The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-04-22
HIRD MINNESOTA IN
ACTION.
The Battle Of Fitzhugh's Woods.
FULL ACCOUNT OF THE FIGHT.
List Of Killed, Wounded and
Missing.

vi 'io Anl7Q regiment, who has Just re-
turned from Little Rock, Arkansas, we
we're favored with the following particu.
lars of the recent fight at Fitzhugh's
Woods, near Augusta, in Northeastern
Arkansas.
On Wednesday, the 3oth ult, the Third
Regiment was on duty at Little Rock, in
Arkansas. At 5 p. NJ. it received orders
from COlOnel-now Generai-ANpREws.
commanding the post. to be prepared to
march in one hour At 81 O'Clock the
regiment was marched to the Railroad de-
pot, and conveyed by the cars to Duvals
Binff At A NJ, the expedition, con-
sisting of SIX companies of the Third, nun.
berng 100 men, under Major E. " Eos.
TER, and 40 of the Eighth Missouri Cavai-
ry, under Captain EsrEs-the whole I'M
der command of General ANDREWS was
embarked at Duvals Bluff on the steamer
Dove, and proceeded up White River. conc
voyed by gunboat No. 25, of the Mosquito
fleet AT Gregory's Landing, sixty five
mios from the Bluff, the expedition was
landed at p. M., and marched Tito the
interior, a distance of four or five
miles, in the direction where the
noted rebel General MoRAE was sup
posed to be encamped. His camping
ground was found, and it was learned from
inhabi. ants of the neighbo.hood that Nc
RAE, with a considerable force, had left
that camp Oh the Monday previous and
gone in the direction OF Augusta, near
which place they supposed him then to
be. The command was Immediately re-
turned to the boat, and proceeded up the
river to Augusta, reaching that place at
about daylight of Friday morning. Il
Hicket guard was at once posted around
the town and Il patrol sent through it,
which latter arrest I'd and brought to tho
boat number of citizens, that Informal
ton might be obtained from then as to
the whereabouts of MoRAs and lis COM
mand. The citizens, however, knew, or
pretended to know, little or nothing about
MoRAE Gen ANDREWS, acting or the
previous information, resolved to leave the
beats at Augusta, and march into the
country, and did so march the commando
distance of twelve or thirteen miles. 1t
was remarked, as sngu'ar fact, that the
citizens along the line of Our march, as at
Augusta, all protested TO know nothing of
MoRAE or his whereabouts, though the
command soon after learned positively
that he was in the immediate neighbour
hood Having gained no reliable informa-
ton whatever, the General orde ed re-
turn to the boats, intending to proceed
from Augusta further up the river and
make another landing and reconnaissance.
AT 124 O'Clock, on the return, at about
six miles from Augusta, the command was
attacked by Gen McRAEs force, from FIVE
to eight hundred mounted men, at the
same time on both TANKS and 10 the rear.
Retaining a small ssrve, Gen ANDREWS
caused his men to be deployed as skir-
mishers toward each point of attack, while
the rebels were coming on with yell as if
to make desperate charge So soon as
the lines of Federal skirmishers were
formed, firing was commenced at orders
given, and the rebels were repul ed, re-
treated, and were followed by The skir-
mishers, till the lines becoming too ex-
tended it was deemed best they should 5e
withdrawn and kept available for mutual
support. At the retiring of our lines the
rebels advanced again. We had to retire
short distance, and then formed our line
behind fence, from whence we checked
the rebel advance. After an hour and
half of continual firing on both sides, our
lines were moved forward, and the rebels
driven to the original position of their at
tack. After about fifteen minutes, the
rebels were dismounted and charged upon
US, yelling and whooping. We were una
BILE to check their advance until we had
fallen back to the line at the fence. We
held this line until about 4 J O'Clock, the
enemy ceasing their fire at about 4 O'Clock
and reti ing, protectel by rough ground
and the trees, annoyed by lrompt fire
from our line at every exposure. ...
The fight lasted about four hours, on
ground of MoRAE's own choosing, and
three desperate attacks from superior num-
bers had been repulsed, our men behaving
molly Twice the rebels charged upon our
lines, in line, mounted. The third time
they dismountsd and advanced under cover
of trees and with the advantage of ground.
The enemy at the close, showed no stom-
ach for further fight, and was, ID tie opin.
ion of our men, badly hurt. His first in.
tention seems to have been, Under the
that hia Es,roo MO l..no .ro,