True Democrat., 1863-01-28
The Situation in Arkansag.

Sinre writing cur brief notice two weeks aoo
 of the fall Of she Post wherein we expressed our conviction that the enemy would still never oct control of this river he bas made =, o+or,r+ ,,hat
 ever to uoso ere been since his success at the Post, D. srty of water for him to try it, at least
 portion of the way, and yet, while he has ascended White river with his gun boats and transports as
 high up as Des Arc, with the avowed purpose of marching upon this place across the country, he has not thought proper to attempt the ascent of the Arkansas river. Perhaps he has some idea of the difficulties attending such enterprise. The nav
 gation of the river itself, with its narrow channel
 rapid current and thousands of snags, would alone present many dangers and difficulties, but lined as
 it's banks have been, since the fall of the Post, by Gen. Walkers whole army, he will have sheet of
 i-e to pass through that will neither be safe .r comfortable
 No thought the Post of Arkansas an flpreg- nable place, and but few deemed it any lortiiica- ton whatever, to the river It has served it's pur- pose. The stout resistance there offered by three or four thousand brave men, to the force of the enemy numbering about 30, 1000. accompanied by their gunboats, has taught then lesson that they will not soon forget. They will be rore wary in encountering our whole army, composed of the same sort of stuff as the handful at the Post Our re liance is now as it always has been, upon the stout hearts and strong of our troops placed in such position that they cannot be oFerpow cred in deai They now occupy that position and we are conf dent that the enemy can never take the Arkansas river.
 By dint of luck aud desperate courage, if they possess it, they may get few gunboats past our troop. they did at Vicksburg last summer, but that wilt avail them nothing It will only subject them to the possibility of capture which will not only be possible but highly probable. We live on m uncertain river It may be navigable for the largest sized boats one day and in three days more down to low water mark.
 We have every confidence in OUT Generals. Gen. Walker, who has charge of the defences of the river below Pine Bluff, is known to be skillful, brave and energetic. The enemy that passes him will do it in a.crippled condition. Gens Holmes we all know. His hrart is A this cause, and it is with us here in Arkas:as. He is pure man and a patriot and will leave effort untred to drive an invading enemy from oEr-sol.
 Gar Governor has called for troops to serve in emergencies. We hope and we believe the call will he promptly answered. The people of Arkan- n ',notw thstandiHg the absence of 50 large num- . ,i them on the other side of the Mississippi l stiii pos ess both t5Fe numbers and the cour- ,ot to q rpose succassin; resistance to any abo l;7;,, f,r.o that can be sent against us. We have m fears for Le result. The liberation and saliva t;op If Arkans .s. VIC regard certain. The fall of an insignificant place Fbe the Post nay afford ,ronnds Of complaint to untrue men, but will only nerve the brave to renewed and stouter efforts
 There may be few in our Fa'dst who labor as eidouslv to impair te conf ence of tle soldiers n their officers. and the confidence of the people Tn .oth soldiers and officers. but their numbers are mall and their influence still smaller. They are o. nai,ints and do not wish our cause well. Let hem go. Open wide to the right and to the ieit nd let them pass down to the iniamy their conduct ,e,;ts Arkansas will be free without their aid or )untenance.