Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1863-11-03

may accomplish, il conjunction with Con,
gross, the relief so much needed. But nctwith
standing the failure of important bills, the ses-
sion just adjourned vii! not be without its use tc
the State and the causo.
GEN. PRICES REPORT OF THE BAT
TIE OF HELENA, Ark.
Owing 10 the uncertainty of communion,
tion across the Mississippi, the accounts Of
the battle of Helena, Ark, tina. have reached
lis have rot heretofore been as full and ez
piicit rs could be desired, and Yankee state,
ments have been circulated without authentic
contradiction.
An army officer just from the West has
pla ed in the hands Of the editor Of the CO.
iunhns Enquirer" a manuscript copy "f the
nfi .ial report of Gen. Price concerning the
battle at Helena, Ark, fought on the 18th OF
July last. The report, we believe, has never
been published. As there may be portions Of
it that ought not yet to be published, we
shall extract only the account Of the fight:
Gen. Prices report is dat'd from hi head
quarters on Jones' Lake, July 18Th, 1863
After explaining the cause of some delay il
reaching the vicinity OF Helcna--which were
luc to heavy rains and the nature of the
Countrywide command reached a point With
in fire miles of Helena on the evening IF the
81 IL. when LIT. Gen. Holmes assumed i'm
mediate command, detached Marmaduka's ii
vision Gram Gen. Prices command, and left
him but two brigndes-nne Of Arkansians. un.
Ter C Mnmand of Brig. Gen. McRae, the other
rf Misscurians. under Brig. Gen. Parsons
We copy from the report:
The order of attack directed that I. "i:
command OF Mrltac's and Parsons brisades,
Should proceed by the best rnurc, assume nn-
Sition, assault and take rhe Grave. Yard Hill
at daylight.3 I made my disposition accord
ingiy. and moved at midnight, with Parsons
brigade in front.
AS my rUute lay for the greater part Of my way
across abrupt hills and decp ravin"s. over which
it WIS utterly impossible to move my artillery
during the darkness. l ordered the pieces to be
left behind until day break, ordering details from
earh battery to accompany The infantry. in order
to command the guns which expected to cap
turc
Finding. when I had gotten within a mile ana
n half Of the position which I had b.en ordered
10 taxa that my division wonld arrive on TN.
ground prematurely I ordered a halt, during
which the Lieutenant General commanding
came TO and remained with the division until til.
lawn of day, when the line of march was r..
sumel Thnn pushing forward rapidly until my
.kirmishers had become engaged with fhosa o.
tho enemy, nnd within a half mile Of his works
he trnops were formed into two columns of dis
visions. Parsons brigade occupying the RICH:
moving in front.
The enemy'S FIRE becoming somewhat SHARP
IT this time, the guards who were conducting
he columns took o~ccasiOn to leave unperceivcd
.one confusion and consequent delay ensued
ont another guide having been obtained the
head Of the column soon occupied the pcsj
inn from which the assault was to be nude
\ brief halt was here made to give the troops
time to recover somewhat from the cxhauStna
f.tigurs' consequent upon their mrrch over (;
uccossion of almost precipitous and heavily
ycnled hills.
A portion of the report is here devoted tt
he recital of causes which produced delay il
making the ASSAULT as quickly us ordered, and
:aused some change IN the original plan Of az
lck.
Both b7igades moved forward on the instant
.4pidly. steadily, unll nrhing and in perfect
rider, under a storm Of grape, canister and
minnie balls, which were poured upon them
mt only from the Grave Yard Hill in their
iront. bur from the fortified hills upon the
.lsht and left, both OF which were With
.a-y range. The enemy grve way before the
mI.etuars assault of the attacking column.
which entering the work almost Simultaneous
Y, PLANTED the Confederate flag m the summit
# the Grave Yard Hill. Each brigade had
lone its allotted duty with equal zeal, dero.
ion and gallantry, and each is entitled to tn
equal III re of the honor which justly at
lches to these who discharge. their du:y as
hose men did fearlessly, well md successful
~.
. Being in possession of the hill, and finding
ha. the captured guns had been shot-wehged
[ directed nv chief of artillery to bring for.
yard the pieces which | had left behind
This he did as pr mptly as the difficulties of
he ground. would permit, but not until it was
% late 70. them to be used in the action
Meanwhile heavy fire vase nc antratsd upon
he hill from D sitions uhi;h he enemY still
continue to hid to holi and rom The hill
-.,de and ~ravines. under cover of which their
.h4rpshootsrs delivered a very ~efertive and
sell directed fire, whilst the gunboat which
nv in front of the tnwn kept up an uninter
hitting discharge Of its heavy guns.
Perceiving at once that the snrest way to re-
iiave my men from The disastrous eff ct of This
Ealing fire YVES to aid Gen FagaD TO take the
nrmv's works upon my left. and receiving in
ornn:ion a. the same time that that gallant ofi
Ger had been r~epulsed in every attempt to assault
h. SO works I sent to Gen. Parsons an order
~lirectire him 10 move his brigade forthwith to
he reinforcement. of'G-n. Pagan. He-rep'iad tn
The officer by whom l sen. the order, that mcRa
(. ho was by bis side at the time) wonld with
nv permission. 60 to the assistance of Gen Fa-
ta". whilst his (Parson's) brigade, being tn"
str ne r of he two. would hold the graveyard
nill Before this reply was brought back TO M
T sent another to my staff BY direction ofthe Lirn.,
General Commanding, to deliver to Gen. Parsons
an order similar to the one already sent.
Gen. Parsons reply having been meanwhile
received, another order was sent directing him
., hold the hill: Gen. McRae To reinforce
zen. Pagan as rapidly As possible with his
brigade. tt soon became obvious, however
hat the brigade had been 8" much weakene'
" thcr heavy losses in killed. wounded. and
H.r5irularly 10. prisoners, the mist of the lat
.r having been captured in the immediate vi
.inity of the town, whittier they had gone
Without orders from me, and by the strag
ding Of those who were overcome by thirs'
md the intense heat Of the day, or who had
hecrme disheartened BIZ the failure Of the 9th
er ass 'ulting c"lumn, that could not senc
nv effect We aid to General Pagan Without toe
,-ea ly e~ndangeriug my own position. 1twa
equally obvious that unless such aid could bs
promptly sent to Gen. Pagan. the general at
| sack upon Helena must fail. Is was unse,
| these circumstances that l received On order
from the Lieut.. General Commanding to with
draw nv division. In compliance with thi'
order nv troops were Withdrawn To a poin
about four miles from Helena where the,
rested for the night and resumed the maref
hirher on the morning o fthe 5th.
The Lieutenant General Commanding wa!
! himself witness of the conduct of my division