The daily clarion. [volume] (Meridian, Miss.) 1863-1866, 1864-06-04
The Battle Of Jsrlxer's Ferry.

From late trans Mississippi papers we
gather some particulars Of tho battle Of
Jerker's Ferry, on the Sabine river in Ar
kansas, which was fought on the 3Qth Of
April. Immediately sitter Steele moved
out from Camden and crossed the Qua
chita, Gen. Kirby Smith puts his column
in motion, and without pontoon bridge,
and nothing but little miserable rickety
raft and a rude fiat, crossed the Ouachita
on the 2sth April, and pressing forward
day and night with that energy which
has ever characterized him, came up with
Steele's forces in the Sabine bottom, at
Jenkins Ferry, two days after crossing the
Ouaehita. Our men had been one day
without rations. The day was gloomy,
the rain heavy and incessant during the
whole day; the swamp almost impenetra-
BILE and filed with water--the mud knee
deep TO man and up to the saddle skirts
Of the horses. These things are mention
ed 70 show what natural obstacles our
men had To- contend against in making
their advance. The skirmiihinR com.
menced at daylight and continued till
seven, A. NJ, when the engagement be-
came general, lasting until about one P.
NJ, There was little or no artillery used,
the character.,of the ground not permit
ting it, but there was for over four hours
a most deafening roar of musketry. A
portion of Jockeys Brigade was on our
extreme left. The infantry divisions Of
Parsons and Churchill, undersGen. Price,
in person, held the centre of our line,
supported by Gen. Waul's Of our Brigade;
on the right the Brigades of Randall and
Scurry~ under Major Gen. Walker in per,
son, formed the extreme right of our line.
Owing TO the incessant rain and the DOGGY
character of the ground, Gen. Walker
could not get into position as soon as was
expected. The result was that Dockey be-
ing repnlsed in the very beginning Of the
action, the whole brunt of the battle for
The first two hours was borne by the Ar
kansas and Missouri Infantry Divisions,
under Gen. Price, and we'll did they sus
tain themselves. The pressure upon |
and Parsons was SO great, how
ever, for q long time, as to induce Gen.
Price to order them back, forming them
again short distance in the rear Of their
original line Of battle. Waui had not
yet been in action. Soon the guns Of
Scurry and Randall and the deafening
yells Of the Texans announced that Wal
ker had come to his work, and was driv-
ing the enemy before him. Wauls Bri-
sade was at once hurled upon the enemy.
Parsons and Churchill now acting as sup.
ports to Walkers whole Division down
the whole line Of whom three Brigades
here blazed one stream of fire. The en-
,my by the timely appearance Of Walker
vere driven in confusion from the field
'cross the river, leaving about 200 Of
heir wounded and their hospital in our
lands, burning ON this and the other
ido not less than $50 wagons, leaving be-
lind them their pontoon bridge. which,
however, they rendered unseryiceAble.
they abandoned the field, strewed with
heir unburied dead. All Of their slightly
and some of their severely ,
they carried across the river and 4
ed, burning all their transportation.
he Houston Telegraph's correspondent !
tho gives good account of the battle,
,ys it is impossible to estimate tho loss 4
n either side. Our troops fought as well G
, men could and the victory was as COM ;,
lete as possible in the advance of sub. G
stance and fresh force to pursue the
nemy. We never had moro than
900 men engaged, and the enemy had
ot less than 10000. 1t is said that had
en-. smith Fagan's cavalry reached us
time, we would have captured every
ling. Without them we were unable TO =
ap all the fruits Of urvictory. Fagan's q,
rec did not arrive till nearly dark. Of
Letter from Canton. Z