Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1863-10-03
" A R n L W S.


\ correspondent of the Chicago Times,
with General Steele. furnishes us with some
interesting particulars of the occupation of
Little Rock by .hc Federal forces, that have
not been published before:
Nothing could equal the panic and con-
fusion into which our sudden appearance
precipitated Little Rock. The streets were
filed with women and children, and knots
of citizens, listening to the sound of cannon
constantly growing nearer and nearer and
the shell from Stcele's batteries, which had
now been planted almost opposite the city,
shricking over their heads and bursting in
the woods beyond them were anXiously
discussing the question of their own safety.
Rebel officers, thinking themselves secure,
were eating their suppers in the houses.
The rapid rush of flying horsemen. the
clouds of dust, the glad hurrahs and gleam-
ing sabrcs of others dashing through the
dusty streets in hot pursuit, were the first
intimation of our near approach. Women
and children ran shricking to their homes,
the crowds of citizens quickly dispersed,
and Rebel officers mounting their horses
were captured While endeayoring to escape.
A second later windows were thrown up
and handkerchefs waved, and the curious
throngs gathered in the dOor-yards, closely
scrutiuizing each squadron as it passed.
\ squadron of cavalry dashed up to the
United States Arsenal as soon as our FORCES
entered the city. and arrived just in time
to prevent its being blown up by the Rebels.
! There was over a ton of powder in the
magazine, and two or three thousand rounds
of fixed ammunition in the various buildings.
Everything is uniniurcd, if alone except
the machine shops, from which the ma
chinery was removed some months ago TO
| Arkadc!phia.
| The public records were all removed some
months ago to Washington, and, aside from
! the bare State House and the law library
we found nothing OF the State Government
| The pcnitentiary was not touched. The
| prisoners were marched out leaving theil
suppers upon the tables, and all their clothes
and bedding in their cells.
The howitzers taken from Us were spiked
by the Rebels before we effected the capture
and were Immediately started for the trains
They were of the smallest pattern of noun
| tain hOwitZer, and are worth little in com
parison with two sixty-tours one twenty
-four, and three twelve Founders we captured
from the enemy.
The Mayor of the City at once forwarded
the following communication to Gen. David
! son -
MAYORS OFFICF, LITTEE Rock, Septem-
Der 10th, 1S63.-To the Gilicer Command
ing Federal Army The army of Genera
Price has retrea,cd and abandoned the
defense Of this city. We are now powcrles'
and ask your mercy The city is now
occupied alone by women and children ano
non-conibutants, with, perhaps, few strag
glerg from the Confederate forces. May
ask Of you protection for persons ant
property | have been i'll for some days
and am unable to visit you in person.
Very respectfully,
C.P. BERTRAND, Mayor.
General Davidson caused guards 10 bt
placed upon every street corner of the city
and to the everlasting credit OF his division
let II he said, that although they behel,
their comrades shot from their saddles from
houses in the suburbs, and entered the city
amid the gathering shades Of night, whicl
would have concealed of manner of crinIei
not single act of violence or injustice wa,
done the citizens of the place, or single
article of private property disturbed. Sucl
a record Is seldom made Ia these days.
General Steele and siaif crossed th'
Arkansas in skill, for the bridges wer,
not yet passable, and entered Little Rncl
soon amer General Davidson. The greeting
OF ihe two Generals, aud the officers sur
rounding them Was a cordial one, such a
can only be seen under similar circumstances