Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1863-01-22
L. D. CARTER.
Lieut.. Co. l, 18th Reg o. V. 1
NEWS FROM CAIRO AND BELOW.

~ = AAO-h S@AAAAO nv DLA-ON
The Victory at Arkanaas Post Fully
Confrmed--Particulars OF the Affair.
The Fort STANDARDIZATION Priso-
ners Taken--UuiOn Loss 800 to 800
200 Rebels Killed and Wounded.
CAIRO. January II.
Three hundred additional rebel priso-
ners arrived this morning from Camp
Chase, and were to be sent down the
river, with those on the steamer Hanni-
bal and Duke, for exchange; but orders
came this evening directing them to be
sent TO Benton Barracks.
You received last night all the facts
then known regarding General McCler-
nand's successful attack upon Arkansas
Post. Since then | have obtained the
following particulars:
On Saturday last, the main portion
Of what was Sherman's Vieksburg ex-
pedition, conveyed By Louisville. Mound
City, Cincinnati. and three Of the mos
quito fleet, entered Arkansas river
through the cut off, about fifteen miles
below Arkansas Post, which is forty
miles above the mouth Of the Arkansas.
The place is in a sort Of horse shoe
bend OF the river, and is well calcuia-
ted for defense. The landing was made
on Saturday, a mile below the fort.
under cover OF the gunboats; but ont OF
sight of those at the fort. The gun
boa Is then proceeded up the river. took
positions, and at about p. NJ. com
menced firing heavy guns upon the de-
lenses. The land forces arrived Satur-
day P. NJ. A bayou was found inter
fering. and division was sent ont FOR
the purpose of discovering way TO
get over it but met rife pits These
latter were i4nked with some difficulty,
consuming the remainder Of saturday.
Sixty rebel prisoners were taken IN this
operation
Our loss was small The fort was
then in full view for tie next morning.
While this was going on on land the
gunboats were having a smart engage
ment on the river front, the rebels re-
plying with their heavy metal. The
FIRST sh u fred by the enemy struck a
Lieutenant of the l13lh Illinois regi-
ment, shatterriDg bis Veg. On Sunday
morning il was found the enemy. from
the loss Of the rife pits. had spent the
night intrenching Our forces advanced
upon the forts at eight O'Clock, over
abattis. rifiepits, timber. dc. As the
advance divisions nesred the works they
also relieved each other. IL was then
found a thousand rebels had re-eBiorced
the fort, from St. Charles They were
held in check by these and the old for
ces. The gunboats and river batteries
were in the meantime 6ghIing in ear
nests duel. From one O'Clock aud Tor
three and a half hours after this. the
duel continued. On each side every
nerve was strained for victory. The
fort casemates were made OF three feet
solid timber, covered with railway non,
supposed to nave been impenetrsble;
but iron hail from the heavy guns on
the gunboats was too much for them.
The battered rails tumbled down. and
splinters from the timbers flew with
fatal effect among the rebels. The Sec
onG shot fred entered the classmates
and killed seven rebels; by another a
caisson exploded. killing six more and
nine horses. With this going on in
front, and an advance OF two sections
OF Federal troops in the rear. there was
but one course left for the defenders OF
Arkansas Post to pursue-they must
sutcumb and they did so. The loss on
ourside in killed, wounded and missing
was from 800 to 500. The rebels lost
200 Killed. wounded and missing, and
5000 taken prisoners. Among the
latter y General Churchill, comman-
ding posi-
The Surrender was made at P. NJ.
Sunday.
Twelve hundred of the rebels were
reported tONbe on the sick list during
Sunday.
The gunbOats. while firing upon the
rebel works in froet. inflicted some in
Jury upon our men advancing from the
flank, but the exteAt Of the damage
could not be learned
The prisoners are on, their way up
the river, and may be Neon expected.