The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1863-01-22
GLORIOUS NEWS FROM ARKANSAS.

GLORIOUS NEWS FROM ARKANSAS.
Capture Of the Arkansas Post.
Especial Dispatch to the Chicago Tribuns.]
MEMPHIS, Jan. IA. 1868. 4
To Major General Halleck, Genersl-in-Chief
The following dispatch is just re-
received:
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF the MISSISSIPPI
Posr OF ARKANSAS, JAM IL, 1868.
To Major General Grant, commanding Department
of the Tennessee:
have the honor to report that the
forces under my command attacked
the Post of Arkansas to-day, having
stosmed the enemy's works. We took
. large number of prisoners, variously
estimated at from 1000 to 10000, to.
getler with all his stores, animals and
munitions of war;
Rear Admiral David D. Porter, com
manding the Mississippi Squadron, eff
fectively and brilliantly co-operated,
accomplishing this complete success.
JONI A. MoCLERNAND,
ers1 Major. Gen. Commanding.
You received, last night, all the facts
then known regarding Gen. Nc Cler.
nand's successful attack upon Arkan.
sas Post-since l have obtained the
following particulars: On Saturday
last the main portion of what was
Sherman's Vicksburg expedition, con-
veyed by the Louisville, Mound City,
Cincinnati and three of the Mosquito
feet, entered the Arkansas River
through the cutoff, about fifteen miles
below Arkansas Post, which is forty
miles above the mouth of the Arkan.
sas, placed in a sort of horse shoe
bend of the river, well calculated fol-
defense. A landing was made on Sat
urday, mile below the fort, under GOV.
er of the gunboats, but out of sight OF
those at the fort.
The gunboats then proceeded up the
river, took positions, and at about 8 p
m. commenced firing heavy guns upor
the defenses. The land forces arrived
on Saturday afternoon, and the bayou
was found interfering. A division sent
out for the purpose, discovered a way
to get over it; but met rifle pits.
These latter were fanked with some
difficulties, consuming the remainder
of Saturday. Sixty rebel prisoners
were taken. In this our loss was small
The fort was then in full view for the
next morning. While this was going
on on the land, the gunboats were
having small engagement on the river
fort, the rebels replying with their
heavy metal.
The first shell fired by the enemy
struck lieutenant of the 1l3 Illinois
and shattered his leg.
On Sunday morning, we found the
enemy, from the loss of the rifle pits,
had spent the night intrenehing. Our
forces advanced upon them, at so'clock,
over abattis, rifle pits, &c. As they
advanced in divisions, they also re
lieved each other. 1t was then found
that thousand rebels had reinforced
the fort from st. Charles. They were
held in check by these and old forces.
The gunboats and river batteries were
in the meantime fighting an earnest
duel, and for three and a half hours
this duel continued. On each side,
every nerve was strained for victory.
The forts classmates were made of
three feet of solid timber, covered with
railway iron, supposed to have been i'm
penetrable but the iron hail from our
heavy guns on the guuboats was too
mnch for them. The battered rails
tumblcd down; splinters from the tim
bers flew with fatal effect among the
Confederates. The second shot en-.
tered a casemate, and killed seven reb-
els; by another, a caisson exploded,
killing six more and nine horsos.
Withthis going on in front, there was
an advance Of two sections of Federal
troops in the reas. There was but one
course left for the defenders of Arkan-
sas to pursue. They must succomb,
and they did so.
The loss on our side, killed, wound
ed and missing, was about from 800 to
500. aEI
The rebels lost 200 killed, wounded
/. and missing, and 5000 taken prison
ers. Among the latter is General
Churchell, commanding the post.
The surrender was made at p. m.
on Sunday, not Monday, as you had it
last evening. Twelve hundred of the
rebels are reported to be on the sick
list.
During Sunday the gunboats while
firing upon the rebel works in front, in
ficted some injury upon our men ad-
vancing from the flank. The extent of
the damage is not learned. 7f
The prisoners are on their way up
Their rive and may be soon expected.
The rebels had excellent Notifications,
and some very heavy guns. They also
fought with determination.