Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-05-12
THE EXPEDITION OF GEN. STEELE.
INTERESTING DETAILS.

is known to readers that the expedition of Gen
Steele towards Shreveport has ended with his return to
Little Rock gentleman who has arrived at ST. Louis
and is said to be conversan with the facts has commune
Gated to the ST. Louis Democrat the following of
the expedition: as
Gen. Steele left Little Rock with twelve thousand
infantry and three thousand cavalry the latter under Gen
Carr.
Arkadsphia occupied without difficulty, and force
moved forward to Camden
Between Arkadelphia and Camden a subsistence train
OF hundred and eighty wagons was cut off and can
tured by the enemy together with the four hun
dred and eighty men, who suddenly found themselves in
the hands of superior force and made little resistance
At Camden Steele found the rebel cavalry about
eight thousand strong his and two hundred and
forty wagons, dispatched from Camden towards Pine
Bluff for stores with escort of sixteen hundred men,
were captured by the enemy.
The steamer Alamo, with twenty tons of ammunition
for Steele and bis army sunk forty miles below Little
Rock by coming in collision with another steamer The
pilot who had charge of the boat put under arrest on
suspicion of treachery but subsequently, released
Steele could find stores to subsis his troops on and
had to reduce their allowance to quarter rations
As the movement of Gen Steele to be Cooperative
with the main of Gen Banks winch had failed there
remained no course but to return to Little Rock
Gen. Price undertook TO Gen Steele at Camden
while Gen Marmaduke set off for Little Rock Steele
to act Tor the safety of the capital Of Arkansas with its
Union population and millions of dollars worth of Fede
raj stores and for the OF his army broke through
the lines of Gen Price, aid to go to Little Rock
in tune 10 from Marmaduke who also making
every exerton to reach aud bag the proposed game.
AT Sabine Fork it became necessary TO give Price bat
tle which was handsomely done. The rebels were well
mounted and In fine condition The fight was protracted
and bloody lasting for three tour hours resulting IN
the complete repuse OF the enemy and leaving Steele TO
Resume his exciting with Marmaduke.
Marmaduke approached Little Rock, throwing shells
into the city the afternoon Of the 1st Shortly
afterwards Cars cavalry up aud these joining the
troops at the post, compelled Marmaduke to seq
his undertaking He made little resistance, the main
body of Steele's army rapidly arriving.
The Arkansas Legislature in session. probably
not one OF t members caught, would have been spared
| by the exaggerated foe.
During the entire march from Camden troops were
constantly diminishing the enemy who hung upon their
rear aud TANKS srenuousy endeavorng impede their
progress There were ambulances for our wounded
and they had to be left in the houses residents or
the road.
The captured escort of sixteen hundred men was com
posed Of the Both Iowa the 43d Indiana sud the nth Ohio
regiments Only forty-fve succeeded in escaping.
Steees cavalry we're deporaby deficient in horses our
men being compelled to unbroken mules in many in
Stances to try and them, in the place of
cavalry horses.
Grn Prices forces still lingering in the vicinity
stripping off the desolated country anew.