The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1863-02-19
NUMBER Al

teries most constantly engaged was
I layIor's, from Chicago. Several times
charges were made by different regi-
ments, but SO severe was the musketry
directed upon them that they fell back
before getting TO the works.
The fire from the river fort. for some
time becoming feeble, suddenly ceased.
The fleet was victorious at that point.
and their principal dependence si.
lenced; Its casemates battered to
pieces, and every heavy gun either
dismounted or broken in two. Thirty
artillerists lay dead within the walls.
and the few stout buildings intended
for protection from shells were in ruins;
Three vessels of the Mosquito fleet had
passed above, and were shelling the
rebels in their rear. Our huge shot
had pounded long at the great case
mates before gaining admittance, and,
when they fully entered, the de-
struction oflife was great. What had
been intended for places eff safety
proved death haunts. Behind the
torn walls, however, sharpshooters
still fingered.
On land the cannonading and mus
ketry grew more furious as our army
passed still closer. Night approached,
the sun was scarcely an hour high, and
every nerve was strained to conarer
before the darkness set in. Rebel
pieces were deserted, no gunner daring
to approach them, so accurate had be-
come our fire. Advancing steadily
and surely, but commencing to pay
dearly for il, preparations were made
to engage. All prepared for the strug-
gle they felt coming, when suddenly,
while their fire was hottest, it stopped,
and a white flag arose above the works.
War ceased as if by magic, and,
wildly cheering, the troops passed for
ward over the Notifications they had
battled so hard to gain. Down along
the river for miles, reaching to the
transports, the crowd caught up the
cry and echoed it back. Such cheer
ing had never been heard on he Arr
kansas before. Not that it could be
called a great victory, but it was an
change from the blundering.
of Vicksburg. Within the
walls were strewed dead and wounded,
their number. however, not eeing large,
only about one hundred and fifty. The
MOI tally among horses was remarka-
bic, eighty or more of the mangled
bodies lying around. Most Of the dead
men were much disfgured, evidently
killed by shell some ripped open, and
their bowels upon the ground; others
with heads cut open or limbs torn off.
The rebel soldiers were gathered in
crowds, evidently not much dsheart-
ened at being taken prisoners. They
were composed of the following regi-.
ments oath Texas Dismounted Cav
airy. Col. Wilkes; 25th same, Col.
Gillespie /; 18th same, Col. Sweet; eth
Texas Infantry, Col. Garland; Col.
Taylor's regiment, and Col. Daniels.
Six of the nine guns in the fort be.
longed to Capt. Hart's Arkansas Bat
terry, three being twenty fonr poundcrs.
The Commander-in-C Chief of the
Confederate forces was Brig. Gen.
Churchill Capt. Ben. Johnson, Adiu,
tant General; Capt. Wolf, Chief Quar-
Capt. Little and Capt.
Brown, Aides. The brigade COM
were Col Deshler, Col. Gar
land, and Col. Portlock. There was.
also large number of Captains and
Lientenan:s. They will be sent to
Cairo this morning.
Our loss in the engagement was
about one hundred killed aud FIVE
hundred wounded, who 60 up on the
January.
To-day our forces are digging graves
and collecting the dead for burial.
Fifty or more additional corpses have
been found in the woods far back, evil
IDENTIFY skulkers from the rebel army,
killed by our shells Prisoners are
also constantly brought in, overtaken q
twelve or fifteen miles away. Of the
entire force garrisoning the fort, one
thousand, mostly Texas cavalry, es-
capped, taking with them a great por-
tion of the baggage train. These
effected an exit on the night our forces
were surrounding the place, and be-
fore il could be fully accomplished.
The results of the victory are 4,5O0
prisoners, about the same number of
stand of arms, and twenty guns. The
fort was an important one, and Gen.
Churchill affirms that he had orders to
hold it to the last. Little Rock and
the whole State are now open to us
whenever we wish 10 move. Duvall's /.
Bluff. on the White River, has proba
bly, fallen ere this, under the attack of
Gen. Gorman, and thus two tributaries
of supply are shut to the rebels.
sB Somebody once remarked-it