True Democrat., 1863-04-08

From the Richmond Enquirer, March G. The Fall of Arkansas Post-A new Yer
 sion of the Affair-the Surrender Ac-
 complished through the Treachery Of a
 Texas Soldier.
 It Is a little singular how little and meagr has been the information furnished the public with regard to the battle and surrender of Arkansas Post. From our own side we have had scarcely anything authentic and reliable, and we have been compelled to form opinions upon it from the reports that have reached us through the Northern papers. The first and only authentic account we have seen from our side is an interesting narrative ofthe unfdr- mate affair in a letter from Dr. C. H. SMITH. who was chief surgeon of the Post at the tim. of it's capture. The account he gives conveys and very important version of the mys- terious affair and alleges that the surrender was the direct result of trecherv, and against the positive orders of the commanding officer, who desired and expected to defend the Post 10 the last extremity. We condense the meterial facts of his statement
 The troops garrisonng Arkansas Post at the time of attack consisted of three brigadeS, most tly Texians, and commanded respectively by C0lones GARLAND, DEsHLEK and DUNNINGroX the whole forming a division under tue cons mand of Brigadier General T. J. CHrRcILI., and numbering on the day of the fight rot more than thirty-three hundred effective men. On the 9th day of January scout from below brought intelligence to General CAURcuILL of a Yankee gunboat having made its appearance Tn the Arkansas river, some thirty miles below the Post; some hours later on the same day another scout brought news of other gunboats followed by transports, making their way up 1f General CHURCHILL ordered everything in read mess for an attack, and ere night closed in all tue troops were distributed along the line of entrenchments, where they remained all night Tn peting storm of rain.. The enemy in the meantime, had landed force about two miles below the fort, but they made no demonstration until about nine or ten o'clock the next nlorn- ing, when they commenced shelling the fort from their advance gunboats that were cautious, ly and slowly feeling their way up the river.
 Our troops held the position first taken by them until about o'clock, P. M, when the General, fearing flank movement on our left ordered the men to fall back to line of en- trenchments near the yet unfinished fort, which line was speedily com pleted and all the troops properly distributed before night set in Just as darkness was drawing near, four gunboats approached the fort and commenced their bonn bardnent, our guns from the fort answered gall lantly, and after two hours terrific sheiiing! the gmnboats retired, one of them, the East port, badly disabled. Our loss up to this time, consisted of only three killed and some three or four wounded.
 On the morning of the 10th ultimo at Q o'clock whereabouts, the enemy rene " ed the attack with gunboats and land forces combined; they had also erected battery on the opposite side of the river ny means of which they kept-upa terrible cross fire that swept the whole area of ground occupied by our men. The firing now continued until about i o'clock, D. m, when it seemed to cease, and shortly after the cessation there was yell came from the lines, which attracted the attention of the General commanding, whose headquarters had been estab- llshed some four hundred yards from the trenches On rldin5 forward to ascertain the state of affairs the General was much surprised to find the federal nag noahng ID every direction along our lncs- Upon inquiry it was ascertained that some tr.;tor Tn the 2ith Texas regiment had raised the white flag and passed the word down the line that G.nar. al Churchill had ordered a surrender whereunor all the troops, except Colonel Deshler's brirade immediately surrendered. Hereiused to surrender his brigade until ordered by Gen. Churchill.
 When the General rode into the fort and sur rendered, Gen Charchil told. Gen. Sherman that he had not ordered surrender but o, the contrary that he had ordered the men to fight until all were dead in the trenches rather than surrender. When askedb by Gen Sherman where his Gen Churchll's) men were, and was told they were all there in sight he seemed surprised, and could scarcely credit the fact that so small body of troops had susceeded in baffiing for so long time, and killing so many of his men. Gen. Churchill had teegraphed for re- inforceinents, and hoped they would reach him that envening, but none were ever sent save about 900 from St. Charles on White river, who arrived just in time to be taken prisoners
 Br. Smith says that 2000 would not be large figure for the enemy's lose in killed and wounded, whilst our loss was hardly over 100. The number prisoners taken at the Post was, probably about 3,500-certainly not more than that number.