, 1863-08-27
TNECONNOISS
III WHITE Hk1VEEk.
Two Steamers C&ptured-Ponto0n
Bridge Destroyed On Little Red.

On the morning Of the 18th, By order Of Gen
Davidson, the gunbnats Lexington, Crtcis,
and Marmora, IN charge Of Capt. Bache, U. 8
H., took on board one battalion Of the Sc
Iowa Infantry, Major Ebcshsrt In command
ard left Clarendon on q reconnaissance NJ
Of the lurty, and will speak Of what trans
1t DuyalTs BBiuffs we came in sight of tle
cLemy's rickcte, posted on d road undel
cover Of timber, hundred yaFdD or so from
The rlycr. The Cricket was in advance, aud
they, allowed her to puss until passing ths
bend her stern was towards them when
they fired yolley into ler. At that moment
tie Lexington made her appearance and &
message from her howftzcrs caused them tc
retire; IN double quick.
From this point we passed up to Des Arc
seeing now ard tten sentinel along shore
but receiving no attention worthy of notice.
Ebe1lart's battolion, assisted by some forty
or fifty marines, commenced searching the
town for Confederate soldiers and Confederate
stores.
left there the cvening before Tor Bayou Metre.
Directly some loyal eontrabands informed ua
that two companies Of that regiment were in
tho rear Of the town when We landed, and
about the eanle-t time their mounted picke1a
were discovered some three or four huudred
yards ont On 4 road leading west. The inform.
ation was communicated to Captain Bachc,
and III u few moments 4 shell was heard pass.
Ing in that direction; then another, when a
Aortcmeu were ecCu no more.
Capt. Bachc destroyed mill which had been
used to grind for the army, burned a ware
house containing small amount Of commits
saty stores, cut the telegraph and proceeded
up lie river.
At dark, the fleet cast anchor some two
lilies below Peach Orchard Bluffs. At daylight
We were again under way.
At the mouth of Little Red, the Cricket,
Captain Langholn, having on board some
seventy infantry, started up that stream. The
Lexington and Ma1mora proceeded up White,
citizens we're taken by surprise, and some Of
We here learned that the Tom suges and
Kaskaskta we're up Little Rcd, also thai Mar.
maduke, with his whole force, was west OF
White River, md started on our return about
burned somc scgen or eight hundred bushels
tf ceru, which had been lett upon the bank
for shipment.
Not flnaing the Cricket upon our arrival at
the mouth II tho Little RED, Capt. Bachc de-
tcrmIred. to 60 In search OF her. There vas
plenty If water, but the channel is narrow
ard very crooked, making 1t very difficult fol
boat Of the size Of the Lexington to ascend,
but she pushtd on perseyerlDglY, and about
fifteen miles from the mouth met the Cricket
coming down, conveying the two steamers
she had been IN Eearch OF. It seems that soon
after entering Little Red, Capt Langhorn Us,
honr In advance Of hin, goi6g up stream. He
pushed on and overlook her, together with
The Kashaskia, at gearcy Landing. The rebels,
thinking 1t impossible for gunboat, to Us.
cend that Ear, on account Of Watcr, had left
arrival OF tho Cricket that tho crewe remain
ing upon the boats did not have time: to cs.
ii this point Captain I.anghorn found q
pontcon bridge, which had been used by Mar
maduke's command in crossings" also that
two hundred Of bis men were still on the
north side Of the river. He burned the bridge,
destroyed mill, manned his transports with
Infantry, and started on his return
At . blnff near West Point, the transport III
adrarce was attacked by Z force supposed to
be two hundred or upwards, and completely
breastWork Of cotton bales placed ont deck,
nearly all on board would have been killed OF
wounded; as It WAS, se1e1 out Of twenty
ee7en were hit-thrce received severe wounds,
two Of whom have hiuce died.
The soldiers and marines returned the fire
with spirit, ard the cricket opened on them
wiIh Shell, which soon caused them to seek
safer quarters.
After the Cricke. pussed, the Lexington had
not more than TUNED round and got'undcr
Wey, when volley Of musket,y waB heard ii
advance, which was immediately answered by
the Cricket's guns. We toon discovered that
body Of some sixty or one hundred men
concealed among the weeds along tho bank
and behind q leyee we're firing on us at q dis.
tauce Of not more than seventy or one hun
drcd yards-' The fire was returned BY the In
{antfy, marines and guns Of both boats, but
they held their position and fred on us until
VIC were out Of their range, three or four shots
entering the stern port Of the Lexington, Us
she vas leaving, but as luck would haye it.,
no one was injured during the encounter.
The boats succeeded In getting into White
River about nine o'clock, and on the morning
Of the 18th moved on dorm TINT stream.
At Tay1or's Blnt, some forty or fifty rebels
made their appearance, but few shells caused
them to move Oft in haste, It was thought
with Eome lass. At Arknpola few stray shots
were fred, but like most of the others did no
hA1m. At sundoWn we found ourselves at
anchor opposite Clarendon.
The result Of the expedition may be briefly
stated as follows: The capture Of two small
ateamers-fhc only ones the rebels had on
White River, consequently Of much import
ance to them; the continuation Of the infor-
nation already obtained, that the rebels are
concentratfng MI thetf available forces in
Arkansas at Bayou Metre and fortying; that
Marmaduke is certainly on his way TO join the
balance, and that they have no batteries
planted on White River.