True Democrat., 1863-04-01

MATTERS IN ARkANsAs.-The coming of Gen. Price was the occasion of the manifestation of great deal of enthusiasm. especially among the Mssourians. Being called out, the old chief made very short address, telling them that he came here to fight not to make speeches, and that he had been successful last in being transferred to this side of the river. We were present last week at general review of the troopsb by Generals Kirby Smith, Holmes and Price. It was gratifying to see the improvement in the men, the increase of their numbers, and the fine spirit which seemed to ami mate them The regiments are filling up; the stragglers are returning, and officers and men are taking pride in each other.
 Nearly every day during the past week. bodies of prisoners have been brought in, the majority being jayhawkers. Among them lot of six teen, who were taken at the affray near Mulberry, wherein Major H. s. Mcconnell was killed. He was in command of scouting party, and having ascertaned that some thirty of these scoundrels were at a certain place, moved up his command to surround them. With his usual bravery he dashed ahead and was ill advance, when, in p,ssing all open place. one of the jayhawkers named Harpe, rested his gun the corner of the house. took de-
 
 Some of McConnell's men came up and asked him if he was hurt, to which he replied: |" am killed but go on. Do onot stop to mind me-" The patriots rendered furious, charged upon the enemy, killed nine, wounded four and took sixteen prisoners. day or two before that discharged Confederate soldier named Stuart, had his house surrounded by a gang of these mscreants, who made him pris- oncr and paroed him. On the next day others came, dragged him from his sick bed, took him in front of his house. propped him up, for he was too sick to stand, and in the presence of his wife, foullv murdered him. These men, their hands dripping with blood, who have burned houses and stolen property, are brought here prisoners of war and go through the formalitics of T trial When released, they go back to their old trade of rapine and murder till they again caught and go through the same routine. Nearly all of them are tories and traitors some of them are deserters from our army, and to permit them to go unwhipt of justice is to license crime, to make life and pro- pcrty in the border counties insecure, and to ren- der of no avail the loss of lives lost in securing them Such life as that of Hall Mcconnell is worth a host of these bandits.
 Gen. Smith has the reputation of being a kind heart ed man, and so we believe, has Gen. Holmes. But we beg them to observe that kindness to these men is cruelty to the people whom they have rob- bed, and whom, if they get the chance they will again rob and murder without remorse.
 This fellow, Col. Harrison, at Fayetteville. is said to be building notifications and impressing labor to work on them. With this exception and the force at Helena the enemy making no movement or have no foothod in our State. The ayhawkers are pretty we'll cleared out; the deser ters and sragglers are returning, and if we could drive tho invaders and tories out of Washington and Benton counties, the only point in the State which the federals could claim 10 hold would be Helena. The wheat crop is said to be fine, but it is feared that the cold weather for the past few days may injure that and the peach crop. We hope not, and will be glad to receive information concerning the crops from all parts of the State.