White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1863-01-22
CAPTURE OF ARKANSAS POST BY
GEN. McCLERNARD.

Capture of5.50O Prisoners and the
Entire Armament OF the Fort.
GALLANT WORK BY GUNBoATs.
Tbs Storm and Capture BY the Land Forces.
CArRo. Jan. II. 3
The Memphis Balletin has the follow
ing, received from Arkansas Post by dis
patch boat Kellogg:
| Cn Saturday the main portion OF the
army. with three iron clad gunboats-
the Louisville, Cincinnati. and Mound
City-and three light draught boats. bav-
ing entered Arkansas river from branch
of Whi:e river. approached the fort sixty
miles above the mouth of the Arkansas
known as Arkansas Post, placed at ia
vorable location for defense on bend OF
the river. of irregular, horseshoe shape.
1t has for some months been much boast
ed of by the rebels as spot so fortified
as to be extremely formidable. At .
point mile below the fort, where per-
sons in the fort were unable to see what
was done, the troops were disembarked.
The guuboats proceeded up the river, ta-
king position above the fort as well as
below, so as to be able to rake it with
their heavy pieces. The land forces in
the meantime, under Sherman, found
that back some distance bayou hinder
ed progress. in the way they desired to
advance, and he returned and chose
mi IL f1. sNpoolol
tions.
Another division meantime took up
its march somewhat nearer the locality
of the fort, and avoided the obstruction
of the bayou. Other distractions existed,
however. in the shape of rifle pits, which
it became Necessary to flank by advan-
cling to the fartherest extremity from the
river. This was not done without con-
siderable skirmishing, which consumed
the remainder of Saturday. There was
some loss in these proceedings, and about
sixty of the enemy, most of whom wan
dered into the Federal lines by mistake,
were taken prisoners.
1t was nearly dark before the Federal
forces had SO far advanced as to have
the fort in full view, and ready for storm
ing the next morning.
While their operations were proceed
ing on land, the gunboats had taken po-
sitions, and little before dark smart
artillery fight took place, which the early
closing in of darkness cut short. The
first shell fired by the enemy struck Lieut..
Hamberd, OF the 18th Illinois, and shat.
tered his leg.
The next morning-Sunday-the land
forces found that the enemy having lost
their rife pits, had thrown up new en-
trenchments. These. they proceeded to
attack, and also to secure position above
the fort as well as below. The ground
in the rear of the fort was found to be di-
vested Of timber, except in particular
part where it was useful for cover: and
PROSTATE trees and brush were so disposed
as to present the greatest possible amount
of obstruction.
As the two sections of McClernand's
land forces advanced over the main dis
tance between the river and the more ap-
proachable positions surrounding the fort
reinforcement of 1000 men arrived to
the rebels from ST. Charles, on White
river, twenty five miles distant by laad,
which was with difficulty prevented from
forming q junction with the attacked
body. The succeeded, however, by ta-
king advantage of the seh!ter afforded by
ravine. In the meantime casual firing
Of artillery from the gunboats. which had
been partially suspended by the necessity
OF supporting land operations, now grew
more vigorous, and at one O'Clock heavy
firing commenced between the fort and
gunboats, which continued three and
half hours SO briskly that there were only
occasional and minute intervals at which
the strained ear seemed unrelieved from
the laundering roar, which told that
blood was then coursing impetuously in
maddened veins, and that every man
was determined to sieze upon victory
The casemating of the fort presented q
formidable appearance, which seemed to
have justified the boasting that had been
made OF its impregnability. A thickness
of three feet OF solid timber covered with
railroad iron made the whole look as if it
could resist the utmost force of cannon
ball. To the deep dismsy of the defend
ers Of the Post of ARKANSAS, the iron hail
from our monster guns shattered their
most formidable defenses; penetrated and
demolished the stronghold they had rear d
with SO much skill. The battered rails
OF iron came in contact with the strong
timbers and the conclusion caused the
splinters to fly with fatal effect among
among the rebel ranks. and caused the
dismounted guns to fall into the common
ruin, proving the dreadful power of our
gunboats and their mighty armaments.
when managed by stout hearts and used
with stern determination. The hot Ere
by the Federals at the commencement of
this fearful contest penetrated the case
macs OF the fort, and killed seven men
relied upon for its defense. By another
shot one Of the enemy's csssions was ex-
ploded, causing the death of six men and
nine horses.
Withtheir easements demolished; their
deienses weakened by the destructive Ere:
their reinforcements taken, and storm.
ing party closing in upon their rear, but
one course was left open to the defenders
Of the Post Of Arkansas. They had fought
bravely, but their enemy was unconquer-
able even BY their strongest resources and
was necessarily yielded to a victor. Az.