The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-01-04
IMPORTANT FROM THE SOUTHWEST.
The Reut Of the Rebels IN
Arkansas.
OFFICIAL REPORT OF GEN. BLUNT.
As., he, ~.


As, As., ks.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY or THE FRoNTER Z
VAN BuRES Ark, Dec. %. 1862. J
Major General CuRris,- rrfr .& Mr
GESwRAI.-.The Stars and Stripes In
triumph over Van Buren,. On learning that Hindman,
had been reinforced and contemplated making an.
other attempt TO force nis way to Missouri deter
mined 70 make the attack upon him. Leaving my trans
poration north of the mountass marched from Prairie
Grove eight o'clock yesterday morning upon thus place.
distant nrty miles
At ten O'Clock this morning my advance upon tive
regiments Of rebel cavalry at Dripping Springs, eight
miles north Of the river. Dashing them with three
thousand cavalry and four mountain howitzcrs. BRISK
running fight took place which kept up into the town.
resulting the capture Of all their transportation forty
wagons with six mue teams all their camp and garrison
cqupage one hundred prisoners and large amount or
ammunition. grUt
Four steamers and ferry boat were also captured
The latter attempting TO GROSS the river with rebel
troops was sheod from tho hOwtzers when in the mid
die Of the stream The boat disabled and number
OF the men were killed The remainder jumped overheard
and SWAN ashore.
Three large steamers heavily laden with government
supplies had got stcam and attempted TO escape dowo
the river but pursued by the cavalry five mes%nd
tho lcves The oneay then brought their artillery 70
tile opposite oank' OF tho river, and commenced :
Smelling the town for the purpose Of driving out my
cavalry, but resulting in no other damage than tho
destruction OF buildings. My artillery, coming up.
soon senced their batteries Quite number OF tho
cnemy have killed during the days operations The
only casualties side are ave or six mon slightly
wounded
NY long range guns arc now ,Aeing the rebel camp
-,.,o ,x,fao holn nlac thn
enemy docs not rereas during nght shall endeavor
TO cross my troops the the morning and ofs
them battle Respectfully, JAMES G. BLUNT,
Brigadisr General Commanding
Our st. LIQUIDS Correspondence.
ST LOUIS, Dec. 80, 1902
ne Dash Into van BuvenThe DanSers Of Crossng Boston
Mos,,taim- Van BsrcDf and Fort Smhh-Rauru -
Pyisoners-Srange Conduct Of TIE Rebels-Hindmo~s
Plans BauLted-Asetin9. Of NC Le0stature-7k Nc
KinaYy Trial, dc.
Our troops have crossed Mountain and captures
Van Buren, making priges Of three steamboats, and cap
turing hundred rebei prisoners. Those who road
shs simple have conception Of the dan
gers dficukies this enterprise The time 10 nct
distant when II censdered npracticabe thing
move army Boston Mountain tho face OF
enemy and is fortunate circumstance for the lives q
gallant soldiers THAI the rsbss did not oppose the
progress.
Having travelled the road pursued BY army from
Fayetteville 70 Van BnDes testify TO the stupendous
character Of tho Tho road winds aiongs1ns
yawuing precpcss and through ravines and natural
passes where there roomsnOugh for wagons %
pass ut intervals Above the road, in loast forty
places spots wksse the rebsas with few pieces q
artillery might havs resisted the Of our aEmx
almost without effort In ths ortresses the
Sebes might have lspt, back forces with mere
handful Of men ana been xnassaabe themselves
At other points .. fsw hnurs' blasting -
throw down the. road In al embanks
mont would haue blookeds as road entirely. Added 70
these obstacles, the natural steepness OF the road,
which compelled oloeps double tho number Of
horses required for artillery and ammunition wagoas,
aud slight ideamay be formed Of tho perios character
OF the trip tho mountain II is highly probabA
would be made, AID lusd themselves into false security
by accepting tho story that Union army would ovse
two OF thu passes thsy might have inflicted severe
damage.
The OF Van Baron is not OF issef matter Of
Importance Tho prestige penetrating additional rcbeh
territory, which has nevcr been - our possession
since the commencement OF the reAslion, will give
great Satisfaction 70 every friend OF the Union.
Whether tas. advance will tie river and push
eight miles further aud recover possession, q
upon Iroupd. Neither Van Buran Fort Smith y
Of sufficient strategic Importance 10 justify any Irost
risks or s detaGAaent OF any considerable PARTON
the ArmSo the Frontier 70 hold saer place The sdJs
cent country is barren Of supplies and tho tsrrtcry
too FAR removed from Little Rock - be available ~
base OF operations against the anar place.
An exchange Of prisoners having boon aaecscd
between Generals Heron ard IIindman, tie psi-
OF tho BATH OF Prairie Grove have returned
lines. A few Of them, who obtained furloighs
sick leave, arrived In st. Louis last evening
Theip of the retreat Of Hindman's army
equally amusing and Incredible. The prsolers were
during sne nrst ose, = se ,ss
that the edsras we're bcaz Awfully whppes but were
convinced TO the contrary by seeing an immense number
OF rebel wounded being constantly carriccor the Held
Bat whom night an doubts werc sea- ~ rest by Tho
conduct OF the rebels, who muicd tho wheels Of thew
ARTILLERY n straw and ~ quits and bankcs taken from
their Tho prisoners commanded TO keep
perfectly silcnt on pain d death. aad In darkness
te whe,s army rs,resied. by Daylight they
at the summit Of iSs,oa Mountain, and that night Ar-
rived nj Van Huron.
Here an extraordinary circumstance occurred. Ccnsssl
HndraAn, fresh from interview in company w&h
AArmsdukc with Ccanssis Heron sad Blunt to whom
he acknowledged sAnt she roees had been whipped g
nosng several Officers Tor te saiauary display cd The
dred but down tho Union loss ~ six thousasA. Hi
for reusaipx the vonderful pAxt Of Me
bulletin. He said Dutch General named 'YIa warrenv
war close at hand with seventeen thousand rsisorccmsns
for the Unioasts Hndman lied before tho spectre o. hs
own masins.,cns Fita warren by whom no n,sra .
New York rrsb,ne-Fitx Henry Warren-Nas far distant
from the hattie field and has not YET the Army
OF the Frontier prisoners while 10 Van Buron
Qnanre the noted guerilla outlaw Of Western Missouri
He is suffering from severe Illness The prisoners report
the Arkansas rising Van Buren, which may may nbs
be ay orabe 10 Heron and General Buns ops-
rations.
Rsgs riding HIndmans intention 10 offer battle II seems
that our generals concluded wait TIL he was
rendy, but yaiantiy attacked the rebels In thor
own den. His troops reported tho south slde
Of the river collecting supplies for another
campaign. His army Is variously estimated at from
20 600 TO 30, but, largo or small It Is not feared by
the troops OF the Army Of tho Frontier BY the
OF the steamboats, mt Van Buren, Hndman will be unable
10 rccross tho Arkansas without several days. labor Nov
that he has had taste Of the quality the men,
:" Du,chmen, Kansas jayhawkers and PIN Tndiansr-sS
them his order issued prior the battle OF
Prairie Grove he will wat time before. patting
wide river in hts rear again The daring raid into Van
Buren, may smash up Hindman's plans completely and
must drsih blow TO his darling scheme 10 winter In
Missouri. stil nothing 10 positively known concerning
Hndnans exact Whereabouts or the precise strength o.
hts army.