Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1863-08-05
Letter from Bur!Ord's Regiment,
Camp u Pnrs0n'a IIfll' nr1r lWIU IA, I
1871 July, lzUi

unIn'cresiing.
After the return from the raid into Ms
souri, in the Spring, co', Buriord's Rsgi.
lneHt lay cncampcd nH G ol9l e Ridge that
most bcputiiui and abundant portion Of Ar.
Kansas, save pOrhnE, Washington and Ben
| ton counties, y, w. carnerl recruiting men
and horses. Allow me to say par palenthe-
I sic, that The !Ah Rcet was far from recpiy.
I Ing Justice in the reports OF ,lat raid.
cast blame on no one, hut such ia the feet.
1t IL n iact established beyond controversy,
: Il OF the iD,h Ecgt bore the Lrunt of that
entire raid, ever IN front driving thc enemy
before them on the upward mRvch, and,
like MnrShni Ncys devoted band lowering
around tho rear Of Napoieon's hosts, on the
retreat from Moscow, they were there found
at ali times Between the foe md our 10.
treatingcuinmns Impartial judgment las
accorded II the name of a Regiment Of most
gallant fighting men and officers.
But to resume. About the 10th Of Juno
we very suddenly received marching orders
fer Pine Bluff. Reaching that point We
| we're ordered 10 report to Col. ", H. Par
scns, and joined his command abOut 80
miles below Pine Blutf, Oh Boycu Bar;hcl-
omew.
The object lor the expedition proved to tie
TO break up nest OF fedcrale who we're
cultiyating cotton and corn in the valley Of
Bayou Mason und on the Mississippi, on
tie "iree labor system, that isto 5ay with
hired negroes.
Under the leadership Of our iesorycdly
popular and able commander (for he's moth
ing less we proceeded 80 cautiously and
securely (Which was necessary for the sue
cess Of the enterprise that We were actual
ly charging upon the eneu,ys strong hold
before they we're ut all aware of our ap-
proach This strong hold was q mound
about so feet in height and pcrheps 80
PAGES III diameter at the top which was
level and was situated in the midst OF an
extensive open field. Secure trenches
had been formed arOuud the ca,ire mound
in which the enemy took refuge. The Off
cial report has doubtless reached YOU ere
lhis, I shall therefore not give you the do
tails Of the figh!; snffice il that after q very
sharp engagement in which We lost three
men killed and several wounded, Col. Par
SONS demanded an unconditional surrender
which was acceicd to. Col. p. having Civ
en- the l9th the post of honor it WAS the on
~ Regt actually engaged, sustained by
Louisiana battery.
Col, ?. then led off with his Own Regi-
mcrt in advance il the direction Of Lake
Providence (ths mound being ten miles
be ow Lake Z. and I ! from the riYer) The
18th vas left in The rear TO support the bat
terry. while passing through q dense wood
covered with heavy undergrowth the head
of the column was suddenly fired nuon.
Forming his men proc pity aud coolly, Col.
T. threw forward his sharp shooters and
fierce engagement ensuod. Col. P. vac
every there in the midst Of it, and though
the balls ratified al around hin, he gave
his orders and directions az coolly as if hs
vas or drill Capt. Hawkins vas here Sc
verely wounded Col. Parsons Regiment
fought like veterans. They not only main.
tanned their ground heroieally against
greatly superior force, but constantly and
devotcdly advanced. The battery and the
10Th coming up the battery opened on them
the 18th was ordered to charge and com
plctcd the route 'aireody begun, driving
them square into Lake Providence under
cover Q their gun boats
The next morning Col. Parsons was him
self again under heavy fire, both of artillery
and small arms. Our pickets supported by
three companies OF sharp shooters, engaged
force OF the enemy across Tcnsas Bay OF
for near two hours. Col. p was on the
ground directing every movement in person.
We LOST several men killed and wound ii.
was by tie side Of Col Parsons through
out these several engagements | don't
know whether | was scared or not, but
do know lh&t das Iot loo Je45y scared TO
observe him closely. | tncw that he was
not scared. He watched every movement
and gave his orders as deliberately az
though he was in no danger. The raid was
4 complete success II resulted in thor
ough breaking up Of The neat Of Yankees,
the capture of some ftfeen hundred negroes,
four hundred head OF mules and horses,
two hundred stand Of arms, &C., &c.
The condition in which we found their
crops proves the folly of their system
Though one of the most fertile and produc-
tive regions Of the South, and having st
their command all the necessaries and some
of the luxuries of life, their crops were out
grown and checked by weeds and grass
They looked yellow and unhealthy, and
very small portions, if any would have
come 10 any sort of maturity, and this too
when they the negroes) had task masters
over them, though nominally free.
The faithful and most efficient surgeon Of
Col. Burford's Regiment, DR.. W. u. Dash
icl, OF kaufman, has kindly furnished NE
with report Of the killed and wounded Of
the Regiment, which | enclose.
Ii is not for me to partcularize cur Off
GERS. ] candidly believe that every one Of
them wss really ''eagcr for the fray The
10Th was under command Of that man Of
tried courage and coolness. 1t Col. y. W.
Watson. We had left Col. Burford in Pine
Bluff, TO the very great regret of his Heg't
for every man in II loves and esteems him
as nc ether Col. ever was esteemed.
JET.
You will find beiw a list Of killed and |
wounded Of the lsth Reg't Texas Cavalry, |
in The charge upon the "Nigger Mound |
early in the morning Of the 29th June last. |
and the charge upon the town Of Lake Prov |
idencs in the afternoon Of the same day.
KuLED.-John Humble, Co. A, shot in /
: h. neck Dickson Veal, Co. D, shot in the /
head; AnsniAs Patull Co. T. shot in the /
abdoman and died the night Of the 2eth.
WoUEDED-John Hoger, Go. ], shot in
the calf Of leg. died three days after from
James Mayors Go. D. shot in
the arm; Capt. Allen Beard, Co D, shot in