The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1863-10-10
COL. CLOUDS CAMPAIGN.

I
Springfield to Fort Smith. As the Colonel
has many old friends and acquaintance in
this section, we presume this scrap of bis
tory may prove interesting:
Col Cloud left Springfield. Missouri.
August /, in command of all troops in
q ? 6eld'' in this district, comprising the
2d Kansas Cavalry. two sections OF Rabb S
Battery. 1st Arkansas Infantry. Col. John
son, marched to CassviIe. sixty miles. and
remained there until the Ilth, when he re-
ceived orders to march down into Arkansas
and watch the TANKS of Blunt's army. and
render him all the assistance he could, as
Blunt was reported to be in danger. The
9th NJ. S M. Col. CaIherwood. and the Ist
Battalion 9th Cavalry M S. NJ. Major Emo.
were ordered TO report to Co. Cloud, but
tailed to overIake the command in time to
march with it 10 Fort Blunt. Cloud left
word at Bentonvlle for them to push on
and OVertake him.
! Near Bentonville we had a chase after
guerillas, capturing three. At Fayetteville
we captured a wagon. seven mules, three
horses, FIVE thousand rounds of ammuni
ton, tents. etc, etc; then on to Prairie
Grove and Cane Hill. capturing four pris-
oners. From there we marched 10 lays
Mill, where Cloud received request from
Gen. Blunt To Join him by forced marches.
which was done in Clouds usual style, at
the rate OF sixty miles in twenty -tour hours.
Crossing the A kansas river on the ED.
the Canadian on the 25th, we marched into
Perryville, c. NJ, on the 26th, where the
9th Kansas fired a few howiIzel shells into
the town after dark. An advance guard Of
stragglers from the scouts and various com
mands, in which the 81 was literally rep
resented, were fred at by artillery, just at
shutdown, as they approached the town, at
distance of seventy FIVE yards. Strange
to say, no one was hurt. The enemy then
retreated while we were forming to attack.
! We remained at Perryville that night. Be-
fore leaving on the 9Th, the town was
burned, stores, ETC., destroyed, and We re-
turned TO the Canadian on the 29th. having
gone tn within eighty miles of Texas. Here
Gen Blunt divided his forces, sending the
let Brigade. Col. Judson. TO Fort Blunt.
and the 81 Brigade, COL Bowen, to Weber's
Falls, taking Gil. Cloud with the 2 Brig
age to pur-ue CabtlI toward Fort Smith.
We reached Prrean river on the evening OF
tn" 3lst, with the enemy three miles ahead.
We eampPd and had something To eat. which
began To be a luxury-ev"n hard bread.
Tee enemy came to within half mile Of orr
camp. ON reconnaissance. Cloud took 40
men of the Cd and drove them 10 within
one fpuIth of mile Of their own camp,
lighting until after dark in the woods. His
close proximity to them disturbed them and
drew a volley from their artillery. when he
quietly Withdrew. At O'Clock on the
morning of the LIST of September, we
marched on their camp and found it desert
ed. II was a very strong position and
could have been defended by small, de-
| termined force. with loss to the attacking
party. Immediate pursuit WAS made to
within four miles of Fort Smith. when we
learned that they had gone South. toward
Arkad~lphia. Col Cloud then took a part
of the 2d Kansas Cavalry. 9th and 9Th M.
S M. one company Of the lst Arkansas
Cavalry. two howi'zers and four Of Rahb's
guns. and pursued them rapidly. When
we had advanced about five miles. the enc
my. finding himself hard pressed. formed
an amhuscade in small field and fired
murderous volley on our advance. Capt Ell.
Lines's company. mortally wounding this
brave and gallant officer; also killing one
corporal and wounding six or eight men,
mostly of his company. and taking two
prisoners. The command was hastily dis
mounted. the howitzors brought up. and
into it we went The howitzers were
ushed forward by hand along the road,
diagonallv. driving the enemy one mile. to
the top Of a mountain. called the DEVILS
Bt"k re. very strong position. from
which they conld not be driven back by
our artillery. They attempted to take our
hOwi'zers by a charge, before Rabb's guns
came up. but the Sharp's rifles of the Cd
soon learned them that it was dangerous
business to trife with our property.
Cabell's force, infantry and dismOunted
artillery Clouds force, $50, supported
center tn make flank movement. and after
firing some 800 rounds. exhaus'ing the am
munition in the caissons, he drew out to
open ground. and with two companies of
the Cd moved forward, the enemy quickly
leaving his position, and his dead and
wounded in our hands, and also consider
able number of arms and much baggage.
Cabell sent in flag of truce to ask permits
sion to care for the dead and wounded.
which of course was granted Cloud moved
part of his force over the field. and occu
pied all the approaches, when Cabel sent in
] SnOtDeF nag 10 Cidtul TIE Victory, anu yet
the plumber he had left in his fight. Col.
/ Cloud sent word to Gen. Cabell 10 come
and get it. but he declined.
Tue next morning (2d) we marched into
Fort Smith. Gen. Blunt having already TAX
en- possession with q small f.rce Of cavalry
and the LIST Arkansas Infantry.
! Our loss in killed and mortallv wounded.
4. severely and slightly. 8 or 10. The en-
I l.. Z H A H.
/ The pealing and reverberation of the ar
tiIlarv an,ono tha mountains woka nm The