The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-05-27
Very Late from Little ROek-Rebel
News and Items.

LITTLE Rock, May Is, lS64-The in
fantry division of Major General J. G.
Walker, formerly of jefferson City,
Missouri, did most of the fighting at the
battle of Pleasant Hill, Louisiana, on
the rebel side He was slightly wound
ed in that engagement His division
was at the battle of jenkins Ford,
against General Steele.
General NJ. NJ. Parsons was in the
battle of Jenkins Ford He was not
wounded, but lost horse and a negro.
General Kirby Smith admits that he
was completely out-generaled by Steele
in the late operations. Relying upon
the impossible character of the roads,
and the swollen streams and swampy
bottoms-the numerous naturally form
liable positions which Steeles army
must pass that he could seize-the SUI
periority of his cavalry, in numbers,
and the condition of the animals-and
especially, the overwhelming force he
could bring against our army, he ex-
pected to easily bag the Union force, if
General Steele undertook to return to
Little Rock. He did not believe Steele
would attempt, in the face Of such
formidable obstacles, to return; but re-
main in Camden, behind its strong for
tifcations, while the rebel hosts leisure
ly beleaguered it. He awoke one cloudy
morning to find Camden evacuated, and
the Federal army across the Washita
with fully one nights march the start
of him. Pagan and Shelby were then
between Steele's army and Little Rock,
with some 5000 well mounted cavalry,
and several batteries of artillery while
behind Camp Kirley, Smith with nine
brigades Of infantry lover twenty thOus-
and men), many OF the men Of which
had been at the whipping of Banks at
Pleasant Hill, and all of whom, cheered
by that victory, were eager to meet
Steeles little army They did have the
opportunity at jenkins Ford, where
they got a splendid thrashing. OF
course Kirby Smith would admit under
such circumstances that he was out-gen-
eraled. lie was bound to do this or re
fleet upon the courage of the men who
had been in the fight against Banks
But he must have been greatly chagrin-
ed when he learned that before the fight
began at Jenkins Ford, Steele not only
sent off nearly 1000 cavalry to the re
lief of Little Rock, but dispatched word
to Pine Bluff that if achievements
were needed they would be sent there
too. And then Steele, instead Of seek
ing shelter at the nearest point, Pine
Bluff, marches straight on to Little
Rock, twenty miles further How could
Steele more pointedly express his con
tempt for the rebels and their General,
or more modestly display his confidence
in his brave little army and in himself2
At the battle of jenkins Ford, d.
Reddick, of Andrew CO, No; f. B. FL
more, of Newton CO.; and Jas McPher-
son, of Maries co, were killed; and w.
Haggard, of Jasper co, and Lieutenant
Lackhart, of Lafayette CO., wounded.
Eugene Ewing, of Lafayette CO., was
captured. All belonged to Ruffuer' 5
rebel battery.
In the battles of Louisiana, Henry
Davidson. Doc. Stevens, of Burns regi-
ment, |. V. Jones, same regiment, were
killed. At Prairie d Ann, VIM S. Ly-
ons, James Rollins and James Dye, Of
Shank's rebel regiment, were killed.
VIM. Owens lost a leg. All from Cass
county, Mo.
John A. Basye, Jr., formerly deputy
clerk of Cole county, Missouri, is an aid
d camp to the rebel Major General j.
G Walker.