The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1863-10-22
For the Ottumwa Courier.
Army correspondence.
LITTLE Rock, Sept. e4th. ISL

cured on This march of which to write
Du g the day, We marched slowly and
steadily on, hating every few miles to rest,
and at night lay down on the ground, with
nothing but the sky for covering, and got
up in the morning feeling refreshed. aso,
After five days recreation, we crossed
White rye, marched five miles, crossed
bay on the pontoon bridge. laid down for
the purpose, and camped on the Hill be-
,yond. On the 23d, we marched twelve
miles, through very pretty country, mostly
prairie, to Duvars Bluff. This is place
Of some notcriety, having been the scene Of
several small skirmishes since the war be-
gan Here the railroad, leading from Little
Rock to Memphis, crosses the river. There
are no houses nor improvements Of any
kind, as everything has been burned. n9d1 ,
On the 3lst Of August, we left Duvars
Bluff, marched two days, over thirty miles
Of as pretty prairie as ever lay out Of doors.
What is remarkable-a this prairie il ap-t
parently, very fertiIe4is,i that during TIVE
days march, we never passed house until
We got to Brownsville II this prairie were
anywhere in Yankeedom, it would be Gov
cred with beautiful cottages, aid fields Of
waving corn. As it is, is Is covered with
Natures own yield. Such is the effect Of
slavery. '','1. ~ .'S'''.'4 oaj 'le' ''si@
We encamped two miles south Of Browns,
vile, in forest Of young timber and brush,
near small creek, Of stagpant water, and
remained two DAYS.
Brownsville-county seat of Prairie coun.
ty-is a ragged little village, with some
twenty or thirty houses, situated in the
edge Of the timber. The houses and in,
closures are of the rudest character. many
Of them old and dilapid ted, and as the, e.
had been small fight here, two or three
days before we came, between the rebels
and Davidson's cavalry, and the fencing all
torn down. the place looked hard enough.
you may depend. While here, an expedi.
ton consisting Of our (Riee's) DIVISION.
marched out to Bayou Metraie, encamped
in the Camp of the Seven Springs-prepar.
ed by the rebels with great pains-and
shelled the se;esh as they retreated over to-
wards Little it'll Rock Next day. this division
came back. Joined the expedition again, and,
on the sth of--Sep.ember, we all moved
down seventeen miles to Ashby's Mills, on
the Arkansas river, twelve miles below Lit.s
tie Rock. On the tenth, we were ordered
to move on Little Rock. On the evening
OF the 9th. General Steel caused the pom,
toon bridge to be laid down ten miles below
the city, and carly on the morning of the
tenth, under protection of our guns, a large
cavalry force crossed over, in order to flank
the enemy and come in on himewhere he
was unprepared. QEucit eaia54ff BIO sd
Early in the morning, the infantry and
heavy artilieiy moved up the north, and the
cavalry up the south side of the river. AT
ten, the firing commenced. The cavalry
encountered the enemy eight miles below
town, and drovethem steadily back. About
SIX miles below the city, the rebels attempt.
ed to make stand, and for few n, moments,
kept our cavalry IN check, when our heavy
batteries were brought up, and made 70
play on them from the nortL side, making
such music as only soldier can fully enjoy.
At the same time, our cavalry made an
other brave charge, and, ina short time
they were again OF, the retreat. Thus, we
moved triumphantly on until we came to
their Notifications, where We had expected
severe conflict, as Price had constructed
very formidable earthworks, encifciifs the
city for many miles in extent But how
great Was ouf surprise when We came to
their extensive fortificatisns, which had re- !
CURED 50 much time snd hard labor for Their
construction, to 'find them entirely abandon.
cd. When Price found that We were r CON- ON
ing in On his flank and rear, he issued an
order to eyacuate and cross to the II opposite
side; and such was, their haste to get away wa,
that they, left their dinners uneaten, in the
vessels in which they had been prepared.
T Finding our course unobstructed, we
moved up and camped- over against Little
Rock As we were in camp late in the
evening. the canenading could still be heard
oyer the southwest of town. The cavalry
pursued the rebels in their fight through
town, and five miles beyond, when the
shades of night closed around. and put a
stop to the pursuit for that day. Next
morning. Davidson pursued the enemy
about twenty miles, and took some five or
six hundred prisoners. The road, for six
miles beyond the city, is strewn with broken
wagons. guns, supplies, old clothes. etc.
All is quiet now. Our cavalry has scout
ed the country for sixty miles around, and
not rebel is to be found, save those who
are coming in and giving themselves up;
and of them there are not few Some.
have preferred to join the Union army, and
one7companyl of hushwackers has been or
ganized, whose purpose it is to protect their
own homes, and catching suchas have been
carrying on a guerrlla warfare in Arkansas.
The war in the south west, it would seem,
is about played out, for it is hard to see
how Price, under such discouraging circnm-
stances, can keep his men together much
longer Things begin to wear more lively
aspect here. Confederate script played out
tha 70 vt ,d.v ofxor ,ro ,ac,o A.. ILL.,