The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1864-05-12

Important From. Arkansas.
GEN STEELE FIGHTS AND, WHIPS. PRICE, AND
asi4 80 a'F OCCUPIES cAMDev 'rfa6''a
Corresponds nee Little Rock pemocras, u Etnh
3y CAMDEN, April l7-Our forces crossed. the
Little Missouri at EIkin's Ferry, where the
rebels, had agline! of .breastworks ON the hill
the bottom. After sharp
skirmish we drove the rebels off, who fell
back to Prairie Damn We waited here to
be joined by Thavers Heavy rains set in !,
so that the r,yer had to be briigei, and the
bottoms had to be cordnroyed to get the re-
Inducements across. Our army then pro-
ceefiea to meet the enemy at their chosen
and fortified position at Prairie DAM.
They had been six months fortifvinc there
and had line of rife pits and epauments
for guns in barbette one. anda half miles
long. This was, hidden by a belt Of timber
along creek. and commanded the Wash
ington and Camden road and other, ap
pro,ches: Gen. Steele felt of.them cautious
II. ascertained their position exactly. extend
ell bis right 50 as'to flank their Qualifications,
and would have cut them to pieces by, an
enfladins fire, had not Dad Price. who com
manded the rebels in person, got up and
daisted towards Washington. The ighting
for awhile was brisk, bit when the rebels
saw their position was uncovered, they. in
continentlv sxcdadied.
Arkadelphia, Washington and Camden.
form triangle, and the military road UPON
which we. travelled was on the line to Wash
iington, and from, thence direct 80 Shreve-
port, By g'ancing at the map vou will see
that we were forty miles west Of Camden.
an and within few, hours march Of Washing
tOn., ,,s ia
Camden is strongly fortified, having nine
forts, on commanding heights, we'll laid out
and built The wood is cut for miles around.
and al approaches to the place. capable Of
beng we'll defended. Piece. supposed that
General Steele was going directly to Shreve-
port, by, way nf WaShin,ton,t and moved
his army from Camden to Washington. sAf
ter the fight at Prairie D. Ann General Steele
pursued the rebels a few, miles toward Wash.
,lnn'gton, then suddenly turned and pushed
foc Camden. Price saw his error and start.
ed ed for Camden also. Then commenced
race for the position. Marmaduke got in
front and Oockery-in; the rear. endeavorinc
to delay clay and impede US. on the mid lie and
north roads, until Price with his command
could reach the fort'fications at Camden bv
he south road There was continuous and
severe sSjrnishing, but that evening our
forces marched fifteen miles and the next
day Twenty-Five, entering Camde driving
Marmadnke from position to position, until
he fed fol good and ave. er
aa asa7 q ~ GANpES, April II
DEAR SIR: We are here and without
much loss. General Steele took matters ;
cnoly, and when he decided on taking any
point or position he took 1t. We were
bushwhaoked. attacked in rear, front and
flank. or the rebel cavalry with twelve
pieces Of artillery, vet our loss. inc'ndine
the. fights at Little Missouri, Prairie n Ann.
aad on the march here. has not been over
two hundred. The rebel loss has been mnch
greater. as part Of the time we drove them.
Our rear guard under Rice. had severe slir-
m'shing on the Tere Noirg He is trump,
and thrashed Cabeltbeautf,llv. Twas with
him Mt the enga cement IN the Eit.le Missou-
ri, and there he cansed Mr.. Marmainke to
oil himself and slide ont General Rice hid
his scafpl lp'oushea M, AMI a piece carried
AWAY nv a canister shot. o Ha afd -a.a
'phe affair'at Prairie NJ Ann was the most
brilliant display Of military movemants
ever beheld. Imagine line three miles in
.ength1on beautiful prairie. when the fresl:
grass was growing; the cavalry on the TANKS.
a reserve column of division t he rays of
a brilliant sun cleaning on thousands Of
muskets, and fleshing from sabres. and you
can form an ides Of what we saw. Gen'l
Steele extended .his right 50 as to flank their
foriifcations on the edge Of the prairie. a
mile and half in length, whereupon Father
Price found that he had received an order
from Kirby Smith to decline battle and re
treat to Shreveport. g. e /" sas'4
80 S@sefs ftf 1E-t esst, ia at
LATER,
CAMDEN, April II.
Weare here in the strong fortifications Of
the enemy. Who has been whipped when he