The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1863-07-29

Lieut.. Brewer ADVISED me thattnelther my norSeS,
nor his own, would hold out for the trip toward
Grand river, and I reluctantly ordered move
ment down the Fort Smith road, to take in
piquet of thirty men, said to be at Flakes or
Lacy Milsom's We found none at either place,
though usually kept their heretofore; and we
hurried through defle in the mountains to-
wards Mackey's saline, and epcamped at night
within quarter of mile of tke Illinois river.
Our horses were much iaded. and foot sore, from
the rocky route through the mountains In the
morning we started for Webber's falls there being
no road to Hildebrands, where / desired to go.
At Webber's falls, found the river swimming, and
learned from one of COL Waties men on the
opposite side, that he had crossed at the mouth
of the Canadian river the day previous This
explained the presence of the enemy's force
where we found it.
Finding that the route to Hildebrand's was
narrow, hushy, and very rocky for fifteen miles
and that the road to the mouth of the Canadian
river was better, and only the distance of nine
miles. / moved to the mouth of the Canadian,
and crossed. Commenced crossing at half past
12, and got over the last of the command at /
o'clock next morning. Just as had crossed the
rear guard, all our missing officers, and Capt.
Harmons company came in. Thence stopping
and resting my wearied horses, and killing beef
for my hungry men, came to brigade camps, at
II M, on Friday, the 10th ut
Had we known at the outset; the true position
and strength of the enemy, we should easily have
killed or captured their entire force, but being
deceived as to their strength, and mistaken as to
their position, and after its ascertainment and
the falling back on both sides, all my guides
being cut off, and time lost before others came
| in, missed capture which feelthat my force
would have commanded. have to speak in
commentator of most of the officers and men
| of my command; Lieut.. Col Parks, Maj Carroll
Capt J. D. Young (Martin's regiment) Capt
Oliver, Daugherty, Harmon, Brown and Hooks
and Lieuts. Quinn and Derrickson, and Lieut. r.
?. Duty, who had brought out six men from
campany /, seem especially to have distinguished
themselves in the embarrassing contest, with a
concealed enemy, far out numbering them. The
companies of Copt Oliver Daugherty and Har-
mon, acted gallantly. The Choctaws were nota-
| bly, prompt and gallant not merely iu the portion
of the action, which they sustained, but subse-
quenty, when other actions were expected;
showed promptness and alacrity
cannot partcularise their officers, as / do
not know many Of them, but | learned during
our short conjunction, to recognise as, reliable
| Capt. Loring, who commanded them in chief
Capt. Kribbs, Capt Pitchyn Capt. Benton and
Lieut.. Winship. Lieut.. Heston, of your staff,
who assisted Capt. Loring in the field manage
ment, was always quick and watchful. OfLieut.
Col Parks it is sufficient to say, that he tried to
get up charge on the enemys artillery, and did
/ himself without single weapon for assault or
defence.
trust we may have an opportunity soon again,
| to accomplish more aided by better luck, or
greater knowledge of localities, which were all
new to me-
Our loss in killed is ten, including whites, and
Choctaws and eight wounded, two of them
slightly. The enemy undoubtedly murdered Que
of our men after he had surrendered a party of
perhaps twenty whites and Indians riding up and
riddling him with balls, when his gun was thrown
down, and his hands raised for quarter Had |
known it in time, | might not have troubled you
with the Cherokee and the five white men sent in.
1 The enemy must have lost; about twenty or
thirty. They packed away the bodies in their
ambuances, except three negroes and one Indian.
Their force was seven good looking companies;
probably 52b men. Against these, under cover
and hankIng US on two sides, the contest in
I which most Of our men were killed, was made By
120 of our men, much exposed. BY his courage
and presence of mind, sergeant Hooker of com
pany f., when dismounted, aud nearly surround
ed by the band which killed Robertson (tbe man
who had surrendered) preserved his own life
Killing one enemy by the discharge of one barre
of his gun, he reserved the other and challenged
the pursuers. They would not come near him
but kept shooting at long range, perforating his
clothes, and shooting away the breach of his gun
Concealing this mshap by keeping the gun in a
position that they could not see its unavailable
ness, he finally got away Another dismounted
man of the same company, John Turner, was
killed, after certainly killing two of the enemy
perhaps more as he discharged his gun several
times Reference is made to the accompanying
report of Maj. J. A. Carroll, for full compre
hension of the action Of his detachment, and tc
the report of Capt. Loring, commanding the
| Choctaws, relative to their action, whilst not
under my immediate observation.
S Very respectfully,
CHARLES DEMORSE,
Commanding 29th Texas Cavalry