Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1864-05-29
HousE oF REPREsENTATlyEs
letter frsm the Arzy ia ArkEHsR
From the Mobile Advertiser and RegksSl
Tie following private letter has been obhg-
iRsly placed at our disposal:

From the Mobile Advertiser and RegktsS4
Tie following private letter has been obhg-
iRgly placed at our disposal:
CAMP NEAR CAMDEN, May 2.
DEAR FATHER I kEow you sl are very
~snxious shout me, but since we LEFT the Atcha-
-fslsya I have had 10 opportunity OF ornnuni
c,finc I'D van. We fell back from Simmsp0Tt
March u, before a very largely superior icreo,
our brigade (Scauy's) alone being there' and
when we got to MsIksvilie, near Fort Dehas
ssv, Gen. Walker found bis division, which only
numbered then shout $500 muskets, unAbls 70
~opposs the enemy, numbering from l5,0O0 10
20 600 men, with about twenty guueosIs, Ii
CoL Byrd, who commanded Fort DeRnssey,
vas erdsred to hold out as long as possible.
Afer we fell back the fort was stacked ia mont
and rear and fell Of coarse, Col Byrd My hay-
iug about $50 men, aud the fort not being com
pleted. Gen Taylor was at Alexandra, La
thirty miles distant, and IA command OF the dls-
triet- Col. Byrd was not under Walkers or
fers A want Of co operation, or perfect un-
derst.ndipe hatwesn Gems Taylor and Walker,
caused The capture 81 the enemy Of byras
command.
Walker fell back ffcm Rad river towsr1 sSs
Pine hills, with = very large tram, and just sue
eseded IN getting out safely, when Banks in
less THAI thiTty-six hours came up fTcm Ope'
4lA6AlH 81 AGGhE- - yin = Iah1tt1a - A41
river forces Of AlexsndTis. Walker displayed
much ability IN thus saving his little army and
his whole train. Gen. M1uton's division Joined
as the day after we left Msrksvills or MahsurA
rather, a little town Rear MAiksviNe-but both
divisions were too weak to meet the force Of the
enemy. and fhe whole then contioued to fail
bsck through the pine hill ridge, 4 desolate vii
derRsss, toward Mansfield. Tho enemy came
up BY land ard water until they reached NAtehi-
toehes-then brsnchiBF ont in the dreeion Of
Mansfield with about $1,000 men we fought
Them. twice our Numbers, and Toated them CON.
cle,ely, driving them five miles sno capturing
shout 3 600 prisoners, $50 wagons, % pieces CT
artillery, 40 ambulzncss, and compelling them
to fall back, dsmOralzad, to Peasant Hill,
twelve or fifteen miles distant, and between
Mansfield and Nktchitochss.
Mex day pursued them, fought them ct Pleas
ant Hi that afternoon late. Mex coming on
We dFeR ID till morning, Whea wa found the
enemy had q q IN dismay, leaving their wound
ed behind. and we took possession of Peasant
Hill, aud Gan G Gems cavalry pursued Thorn TO
NAichitoches, capturing mauy prisoners, veg
0ss, etc. We were tben ordered 70 CsHaen,
AK. where Pdee vas about irssssing Steele,
whoss force w. about Ia 600 mea. We reached
Camden, (Walber's division,) April 27th-fouud
Steele had fed towards Little Rock, burning
wagons, harness, destroying stores, etc, and
thFo wing artillery into the OaaehitA river.
Msrmsdnke had already ca oG and captured
SD at 100 prisoners, five or siI pieces Of artiileTy,
and altogetsar about 500 Of his wagons, before
S.sele lefi Camden. We pursued him, Kirby
Smith commanding usD overlook him at Saline
river, fought him, and captured several hun
dred prisoners and many wagons aud stores.
He had gotten aeToss tue Saline, however, with
= portion Of his force, and his wsgoss had also
crossed.
He got away with the main body Of bis army,
though completely demorAliEed. leaving his
wagon train, ambnlances with wounded.
(sm0ug them two maj or-gepsTals,) stuck 10 the
mud on the other side of Saline. Their hospital
was also left fall of wounded, whom We cap
tuEsd. Our brigade made q glorious fight for
TWO hours, fighting in mud and wafer ND to our
knees, ia a swamp, and ct the distsncso OF ninety
OF a hundred PAGES. Oar loss heavy. Big
Gan. Scurry and Bng-Gsn. Randie, Of cur d.
vision, mortslly wounded, since dead. I Gem
msnded my regiment through all, from the time
We left Simnsport until now. Col. + has been
east of the Mississippi for three months. Ia
iWenty-tNU dsJS so have mafchsd 90 milas.
fought three battles and gained three victories.
I am unhuTt, lkank God. Love to all. We are
now lying quietly in camp near Camden, await.
ing order. BANKS Is invested in Alexandra,
Steele in Little Rock, sad sbs csuatry safe.