Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1863-03-20
Operations In Arkansas and Missouri
HEADQUARTERS 4Tn DIVISION,
1sr CoRps, T. NJ. D.
Batesyille. Ark, Jan. is, 1868

Batesyille, Ark, jan Is, 1868
COLONEL Z In obedience to instructions
from Major General Hindman. marched
from Lewisburg, Ark, December 81,
1862, via Yelville, Ark to strike the enemy
in rear and flank with 600 men under
Shelby aud 270 men under Mcdonald.
Before Marching | telegrapfed to Leut.
General Holmes if it would not be best to
move up the troops under Colonel White, to
co operate in the movement, to which be
consented, and the order was given. Colo
mel Porter, with 600 men, moyed forward
for this purpose.
En- route in the Boston mountains,
Shelby attacked sixty tories and deserters,
killed twelve and captured twenty seven.
Mcdonald surprised. captured and burned
| Fort Lawrence, on Beaver Greek. Mo; OF
aud routed the rest-about 250-captured
200 horses, 800 stand Of arms, 10 wagons
and quantity Of quartermaster and COM
missary stores. g.
Shelby captured and burned the Fort at
Ozark. The garrison fed With Shelby
and Mcdonald, attacked Springfield,
Miss 'uri, and after eight-hours hard fight
ing, driving the Yankees before me and
into their strongholds, captured one piece
of artillery, "a six pounder) stockade fort
and a large part of the town, which the
Yankees burnt as they retired. At dark
the fighting ceased. The Federal force
there was 4 200 My loss was 20 killed
and so wounded. The Yankee loss was
much greater. I did not deem it best to
renew the attack, aud the next day marched
toward Rolla. The Federals scattered ard
! fed before me- | burnt the forts at Sand
Springs and Marsh6eld. After passing
through Marshfeld, [ formed junction
with Porter, who had burnt the forts at
Huntsville, and Lakewood
All the forts burnt were we'll built works,
generelly large "block houses" with stock
ade and good earthvorks around, SO strong
that one hundred brave men, we'll armed
could defy Thousand infsntry or cavalry.
After joining Porter, marched south
easterly, making my way toward Arkansas
At Huntsville met, fought, and drove in
the direction Of Lebanon, 1000 infantry
and 500 cavalry, under General Merrill
The battle was desperate. My loss was Is
killed 70 wounded; of the former was the
brave Mcdonald, 1t. Col Weimer, Major
Keitley, and other brave officers and men.
The Federal loss was also heavy The ene-
my sent in afsg to bury their dead. At
this place [ captured a caisson with am
munition. number Of small arms, and
about $50 great coats, which the Yankees
left as they ran off.
continued my march and reached here
to-day; will Tomorrow morning commence
crossing White river at this place and
twelve miles below.
Both men aud horses are worn oat and
need rest.
will forward >. desei,ed report of the
expedition at the earliess moment.
Respectfully,
j. s. MARMApUKE,
Brlgadier General Commanding
To Col. r G. Newton, Chief Of Staff, first
corps.
T. NJ. Army.
Ey-Thc N Y. Tribune in regard to
Genl. Hunters change for the culture Of
cotton by free African labor, to the culture
Of corn says:
Ore of the reasons fer the change is the
discrepancy between the financial profits of
last years cotton crop, and the government
capital invested in it, 1t is true, uncon-
trolable meteorological causes had most to
do with the unsatisfactory crop; but in the
present straitened condition of the national
finances. it is we'll argued, similar invest
ments of uncertain promise must be dis
couEtenanced."
The N. Y. Argus on the same subject
says:
It is stated that every pound of cotton
produced by the negroes at Beaufort, has
cost the government twenty dollars per
pound.
Thus everything these philanthropists
promised us has failed-eyery effort in the
way Of war, every enterprise Of peace. The
negro was to rush to the rescue Of our arms
but he did not! He was to sustain and
feed our armies but he is burthen on
them. He was to supply the North with
free labor cotton He fails in that. He
is now to be sent to raising corn, us if that
must not still more surely fall
E A bill was introduced in the YAM
kee Senate for the establishments of an
Academy for the education of colored
youths in the District Of Columbia.