Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-11-09
SPECIAL DIsPATe HE'S.
FROM CAIRO AND BELOW
Brilliant Victory in Arkansas'
Four Thousand Rebsls Whipped
BY Seven Hundred and
Fifty UDionists.
Thrilling Incident Of the Affair.
ITO the CHICAGO Trlbme.l


By the steamer Luminary we have late
dates from Vicksburg and Memphis, and
letters from your correspondent at Little
Rock. From the latter source we obtain
the following particulars Of the late light
at Pine Bluff, some mention Of which was
made day or two since.
On Sunday morning, the 18th ult,
about eight o'clock, there was attempted
surprise on Colonel Clayton, by four thou
sand Confederate csgslry, commanded by
Generals Marmaduke and Cabell Meade.
Clayton had an hours notice Of their
approach, and Immediately set himself
about making a defence. As plenty Of
cotton had been stored in the immediate vi
cinity of the Court House, the Colonel or
dered sufficient quantity TO barriesde
the streets surrounding the Court Square,
and having eleven cannon, planted them
in position 10 take three streets leading to
the centre of the city. His force was
less than seven hundred infantry. The
enemy's attack was made at nine o'clock
simulta aneously on the southeast soulhan
west of the city, they hsving come on three
different roads, and on arriving at the out
skirts shells were thrown in every direc-
tiun into the city. No notice was given
for the women and children TO leave, and
the bursting ofshelIs caused extraordinary
excitement. Women and children came
running from every direction to the Court
House for safety. They were there but a
few moments, when tho rebels advanced,
directing their fire upon the building.
The women and children were removed
uuder The banks of the river, where they
remained exposed through cold, dresry
day, until the battle was over, which was
about five o'clock in the evening, Atabout
nine o'clock the rebel shsrpshooters had
entered private houses in the vicinity Of
the Court House, and appearing at the
windows, commenced firing. The artillery
was laundering up and down the streets
against the cotton breastTorks.
Marmaduke sent flag of truce to Col
onel Clayton, telling hin he had force
of 1900 troops, had him completely sur
rounded, and demanding an unconditional
surrender. Col. Clayton answered, that
Hthe 9th Kansas did not know the meaning
of the word surrender; that he had whipped
Msrmaduke six times within the past
eighteen months, and should whip him
again" This message was delivered to
Marmaduke, and in ten minutes the en-
gines of death were in full motion, firing
from the cotton barracks, and the Union
cannon busy replying, with some 400 long
range rifles doing their work Of death.
At 10 o'clock Marmaduke ordered gen
eral charge upon three sides. Clayton
held his canister and rifles until the enc
my reached within less than one hundred
feet of him, and then ordered fire, and q
horrid havoc it made, completely repulsing
the enemy, and killed and wounded q
large number. At12 clock another charge
was made by the enemy, with the same re-
suit. The firing then ceased for while.
In the evening aithird charge was made
with no better fortune. Colonel Clayton
had taken the prccautiOn, early in the
morning, TO bring within his cotton fort,
some one hundred and fifty horses, and
stalled them in the cotton warehouse on
the bank. They we're saddled and bridled
lie became impatient for the fourth
charge Of the enemy, who seemed slow to
come up to the scratch. A charge on the
enemy, it was thought, might wake them
up. The bugle sounded "boots and sad
dies" and in q moment few of the cot
ton bales were removed and one hundred
and fifty cavalry, headed By Colonel
Clayton, started ut speed of two-thirty
for the enemy, some one thousand
feet off. This caused tho butternuti
much confusion, who, by this time, weri
many of them visiting private houses anG
rJbbing them. They were cOnfOunded
and dispersed in every direction, AMI
Aaally were followed two miles out Of th'
town, when, it becoming dark, cur troop
returned. This ended the days work
The last heard of Marmaduke and Cabell
they were in the vicinity of Saline river
some twenty-three miles of, on the double
quick. Nearly every private house in To-
city was plundored, and the furniture il
the houses of Messrs. Reaners Allif
Grows and Mills, totally destroyed by be
ing broken to pisces. The enemy LEI
their dead aud wounded in the streets t
the number CT 300. The Federal loss wa
alayen killed and thirty-three wounded