy was nearly tho r-"-ie. and 2pr s!! irmshGEs ep2ag%eds %es hdrected agaifst Parsons brigade l. was fierce and prolonged but ended in his being driven | back in disorder, with heavy losses One of Mar | sourian,--shared the honor of this brilliant | achievement.
 The enemy now brought up all his artillery, mary pieces ofwhich were rfed, and endeavored to shake our troops by playing upon entire line for nearly an hour. Then he attacked with all his infantry, at the time threatening the ex- treme left with heavy cavalry force, and attempt ing to turn the right. McDonald's Missouri cav airy defeated him in the last mannuvre ;-Lanes | Texas cavalry and Roane's brigade deterrcd him from seriously assailing the ft;-and Shoup's division, Shelby's brigade. of Marmaduke's diyi- son and Parsons and Shaver's brigales, of Fros's division, goriously repulscd him in his desperate attack upon their lines. lIe again fled beyond the prairie, leaving his dead and wounded, and the l colors of several of h;s regiments in our hanGs, i besides a number of prisoners. Some of these Were ascertaned to be of Totten's division, which had arrived upon the field, still further increasing | the disparity of forces.
 In the midst of this struggle in formation reach ed me that considerable body of federal cavalry was approaching Hog Eye, to which place I had ordered my trains. I directed the wagons retired on the Telegraph road, to Divers. This was done, without loss.
 furious cannonade was kept up Iy the enemy | till near sunset.
 Then a last attack of his infantry was directed against the line held by Frost. This most determined effort to retrieve the fortunes of the day. It signaly failed and the enemy pafd deary y i in killed and wounded for the attempt. At dark the battle closed leaving masters of every foot of the ground ou which it was fought.
 Our loss, in killed, one hundred and sixty l four I64) );--wounded eight hundred and seven- teen (8l7) );-rnissing three hundred and thrty-sx (336)
 The enemy left not less than four hundred (400) dead on the field, and his wounded certainly ex- ceeded fifteen hundred (l5O0) The number of prisoners in our hands two hundred and seventy | five (275) including nine (9) officers. We also captured five federal fags and over five hundred small arms, with twenty three wagons, containing clothing, and camp and garrison equpage In voices of this property have been forwarded
 Of all the troops engaged on our side, Adams Al kansas regiment alone dishonored itself It was we'll armed, ably caaamanded, and surrounded by good soldiers from the State, setting it example of courage and pataotisn But after de livering single fire, the greater part of its men broke ranks, threw down their armsand shamefully fled many of them even deserting to the enemy. The field and staff offieers,--who had been appoint ed-rallied about seventy five around the colors, and these did much to redeem the reputation of the regiment With but few exceptions, the com pany officers exerted no influence.
 The other troops disp!ayealhe greatest courage, constancy and enthusiasm There was no place of shelter upon any porto of the field. Wounds were given and deaths inflicted by the enemys ar tiery in the ranks of the reserves, as well as in the front rank. During five hours, shell, solid shot, grape and canister, and storms of bullets, swept the entire ground. Many gallant officers, and llv br,,- fai 1oa1 or