, 1864-04-09
FROM ARKANSAS.
Affairs State. and Military The
Late Election n-Aspects Of the
Campaign and tbs Country.

lfron an Occasional Correspondent
ST. Louis, April 4, 1851.
Having just returned from an extended trip In
Arkaneas, some notes may be Of interest to the
TRIBUNE. During the "trip hive visited Little
Rock. the headquarters Of Maj. Gen. Eteele and
Fort Smith, where Mai. Gen. Blunt, Of Kansas,
and Brig. Gen. J. M. Thayer, Of Nebraska, hold
divided sway.
I have been m interested observer Of erents In
that State. During my stay, the election called
By the recent State Convention under tho terms Of
the Presidents proclamation: came OF with re-
suits, placing Arkansas, like Louisiana within the
sistcrhood Of FREE as well as Unsted States.. The
vote and the temper with which 1t was cast, will
bave become old news for your columns before
this reaches you. It Ia all glorious and cheering,
and among those beat pleased to have it 50 are
thousands Of sRackensacks,'' the wolves who
long ago got sick Of the and its hopelessneae.
Let me Indicate the state Of military. aIars.
Since the first Of September last, all OF Arkansas
north OF the river, and part Of the southeast has
been In possession Of Federal forces. The rebels
have been confined to that portion Of the State
west Of the Washita River, and the valley thereof
There hns never been time when the remnants Of
the various Confederate armies that have operated
thereabous, have amounted to over TO- 900 or 000
tfconccntratcd. If These hare been stationed at
Camden, Arlade1phia and vicinity; at Washing
ton. Spring Hill, Lanesport, Center Point, &c,
They are known to be much demozalized and dis
heastened. There frequent defeats have almost
demorallxed them. r.
Gen. Steele has fora long time past issued rations
for Il, o men at Little Rock and other places In
the eastern portion Of the State. In the western,
the veteran Army Of the Frontier Was stationed,
numbering 0oo Or 10 600 men. 1t should now seen
rebel forces and The entire State bo thus allowed to
participate In the fruits Of the late election. It
wonld hare undoubtedly added several thousand
% votes to the count, to haya made this nqye4ent
way Of the White River to Duvals Blnn, and hence
hy railroad to Little Rock. THIS road ha. been Id.
au e1ccTabie condition for months. It Ia hardly
naceeRary to state how much repairs are needed.
The condition Of all railways in the Confederate
Etatcs fa the same.
This j. The raiuy eeason. Tho troops now mov-
danger. lie in the mud for several week In the
Vicinity Of Arkadelphia, and then, perhaps. re-
turn to Little Rock, ha,ing accomplished nothing
a1other movement. the details Of which vii hs1e.
Ttc County through which passed from Little
aree. At various points on the river, forees were
stationed gathering IN cotton, forasng, and guard
ing the furds. etc.
> At Roseyille we found the 1st regiment Kansas
cclored volunteers. under Col. James IT, Williams.
Tbi- claims to br the fret organized body OF negro
stfdie1s In the country.
i ceftalhly Is dne OF the nneat disciplined and
Grilled infantry organizations 1t has been my for
tunc 10 meet. The Colonel stated shat thcJ had
collected, ,ginned, ,baedaul shipped. sercra1h hundred
laleB Of cotton-tetween4 100 and 5N,a :arse amount
was then waiting shipment. It is very evident
that unless somc systematic efforts be made to cul-
tiyate the deserted lands, that next fll not only
the people but the army will lind It difficult to sub
sist or remain in that region. Immediately In the
vicinity of Roseville thousands of fcrilAacres
abandoned by their rebel owners There are hun
dreGs Of healthy, stout cnlorcd women, and men
unfit for the ecryIce. who bare been field hands,
that would gladly work these lands for pay, pro.
stded they could be insured projection against
bnshwacl<ers.
So 1t Is all along the Arkansas Valley. The r'rer
upon for supl lies. The long and tedious land
routes by which stores must then be obtaiaed ron
ders the feelng and tanning army there most
difficult With sufficient protection It would by no
means be difficult to put 1nnd enough under cu!ti-
vation to materially aid tie maintenance, not only
OF the people. but Of the army Also.