Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1863-01-27
The Victory at Arkansas Post,


fed as to be extremely formidable. The easema.
ling of the fort Is said 10 have presented formid-
able appearance thickness OF three feet OF solid
timber, covered with railroad iron, the whole look.
ing as if It could resist the utmost force Of cannon
balls. The iron hail from our monstrous guns
shattered their most formidable delences, pene-
trating and demelishing the stronghold the enemy
had reared with so much skill. The battered rails
Of IRON came topping down, ard strong ribs Of
timber few with fatal effect among the ranks they
should have saved. The dismounted guns fell
into the common ruin, proving the dreadful power
OF the gunboats and their armamsnts Gen. Nc.
Clernan1's plans for the capture Of this strong
hold are thus detailed by correspondent who ac-
companied the expedition:
"Gen. MeCernand had laid bis plans to make
victory not only sure, but decisive. TO this end
he had disposed his forces 40 as completely to cir
cumvent the Post and prevent sdy egress from it
in any direction whatever. The division that de.
barked on the south side OF the Arkansas river
was designed TO prevent any escape by crossing
the river Another division, instead Of following
the same force into the common rendezvous at
Belleyille continued directly up the White river
about twenty-five miles, where they deoarked on
the west side OF that stream, whence, by pushing
Their way through the timbued bottom-land for a
distance of three miles, they would emerge into
higher land and open prairie, continuing thus m
I'll they again entered the woods skirting the Red
river, about three miles back Of the Post.
This division struck the White river road
running nearly north and souh--aboul two miles
and half from the Post. Following this road
about lhree-quarters Of mile, to avOil an exten.
Z =. oh lxrt pf no fou
they filed off by their right flank through a piece
ct woods until their i.ht came upon the main
turnpike leading up the Arkansas river to Little
Rock, and took possession Of a small bridge on
this road, across a creek leading from the north
into the Arkansas, about a mile and half from
the town, thus cutting off oil retreat from the Post
in this direction.
The Two divisions that had debarked On the
north side Of the river below the Post, deployed
into line with their extreme right resting upon the
left OF the division from the White river, and
their eft coming down nearly to the river below
the town, thus completing the circuit Of the enc
mys position.
At first the enemy had difficulty in getting
/ their guns to bear uron our boats, owing to their
elevation ami the close position which the boats
had taken, and for a time their shot all fell ar
sstern of US At the same time our guns were
too highly elevated, and our shell passed over the
bluff, falling far into the rear Of the rebel lines
and, as the result demonstrated, dong more
damage to our own forces than to those OF the
enemy. But by degrees, more perfect ranges
we're obtained on both sides and the rebel mis-.
siles Tell arouad our vessels in uncomfortable fre.
quency. The rebels disclosed but four guns
bearing upon u.s. though these we're of heavy
calibre, and were handled with great skill. We
thus had the advantage Of hem ia weight of met
al, having where the bow guns Of our boats only
were used twelve gurs working against them,
while by swinging about We could occasionally
pour IN broadsde with great effect After the
first few rounds We go; oetter range, and our
shall fell wl,h great accuracy into the rebel works.
exploding aad spreading censternaon and cen.
fusion all around. Thus we soon disabled one Of
the best peoes,a large rihed gun, knocking i,
completely oil l!' nountiugs by well directed
shot from the Louisville. Another Of their guns
also soon ceased work.
Sunday morning, at daylight, our gunboals
were 10 resume the cannoRading upon the fort
but the morning dawned with dense fog spread.
ing over the river, which prevented the gunboats
moving up into action until nearly nine o'clock
al which hour the attack was resumed. For one
hour the cinnonadng was equal 10 that Of the
previous day. The enemy had, during the night,
replaced the gun we had dismouned on the pre-
vious evening, and al.o had supplied gunners for
the other gun slenced, SO that their whole bate
ry was in play
After terrific fire all the guns were senced
or dismounted, and the gunners fed in confusion.
Just a, this Juuclure, signals were made oy the
army for us to cease firing, and our boats dropped
back out Of action.
i Then commenced most furious assault by the
land forces. Those upon the left, comprising the
divisions of Gems. Steele and David Stewart-ior-
meIy Morgan l.. Smth's-crossed the enemy s
abattis, under heavy fire fr m their rifle pits,an
put the rebels to utter roul, driving them out in tbs
direction of the road leading to Little Rock
+ Here they were headed off by the division that
had crossed from the White river, and a desperate
engagement ensued, which soon resulted in the
surrender Of The enemy.
/ The results OF our victory are nearly seven
thousand prisoners of war, fortified point guard.
ing the navigation Of the Arkansas rlyer, and
shutting out It's commerce from the Mississippi.
We can now ascend without interruption to Little
Rock, and taks full possession OF the Arkansas
capital. With higher stage of water in that
ryer we can communicate with Cen. Blunt and
Heron, and save them the transport Of supplies
over the long route from Rolla With but few
more well directed blows the whole rebel strength
in the State will be overthrow and the power Of
the government again fully restored. Artillery
aud ordnance stores to an enormous extent have
GENE into our possession, and several thousand
stand Of small arms make or US an exhibit OF
no mean importance. Transportation for the rug.
ged roads Of Arkansas has beeeme ours, and with
new stock Of commisssry stores we are ready TO
novels any direction by land.