The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1864-05-13
Failure of the Expedition Of Gen. Steele.
HEAVY LOSSES IN MEN & ARMY WAGONS.
Battle with Price at sabine Pass.

'b Es 0i7rm- ~ f'11' Sr. LOUIS, May Q.
The Democrat Of this morning publishes the
following Tho expedition Of Gen. Steele TO.
wards Shreveport has ended with his return.
under rather exciting circumstances, to Little
Rock. NJ 'H IfI t.l" "
A gentleman conycrsant with tho facts hns ar
rived here, and communicates statement to
the following purport Gen. Steele LEFT Little
Rock with some II, 900 infantry and 5000 cayal-
ry, the latter under Gen. Carr. Arksdclphia
was occupied without difficulty, and force
moved forward to Camden. A subsistence train
Of $50 wagons was out OF and captured by the
enemy, together with tho escort Of $50 men.
who suddenly found themselves In the hands Of
superior force and mado little resistance. At
Camden Steele soon found the cavalry, about
5000 strong, In his rear, and $40 wagons dis
patched from Camden towards Pine Bluff for
stores. with an escort OF 1000 men, were captured
by the enemy. The steamer Aliens, with TWEEN.
~ tons Of ammunition for Steele, was sunk
forty miles below little Rock by coming In col
lision with another steamer, The pilot was put
under arrest on suspicion OF treachery, but
subseaucntly released Gen. Steele could find
no store TO subsist his troops on, and had to
reduce their allowance to quarter rations As
the movement OF Gen. Steele was to be co oper-
ative with the main Of Gen. Banks. which had
failed, thsre remained no course but to return
to Little Rock. 4 Gen. Price undertook to retain
Gen. Steele ut Camden, while Gen. Marmaduke
set OF for Little Rock. Gen. Steele. TO act for
the safety OF the capital Of Arkansas with Its
Union population aud million of dollars worth
OF Federal stores. and for the scsoue OF his ar:
my, broke through tho lines OF Gen. Price, and
set out 70 getuto Little Rock IN time 10 save Il
from Marmaduke, Who was also making every
excrtion to reach and bag the proposed game.
At Sabine Pass Il became necessary to give
Price battle, which was handsomely done. The
rebels were wall mounted and In One condition.
The fight was protractcd and bloody, lasting
for three or four hours, and resulting In the
complete rcpulse OF the enemy, and leaving
Steele 10 resume his sxciting race with Marina
duke. .Msrmaduke approached Little Rock,
shells into the city on the afternoon
OF the ist Shortly Afterwards Cars cavalry
came up, and these Joining the troops ut the
post, compelled Marmsduie 10 relinquish his
He made little resistance, ~ the
main body OF Steele's army was rapidly arriv
Ing. Tho Arkansas Legislature was In session,
and probably not zone Of its members would
have boon spared by the axasperated foe. Dur.
ing the entire march from Camden our troops
were constantly diminishing With the enemy,
Who hung upon their rear and TANKS, strenu.
ously endeayoriug 70 impede their progress.
There were no ambulanocs for our wounded
men, and they had to Be len in the houses Of
residents on che the road. The captured escort
Of 1900 mon was composed Of the 36th Iowa.
AID Indiana and 77th Ohio regiments, Only
forty 1--WE succeeded In escaping. 1900.
Our Informant represents Steelc's cavalry a.
de6oisnt In horses, our men being
compelled 70 use unbroksn mules in many In.
stances, or try and use them TO servo In the
place Of cavalry horses. Gen. Prices forces
Are still lingering in thsvioinlty, stripping the