Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-11-03
GIN PRICES REPORT OF The EATrIE OF


HELENA.
We have had no full os authentic account Of the bat
lie of Helena, Arkansas, on the Ash Of July last The
folio wing Is from Gen. Press official report from his
headquarters, Jones Lake July lS.h, 1865 The COM
mand arrv ID within i've miles Of Helena on the evening
Of she 81 Of Jaly, when Gen. Holmes assumed mue-
date command, desaebel Garmsdukes Division, aud
lsts Price but two brigades-MoRie's Arkapsaps and
.rsons Mssourans. The casualties in McRae's bril-
gaie are stated at s5l killed, wounded and missing
P.rsOos' brigade, 76l. The report PrOCe'ds:
Toe order Of att OK directed th,t |, I'm command OF
MeRae aud Parsons brigade should proceed oy toe o's
route assume position, assault and ake the Grave ara
Hill az dayhgbL" / made my disposition accordingly,
aud moved al midnght with Parsons brigade in 'front.'
As nv route lay for the greater part Of my way
across abrupt hills aad deep IavneS over which II was
utterly Impossible 10 my artillery during the dark
ness ordered the pieces TO be leit behind until day
break ordered detai each battery 10 accompany
the infantry in order to command the guns which e1-
pected % capture.
Finding, when bad got.ea within mile and half
o. tue position which had been ordered to take, that
my division would arrive on the Esouad preuAlurey,
i ordered halt during which the Lieutenant General
comma dug came 70 and remained with the DIVISION
until the dasu OF day, when abe lie OF march vas re-
sumed. Then push ug tOrserd rapidly until my Skin
mshers had become engaged With those OF the enemy,
aud within halt mile OF his works. the troops Nere
formed into tFO columns OF divisions, Parsons brigade
occupying the right moving in root.
The enemy's hre becoming somewhat sharp at TINS
time the q O. who conducting tescolaa rs took
occasion 70 leave uoperceiyed; some confusion and
elnss uusns DELAY ensued but another guide haV.pg
been obtained toe head Of the column soon occupied
she position from which the assault was to be made
brief halt here made TO give the troops time to re
cover somewhat from the eXhsustiDg hugues eonse-
Quent upon their march over succession OF almost
PERCEPTIONS and heavily wooded bills.
Both brigades moved forward on the Instant rapidly
steadily uutnchng and m perfect order, under asOrm
o. grape lister d minnie balls which were poured
upon them NOS only from the Grave ard Sl in their
front bu from the fortified hills upon the right and let,
both Of which were in easy range. The ecemy gave
way before the impetuOus assault Of the attacking
columns fich entering the works almost simultaneous
w. planted the Confederate tag on the summit OF tic
Grave Yard Hill Oh brigade had done us allotted
duty with equal zeal devotion and gaan;ry, and each
Is entitled TO an equal share Of the honor which justly
attaches to those who discharge their duty IS those men
did iearlCssly, well aud successfully.
Being in possession OF hill, aud finding that the
captured guns had been shOtWe6ged direced my Chief
o. Artillery 10 brig forward toe pieces which tad fE
behind This he did promptly as the difficulties OF
the Ground would permit but not until il too late
for them 70 be used iu The actor. keSuwhde heavy
ire was concentrated upon joe ti IRON positions which
the enemy still continued 10 hold aud from the hill side
and ravnes under OF whica their sharpshooiers
delivered very effective and vel directed hce, Wills;
the guuOOa. who So in front ut the toEn kept up an
underwriting d-caalge o. It's heavy guns
Prrccviug at once that the way 10 relieve my
men from the disastrous eieCs Of ihs CALLING nee TO
aid General Pagan % take the ruemy Worss upon my
Jeff aud rtcrv ny Information sau,e time a a.
shat gallant Off .sr had been repled in every attempt
70 assault these work. seat 10 General Parsons al OF
der directing him uoge his gtde forthwith 70 the
reniCrttmeut OF Gee eral Fsgaa. lie replied 70 q o.
fcer by whom sent he order that Nctae who Wa by
his side at the ums) YOU > Wi1h ny permission, 60
tUthe assistance OF Geueta. Fagfu, whst his (Pds-
sOns) brigade being the stronger Of she tNo would hold
the graveyard hill Before tins reply was brought back
70 me sent another OF my st-B by direction OF the
Lieutenant General commanding, 70 deliver 70 General
Parsons au order similar 20 the one aresdy-sent
Gen. Parsons reply having been m'savh le received,
another order was sent directing lm 20 bold the bill;
Gen. MeRae TO reinforce Gen Fsg.u rapidly pcs
sibe with his brigade. lt soon became obvious, hOF-
ever that the bu.aja had cc2r So much weakened by
their heavy losses In killed. wounded and particularly
IN prisoners (he most Of the later having been cap
tuned IN the immediate vicinity OF the tOsr whittier
they had gene without orders from me- and by The
struggling ot those Who we're overcome Dy thirst and
the iute. heat Of the day, who had become ds-
hsareued by the failure OF the Ohee Es5aulng column,
that could send aUy ctive aid To Gen. Pagan
without too greatly tniaugerng my own position IL
equally obvious that unless such aid could be pr mpty
sent 70 Gen. Pagan, the general attack upon Hseta
must fail 10 under these circumstances that Re-
ceyed an order from the Lieut. I'm. COmd'g 10 with
draw ny division. In compliance with this order, my
troops Ei-adraWn " point about touc m'es from
Helena where they rested for the night and resumed
the march hiLher on the morning Of the oh.