, 1863-09-23

Details of the 0ccl1pa-
tion of Little Rock

- SA~ ~~~A1E~
ton of Little Rock
The Campaign at an End--List "
Deaths Of Union Troops.
Especial Dispaseh to the Chicago Tzlb1ne.I
CANT NEAR BRowssv1LLx, PRA1a1E Co. ARK.,}
II MILES FROM LITT1k Rock, Sept. II,
via CAIRO. Sept. = =, 1868.
Dispatch bearers, from Gen. steele's head
quarters In Little Rock, passed through this
place LAST night. They represented that our
forces entered Little Rock without opposition
yesterday. The rebels retired directly south.
It is conjectured that they will halt for
short time at Washington, In Hampstead
county, and make their tlna1 stand at or near
Shreveport.
No particulars regarding the occupation Of
Little Rock have been made public. It is
known that the rebels had two or more traus-
ports and one ram in the Arkansas River, near
that city, but whether they or other public
property were destroyed by tho rebels, or
captured By our forces, Is matter of uncer-
tainty..
The sick at Duyall's Bluff aad this place
are suffering greatly for medicines "Somo-
body blundered" when, On the departure
Of the expedition from Helena, It was
not furnished with more medical stores
than would be necessary on the White River
for single battalion. I am informed By first
rate authority that II 1t had not have been for
the medicines which we're opportunely sent
by the Western Sanitary Commission, ourso1-
diers would hare had sorry time of It.
The campaign is, for the present, finished.
Gen. Steele will not be likely to make any
serious demonstration south Of the Arkan-
sas With the force NOW at his disposal, and
If the rebels meet with no oppoaition from
Federal expedition up the Red river, they nil
doubtless have pretty quiet time till toward
Christmas.
DeEerters report that the rebel army Is
diminishing very fast by desertion, and that
the Arkansas conscripts swear they will not
retreat into Te1as.
In few days, probably, cara will be run
ming regularly from Duya1l'a Bluff to Little
Rock. Rolling stock Is dsily expected to
arrive at the former place from Memphis.
LITTLE RocK, Ark, Sept 10-Qr.M,}
r51 CAIRO. Sept -.
This place WAS occupied few minutes be- |
lore six this evening by Gen. Da7fdson's cav. |
airy, after desperate resistance tom Prices |
army, which for five miles disputed every |
men OF ground, and only retired When forced
back BY our advancing columns.
All preparations for crossing the A7kansas
RlVeT, at our camps, eight miles below here,
were completed early this morning. a pom
toon bridge was thrown across the river at
point ~here It makes an abrupt bend resem-
bling In shape the capital letter Il,
Around this bend, and sweepinga q neck Of !
land With CROSS md enfladicg fire, twenty
lou! guns were posted and noasked on the op.
petite ehore.
Rebel yidettcs eoon discovered our pur.
was planted near the edge Of tie woods. and
In mediately opened upon the bridge aui the
troops mossed behind it, r3hiIo numerous
party Of aharpehootcrs manifested the inten-
ton Of gaining the shelter Of 1lne of drif:-
%ocda rd9nng angg about midway between
Our batteries Immediately responded, and,
after firing only halt q dozen rounds, the reb.
es we're compelled to Withdraw their sharp
shooters. Soon after. the rebels we're driven
from the woods opposite the bridge.
The telegraph and Atkansas, Two steam
boats ping on the opposlte. shore, about two
miles above If, we're fired by Prlco's forces.
At ES0 O'Clock, C1arkson's battery, sta.
tened two miles below the bridge, opened
upon the roads directly In front, with view
airy brigade, which mas to attempt to ford
the river at that point. The rebels had con.
str1cted fort Of cotton bales dnriur the
night, from which they replied With . few
gune. "A brisk cannonade demonstrated the
aaa q sieneing or driving the
done at TINT point at great sacrifcs Of life.
Gen Davidson therefore sent orders for Col.
Kitter's brigade and his battery to withdraw
along the road leading up the. river.
The rebels abandoned their position, aud
~hose intended crossing above they had been
apPr1sed, commemorate d rapid retreat toward
Little Rock. The movement was made kuorn |
oy dense clouds Of smoke, and long range
sans IN ournpFe e batteries saluted them Win
rebels must have suffered severely In running
he gauntlet Of our batteries, as one or tNo
IF our shell, which did not explode, we're
ound directly In the road along which they i
Fassed, while trees and fences gave abundant I
proof Of the accuracy Of the fire.
At 10 o'clock the bridge was completed. :
The I'D Iowa and eth Wisconsin infantry |
regiments crossed and formed In line OF battle
'pon q sand bar. and, advancing quickly,
'ccuPied the woods in our front. Strong's :
p poaition in the rear Of the infantry, where
heir services could be had, If necessary.
Under this cover, Gen Davidson crossed ! :
lis entire cavalry division and batteries,
art OF the cavalry crossing ford two hun. .
ned yards above the bridge, and the artillery
he bridge, ginning cover OF the woods, tile ,
ayalry pushed on towards Little Rock, the 6
aa1antry returning BY the north bank of the
t1eam. g A column was formed By giving Col. {
ltter's brigade, with Strong and Loveloy's
[ll's brigade, With Hadley's battery, the cen
rel md Col. Ritter's brigade, with CLARK
PMS battery, the rear.
At the moment Of Gen. Dayidson's cross-
g g the & river, Gen: Steele, whose columns
!arted with infantry. Col. Clay took cav. c
[1y brigade and very powerful batteries, and
seanlted the rebel works upon tho north
ank Of the river, where 1t vas believed that ]
rice. ,tsa1 IN largely superior numbers, awaited
rice having evacuated the works and cross. y
his rebel forces to the south side Of tn,
lEeaH, with the purpose Of overwhelming !
avidson.
The former mouth Of Bayou Fouche, five !
avidson's advance brigade abant O'Clock.
here Is a sand bar about u Thousand yards ! {
width md two miles long, between the !
INK and channel OF the river. The crossing
the bayou is very fine, but the road bears
and follows up the left bank about mile, | II
N~-~-.t1 Af~AA - Aesect ~ HAtA kAo UAtQu ~ l ~
1rned from its bed into a swamp.
Leaving the road at this point the head of :
le column pushed up close under the bluff I
ank, With dense forests upon the Immediate
1t. There had been skirmiahing at the
rosstpg of the Bayou, and the rebels had fall =,
. back before our line Of skirmi.hers ia the
oods. Sklrmiehers advanced through the
mber until they met with heavy ire in +,
apk from the enemy upon the opposite side =
the bayou, Hhen they halted. The column
lppottiDg the skirmIshers in tha woods Ct
ere still advancing, and pushed on slo ovly q
adl almost half mile in advance of the Il
ain body. Companies B aud Il, of the 10th z
linois, were in advance, strong's and Love
US howttzers following fifty yards behind, =
ie remaining ten companies Of tie 1oth fo1. Z
wing. When almost a half mile
lead they we're suddenly greeted
T heavy volleys Of musketry from the
ood6 upon their left and some drift :.
God directly In front. Lieut.. Col. Stuart, In X
'mmand Of the 10th Illinois, WAS stunned
J ball upon the first volley and fell to the
:ound. His regiment receiving the fire On
le flank, WAS much disordered. Saddle after Ii
ddle was emptied, and the advance com pa
es came tumbling back over the batteries,
noWed by the rebels, who swa1med from
eir hiding places, and, NTH savage CITY,
ade grand rush for the guns. y,
Completely disordered By the suddenness !
the attack, and what they conceived to be '
e loss Of the Colonel, the regiment fell back
Il --4- Ia