The New York herald., 1864-05-15
The Labor Of Making Roads
Through Arkansas.
THE REBELS OUrWITTED.
GENERAL sTEELE'S MASTERLY RErREN,

Mr.. Deb. Randolph Ksim's Despatch.
CAIRO. H., May 8, 1854
Colonel H. Manter, Chief Of Stxn to General Steele
arrived here this evening" bearing dispatches that
officer 70 the Department Washington. In lengthy
conversation gathered the following full and interest
ng particulars concerning tho expedition that has just
returned. will narrate the operations OF the sxpedi
zion from Its departure. but brefest manner pos
sibie The Colonel also brought Little Rock papers Of
Nays.
THE ADVANCE.
On the 2Sd OF March the advance guard Of the exped
t'on started from Little Rock pursuing what IS known
che military road. On the day the again
moved forward, and the night the head OF the
column rested on the Saline, beyond Benton. On the
25th the command crossed the Saline bottom
and reached Rockport on the 26th. On the 9th
the washta river was bridged, and tho troops
crossed over marching in the direction Of Arkadephia
The Same night the troops exposed
storm On the night OF the 28th the army encamped on
Bayou Roche, and reached Arkadepha the 29ih
the army rested until April l. awaiting the arrival Of
General Thayer.
gKIRAlsHIN0- YuRTHgR ADVANCE.
After leaving Benton the advance had continued skir
finishing with the enemy. Our losses two three
wounded Our forces captured Q small number Of prs-
oners.
On April I the army advanced 10 SpoouvMle, . dis
sancs OF twelve fourteen miles. On tho "a moved
from Spoouvills towards Washington, and when nine
miles from spoonvills encountered Marmaduke and
Cabell In force. brisk skirmish ensued, which
eorcss obliged the enemy TO withdraw.
mE MseouRI-rHR POSITION
Come difficulty now found In crossing the Little
Missouri . turbulent stream, with few crossings. OF
these General Steele at liberty to choose from three
Tstss ferry, tho crossing Of the military road snd
Tins ferry The enemy, anticipating General SteeIss
intention 70 occupy Camden took position the road
leading 10 Tates ferry. Here the epemv threw up .
series d hasty breastworks and made every prspars
zion Tor strong dispute Of the ferry.
sKxxsAL STEELE,
not desiring to disarrange their pans moved bis column
forward designing strike directly for Washington.
and leave Camden his Arriving within miles
of tho ferry s Keeping the military road, BIO continued
vf cavalry hastened forward 20 seize and
Ekins ferry and headed the main column 70 the south
course.
rHn FIGHT Win THE RRRR1s.
The detachment on tho military road soon encounter
cd Aasmsduke and Shelby force. and sported with
him but greatly TO the complication OF matters at this
sheIby attacked Of army, under Brigadcr
General Rice. but notwitbstsodug their vigorous ef
forts the enemy met with sangunary rspuse, and was
Tnr RvvR ouRs AND ceoeswp.
On the Sd OF Apri both banks Of tho Little Missouri
wore posses ion, and the army crossed, eecng
che passage a. Elkn Jerry AcLsans brigade crossed
twenty Jour hours after, when maneuvrtng and plan.
ming under the suppostou that our forces were still on
out thai they hnd been nshtins an imagr ary army.
while the real ono WIS a Its way to Camden
engaged the enemy Otolona. and gave N decisive
punishment TN the A.h Marmaduke and Cabeil. with
upon our column but we're worsted, losing number
killed wounded and prisoners two Of the atter
were eutenauss. one u whom WAS member OF MARINA
WAITING FOR rHArxR's ootrxS--rnH Rxrn Dsrrsca
: AZ oko'ona the army lay two days to allow General a
Thayer 10 como up. he pursuing different route aud
having experienced delay on account Of bad roads
this place q. enemy had erected % ". wo.ks Soss 70
OF snecting this their labor supposed TO have o.en
very great for there was over miles leugh Of leed
heavy earthworks These dcfences were abau
d,ned by the enemy after tr,nng skrmsh Our orces
Immediately ak possession Of them The evening Of che
TN Aprh brought severe storm of RAIN nunder suo
ishtnng.
the river went up three feet IN few hours snbmerg
eng all the neiRhboripg bottoms rhe next day was
oorduryins and bridging river for the cr esng
or ahsyers mmand which had no~ come up aud be-
On sunday tho 10Th brigh, aud beautiful day. the
army moved Prairie de Anna, whers Was UNDER
stood had determined 70 make nnal and desp
stand. Al point the prairie two branches make oil
con the direct read goss 10 sing H. which Is the
route Shreveport and the LETT leads TO Camden
THIS paint vered By tie enemy, who Did not know
which road General steele proposed 70 take An artil
iery Aght to,k place he snemy having two or three
batteries, which ceased At nightiaL After dark the
epemy having discovered position Of artillery
daring the day made desperate effort to capture the
euus but repused With severe "ss aud retrsased
90 the earth and timber works over mile long. com
snapding The Washington road On the next day our
army moved nssre, The rebel psi'ion and fs't H. 70
ascertain It's strength aud disposition.
wnrRsAr o, ruK RvHxIa-rnry ARE ruRstEo.
On the l2th, daylight. Geuern Stsee pushed Onward
and disposed his turn their lott flank wher
che enemy ned 10 Washington They were pursued by
oavairy several miles as was intended to folos
them up but our army then I" the road TO Camden
the next day was spsut 10 crossing the Terre Roug,
bsttom, one OF the worst 10 the state u had TO os
corduroy ed miles and bridges made. While this wM
being done the rebs General ockery attacked The rear
back and punished them severely.
rHR nRnEs sourwIrxD-cAMDKy OorUTw.
the rebels had found OUT that sss real dss,n
Camden ths they had been snd hat 'ncy nae
cent taboll and shelby 10 froot Of tho Union army Z
The issn vas spent In drivrs the repss from positios
20 position and eur .swy sn.s,ea .rmusn % IN. wash
river. which . navigable stresm. and ~ means
ooss TO provide supplies could bc held against nuc'
superior attacking force of rebels.
rRon RANKS.
Soon after arriving ri eamlcn, deseters commenced
como n, and brought with them re ot9 that Gonera
Banks bad been defeated Through spies General Steel
gathered the ssms Information. Captured desp..che
Chat. sssis oaa no. been 50 dsss.r usly beaten as
very shortly tns offensive.
cA,Iys. o. css.sAl srsnlss vosAcr rrEs.
On April Is General Steele still q Camden
that day commsnced the nrss chapter Of msfortune
On the 18th forage train sent out BY N. ausr.erm.
Ger captured by the enemy. rtis she nrss dt
during the expedition On the goth . supply ,ra
arrived Pine Blu, and on the 12d the empty ira
sent back escorted BY brigade o. infantry, 10,
pieces Of artillery and proper prcportion Of cavar
90 The 2ssh received that the train had bes
oespured and Lieutenant Colonel Drake, o the ihir
sixth Iowa, who was 10 command, was mosally w0undc
nnuLx nAnHs' pnRAf-GvN sTKKiB LIS nAcx TO LII
ROCK
TAs defeat Of Banks enabled the euony 10 strongly
isfsrce Kirby Smith. 1nformations and fortunate
tley, reached General Steele that Kirby Smith In ps
sea, with eight thousand retnfosccmsuts, had made
iuuosion VITA Prlce and the combined armies vel
Advancing 20 attack him. There was but one thing Il
Zoe 0easrai Btseis 70 do 10 keep open bis long line
eormun oassun was impossible Consequently 70 sunni
m asny vas likewise nPessibls The sseny, BY gctti