Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1863-10-01
From our own correspondent.
The HOOSierS 1T Little Rock.

The HOOSlerS 1T Little Rock.
LITTLE Rock, ARK, Sept IA, '63.
I'd tors Evansville Journal:
Long before this reaches you, you will
have heard that the Stars and Stripes
once more float over the Capital of this
State; ami although the struggle was
not near so severe as we expected, still
chad to fight our way, inch by inch,
for distance of several miles.
On the morning of the 10th, we broke
up camp at AshIeys Mills, about ten
miles below the city, and started out Gas
we supposedly to battle We had heard
General Davidson, with his division,
cannonading for sometime, and every
thing looked as if hard work was close
at hand After marching some three
miles we came upon the river, eight
miles below the Rock General David
son was busy engaged in crossing his
division, the artillery crossing on the
pontoOns while the cavalry. were fording
the stream, General Dayidson's division
is all cavalry and artillery, some five or
six thousand sstrong and marched
through from Pilot Knob, Mo- We had
to fight from the time he got across I'M
til he was in the city. General Steele,
with the infantry and the First Indiana
cavalry, kept up the right bank of the
river. Extensive Notifications had been
T. thrown up on this side, and the infantry
expected chance to try their mettle.
The First cavalry were thrown out. in adj
boom, boom, went battery on the OBJ
posite bank, and the enemys shot and
shell came whizzing and shrieking
among us; fortunately hurting no one
but considerably aceelerating our speed
in deploying through the corn fields to
our right On we went, through fields,
over fences, and finally landed in an i'm
mense paw-paw thicket The paw-paws
here grow by the bushel, and were rich
and mellow Unlocking around l found
the whole command busily engaged in
shaking the bushes and eating their fruit.
Just Their the commander of the brigade
rode up and ordered US to halt and not
advance faster than the battery did.
Majo McCauley, who had command of
the right wing of skirmishers did not
hear the order, but marched on mile
or two farther, up to the enemy's works
and found them entirely evacuated
The regiment was then recalled to the
road, which wound its way along the
bank OF the river, and ordered to sun
port our battery, which was vigorously
Smelling the retreating columns of rebels
on the opposite bank
a good view of the battle could be
seen from our position, and as it was
now pretty certain that no enemy re-
manned on our side of the river, we had
nothing to do but watch the rebels as
Davidson steadily drove then before him,
and see the confusion our shells created
as they kept bursting among them. De-
easionally they would stop battery and
favor US with few rounds, Just enough
TO make US feel little skittish
By this time we were nearly opposite
the city and Dayidson's advance were
skirmishing around the outskirts.
Here an incident took place which stir
red the blood to fever heat. Just be-
low town, IN small patch of corn. sever
al companies of rebels had secreted
themselves, waiting for our advance,
which was slowly coming on, and CON
sisting Of only one company. and all
could be plainly seen from where we
were, and although we felt that certain
death awaited some of them, no help
could we give, not even a warning voice
to show them their secret foe. when
suddenly yoIIey was poured into them,
For moment the column reeled but
quickly rallied by their officers-hioh
above their heads their sabrcs cleaned
and dashing gallantly forward they
drove the enemy from his hiding place
and fully avenged themselves for their
fallen comrades.
Huge columns of smoke had been seen
for some time, shooting high I'D into the
air. We now found it came from the
boats, which, to the number of Is or 30.
were laying along shore Among them
was the Lizzie Simmons, which had
been converted into gunboat and clad
with railroad iron. Their pontoon
bridges, two of which they had thrown
across the river, were also on fire, but
only partially destroyed as we got up too
coon for them.
nBy this time, the sun was fast disap-
pearing and night approaching. White
hags were waving all along the leYee in
front of the town, but as they kept
shooting across at US, they were not
much needed A few shell soon silenc-
ed them, and in little while the Stars
and Stripes were waving over the Capt.
tai of Arkansas-arsenal and all Tired
and hungry Be gladly tied our horses to
the nearest fence. Our refreshments
were not much trouble 20 us, we were
land regret) on half rations and soon all
was peace and silence where bloodshed
and noise reigned supreme but short
time before.
The bugle awoke US early on the morn
ing of the 1lth, and We received orders
TO prepare for marching Immediately.
We were soon under way fording the
river opposite the city. 1t was here
tall horses were in demand. The troops
that we're mounted high came out dry, |
while the short leg horses went bobbing up I
and down, greatly 10 the discomfort of |
the rider as wall so his sa-:o,. ;~.ov