Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1863-02-28
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HEAD QUARTEas lsT CoRPs. TRANs-SfIss. ARsiy.
Camp near Fort Smith, Dec. p 1862
COLONEL: I marched from Van Buren on the
Sd inst, with nine Thousand infRntry, two thou
sand cavalry, and twenfy-two pieces of artillery.
Lack of shoes and srms prevented me from
taking my entire force nv intention was to-
ed to have between seven and eight thousand
men and thirty cannon. / expected as stated
ct the time Ia dispatches &C. Department Head
quarters TO return Immediately after the engage
ment-haVing barely ammunition enough for
one battle. aud not sufficient subsistence and
! forage for seven days, at half rati0ns. Thee
meager supplies had been accumulated with ex-
treme difficulty, BY hauling in wagons Of the
! general train and Tegimints eighty miles-ny
transportation being very limited. the county
i-arouad me entirely exhausted and the river TOO
4 low for navigation These facts had made IL
certain that i must soon retire the greater part
Of my force toward Little R5ekf hence 1t
seemed important, for the security for what was
left, that Blount should be driven from bis posi-
ton.
Cane Hill a ridge of perhaps eight miles
length and FIVE miles width in the southwest
part Of Washington county, Arkansas, Just be-
yond the north base of the Boston mountains
Three villages are built upon it-Russellville,
BoGnsbOT0, and NeWburg-wldch almost blend
with each other, covering distance, as the rosd
to Fayetteville runs, Of three or four miles
The enemy's main body was about Newburg
The distance from Van Bursn to NewbuTg is
forty i've miles The Intermediate country is g
rugged and sterile range Of mountaius The
roads across it are gathered together at Van Bu-
ren, on the south side and at Fayetteville on the
northern. These places are from fifty to sixty
Eve miles apart, according 70 the route travelled
There are four principal roads 0ne bends 10
the right ard east with The valley Of Frog
bayou, cgosses the mountain, then follows the
west fork Of White river, aud strikes FaYette-
vile from the southeast Another, known as
the Telegraph road. proceeds for the most part
upon ridges, directly north The third leaves I
the Telegraph road twelve miles above Van Bu-
rem runs alcag the Cherokee line to Evansville,
and there branches through the Cane hin coun-
try to EayetteTille-its main trunk going north I
by Cincinnati and Haysville, to Fort Scott The /
fourth turns to the left from the Telegraph road /
at divers, nineteen miles above Van Buren, 4
follows the valley Of Cove creek to the foot OF |
the mountains, and, atfer crossing passes /
through succession OF defiles, valleys and pTa-
res, reaching Fayetteville iron a soutbwesterly |
direction
At Morrow's fifteen miles above Divers. the /
Cove creek road sends branch direct to New /
burg, seven miles distant Eight miles above /
MoTroHls, 1t is crossed by a road leading from
Hog Ege, Eve miles east on the Telegraph road,
to NeH3urg. Two miles beyond this, it sends /
q branch, by Rays mill, to Msysvillle, which
crosses the Cane Hill and Fayetteville road at a
distance Of two miles from the Cove creek road
IhIs crossing is seven and a half miles from
Newburg, and twelve and half miles from Fay
ettevills Two miles and 8 half above this
crossing, the Cove creek road and the Cane Hill
and Fayetteville roads unite. There is a rosd
from hewburg, by Rays mill 80 this junction
.he distance By the latter route being about tw o
miles greater.
The accompanying map may serve to make
.his description more Ineligible
Marnsdukes cavalry division formed my sd
7ance-moying on the Telegraph road, with de-
on those east and west of IT, Col
Yates Cherokee regiment was ordered to ths
'ieinity Of Evansville, instructed, when the
iung should commence. to move forward and
'ceupy certain mills Ia the Cans bill region and
0 attack the enemy's tssin; if retired toward
cincinnati. The balance Of my force moved on
he Telegraph road, and bivouacked at divers
N the night Of ihe 4th- There received infor-
nation that reinforcement Of three or fonr
thousand men had arrived At Cane bill, making
3ount's force fal'y equal 70 mine Oa the 53h,
instead Of getting to MorroW's as I had expec-
ed. We went but litils further than half way, ia
consequence Of some of those apparently m
lvoida5ie delays 10 which troops 90 ill-provided
IS ours are liable. Oa the 9th we reached Nor
'ow's. Ia the morning of that day, Marmaduke's
advance, under Col. J o. Shelby, encountered
ne enemy eaFalrys and dove them back, be-
7ond A5rrow's, to within two miles of New
Durg
There, from the crest Of the mountain to it's
oese, about sunset, sharp engagement occur
red, IN which Col j c. Monroe and his brigade
9f Arkansas cavalry, who bad relieved Shelby,
sTsetly distinguished themselves, charging
superior force Of the enemy's cavalry with bold
ness and Tigor breaking his ranks, and only
easing to pursue when recalled I had preYi- Z
1gsly ordered forward Hunters regiment Of Mis-
jouri infantry, Of Parsons brigade, Frosi's d.
7lslon, 70 hold the gronad which the cavalry
night gain This order was promptly execu-
ed Inc regiment was ia possession Of the
nights and deiies tbat might be used for snnoy-
ng Us before the skirmish had ceased. To make
ure Of this advantage, the remainder Of Parsons
,ngade WIS ihrown forward to the same posi-
len.
This being ths silps6 Of affairs, the several
commanders Of divisions were assembled, on 1
he night Of the 9th, to receive final insiruc- (
ions, when 1 learned that further reinforce I
nent Of from four to SIX thousand infantry. and !
1othousand cavalry, with thirty cannon, under
3Tigadier- General Herroa, was ct Fayetteville {
u the way to Cane hill, making forced marches.
il had been my intention to throw Marms-
d
1sYsVile branch, upon the enemy's lef. and {
ear, while I attacked in front BY the road lead
ne Iom MorroW's to Newburg. 1t now seemed :
vident that that plan would simply cause the
ssirement Of BiOuut upan his reinforcemants,
without accepting battle Il Efser the Junction {
6ould be effected. There was a possibility that
might By adopting q different plan, destroy
hs reinforcements, and afterwsrd fight the maiD 2
lody upon equal terms To Withdraw, without {
~ ali =
nd SO emsolden lie enemy IS 70 sasufe BIS e.
owing ne up His sudden co7eantraapn of g
rooPs 5uslhed TIE opinion thai q movsmeDt I
gsi3st me was intended Ia any event
luduencs3 by these considerations. / deter S
ainod 10 risk an engagement
~ ~ after repien.sh'zg bis camp ires. &
'arsors moved back to Monows, Monroe ye-
naming in position GA the crest of the mount- {
in, instructed 80 dismouut AMI skirmish as in &
lntry, at daylight, 50 as 70 deceive the enemy d