The daily Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1862-1863, 1863-07-17
From Helena.
HELENA, ARK, July 6, 1S6


To the Editors of the Eva, sville Journal:
Inclosed send you copy of Colonel
Passes official report to Col Clayton,
Acting Brigadier General commanding
cavalry brigade. We have been contin-
ually on the qui Uioe since the battle, ex-
pectlng a renewal of the attack, but the
latest intelligence is that they have ske-
daddled. Their loss is over three thou
had engaged. l will write and give par
tieulars in dav or two, as soon as l can
get a correct list of casualties.
1t was a glorious 4th. Grant did take
Vicksburg and Price didn't take Helena
Bully for the Western boys.
SPENCER COUNTY.
OFFICIAL REPORT.
HEADQUARTERs IsT IND. CAVALRY,
HELENA, July 6, 1868.
NJ ". Benjamin, A. A. Il. G., Head
quarters Col Clayton, Commanding
laralrg Brigade, Helena, arkansas: ::
Sir: In obedience to orders l here
with transmit list of killed and wound
ed of nv command, lst Indiana Cavalry,
together with statement OF the part the
regiment took in the attack on Helena
on the 4th of July, 1868.
A little before o clock on the morn
ing of the 4th of July, two messengers
came in from the picket post on the Lit,
tie Rock road, bringing word that the
enemy were advancing, driving in the
pickets before them. / Immediately or
dered the bugle to sound to horse, anc
forming the regiment, moved up the
I levee near town and awaited orders.
Soon received orders from you through
YOUR Adiutsnt to move tents and baggag
! within the line of Notifications as RAP
idIv as possible, leaving part of the com
mand to guard the train, and with tn
rest to form line of battle behind the 5t
Kansas, which was already drawn up IL
the open flats Just above town. imme
diateiy ordered Major Owen to take tw
companies, with one piece of our smaI
riAed guns, and cover the rear of tn
train. and with the balance of my con
mand l took positions as ordered.
General Prentiss then ordered ou
guns some distance in. front up the levet
and companies NJ and l. were dismoun
ed and sent forward as u support. Or
battery was commanded by Lieutenal
LETTER. of co B. For the bravery show
and the terrible execution done by then
YOU are best able to judge, they havin
been under your immediate command.
By this time Major Owen came I
with his detachment and tell IN line WI
the regiment.
Capt. Wethers' Aid to Gen. SolomC
now came up with word that the enen
had captured battery on the heights
the rear of Gen. Solomons headqu;
tiers, driving our infantry from their ri
pits and were rapidly advancing II
town, and l was ordered to take my re
. iment under the walls of Fort Curt
- dismount them and check their turth
advance. l did so, taking the reg ime
N on the top of the hill to the left OF u
Solomon's headquarters.
= On the crest of the hill opposite "
the battery the enemy had just captur
- and over the breastworks from VIII
iG our infantry had been driven they w
pouring one dark, continuous strea
The boys wheeled into line and W
loud yells commenced firing, pouring
y such a storm of bullets that they 81
retreated with the exception of I'll
s, sharp shooters, which, to the number
several hundred, took possession O
ravine running up the side of the
which was filed with fallen timber
&c stumps, from behind which they pou
art a continuous and deadly fire. Soon
,ek or twelve daring spirits now rushed de
the hill side and up the steep ascen
IVA front, getting position on the enen