Washington telegraph., 1864-06-01
In CAup Nav 10Th. lS6l


than the present
tis now one month since the stirring events
of the recent campaign in Arkansas began to
transpire. 1t is not my purpose 10 give q his
torical account OF that campaign, more succinct-
ly and accurately condensed in official reports
than in anything the writer could produce. Ii
has not been my good fortune even TO see official
reports on which only a correct narrative could
be based. but there are many incidents not
contained in official papers, worthy of ccmmcm
oration. In the first place il is due to the csya-
ry to say that it checked Gen. Steele cut OF bis
foragin2 parties. and compelled him to retreat
precipitately to Little Rock. Our infantry can
afford us this praise, having won elsewhere suff-
cient laurcls.
When Gen. Steele advanced from Arkadel-
phia IN the direction of Washington the cavalry
was thrown across his route, and from that time
until the cncny escaped from the heavy tire uf
our Infantry in the swamps of the Saline, ihei c
WAS daily skirinishing. sometimes heavy nghlir z
aud always constant and arduOus services. Al
the Antoine. our cavalry iirst checked the rapid
advance uf the tedcrals. and taught them rbr
the first time that they would have opposition
stubborn opposition in their onward march 80
that Edorado OF their hopes-Rcd river valley
Here Col. Monroe, with his gallant regiment
and Hewey's battery of Cabcll's brigade gave
them such a warm reception that they filed 10
ihC iti1 chSibii.t- HuNGNts- 10 meet lne
fiery and intrepid Shelby. who, at the head cf
his troopers, charged the Federal infantry in
liuc and retired sulenly before the masses of the
enemy. Our forces were then wiihlrawn south
Of Little Missouri, and the cncIny allowed TO
cross that stream. Three miles from the river
Gen. Steele again found ua in position. Mon
rOes and Irestons regiments drove back their
advance with heavy loss. The Frderals did not
relish this kind OF treatment. Gen. Steele had
.nl himself mi ....1
march to Red river. He now halted seemed
inclined TO toriiiy on Little Missouri, and very
10th TO advance. Oar generals now changed
their tactics they tried TO allure h,m on. Our
troops from Shreveport. returning victorious
would crush him as between The upper and neither
milestone. could lie be drawn down Red river
Gen Steele was loo wily to he led 20 far from
bis base of operations, having heard beycnd
doubt of Banks failure. lie illd TO tie left,
and went to Camden.
When our cavalry was first ordered up on the
Washington aud Arkadelphia road 10 meet the
eneiny. Captain Albert Alexander, Of Monroe
regiment, WAS sent forward with bis company as
an advance. 1 snail never forget the true col
dierly pride which beamed in his eye a. he rode
by us showing full determination TO perish cr
prevent the enemy from marching yictoriously
through the Streets o; Washin.to We might a.
well add here while speaking of one portion If
that regiment, throughout the campaign Coontl
Monroe and his command acquitted themselves
in manner highly cr.ditable to themselves. 80
Colonel Monroe Is beyond doubt one Of the bc-t
soldiers in the Trans Mississippi Department -
Cool. yet daring he always leads his regiment
skilfully into tie fight, and always drtres tie
enemy beior: HIN. In every ight-at the An
toiue, in namclcss skirmishes, at Poison Spring,
and at Marks Mill-he and his regiment were
alike conspicuous for their gallantry.
We -haulI uui fail IA la.nfin ~. nt,ht a. Me-
COW, as it was characteristic OF the campaign.
and especially OF a dashing Confedcratc rudier
--Gen. ON DUckcry. He was sent out To rt-
connoitre the enemy with his command mum
brrng less than 400 effective men. He found
the enemy posted at Moscow, reported to be
5000 strong lie Instantly moved up and began
= not and imp.tuous attack. Had 1t not bcvh
that hi- force wt> too small to project his hanks
he alone would have driven tn. enemy of in CON
fusion. The entire cavalry command Was moved
do yn TO his support; but the enemy were glad to
get rid of such ! hoispu., ami avoided general
yn gag cIn"nt with much caution a. did that
brave old veteran. Gen. Price.
At PO'-ol Spring We believe Gen. Marry was
in commlnd, at least was the ranking uficcr
This was successful attack un a large lol4ging
parry of Fydrr.ls. We captured their train .lnd
Kill. Il and captured 4 number Nj the enemy. but
our -ucc,ss Nould have been much more com
nctr, had portion ol our command Dl.n rC-
tainrd mounted. We fought poor troops, a mr.
tInn .; them negroes. they we're uIuy aud
inoneyl.,s. and were whipped soon ih
heard our artillery. We rode over thr !rll altcr
the fight. and when Ne bchvli 80 many siilMart
negro,s wcltcr ng in their gore. We could not
suppress Il sigh over their hard fate the puuI
dup OF a miserable set Of fanatics and dyma-
gogucs Would il not have been better. could
we have captured these ablc-bodird men. to have
taken Them back to the interior and put them
TO hard woik-iiSht wOik. compared to the bur
t icns vr their pr. sent taskmasters? should We
not offer every induccmcnt for them To- return
to their owners, to betray their bctrayers. and
become in name what they mast ever Le in real
ity. hewe,s of wood and drawers of water = I?
No picture Of the Poison spring light would he
complete which ftiled to give the Iidan. some
thing more than "a mere mention. They behaved
galantly in the tight.
The battle of Marks Mill was the most sue
ces,ful fight on the soil of Arkan-as. IL will
long be a pleasing recollection 10 Gen. Fagan
and his friends that he was in command Of our
troops al this engagement. No exploit OF Nor
gan or Forrest has ever surpassed this. General
Fagan was in eomnand, aud Cabrll'-, Dnckvry's.
Shelby aud Crawfords brigadcs were engaged.
Here. as at Poison Spring, Gen. Cab.ll led his
brigade gallsntly into the fight. He il daring
brigadier, and likes dash and courage in Others
AtMarks Mil his entire brigade was engaged.
and bore the brunt of the fight Morgau's and
Monroe's regimeuts charged and took the Fed
eral battery. together with large number Of
prisoners 1t was admitted all hands that
Morgan's regiment acquitted itself Eery gallant
Iy. notwithstanding it fought under the disa1
vantage OF being badly armed. II is no longer
no. On the battle field il armed it,ef, and bereal-
ter will contest with the /" raw-hides' (Monroe's
r ,;ment) the right to the advance Gen. CaLeil 9
entire command armed itself in this fight. Col
Pettus, of the State troops Cabelrs brigade,
was mortally wounded in this attle, and ha-
since died. He was good officer. AM much
beloved hy his command.
Among the many minor incidents Of the battle
of Marks Mill, we know of none more worthy
OF mention than an instance of female intrepid
ity recently told ms. When The enemy was
whipped. the stragglers spread ever The country
trying to get back to Pine Bluff. 4 single Fed
,I;. 5eiaitr passed the residence Of E-q. l..
hand and dcmandYt,aaT lfydyu i2ok her pistol in
he surrendered. She kept him under guard till
some of ou- soldiers came up and took charge of
him. In the engagement NJ Marks Mil ilc
mare was shot under Col. Monroe. She was
race-stoclc and favortc with the regiment. and
MANY soldier paused as he passed to give her
drink from his canteen soldier can give no
stronger proof of esteem on the battlefield than
TO share HE cantcen of water (or whisky with
his wounded comrade.
Leaving Marks Mill, the cavalry went up the
Saline. apparently for the purpose of crossing
that stream For some reason this Was not DONE