The New York herald., 1863-01-26
Capture of st. Charles, Duvals
Bluff and Des Arc. y.
.o~~~><>><~o>~><-@~>~~o(~->~
Two Eight-Inch Gums, 900 Field
Rifles, Ammunition, Small
Arms, Prisoners, &C.,
Taken.
SKETCHES or THE CAPTURED PLACES.
The Key Of Arkansas in the Hands
Of the UniOnists,
Confirmation OF sho victories ON White
Rivera

Rivera
.fMa#& wAsHSoror, Jan. 26, 1863.
MAJOR General Curtis has tecgraphed to Major General
Hallech, General In. chief, as follows
81. Lows, Jan. "a, 1863.
Gopora German tslegraphs from Duval's BLUM, 18th
hst that, aided by three gunboats, he ascended White
river to NV Is Bluff and Dcs Arc, taking about 100
prisoners, ~ % alnbads and about 200 small arms
The news from Arkansas, as gathered from official
sources, highly Important well interesting 81.
Charles Dxas BluG aud Des Arc have been taken, and
the light draught vessels three hundred miles
above the mouth Of the White river. Lieutenant Com
mander Wake. commanding the De Kalb, captured at
Duvais Bluff two eight inch guns, with their carriages
and ammunition, two hundred field rifles and three plat
form Cars, and at Des Arc thrtynne prisoners and
quantity Of arms and ammunition.
Tho above record is certainly very good, and whep
taken In connection with the victory at Fort Hind
man, Arkansas Post, ON The Arkansas, river, is OF
thc highest Importance. Little Rock, the capital
Of tho State Of Arkansas, is now threatened
from the northeast well as on the south
cast The progress Of tho Mississippi 1otla up
the White clears the way for Netherlands army
that they able TO march upon hes,ate capital
without being dependent UPON the river Des
Arc is but 1fty miles from Little Rock This also opens
tho route between Southern Missouri and the Mississippi
by way Of the White The capture Of St Charles,
on tho Arkansas another stumbling block
n tho way Of an advance Little Rock up tht stream
yhus with an army from Pocahonas coming down on the
northeast, Biunts army from the Boston Moup'ains
tbe nosthwe and McCernaIds army pushing along up
se White md Arkansas rivers Little Rock fall, and
Arkansas 10 brought under the Jurisdiction OF
de Upsteyi States aGthoritics.
SKETCH OF ARC.
Des Arc q post village Of Prairie county, Arkansas
end was once very thriving a commercial place II is
situated the White river al about Ay miles from Lit
No Rock, In Q northeastery direction II Is located In
she midst d rich cotton and growing district and
AAA previous 10 the rebellion very active trade The
vvor navgable by steamboats, from this place to its
mouth at oil Of tho year and all stages Of the
water. AZ time great trado used TO be done hsre
IN the expectation Of cypress cedar and white oak
Tho village laid out in 1913, but its population
eordng 70 Tho ass then far from large Pra
county situated in the part Of the
State and contains about o60 square miles 67s 400
u bounded the east by the White river, and
the north Cypress aud Des Arc bayou The surface Of
ahe country nearly newell diversified by extensive prairie
aDds by forests which contain the oak ash cypress
walnut cedar The soil Is generally fertile Browns
vie is the capital Of the county The population
NJ 1880 WAS but 2oo7, Of whom 27a slaves In
1850 we're slaves, showing great increase the Save
over Ne white population in Ten years. There no
free negroes the county.
SKETCH OF pUvAL's g BLUFF.
Duvals Bluff was, previous 70 the rebellion, postal
sutton OF Prairie county, Arkansas but since that time
hes been noted location for rebel camp aue
sartAwork than anything else The bluT Is elevated
much above the river that plungns shots could be
tho decks Of OF the vessels passing along
49, trt...t
sumner captured rebel camp and brought down upon
himself the threatened vengeance Of Jei. Davis II he
should have been unfortunate as caught
Now General German has lnshed in good style what
Os0ne Fitch began, and has captured the heavy guns
tAe defences, ~ well 40 ether arms II will be difficult
Ses tho rebels again capture and fortfy this bluff.
SKETCH OF THE WHITE RIVER.
re whte river OF the principal streams Of
hansas Its course Is very peculiar II is formed first
by three which the Ozark Mountains and
unite fcw miles eaet Of Fayetteville Ark u flows
n . portheasterly direction into Missouri, which II
ravorsss for about hundred miles passing its
course Forsyth noted for General LYONS victory Of
Dug Springs, August 1851. 1t then into Arkan
sas, aud pursues southeastcrly course receiving into
" bosom several small streams, until Is joined by the
Of the Big Black river which its largest aueu.
These waters unto Jacksonport, Jackson county
Ark and after tho junction formed the united
pursue soothcrly course, under the Of the White
river until they commingle with their great father
ihe MISSISSIPPI The point where the White river
'als INTO tine Mississippi about fifteen miles
asogo the meath Of the Arkansas river. The whole
length Of tho White river exceeds eight hundred
and II Ia nav vuabe by steamboats, al all seasons from
aoksonport downward distance Of three hundred ana
lfty miles and for afty miles further during tho
greater part OF the year. Very little ice appears
tho White river certainly not enough TO hinder navira-
ton The country through which II flows Is generally
fer,c and adapted the culture Of Indian and cot
ten Pine forests found along the banks Of tho
above Batesve, aud cypress swamps along tho lover
part Of iss course Five important aiuente, besides
sma streams now into the White river above Jackson.
port and they are named the James Fork, Big North
Fork Bsyaais Fork, Little North Fork and Buffalo Fork
We have them after the parent passes that place
the Big Black river the Little Red river the Cache
aud the Big creek all Of which fall into the White Iver
before 4 Joins with the Mississippi
sxxrcH or ST. CHARLES.
e. Chases is asmsli post village of Arkansas county
Arkansas and - situated at short distance above tho
rot o Arkansas recently captured by the United States
forces q the hissssipp It's situated tho Arkan
s@ ryer and Dad been the scene u former engagement
between tho Unson and rebel forces The oi
the place takes from the rebels another % their
holds between the Mississippi and Little Rock.
TnE KEY or THE STATE IN orB HAsps
Nv glance the map u will be scon that our torco.
noli the sey Of the state n Akansas On the no,,h ,
~ hold BY tho advancing Union forces ana the M,s,.
eippi nosila and McCcrDands army hold their arm
sipai atrcs-tbe Arkansas and The White rivers Evan
s rebss acknowledge that The from this tar, a
heir 20 oatd confederary Is very gloomy dsheart
cning with the nropable capture Of tho rebel army nov
m Arkansas the ecariiy OF Missouri made douby sure
The prospecss front ha Southwest are now brighter than