Newbern progress., 1863-01-31
Opcrations on the .South Bank

The division that landed on the south
bank of the river. near the mouth of
Red Fork. moved out on the road in the
direction of the landing, opposite the
Post. From this landing is a single
road, leading to the Wachita river
through a region of swamps and low
lands. The road from Belleville inter-
sects it about four miles from the latter
place. near the crossing of a small
creek. This bridge was occupied at an
early hour by battalion of our cavalry
which encountered small force of
rebel infantry. The later was disloged
after few rounds of musketry, and fed
in the direction of the fort.
Holding a Sridge.
The bridge being fairly in our hands
the rebels retreat in that direction was
rendered hopeless. The division formed
in line of battle, and, after several hours
impatient listening to the cannonading,
moved forward in the direction of the
river. They had advanced but single
mile before night came upon them, and
they bivouacke6 on the field. Around
them was the dense cypress forest. with
its thick brushwood. The gloom OF
the night was rendered still more in
tense by a thick fog which overhung
the forest in that vicinity. A strong
picket was thrown out during the night,
and there We're constant alarms from
stragglers from the fort coming upon
our lines before thev were aware of it
and several prisoners were made in this
way. One of our men was wounded
by a shot from the bushes. but his
wound was not considered serious.
Passing tie Night.
During the night there was but little
sleep in the bivouac, the men being
anxious for the coming dawn, and fer
vently desiring an opportunity to retrieve
the disgrace of their failure before
Vicksburg, under Sherman. Had not
this been sufficient reason for Sleep
less MIG ht,t there would have been causes
for wakefulness in the occasional BOOM
ing of the artillery from the gunboats
in front of the Post.
Mooing on Sunday.
In the morning they moved forward
to within two miles of the river, meet
ing and capturing small squads of the
enemy. There was no engagement of
Importance. as the rebels had learned
from the guard at the bridge, of the
force that was ready to oppose them,
and did not attempt to retreat by way
of the Wachita road. When the battle
was over the number of prisoners on
this side was not far from two hundred,
consisting entirely of stragglers from
the fort. All of them told a pitifu tale
of their garrison life and the scarcity of
provisions.
Casua1tie&. ,.-
I have not, from the circumstances
by which am surrounded, been able to
make out list of the losses in the var.
ious divisions engaged. These will
doubtless be sent byyour correspondent
who accompanied the land forces.-I
have heard several estimates of the
extent of our suffering, none of them
placing the killed and wounded at less
than three hundred. Several persons
are of opinion that they will exceed six
hundred. My own impression is that
the losses will come within the above
figures. No officers, that | have heard
of. have suffered. Much of the damage
is said TO have been caused by the gum
DOdtS HIInS 100 nISH.
Results Of the Battle.
The results of our victory are nearly
seven thousand prisoners of war, a forti-
fed point guarding the navigation of
the Arkansas river, and shutting out its
commerce from the Mississippi. We
can now ascend without interruption to
Little Rock, and take full possession of
the Arkansas capital. With a higher
stage Of water in that river we can
communicate with Generals 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 overthrown and the power of
the government again fully restored
Artillery and ordnance stores to an
enormous extent have come into our
possession, and several Thousand stand
of small arms make for US an exhibit of
no mean Importance. Transportation
for the rugged roads of Arkansas has
become ours. and with a new stock Of
commissary stores We are ready to
move in any direction by land.
Conclusion
Following so soon after our reverse,
we should hope that our present victory
will be partial atonement for our re-
cent defeat, and convince the North of
the value of the change in the COM
mand. The one leader brought US
defeat and disgrace, the other has
brought US honor and success. With
an officer in whom we have confidence
we now feeI cerfain If q DrosDerous
future.
Notice to Mariners.