The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-01-24
The Federal Victory in Arkansas,
INTEnEsrINe DErAILS.


The Memphis Bulletia Of Wednesday
has the following, direct from parties ar
rived at Memphis from Arkansas Post, /
on the despatch boat Kellogg:
On Saturday the main position of the |
enemy was attacked with the-three IRON
clad gunboats Louisville, Cincinnati, and |
Mound City, and three light draughts,
the latter having entered the Arkansas
river from branch Of the White river,
which approaches the fort forty miles
above the mouth. Arkansas Post is a
place situated at favorable location for
defence, on bend of the river, of ir-
regular, horse shoe shape. 1t has for some
months been much boasted of by the
Confederates as q spot so fortified as to
be extremely formidable At point one
mile below the fort, where persons in the
fort were unable to see what was done,
troops were disembarked. Gunboats
proceeded up the river, taking positions
above the fort as well as below, SO as to
be able TO rake il with their heavy pieces.
The land forces, meantime, arrived.
The rear division, under Sherman,
found, in proceeding back to some dis
tance that bayou hindered progress in
the way desired, and he returned and
chose 4 route more favorable for intend
ed operations. Another division, mean
time, took up line of march somewhat
nearer the locality of the fort, and es-
capped the obstruction of the bayou.
Other instructions existed, however, in
the shape of rifle -pits, which it became
necessary to flank by advancing TO the
furthest extremity from the river. This
was not done without considerable
skirmishing which consumed the re-
Inainder of Saturday. There was some
loss in these proceedings, and about six
ry of the enemy, most of whom were
wounded, got into the Federal lines by
mistake, and were taken prisoners. 1t
was nearly dark before the Federal
forces had so far advanced as to have the
fort in full view, ready for storming next
morning.
While their operations were proceed
ing on land, the gunboats had taken po-
sitions, and little before dark a
smart artillery fight took place
which the early closing in of dark
by the enemy struck Lieutenant of the
18th Illinois, shattering his leg. The
next morning the land forces found that
. the enemy, having lost their rifle. pits
had thrown up new intrenchments
These they proceeded TO attack, and also
to secure position above the fort as
we'll as below. The ground near the for
was found Invested of timber, except il
II particular portion, which was usefu
u for cover, and PROSTATE trees and brusl
were so disposed as TO present the great
est possible amount Of obstruction.
AS the two sections of attacking lane
forces advanced, they decreased the dis
lance between them more and more, ap
preaching the position of surrounding
h the fort. A reinforcement of two thou
sand men arrived TO the rebels from For
Charles, on the White River, twenty
five miles distant by land, and it wa
with difficulty this force made june
ton with the main body Ofrebels
u. They succeeded, however, by taking ad
vantage of the shelter offered by a ra
vine. Meantime the casual firing Of ar
tillery from gunboats, and in reply
which had been partially suspended b
the necessity of supporting the land op
nd eratiOns, grew more vigorous, and at on
o'clock heavy firing commenced betwee
the fort and gunboats, and was sustain
ed three hours and half so incessantl
that there were only occasional inter
walls at which the strained ear for a sec
ond was relieved from the thunderin
roar. The casemating of the fort pre-
" scented formidable appearance, whic
o. seemed to some extent TO justify III
Boosting that had been made of its i'm
st' penetrability. There was a thickness
Il, three feet Of solid timber, covered wit
- railroad iron, the whole looking as if
nd could resist the utmost force of canno
shot
To the deep dismay of the defender
of the Post Of Arkansas, the balls frol
the mOnstrous guns of the boats shattere
M their most formidable defences, and pen,
trated and demolished strongholds the
ng had reared with 80 much skill. Tn
"a battered rails of iron came tumblin
n. down, and the strong ribs Of timber wei
h. blown with fatal effect among the ranl
they were to have saved. Dlsmounte
mp guns fell into common ruin, proving n
dreadful power Of gunboats with the
Of mighty ornaments.
ny The second shot fired by tho Fedora
.. a. the commencement of the cont, 1t
~. three hours penetrated a casemate Of n
fort and killed seven men. BY anolh
u shot one Of the enemy's caissOns WI
a. 81