True Democrat., 1863-03-18
From the Monroe La, Register

sa-We had a call from Capt. ". B. Denson, of Shreveport. who was captured at Arkansas Post. and made his escape from the enemy at Memphis. The Captain states that in conse q lence of bad health he remained in Memphis about twelve days alter his escape from the transports upon which his command was car ried. and had fair opportunity of learning the sentiment of the army and the people as to the war; He states that the army, wherever he could see or here of 1t, perfectly demoral> ized-but little better than mob-that they are heartily sick and dsgusted with the war, and are only held together by force of arms- He was credtably informed that at least one hundred deserted daily from Grants army at Memphis. He confirms the rumors as to the revolution going on in the Northwestern States, and says our friends in the North feel confident of an early settlement of our difficulties, by this monster enemy, which is raising up from the very heart of Abraham's kingdom. New York, Indiana and Illinois, are already in hostile ray against the powers at Washington, ard the lion of Old Kentucky has at last risen and sha- ken the dew from his mane. Lincoln eman- cipation proclamation is the serpent Tn ther bosoms. They swear they wont fight for the nigger, alias "intelligent contraband,' alias free American citizens of African descent The army has not been paid off in seven months, and the men, half clothed and half fed, think it an honor to be able to desert and escape the army.
 As to the capture of Arkansa Post, the cap~ tain says, that on the 9th day of January the advance of the enemyes, fleet made it's ap- pearance in the Aarkansas river, at the mouth ofthe cutoff, below the Post about fifteen miles, which the first notice the General COm~ mandng had of its approach.
 He mmediately put bis troops in motion to receive them, and telegraphed to Gen. Holmes that large force was moving against him. in answer to which he told him 10 hold his posi- ton at all hazards, as endorsements would be sent to him, a greater portion of Gen. W alkers division being then at Pine Bluff. The enemys gunboats anchored about three miles below the fort and the transports moved up to their and put of their artillery and cavalry during the night. On the morning of the 10th the gunboats moved up slowly and cautiously to open the attack, and so cautious were their movements that the ball WAS not fairly opened till two o'clock in the evening, when the bonn bardment became terrific from the gunboats, which was gaantly answered by our little fort. About seven 0 clock darkness closed the scene, and the boats withdrew, not having damaged our fort in the least. Our little band of infant rv, which had fallen back to better position, before the overwhelming numbers of the enemy, labored hard all night in throwing up rife-pts for their defense in the morrow's struggle Daylight found the spade thrown aside and the rife in hand, from which many messenger of death was that day to be sent.
 Gen. Churchill rode down the line about sum- rise, and told them that they owed duty to their country on that day, and he expected them to do 1t. Their long loud shouts told him that they were ready Skirmishing began ear ly, but the boats were again slow and did not open again in good earnest till about eleven .1l. IL d III their fures. The boats swarmed around our little fort as if 1t were young devil they were trying to crush. The infantry of the enemy took courage at the believing of their big guns, and began to charge our lines, but the steady and unerrng aim of our huntsmen, who were there to receive them, cut down their ranks.hke hay before the strong arm of the reaper Three successive charges were made upon our lines, but with the same bloody havoc, when, as the Federal officers afterwards said, they had to kick and bayonet the men to get them to ad- vance towards the line. About three o'clock the last gun on our faed little fort was senced, and the gunboats went behind and above us-- The enemy then placed bis batteries where he could enflade our whole line, when suddenly dead silence prevailed, and our in formant looks ing up the line, saw white flag going out to the enemy, which said, surrender ourselves prisoners of war. But honor to the general who commando the Post, honor to the brigade com manders, and honor to the men in whom they trusted, it was done without orders, and to-day it IS not known who surrendered men as prisoners of war, into the hands of the Yankees All thought 1t was done by order of the Gene- ral, but he says not, and he came up after it was too late to retract
 Thus closed the capture of Arkansas Post.--- Our loss was about seventy-fvc killed and wounded. Number captured about 3,500.- Number of the enemy killed and wounded, about 5000. Number engaged on the enemy's side, (not all in the ight,) between fifty and six ty thousand, and twelve gunboats and armed transports.
 The prisoners were carried to Chicago, Ill., Capt. Denson is now on his way back to Little Rock to rejon the army. He will go by his home in Shreveport to give his friends, who a few weeks ago had heard he had fallen, pleas ant surprise.