, 1863-01-20

as far us Little Rock, in the then existing
stage Of water. With them they took up a |
single gunboat, the Pontcha.train, formerly
known as the Gull, and New Orleans tow-boat |
Lizzie Simmons. This gunboat is still in ex-
istcnce and is the last Of the celebrated Mont
gomcry fleet that was met and 80 nearly fin |
ished By Colonel Ellet and Commander Davis
before Memphis. Three of tho steamboats,
were burned By General Blunt at Van Buren,
few weeks since, and two others shared q
similar fate ut the same time ut the hands Of
General Hindman. At last accounts the gun
boat Pontchartrain was in the vicinity Of
burned are there also.
PREVIOUS OPERATIONS.
: In the early part Of November last, Gen.
Curtis ordered ont an expeditionag
sas Post, with the hope Of capturing the po-
sition, with its garrison. Gen. A. p. Hoyey,
with force Of II, 900 men, moved from Hele-
M for that purpose, It had been reported
that the Arkansas and White Rivers were both
in fine navigable condition, and that the Cut
OFF was full. When Gen. Horsy reached the
White River lie WAS able toascend but short
AA2k~AAAeN 1NAVAN 4AN ANAAA u DAIt4EI ~ NlA 1lE-
ther progress. A. bar stretched across the
river near the head Of the Cut OF and effectu-
n1ly prevented NIL movements, After making
numerous soundings and finding that the ad-
vance was impractieable, the expedition re-
turned to Helena. No further attempt was
made until during the past week.
LOCATION or THE POST.
Arkansas Post is on the north bank of the
Arkansas River, fifty miles from its mouth.
It is on the first bluff that is seen as the river
is asccnded, and is the first white settlement
In the State Of Arkansas. It was founded by
the French in 1875, and for many years was
pers set out for their explorations Of the wild
region beyond: Previous to the war it CON
tanned a population Of not fAr from 500, and,
strange to Eay Of town in Arkansas, boastcd
Of school and printing office. Since the
war it has dwindled into place Of minor i'm
same time become one Of the noticeable stra-
tegic points in the State. At present the fort
located there gives it much notoriety.
TIE TOWN.
The Arkansas River is an exceeding tortu-
GUS stream, and in the last 200 miles Of Its
course is full ofsandhars. At this point the
river makes sudden and sharp bend to the
the bluff strikes the river. It's elevation is
about eighty feet and it slopes gently down.
ward from the river for half mile. Here It
disappears and ut its edge is a creek or bayou
enctrcling or nearly encircling the town.
Along this creek is a strip Of timber, but the
sloping high ground is bare aud cleared. The
town vas built directly at the outside sweep
Of the bend and commands a view Of the
| stream for short distance above and below.
TEE FORT.
Just below the town the rebels erected
their fort, placing it SO AZ to hare the best
| possible control Of the stream. The work
consisted Of heavy 1cfenses Of earth and logs
thrown together go as to offer the greatest
| possible resistance to an enemy. have not
myself seen the fortand am obliged to take
the stories Of those Who nTe not particularly
clear clear aud intcllgiblc IN the uaatter. From
| considerable extent and erected witt, the. der
sign Of repel1iug attacks from I'LL directions.
| It is yarionsly stated to mount Six, eight or
ten ga1s g9ns most sa'; Of them 50 Pounders or 81
the east face is Il 100 FOUNDER Parrott, capable
| Of throwing conical shot or shell to an i'm
mcnsc distance, with terrible force and accur-
acy. 4 portion Of the defenscs were construc-
ted Of rough and hewed logs, covered with
railroad iron. This was designed to protect
the gunncrs and Wcs supposed to be bomb
| proof
| THE TROOPS AT ARKANSAS POST.
| 4 garrison Of from 5000 to 1000 men was
necessary for lie proper defense Of the fort,
though It has at times contained less than that
number. At the time the attack commenced
there were less than 8 500 men, d force hardly
sufficient to defend it at every point slrlu1-
| taneouely. When 1t was known that Gen.
