The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1863-10-07
LITTLE Rock, = 20. 'ss::

~~Sss
coward the horizon, and while : dense
volume Of smoke and dust cnveiopcd o1r
gallant army, Gen. Davidson led his cavalry
Division into the Capitol Of Arkansas:--
Considering the boasts Of Gen. Price, made
so tauntinsly previous to our attack, it was
proud moment for our brave boys when
they caught glimpse Of the spires and
towers Of the city through the clouds Of
dust risen by the beaten and retreating foe.
A few days after the cavalry reconoisancs
at Bayou Metre, Gen. Steele came up with =
large command composed Of infantry, n.
tilcry and some cavalry, when preparations
were immediately made for sn attack on
Little Rock. The whole force was moved
from Brownsville across Bayou Metre on
the 9th and during the night a pontoon
bridge was laid across the Arkansas river
seven miles below the city. Before daylight
the whole army was in motion, bat not ia
the direction the rebels expected the federal
force would move. A aank movement
had been determined upon, so the cavalry
Division was thrown across the river to
fight the enemy on tho south side, while
the main command should engage himon
the north side. The entire command after
leaving Brownsville, made detour to the
left, thus avoiding the extensive and for.
midable works Of the rebels which had
been thrown up TO command the main ap
prOach to the city from the direction Of
Helena. Such a movem mt had evidently
not been anticipated by Gen. Price and lla
seemed apprchensive thst an effort was be-
ing made to outtlank him and bag his entro
| army; hence, he withdrew 10 the south
side of the river to engage the force moving
up on that side and retard their progress
as much as possible, while his train and
heavy artillery was falling back toward
Arkadelphia. This movement Of Price
threw the fighting, on his part, all on ths
south side of the Arkansas. Before our
Division had crossed the river the enemy
threw some shell over among Us, intended,
no doubt, for morning salute, ar ths
compliments Of the season." Why tbs
rebels did not give us a heavy fight at tho
river crossing, is more than can colEpya.
| hend. They could have planted batteries
so as to rake the bridge and the long sand
beach we had to cross. and caused us con.
| siderable loss in reaching the south bank OF
| the river yet we went over without dtfi.
| Guilty Doubtless our batteries along the
north bank deferred them from making any
| demonstration at that point at all events.
| they reserved their fire till we were over
aud had stirred them out Of their hi ling
| places IN the brush. M.a.s
The 2d Brigade, commin1cd by Colonel
j. NJ. Glover had the advance Of the Divi-
sion. and the lst Iowa cavalry. in command
of Mai. Caldwell, the advance Of the Brig.
ade. 1t was Go. ks turn to take the
adIancc Of the regiment, SO we were the
extreme advance OF tho entire Division. 1t
was a glorious time for old *" We re.
ported only AZ men for duty in the morn
ing report of the 10th, but when the bugls
| sounded ito horse we bad 50 MN in the
| ranks ,.. .. ..-
After crossing the river severa! Of the
| advance squadrons were deployed as skirm.
ishers and soon fcund the enemy in his
lar. The ground being unfit foe regular
| cavalry hshtng- the sabre charge-tho
men were disnountcd and fought with tho
carbne. At every attack ths enemy Tell
back and was closely pursued. our men
holding every inch Of ground gained in
the running fight Whenever the rebels
made stand and were pouring volIey after
| vollcy into our skirmiShers, our howetzrrs
were brought up, and, assisted by the ar.
tillery on the opposite bank Of the river, q
storm Of shot and shell was thrown among
them which had the effect of making them
lmher to the rear and hurry on towards
| Little Rock. At one place We met with
very warm reception. The rebels took
| position behind a high levec and in denSs
growth of large timber and underbrush.--
Here they had placed battery unseen by
our hankers and from that cover poured
murderous fire into our column; but the
fight here was of short duration. Our
howitzers were tErown forward and the
heavy guns from the opposite side Of tho
river 1T the same time sent shower Of
heavy shell over our heads among the reb.
us. Oar skirmsheIs We're in cornfield,
and within hundred and fifty yards of
the enemy's batteries when they opened
terrific fire. Under the crossfire of the
enemy 'sguns, Gen. DavidsOn's howilzers
| and Gen. Steele's battery across the river,
our skirmishers retired to the IN lin column.
Anil all this tempest of iron hail our men
sustained but tri fling loss. 1t seemed
miraculous interpo>itlon Of the Divine
hand in our behalf The enemy fell back,
we pursued a little further on conpa.
nies "a aud * brought off one Of tba
encmy's casonS containing $50 conical
shells. Bat need not give yoa all the
particulars in detail Of tins days fight
Our men fought the enemy for seven miles
and fought too against fearful odds, in
point of numbers. We drove the rebels
through and beyond Little Rock aud
bivouacked in the city limits. There was
not more than 5000 men crossed the river
to attack Price with brigades Of infantry
AID the cavalry force of Marmaduke. We
lost about SO men in killed, wounded and
missing and relieved Little Rock from the
thraldom of rebel rule which the citzens
characterile as tyranous hey ond endurance.
The enelny's loss ". hive no means of
learning with any degree of accuracy. He
is still on the retreat where or when no
will stop the most tar.seeing cannot con.
lecture.
During the fight there was ) large num-
Der of infantry regialents ON TIC opposite
bank Of the river witnessing the whole
scene in the distance. Some of the 9th
Iowa boys would have SWAIN the river to
help fight the rebels, il they had been al
lowed the privilege. l never witnessed
more enthusiasm on the battle field than
was that day cvinced by Gen. Davidson's
Cavalry Division. There is no doubt but
superior gene ralship seconded by .hs cool.
ness and bravery Of the of1cers and men
but proved highly economical Of human