New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-08-19
LETTER FROM WsJ. GEN. BLUNT.
The BaItlc OF Honey SPRING. TTibute TO
NcIgo valor.

III, Loorsnworh Conservative publishes the
forlovin private letter from MAJ Gen Blnnt written
10 friend il that city Apart from the description Of
the Honey Springs battle II is Of interest as paying
tribute 70 the yalor Il negro troops The following are
the material portions Of the letter.
HE.paraR1FEs DisrKIcT oF THE FRONTIER, /
IN ne ficd For Blunt {. y. July - laoJ)
DEAR FmENp. The boys have probably written You
concerning trip down here and 81 TIE hHte "i VI"
nth have been pressed with official business beside
being sick This j. the rcusou have not written no
fore. Ny health Is quite good again now though ihe
Fat boy has osi about thirty pounds since len'ing
Fort scott was taken sick on the liih, ana on thc
18th at midnight got ont u sick bed win burning
fever and taking three II my sah ierTied over "fnI
River got 30 cavalry and two hoVilcrs ana :" "uh1
guns marched thirteen miles up the Arkansas iorded
the river in tie face q the cucmys plckc- PAsse.
down on the south side 81 the crossing ~ the mouth OF
Grand River opposite Fort Blunt expecting 10 come ~
tho and capture the enemy outpost pH' e! N'n
got the scent aud had skcddadded ~ ., ~ III.
had learned that Cooper Wa On Elk creek, - mil
south Of the Arkansas with 90 men and was 10 y.
r. enforced the next day lsth) BY 1900 men from ioi
Smith when they expected 90 move upon thls pih,e'
Immediately commenced crossing ny forces ~ u,
mouth II Grand River feryug Tie infantry on boats
had but when arrived here and found the river high
The column moved from the south bank about ~
O'Clock y. m lees than ZOO strong ana l. pio''s u
ARTILLERY TIE latter 81 very poor qnhli!:
Al daylight came up with their advance Eve miles
ihi- tide II Ilk Creek AID drove thcm IN A'lt M
TIE time with tie advance guard and wniehed and 81
rcrirt.nded every movement l uAs playing dee.
pernfc game and DID not dare trust 90! one pm"
with small party | wcAt forward and fcconhoiieI"d
NOV wcrs formed ON tie north side u the timber u
Ia Creek which formed partial semi circle TIE F'gd
running through The center Tie Timber here was 4u',
lruriy AID formed % complete cover iuI lirm uu'
lnd watched them iAAv tAe.r position. and Ate" ih'
game Wa there lul Hs TIE prisoners Li'r sihc"
told mc they thought iaey lad avery soii snap when
thry sln us approaching ald intended 10 g"ru" u'
~ certain. could irt trl where utlr hitHfIt was
i,d isl 10 Was masked b. thc timber Pot soon fouhG
OF Dos f.r bark as my uiiir Ntlll'd C@lsh. s|.,d
Id L.d them halted behind lfile f-s Of ground 90
rect and taio lunch i,n NOR L''.I,'cs-. Aii,i
tlcy bod rested | went llck among ihc officers and
utl ~ tlc different commands. and i"d them WHAT
tvlt,f'd - t,nl Tie! N-4c Low about Oh, A'A 'A''
from thc Rebel N,g
About lO O'Clock Boz tie morning formed tAem ID Two
columns one under Cob Jldson 90 10 iif i u ae Io'
and The oiicr under Col Philips on tie left The col
umls were closed IN MACS Infantry 10y companies el'
ally hy piAtoour and artillery ly sections WIN te cav
llri in de- font moved Up Ills way 20 within our
hundred wards u their guns. when suddenly d'poyed
DE column into line on hs night md leii aud n n'r
minute ny entire force Wa 10 line II bait" covering
tAc W ho.r rebel front without hating "a moment, /
moved up ia line going myself 100 Tie advance {" en-.
courage tie men. sooH my shirmisllng DE" Their
ire and now the fln commenced.
The cnvulry WHO were on tie TANKS dismoutt'd.
and fought them foot with their cnfbncs. lie ~
tack one 4 the preiict Affairs ever witnessed.
They an moved up 10 the Rebel lines ~ cool ana steady
40 going uu dress parade encouraged item To push
iuto lie timber and engage them az close quarters
which they did with viii for two hours Inc Tnt" OF
musketry and artillery nccssant uniii at nst thcif
line gave way and became rout
They made quite formidable stand NJ Inc bildGe on
the creek but repulsed Honey springs the mead
quarters II Gen Cooper Was two miles sonth oil where
Tie battle commenced on the south sldtf OF Tue Thinner
and when they commenced their retreat they set IRE 20
MI their cdmuissary building and destroyed all their
supplies. followed them uP until my artillery horses
could draw the guns 10 further and Infantry ana cav
olry we're all PLAYED out with utiguc. Jecir nlalr!
sul lowered on tie prairie IN my mont and about
o'clock p. IN Cnbe came up with his JVO re'ehioree,
m,ufs Nv ammunition nearly exhausted but i
hivouncked upon the field MI night determined 20 give
them the best turn had IN the morning II they we're
not set -atisicd but daylight revealed the fact that
they Ind all "skcdndd,d"
Their loss upon the field which We buried. was $50
and 10 or 20 have since died of their wounds. Parties
who have come In with flag truce say their wounded
j. between so and 800 and they all Acknowledge thht
they were badly ihrashcd.
Thcy had no knowledge that was IN the country.
uptill they learned " the fight some of the krhtl
officers when taken prisoners asked who was ia com
mnnd and when told replied that they thought either
Uuuf or the Devil was there"
Ihaye about hiiy prisoners oil Texans among them
ecycrnl commissioned officers. They are much surprised
M e treatment they receive they I'll expected to be-
murdered If taken prisoners. Cooper cent me very
warm letter of thanks for the care had taken Of his
wounded aud the burial Of his dead. They continually
oyershot my men. which explains the comparatively
small loss If side. one Texas regiment went IN
with three hundred men and came out with only sixty
This regiment was opposed Ia the LIST tulorcd and
the negroes were too much for them and let me say
here that never such fighting done rs was done
y The negro regiment the battle of Honey Springs
They fought like veterans, with coOluess and Nalor
fiat il unsurpassed They preserved hoir line perfect
throughout the whole engagement and although IN the
hottest Of tie fight. They never once ialtered Too
uuc praise cannot be awarded them for their gaaItfl
The duc ston that negroes viii fight is settled besides
thew make better soldiers In every respect than any
troops | have ever had under my command Among
arms. mostly English Enfield rifles aud stand OF
Rebel colOrs.