Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1863-01-22
THE VICTORY In ARKANSAS.
FULL PARTICULARS.

| up WouPnis Duietini OF wednesday,
has the following, direct from parties arriv.
ed at Memphis, from Arkansas Post, on the
dispatch boat Kellogg
On Saturday, the main position of the
enemy was attacked with the three iron.
clad gunboats, Louisville, Cincinnati und
Mound City, aud three light draughts, the
latter having entered the Arkansas River
from branch of the White River, which
approaches the fort forty miles above the
mouth. Arkansas Post is place situated
at a favorable location for defense, on bend
OF the river, Of irregular, horse shoe shape.
tt has, tor some months, been much boasted
OF, by the CoDfederates, as a spot so forti.
he'd as to be extremely formidable. At .
point one mile below the fort, where person,
IN the fort were unable to see what was
done, troops were discmbarked. Gunboats
proceeded up the river, taking positions
above the fort as well as below, so as to b.
able to rake it with their heavy pieces. The
land forces, meantime, arrived The rear
division, under Sherman, found, in proceed.
Ing back to some distance, that BAYOU
hlndered progress in the way desired, and
he returned and chose route more favor.
able Tor intended operations. Another d.
VISION, meantime, took up line of march
somewhat nearerthe locality of tho fort, and
escaped the obstruction of the bayou Other
oDstrnctions existed, however, in the shape
Of rife pits, which it became necessary TO
Hank by advancing to the furthest extrcm.
ity from the river This was not done with
out considerable skirmishing, which con.
suned the remainder of Saturday There
was some loss in these proceedings, and
ABOUT sixty OF the enemy, most of whom
were wounded, got into the Federal lines by
mistake, and were taken prisoners 1t was
nearly dark before the Federal forces had so
far advanced as to have the fort in full view,
ready Tor storming next morning.
W hile their operations were proceeding
on land, the gunDoats had taken positions,
aud u little before dark smart artillery
fight took place, which the early closing in
OF darkness cut short. The first shell fred
by the enemy struck a Lieutenant of the
18th Illinois shatterng his leg. The next
morning the land forces found that the enc.
my, having lost their rifle pits, had thrown
up new intrenchnents. These they pro
ceeded to attack, and also to secure a DO i.
tioa ABOVE the fort, US well as below. The
ground near the fort was found divested OF
timber, except in particular portion,
which was useful for cover, aud PROSTATE
trees aud brush were so disposed as to pre-.
sent the greatest possible amount of Oh
struction.
As the two sections of attacking land
forces advanced, they decreases tn, Jistance
between them more and more, approaching
the position Of surrounding the fort. A re
enforcement of two thousand men arrived to
the rebels from Fort Charles, on she White
River, twenty. five miles distant by land, and
it was with difficulty this force made a inos
ton with the main body OF rebels. They
succeeded, however, by taking advantage OF
the shelter offered by a ravine. Meantime
I the casual firing Of the artillery from gun
boats and in reply which had been partially
suspended by the necessity of supporting
the land operations, grew more vigorous
and at one O'Clock heavy firing commenced
between the fort and gunboats, and wa,
sustained three hours and u half 30 inc.s
sanity that there were only occasional
intervals at which the strained ear for
second was relieved from the thunderinl
roar. The casematiug of the fort presented
u Formidable appearances; which seemed TO
some extent to justify the boastiny th,t
had been m,ds fits impe letra lit -
There was u thickness of three feet of spliI
timber, covered with railroad iron. the
whole looking aS lift could resist the utm osi
force of cannon shot.
10 the deep dismay of the defenders of
the Post of Arkansas, the balls from the
mnnstrous guns Of the boats shattered
their most formidable defanses, an | pone
trated and demolished strongholds they had
reared with so much skill The battered
rails of iron came tumbling down, aud the
strong ribs OF tim ,cr were II ,wn with f.tal
effect among the ranks they were 10 have
saved. Dlsnounted guns fell into commo,
ruin, proving the dreadful power OF qua
boats With their mighty arm tmants.
The ,econd shot fred by the Fcderals n,
! the commencement Of the contest of three
bours penetrated acLIemate OF the fort an
killed seven men. BY another shot one OF
the enemy's caissons WAS exploded causing
| the death of six men and nine horses With
their casemates demolished, their defenSe,
exposed TO raklng tire never surpassed for
violence, and stormng parties cio ling in
upon thelf rear, but one course was open to
the enemy
After loss Of about 200 men killed
wounded and missing an somewhat hsav
ier on the part Of the attacking party, the
commander Of the post, Gen. Churchill
surrendered at Al o'clock, p NJ Gsnera
McC'ernand took the whole force, about
$500 prisoners, 1900 or 400 of whom are
on the sick list. rhe gunboats which had
inflicted so much damage, escaped without
serious Injury.
Prisoners declared that if our arrival had
been postponed another day, they would
have gwen US a much sitter fight, as large
reinforcements would have Joined them.
In reply to questions as to the numbe Of
men and state Of fortiications at Pine Bluff
Little Rock, and points on White River,
tho prisoners advised interrogators to g,
and count and observe for themselves.
The prisoners were sent up the river
starting on Monday, and will probably b.
here lMemphis) to day.
1t is Thought probable st. Charles, on
White River, will be next 70 luced, then Z. ne
Bluff and finally Little Rock.
In addition to the above. | have seen a
slip from the Memphis Enquirer. which
says two regiments of rebels arrived q; the
Fort the morning after the surrender and
entered with f,gs flying and drums beating,
supposing it was still hold by the rebels
They were captured. Of course, swelling the
list Of prisoners to something over 5000.
OFFICIAL REPORT OF THE VICTORY IN
ARKANSAS.
MEMPHIS, January IA.
Major General HlHech. ~ - -.
=. IL 4