McClernand was approaching, the command
er Of the fort sent to st, Charles, on the
White River, asking aid Of the commandant
there: The latter dispatched two regiments Of
infantry, about ], 500 strong, which succeeded
inrcaching the fort only few hours before 1t
/ surrendered.
COMMENCING TIE ASCENT OF WHITE RIVER.
White River on the morning Of the 8th, and
1ay there during the entire day, On the 9th
he commenced the ascent Of the river, his
transports being preceded b. the iron clads
Louisville, Cincinnati and Pittsburg, with
three Of the light draft gnnboats. It was
batteries on the banks Of the stream, but none
we're discovered. If any there we're. the
rebels wisely concluded that their best course
was to remain silent. Not o shot was fired at
any Of the boats.
NATURE OF WRITE RIVER.
Tho White River is narrow and exceed
iugly crooked one, with waters Of q light
gray color, that girc the name to the strcam.
1t is nagigable for light draught boats through
out the year as far as Des Arc. In high wafer
boats ascend to Batesvil1e, and on few occa-
SIGNS have been up to Forsyth, IN southwest
/
flows between high bluffs and hills, and has
en- exceedingly picturesque appearance, hut in
Its lower course It winds through an alluyial
bottom Of considerable extent.
The Cut Offabout ten miles aboye its1nouth.
Is a passage into the Arkansas known rs 'thes
Cut-OH.' This passage is Of sufficient width
and depth to admit the steamers that ply on
the Arkansas and White Rivers. When the
White Is higher than the Arkansas, the water
fows from The former stream to tho latter,
and when the stages Of water In the two
streams is the reverse, the current sets the
other way. With the Mississippi higher than
both rivers, the water flows up the lower
White and through tho Cut-0G and finds it's
way to the Mississippi again by the lower Ar
kansas. The Cutoff leaves much Of that dis
mel Of that stream being exceedingly winding
aEd full Of snags and sand bars. Boats plying
! fiom Memphis, or above, to the Arkansas
Rt!cr, invariably enter by way Of the Cut-Of.
Going through the cut off Gen. McClernard
pushed directly up the White and into the Cut
on, the gunboats leading and the transports
following. The progress was slow as the
| stream is very narrow and many Of the boats
were OF the lnrgest size. It was necessary for
the line to bc as closely closed mp rs the safe
halts were made By the advance for this pur-
pose. Consequently 1t was nearly night when
they reached the rendezvous o short distance
below the fort.
THE LANDING.
Tho deba1kation Of tho troops commenced
at once, md Was carried on during the night.
The nature Of the landing was such, that there
Eas some difficulty experienced in getting
the artillery and cavalry on shore, aud The
landing had not been wholly effected at day-
Light. By the middle Of the forenoon they
were ready for the formation of the line Of
battle, and the advance upon the fort. The
landing place was little more thnn milo be-
low the fort, just around bend that conceal
cd our operations from the view Of the enemy.
/ THE GUSnoATs ATTACKING.
The gunboats moved up and commenced
vigorous attack upon the fort with shot and
shell. They were earnestly responded to bT
the guns Of the fort, which were aimed With
great accuracy. It seems that the rebels had
erected = series Of targets On the south bank
OF the river, and had previously tried their
g1lns upon these, so Us to get the exact range,
| Whcn the gunboats cnme between the tori
and these targets, the rebels were not obliged
to waste time and ammunition to find The
rnngc. The gunboats wero struck repeatedly,
but none Of them disabled. One shell entered
port on the Louisville, killing four men aud
| severely wounding several Others. Ono Of
the heavy nfojectiles from the fort pierced
| through the side. 4 shot entered the poft Of
the Cincinnati, hut so far Us can learn It
| caused no loss OF life.
TIE LAND ATTACK.
| In the meantime the troops were thrown
Inland and proceeded to assaii the fort. One
division moved 60 as to come In tho rear Of
sandy bottom that did not allow Of fording.
| After yn9n1v nffaYnpfiup IN rrnSc +h6r -