The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-08-12

The following extracts of letter from,
st. Paul boy, give particulars of q battle
near Helena, Of which we had soma ac-
counts by telegraph. The letter is dated
Helena, July 81: II TI1'
The day before yesterday the General
had information Of force Of rebels about ten
miles from here on the Little Rock road. He
sent out about hundred cOlored infantry and
four pieces of cannon and also about a hun
dred cavalry Of the 10Th Illinois We heard
nothing more Of them till yesterday about
O'clock; as we were sitting in our tents the
long roll sounded and we fell in our color line
and Immediately marched out on the Little
Rock road. We had scarcely got started when
the stragglers commenced coming along tow
ard US in squads Of four or five mostly negroes,
some of them bloody and dirty without guns,
and some of the wounded on mules. Every
now and then we would pass crowds of wound
ed,-AOme hit in the head, barely able to walk.
and others hit in the arm and different parts Of
the body. but all, as far as l could judge, wore
q cheerful look. and did not complain any,
Then we would call out to them for the partc-
ulars of the fight. Some said they fought 600
rebels and finally got routed, and others esti
mated the force of the rebels at less than the
above number; but we could not find out any
thing certain. and etill the wounded came
ROulMS 0AOuk, WuCu wagon bOQDCu ut6I uH
with quite load and We raw the Colonel of
the negro troops dead in the wagon bottom
and some other officers.
We made up our mind that the Sixth Mime
sofa was to have chance at last at the rebs,
and from all Appearances We thought that we
would have tough time, as the rebs seemed
to have much larger force than we could
bring against them But when we got out
about four miles from the battlefield we got
the command to halt! and march back to
camp. This did not suit Us at all. but we must
obey orders and 50 back We went, all the better
for our ten mile tramp.
It seems that the cavalry was not with the
other troops at the commencement of the fight
and as soon as they heard they firing fastened
/ 10 the rescue and saved the little remnant of
the soldiers.
/ The rebs attacked them from all sides Just
before breakfast, and had the advantage of an
embankment, while our boys were exposed to
. cross fire. They left their provisions and
ammunition on the field aud some of their
wounded and nearly all of their dead. As far
as Is now known our loss Is estimated at from
thirty to fifty killed and sixty or seventy
wounded. Four comm ,ssiOned officers were
killcd-the Colonel, Surgeon and Adjutant Of
the negro regiment and q cavalry Captain.
The boys fought well as the number of rebels
killed, wounded and prisoners testify. The
prisoners say they lost 250. The rebs will
probably take it in their heads to take this
place but they had better count the cost, for
the city is well fortified. We are under orders
to march at D.oment's warning with one
days cooked rations in our haversacks.
The health at the regiment is not much bet
better; We have buried seven already. Fever
and ague is beginning to make it's appearance.
We have over dozen sick with the chills and
fever, and about fifteen with other diseases.
This makes our company small.