Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-01-22

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state.
The river here makes sharp bend to the
nog.Av }rd, forming complete u. The bluff
strNe Ihe outside OF the bend, and the town of
Arkansas Post, containing less than five hun
drcd inhabitants, is situated on the bluff. near
tho river. just below it, in position looking
for three miles down the sweep below the
bend, The rebels more than year ago erected
the fort, which was of rectangular shape, built
so as 10 repel an attack from any quarter, and
on each side mounted two heavy guns. Those
looking down the river were long sixty
fours, While the remainder were siXty-twOs
On the sweep looking down the river was a
finely finished one hundred-pounder PARROT
gun that the rebels confidently hoped would
be able to sink any boat having, the temerity to
approach.
Around the fort is anextensve range of rifle
piis, extending along the bluff so as to encir-
Gle The town. Outside Of these is a long line
OF abatls rendering it difficult to approach the
works. In the construction Of these defences
the rebels showed especial care. All the roads
excepting the one to Little Rock had been OBJ
struc,-d by telled timber, and only the inge-
nuily OF our soldiers prevented their finding
them formidable obstacles in the way of
movement The garrison of the fortha been
reported at about seven thousand strong, COM
muuded by Brig. Gen. Garland.
PLANS OF THE BATTLE.
General McClernand had laid his plans to
make his victory not only sure, but decisive.
To .hi3 end he had disposed MS forces so as
completely to circumvent the Post and pre-
Veut any egress from it in any direction what
ever. 1t has been previously mentioned that
one division debarlled on the south side of
the Arkansas. This was designed to prevent
any escape by crossing the river. Another
NJ
into the common rendezvous at Belleylle,
continued directly up the White river about
twenty-five miles, where they debarked on
the west side of that stream, whence, by
pushing their way through the timbered bot
tom land tOr Il distance of three miles, they
would emerge into higher land and open prai-
RE continuing thus until they again entered
the woods slirting the Red river, about three
miles back Of the Post, The distance across
by this route was but ten or twelve miles;
and, although no well constructed roads eX-
listed, or in fact any roads, the timber was SO
open and tree from underbrush that but little
difficulty was met with in getting through.
This division struck what is called the w hite
river road-rpnning nearly north and south
about two miles and u half from the Post
Following this road about three quarters of
mile, TO avoid an extensive marsh or swamp
lying northeast of the town, they filed of by
their right flank through Il piece of woods
until their right came upon the mai! turnpike
leading up the Arkansas river to Little Rock,
ana took possession of Il small bridge on this
road, across creek leading from the north
into the Arkansas, about mile and a half
from the town, thus cutting off all retreat from
the Post in this direction. The two divisions
had de5arked on the north side Of the river
below the Post, deplOyed into line, with their
extreme right resting upon the left OF the di-
vision from the White river, and their left
coming down nearly to the river below the
town, Jhus completing the circuit Of the enc
my position.
TIE GUNBOATs OPEN.
general plan OF attack had been previous
ly agreed upon between General McClernand
and Admiral Porter, in accordance with which
the iron clad gunboats moved up into close
position before the fort at three O'Clock p NJ,
and opened the ball. The boats principally
engaged were the Louisville, Pittsburg, Gin
inalti,-and Dekalb. These kept up Il most
vigorous engagement with the enemy for an
hour and half, the fort reSponding with great
earuestneSs to every shot we sent. The can
nouli.ng was at one time most grand and
terrible, fairly causing the earth to tremble
with the vast volume OF sound. At first the
enemy had difficulty in getting their guns to
bear upon our boats, owing to their elevation
taken, and for time their shot all fell far
astefn Of us, causing loud peals Of derision
from the Jack Tars who watched them. At
the same time our guns were too highly ele-
waited and our shells passed over the bluff,
falling Tar into the rear of the rebel lines, and
as the result demonstrated, doing more dam
age to our own forces than to those of the en-
envy. But by degrees more perfect ranges
were obtained on both sides, and the rebel
missiles fell around our vessels in uncomfort-
able frequency. After the few first rounds
we gly better range, and our shell fell with
great accuracy into the rebel works, explod-
ing and spreading CONSERVATION and confu-
SIGN all around. Thus we soon disabled one
OF their best pieces, a large rihed gun, knock
Ing 1t completely Oft its mountings by well
directed shot from the Louisville. Another Of
their guns also soon ceased work.
WITHDRAWAL OF THE GUNBOATs.
We had silenced half of the guns working
against us, and had as yet received no serious
damage, when signals were displayed from the
flagship to Withdraw from the action. 1t was
soon known throughout the squadron that it
had been previously agreed between the naval
and army commanders that at a certain hour
the navy should Withdraw and the land forces
would make an assault. But for some unex-
planned reason the army did not come to time.
SUNDAY MORNING
onnday morning at daylight our gunboats
resumed the cannonade. For one hour the
cannonadlng was equal to that of the previous
day. The enemy had, during tile night, re-
placed the gun we mad dlsmounted the previ-
Gus evening, and also had supplied pInners
for the other gun silenced, so that their whole
battery was in play. The army on the shore
had already, on their left wing, entered an ex
tensive abatis, and were forcing their wav nm
to The rifle pits of the enemy against contin-