Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1864-02-11
From the First Indiana Cavalry.
PINE BLUFF, ARK,
Jan. 23d, 1864.

PINE BLUFF, ARK,
Jan. 23d, 1864 !
EDITOR Journal. - During the past
week or ten days there have been lively
times among us here. The enemy, to
the number of 4, 1000 or 5000, magnifed
by rumor and exaggeration into $4,000,
have been lowering around the place,
keeping us constantly on the qwi vire,
and wide awake to a sense of our duty.
Our continued scouting through the
mud and mire has nearly used up all our
horses. A portion of the 7th Missouri
Cavalry were sent down from the Rock
to assist US, and for number of days
skirmishing between the different scout
ing parties was continually kept up. The
military authorities here at last, getting
tired of being thus bearded in their den,
took about five hundred men and four
howtzers, and started out to meet the
insolent foe
Maj. Owen, with the lst Indiana, had
the advance. Coming to long bridge
over creek, they found a strong picket
of the enemy. These were soon routed,
and night coming on, we tied up until
morning, when we again started out.
Picket posts were jumped up every
mile or so, for six or seven miles, when
suddenly the Major found himself con-
fronted with a large force, drawn up in
line of battle He instantly threw out
skirmishers, and commenced an attack.
The enemy, finding out the smallness of
his command, had commenced flank
movement, when, at this juncture, Col
Clayton, with the main body of the COM
mand, arrived This speedily changed
the look of affairs. Skirmishers were
dismounted and thrown out, making a
line mile and half long. The enemy
outnumbered US two or three to one, but
we had the advantage of several howit-
zers, while they had none. They showed
considerable disposition to fight, and gave
way only inch by inch. Several times
the lines were within hundred yards of
each other, and the words of command
could be distinctly heard on each side.
the rebel officers cursing their men for
giving way; ours cheering the boys on
The woods were open, with very little
underbrush, and it was splendid run
ming fight for some six or seven miles.
As fast as their lines were broken, they
would fall back to the top of some hill or
commanding position, and form line of
battle again, where they would stand
until the shot and shell from our guns
would again cause them to scamper, un-
| til finally, after being driven about seven
miles in this way, they lost all hope and
precipitately fled.
Our loss was slight. One man in the
9Th Missouri was killed, several of the
5th Kansas and lst Indiana were wound
ed, and Captain belonging to the Ar
kansas militia was so severely wounded
that he died next day.
The enemy's loss is not known, but
was much heavier. AS fast as one of
them fell he was taken to the rear
Among their killed, however, was inclu-
ded Col. Lawler, who commanded their
forces.
Our men returned that night weary,
but well pleased with their days work.
After resting two days, the order came,
about o'clock one night, for the whole
command to get ready Immediately, with
three days rations. The great cry was
for horses, when it suddenly entered into
the heads of the boys to 60 through the
town and press into service all the horses
and mules they could find belonging tc
citizens. The idea was no sooner con-
ceived than it was put into execution
and the next morning such another hue
and cry was raised by the Cotton specu
lators was never heard. They never miss
the opportunity of going out after {
scout, it affords them such splendiC
opportunity of gathering up Cotton
But now their teams were all gone, anC
their long faces and longer iamentstion!
reminded one of the farmer who was be
wailing his fate in having lost such {
splendid opportunity of making for
tune one fall, when hogs were high. Oh
inquiry it was found his lost opportunit,
: consisted in his not having the hogs t.
: SELL
This rout did not amount to much
!, The enemy skedaddled. A squad 0
! them were suddenly run upon on the or
: posite side of the Saline river. Thre
: were killed, and about thirty horses tina
: were hitched along on the bank. Thei
owners ran off and left them, and on
!. boys shot them down across the river.
d Cotton bales have been placed a
), around the Notifications to strengthe
!, them, and if the enemy feel like givin
d US "a Rowland for our Oliver" why, le
J EN- come SPENCER County
1