Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1863-07-14

ioAiAo, July To a. m.-ls63.

d,
where Gen. Prentiss was entrenched, with
some 5000 Illinois, Indiana and Wiscon-
sin troops. The rebels came pouring in,
apparently perfectly satisfied that they
hao but to open upon US to ensure an easy
victory, but they reckoned without their
host.
Prentiss was ready for them. A fight
ensued which lasted some hours, the little
garrison maintaining its grounds bravely
and successfully. Presently force OF
1000 rebels found entrance to our works,
and cut off from support, went into occu-
py Helena. They were gu ckly closed up
on by determined force of our Western
boys. and nearly every man of them cap
turedG killed or wounded. Following up
this success with rapidity, Price and his
retaining force were finally driven off with
considerable slaughter.
Gen, Prentiss estimates our ] 'ss at 100
killed and wounded The rebel loss is not
known, but it is admitted by prisoners to
be severe.
The Silver Moon brought up 726 Con-
federate prisoners, being those taken at
Helena on the 4'h. Among them are GO
line and field officers. More particulars
soon.
Special dispatch to the Chicago Tribune
says;
CAIRO. July 7, 1868.
sent you dispatch this morning
briefly announcing that Gen. Prentlss had
a Eight ut Helena, Ark, on the 4th, and
his success in beating of the rebels and
capturing over 700 of their men ana off,
Gers.
Since then the following particulars
have heen gathered from of Gers in CONS
maBd, and reports of rebel Ulcers now
here on the steamer Silver Moon en- route
for St. Louis.
AG before related, the fight opened at
three O'clock in the morni x on Saturday,
the 4th inst. by the rebels attacking US in
our centre with great force under McCray
and Parsons, Pagan heing on the right
and Marmaduke on the left; oil under
Gen. Holmes, Gene,al Price having only
brigade
The rebel centre was partially success
full in carrying two redOubt- and capturs
ing their guns, but in so doing. being I'M
supported by Marmaduke and Pagan they
found themselves suddenly in very bad
situation, being covered by an enfilading
are from the remainder of the Union
works, and subjected TO brisk and most
Parsons and McCray's men stood this
~ long as possible, when seeing no way
to escape, their men being slain by scores
they at once surrendered, aud sent to the
Federal roar under proper guards. The
same movement was attempted by Price
and Mamaduke, but with better success,
as they did not penetrate our lines, hence
they escaped being gobbled up, but the
hAnUH hrn af nd oko I,,
of musketry continually poured uponthem
was more than they could stand, and they
beat q retreat, carrying eff most of their
dead and wounded.
zen frentlss was every where present,
with sword in hand, urging Oh and en-
couragiug his men. He was braveIv suss
tanned by his subordinate officers and men.
as the rebel loss in killed, wounded and
fy.
Our loss in killed and wounded is about
one hundred. The rebel officers pretend
to say that they captured and carried eff
one entire regiment, bat if so, it had not
been officially reported when the gteamer
left Helena with her prisoners.
The rebels must have numbered over
ten thousand. Gen, Prentiss could not
bRye had on hand, at the time, more than
halt that number. though he had more
near by in case of al emergency. The
rebel forces were from Little Rock, Jack.
sOnpor', on the White river, and other
points in Arkansas, and formerly mostly
from Missouri.
l have the names of the following COM
missioned officers, prisoners on the Silver
Noon:
MEMPHIs, July 5. via. CAIRO, July 7.
Gen. Hurlbut has kindly furnished me
with the following extracts of letters fro N
Gen. Prentiss:
FIRST DISPATCH.
HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT EAST ARK.
HELENA, July 4-3 am.
To Maj. Gen. S. A Hurlbut, Command
ing 18th Army Corps:
GGNEKAL-We have been hard pressed
eince daylight by the combined forces of
Price, Holmes. Marmaduke, Parsons, Car.
ter, Dobbins, and others. Thus far we
have held our own, and haye Captured sew
eral hundred pr soners, whom | send II
you by Major White, of the 24th Iowa, on
board the steamer Tycoon.
The enemy are now evidently preparing
for a renewed attack in force.
L
Tyler has done good service to-day.
In great haste,
Your ob't servant,
b. NJ. PRENTIss, Maj. Gen.
SECOND DISPATCH.
To Maj. Gen. S. A. Hurlbat, Commanding
18th Army Corps:
GENERAL-We have repulsed the enemy
at every point, and our soldiers are now
collecting their wounded.
We have taken mall 1900 prisoners,
and theirs in killed and wounded will reach
500 OF GOO; but although the rebels are
badly whipped, there is no doubt whatev-
er that they will renew the attack at an
early hour, and that they are now massa
ing their troops for that purpose. NV
force is inferior to the rebels With the
aid ] expect from you and the gunboats,
the rebel army may be severely beaten
Tho TYLER has been to-day valuable aux
Hilary, ] remain your Ob't servant.
B, NJ. PRENTIss, Maj Gen.
CAIRO, July I, 1868.
The rebel loss is estimated 1T between
1900 and 2, 900 killed, wounded and mis-
sing. Our own loss is less than 1000
The guubost Tyler came in and did good
execution. Three other gunboats, had
arrived and all is safe 1t was the rebel
intention to cut our line Of communica-
ton and demolish the Notifications. They
were fuiled.
Gen. Prentiss WAS aware OF the cons
templated attack. and was prepared. He
had about 4, 900 men. in wi ich Iowa, In
diana, Wisconsin and Missouri were rep
resented, He was also assisted by the
guubOat Tyler and three other gunboats,
which arrived about the time the battle
was over.
General FreInOgt ON Free
Speech.
The New York Post (rspublicsn) in no