Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1863-02-19
From the ie0th Regiment.
On BoARp THE STEAMBOAT JEssr X. BEEr.l
MISSISSIPPI RtyFR, Jan 81, 1863

Wv nOhHD Int 1IEhMbDhT JEhff ~ bttlN
MISSISSIPPI RfyER, Jan 81, 1863. ! !
J. A. EsrtL, Esq.,--Dcar Sir; When last
wrote you tried TO gi.c you short description
Of our fight at Vicksburg. believe also men.
! toned that we were then aboard our fleet the |
boughs of our boats turned northward-and that
! | knew not our destination or where we should
/ land Since that time, however, we did land,
and fought another battle.
! The morning of the 9th inst found US at the
mouth of White River, some fifteen or twenty
miles above Napoleon, on the Mississippi. Sat
urday morning, Jan. 10Th, the feet steamed up
Witc River about eight miles TO the Arkansas
Cut. oF-a channel leading from the White River
TO the Arkansas-passed through the Cut of into
the Arkansas up that river about thirty miles,
where We landed, four or five miles below Fort
Arkansas Post--a strongly fortified position held
by 5000 Rebels. They appeared to be taken by
surprise Mt our coming, for heads Of burning corn
on the river bank and other evidences indicated
that they did not expect us, If Mt all quite so
soon. They however showed no disposition TO
run or back down from fight Indeed II seem
ed MS though they felt quite safe in their position
The Fort is built on the north bank of the Ar
kansas, having river front of $50 yards. 1t has
several very heavy guns mounted on the side
next to the river, three l20.pounders, besides
other small pieces. These heavy guns were in.
tended to be worked against our gunboats. The
other three sides of the Fort were defended by
Rebels to man the works inside the Fort, leaving
5000 for operations outside, in rifle pits.
Our forces consisted of five or six gunboats,
train of some GO pieces of artillery-the heaviest
one being 6lpoundcr and most of the others
10 and 90. pound rihed guns-and about 25 900
men. Our boats had not long touched the shore
when the right wing. under command of Gen
Sherman, made circuit inland far enough not to
attract the attention of the Rebels, and took its
position above the Fort with the right resting on
the river Then the left wing, under command
of Gen. Morgan, took his position below the Fort,
his right connecting with Cen Sherman left, and
his left resting on the river below the Fort thus
forming a semi circle On the opposite of the
Fort were posted Gen. Lindsey's Brigade and
: company E (my company of the l20th Ohio, in
A sapport of one sccton-two 20.pound guns-ot
Capt. Fosters first Wisconsin battery. Thus
posted our army formed complete circle around
the Fort And thus the armies stood in position
on Sunday morning, Jan. llth
The morning was pleasant, cool bracing air
and an unclouded sky All forenoon it seemed
e as though both armies intended to enjoy peace.
full Sabbath but this opinion was soon dispelled
by the thunder tones of over 100 pieces OF deep
a throated cannon. About half past IL o'clock ouI
= gunboats opened. They were posted about three
i quarters of mile from the Fort within point
Blank range at every discharge, and their heavy
c guns made it tell feartully upon the enemy,
d works The whole circle of our artillery opened
# at the same time The Rebels were not idle, fol
they replied with every available piece they coull
bring to bear. During this fearful cannonadins
y the infantry gradually closed in. can only give
W you the movements Of our regment-the l2Otl
p Ohio--as its actions are about all that am ac
ouainted with. Its position was in the extreme
left of Gen Morgan's Wing in Gen. Osterhaus
division and Col Sheldon's brigade, on the rive
bank below the Fort--Col. French in command
); Our regiment had to march about three miles
e right up the river bank. from where it dstnbark
1t ed. We marched over two miles OF this distance
RS on Saturday evening, and at dark our men la!
80 down upon the field on their aims. Soon atte
daylight on Sunday morning Col French gave
the order to move forward The companies
70 quickly fell in and moved forward, taking po
70 sition m the reai of two sections OF Capt. Foster
Is lst Wisconsin battery, which were under thu
,6 command of his First Lieut. the Captain bein!
70 on the opposite side OF the river in commNnd o
Sc another section. Here our Colonel deployed tn
IS regiment in line of battle, extreme left rest
"a ing on the river and our right Immediately to tn
iS left of the 69th Indiana This position was hel
30 about one hour, when by flank movement to til
right we were formed in line of battle in the rea
and in support of the Chicago battery. This pc
sition placed US in advance of all the other reg
n, ments of our brigade. We had not occupied thi
~ latter position more than Is or 90 minutes, whe
" Gen. Osterhaus rode up and ordered us to NOV
in to the left so as to clear the battery, aud the
il. charge on doublequick and with a yell. N
: suuncr the order given than Colonel Frcnc
i" formed the regiment in double column, and thre
On forward two companies of skirmishers Gap
q. Downng's and Capt Conyer's) under comman
A of Lieut.. Eberhart, who led his com @and wit
y" 81 yards of the enemys works, and opened fir
e. upon them. The regiment now moved to the ei
an clearing the Chicago battery and Immediately i
ss front of Fosters, which ceased firing until til
J., regiment had CHARGED forward. The regimen
Ipl1l lInn and In laI .NF
on skirmishers, when we all lay down This Dire,
IL the whole fire of that side of the tort. No Rebe
es however, dare show his head above the works.
-, They stuck their guns over taking care to ey
:" hoit no part of their person but their hands, an
- appeared to fire AS fast they possibly could =
kc They done but little damage. however, as the
overshot US nearly altogether. Our skirmishcI
and front companies now kept up a continuou
fire The artillery oprued with more fury tina
everything right over our regiment as it lay her
within 50 yards of the fort. The enemy coul
ur not stand this long. The whole of their gun
en- next the river were by this time disabled by on
Co gunboats, and most of their artillery had bee
ct dismountcd by ours. Soon white flag was see
n from the fort, and all was over. The Coont
ur now gave the command, the colorbearcr, Serg
as Wallace of Capt. McKinley's company, ran fo
tn ward, crossed the ditch, mounted the works, an
an planted, first of all, the colors of the Tooth col
Us spicuously on the fort, The regiment followe
ne its colors closely, and the first to stand upo
n. the cnemy's works. This was more than our me
ng could stand aud remain quiet. Cheer after chez
he went up for our success and for field Officers
of Col. French in turn proposed three cheers for til
gallant boys of the l20th, modestly saying thi
ry to them belonged the praise.
an This victory will be one of the crushing blow
Int to the rebellion in the South west. Some of i
o. fruits are, over 1000 prisoners of war-near
lid all Texas men--the destruction Of one OF the
he imDOrtaut military nOSitiOns and the ODpnnu