Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-04-07
IMPORTANT NEWS.

The Armies of Arkansas and the FFontier on
the March to Join Banks Expedition
Banks to haze an Army Of from Forty to
Fifty Thousand -Ttza, to be RscOVsrsd-
PSrter's GunbOGt EzpsditiOn-TAs Rebel
Raiders in Tsnnesses and Kentueky-An-
sieipatsd RepstitiOn Of the Morgan Raid.
Especial Correspondence Of the Chicago Evening
Journal.
HELENA, Ark, March 80, 1864.
Your correspondent, i'ever on the wins"
has made this forloFn place the point Of a
few days sojourn, and having just come
into possession of an important item or
two Of news, "drop you line"
learn that General Steele's "Army Of
Arkansas, which has had its hea1quar-
ters at Little Rock for SO long period, has
broken up camp and left overland in a
southerly direction-suPpOsed destination
Shreveport, on Red river-and there join
General Banks forces, which are destined
for Texas, to put the finishing stroke to
the rebellion there, and thus close up the
war west Of the Mississippi. Ny informa-
ton adds that the troops Of the Army Of
the Frontier, which have been operating
in the Indian country, with headquarters
at Fort Smith, have also moved southwsrd-
ly, and will unite with General steele's
army before reaching Red river. These
two commands united will form an army
Of about 10000 men, which will swell
Banks force to something like 10000 or
50,OOO-an army which Msgruder, Dick
Taylor, Price and Kirby Smith, who are
in the neighborhood Of Shreveport and in
Texas, can no more resist than grove of
rotten ssplings can the sweep Of hurri'
cane.
Arkansas, being now re-organized IS
State, will have to take care of herself, and
she has good Union men enough within
her boundaries to do it effectually, If only
the rebels are prevented from crossing in
to the State from east Of the Mississippi.
The last heard from Admiral Porter s
feet CT gunboats in Red river, it had pass
ed sbove Alexandria, but an unexpected
loWness Of water retarded its progress. II
is hoped that the gunbosts and loaded
transports will be able to reach Shreve'
port as soon ss the land force, inssmuch
as that will be made General Banks base
of supplies, with which the transports are
filed, From what you have already learn
ed regarding the withdrawal Of our troops
from along the Texas coast, you doubtless
perceive that General Banks has abandon
ed the coast as the base Of operations, a
change Of base to Red river having been
determined on.
There is considerable unessiness along
the Mississippi-especislly above Memphis
-on account Of the presence Of Forests
and Chalmers rebel cavalry, numbering
some six thousand in all, in Western Ten
nessee and Kentucky. Boats are occasion
ally fred on, and raids on the river posts
are feared 1t is believed at Memphis
that the rebels are concentrating a large
cavalry force for the purpose Of an at
tempted repetition of John Morgan's inVa-
sion soheme-thst Kentucky will be over
run, and the Ohio river crossed. 1t would
be well for our folks to be on the alert,
and nip this game in its budding.
Helena is quiet Negro troops swarm
hereabouts, and are being perfected IS SOL
diers.
We hsYe no news here except what l
have given you above, which comes from
good source.