Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1864-11-10


forage after starting 10 miles from Little
Rock, Oh the Goth. Proceeding thence
through Lewisburg, Major Derry asce"tained
that the various parties Of the enemy scat
tered along the route, had been Informed of
the number of his command and the object
of the march, and on the night Of the 265h
he camped his force on the Illinois BAYOU"
! in a strong position, where was found plenty
OF wood and water, but scarcely any forage
After rapid march on the 9th, and ap-
preaching GAINESVILLE l20 miles from Little
Rock, it was ascertained that the commands
of the rebel Colonies Hill, Sherman and
Brooks were at various points along the route,
with headquarters at Clarksville, at which
point they were making preparations to dis
pute our passage.
The next day, the 2Sth, soon after crossing
the river-which the command was obliged
to do by making a long circuit, the ferries
being all destrOyed-the advance began to
fall in with parties Of the enemy, and pur-
sued them with vigor Approaching Clarks-
vile about three o'clock P. NJ, the advance,
under Capt. Herring, Sd Ark. Cavalry, en-
gagged their pickets, who, after some resist
ance, fell back on their main column in the
town, the enemy's sklrmishers taking shelter
behind fences and houses, their main force
closely supporting them. The action WAS
short, the enemy fleeing in every direction.
leaving seven dead
Independent companies, and rebel con
scripting officers are numerous in this yicin-
ity, having GAINESVILLE for rendezvous. So
long had they been advised of the coming OF
Major Derry's command, that several of the
citizens had letters written to send to Fort
Smith and also to Little Rock. Our force
was not expected until the next day. but our
rapid marching took them partly by surprise,
so their resistance was not so vigorous as it
might otherwise have been.
We went into camp three miles beyond
GAINESVILLE, and scarcely halted when bush
whacking commenced on all sides. Skir-
mishers were sent out and drove them off
until dark. Attempts were made all night,
under cover of a severe storm, upon the pick
cts, but their alertness frustrated the johnny
Rebs though at daylight one man from the
Sd Wis. was killed at his post.
On the Goth, diminishing began with the
march, in front and on both fanks. Major
Derry's skirmishers soon checked these at.
tacks, and Yet the firing was kept up to some
extent, doing little damage, the enemy suffer
| ing somewhat in wounded. We went Into
camp on White Oak Greek. While the Ser
geants were posting the pickets, the enemy
| opposed them in a lively manner, and our
| force, being ignorant of his numbers, Law on
their arms all night and occasional firing was
kept up on every side, during which one pri-
vate of the Sd Ark. Cavalry was killed on his
post.
During the last three days, forage had been
| y,1l,Y,t i,,l IL
3Oth of September the party reached
Van Buren,, but found no feed for horses =
The ambulances and wagons were loaded with
sick, for it had rained every night during the
march. On the LIST of October, Major Derry
reported to Gen. Thayer at Fort Smith, and
delivered his dispatches.
This was not the first Union force that had
succeeded in reaching the fort from Little
Rock since the interruption of steamboating
on the river. Gen. Thayer represented that
the enemy were upon every side, and were
cutting off his forage and mail parties, and
had either driven back or captured every
party he had started for Little Rock
After resting several days at Van Buren,,
the return march was resumed, an account of
which would be very much like that already
giyen--a continual skirmish with bushwhack-
ers and daily guerrilla fighting Our loss was
killed. 2 missing, l died at Van Buren,, and
81 were left sick. Sixty-three non-veterans,
who had been on duty at the latter place and
the fort, were brought back with the COM
mand to Little Rock.
| The march for the round trip was 400 miles
| We killed s of the enemy, and captured sew
eral horses and mules, and lived off the win
ter supplies intended by the inhabitants for
| secesh sOldiery.
Your readers may ask, Glow about pris-
| oners :" Well, since the shameful murder
| by Quantrell of our band, after surrendering
| there are not so many prisoners brought in
Cur men have little to say on the subject, but
| there are many sad chapters in the history Of
| the war on the frontier that no man desires
to write. Those must be held responsible
who were the first to inaugurate such a state
of affairs.
We expect to make fall campaign yet
The health OF our regiment still improves,
| though most of our officers are absent from
their companies. Major John c. Shroling
commands US at the camp and we have two
captains and three lieutenants here, with sew
! EN- companies.
About half of us are daily on picket duty,
! while fatigue parties are at work in camp,
building pine pole shanties and preparing
winter quarters, for it is understood here that
we shall remain until spring, unless peace
shall bless our land before that time.
Very little political discussion is INDUCED
In, but there as an anxiety to fight oaa the
| question, and vindicate our Constitution and
and laws
| Yours for the Union, Internationally,
| W. KNIGHT Sergeant Major