The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-05-07
lFronfthe Little Rock National Democrat
NEWS FROM THE FRONT.
Pap Price Whipped, Flanked, and
0utgeneFaled.

CAMDEN, April II, 1SO4-Ouf FORCES
crossed the Little Missouri at Elkin's
Ferry, where the rebels had line of
breastworks on the hill commanding
the bottom. After q sharp skirmish we
drove the rebels of, who fell back to
Prairie Damn. We waited here to be
Joined by Thayer Heavy rains set in
so that the river had to bridged, and
the bottoms corduroyed to get the rein
forcements across. Our army then pro-
ceeded to meet the enemy at their chO-
sen and fortified position at Prairie
Damn They had been six months for
tifying there, and had line of rifle
pits and epaulments for guns in barbette
one and a half miles long. This was
hidden by "a belt of timber along q
creek, and commanded the Washing
ton and Camden road and other APP
proaches Gen. Steele felt of them eau
tiously, ascertained their position ex.
actly, extended his right so as to flank
their Notifications, and would have cut
them to pieces by an en6lading fire, had
not Dad Price, who commanded the re-
bells in person, got up and busted to-
ward Washington. The fighting for a
while was brisk, but when the rebels
saw their position was uncovered, they
incontinently skedaddled
Arkadelphia, Washington, and Cam
den form a triangle, and the military
road upon which we travelled was on
the line to Washington, and from
thence direct to Shreveport. By glanc-
ing at the map you viii see that we
were forty miles west of Camden and
within few hours march of Washing
ton.
Camden is strongly fortified, having
nine forts, on commanding heights,
we'll laid out and built The wood is
cut for miles around, and ell approach
es to the place capable of being well
defended Price supposed that General
Steele was going directly to Shreveport,
by way of Washington, and moved his
After the fight at Prairie Damn, Cen
Steele pursued the rebels few miles
toward Washington, then suddenly
turned and pushed for Camden. Price
saw his error and started for Camden
also Then commenced a race for the
position Marmaduke got in front, and
Dockery in the rear. endeavoring to de-
lay and impede US, on the middle and
north roads, until Price with his com
mand could reach the Notifications at
Camden by the south road. There was
continuous and severe skirmishing, but
that evening our forces marched fifteen
miles and the next day twenty-five, en-
tering Camden, driving Marmaduke
from position to position until he fed
for good and aye.
CAMDEN, April II.
DEAR SIR We are here and without
much loss. General Steele took matters
coolly, and when he decided on taking
any point or position he took it. We
were bushwhacked, attacked in the
rear, front and flank, by rebel cavalry
with twelve pieces Of artillery, yet our
loss, including the fights at Little Mis-
souri,, Prairie Damn, and on the march
here, has not been over 200 The rebel
loss has been much greater, as part Of
the time we drove them Our rear
guard, under Rice, had severe skirm-
ishing on the Terre Nor. He is trump,
and thrashed Cabell beautifully. was
with him at the engagement on the
Little Missouri, and there he caused Mr..
Marmaduke to oil himself and slide
out Gen. Rice had his scalp plowed
up, and piece carried away by can
ister shot.
The affair at Prairie Damn was the
most brilliant display of military move
ments l ever behsld Imagine g line
three miles in length on q beautiful
prairie, when the fresh grass was grow
ing; the cavalry on the TANKS, a re-
serve column Of e division; the rays Of
a brilliant sun cleaning on thousands
Of muskets, and flashing from sabres,
and you can form an idea Of what we
saw. Gen. Steele extended his rightso
as TO flank their Notifications on the
edge of the prairie, q mile and q half
in length, whereupon Father Price
found that he had received an order
from Kirby Smith to decline battle and
retreat to Shreveport
LDatcr-We are here in strong FORTH
cation of the most important military
and naval news has been abused, We
quote heBb the following extract from
che Richmond Enquirer on the subject
That paper, in its edition Of the 18th
instant, says:
Grant IS said to be planning another
On 70 Richmond with smith and
Burnside upon our TANKS or rear The
vast preparations for the campaign arc
duly notified 10 our authorizes; indeed,
so publicly Is the concentration being
made, so ostentatious are the enemy Of
all their arrangements, that one cannot
but doubt Il these indications are not
designed TO deceive. The press Of the
United States have duly advised US Of
the reorganization Of the Army Of the
Potomac, and so circumstantialy and
fully, that il was no difficult matter 70
correctly estimate its effective strength.
General Burnside writes letters, which
are published in the New York papers,
that ne is preparing 4 command Tor
early active operation, that Annapolis (
Is his rendezvous, and we are further in (
formed that North Carolina IS bis desti- /
nation.
General Smith has been carried to /
Fortress Monroe in the most public /
manner, accompanying General Grant, I
and the two corps that he is 70 CON- 4
mand ia sn expedition up the PENN 4
sula are published in the principal
journals of the country, and these most
obligingiy brought 70 our authorities
By the enemy aAg-oEtruce boat II no
efforts have been made % conceal thes@
certainly none have been
taken 20 prevent our learning them; for
the hag-of-sruce boat.haa regularly do
hYered fall hlss Of the papers that wers .