Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1863-07-29
The Battle at Helena, Ark.
CAMP NEAR HELENA, ARK, July I.

CAMP NEAR HELENA, ARK, July I.
Eds. C.rOnieLe:-The long looked for
attack on this place transpired on the
Fourth. The rebels, under Price, Mar
maduke and Holmes, attacked our out
post at about 4 O'Clock, a. m, driving
them in, and at o'clock the fight be-
came general. Price and Holmes COM
manded large force of Missouri troops
in the center of our position and under
the guns of Fort Curtis. Marmaduke
commanded the left wing. Price and
the center succeeded in erowding our
men from the upper rife pits, and here
the battleraged from o'clock until noon.
Our men retreated to the crest of the
hill, and for six long hours withstood the
combined force of seven regiments of reb-
ell infantry of Prices veteran soldiers,
holding them at bay while one gunboat
and Fort Curtis, mounting twelve heavy
guns, literally moved them down by
companies; and to complete their misfor-
tunes. the 33d and 35th Missouri poured
a deadly fire into them, strewing the
ground with dead and dying rebels Two
of the rebel regiments were the 9Th and
10th Missouri and they fought most des-
perately, but flesh and blood could not
withstand our brave boys murderous
fire, and being nearly surroun ded, the
most of the 9TH and part of the 10th
threw down their arms and surrendered
at discretion.
On our left flank the rebels under Mar
maduke did not accomplish much. The
5th Kansas cavalry and two Iowa regi-
ments held them at bay.
The rebels on the Little Rock road .un- |
der Dobbins, did not escape very easy,
having large numbers killed and wounded.
Their whole force fell back in state of !
utter confusion-completely demoralized |
throwing down their arms and accou- /
trements and retreated as fast as their |
weary limbs could carry them. Could |
we have had sufficient force of cavalry |
to pursue them, am sure all of the at (
tacking force could have been captured, |
for after retreating four miles out, they |
threw down their arms and said they |
wished the Feds would come and take |
them prisoners. Their force is reported
at from $1,000 to $4,000 by all the infor-
nation we can get. Their loss in killed, |
and prisoners will exceed three
thousand. DR.. Castleberry, who is our
Medical Director, says our loss will not ex-
ceed one hundred ard fifty. General
Prentiss says he is almost afraid to make
a report, fearing that the odds are so
great that it will not be believed. will
stake my reputation for judgement that
their loss will not fall short of that num-
Der. l have been over the field twice
since the battle, found dead rebels for
seven miles around the crest of the bluffs
and hills back of Helena, in the proper
ton of about twenty-five of their men to
one of ours.
My pen is inadequate to convey to
your mind an impression of the horrible
sight presented to my view when l first
saw the bloody field of strife, and had
good opportunity, as was at or near the
center of our position when the fight
closed. The dead and wounded lay in
every conceivable position-some with
limbs dangling from their bodies, and
others with their heads blown off, presen-
ting one of the most CHASTITY sights imag-
Unable.
The rebels were aware of the exact ex-
tent of our force before attacking u.s.
They said we drew rations for 300 able
bodied men,, 900 in al, which was strict
Iy true. They held council of war the
night before, and had correct sketches of
our forts and Notifications. Price made
a speech stating that they could take the
main fort in half an hour, turn that on
The town, gunboats and other forts, and
lake the place before noon. He disap-
proved of the attack on account of losing
= many of his brave men, but as Holmes
was in command, they had no other way