True Democrat., 1863-03-25
PoRT HUDsos, LA, Feb'y 1Tth, 1863.

EDITOR OF THE TRUE DEMOCRAT: The friends Of the 10th Arkansas regiment, now stationed at this place, may like to know mcthing of our where abouts. We left Ponchatoula, La., on about the last of December, for Camp Moore, Tangpahoa, where we staid but few days, Nnd as nothing of material interest took place during our sojourn, will pass to the sime of our arrival here, on the l3 January, 1863; at which time we struck camp sl- most upon the bank of the famous Mississippi rver and in close proximity to the Port Hudson and Clinton railroad We have all enjoyed ourselves better than might have been expected within vast fort6cation like the one we now occupy, and COR sidering the number of troops stationed here, we may not regard position as aHy thing but a healthy one. We have few cases of chilis and diarrhoca but all are improving and i'll good Sirts w have had weekly visits from tine Yankee gen. boat Essex. till within the last fortnight, but she has been careful enough not to come within range of our batteries. Our pickets annoy her from the opposite shore and she, in return, shells the woods, bu. generally without doing any damage. Two boats passed Vicksburg, the federal boat Queen of the w est and the gunboat Indanola. The Queen of the w est having been captured by our forces on Red river, ia now in the Confederate service. She Is fine river boat, cotton bulwarked, and will be of good service. We have completed on the same plan the Dr. Batty, which started for the mouth of Red river six days since, to get in company with the ueen of the Vest and the ram Webb, having arrived there on Sunday she, with the above named boats, with Lt's Smyers and Young. and several prvates of the 10th Arkansas on board, started in pursuit of the fed, ral boat Indianola, which was sn king her way back to the mouth of the canal below Vicksburg, with two coal barges in tow. Our boats overlook her the 2fh, about 10 o'clock at night; it being Very dark, boats did not d cover the federal boat till sie fired at them but without injury to us. Our gunboat Webb ran into the federal boats bow, which was iron, and without damage but to herself, which will be repaired a,1 hc ip1n amid the feds to haul down the stars and strpe5 and surrender to our little fleet. line federal boat h. danola was in a sinking condition when she sur rend cred and was lowed siI miles from the scene of action, (w!dch took place opposite Jeff Davis plantatier,J to sand bar on the Mississippi side close to Joseph Davis plantation. where she was left ill six feet water, all the vauables that could be moved at the time were conveyed to the Con federate boats and had 1t not been for the alarm of the Queen of the West, which WAS doing picket duty, the next morning, few miles above, the federal boat might, in all probability, have been now lying at our landing under the guns of Port Hudson. She was the second best gunboat i'll the Yankee service and WAS manned by about lo1 men and officers, of which l02 taken prisoners and sent to Jackeon Miss. II the round ns captured twenty five niggers, great n my small arms anc lances.
 You will have to excuse my short letter, aS the Yankees are advancing on the other side ot the rrer. We have sent troops over 10 meet them and they will receive warm reception. now hear tue federal boat Essex smelling below our bat teres and we may expect to see tho foe laying siege to our impregnsble fortress.
 Before the idle. of March shall have passed, the weapons of the soldiers of liber.y will be crossed with the followers of Abraham tirc first; then gil the gallant tenth of old Arkansas remenbe. the bat tie field of Shiloh and place anoth cT stsr Of victory in the coronet of our natiYe tate.
 Truly yours, IT. STEWARD,
 l0M Req. Ark Foi.