Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1863-02-09
ARMY CORR ESPONDENCE.
HsLREA, Ark, Jan. 2td, 1868

MRssRs. EDlToRS.-H Just re-
turned from IN expedition up the White
River, in search OF rebels, propose to
give you an account of eur trip. The
fleet, consisting OF 81 steamers and four
gunboats, and carrying about $500 men
Of all arms, left this place at six O'Clock
on Sunday evening, the | lth inst, under
the command Of Brig. Gen. w. A. Cor
man, and proceeded down the Missssip
p, arriving at the mouth of the White
River, 90 miles below Helena, at four o.
clock A. NJ on the 2lst.
Ile,e We found two hospital boats at
anchor, one Of VIII ch WAS the L. 5. n.
Hospital recently fitted up at Cairo, for
service in Gen. Sherman's fleet in its at
tack on Vicksturg. Some barges Of coal
also Law lerc, from which we were 10
draw supplies. After waltin. until all
the transports had arrived, and some sick
had been transferred 10 the Hospital
steamer, at a qua. ter past | A. NJ. the
fleet was in motion, ascending the White
River. This is a rapid stream, aud also
very crooked, and is nayigatcd with diff
Guilty, especially BY s,crn.wheel boats.
Oar progress was slow and tedious, and
at half past 2. NJ, on Tuesday, Jan.
18th, the fleet got under motion, and
stood up the river, making very slow pro
gress, until $50 L. NJ, when, it becoming
ye,y dark, the boats lay too for the
night.
About 1890 on Wednesday, Jan. 18th,
we again steamed up the river, arriving
at ST. Charles at II NJ. This place is
situated on the left bank Of the riyer,and
in a time Of peace and high water, both
of which are necessary to its prosperity
was loubtedly \ place OF some impor-
tance, as noticed, among other bn Id
ings, hotel, several stores, Il steam saw
mill, and few very good houses. TIE
high bluffs just be.ow the to~n had been
strongly fortified, and though all the
guns aud munitions OF war nd been re-
moved previous to our arrival, the re-
mains OF the earth orks show them to
have been Of great strength, and capablr
Of off ring stubborn esi-tancc, if prop
crly manned. Three companies of rebels
had left the town the day before we ar
rived. Two large GA FOUNDER siege guns
the last remaining in rebel hands west of
the NJ ssss ppi river, had been sen, up
to Duval. Elutf, to be shipped from there
by the Memphis and Little Rock Rail-
road to Little Rock.
A regiment of infantry and some cav
airy were ordered off 10 garrison the
place, and succeeded in taking some pris
oneis. All day Wednesday and part of
the night following it rained very hard,
and we had dreary time Of it. Some
time during the night it changed to snow
and on Thursday morning a. daylight it
lay fully IL inches deep on our decks.
Showed out from St. Charles at | | A.
NJ, and at L. NJ. landed at Clarendon,
1875 miles from the mouth of the White
River. Here we found force of cavalry
$500 strong. under Brig. Gen. Wash
burne, which had made the journey
across from Helena by land. Clarcn.
don is pretty place, somewhat larger
than ST. haries. 1t is on the right bank
OF the river, and contains fine school
house, number Of stores and saloons,
and q good steam mill, 1t is much bet.
Ter situate than st. Charles, the land
rising gently at the landing, then 'unniug
back on level "a good deal like Daven-
enport) ,oa chain of bluffs some dis
tance ba K Of the town.
At 8 A. NJ, On Friday, the fleet left
Clarendon, and at $3.50 L. NJ. arrived at
Dnval's Bluff, seven miles farther up the
river. Here it was expected that the
force would meet W tn some opposition,
but all the secesh in the place skedad-
died on the smoke Of our gunboats be-
coming visible. They were engaged IN
loading the two 64-pounder sci;.c guns
that had been>sent up from st. Charles
and we ioand them about half way uF
the timbcrs leading to the platform ftht
fiat cars, which were ready to receive
them.
On landing, force Of cavalry was i'm
mediately started out in pursuit, and sue
ceeded in taking quite number Of pris
oners, some horses, rifles and tents. A
station house was in course of construc
ton at the terminus Of the road, near thu
river bank, tue siding Of which our boy
quickly removed and carried on boart
our boats, leaving the frame and roof nn
injured. There were only few scattered
buildings near the Bluffs, no regular tow
having been laid out The river takes
sudden bend At this place, and on tn
cres, of the Bluff, on the left bank, ans
only few rods from the depot, the reb
els had thrown up entrenchmcn,s, du,
rA, pits, and prepared to dispute tn
passage OF the river, but BY the time "
got there all the guns had been removc'
except the two 6i-pounders, and the
would have bcen rolling over the road 7
Little Rock in Q few hours more.
By order Of Gen. Gogmxa some 6sl